Off-line partial discharge measurements as a new data source about the technical condition of MV cables

The paper will focuses on the new possibilities of managing cable MV network using partial discharges (PD) diagnosis. The measurement of partial discharges can be the source of information about technical condition of insulation of individual pieces of cables and accessories. A lot of information about the parameters of partial discharges (PD inception voltage, PD extinction voltage, PD value for different voltage levels, the intensity of PD) can be obtained from such measurements. The key issue is to determine the significance of PD individual parameters in assessing technical condition of the cable line. Basing on the carried research work and analysis it has been found that basic parameters indicating the risk of the failure are: PD inception voltage and PD intensity in a power cable The research did not confirm the key role of the PD level parameter for PILC cables. This parameter is very often used to assess the condition of the cable insulation.