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In urban areas, high voltage underground cables are commonly used for the transmission and distribution of electricity. Such high voltage cables have metallic sheaths or screens surrounding the conductors, and/or armour and metallic wires surrounding the cables. During earth faults applied to directly earthed systems, these metallic paths are expected to carry a substantial proportion of the total fault current, which would otherwise flow through the general mass of earth, while returning to system neutrals. These alternative return paths must be considered when determining the extent of the grid potential rise at an electrical plant due to earth faults. For safety and reliable operation, the shields and metallic sheaths of power cables must be grounded. Without grounding, shields would operate at a potential considerably above ground. Thus, they would be hazardous to touch and would cause rapid degradation of the jacket or other material intervening between shield and ground. This is caused by the capacitive charging current of the cable insulation that is on the order of 1 mA/ft of conductor length. This current normally flows, at power frequency, between the conductor and the earth electrode of the cable, normally the shield. In addition, the shield or metallic sheath provides a fault return path in the event of insulation failure, permitting rapid operation of the protection devices. In order to reduce Circulating current and electric potential difference between the sheathings of single core three-phase cables, the sheathing is grounded and bonded at one or both ends of the cables. If the cable is long, double bonding has to be carried out which leads to circulating currents and increased total power loss. Raising the sheaths resistance, by decreasing its cross section and increasing its resistivity, can reduce this almost to the level of the core losses. However, in case of an earth fault, a considerable portion of the fault current flows through the increased sheath resistance, creating much higher power in the sheaths than in the faulty core. A simple solution, a conductor rod buried into the soil above or under the cable can divert this power from the sheaths.
Cable Screen:
(1) Purpose of cable screen:
Cable screen controls the electric field stress in the cable insulation. Cable Screen Provides return path for Cable neutral and fault current. If the screen is earthed at two ends than it provides Shielding for electromagnetic radiation.
To minimize the electromechanical forces between the cables under short-circuit conditions, and to avoid eddycurrent heating in nearby steelwork due to magnetic fields set up by load currents, the three single-core cables comprising the three phases of a 3-phase circuit are always run clamped in Trefoil formation. Advantage: 1. 2. 1. This type of Formation minimizes the sheath circulating currents induced by the magnetic flux linking the cable conductors and metallic sheath or copper wire screens. This configuration is generally used for cables of lower voltages (33 to 132kV) and of smaller conductor sizes. Disadvantages: The trefoil formation is not appropriate for heat dissipation because there is an appreciable mutual heating effect of the three cables.
2.
The cumulated heat in cables and cable trench has the effect of reducing the cable rating and accelerating the cable ageing.
This is a most common method for Laying LT Cable. This formation is appropriate for heat dissipation and to increase cable rating. The Formation choice is totally deepened on several factors like screen bonding method, conductor area and available space for installation.
Lightning, fault currents and switching operations can cause over voltages on the cable sheath. The link box optimizes loss management in the cable shield on cables grounded both sides. In HT Cable the bonding system is so designed that the cable sheaths are bonded and earthed or with SVL in such way as to eliminate or reduce the circulating sheath currents. Link Boxes are used with cable joints and terminations to provide easy access to shield breaks for test purposes and to limit voltage build-up on the sheath. The link box is part of bonding system, which is essential of improving current carrying capacity and human protection.
(1) Single point bonded system: (A) One Side Single Bonded System:
A system is single point bonded if the arrangements are such that the cable sheaths provide no path for the flow of circulating currents or external fault currents. This is the simplest form of special bonding. The sheaths of the three cable sections are connected and grounded at one point only along their length. At all other points there will be a voltage between sheath and ground and between screens of adjacent phases of the cable circuit that will be at its maximum at the farthest point from the ground bond. This induced voltage is proportional to the cable length and current. Single-point bonding can only be used for limited route lengths, but in general the accepted screen voltage potential limits the length
The sheaths must therefore be adequately insulated from ground. Since there is no closed sheath circuit, except through the sheath voltage limiter, current does not normally flow longitudinally along the sheaths and no sheath circulation current loss occurs. Open circuit in cable screen, no circulating current. Zero volt at the earthed end, standing voltage at the unearthed end. Optional PVC insulated earth continuity conductor required to provide path for fault current, if returning from earth is undesirable, such as in a coal mine. SVL installed at the unearthed end to protect the cable insulation during fault conditions. Induced voltage proportional to the length of the cable and the current carried in the cable . Zero volt with respect to the earth grid voltage at the earthed end, standing voltage at the unearthed end. Circulating current in the earthcontinuity conductor is not significant, as magnetic fields from phases are partially balanced. The magnitude of the standing voltage is depended on the magnitude of the current flows in the core, much higher if there is an earth fault. High voltage appears on the unearthed end can cause arcing and damage outer PVC sheath. The voltage on the screen during a fault also depends on the earthing condition. Standing voltage at the unearthed end during earth fault condition. During a ground fault on the power system the zero sequence current carried by the cable conductors could return by whatever external paths are available. A ground fault in the immediate vicinity of the cable can cause a large difference in ground potential rise between the two ends of the cable system, posing hazards to personnel and equipment. For this reason, single-point bonded cable installations need a parallel ground conductor, grounded at both ends of the cable route and installed very close to the cable conductors, to carry the fault current during ground faults and to limit the voltage rise of the sheath during ground faults to an acceptable level. The parallel ground continuity conductor is usually insulated to avoid corrosion and transposed, if the cables are not transposed, to avoid circulating currents and losses during normal operating conditions. Voltage at the unearthed end during an earth fault consists of two voltage components. Induced voltage due to fault current in the core. Advantage: No circulating current. No heating in the cable screen.
