Introduction
XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) cables are critical components in modern transmission grids, offering excellent electrical insulation, thermal resistance, and mechanical strength. Their cross-linked molecular structure enhances durability and reliability, making them today’s standard for high voltage (HV) and medium voltage (MV) applications. Anyway, older technology such as oil-filled cables, using oil as an insulation medium, are still in use within transmission grids.
We offer a full portfolio for commissioning tests and maintenance, all the way to condition assessment and fault localization. We are your partner of choice across all energy cables in MV and HV networks
HV Testing
We are experts in on-site HV testing!
For cables we perform your resonant HVAC tests up to 520kV and HVDC tests up to 800kV!
Commissioning Tests
For your HV, MV, pilot, and telephone cables, we offer comprehensive pre-commissioning and commissioning tests, including:
- Phase-out
- Sheath testing
- Impedance and DC resistance measurement
- Cross-bonding test
- Varistor and contact resistance measurement
- And more
Combined with our HVAC testing services, we provide a complete, one-stop solution, ensuring maximum convenience and reliability for all your testing needs.
Partial Discharge Measurement
Partial discharge (PD) measurement is a critical diagnostic technique to detect small electrical discharges within insulation systems that can lead to insulation failure if left unchecked. We provide PD measurement services using Coupling Capacitors High-Frequency Current Transformers (HFCT) and ultrasound technologies, ensuring accurate detection and analysis.
Condition Assessment
Condition assessment is becoming increasingly popular, especially for MV cable systems. It enables a shift from traditional time-based maintenance and replacement to a smarter, condition-based asset management strategy.
These diagnostic methodologies provide a comprehensive overview of the quality and aging condition of your cable system. The tangent delta (TD) and partial discharge (PD) methods, performed by applying a VLF (very low frequency), complement each other: TD offers a full assessment of the cable’s overall condition, while PD accurately pinpoints specific faults within the system.
Our advanced testing equipment performs both TD and PD simultaneously, saving you time and minimizing stress on your cables.
Fault localization
Whether your cable fault involves the main insulation or the sheath, or whether it’s high- or low-resistive, we’ve got you covered. Our comprehensive approach includes fault analysis, pre-localization and precise pin-pointing, ensuring we clear up the uncertainty and leave only when the exact failure point is identified.
Using state-of-the-art equipment, we apply all modern, proven methods, including:
- Bridge method
- Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR)
- Secondary Multiple Impulse Method (SIM/MIM)
- Decay method with high voltage
- Tracing & acoustic pin-pointing
- Etc.
With these advanced techniques, we provide fast, accurate fault detection for reliable results.
Consulting & Asset Management Strategy
We provide you with consulting services to help you transition from time-based to condition-based asset management for your MV cables. Our expert guidance is complemented by an advanced software that uses tangent delta factor (TD) diagnostics and a patented algorithm to calculate the statistical remaining life of your cables.
This enables precise, data-driven decisions, helping you plan maintenance, avoid unexpected failures, and optimize asset performance.
With our consulting approach, you gain a powerful, integrated solution for extending the life of your cable systems while minimizing operational risks and costs.
Online Monitoring
Online monitoring has become a standard tool across various industries. We offer comprehensive solutions for monitoring MV, HVAC, and HVDC subsea cables, including:
- Online PD monitoring for LV, HVAC, and HVDC cables
- Online fault localization for HVAC and HVDC cables
- Ground return path monitoring for subsea cables
A key challenge with HVDC subsea cables is that the ground return path often remains idle, leaving damage undetected. If the main HVDC cables fail and the ground return is compromised, it could lead to a full system shutdown. Online monitoring identifies such hidden faults before causing major disruptions.
We integrate the cutting-edge technologies of our superior partners, HIGHVOLT (link products page HV Testing) and BAUR (link to products page MV Cable & Oil testing), into tailored solutions for your applications.
Oil Quality & Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA)
Regular oil analysis is a good practice for oil-filled cables.
We provide you with a full package of sampling, analysis (by our certified partner lab in Australia) and database with trend analysis.
Technical Training
Our training program covers a variety of topics like
- General Principles of High-Voltage Testing Technology
- High-Voltage Testing
- Partial Discharge Measurement
- Fault Localization
- Condition Assessment and data evaluation