Laboratory Tests Terminations and Line

Hardware

The business of laboratory-based testing of electrical components and equipment has

undergone dramatic change over the past decade. With the deregulation and liberalization of
electric utilities has come a significantly different philosophy in management of electricity
supply typically one which has undervalued the role of ongoing research & development.
This in turn has required many laboratories to refocus their efforts away from basic R&D
activities and more toward applied problem-solving as well as testing conformity with
international standards. There has also been a painful adjustment process as the laboratory
industry worldwide was forced to adjust capacity downward.
According to Raymond Lings, General Manager at Toronto-based Kinectrics, this situation is
now beginning to reverse itself as the utility industry is increasingly recognizing the need to
invest in order to meet reliability requirements. In addition, he sees that some large utilities
are again trying to be the first in their industry to adopt improved solutions. He even sees a
growing interest by what he calls the second tier utilities to benefit from the services offered
by laboratories.
Lings, who recently came to Kinectrics from EPRI in the United States, expects that his
laboratory will be in a strong position to benefit from this emerging trend. We see ourselves
well-positioned, he says, because we touch on the research side but also have the ability to
see real-world applications. Until a few years ago, Kinectrics was known as Ontario Hydro
Technologies and, as a subsidiary of Ontario Hydro (now Hydro One) was intimately
involved in issues relating to operating one of North Americas largest electrical networks.

Set-up for testing 230 kV terminations.

Among the areas where Lings already sees a growing demand is cable testing. The demand
for such mostly practical-based testing is apparently coming equally from utilities and
suppliers of cables and accessories.
For example, at the time of the visit by INMR, Kinectrics engineers were involved in a test
program involving 230 kV cable terminations destined for a large utility located in the
Middle East. Sr. Engineer, Ziqin Li, explains that impulse strength and AC withstand are
being tested as well as the IEEE heat-cycling requirement which involves 30 cycles during
which the rate of temperature rise and drop is carefully controlled.
He points out that the required combination of high voltage and high current needed for such
testing is generally not easy for many laboratories to achieve since it is difficult to manage
such power levels simultaneously. He also notes that unlike laboratories which utilize a test
transformer unable to supply continuous high current, Kinectrics relies instead on an on-site
power source to do both continuously and reliably. Li notes that since cables are very
sensitive to overvoltage and temperature, it is very important that the test set-up be done
correctly. Otherwise, the insulation risks being damaged from unanticipated stress.

Corona testing of hardware configurations for 765 kV line.

Another recent project at Kinectrics involved corona testing of hardware for EHV lines. For
example, the laboratory was involved in measuring corona of different configurations of six
bundle conductors for a new 765 kV line in the United States. Normally, such testing indoors
might require a very large enclosed structure. However, Li explains that using the gradient
testing approach, the required test set-up just fit within the buildings dimensions. This
approach relies on a metallic ball clipped to the conductor and which goes into corona very
easily. This is then used to establish the relationship between line supply voltage and the
gradient which will put this ball into corona. Size of these spheres changes according to
conductor size. Conducting a real test with tower windows, says Li, would be very expensive
and not easily feasible since it would be heavily dependent on weather.