AORC Technical meeting 2014

B1-1097
http : //www.cigre.org

Long AC Underground Power Cables

Safety Considerations for Application of Special Bonding Systems

Shoji MASHIO George BUCEA

J-Power Systems Corp Consultant
Japan Australia

SUMMARY

The advanced development of polymeric materials and of manufacturing technologies for XLPE
cables and accessories make possible installation of longer and complex AC underground power cable
networks. In order to accomplish an efficient transmission network with long underground high
voltage power cables, various analysis on power flow control and of transient voltages generated
during the normal and abnormal operation conditions need careful consideration. Usually, the required
studies are carried out by the cable owner network planners or by independent system operators using
standard or new innovative analytical models.
On the other hand, when an underground cable system is installed in the vicinity of other utilities
(energy, water, gas, communication, etc.) there is a need for an adequate interference coordination
between the two categories of installations; i.e. the planned power cable and the existing urban utilities.
Also, there is important to consider that the approvals for installation of high and extra-high power
cable systems in proximity to existing underground or above ground utility installations and services is
generally granted on the basis of an adequate and comprehensive compatibility examination.
Particular attention is given to the failure analysis of EHV AC power cable systems when very large
earth fault currents may flow into the local ground. In this case the sequential events require proper
analysis and mitigation solutions. The Earth Potential Rise (EPR), Magnetic Field Induction, and safe
bonding system of power cable systems become the major concerns to the public, asset owners and to
the cable system designer and project manager. These particular issues are studied in accordance with
the provisions of the IEEE standards guidelines and CIGRE practices but, there is still a need for
further clarifications and discussions especially for long AC underground transmission lines installed
in urban congested areas. This paper introduce the general understanding of these aspects by
discussing some applications of the bonding system for long AC underground cables based on the past
and present experience with 330kV XLPE cable systems.

KEYWORDS Earth Potential Rise, EMF, bonding system, Insulation Coordination

mashio@jpowers.co.jp
1. Introduction

The IEC62067 Standard specifies the basic performance criteria of XLPE high voltage underground
power cable systems in respect to the cable main insulation and to the performance of outer protection
(anti-corrosion jacket). The standard provisions represent the essential guideline for the cable system
planners but the design tasks from the overall concept to the fine details of cable system and especially
of insulation coordination of cable bonding system are the cable designers responsibilities.
Normally for the transmission cable system, in order to avoid excessive circulating sheath current
loss and to increase the cable rating capacity single point bonded system, mid point bonded system or
cross bonded system, the so called specially bonded systems are widely used for HV underground
cable system.
In case of specially bonded systems, the induced voltages appear on the insulation screen due to
magnetic induction and capacitive induction during normal and transient conditions. CIGRE Electra
No. 28 [1] has introduced numerical calculation method of sheath induced voltage for flat and trefoil
cable formations and CIGRE Electra No. 128 [2] has summarised it for fault conditions and introduce
various type of SVL (Sheath Voltage Limiter) as a guideline to select the proper SVL for specially
bonded cable system against overvoltage during faults. The SVL units (predominantly Zinc Oxide)
are designed to withstand continuously the sheath standing voltage generated during the full load or
emergency cable load. If the 50Hz overvoltage during fault condition exceeds the rated voltage of the
SVL, the SVL would be pulverised due to excessive absorbed energy of the fault current, which has
much longer time duration (millisecond order), than that of transient surge voltage.
In order to allow 50Hz fault current to pass through the SVL, it would be necessary the selection of
unreasonable high energy absorption capacity SVLs. Nevertheless, by selecting SVLs of very high
rated voltage proves counterproductive because their main function to limit the residual voltage on the
outer protection of the cable system is cancelled because the assigned rated voltage might be higher
than the requirement of insulation coordination of cable outer protection.
It is worth mentioning that actual surge propagation across the cable sheath including accessories is
a combination of capacitive and magnetic induction inside of cable systems. The longer installed cable
sections, the higher surge voltage will appear on the cable metallic sheath. Therefore, it is very
important for the cable system engineer to analyse and select SVLs of suitable rating capacity to
satisfy the requirements for extended cable section length. cable and to understand what would happen
if the suitable SVL is not installed.
The previous experience with high and extra high voltage power cable systems demonstrates the
vital importance of bonding system and confirmed that the most critical problems with HV
underground cable system were caused by inadequacy of bonding system in respect to the following
aspects:
a) Circulating curent due to irregular contact between metallic sheath to earth would create
abnormal heating of main insulation
b) Irregular conduction would take place during the faults of outer jacket of cable or joint sleeve
due to excessive surge voltage.
c) Due to failure of SVL, irregular conduction or irregular isolation have been occurred, which
could result in other faults shown above.