Economical. Disadvantage: Standing voltage at the unearthed end. Requires SVL if standing voltage during fault is excessive. Requires additional earth continuity conductor for fault current if earth returned current is undesirable. Higher magnetic fields around the cable compared to solidly bonded system. Standing voltage on the cable screen is proportional to the length of the cable and the magnitude of current in the core. Typically suitable for cable sections less than 500 m, or one drum length.
Advantages: No circulating current in the screen. No heating effect in the cable screen. Suitable for longer cable section compared to singlepointbonding system and solidly bonded single-core system. Economical. Disadvantages: Standing voltage exists at the screen and sectionalizing insulation joint. Requires SVL to protect the unearthed end. Requires separate earth continuity conductor for zero sequence current. Not suitable for cable sections over 1000 m. Suitable for 300~1000 m long cable sections, double the length of singlepointbonding system.
Advantages: Minimum material required. Most economical if heating is not a main issue. Provides path for fault current, minimizing earth return current and EGVR at cable destination. Does not require screen voltage limiter (SVL). Less electromagnetic radiation. Disadvantages: Provides path for circulating current. Heating effects in cable screen, greater losses .Cable therefore might need to be derated or larger cable required. Transfers voltages between sites when there is an EGVR at one site. Can lay cables in trefoil formation to reduce screen losses . Normally applies to short cable section of tens of meters long. Circulating current is proportional to the length of the cable and the magnitude of the load current.
Requirement of transpose for cables core. If core not transposed, not well neutralized resulting in some circulating currents. Cable should be transposed and the screen needs to be cross bonded at each sectionalizing joint position for optimal neutralization
Advantage: Not required any earth continuity conductor. Virtually zero circulating current in the screen. Standing voltage in the screen is controlled. Technically superior than other methods. Suitable for long distance cable network. Disadvantage: Technically complicated. More expensive.
Earthing Method
Application
Up to 500 Meter Up to 1 Km and Substations short connections, hardly applied for HV cables, rather for MV and LV cables Long distance connectionswhere joints are required
Cross Bonding
Yes
Conclusion:
There is much disagreement as to whether the cable shield should be grounded at both ends or at only one end. If grounded at only one end, any possible fault current must traverse the length from the fault to the grounded end, imposing high current on the usually very light shield conductor. Such a current could readily damage or destroy the shield and require replacement of the entire cable rather than only the faulted section. With both ends grounded, the fault current would divide and flow to both ends, reducing the duty on the shield, with consequently less chance of damage. Multiple grounding, rather than just grounding at both ends, is simply the grounding of the cable shield or sheath at all access points, such as manholes or pull boxes. This also limits possible shield damage to only the faulted section. References: 1. 2. Mitton Consulting. EMElectricals
About Jignesh.Parmar Electrical engineer having more than 10 years experience in Power Transmission, Power Distribution, Electrical Maintenance,Electrical Projects.Freelancer Programmer of Advance Excel.Design useful Excel Sheets of Electrical Engineering as per IS,NEC and IEEE codes. Technical writer for "Electrical Mirror" Magazine.Technical Blogger.familiar with English,Hindi,Gujarati,French languages.I want to share my experience and knowledge and also help technical enthusiasts to find suitable solutions and updating themselves about various Engineering Topics.
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Dear Jigneshji, I am working in a 3 x 300MW Thermal Power plant. The 300MW, 20KV Generator is connected to the 400KV switchyard thru 400/20KV trafo and we have a 315MVA, 400/220KV Inter-connecting transformer between the 400to-220KV yards. (a) We have a 220/6.6KV 50MVA station transformer (For Start-up power) in 220KV switchyard which energises 2 Nos. 6.6KV STATION switchboards. (b) There is also 2 Nos. of 20/6.6KV, 20MVA Unit-Aux Transformers connected to Generator terminals. These energise 2 Nos. of 6.6KV Unit switchboards.
(c) There is a TIE-BREAKER between 6.6KV Station and 6.6KV unit switchboards. (d) Before synchronising, 6.6KV Unit-board is charged from 6.6KV Station-board (Unit-board incomer OFF) by closing Station-to-Unit Tie breaker and all Auxiliaries on Unit-board get power from 6.6KV Station Board. (e) After we synchronise to 400KV grid and are generating some 30 to 40MWs, we Synch-Check across Unitincomer breaker and change-over supply from 6.6KV Station trafo to Unit-Aux Trafo and switch OFF tie-betweenUnit-and-Station. So, all Auxiliaries are now fed from Unit Aux Trafo. This is called MANUAL-CHANGE OVER. (f) If plant trips, the unit-incomer breaker trips, the tie-between-Station-Unit recloses and all Auxiliaries are Switched back to the Station board (FAST-CHANGEOVER). (g) The Synch-check relay (To allow FAST-changeover) is set at 10 degrees (Phase-angle diff), 7.5% (Voltage diff) and 0.2Hz (Freq diff). The Synch-check relay is normally giving Synch-OK signal during normal operation (ie. with 300MW synchronised to 400KV grid, 400/2220KV ICT is ON and Aux. on 6.6KV unit-board). Recently, synch-check relay started giving Not-OK signal. On checking, we find minimal voltage difference (< 1%) but a Phase-angle difference of 7.3 degrees between station and Unit trafo 6.6KV voltages even though both 400KV and 220KV grids are connected, Unit-trafo to 6.6KV unit-board is thru Bus-duct (60 metres) and Station-Trafo to 6.6KV Station board is 800 metres XLPE cable. Can the cable give this phase-shift we are seeing between Unit and Station boards? Anand Rao