Apparatus and method for testing a submarine high voltage cable system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11650226-B2
Application number	US-202117241530-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2021
Priority date	May 20, 2020
Publication date	May 16, 2023
Grant date	May 16, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a submersible apparatus (1) for testing a submarine high voltage (HV) cable system. The apparatus (1) includes a cable termination (100) including an electrical insulator (101) and a shielding electrode (102) for the electrical connection with a cable end (201). The apparatus (1) additionally includes a cable bend restrictor (300) having a through channel (301), and a termination locking (400) in through communication with the cable bend restrictor (300) and the cable termination (100). According to another aspect, a method for testing a submarine high voltage (HV) cable apparatus using the above testing apparatus (1) is additionally disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A submersible apparatus for testing a submarine high voltage (HV) cable system, comprising:
a cable termination comprising an electrical insulator and a shielding electrode for an electrical connection with a cable end;
a cable bend restrictor comprising a through channel; and
a termination locking in through communication with the cable bend restrictor and the cable termination;

wherein the electrical insulator electrically insulates the shielding electrode from the bend restrictor and the termination locking.

2. The submersible apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cable end comprises a cable conductor, an insulating system and a cable armour.

3. The submersible apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cable termination comprises two parts, specifically a cable end insulating part and a cable end terminating part.

4. The submersible apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cable termination comprises a protective cylinder.

5. The submersible apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the cable termination comprises a protective cylinder having two parts, one for each of the cable end insulating part and the cable end terminating part.

6. The submersible apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the cable end terminating part houses the electrical insulator in direct contact with the shielding electrode.

7. The submersible apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the cable termination comprises an electric field control portion as an optional part of the cable end insulating part.

8. The submersible apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the termination locking is part of the cable termination or is separate from and connectable thereto.

9. The submersible apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the termination locking comprises a case and an armour locking.

10. The submersible apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cable bend restrictor comprises a plurality of interconnected elements.

11. The submersible apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the cable bend restrictor further comprises a connecting flanges and locking assembly directly mechanically connected to the termination locking.

12. The submersible apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each of the interconnected elements and the connecting flanges and locking assembly is made in two halves which can be fastened to one another.

13. A method for testing a submarine high voltage (HV) cable system, comprising the steps of:
arranging a cable in a submersible apparatus comprising a cable bend restrictor, a termination locking and a cable termination by the following sub-steps:
inserting a cable end of the cable through the termination locking;
connecting the cable end, provided with an electric field control portion, to an electrically conductive shielding electrode housed within an electrical insulator in the cable termination;
assembling the termination locking to the cable termination; and
positioning the cable end in the bend restrictor while connecting the bend restrictor to the termination locking,

the sub-steps of inserting and connecting the cable end being carried out before the sub-step of positioning the cable end in a cable bend restrictor;
laying down the submersible apparatus containing the cable end to a sea floor;
energizing the cable to perform an electric test thereon;
de-energizing the cable; and
recovering the submersible apparatus containing the cable end;

wherein the electrical insulator electrically insulates the shielding electrode from the bend restrictor and the termination locking.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the step of connecting the cable end, provided with an electric field control portion, to an electrically conductive shielding electrode is preceded by a step of inserting the cable end in a protective cylinder of the cable termination, then provided with an electric field control portion.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the step of positioning the cable end in the bend restrictor is performed by:
using the bend restrictor comprising a connecting flanges and locking assembly and interconnected elements made into two halves;
placing the cable end in a through channel formed by one half of the connecting flanges and locking assembly and, sequentially, of each interconnected element;
joining the two halves of the connecting flanges and locking assembly and, sequentially, of each interconnected element;
connecting the connecting flanges and locking assembly and, sequentially, each interconnected element to a downstream element.

Assignees

• Prysmian Spa

Inventors

• Iadanza Andrea
• Boffi Paolo
• Sarti Christian

Classifications

• G01R1/0416 Primary

  Connectors, terminals (G01R1/0425 and G01R1/0433 take precedence; with measurement function for battery poles G01R31/364) · CPC title

• G01R31/083 Primary

  in cables, e.g. underground · CPC title

• H02G3/0475

  formed by a succession of articulated units · CPC title

• H02G15/007

  Devices for relieving mechanical stress · CPC title

• H02G9/02

  laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile · CPC title