UNDERGROUND CABLES

Introduction
• Generally electric Cables consists of
Conductors :Stranded copper or aluminum
conductors (as illustrated in OHTL)

Insulation: to insulate the conductors from

direct contact or contact with earth

External protection: against ………

Overhead Lines Versus Underground Cables
1- The insulation cost is more in case of cables
as compared to O.H.T Lines and depends on
operating voltage of cable.
kV : 0.4 11 33 66 132 220 400
Cost ratio: 2 3 5 7 9 13 24
2- The erection cost of O.H.T lines is much less than
the underground cables.
3- Inductive reactance of O.H.T. Lines is more, so the
voltage regulation is better in case of
underground cables (Low voltage drop).
 4- Capacitance and charging current is high in case of
underground cables.
C Xc = 1/ωC
Charging current (Ich)= V/Xc = ωC.V
For long distance power transmission, the charging
current is very high results in over voltages problems.
Its not recommended to transfer power for
a long distance using underground cables.

5- Current carrying capacity is more in case of O.H.T

Lines conductors (better cooling conditions) for the
same power transmission. Therefore, low cross
sectional area and cost for O.H.T Lines conductors.
6- Underground cables give greater safety, so it
can be used in:
- cities and densely populated area.
- water crossing.
- Power stations and substations.
- Airports.
 Cable Construction
1- Conductors (Cores)
● Stranded aluminum or copper conductors
● Conductors with high conductivity and low
resistance.
2- Insulation: to insulate the conductors from
direct contact or contact with earth.
3- Screening (Insulator shielding):
semi-conductor material to uniformly
distribute the electric field on insulator.
4- filling material.
5- Metallic sheath: A sheath made of lead or
aluminum or cupper is applied over the
insulation to prevent moisture or chemicals
from entering the insulation.
6- Armour: Bars of steel to increase the
mechanical strength of cable.
7- Outer cover to protect the metal parts of
cables ( rubber).
22kv Medium Voltage Underground XLPE Power Cable
 11kv Copper Core and Shield Power Cable 25mm

http://jpcable99.en.made-in-china.com/product/KMVEouLAhBRW/China-11kv-
Copper-Core-and-Shield-Power-Cable-25mm.html
500 Kv High Voltage XLPE Cable (YJLW02/ YJLW03)
 Properties of Insulating Material
 High resistivity.
 High dielectric strength.
 Low thermal co-efficient.
 Low water absorption.
 Low permittivity.
 Non – inflammable.
 Chemical stability.
 High mechanical strength.
 High viscosity at impregnation temperature.
 Capability to with stand high rupturing voltage.
 High tensile strength and plasticity.
 Insulating Materials for Cables

1. Rubber
It can be obtained from milky sap of tropical trees or from oil products
It has the dielectric strength of 30 KV/mm.
Insulation resistivity of 10 17 Ω-cm
Relative permittivity varying between 2 and 3.
They readily absorbs moisture, soft and liable to damage due to rough
handling and ages when exposed to light.
Maximum safe temperature is very low about 380 C
Insulating Materials for Cables (continued..)
2. Vulcanized India Rubber(VIR)
It can be obtained from mixing pure rubber with mineral compounds i-e

zinc oxide, red lead and sulphur and heated upto 150 0C.

It has greater mechanical strength, durability and wear resistant property.

The sulphur reacts quickly with copper so tinned copper conductors are used.

It is suitable for low and moderate voltage cables.

 Insulating Materials for Cables (continued..)
3. Impregnated Paper
 This material has superseded the rubber, consists of chemically pulped
paper impregnated with napthenic and paraffinic materials.

 It has low cost, low capacitance, high dielectric strength and high
insulation resistance.

 The only disadvantage is the paper is hygroscopic, for this reason

paper insulation is always provided protective covering.
Insulating Materials for Cables (continued..)

4. Varnished Cambric
 This is simply the cotton cloth impregnated and coated with
varnish.

 As the varnish cambric is also hygroscopic so need some protection.

 Its dielectric strength is about 4KV / mm and permittivity is 2.5 to

3.8.
Insulating Materials for Cables (continued ..)

5. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

 This material has good dielectric strength, high insulation resistance
and high melting temperatures.

 These have not so good mechanical properties as those of rubber.

 It is inert to oxygen and almost inert to many alkalis and acids.

 Insulating Materials for Cables
(continues..)
6. XLPE Cables (Cross Linked Poly-ethene)
 This material has temperature range beyond 2500 – 3000 C

 This material gives good insulating properties

 It is light in weight, small overall dimensions, low dielectric constant

and high mechanical strength, low water absorption.

 These cables permit conductor temperature of 90 C and 250 C under

normal and short circuit conditions.

