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Electrical Characteristics of Cables

• Electric Stress in Single-Core Cables
• Capacitance of Single Core Cables
• Charging Current
• Insulation Resistance of Single- Core Cables
• Dielectric Power Factor & Dielectric Losses
• Heating of Cables: Core loss ; Dielectric loss and
intersheath loss

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 Fig. 1:Construction of Underground Cable

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 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 in Fig. 1
is used for 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,
Conductor 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 as shown in Fig. 1
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.
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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. It may not be out of place to
mention here that bedding, armouring and serving are only applied to
the cables for the protection of conductor insulation and to protect the
metallic sheath from mechanical injury.

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 Types of underground cables
The underground cables are classified in two ways; by the voltage
capacity, or by the construction.

By Voltage
LT cables: Low-tension cables with a maximum capacity of 1000 V
HT Cables: High-tension cables with a maximum of 11KV
ST cables: Super-tension cables with a rating of between 22 KV and
33 KV
EHT cables: Extra high-tension cables with a rating of between 33
KV and 66 KV
Extra super voltage cables: with maximum voltage ratings beyond
132 KV
By Construction
Belted cables: Maximum voltage of 11KVA
Screened cables: Maximum voltage of 66 KVA
Pressure cables: Maximum voltage of more than 66KVA

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 Belted cables
The cores in the belted underground cables are not circular and are
insulated by impregnated paper. The cores are generally stranded
and may be of non-circular shape to make better use of available
space. In a 3 phase cable, the three cores are grouped together and
then belted with the paper belt.
The gaps between the conductors and the paper insulation are filled
with fibrous material such as the jute. This makes the cable to have
a circular cross-sectional shape. A lead sheath is used to cover the
belt hence protect it from moisture and provide mechanical
strength. The lead sheath is then covered with a single or multiple
layers of an armoring material and finally an outer cover.

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 Disadvantages:
Since the electrical field in the three core cables is tangential, the
paper insulation and the fibrous materials are subjected to the
tangential electrical stresses. This stresses weakens the fibrous
material as well as the resistance and dielectric strength for the
insulation along the tangential path.

The weakening of the insulation may lead to the formation of air

spaces in the insulation. Under high voltages the air may be
ionized and cause deterioration and breakdown of insulation. For
this reason, the belted cables are only suitable for voltages up to
11KVa and not higher.

Due to the large diameter of the paper belt, bending the cable may
lead to the formation of wrinkles and gaps.

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 The screened cables
There are two types of screened cables; the H type and the S.L
type.
H-type cables
In a typical 3-core cable, each of the three cores is insulated by
impregnated paper and covered by perforated aluminium foil or
other metallic screen. The arrangement of the cores is designed
to allow each of the three metallic screens to make contact with
each other. The three cores are then wrapped around using a
conduction belt made of copper woven fabric tape.
The H-type screened cable does not have an insulating belt;
however, it has the lead sheath, followed by bedding, armoring
and a then a serving. The core screens in the cable are all
electrically connected to both the conducting belt and the lead
sheath. This ensures that they are at the earth potential and all
the electrical stresses are therefore purely radial, hence reduced
dielectric losses.

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 Advantages of H-type cables
Metallic screens improve the heat dissipation of the cable
No formation of air pockets and voids in the dielectric, hence a
high breakdown strength and less dielectric losses

Disadvantages H-type cables : the cables are only suitable for low
and medium voltages of up to 33KV, but can reach 66KVA at
times.

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 S.L Type screened cable
The S.L type cables construction is almost like that of the H-type,
however, each of the insulated cores is covered separately with its
own lead sheath. Unlike the H-type, the S.L screened cable does not
have an overall sheath, however it has the armoring and serving.

Advantages of S.L type Screened cables:

The use of separate sheaths reduces chances of core-to-core
breakdown
Easy to bend the cable
Disadvantages of S.L type Screened cables
Thinner lead sheaths are used hence need for greater care in
manufacturing and handling
Only suitable for low and medium voltages of up to 33KV
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Electrical Characteristics of Cables

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 Electric Stress in Single-Core Cables
D= q/(2πx)
E = D/ε = q/(2πεx)
q: Charge on conductor surface (C/m)
D: Electric flux density at a radius x (C/m2)
E: Electric field (potential gradient), or electric
stress, or dielectric stress.
ε: Permittivity (ε= ε0. εr)
εr: relative permittivity or dielectric constant.

