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How To Find A Single Drip Of Oil In Approximately 12km Of LPOF PILC 115KV Direct Buried Cable

Published 24 Sep 2019

Joints Terminations Connectors LV MV HV

  • uploaded by Chris Dodds - Thorne & Derrick Sales | Marketing Manager

All Images Courtesy Of: Douglas Page (Instructor & Cable Splicer at Hydro One Training and Development Services).

Fluid Filled Cables

Hydro One

Fluid filled high voltage cables have been used for over 80 years with some circuits installed in the 1930’s still operating successfully today without any deterioration.

The fluid contained within a fluid filled cable has to be kept at a positive pressure under all conditions of loading and ambient temperature change.

Fluid filled cables rely on the presence of pressurised cable fluid to work efficiently – if the circuit suffers an oil leak the cable network is compromised.

The pressure used depends on a number of factors:

  • Voltage and size of cable
  • The length of the cable
  • The route the cable follows
  • Whether the cable has a leak

High Voltage Fluid Filled Cables

HV Cable Design

High Voltage Cables

The fluid forms an integral part of the high voltage cable insulation and prevents the formation of voids in the lapped papers around the conductor – also the cable fluid aids the conduction of heat away from the conductor allowing the cable to be run efficiently than a cable without it.

The following photo sequence shows how to find a single drip of oil in approximately 12km of Single Core LPOF PILC 115KV direct buried cable.

LPOF Low Pressure Oil Filled
PILC Paper Insulated Lead Covered

1. Cathodic lead erosion is clearly visible on the EHV power cable – this is usually caused by ground factors such as gas mains, neighbouring cable circuits, water mains etc. The aged underground EHV cable is suffering natural degradation and overtime a deterioration in the cables normal cathodic protection has caused service issues with the cable circuit – the cable becomes the sacrificial anode and starts to break down.

Cathodic lead erosion is clearly visible on the EHV power cable

2. Cable type : Transmission & Distribution Voltage – 115kV LPOF PILC Single Core.

Cable type Transmission & Distribution Voltage - 115kV LPOF PILC Single Core.

3. LPOF EHV cables are monitored by gauges and pressurized by pre-pressurized tanks with internal baffles, that expand and contract with the cable, maintaining a constant pressure. If the pressure cannot be maintained, an alarm is triggered.

LPOF EHV cables are monitored by gauges and pressurized by pre-pressurized tanks with internal baffles

4. To find the oil leak in 10, 15, 20, or 100km of cable, it all starts the same way. Find the approximate centre of the cable circuit, excavate safely and install a cable freeze.

To find the oil leak in 10, 15, 20, or 100km of cable, it all starts the same way

5. Very similar to a pipe type freeze, the coil must be installed on the bare lead.

Very similar to a pipe type freeze, the coil must be installed on the bare lead

6.

How To Find A Single Drip Of Oil In Approximately 12km Of LPOF PILC

7. Along with a freeze, to monitor the temperature, the EHV jointer/splicer must install thermocouple temperature monitors which consist of two conductors of dissimilar metals that react to the temperature change differently allowing the monitors to display the actual temperature. 

Along with a freeze, to monitor the temperature, the EHV jointer or splicer must install thermocouple temperature monitors

8.

Then the freeze is insulated by the EHV cable or splicer

9.

How To Find A Single Drip Of Oil In Approximately 12km Of LPOF PILC

10. Once the freeze has been initiated, the gauges are monitored, the side that loses pressure, is flagged and deemed the side that requires further attention

Once the freeze has been initiated, the gauges are monitored, the side that loses pressure, is flagged and deemed the side that requires further attention

11. Freeze pit – once the leak has been narrowed to 50-100m length, the final excavation begins. Until signs of leaking cable oil are found

Freeze pit - once the leak has been narrowed to 50-100m length, the final excavation begins. Until signs of leaking cable oil are found

13. After a lengthy search, this is what you are looking for, although opinions vary, constant drip can yield various amounts of accumulation. Some say it could fill a bathtub in 72 hours

After a lengthy search, this is what you are looking for, although opinions vary, constant drip can yield various amounts of accumulation. Some say it could fill a bathtub in 72 hours

14. Once located a temporary EHV cabl repair is made, while environmental remediation is done

Once located a temporary EHV cabl repair is made, while environmental remediation is done

15. “Tinning” of the cable repair, so the lead will adhere to the cable

Tinning of the cable repair, so the lead will adhere to the cable

16. The EHV cable repair is complete – after this the jointer must solder a copper lead connected to a sacrificial “anode” that erodes before the cable

The EHV cable repair is complete - after this the jointer must solder a copper lead connected to a sacrificial anode that erodes before the cable

 

Further Reading

THORNE & DERRICK

Thorne & Derrick are national distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing businesses involved in cabling, jointing, substation, earthing, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and EHV. Supplying a complete range of power cable accessories to support the installation and maintenance of low/medium and high voltage voltage power systems:

  • Slip-on Cable Terminations
  • Cold-shrink Cable Terminations
  • Heat-shrink Cable Terminations
  • Cable Joints – Heat & Cold-shrink
  • Separable Connectors (Euromold)
  • Surge Arresters & Switchgear/Transformer Bushings

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Thorne & Derrick International

Further Reading