The authors have attempted to design the special bonded system for long 330kV transmission cable
systems to satisfy the above points in the past [3]. In addition to that, when an underground cable
system is installed in the vicinity of other utilities (energy, water, gas, communication, etc.) because
there is a need for an adequate interference coordination between the two categories of installations;
i.e. the planned power cable and the other urban utilities. Therefore, some safety hazard requirement
were also considered this time.

2. Case Study on Full cross-bonding system with/without ECC system

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2.1 Design criteria for insulation coordination of bonding system and selecting SVLs
Surge analysis have been conducted in order to check the integrity of the earth bonding system for the
above 330kV XLPE cable system, and to confirm that the selected SVLs satisfy the requirements to
cope with the surge voltages under the transient conditions for the following cases:

Case A) Lightning impulse of 1,175KV invaded from one end into 330kV cable system by
considering that the local network is not provided with lightning arresters.
Case B) Earth fault happening in a joint and 50kA fault current will flow into the cable
conductor.
The invasions of lightning and switching impulse surges are simulated at substation side opposite to
power sources without provision of lightning arresters in the substation. The earth fault condition was
simulated in the middle of route where is a relatively long cable section. Regarding SVL (Sheath
Voltage Limiter), the following principles are applied for the selection of SVLs:

a) Induced voltages by AC current of 50Hz on the cable aluminum sheaths during fault conditions
shall be lower than the rated voltages of SVLs to avoid excessive fault current through SVLs (surge
arrester).
b) Transient voltages generated on the cable aluminum sheaths, on the insulated flanges of
Sectionalised joints and SF6 sealing end flanges and on other component parts of the cable system
shall be lower than the dielectric strength of those components.
c) Generated transient currents through SVLs shall be lower than the energy absorption capacity of the
selected SVLs even under the internal fault conditions.

It is noted that the traditional design parameters to select SVL is based on CIGRE Electra 28/128
which does consider the 50Hz(or 60Hz) induction during the fault, but does not consider the internal
fault surge propagated in the grounding system of power transmission line, which is superimposed on
the 50Hz induced sheath overvoltage.

2.2 Study Conditions

Fig 1 shows the schematic diagram of two circuits of 330kV XLPE cable system.
a) Cross-bonding system with transposition of cable is employed to minimize sheath circulating
current loss. Total 24 minor sections (530~715m each) were modelled.
b) At both ends of the cable circuits (SF6 sealing ends) the cable sheaths are solidly bonded to ground.
c) SVLs are installed in all cross-bonding link boxes to avoid excessive surge voltage across the
insulated flanges of Sectionalised joints.
d) Additional SVLs are applied across the insulated flanges of SF6 sealing ends to avoid excessive
surge voltages across the insulating flanges.

2.3 EMTP Model Analysis

For the surge analysis, EMTP program was used on the following conditions:

a) Power cable
Distribution parameters are used for 330kV XLPE cable trench in which six 2000mm2 copper
conductors and six aluminium sheathes are modelled based on the electrical properties and dimensions
of cable cross-section and trench cross-sections. For example, one distribution parameters shown in
Dot-pink line square in Figure below, describes one cable section between JB15/16 and JB16/17.
b) Cross-bonding lead : Distribution parameters are used with three internal conductors and three
external conductors based on the dimensions of cross-section of bonding lead.
c) Grounding lead : Concentric parameters ( i.e. R + Xj style) is used.
d) Cable joint : This is modelled by a low resistance between cable conductors and 3pF capacitance
between insulation (sectionalized) flange in order to observe the voltage across the insulation flange
From the results of EMTP analysis, 9kV rated SVLs were selected and calculated surge voltage on
the cable grounding system satisfy the design requirements and also calculated discharged energy
across SVLs are less than the absorption capacity as shown in Table 2 below.

2
Power
Source

Fig 1: Schematic Diagram of 330kV XLPE Cable System (without ECC)

2.4 Earth Potential Rise during 50kA fault conditions.

According to the Australian Standard, the maximum allowable potential hazard on the pipeline is
200V in the public exposure (Category A) whilst EPR was calculated in the ranging of max. 1000V-
4000V as shown in Table 1. Therefore, it was decided that the ECC is installed to eliminate any
concern of Earth Potential Rise (EPR) at the local earth grid in the vicinity of Main Water Pipe
between JB9/10 to Substation End as shown in Fig 2 and Fig 3 below.