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 R
qR
V   E.dx  ln
r
2 r
q V
E 
2.x x. ln
R
r
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 r: conductor radius.
R: Outside radius of insulation or inside radius of
sheath.
V: potential difference between conductor and
sheath (Operating voltage of cable).
Dielectric Strength: Maximum voltage that
dielectric can withstand before it breakdown.
Average Stress: Is the amount of voltage across the
insulation material divided by the thickness of
the insulator.

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 Emax = E at x = r
= V/(r.lnR/r)
Emin = E at x = R
= V/(R.lnR/r)
For a given V and R, there is a conductor radius
that gives the minimum stress at the conductor
surface. In order to get the smallest value of Emax:
dEmax/dr =0.0
ln(R/r)=1 R/r=e=2.718

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 Insulation thickness is:

R-r = 1.718 r

Emax = V/r (as: ln(R/r)=1)

Where r is the optimum conductor radius that

satisfies (R/r=2.718)

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Example
A single- core conductor cable of 5 km long has a
conductor diameter of 2cm and an inside diameter
of sheath 5 cm. The cable is used at 24.9 kV and 50
Hz. Calculate the following:
a- Maximum and minimum values of electric stress.
b- Optimum value of conductor radius that results in
smallest value of maximum stress.

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 a- Emax = V/(r.lnR/r) = 27.17 kV/cm
Emin = V/(R.lnR/r) = 10.87 kV/cm

b- Optimum conductor radius r is:

R/r = 2.718
r= R/2.718= 0.92 cm
The minimum value of Emax:
= V/r = 24.9/0.92=27.07 kV/cm

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Grading of Cables
Grading of cables means the distribution of
dielectric stress such that the difference between
the maximum and minimum electric stress is
reduced. Therefore, the cable of the same size
could be operated at higher voltages or for the
same operating voltage,
a cable of relatively small size could be used.

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1. Capacitance Grading
This method involves the use of two or more
layers of dielectrics having different
permittivities, those with higher permittivity
being near the conductor.
Ex =q/(2 πεo.εr .x)
The permittivity can be varied with radius x such
that (ideal case):
εr = k/x
Then Ex =q/(2 πεo. k)
Ex is constant throughout the thickness of
insulation.

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 r < r1 < r2
ε1 > ε2 > ε3

r1
r2

R r ε1 ε2 ε3

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 In the figure shown

At x=r Emax1 =q/(2 πεo. ε1r)

At x=r1 Emax2 =q/(2 πεo. ε2r1)
At x=r2 Emax3 =q/(2 πεo. ε3r2)
If all the three dielectrics are operated at the same
maximum electric stress (Emax1=Emax2=Emax3=Emax) ,
then:
(1/ ε1r) = (1/ ε2r1) = (1/ ε3r2)
ε1r = ε2r1 = ε3r2, get r1 , r2

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 The operating voltage V is:

r1 r2 R
V   E x .dx   E x .dx   E x .dx
r r1 r2

q r1 q r2 q R
 ln  ln  ln
2o 1 r 2o 2 r1 2o 3 r2
 r1 r2 R
V  Emax r ln  r1 ln  r2 ln 
 r r1 r2 
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Cable Capacitance
q
C
V
2o

1 r1 1 r 2 1 R
ln  ln  ln
 1 r  2 r1  3 r 2

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2. Intersheath Grading

r1
r2
r ε ε ε

V
V1
V2
R V=0

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 Intersheath Grading is a method of creating uniform voltage gradient across the
insulation by means of separating the insulation into two or more layers by thin
conductive strips. These strips are kept at different voltage levels through the
secondary of a transformer.

