Failure of submarine cables used in high-voltage power transmission: Characteristics, mechanisms, key issues and prospects

This study reviews the failure of high-voltage submarine cables used in offshore power transmission and provides highlights of their failure characteristic, mechanisms, key issues and prospects. High-voltage submarine cables are designed and applied according to the high-voltage alternating current and high-voltage direct current requirements. Inevitably, the fault occurs in HV submarine cables that is different from that of an underground cable. External aggression remains the primary cause of faults, such as fishing and anchors. Most faults continue to occur at a shallow depth (300 m). The optical fiber inside the submarine cables plays a substantial role in the temperature and stress-strain monitoring and diagnosis. However, it is regarded as a weak point for electrical fault. Insulation breakdown is the leading reason for the short fault. The failure mechanism is complicated when associated with marine conditions. Some defects of insulation and extensive voids, water treeing, mechanical stress, partial discharges, overheating, and electrochemical erosion contribute to the insulation breakdown. Several key issues, including anchoring damage, treeing, defects, and thermal-electric ageing, are proposed. Prospects and new methods related to the cable failure, especially for insulation ageing by treeing and electrothermal effects, are also discussed.