SVL&PGCC Application

By

Mr.Don Bunnag
(Chief of Section)
Tel. 02-590-5586
E-mail : don.b@pea.mail.go.th
Power Systems Standard Division, Engineering Department, PEA

Topics

Definition & Background

Objective of SVL and PGCC
When SVL and PGCC are Required ?
Design & Installation of SVL and PGCC
Specification of SVL and PGCC

Definition & Background

Sheath voltage limiter (SVL): A surge
protective device connected between the
metallic shield/sheath and ground on
specially bonded cables to limit
shield/sheath overvoltages during
system transients.

Definition & Background

Ground continuity conductor (GCC): A
conductor laid parallel and in close
proximity to a cross-bonded or singlepoint bonded cable circuit to provide a
continuous metallic ground connection
between the grounding systems at the
ends of the cable route and along the
run.
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Definition & Background

With heavier loads on single conductor
cable circuits, shield circulating current
losses resulting from multipoint solidly
bonded and grounded systems can be
excessive for the intended application.
To mitigate these losses, alternative
shield grounding methods are available,
and these are collectively referred to as
special bonding techniques.
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Definition & Background

For single-conductor cable circuits
carrying currents in excess of about 500
A, special bonding is often economically
desirable as the reduction in losses
allows an appreciably smaller conductor
size to be used.

Definition & Background

Special bonding
Single point

Definition & Background

Special bonding
Cross bonding

Definition & Background

From an electrical standpoint, the principal
function of the power cable jacket on a
specially bonded cable system is to
electrically isolate the cable shield/sheath
from ground.

Objective of SVL and PGCC

It is well known that relatively high
shield/sheath transient voltages can occur
when transmission cable shields/sheaths
are single-point bonded or cross-bonded.
A study by Ontario Hydro reported that
the shield/sheath to ground voltages at
cross-bonding locations can reach 20% of
the magnitude of the incoming surge on
the main conductors
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Objective of SVL and PGCC

The transient overvoltages are typically
caused by the following
Lightning current impulses entering an
underground cable system from overhead
lines
Fault conditions
Switching transients, such as line
energization
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Objective of SVL and PGCC

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Objective of SVL and PGCC

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Objective of SVL and PGCC

Ures < 2.85x96 = 273.6 kV
20% of Ures = 0.2 x 273.6 = 54.72 kV
Sheath voltage limiters (SVLs)
commonly used to limit the voltage of the
cable shields/sheaths during transient
overvoltage conditions
have been developed to protect
shield/sheath sectionalizing insulators and
cable jackets from flashovers or punctures
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caused by transient overvoltages

When SVL and PGCC required?

For Single point bonding SVLs should
always be used if the expected surge
voltage level exceeds 75% of the BIL of
the jacket or of the shield/sheath
sectionalizing insulator.

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When SVL and PGCC required?

BIL of the jacket ?

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When SVL and PGCC required?

Ex.
75%
Of
60 kV
=
45 kV
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When SVL and PGCC required?

Since a single-point, bonded cable
shield/sheath is grounded at one position
only, during a ground fault on the power
system it cannot carry any of the
returning current. This being so, unless
some parallel external conductor is
available or is provided to serve as an
alternative path, the return current can
flow only by way of the ground itself.
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When SVL and PGCC required?

PGCC
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When SVL and PGCC required?

Because the resistivity of the ground is
very high compared with that of good
conductors, the return current is widely
diffused through the ground and the
mean effective depth of the current is
hundreds of meters deep. Because the
returning current path is significantly
remote from the cable, the voltage
induced along parallel conductors tend to
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be very high.

When SVL and PGCC required?

Cason Theory

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When SVL and PGCC required?

Return conductor located at distance
Dad below the over head line

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When SVL and PGCC required?

Accordingly, it is recommended that
single-point bonded and multiple singlepoint bonded cable installations be
provided with a parallel GCC that is
grounded at both ends of the route.

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When SVL and PGCC required?

The principal advantage of cross bonding is
that, while induced shield/sheath currents
are inhibited during normal balanced load
operation, the shields/sheaths do form a
continuous path from end to end of the
cable circuit and are grounded at both
ends. Shield/sheath currents can, therefore,
flow during ground faults, and the necessity
for the parallel GCC is removed.
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When SVL and PGCC required?

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When SVL and PGCC required?

