The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has upgraded its high voltage electrical laboratory to be capable of testing 66kV cable systems as well as 33kV.
The UKAS accredited lab now includes as automated control system and the 600kV resonant transformer has a 150kV power rating.
ORE Catapult said this means the reactor has both the required high voltage and power capacity to carry out automated step-breakdown testing of 66kV cable systems using water terminations.
It added that the lab is capable of exerting up to 20 times the operating stresses on the cable.
The highly accelerated lifetime test is used to instigate breakdown across the cable insulation, enabling the qualification of new wet-type cable systems and the assessment of the degradation of cable insulation systems.
ORE Catapult asset & business development manager Alex Neumann said: “This upgrade represents a significant step-up for the HV laboratory, allowing the business to provide a unique service to the market.
“This new service enables the cost-effective development of new technology and complements the accelerated lifetime test work that we have developed with our clients to fast-track their product’s development and availability.”
JDR Cables product development director Jeremy Featherstone said: “This capability will allow us to move to 66kV inter-array power supply which is a key driver to ensuring future offshore renewable energy development is cost-effective and reliable.”
Image: JDR cables
