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Introduction
Medium-voltage distribution systems begin at substations and supply
electricity to a wide spectrum of power consumers. When selecting
a cable, the basic aim is to safely provide adequate electrical
power, with continuous, trouble-free operation, in a system that
is able to withstand unexpected demands and overload conditions.
Each installation has particular requirements that must be considered.
There are distinct benefits from specifying a copper-conductor
cable that has been manufactured under rigid specification and
quality control procedures. It will provide maximum performance
with minimum maintenance.
There are seven types of medium-voltage copper power cables in
the 5 kV to 46 kV range, the "type" referring to the cable construction.
Most are available in one-and three-conductor configurations.
There are ranges of sizes and design variations for each type.
The seven types are:
Teck Cables
Shielded Cables
Concentric Neutral Cables
Paper-Insulated Lead-Covered Cables
Submarine Cables
Mining Cables
Aluminum-Sheathed Cables
In the cable descriptions a number of insulation and jacket materials
have been abbreviated as follows:
Cross-Linked Polyethylene ..........................XLPE
Ethylene-Propylene Rubber .........................EPR
Polyvinyl Chloride ......................................PVC
Polyethylene .............................................PE
Tree-Retardant Cross-Linked Polyethylene ....TR-XLPE
Teck Cables
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Teck Cables were originally developed for use in mines, but they
are now widely used in primary and secondary industries, chemical
plants, refineries and general factory environments. They are
also used in multi-storey and commercial buildings. They are flexible,
resistant to mechanical abuse, corrosion resistant, compact and
reliable. A modified Teck Cable construction may be used for vertical
installations, such as in mine shafts and multi-storey buildings,
where the armour is locked-in-place to prevent slippage of the
inner core.
There are many different combinations of conductor size, voltage
rating, armour type and so forth, available in Teck Cables to
meet the requirements of particular installations.
Annealed, bare, copper is used for the conductor (s), and they
are usually compact stranded to reduce diameter. In multi-conductor
cables, the insulated conductors are cabled together, including
the bare copper bonding (grounding) conductor. In shielded multi-conductor
cables, the bonding (grounding) conductor is positioned to contact
the copper shields. A PVC outer jacket which may be colour-coded
depending on the rating of the cable is applied.
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Teck Cables |
Shielded Cables
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Shielded Power Cable may be single-or three-conductor. The basic
construction begins with a conductor of annealed, bare, solid
or concentric-stranded copper, which may be compact or compressed.
This is followed by a semi-conducting conductor shield, insulation,
and then a semi-conducting insulation shield.
Metallic shielding follows, which is usually either gapped or
lapped copper tape. Other types of metallic shielding are available,
including concentric wires and longitudinally corrugated copper
tape. The outer jacket is either PVC or PE.
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Shielded Cables |
Concentric Neutral Cables
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These power cables may be used in dry or wet locations, for a
wide variety of types of installations, and may be single- or
three-conductor. The two standard constructions are Unjacketed
and Jacketed, the latter being most frequently used.
The conductor is typically annealed, bare, stranded copper, but
tin-coated wire and solid conductors are also available.
The concentric neutral conductor, from which the cable derives
its name, is bare or tin-coated copper wire, applied helically
over the insulation shield. These wires act as the metallic component
of the shield and the neutral, at the same time.
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Concentric Neutral Cables |
Paper-Insulated Lead-Covered Cables (PILC)
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PILC cables are used in power distribution and industrial applications,
and they may be installed exposed, in underground ducts or directly
buried. Their design begins with annealed, bare copper conductor(s)
which may be round, concentric, compressed or compact stranded,
compact sector, and in larger sizes
Type M segmental stranded.
An example of compact sector conductors is shown in the illustration.
The insulated cable core is impregnated with a medium viscosity
polybutene-based compound. The combination of the excellent electrical
and mechanical characteristics of the liquid and the paper has
resulted in a reliable and economic insulation, which now claims
a history of almost 100 years. It is little wonder why so many
utilities and power-consuming industries, still continue to specify
PILC.
To prevent the ingress of moisture, a seamless lead-alloy sheath
is applied. The outer jacket may be PVC or PE, and if required
by the application, armour is available.
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Paper-Insulated Lead-Covered Cables (PILC) |
Submarine Cables
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For submarine installations, usually Self-Contained Liquid-Filled
Cables (SCLF), or Solid Dielectric Cables are selected, depending
on voltage and power load. SCLF Cables are capable of handling
very high voltages. However, for medium-voltage installations,
a Solid Dielectric Cable can easily fulfil the electrical demands
of the system.
A submarine Solid Dielectric Cable is shown in the illustration.
Its construction begins with a compact stranded, annealed, bare
copper conductor, followed by a semi-conducting conductor shield.
A copper tape shield is helically applied, followed by a lead-alloy
sheath. Due to the severe environmental demands placed on submarine
cables, a lead-alloy sheath is often specified because of its
compressibility, flexibility and resistance to moisture and corrosion.
The sheath is usually covered by a number of outer layers, comprising
a PE or PVC jacket and metal wire armouring
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Submarine Cables |
Mining Cables
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A number of different types of cables are used in mines. There
are fixed mining cables and portable mining cables, the latter
being described here. The key requirements of portable cables
are flexibility, and resistance to mechanical abrasion and damage.
Due to the additional demands put on portable mining cables used
for reeling and dereeling applications, special design may be
required.
There are many types of portable mining cables. They are available
in ratings up to 25 kV, and may have as many as five conductors.
An example of SHD-GC Cable, is shown in the illustration. It has
three insulated, shielded conductors, two bare ground wires, a
ground check wire, and an overall jacket. The conductors for this
cable are annealed, bare or tinned copper wires.
The braided shield may be tin-coated wires, or a tin-coated copper
wire/textile composite. The grounding conductor(s) annealed, bare
or tinned, stranded copper wires, and the ground check conductor
is annealed, bare, stranded copper wires with EPR insulation and
nylon braid, elastomeric jacket holds the conductor assembly firmly
in place, to minimize snaking and cork-screwing during reeling
and dereeling.
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Mining Cables |
Aluminum-Sheathed Cables
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These power cables are used for exposed and concealed wiring,
in wet and dry locations, and where exposed to the weather. They
may be installed in ventilated, unventilated and ladder-type cable-troughs,
and ventilated flexible cableways.
Aluminum-Sheathed Power Cables may be single-,two-,three- or four-conductor,
the conductor(s) being annealed, bare, compressed-round stranded
copper. The insulated core is enclosed in a liquid- and vapour-tight
solid corrugated aluminum sheath, covered by a PVC jacket.
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Aluminum-Sheathed Cables |
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