Integrated method for restoring electrical power cable

A method for extending the useful life of at least one in-service electrical cable section having at least two existing connectors attached thereto, said cable section having a stranded conductor surrounded by a conductor shield encased in a polymeric insulation jacket and having an interstitial void volume in the region of the conductor, said method comprising:

• (a) de-energizing said cable section;
• (b) after said cable section is de-energized, replacing each said existing connector with a corresponding high-pressure connector;
• (c) connecting a source of dielectric enhancement fluid to at least one of said high-pressure connectors;
• (d) injecting the dielectric enhancement fluid into the interstitial void volume of said cable section through said at least one high-pressure connector and confining said fluid therein at a pressure sufficient to introduce at least about 0.75 Q of said fluid, wherein Q represents the weight of said fluid which would saturate said conductor shield and said insulation jacket, the interstitial void volume of said cable section at atmospheric pressure being less than that which would accommodate said amount 0.75 Q;
• (e) upon completion of the injection of said fluid and prior to re-energizing said cable section, disconnecting said source of dielectric enhancement fluid from said at least one high-pressure connector;
• and
• (f) after disconnecting said source of dielectric enhancement fluid from said at least one high-pressure connector, re-energizing said cable section, whereby said method is accomplished without use of a fluid reservoir containing said dielectric enhancement fluid to provide a soak period for said injected fluid while said cable section is energized.

A method for extending the useful life of at least one in-service electrical cable section having at least two existing connectors attached thereto, said cable section having a stranded conductor surrounded by a conductor shield encased in a polymeric insulation jacket and having an interstitial void volume in the region of the conductor, said method comprising:

• (a) replacing each said existing connector with a corresponding high-pressure connector;
• (b) connecting a source of dielectric enhancement fluid to at least one of said high-pressure connectors;
• (c) injecting the dielectric enhancement fluid into the interstitial void volume of said cable section through said at least one high-pressure connector and confining said fluid therein at a pressure P sufficient to introduce at least about 0.75 Q of said fluid, wherein Q represents the weight of said fluid which would saturate said conductor shield and said insulation jacket, the interstitial void volume of said cable section at atmospheric pressure being less than that which would accommodate said amount 0.75 Q;
• and
• (d) with said fluid confined therein at said pressure P, disconnecting said source of dielectric enhancement fluid from said at least one high-pressure connector, wherein steps (a) through (d) are carried out during a single switching cycle.

A method for extending the useful life of at least one in-service electrical cable segment which is in a loop configuration having a normally open point, said cable segment having two existing terminal connectors attached thereto and at least one existing splice connector disposed between said terminal connectors, said cable segment further having a stranded conductor surrounded by a conductor shield encased in a polymeric insulation jacket and having an interstitial void volume in the region of the conductor, said method comprising:

• (A) closing the normally open point and then de-energizing and grounding said cable segment;
• (B) determining precise location and distance of all splices;
• (C) performing a cost-benefit analysis and proceeding to step (D) if the incremental benefit of repair is greater than the incremental cost to repair;
• (D) digging pit(s) with a site-available vacuum excavator;
• (E) replacing each said existing terminal and splice connector with a corresponding high-pressure injection terminal and splice connector, respectively;
• (F) injecting a dielectric enhancement fluid into the interstitial void volume of said cable segment and confining said fluid therein at a pressure sufficient to introduce at least about 0.75 Q of said fluid, wherein Q represents the weight of said fluid which would saturate said conductor shield and said insulation, the interstitial void volume of said cable segment at atmospheric pressure is less than that which would accommodate said amount 0.75 Q;
• and
• (G) insulating all splices and terminations, re-filling the pit(s), re-energizing the cable, and, opening the normally open point, said method being carried out using only a single switching cycle.

A method for extending the useful life of at least one in-service electrical cable section having at least two existing connectors attached thereto, said cable section having a stranded conductor surrounded by a conductor shield encased in a polymeric insulation jacket and having an interstitial void volume in the region of the conductor, said method comprising:

• (a) replacing each said existing connector with a corresponding high-pressure connector such that the cable section has a first closable high-pressure connector attached at one terminus thereof and a second closable high-pressure connector attached at another terminus thereof, each of said first and second high-pressure connectors providing fluid communication to said interstitial void volume;
• (b) opening both said first and second high-pressure connectors and introducing at least one dielectric property-enhancing fluid via said first high-pressure connector so as to fill said interstitial void volume;
• (c) closing said second high-pressure connector and introducing an additional quantity of said dielectric property-enhancing fluid via said first connector at a pressure sufficient to introduce at least about 0.75 Q of said fluid, wherein Q represents the weight of said fluid which would saturate said conductor shield and said insulation jacket, the interstitial void volume of said cable section at atmospheric pressure being less than that which would accommodate said amount 0.75 Q;
• and
• (d) closing said first high-pressure connector so as to contain said dielectric property-enhancing fluid within said interstitial void volume at said pressure, said method being carried out using only a single switching cycle.

A method for extending the useful life of at least one in-service electrical cable section having at least two existing connectors attached thereto, said cable section having a stranded conductor surrounded by a conductor shield encased in a polymeric insulation jacket and having an interstitial void volume in the region of the conductor, said method comprising:

• (a) removing said existing connectors;
• (b) attaching a first closable high-pressure connector to a first terminus of said section;
• (c) attaching a second closable high-pressure connector to a second terminus of said section, each of said first and second connectors providing fluid communication to said interstitial void volume;
• (d) opening both of said first and second high-pressure connectors and introducing at least one dielectric property-enhancing fluid via said first high-pressure connector so as to fill said interstitial void volume;
• (e) closing said second high-pressure connector and introducing an additional quantity of said dielectric property-enhancing fluid via said first high-pressure connector at a pressure sufficient to introduce at least about 0.75 Q of said fluid, wherein Q represents the weight of said fluid which would saturate said conductor shield and said insulation jacket, the interstitial void volume of said cable section at atmospheric pressure being less than that which would accommodate said amount 0.75 Q;
• and
• (f) closing said first high-pressure connector so as to contain said dielectric property-enhancing fluid within said void volume at said pressure, said method being carried out using only a single switching cycle.