Using Factory Grade® Technology to Identify Damaging Commissioning Test

CASE STUDY

IMCORP

IMCORP is the leading provider of power cable reliability assessment services for medium and high voltage power cable systems of new cable installations and aged cable assets. We assess shielded power cable and accessories from 5kV to 500kV. In our more than 19 years in business, we have assessed over 140 million feet of cable systems across 4 continents. Our goal is to partner with our clients, achieve the maximum reliability attainable at the lowest total cost. Our assessment is non-destructive, requires no hazardous materials, and is a cost effective alternative to cable replacement.

Our Factory Grade® technology produces results exceeding the cable manufacturers’ quality standards. We identify the precise cable system Rehabilitation requirements, allowing the customer to Certify their cable systems to like new condition.

Defect Blog

Using Factory Grade® Technology to Identify Damaging Commissioning Test

VLF Test vs. the IMCORP Factory Grade® Technology

OVERVIEW
0.1 Hz VLF test and IMCORP’s Factory Grade® technology are compared side-by-side at utility solar site.
CHALLENGE
VLF test passes cables, but terminations were still failing.
RESULTS
Based on distribution system experience, utility uses IMCORP’s Factory Grade® technology to identify workmanship defects and VLF test induced damage

A utility client requested IMCORP to commission cable systems at a new generation facility after experiencing several in-service termination failures. The installation contractor had already tested the cable systems with a very low frequency (VLF) test. Many uninformed installers subscribe to the common myth that ‘proper’ VLF testing will detect serious cable defects while not harming healthy insulation. This case once again provides evidence to the contrary to the myth. Fortunately the utility client had extensive experience with the our Factory Grade® technology on thousands of their distribution cable systems and recommended the site be thoroughly reassessed. Our Factory Grade® technology pinpointed dozens of terminations that did not meet the accessory manufacturer’s minimum performance standards (table bottom left). An example of one such termination is depicted below. When the termination was dissected the technicians found workmanship issues, including insufficient void filling mastic and insufficient shrinkage of heat shrink layers. The technicians also found clear evidence of damage (telltale long narrow carbon tree track) caused by the VLF test which passed the terminations only a short time before. This termination most likely would have failed within a short time in service causing significant down time, collateral damage, and losses in generation revenue.

This case illustrates a great example of IMCORP partnering with utility clients to:

eliminate failure producing defects and provide feedback
educate installers on the deficiencies of poor installation practices
educate specify engineers on the false sense of security and material damage yielding from legacy commissioning tests