Underground Cables:

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.

The chief use of underground cables for many years has been for distribution of electric power in congested urban areas at comparatively low or moderate voltages. However, recent improvements in the design and manufacture have led to the development of cables suitable for use at high voltages. This has made it possible to employ underground cables for transmission of electric power for short or moderate distances. In this chapter, we shall focus our attention on the various aspects of underground cables and their increasing use in power system.

An underground cable essentially consists of one or more conductors covered with suitable insula­tion and surrounded by a protecting cover.

Although several types of cables are available, the type of cable to be used will depend upon the working voltage and service requirements. In general, a cable must fulfill the following 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.