3D Laser Scanning for High-Voltage Cable Damage Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing damages in high voltage and medium voltage cables lack a reliable three-dimensional evaluation, making it difficult to determine the extent of damage and the quality of repairs, which can jeopardize the long-term performance of these cables.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a non-contact 3D surface scanner to capture and store 3D surface geometry measurement data, allowing for the evaluation of damages and the tracking of repair processes, enabling a go/no go criteria for repairs and providing data for future health checks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual measurement tools and photographic evidence are used for damage assessment, then the inspection process is simple and low-cost, but the measurement precision and three-dimensional assessment capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement tools with a laser scanner that uses optical fields to capture three-dimensional surface geometry data. This substitution enables precise 3D assessment of cable damages without requiring physical contact or complex manual measurement procedures, directly resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital 3D copy of the cable surface geometry through laser scanning. This digital replica allows for precise measurement and assessment of damages without physically manipulating the cable, providing accurate three-dimensional assessment capability while keeping the inspection process relatively simple.
2Reliability
If layers are removed bit by bit to assess damage extent, then the damage can be evaluated, but the inspection time and loss of cable material increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary 3D scanning of the cable surface before any dissection or layer removal occurs. This preliminary action captures the complete surface geometry including all damages, allowing for accurate damage evaluation without the need to progressively remove layers, thereby significantly reducing inspection time and material loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of removing layers with optical laser scanning that can penetrate or surface-map through the cable structure non-contactly. This substitution provides reliable damage evaluation while eliminating the time-consuming and material-intensive layer-by-layer dissection process.
3Reliability
If dissection and disassembly are performed to assess internal damages, then the extent of internal damage can be determined, but the cable assembly is destroyed and cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces destructive mechanical dissection with non-contact optical laser scanning. The laser scanner can assess both surface and internal damages through the cable structure without physical contact or disassembly, enabling reliable internal damage assessment while preserving the cable assembly for potential repair and reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a complete digital 3D copy of the cable assembly including internal structures. This digital twin allows for virtual dissection and assessment of internal damages without physically destroying the cable, maintaining the cable's integrity and reusability while providing accurate damage evaluation.
4Productivity
If repair processes are performed without 3D assessment, then the repair can be completed quickly, but the quality of repair and meeting acceptance criteria cannot be verified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary 3D scanning before repair to establish baseline damage geometry, and then performs follow-up scanning after repair to verify that the repaired surface meets acceptance criteria. This preliminary and follow-up action approach enables quality verification without significantly extending the overall repair timeline.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses digital 3D copying to create before-and-after models of the repair process. These digital copies allow for precise comparison and verification of repair quality against acceptance criteria, ensuring measurement precision while maintaining repair productivity through efficient digital analysis.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate 3D assessment of cable damages and repairs, ensuring the quality of restored cables and providing valuable data for future reference and health checks, improving the reliability and longevity of cable systems.
Implementation Method 1
moving a non-contact surface scanner about the cable end, measuring distance to the surface over the area of the surface by sequentially measuring a plurality of sub-areas of the area of the surface
Implementation Method 2
measuring distance to the surface over the area of the surface by sequentially measuring a plurality of sub-areas
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system is provided for inspecting damages to high voltage and/or medium voltage cables or cable components. The method and system captures and stores a set of 3-dimensional (3D) surface geometry measurement data of the area of interest of a surface of the cable or cable component by moving a 3D surface scanner about the cable over the area of interest, the captured 3D surface from step a) is inspected to evaluate if any damages are present, and if the inspection reveals a damage, a section of the cable body is removed. Steps a) to c) can be repeated until no damage is revealed and a 3D map of the damage can be provided.