Importance of Soil Thermal Resistivity in Power

Sector Development
Power cables are the backbone of power sector now days; however, the installation of U/G cables
is time consuming and there are several factors that affect the performance of U/G cables.
Mainly, the local thermal properties of the soil surroundings the power cables are extremely
important as ultimately they may be the limiting factor in determining the current carrying
capabilities of a cable circuit. Cables, whether only energized or carrying load current are a
source of heat. This heat energy causes a temperature rise in the cable that must be kept within
limits for the safe operation. HDPE cable ducts and soil thermal resistivity have profound effect
on performance of U/G cables. Soil Thermal Resistivity can be taken as an opportunity to
increase the life & ampacity of medium voltage under-ground power cables and possible
substitute for HDPE cable duct.

The plan is about development of a new technique of cable laying & optimization of CAPEX with
respect to current carrying capacity of the cables.

*Technical Paper on Importance of Soil Thermal Resistivity in Power Sector Development has
been accepted in “2012 IEEE fifth Power India Conference”.