Cable Conductance Estimation Method Based on Reflectometry

This paper proposes a optimization method for estimating the conductance of cable insulation, a parameter closely related to the dielectric losses and overall health of the cable. The proposed method utilizes a stepped frequency waveform reflectometry technique, which injects a frequency range of sinusoidal signals into the cable and analyzes the reflected signals to assess the attenuation and phase shift caused by the cable's physical and electrical properties. By optimizing the conductance based on the measured reflection coefficients and applying the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm to minimize errors, the method accurately estimates the internal conductance of the cable's insulation layer. The ability to quantitatively assess and monitor conductance over time provides a valuable tool for early detection of insulation degradation and prediction of remaining cable life.