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 In this method only one dielectric is used but the
dielectric is separated into two or more layers by
thin metallic intersheaths.
Emax1 = (V-V1)/(r. ln(r1/r))
Emax2 = (V1 –V2)/(r1. ln(r2/r1))
Emax3 = V2/(r2.ln(R/r2))
For the same maximum electric strength:
(r1/r) =(r2/r1) =(R/r2) = α
R/r = α3
Then: (V-V1)/(r.ln α) =(V1-V2)/(r1.ln α)=(V2/r2.ln α)
(V-V1)/r =(V1-V2)/r1= V2/r2

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 If the cable does not have any intersheath, the
maximum stress is:
Emax = V/(r.ln(R/r)) = V/(3r.ln α)
The intersheath radius can be found from
R/r = α 3
(r1/r) =(r2/r1) =(R/r2) = α
The voltages V1, V2 can be found from:
(V-V1)/r =(V1-V2)/r1= V2/r2
Emax /Emax without intersheath =3/(1+ α + α 2)
where === α > 1

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Sheath Internal Radius (R)
R =1.881V / Emax
Will be proved in sections.

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 Difficulties of Grading
a-Capacitance grading :

1- non-availability of materials with widely varying

permittivities.

2- The permittivities of materials will be change

with time, so the electric field distribution may
change and lead to insulation breakdown.

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 b- Intersheath Grading

1- Damage of intersheaths during laying

operation.

2- The charging current that flows through

the intersheath for long cables result in
overheating.

3- The setting of proper voltages of

intersheaths.
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Example
A single core cable for 53.8 kV has a conductor of
2cm diameter and sheath of inside diameter 5.3
cm. It is required to have two intersheaths so that
stress varies between the same maximum and
minimum values in three layers of dielectric. Find
the positions of intersheaths, maximum and
minimum stress and voltages on the intersheaths.
Also, find the maximum and minimum stress if
the intersheaths are not used.

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 R/r = a3

a= 1.384

(r1/r) =(r2/r1) =(R/r2) = a

r1= 1.384 cm, r2= 1.951 cm

(V-V1)/(r.lna) =(V1-V2)/(r1.lna)=(V2/r2.lna)

(V-V1)/(1.lna) =(V1-V2)/(1.384.lna)
=(V2/1.915.lna)

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 V= 53.8 kV

V1= 41.3 kV, V2=23.94 kV

Emax = (V-V1)/(r. lna)=38.46 kV/cm

Emin = (V-V1)/(r1. lna)= 27.79 kV/cm

If Intersheaths are not used:

Emax = V/(r.ln(R/r)) = 55.2 kV/cm

Emin = V/(R.ln(R/r)) = 20.83 kV/cm

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Example
Find the maximum working voltage of a single
core cable having two insulating materials A and
B and the following data. conductor radius 0.5 cm,
inside sheath radius 2.5cm. The maximum
working stress of A 60 kV/cm, maximum working
stress of B 50 kV/cm, relative permittivities of A
and B, 4 and 2.5 respectively.

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 60=(q/2πεo. εAr)
q/(2πεo)=120
50=(q/2πεo. εBr1) = 120/(2.5 r1)
r1= 0.96 cm
V=q.ln(r1/r)/(2πεo. εA) + q.ln(R/r1)/(2πεo. εB)
=(120/4). ln(0.96/0.5) +(120/2.5). ln(2.5/0.96)
= 65.51 kV

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Electrical Characteristics of Cables
• Electric Stress in Single-Core Cables
• Capacitance of Single Core Cables
• Charging Current
• Insulation Resistance of Single- Core Cables
• Dielectric Power Factor & Dielectric Losses
• Heating of Cables: Core loss ; Dielectric loss and
intersheath loss

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Capacitance of Single Core Cables
Assume that the potential difference between
conductor an sheath is V, then
a charge of conductor and sheath will be +q and –
q (C/m)

C= q/V
C= 2 πε/ln(R/r) F/m

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 Since ε = ε0 . εr

C = 2πε0. εr /ln(R/r) F/m

Where: ε0= 8.854x10-12

εr dielectric constant of insulation.

