Condition assessment of unshielded aged power and control cables byelectrical techniques

Experience with electrical diagnostic and high-potential tests, performed at the terminals of unshielded cables in older nuclear and thermal plants is presented. The three basic types of cable-low- and high-voltage power cables, control cables and instrumentation cables-that are important to the reliable operation of a generating station and large industrial plants are described, and their aging mechanisms are indicated. Dielectric testing of unshielded cables, the effect of grounding, field testing of station cables, and insulation characterization at low frequencies are discussed