Although a GCC is not required for
cross-bonded systems since the cable
shields/sheaths form an end-to-end path
for fault currents, many utilities do install
GCCs to insure a solid end-to-end
conductor, and to give a low impedance
connection point for grounding the
shield/sheath voltage limiters and cable
shields/sheaths in vaults.
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Design and Installation

Selection of SVL
suitable for standing voltage under load
dissipate the transient overvoltage energy
withstand the overvoltages resulting from
system faults
maximum time should be specified for the
duration of the overvoltage resulting from
fault currents
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Design and Installation

MOVs have a limited capacity to absorb
energy, being a thermally limited device,
and are not designed to carry the actual
50 Hz/60 Hz fault current. They must be
sized to withstand fault-current
overvoltages due to system faults
external to the cable.

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Design and Installation

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Design and Installation

For Single Point Bonding

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Design and Installation

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Design and Installation

Phase

Ifg(A)

E(V) at 154 m

Ea

3351.2

307.939

Eb

3351.2

308.6255

Ec

3351.2

315.4848

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Design and Installation

MOVs can allow jacket testing without
the need to physical disconnect the SVL.
Care must be exercised to stay below
the temporary overvoltage capability of
the MOV device to prevent damage
during high-voltage diagnostic testing.

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Design and Installation

Transient Over Voltage

Volt (kV) Approx.

BIL Jacket

30-60

Lightning

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Switching

75 % BIL Jacket/Ures of SVL

22.5-45

A.C. withstand of jacket

(10-20)

Sizing of SVL

?(5<Uc<10)

Fault

0.315
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Design and Installation

For Cross Bonding

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Design and Installation

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Design and Installation

For Double Circuit (Symmetry)

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Design and Installation

For any cable formation

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Design and Installation

Location of SVL (Single Point bonding)
the end that is liable to be subjected to the higher
incoming transient voltages, due to lightning or
switching, should be grounded.
when the ground resistance is very much lower at
one end, it is preferable to ground the
shield/sheath at that end instead.
It may also be preferable to install the
shield/sheath voltage limiter inside a substation or
other protected location, since there is some risk
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of explosive failure of the limiter.

Design and Installation

Location of Link box (Cross-bonding)
In direct-buried installations, cross-bonding
connections are made with links in surface link
boxes, so that individual cable shields/sheaths
can readily be isolated for voltage testing of cable
jackets.
In tunnels or other installations where the joints
are in vaults, the shield/sheath voltage limiters
should be connected across the shield/sheath
sectionalizing insulators with relatively short leads
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whenever feasible.

Design and Installation

Bonding Lead for SVL (Connection
between SVLs and the shield/sheath of a
power cable)
Lead Lengh
Up to 3 m
3-10 m
10-15 m
> 15 m

Cable
Single conductor
Twisted Single Conductor
Coaxial
Should be avoided
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Design and Installation

Bonding Lead for SVL
it is desirable to keep bonding lead lengths
as short as possible to provide proper
protection against steep fronted
overvoltages
should preferably use a low surge
impedance coaxial cable design.
should be as a minimum insulated as 600 V
class cables
sized based on fault current duty (especially
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for cross bonding)

Design and Installation

500 kcmil Approx. 250 sq.mm.

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Design and Installation

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Design and Installation

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Design and Installation

The spacing of PGCC conductor from
the cable circuit should be sufficiently
close to limit the voltage rise of the
shield/sheath to an acceptable level
during a single-phase fault.
The size of this conductor must be
adequate to carry the full, expected fault
current for the cable system.
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Design and Installation

Sizing of PGCC

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Design and Installation

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Design and Installation

The parallel GCC is usually insulated so
as to avoid any corrosion risk since it will
be subjected to voltage induction from
the power cables.
To avoid circulating currents and losses
in this conductor, it is preferable, when
the power cables are not transposed, to
transpose the parallel GCC as shown
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Design and Installation

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Design and Installation

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Design and Installation

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Specification of SVL & PGCC

The surge energy and 50 Hz/60 Hz
voltages, to which the resistor is
subjected, dictate the required
characteristics of the limiter.
Distribution class arresters are often
adequate for the surge energy
requirements when selected to withstand
the power-frequency fault voltage without
discharging.
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Specification of SVL & PGCC

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Specification of SVL & PGCC

Spec PEAs Arrester

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Specification of SVL & PGCC

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Specification of SVL & PGCC

Brugg Cable

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Specification of SVL & PGCC

ABB

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Specification of SVL & PGCC

Precise

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Specification of SVL & PGCC

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References
IEEE 575-2014
IEC 60949
Paul M. Anderson, Analysis of Faulted Power
Systems, IEEE PRESS Power System
Engineering Series
Jonathan Woodworth The Sheath Voltage
Limiter www.arresterworks.com

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Any Question ?

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