Introduction

 

    Underground cables are a fundamental element in any energy system, as they allow energy to be transported and distributed to consumer points. Therefore, if cables fail they will cause inconvenience for consumers, who will not have their energy supplied, and for the operators, who will have their quality of service indicators affected (increased). For this reason, it is important to access cable behaviour in order to make asset management decisions, either to replace or refurbish existing cables. Cable failure is a rising concern among utilities, particularly underground cables, as they are harder access and are more costly to replace, as their installation is ten times higher than overhead lines.

 

    There has been a growth in energy network stress and demands, because of an increase in consumer demands and also due to an increase in quality of service standards and demands. So failures have become a worrying issue, because they worsen the quality of service indicators. Without understanding what the behaviour is and what the main causes are, as well as determining what the most affected regions are, it is not possible to develop an efficient action plan. This thesis intends to be a contribution for a better understanding of MV underground cable