Underground Power

Transmission
 Insulation:
The conductors of a cable have to be covered by an insulation to isolate
the conductors from each other and from the surrounding
Properties of Insulating Material
The insulating materials used in cables should have the following
properties
High insulation resistance to avoid leakage current.
High dielectric strength to avoid electrical breakdown of the cables.
High mechanical strength to withstand the mechanical handling of
cables and should be able to withstand temperatures from 30 0C to over
100oC.
Non inflammable.
Non hygroscopic i.e. it should not absorb moisture from air or soil.
Unaffected by acids and alkalies to avoid any chemical action.
Insulating Materials for Cables
Vulcanized India Rubber (DEVELOPED IN 1870)
It is prepared by mixing pure rubber with mineral compounds i-e
zinc oxide, red lead and 3 5% of sulphur.
The compound is so formed is rolled into thin sheets and cut into
strips.
The rubber compound is then applied to the conductor and is
heated to a temperature of about 1500C.
The whole process is called Vulcanization and the product obtained
is called as (VIR)
It has greater 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.
The dielectric strength - 10-20 kV/mm.
Dielectric constant 2.5.
Elastomer Insulated cables:
Elastomeric Insulation includes rubber, butyl rubber, silicone
rubber and ethylene propylene rubber.
Elastomers rubber like characteristics. (compounding basic
polymer with selective additives).
Polychloroprene or Neoprene (polymerization of chloroprene)
MORE RESISTANT TO OUTDOOR WEATHERING
Tem 60oC.
Butyl rubber (copolymer of isobutylene and a small quantity of
isoprene) - MORE RESISTANT TO OXIDATION
Ethylene propylene rubber( saturated copolymer of ethylene and
peopylene) - RESISTANT TO OZONE HEAT AND CHEMICALS.
Both BR & EPR - Tem 85oC
 Polythene insulated cables
Straight chain polymer derived from ethylene.
Advantgaes - Low dielectric constant and high
resistivty.
Uses manufacture of high frequency cables.
3 core 11 kV self supporting aerial cable used
for rural distribution.
Due to low weight it can be suspended from the
existing low voltage poles.
 XLPE Cables ( Cross linked polythene cables)
Low density polythene, when vulcanized under controlled
conditions cross linking of carbon atoms cross-linked
polythene.
Does not melt but carbonizes at 250-300oC.
ADVANTAGES:
1. Low dielectric constant
2. Good mechanical strength.
3. These cables permit conductor
temp. of 90oC at normal condition.
Temp. of 250oC at short circuit.
4. Can be buried directly in soil as this insulation has low
water absorption
5. Voltages upto 33 kV.
 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Is a synthetic material obtained from acetylene.
Form of white power which is odourless, tasteless, chemically
inert, non inflammable, insoluable in ordinary temperatures in
all liquids.
In pure form its rigid and brittle at low temperature.
combined with plasticier to form gel and make the material
plastic over the desired range of temperature.
Advantages:
inert to oxygen and oils and acids and alkalies.
Disadvantages:
Low resistant
 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

A cable may have one or more than one core depending upon the type of service
for application. It may be,
Single Core
Two Core
Three Core
Four Core
Low tension (L.T) ----- up to
1000V
 3- Core Cables
Solid Type Cables

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.
As the insulation resistance of paper is quite small along the layer, therefore
tangential stress set up, hence, leakage current along the layer of the paper
insulation.
This leakage current causes local heating, resulting breaking of insulation at any
moment.
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
a. 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.
b. 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.
 Pressurized Type Cables
In these cables pressure is maintained above atmosphere either by oil or by
gas.
Gas pressure cables are used up to 275KV.
Oil filled cables are used up to 500KV.
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-contined circular type
b. Self-contained flat type
c. Pipe Type cables
 Pipe Type Cable

Sheath Channel Oil Filled 3-Core Oil filler Cable

 Advantages of Oil Filled Cables
Oil filled cables have the following advantages over solid 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

 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 *
10 exp 6 N/ square meter with a maximum pressure of 1.725 * 10
exp 6 N/ square meter.
 Compressed Gas Insulated Cables (GIC)
In GIC cables high pressure sulphur 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.
Advantages
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.
 Laying of Underground Cables
The reliability of underground cable network depends to a considerable extent upon
proper laying.
There are three main methods of Laying underground cables
a. Direct Laying
b. Draw in system
c. Solid system

Direct Laying
This method is cheap and simple and is most likely to be used in practice.
A trench of about 1.5 meters deep and 45 cm wide is dug.
A cable is been laid inside the trench and is covered with concrete material or bricks in
order to protect it from mechanical injury.
This gives the best heat dissipating conditions beneath the earth.
It is clean and safe method

Disadvantages
Localization of fault is difficult
It can be costlier in congested areas where
excavation is expensive and inconvenient.
The maintenance cost is high.
 Draw in System
In this conduit or duct of concrete is laid in ground with main
holes at suitable positions along the cable route.
The cables are then pulled into positions from main holes.
It is very high initial cost
Heat dissipation conditions are not good
This method is suitable for congested areas where excavation is
expensive and inconvenient
This is generally used for short lengths cable route such as in
workshops, road crossings where frequent digging is costlier and
immposible
 Solid System
In this system the cable is laid in open pipes or troughs dug
out in earth along the cable route.
The troughing is of cast iron or treated wood
Troughing is filled with a bituminous after cables is laid.
It provides good mechanical strength
It has poor heat dissipation conditions
It requires skilled labour and favorable weather conditions
It is very much expensive system