Apparatus and method for testing a submarine high voltage cable system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021364548-A1
Application number	US-202117241530-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 27, 2021
Priority date	May 20, 2020
Publication date	Nov 25, 2021
Grant date	—

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 to testing apparatus (1) is additionally disclosed.

First claim

1 . A submersible apparatus ( 1 ) for testing a submarine high voltage (HV) cable system, comprising:
a cable termination ( 100 ) comprising an electrical insulator ( 101 ) and a shielding electrode ( 102 ) for the electrical connection with a cable end ( 201 ); a cable bend restrictor ( 300 ) comprising a through channel ( 301 ); and a termination locking ( 400 ) in through communication with the cable bend restrictor ( 300 ) and the cable termination ( 100 ).

2 . The submersible apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the cable end ( 201 ) comprises a cable conductor ( 202 ), an insulating system ( 203 ) and a cable armour ( 204 ).

3 . The submersible apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the cable termination ( 100 ) comprises two parts, specifically a cable end insulating part ( 100 a ) and a cable end terminating part ( 100 b ).

4 . The submersible apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the cable termination ( 100 ) comprises a protective cylinder ( 103 ).

5 . The submersible apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 3 , wherein the cable termination ( 100 ) comprises a protective cylinder ( 103 ) having two parts, one for each of the cable end insulating part ( 100 a ) and the cable end terminating part ( 100 b ).

6 . The submersible apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 3 , wherein the cable end terminating part ( 100 b ) houses the electrical insulator ( 101 ) in direct contact with the shielding electrode ( 102 ).

7 . The submersible apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 3 , wherein the cable termination ( 100 ) comprises an electric field control portion ( 105 ) as an optional part of the cable end insulating part ( 100 a ).

8 . The submersible apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the termination locking ( 400 ) is part of the cable termination ( 100 ) or is separate from and connectable thereto.

9 . The submersible apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the termination locking ( 400 ) comprises a case ( 402 ) and an armour locking ( 401 ).

10 . The submersible apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the cable bend restrictor ( 300 ) comprises a plurality of interconnected elements ( 301 ′, 301 ″, . . . ).

11 . The submersible apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 10 , wherein the cable bend restrictor ( 300 ) further comprises a connecting flanges/locking ( 302 ) directly mechanically connected to the termination locking ( 400 ).

12 . The submersible apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 11 , wherein each of the interconnected elements ( 301 ′, 301 ″, . . . ) and the connecting flanges/locking ( 302 ) is made in two halves which can be fastened one another.

13 . A method for testing a submarine high voltage (HV) cable system, comprising the steps of:
arranging a cable ( 200 ) in a submersible apparatus ( 1 ) comprising a cable bend restrictor ( 300 ), a termination locking ( 400 ) and a cable termination ( 100 ) by the following sub-steps: inserting a cable end ( 201 ) of the cable ( 200 ) through the termination locking ( 400 ); connecting the cable end ( 201 ), provided with an electric field control portion ( 105 ), to an electrically conductive shielding electrode ( 102 ) housed within an electrical insulator ( 101 ) in the cable termination ( 100 ); assembling the termination locking ( 400 ) to the cable termination ( 100 ); and positioning the cable end ( 201 ) in the bend restrictor ( 300 ) while connecting the bend restrictor ( 300 ) to the termination locking ( 400 ), the sub-steps of inserting and connecting the cable end ( 201 ) being carried out before the sub-step of positioning the cable end ( 201 ) in a cable bend restrictor ( 300 ); laying down the submersible apparatus ( 1 ) containing the cable end ( 201 ) to the sea floor; energizing the cable ( 200 ) to perform an electric test thereon; de-energizing the cable ( 200 ); recovering the submersible apparatus ( 1 ) containing the cable end ( 201 ).

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the step of connecting the cable end ( 201 ), provided with an electric field control portion ( 105 ), to an electrically conductive shielding electrode ( 102 ) is preceded by a step of inserting the cable end ( 201 ) in a protective cylinder ( 103 ) of the cable termination ( 100 ), then provided with an electric field control portion ( 105 ).

15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the step of positioning the cable end ( 201 ) in the bend restrictor ( 300 ) is performed by:
using a bend restrictor ( 300 ) comprising connecting flanges/locking ( 302 ) and interconnected elements ( 301 ′, 301 ″, . . . ) made into two halves; placing the cable end ( 201 ) in a through channel ( 301 ) formed by one half of the connecting flanges/locking ( 302 ) and, sequentially, of each interconnected element ( 301 ′, 301 ″, . . . ); joining the two halves of the connecting flanges/locking ( 302 ) and, sequentially, of each interconnected element ( 301 ′, 301 ″, . . . ); connecting the connecting flanges/locking ( 302 ) and, sequentially, each interconnected element ( 301 ′, 301 ″ . . . ,) to a downstream element.

Assignees

• Prysmian Spa

Inventors

• Iadanza Andrea
• Boffi Paolo
• Sarti Christian

Classifications

• G01R31/083 Primary

  in cables, e.g. underground · CPC title

• H02G15/06

  Cable terminating boxes, frames or other structures · CPC title

• H02G15/007

  Devices for relieving mechanical stress · CPC title

• H01B7/1805

  Protections not provided for in groups H01B7/182 - H01B7/26 · CPC title

• H02G1/14

  for joining or terminating cables · CPC title