Patent ID: 7146745

Claim:
A system for in situ moisture removal from high voltage underground electrical power distribution cables, said system comprising: at least one insulated electrical cable having a core comprising a plurality of conductor strands disposed in an abutting relation to one another and defining a plurality of interstices therebetween, an outer insulation jacket disposed in a overlying and fluid tight relation about said core, said cable having spaced apart end zones, each of said end zones comprising a portion of said core extending axially outward from a corresponding portion of said outer insulation jacket, a plurality of electrical cabinets, each of said end zones disposed in a different one of said plurality of electrical cabinets to facilitate interconnection to or termination of said at least one insulated electrical cable therein, an upstream terminator having a cable receiving recess therein structured and disposed to operatively engage an upstream end zone of said cable in a fluid sealing engagement, said operative engagement at least partially defined by said receiving recess of said upstream terminator structured to completely receive said portion of said core extending axially outward and said corresponding portion of said outer insulation jacket therein without compromising said fluid tight relation between said outer insulation jacket and said core, an upstream port interconnected to said upstream terminator and disposed in fluid communication with said cable receiving recess thereof, a drying gas supply disposed in fluid communication with said upstream port structured to transfer drying gas into said insulated electrical cable via said upstream port while said cable is energized, said drying gas flowing through said interstices of said core of said cable along a length thereof, a downstream end zone of said cable structured to permit said drying gas to discharge from said cable, and said portion of said core extending axially outward from said corresponding portion of said outer insulation jacket of at least said upstream end zone comprises a diametrically tapped hole therein.