Watertight Cable Designs in Hydropower Generation Plants

This paper considers the problems with induced currents in copper screens and aluminium laminate, consequences and improvements for a 24 kV watertight XLPE cable system. Repeated faults on a heavily loaded new cable system installed for the generators of a Norwegian hydropower generation station resulted in serious doubts about the performance and life expectancy of the installed system. At times during the project, a full replacement with new cables was seriously discussed. The costs involved would; however, be substantial. Hence a team consisting of parties involved was set up with the aim to try to come up with a reliable solution to avoid replacement of the cable system.