الجامعة التكنولوجية
هندسة الكهروميكانيكية
The use of underground cables
)Underground Cables (4th class
ا.م.د.غسان عبد الحسين بالل السلطاني ا.م.د .سحر راضي الساكني
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Introduction
Electric power can be transmitted or distributed either by overhead system
or by underground cables.
Advantages of underground cables:
• less liable to damage through storms or lightning,
• low maintenance cost,
• less chance of faults,
• smaller voltage drop as the Inductive reactance of O.H.T. Lines is more
• better general appearance.
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Introduction
Disadvantages of underground cables:
• They have greater installation cost.
• They introduce insulation problems at high voltages compared with the
equivalent overhead system.
• Capacitance and charging current are high in case of underground cables,
so that for long distance power transmission, the charging current is very
high results in over voltages problems.
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The use of underground cables
Underground cables are employed where it is impracticable to use overhead
lines, such as:
• Populated areas (cities)where municipal authorities prohibit overhead
lines for reasons of safety, around plants, and substations.
# Where maintenance conditions do not permit the use of overhead
construction.
• Submarine crossing.
• Airports.
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Requirements of underground cables
Generally electric cables consists of
Conductors: Stranded aluminum conductors
Insulation: To insulate the conductors from direct contact or contact with
earth
Protecting cover
The type of cable to be used will depend upon the
working voltage and service requirements
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Requirements of underground cables
The conductor used in cables should be tinned stranded copper or aluminum of
high conductivity.
• The conductor size should be such that the cable carries the desired load
current without overheating and voltage drop within permissible limits.
• 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.
• The cable must be provided with suitable mechanical protection to
withstand the rough use in laying it.
• The materials used in manufacture of cables should be such that there is
complete chemical and physical stability throughout. 6
Construction of Cables
Cores or Conductors.
Insulation.
Metallic sheath.
Bedding.
Armouring.
Serving.
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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. The conductors are made of tinned copper or aluminum 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.
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Construction of Cables
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 aluminum 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.
حماية الغالف المعدني من التآكل واألضرار الميكانيكية الناتجة عن ضغط الدرع
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Construction of Cables
Armouring: Over the bedding, armouring is provided which consists
of one or two layers of galvanized steel wire or steel tape to protect the
cable from mechanical injury. Armouring may not be done in the case
of some cables.
Serving: (Outer cover) 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.
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