Remaining Useful Life Estimation for Underground Cable Systems Based on Historical Health Index

In this paper, a modeling method for estimating the remaining useful life (RUL) of aged underground cable systems is proposed that uses statistical health index (HI) and operating factor (OF) data of retired systems. The HI is an indicator which identifies the condition of an underground cable system and its components and is calculated from testing and inspection results. The OF takes actual operating conditions and technical data from the system into consideration. Both factors are then combined to determine the overall health index (OHI) of each system. For RUL estimation of underground cable systems, normal distribution and Weibull distribution analyses are first applied to determine a health index curve and an aging line. The relationship between these two curves gives an estimate of the system’s apparent age. The RUL of the system is then calculated in terms of the difference between its apparent age and its actual chronological age. In this study, thirteen retired systems and ten operating systems were evaluated and analyzed, and accurate results were obtained. Using the methods described here, the apparent age and the RUL of underground cable systems can be accurately estimated. Finally, a maintenance strategy for underground cable systems is recommended, which promises more efficient maintenance and greater cost-effectiveness in the management of underground cable systems.