Case Study

IMCORP is the leading provider of power cable reliability assessment services for medium and high voltage power cable systems of new cable installations and aged cable assets. We assess shielded power cable and accessories from 5kV to 500kV. In our more than 19 years in business, we have assessed over 140 million feet of cable systems across 4 continents. Our goal is to partner with our clients, achieve the maximum reliability attainable at the lowest total cost. Our assessment is non-destructive, requires no hazardous materials, and is a cost effective alternative to cable replacement.

Our Factory Grade® technology produces results exceeding the cable manufacturers' quality standards. We identify the precise cable system Rehabilitation requirements, allowing the customer to Certify their cable systems to like new condition.

Defect Blog

Airport Power System Protected From Systemic Installation Defects

IMCORP Enables Utility to Fix Components and Upgrade Installation Instructions

OVERVIEW
Major utility uses IMCORP Factory Grade® technology to pinpoint installation errors in critical airport feeders
CHALLENGE
Joints were failing and typical commissioning tests could not explain why
RESULTS
IMCORP’s Factory Grade^® technology identified installation errors and utility changes installation instructions and training to minimize reoccurance

One of our utility clients asked us to assist in identifying the root cause for the multiple joint failures on a new airport feeder. Initial assessments with IMCORP’s Factory Grade® technology revealed several substandard cold shrink joints. The utility asked IMCORP and the manufacturer to provide dissection and root cause analysis.

The dissections and root cause analysis identified insufficient void filling compound, and joint body damage. These issues caused void and stress enhancements inside the joint. Voids and stress enhancements in the presence of sufficient voltage stress gives rise to partial discharge, erosion, electrical treeing and eventually failure.

The utility and manufacturer’s instructions explained to “lubricate the cable insulation up to the semi-con cutback”. The word lubricate likely mislead the installers into thinking a thin coat of void filler would be sufficient when actually a thick bead is needed to fill the semicon cutback step and eliminate interfacial voids.
The utility learned the value of a Factory Grade® assessment and information. By partnering with IMCORP our client utility gained Precision Reliability™ information about their airport circuit, their joint performance, and insights into enhancing their installation instructions and training.

Fig 1&2 Insufficient blue void fller observed at the criticially important semicon cutback