Table 1: Distribution of Earth Current and EPR along the cable route
Power Souce JB12/13 JB15/18 JB18/19 JB21/22 Load side
(substation) (substatoin)
Earth resistance 0.1 10 10 10 10 0.1
[ohm]
Earth current 66,200 408 336 249 124 1710
[A peak]
EPR [Vp] 6,620 4,080 3,360 2,490 1,240 1,71
EPR : Earth resistance Earth current .

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 Fig 2: Connection of ECC to Link Boxes
ECC

F O cable
Fig 3: Installation of ECC in two circuit trench

3. Comparison with Local Earth System(Non-ECC) and Non-local Earth (with ECC)

EMTP simulation has been made with ECC (Remote earth) to compare with the original
configuration without ECC (Local earth). In conclusion, the sheath induced voltage and the
voltage across the insulation flange (Sectionalised joint) satisfy the requirement of 125kV
without local earth; i.e. with ECC. It is also the absorbed energy in SVL without local earth
becomes little higher than the case with local earth without ECC. However, the calculated
energy is smaller than the energy absorption capacity (25kJ) of selected SVLs. Therefore, the
proposed system with ECC is applicable.

Table 2: Summary of EMTP analysis (Case A : Lightning Impulse at 1175kV)

Without ECC With ECC Design
Coaxial bonding lead length
(Local earth) (Remote earth) criteria

Surge voltage of Joint at JB22/23 & 23/24

Max. sheath voltage to earth 55 kV 61kV < 125kV

Max. voltage across insulation flange of joint 74 kV 70kV < 125kV

Surge voltage of Link Box at JB22/23 & 23/24

Max. link bar voltage to earth in link box 31kV 30kV < 37.5kV

Max. voltage between two link bars in link box 55kV 54kV < 75kV

Absorbed Energy of SVL 13kJ 14kJ < 25kJ

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 Table 3 Summary of EMTP analysis (Case B Earth Fault at 50kA)
Without ECC With ECC Design
Coaxial bonding lead length
(Local earth) (Remote earth) Critea

Surge Voltage of Joint at JB 16/17 & 17/18

Max. sheath voltage to earth 93kV p 94kVp < 125kV

Max. voltage across insulation flange of joint 106 kVp 106kVp (Fig 4-1) <125kV

Surge voltage of Link Box at JB 16/17 & 17/18

Max. link bar voltage to earth 34kV 36kV <37.5kV

Max. voltage between two link bars in link box 48kV 50kV (Fig 4-2) <75kV

Absorbed Energy of SVL 10.8kJ 18.8kJ (Fig 4-3) < 25kJ

1.0
100kV *10 5

0.5

0.0

-0.5

-1.0

-1.5 *10 -3
0 3 6 9 12 15

(file c43c2000-31_ecc.pl4; x-var t) v:1RS16Y-1RS17X v:1RS17Y-1RS18X

Fig. 4-1 Induced Voltage Across Insulated Flange (Fault section)

3
*10 4
30kV
2

1
50kVp
0

-1

-2

-3 *10 -3
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
(file c43c2000-31_ecc.pl4; x-var t) v:1BL16Y-1L1617 v:1BL17Y-1L1718

Fig 4-2. Surge Current Through SVL (Fault section)

20kJ 2.0
*10 4

1.6

1.2

0.8

0.4

0.0 *10 -3
0.0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
(file c43c2000-31_ecc.pl4; x-var t) c:1RL16Y-1L1617 c:1RL17Y-1L1718

Fig 4-3. Discharged Energy Through SVL ( Fault section)

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4. Conclusion

It is confirmed by surge analysis that it is possible to provide the insulation coorination of bonding
system under 50kA internal fault condition and other transient conditions, in which selected SVLs
limit the residual voltages on the shielding of cable system below the acceptable criteria, and also the
discharged energy across SVL are lower than the absorbtion capacity of SVL. This is an approace to
managing safety hazard because if the SVLs in Link Boxes are pulverised due to excessive discharged
energy and the following high power arc happen in the link box, the lid of link box may be raptured or
flewn over to the public area.
Also during the earth fault, EPR may be another concerned in the vicinity of other utilities (Gas or
water pipes) . In this case, installation of ECC with full cross bonding system would be be effective to
eliminate the risk of potential hazard in the public exposure.

5. References

[1] Electra No. 28 Design of Specially bonded cable systems (1973)

[2] Electra No. 128 Guide to the protection of specially bonded cable systems against sheath
overvoltage (1990)
[3] Chen Min, M. Mitani, S Mashio et al Study of Ground-fault surge in buried EHV cable line
based on EMTP simulation, IEEE/PES Transmission and Distribution conference 2002.