Smart Cable Guard is a sensor-based digital monitoring platform for medium-voltage cable networks. Combing sensor technology and a machine-learning algorithm with 24/7 support, it detects and locates faults and weak spots in (underground) power cables with unprecedented accuracy.

Smart Cable Guard does not just locate faults that have already happened, it also detects the preceding warning signs of a fault developing before it disrupts your supply, based on partial discharges. And it does both with the same unrivalled accuracy. This allows you to reroute power as necessary and schedule maintenance to repair or replace the cable without a costly power outage ever happening.

Each Smart Cable Guard system comprises two Sensor Units and two Control Units. One Sensor Unit and one Control Unit is installed at each end (termination or sealing end) of the cable to be monitored, potentially covering multiple cable sections. The Sensor Units are enhanced High Frequency Current Transformers that detect and measure high-frequency pulses coming from faults and partial discharges. They also inject small pulses into the cable for time synchronization required to accurately pinpoint the weak spot or fault location. The Control Unit handles the measured data and sends it via a wireless connection to one of our Smart Cable Guard control centres for processing.

Partial discharges are a result of small impurities, voids or damages in a power cable’s insulation and can further degrade the insulation to the point of (full) short circuit. High partial discharge activity is a good indicator of weak spots in an underground cable. However, data is not information and partial discharge activity can be sporadic, disappearing for days or weeks at a time, making it difficult to pick up. In fact 99% of partial discharge measured is noise resulting from switching actions, connected loads and generators or even lighting. Therefore, smart and efficient noise reduction is crucial.

Read more about this project