Moisture Localization and Diagnosis Method for Power Distribution Cables Based on Dynamic Frequency Domain Reflectometry

Moisture ingress in power distribution cable bodies can lead to insulation degradation, jeopardizing the operational safety of power grids. However, current cable maintenance technologies lack effective diagnostic methods for identifying moisture defects in cable bodies. To address this gap, this pa...

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Main Authors: Hongzhou Zhang, Kai Zhou, Xiang Ren, Yefei Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2430
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author Hongzhou Zhang
Kai Zhou
Xiang Ren
Yefei Xu
author_facet Hongzhou Zhang
Kai Zhou
Xiang Ren
Yefei Xu
author_sort Hongzhou Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Moisture ingress in power distribution cable bodies can lead to insulation degradation, jeopardizing the operational safety of power grids. However, current cable maintenance technologies lack effective diagnostic methods for identifying moisture defects in cable bodies. To address this gap, this paper proposes a dynamic frequency domain reflectometry (D-FDR) method for moisture localization and diagnosis in power distribution cables. Leveraging the temperature-sensitive nature of moisture defects—in contrast to the temperature-insensitive characteristics of other defects—the method involves the application of thermal excitation to induce differential dynamic changes in the distributed capacitance of moisture-affected cable segments compared to normal segments, enabling the precise identification and diagnosis of moisture ingress. Simulations and experiments confirm that moisture ingress in cable bodies increases the distributed capacitance, generating reflection peaks at corresponding distances on frequency domain localization plots. Under thermal excitation, the reflection peak amplitude of moisture defects exhibits a temperature-dependent decrease, distinct from the behavior of intact cables (amplitude increase) and copper shielding layer damage (negligible variation). By utilizing the dynamic characteristics of reflection peak amplitudes as diagnostic criteria, this method is able to accurately localize and diagnose moisture defects in cable bodies.
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spelling doaj-art-1a36c098f73d4790b76bdfb5ff4d25042025-08-20T03:14:31ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-05-011810243010.3390/en18102430Moisture Localization and Diagnosis Method for Power Distribution Cables Based on Dynamic Frequency Domain ReflectometryHongzhou Zhang0Kai Zhou1Xiang Ren2Yefei Xu3College of Electrical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaCollege of Electrical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaElectric Power Research Institute State Grid Hubei Electric Power Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430048, ChinaCollege of Electrical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaMoisture ingress in power distribution cable bodies can lead to insulation degradation, jeopardizing the operational safety of power grids. However, current cable maintenance technologies lack effective diagnostic methods for identifying moisture defects in cable bodies. To address this gap, this paper proposes a dynamic frequency domain reflectometry (D-FDR) method for moisture localization and diagnosis in power distribution cables. Leveraging the temperature-sensitive nature of moisture defects—in contrast to the temperature-insensitive characteristics of other defects—the method involves the application of thermal excitation to induce differential dynamic changes in the distributed capacitance of moisture-affected cable segments compared to normal segments, enabling the precise identification and diagnosis of moisture ingress. Simulations and experiments confirm that moisture ingress in cable bodies increases the distributed capacitance, generating reflection peaks at corresponding distances on frequency domain localization plots. Under thermal excitation, the reflection peak amplitude of moisture defects exhibits a temperature-dependent decrease, distinct from the behavior of intact cables (amplitude increase) and copper shielding layer damage (negligible variation). By utilizing the dynamic characteristics of reflection peak amplitudes as diagnostic criteria, this method is able to accurately localize and diagnose moisture defects in cable bodies.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2430power distribution cablesdynamic frequency domain reflectometrycable body moisture ingressthermal excitationcapacitance variation
spellingShingle Hongzhou Zhang
Kai Zhou
Xiang Ren
Yefei Xu
Moisture Localization and Diagnosis Method for Power Distribution Cables Based on Dynamic Frequency Domain Reflectometry
Energies
power distribution cables
dynamic frequency domain reflectometry
cable body moisture ingress
thermal excitation
capacitance variation
title Moisture Localization and Diagnosis Method for Power Distribution Cables Based on Dynamic Frequency Domain Reflectometry
title_full Moisture Localization and Diagnosis Method for Power Distribution Cables Based on Dynamic Frequency Domain Reflectometry
title_fullStr Moisture Localization and Diagnosis Method for Power Distribution Cables Based on Dynamic Frequency Domain Reflectometry
title_full_unstemmed Moisture Localization and Diagnosis Method for Power Distribution Cables Based on Dynamic Frequency Domain Reflectometry
title_short Moisture Localization and Diagnosis Method for Power Distribution Cables Based on Dynamic Frequency Domain Reflectometry
title_sort moisture localization and diagnosis method for power distribution cables based on dynamic frequency domain reflectometry
topic power distribution cables
dynamic frequency domain reflectometry
cable body moisture ingress
thermal excitation
capacitance variation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2430
work_keys_str_mv AT hongzhouzhang moisturelocalizationanddiagnosismethodforpowerdistributioncablesbasedondynamicfrequencydomainreflectometry
AT kaizhou moisturelocalizationanddiagnosismethodforpowerdistributioncablesbasedondynamicfrequencydomainreflectometry
AT xiangren moisturelocalizationanddiagnosismethodforpowerdistributioncablesbasedondynamicfrequencydomainreflectometry
AT yefeixu moisturelocalizationanddiagnosismethodforpowerdistributioncablesbasedondynamicfrequencydomainreflectometry