CABLES AND ITS PERFORMANCE

CABLES

INTRODUCTION:

Electric power can be transmitted or distributed either by overhead system or by underground cables. The underground cables have several advantages such as less liable to damage through storms or lightning, low maintenance cost, less chances of faults, smaller voltage drop and better general appearance. However, their major drawback is that they have greater installation cost and introduce insulation problems at high voltages compared with the equivalent overhead system.

For this reason,underground cables are employed where it is impracticable to use overhead lines. Such locations may be thickly populated areas where municipal authorities prohibit overhead lines for reasons of safety, or around plants and substations or where maintenance conditions do not permit the use of overhead construction.

UNDERGROUND CABLES:

  An under ground cables essentially consists of one or more conductors covered with suitable installation and surrounded by a protecting cover.In general a cable must fulfil the necessary requirements.

1. The conductor used in cables should be tinned stranded copper or aluminium of high conductivity.Stranding is done so that conductor may become flexible and carry more current.
2. The conductor size should be such that the cable carries the desired load current without overheating and causes voltage drop within permissible limits.
3. The cable must have proper thickness of insulation in order to give high degree of safety and reliability at the voltage for which it is designed.
4. The cable must be provided with suitable mechanical protection so that it may withstand the rough use in laying it.
5. The materials used in the manufacture of cables should be such that there is complete chemical and physical stability throughout.

construction of cables:

Cores or Conductors. A cable may have one or more than one core (conductor) depending upon the type of service for which it is intended. For instance, the 3-conductor cable shown is used for in fig 3-phase service. The conductors are made of tinned copper or aluminium and are usually stranded in order to provide flexibility to the cable.

Insulation. Each core or conductor is provided with a suitable thickness of insulation, the thickness of layer depending upon the voltage to be withstood by the cable. The commonly used materials for insulation are impregnated paper, varnished cambric or rubber mineral compound.

Metallic sheath. In order to protect the cable from moisture,gases or other damaging liquids (acids or alkalies) in the soil and atmosphere, a metallic sheath of lead or aluminium is provided

over the insulation.

Bedding. Over the metallic sheath is applied a layer of bedding which consists of a fibrous material like jute or hessian tape. The purpose of bedding is to protect the metallic sheath against corrosion and from mechanical injury due to armouring.

Armouring. Over the bedding, armouring is provided which consists of one or two layers of galvanised steel wire or steel tape. Its purpose is to protect the cable from mechanical injury while laying it and during the course of handling. Armouring may not be done in the case of some cables.

Serving. In order to protect armouring from atmospheric conditions, a layer of fibrous material (like jute) similar to bedding is provided over the armouring. This is known as serving.

Insulating Materials for Cables:

In general, the insulating materials used in cables should have the following properties :

(i) High insulation resistance to avoid leakage current.

(ii) High dielectric strength to avoid electrical breakdown of the cable.

(iii) High mechanical strength to withstand the mechanical handling of cables.

(iv) Non-hygroscopic i.e., it should not absorb moisture from air or soil.The moisture tends to decrease the insulation resistance and hastens the breakdown of the cable. In case the insulating material is hygroscopic,it must be enclosed in a waterproof covering like lead sheath.

(v) Non-inflammable.

(vi)Low cost so as to make the underground system a viable proposition.

(vii) Unaffected by acids and alkalies to avoid any chemical action.