1.

Using the ABB XLPE Cable Systems User Guide (Table 5 pages 10 and 11), calculate the
rating of for the following circuits.

Cables: Single core XLPE insulated

Conductor: 2000 mm2 copper conductor
Nominal voltage: 132kV
Screen/sheath size: Assume 95 mm2
Depth of burial: 1.0 m
Ground temperature: 30 oC
Ground thermal resistivity: 3.0 oC.m/W
Type of sheath bonding: Cross bonded
Maximum conductor temperature: 90 oC

Circuit 1: Touching trefoil formation

Circuit 2: Flat formation spacing 250 mm between centres

Describe two methods of increasing the circuit rating and recalculate the new cable rating
(current). (Sponsored by Roger Nicholls)
Answer:

The following are the applicable factors taken from ABB XLPE Cable Systems User
Guide for the given condition:

Circuit
Factors
1 - Trefoil 2 - Flat
Cable outer diameter (mm) Table 30 105 105
Base rating I0 (A) Table 5 1605 1705
Screen rating factor ks Table 7 1 1
Depth rating factor kd Table 8 1 1
Ground temperature rating factor kg1 Table 9 0.93 0.93
Ground thermal resistivity rating factor kg2 Table 10 0.61 0.61
Phase spacing rating factor kds Table 11 0.93 1.04
Derated capacity If (A) = I0 ks kd kg1 kg2 kds 846 1005

The methods that can be used in both cases to improve cable ratings are as follow:

Reduce the burial depth for the cable where it is deemed safe to do so.
Using a suitable thermal bedding material to improve surrounding grounds
thermal resistivity.
 Assume a new burial depth of 0.9m and use of suitable thermal bedding material, which
effectively reduces the ground thermal resistivity to 1.5 oC.m/W. The new rating for the
two cable circuits can be calculated as follows:

Circuit
Factors
1 - Trefoil 2 - Flat
Cable outer diameter (mm) Table 30 105 105
Base rating I0 (A) Table 5 1605 1705
Screen rating factor ks Table 7 1 1
Depth rating factor kd Table 8 1.01 1.01
Ground temperature rating factor kg1 Table 9 0.93 0.93
Ground thermal resistivity rating factor kg2 Table 10 0.84 0.84
Phase spacing rating factor kds Table 11 0.93 1.04
Derated capacity If (A) = I0 ks kd kg1 kg2 kds 1177 1399

2. Calculate the maximum length of cable (i.e. no sheath interruptions) for the following
cable and installation formations, based on the maximum allowable sheath standing
voltage of 120V. The cable sheath bonding system may be assumed to be single point or
cross bonded.
Cable data:
Outside diameter: 140 mm
Conductor current: 1100A
Cable laying formation: i) Touching trefoil
ii) Flat formation with cables at 400 mm centres

Answer:
The magnitude of sheath standing voltage is roughly the same on all phases in the case of
a cable section installed in a trefoil formation. In contrast, the outer phases for a cable
section installed in a flat formation experienced higher sheath standing voltage when
compared to the middle phase. Permissible length of cable for the two cable formations
can therefore be calculated using the following formula:
Trefoil formation:

2S
Esec tion = j 2pf I l 2 10-7 ln
d
2S
= 2pf I l 2 10-7 ln
d
Re-arranging the formula:

Esec tion
l =
2S
2pf I 2 10-7 ln
d

Flat formation:

1 S
3 4S
Esec tion = j 2 pf I l 2 10 -7 - ln + j ln
2 d 2 d



2 2
-7 1 S 3 4S

= 2pf I l 2 10 - ln
+ ln

2 d 2 d


2 2
-7 1 S
3 4S

= 2pf I l 2 10 +
ln ln
4 d
4 d
Re-arranging the formula:

Esec tion
l =
2 2
-7 1 S
3 4S

2pf I 2 10 +
ln ln
4 d
4 d

Based on given information

Circuit
Factors
1 - Trefoil 2 - Flat
Allowable sheath standing voltage Esection (V) 120 120
A.C. frequency f (Hz) 50 50
Conductor current I (A) 110 1100
Phase spacing S (mm) 140 400
1
Geometric mean sheath diameter d (mm) 140 140
In the above calculation, the phase spacing for trefoil arrangement is equal to the outside
cable diameter and geometric mean sheath diameter in this case is assumed to be equal to
the outside cable diameter.
Hence:
 Trefoil formation permissible cable length:

120
l =
2 140
2p 50 1100 2 10 -7 ln
140
120
=
2p 50 1100 2 10 -7 ln ( 2 )
= 2504.86 m
Flat formation permissible cable length:

120
l =
2 2
1 400
3 4 400

2p 50 1100 2 10-7 ln
+
ln

4 140
4 140
= 798.62 m
3. Design the typical sheath bonding systems and joint locations that would be required for
cables laid in flat formation, based on the parameters indicated in ii) above. The cable
route lengths to be used are 600 m, 1,000 m and 2,000 m.

Briefly describe the main requirements of each installation, such as joint locations,
earthing points, earth continuity conductors and SVL locations. (Sponsored by Roger
Nicholls)
Answer:

The cable circuits are carrying current of 1100A. Special sheath bonding system is thus
likely to offer a more economical solution when compared to solid bonding system
through reduction of losses

Case 1 600m cable route length

Sheath bonding system The route length is less than the permissible cable length.
Single point bonding system shall thus be used as it is
technically suitable and more economical compared to
alternative bonding systems.
Earthing Cable sheaths shall be earthed at one end of the cable route via
disconnecting link boxes. The unearthed end shall be bonded
to earth continuity conductor (ECC) via sheath voltage limiters
(SVL).

ECC is required for this system to serve as a return path for

earth fault current.

In relation to SVL, spark gap is a feasible option in this case

since it is only required at the termination of the single point
bonded system. However due to its superior, more stable
characteristics, metal oxide resistors may still be the preferred
 SVL option.
Note that since the route length is shorter than the permissible
route length, additional isolation joint will not be necessary in
this case.

Case 2 1000m cable route length

Sheath bonding system A back-to-back single point bonding system will be required in
this case since the route length is slightly greater than the
permissible cable length.
Earthing With back-to-back single point bonding system joint is
required to isolate adjacent sections of the sheath. The ideal
point to put the joint in this case will be at the 500 m mark.

The option to use end-earthing or centre-earthing back-to-back

single point bonding system shall be determined based on
factors such as the availability of good earth and the
accessibility of the area by the general public. Cable sheath can
either be bonded and earthed at both ends of the cable circuit
or bonded and earthed only at the centre joint.

As with Case 1, ECC is still going to be required to carry the

return earth fault current. However, ECC in this case will be
transposed at each isolation joint locations.
Depending on the option selected, SVL may be required at the
centre joint; as such spark gap may no longer be a suitable
option.

Case 3 2000m cable route length

Sheath bonding system The route length is a multiple of the permissible cable length.
Cross-bonding can thus be used to eliminate the sheaths
circulating current in this case.
Earthing With cross bonding system, the cable circuit is divided into a
number of major sections, each containing three equally long,
equally spaced, minor sections, which are isolated from each
other via utilisation of joints. For this case the cable circuit can
be split up into six isolated section, each 333m long.

Sheath connections to earth via SVL are made in each phase

transposition (i.e. when moving from one minor section to
another). At the end of each major section, the sheaths are then
solidly bonded and earthed.
Metal oxide resistors or surge arresters should be the preferred
SVL in this case.