C= 10-9 εr /(18.ln(R/r)) F/m

C= εr /(18.ln(R/r)) μF/km

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 Charging Current

Ich = V/Xc = ω.C.V = 2πf.C.V

It is observed that as cable length and operating
voltage increase, Capacitance (c) and the charging
current will be increase.
So, it is not recommended to transmit power for a
long distance using underground cables
(Overvoltage problems)

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 Since C= 2 πε/ln(R/r) and Ich = ω.C.V
The charging current and the capacitance are
relatively greater for insulated cables than in
O.H.T Lines because of closer spacing and the
higher dielectric constant of the insulation of the
cables. The charging current is negligible for O.H
circuits at distribution voltage (Short Lines).

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Insulation Resistance
of Single- Core Cables

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 R =ρ l /A
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 
Ri  .dx
2 x l
R
 dx
Ri   .
r
2  l x
 R
Ri  . ln
2 l r

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 Where:

Ri : insulation resistance in ohms.

ρ: insulation (dielectric) resistivity in Ω.m

l: Cable length (m).

It is observed that the insulation resistance is

inversely proportional to the cable length.

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Dielectric Power Factor
and Dielectric Losses
When a voltage is applied across a perfect dielectric,
there is no dielectric loss because the capacitor

current Ic is at 90o ahead of the voltage V.

In practice, there is a small current component Id

(leakage current) that in phase with voltage V, so, the

total current I leads the voltage V by an angle less

than 90 as shown in figure.

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 Id

Id
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 Power factor of dielectric :

= Cos фd = Cos (90-δ) = Sin δ

This provides a useful measure of the quality of

the cable dielectric.

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 For a good dielectric insulation, фd is close to 90o.
Pd =I. V. Cosфd
Cos фd = Sinδ = tan δ = δ (rad)
δ is called dielectric loss angle.
The dielectric Losses: Pd
Pd = Id.V = Ic.tanδ.V = Ic.V.δ == Ic = ωCV

Pd = ωCV2δ δ is in radians

C: Cable capacitance.
V: operating voltage
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 Since δ = 90- фd and δ < 0.5o for most cables.
Here Cos фd should be very small under all
operating conditions.

If it is large, the power loss is large and the

insulation temperature rises. The rise in
temperature causes a rise in power loss in
the dielectric which again results in additional
temperature rise. If the temperature continues to
increase, the cable insulation will be damaged.

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Example
A single-core cable has a conductor diameter of
2 cm, inside diameter of sheath is 6 cm and
a length of 6 km. The cable is operated at 60 Hz
and 7.2 kV. The dielectric constant is 3.5, the
dielectric power factor is 0.03 (δ=Cosфd) and
dielectric resistivity of the insulation is 1.3x107
MΩ.cm.

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 Calculate the following:
a- Maximum electric stress.
b- Capacitance of the cable.
c- Charging current.
d- Insulation resistance.
e- Total dielectric losses.
f- If the cable feeds a load at receiving end of 20A at
0.6 power factor lag, find sending end current and
power factor.

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 Solution
a- Emax = V/(r.ln(R/r))
= 6.55 kV/cm
b- C= k/(18.ln(R/r)) μF/km
= 0.176x6 = 1.0619 μF
c- Ich = V/Xc = ω.C.V = 2.88 A
d- Ri =ρ.ln(R/r)/(2πl)
= 3.79 MΩ
e- Pd = Ich.V.Cos фd =622 W

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 f- load current:

I= 20 ( Cosф – j sinф) =12 - j16

Ich= j2.88

Is= I + Ich =12- j13.12 = 17.78 A

фs = 47.55o

Cos фs = 0.67 lag

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Capacitance of a 3-core Cable

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 =

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Measurement of Capacitance of 3-core Cables

Cy = C s + 2 C c
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 Cx = 3 C s
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 The capacitance per phase is given
by:
C0 = Cs + 3Cc =(Cx/3) + 3((Cy /2) - (Cx /2))

C0 = 3 (Cy /2) - (Cx /6)

In case the test are not available the
following empirical formulas can be used
(p. 347)

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Measurement of Capacitance of 3-core Cables

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Heating of Cables
 Core loss
 Dielectric loss
 Intersheath loss

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