Product Description

The Cable Thermal Cycling Test System is a high-current testing solution designed for thermal cycling, heating cycle, type testing, and prequalification testing of power cables and cable accessories. The system applies controlled high current to the cable conductor to raise the conductor temperature to the required test level and automatically maintains the programmed thermal cycle.

It is suitable for HV and EHV power cables, XLPE insulated cables, cable joints, cable terminations, submarine power cables, offshore wind power cables, and other cable systems requiring long-duration thermal performance verification.

The system can be engineered according to the customer's cable voltage class, conductor cross-section, cable length, required heating temperature, test duration, and applicable standards.

Typical configurations can include a high-current transformer, current regulator, temperature measurement system, automatic control cabinet, data acquisition system, cooling system, and safety protection system.

Current industry product pages commonly position cable thermal cycling equipment around IEC 60840 and IEC 62067, with applications covering type tests and long-duration prequalification tests.

Key Testing Functions

• Cable conductor heating and thermal cycling
• High-current heating test
• Automatic conductor temperature control
• Temperature rise and temperature stabilization testing
• Heating and cooling cycle testing
• Cable accessory thermal cycling
• HV/EHV cable type testing
• Cable prequalification testing
• Long-duration thermal aging evaluation
• Simultaneous thermal and electrical stress testing when configured with additional HV equipment
• Automatic test sequence control
• Real-time temperature monitoring
• Test data recording and export
• Over-temperature and over-current protection

Typical Applications

• HV power cable manufacturers
• EHV cable manufacturers
• XLPE cable production plants
• Cable accessory manufacturers
• Independent high-voltage testing laboratories
• Utility testing laboratories
• Power research institutes
• Submarine cable manufacturers
• Offshore wind cable manufacturers
• Cable type-test laboratories

Main Customer Pain Points

High power consumption:
Large cable conductors require substantial heating current. The system can be engineered with suitable current regulation and, where applicable, power-factor compensation to optimize the overall power requirement.

Unstable conductor temperature:
Manual temperature adjustment can cause temperature fluctuations and inconsistent test conditions. Automatic control helps maintain the programmed temperature profile.

Long test duration:
Thermal cycling and prequalification tests may run for extended periods. Automated control and data logging reduce continuous operator involvement.

Large cable samples:
HV/EHV cable testing requires customized fixtures, current capacity, cable length, and temperature measurement arrangements. The system can be designed according to the actual test specimen.

Difficult data management:
Automatic data acquisition allows engineers to record temperature, current, cycle time, and other test parameters for subsequent analysis and reporting.

FAQ

Q1: What cables can be tested?
A: The system can be designed for HV/EHV power cables, XLPE cables, cable accessories, submarine cables, offshore wind cables, and other high-current cable samples.

Q2: What standards can the system support?
A: Typical applications include IEC 60840 and IEC 62067. The system can also be engineered around other customer-specified standards and test procedures.

Q3: Can the system perform automatic thermal cycling?
A: Yes. Heating, temperature monitoring, cycle timing, and cooling sequences can be integrated into an automatic control system.

Q4: How is the required current determined?
A: It depends mainly on conductor cross-section, cable construction, target conductor temperature, cable length, ambient conditions, and required heating time.

Q5: Can high voltage be applied during thermal cycling?
A: Yes. With the appropriate test configuration and additional high-voltage equipment, the heated cable can be simultaneously subjected to AC, DC, or impulse voltage.