 These cables are suitable up to voltages of 33 KV.

 CLSSIFICATION OF CABLES
• Low tension (L.T) ----- up to 1000V

• High tension (H.T) ----- up to 11, 000V

• Super tension (S.T) ---- from 22KV to 33KV

• Extra high tension (E.H.T) cables --- from

33KV to 66KV

• Extra super voltage cables ------beyond

132KV
Low Tension
Cable
Extra High Tension
Cable
 3- Core Cables

1.Belted cables UP TO 22KV

2.Screened cables H-type & SL -type

UPTO 66KV
3.Pressure cables Oil filled, Gas pressure &
Gas Insulated.
ABOVE 66KV
 3- Core Cables (continued…)
1. BELTED CABLES:
In these cables the conductors are wrapped with oil
impregnated paper, and then cores are assembled with filler
material. The assembly is enclosed by paper insulating belt.

These can be used for voltages up to 11KV or in some cases

can be used up to 22KV.

High voltages beyond 22KV, the tangential stresses becomes

an important consideration leads to have leakage currents.

This leakage current causes local heating, resulting breaking

of insulation at any moment
3-core belted
Cable
 3- Core Cables (continued…)

2. SCREENED CABLES:
• These can be used up to 33kv but in certain
cases can be extended up to 66kv.
• These are mainly of two types

H-type and

S.L type cables

 3- Core Cables (continued…)
H-TYPE Cables:
• Designed by H. Hochstadter.
• Each core is insulated by layer of impregnated paper.
• The insulation on each core is covered with a metallic
screen which is usually of perforated aluminum foil.
• The cores are laid in such a way that metallic screen
make contact with one another.
• Basic advantage of H-TYPE is that the perforation in
the metallic screen assists in the complete
impregnation of the cable with the compound and
thus the possibility of air pockets or voids in the
dielectric is eliminated.
• The metallic screen increase the heat dissipation
power of the cable.
3- Core Cables (H-Type)
 3- Core Cables (continued…)
S.L - Type: (Separate Lead)
• Each core insulation is covered by its own lead
sheath.
• It has two main advantages, firstly the separate
sheath minimize the possibility of core-to-core
breakdown. Secondly the, bending of cables
become easy due to the elimination of over all
sheath.
• The disadvantage is that the lead sheaths of S.L
is much thinner as compared to H-Type cables,
therefore for greater care is required in
manufacturing.
3- Core Cables (S.L. Type)
 3- Core Cables (continued…)
3. Pressurized Type Cables
• In these cables, pressure is maintained above
atmosphere either by oil or by gas.

• Oil filled cables are used up to 275KV.

• Gas pressure cables are used up to 500KV.

 3- Core Cables (continued…)
Oil Filled Cables
• Low viscosity oil is kept under pressure and
fills the voids in oil impregnated paper under
all conditions of varying load.

• There are three main types of oil filled cables

a. Self-contained circular type
b. Self-contained flat type
c. Pipe Type cables
3- Core Cables (Oil filled)
 3- Core Cables (continued…)
Advantages of Oil Filled Cables
• Greater operating dielectric stresses
• Greater working temperature and
current carrying capacity
• Better impregnation
• Impregnation is possible after sheath
• No void formation
• Smaller size of cable due to reduced
dielectric thickness
• Defect can easily be detected by oil leakage
 3- Core Cables (continued…)
Gas Pressure Cables
In these cables an inert gas like nitrogen is used to exert
pressure on paper dielectric to prevent void formation.
 These are also termed as Compression cables

 They insulated cores similar to solid type

 The cable is inserted in a pressure vessel which may be a

rigid steel pipe, commonly known as pipe line compression
cable.

 The nitrogen gas is filled in vessel at nominal pressure of

1.38 X 106 N/m2 with a maximum pressure of 1.725 X
6 2
3- Core Cables (Gas pressure)
 3- Core Cables (continued…)
Gas Insulated Cables (GIC)
• In GIC cables high pressuresulphur
Hexaflouride (SF6), fills the small spaces in oil
impregnated paper insulation and suppresses
the ionization.

• Most EHV and UHV lines insulated with sulphur

hexaflouride (SF6) gas are being used extensively
for voltages above 132 KV up to 1200 KV.

• These cables are very popular for short lengths,

river crossings and high way crossings.
Gas Insulated Cables (GIC)
 3- Core Cables (continued…)
Advantages of G I C
Gas Insulated Cables have several advantages
over oil filled cables,
• Efficient heat transfer hence can carry more
current.
• Low dielectric loss and low capacitance
• SF6 gas is non-toxic, chemically stable and
non-inflamable.
• Terminations of GIC cables are simpler and
cheaper.