Detection of PD Activities in XLPE Cable Using UHF Antennas

Underground cables are widely used in urban areas for electrical power transfer, and some of those cables are very old. These cable insulations are often subjected to partial discharges due to aging which, gradually degrades dielectric strength of the insulation and ultimately results in complete failure. Therefore, detection of partial discharge (PD) within the insulation of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cable may help to get an early warning about the fault condition. This paper reports about initial results obtained from the measurement of PD activities within XLPE cable using standard electrical method and UHF method.