Cable Testing and Fault Location Course

Course Overview:

This course takes multifunctional approach towards cable systems, including their diagnosis and location techniques, as well as design, construction, operation and testing activities.

 Different types of techniques such as TDR, ARM and ICE will be utilized, Provision of practical skills such performing insulation resistance and dielectric strength tests and evaluating results will be emphasized.

This course is designed for electrical staff who operate, maintain and protect the cables installed in power utilities and industrial plants. 

In addition to theoretical lessons, practical tasks aimed at improving reliability and efficiency of the cable systems are conducted within the scope of this program.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Identify and characterize the major cable system types and components
• List the major design calculations required for a new cable system
• Describe the types of tests that are required in the manufacture and installation of a cable system.
• An understanding of fault location techniques, an appreciation of equipment used in fault location, an opportunity to use fault location equipment for cable and OHTL.
• Medium-voltage cable design, construction, and operation
• Cable testing methods
• Industry standards and procedures for testing
• Causes of cable failures
• Perform insulation resistance, dielectric strength tests in the lab and evaluate results
• Locate faults

Who Should Attend?

This course is intended for electrical staffs who are involved in the operation, maintenance, protection, and control of cables used in power utilities and industrial plants.

Course Outlines:

Glossary, Definitions, and General Conditions

• Introductions, Summary of Course Goals, System
• Types and Historical Perspective, Basic Dielectric Theory of Cable, Electrical Insulation Materials Transmission vs. Distribution

Cable Design Part I

• Cable System Planning, Selection, and Characteristics, Cable System Components, Cable Construction Terminations, Splices/Joints, Other Accessories, General
• Design Considerations, Power Transfer Requirements and Rating Criteria, Cable System Type, Route Selection & Rights-of-Way

Cable Design Part II

• Cable Design Calculations, Ampacity & Soil Effects
• Pulling Tension, Impedances, Induced Voltages and
• Currents, Magnetic Fields, Manufacturing Considerations,
• Laminate Cables (Pipe-Type, Self-Contained)
• Extruded Dielectric (XLPE, EPR), Installation and Civil
• Design Considerations

Cable Testing & Standards

• Prequalification Tests, Factory Acceptance Tests
• Line tracing, Cable and phase identification, Cable test vans and systems, Different maintenance strategies, Testing of PIL and XLPE cables (VLF and DC testing), Diagnosis and partial discharge measurement, Practical exercises

Fault Location

• Fault types, electrical and physical characteristics of faults, Analyzing the fault, series or shunt fault, flashover fault, open circuit fault, ground contact fault, ingress of moisture, Principles of cable fault location Insulation resistance, and fault resistance measurement
• Cable fault pre-location: Time Domain Reflectometry
• (TDR), Arc Reflection Method (ARM), Impulse Current
• Measurement (ICE), DECAY measurement, Pinpoint the location of faults and marker location, Sheath testing and fault location, Lightning Protection of Distribution Cable Systems, OHTL Fault Location, and Identification.