EVALUATION OF HVDC CABLES FOR THE ST-LAWRENCE-RIVER CROSSING OF HYDRO-QUEBEC 500-KV DC LINE .2. CABLE TESTING FACILITY FOR DIELECTRIC AND ACCELERATED AGING

This paper describes the new cable testing facility at IREQ for long-term accelerated aging tests on HV cables. This test facility was required as part of an extensive program to evaluate the high-voltage cables for the river crossing of Hydro-Quebec's new transmission lines rated 800 kV AC and +/- 500 kV DC. The first application was for the evaluation of self-contained oil-filled (SCOF) cables for the St. Lawrence river crossing of the +/- 500 kV Quebec-New England HVDC power transmission system. The paper also describes the specific dielectric constraints resulting from the insertion of a short length of cable into a long line and, also, the circuits developed for the special tests, which reproduce the specific cable test conditions.