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Report of Seminar On Underground Cable Detection Technology
Report of Seminar On Underground Cable Detection Technology
Inspection Technology
Based on Magnetic Field Sensing at Ground
Surface Level
A SEMINAR REPORT
Submitted by
ANAND K R
of
Bachelor of Technology
In
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING
Of
EDATHALA
AUGUST 2016
CERTIFICATE
Date:……………….
ABSTRACT
In this technique, the current sources of the underground power cables are
reconstructed based on a set of measured magnetic field values at the
ground surface level emanated by the electric currents carried by the
underground power cables. The stochastic optimization technique developed
with an artificial immune system algorithm is applied to realize the
reconstruction.
The principle of this method was proved and verified experimentally by our
laboratory setup. Application of this method was demonstrated on the
simulation models of 11- and 132-kV underground power cables. The
reconstruction results of the electrical and spatial parameters of the cables
match accurately with the actual source parameters of the cables in the
models.
This paper shows that the proposed method is able to remotely detect the
horizontal locations and vertical depths of underground power cables with
high accuracy at the ground surface level requiring no prior knowledge about
the exact locations of the cables. Thus, it can be potentially used to develop
a portable locator for providing a map of the underground electrical cables
by simultaneous detection of multiple power lines. This method can also
enable engineers to correctly inspect the operation states of the target
cables during onsite maintenance.
This technique is applicable to various laying conditions and cable
configurations (three core or single core) of the underground power cables.
In addition, this is an entirely passive method and does not need any signal
injection into the cables.
CONTENTS
List of Abbreviations
ii L List of
Symbols iii
List of Figures
iv
List of Tables
v
1 INTRODUCTION
1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Advantages of underground power cables 9
1.3 Conventional methods of detection 10
2 MAGNETO-RESISTIVE SENSORS 14
2.1 Basic principle
14
2.2 Construction
15
2.3 Applications
16
3 PROPOSED METHOD 17
3.1 Advanced Magnetic Sensing Using MR
Sensors 17
3.2 Algorithm
19
4 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
23
4.1 Advantages of the proposed systemm
23
4.2 Disadvantages
23
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX-A
List of Abbreviations
DC - Direct Current
AC - Alternating Current
MR - Magneto resistive
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
List Of Figures
FIG 1.3.2 -Process Of Conductive Injection
Electric power transmission is the bulk movement of electrical energy from a generating site,
such as a power plant, to an electrical substation. The interconnected lines which facilitate this
movement are known as a transmission network. This is distinct from the local wiring between
high-voltage substations and customers, which is typically referred to as electric power
distribution.
1.1 Introduction
Electric Power needs to be carried over long distances from the point of generation to the point
of consumption. This Transmission is done either through overhead lines or underground
cables. Each of these two methods of transmission has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Overhead Transmission lines are cheaper as the insulation cost is lesser and the
conductor material cost is lesser too. They also have better heat dissipation.
Less subject to damage from severe weather conditions (mainly lightning, wind and
freezing)
Reduced range of electromagnetic fields (EMF) emission, into the surrounding area.
However depending on the depth of the underground cable, greater emf may be
experienced. The electric current in the cable conductor produces a magnetic field,
but the closer grouping of underground power cables reduces the resultant external
magnetic field and further magnetic shielding may be provided.
Much less subject to conductor theft, illegal connections, sabotage, and damage from
armed conflict.
Burying utility lines makes room for more large trees on sidewalks, which convey
environmental benefits and increase property values
1.3 Conventional methods of power cable detection
In metropolitan areas, most power cables are buried underground .Therefore, underground
power cables must be detected before any excavation works to check if there are any buried
power cables underground.
When first introduced approximately 40 years ago, underground locators needed to do little more
than find buried water, gas, or sewer lines. Today, locating has become more complex as
telecommunications cables join utility lines in the underground environment. Surprisingly,
though, today`s underground cable locators rely on the same basic technology found in their
early counterparts--injecting an electrical signal onto the cable being located.
b) Magnetic sensing
There are several possibilities for directly connecting the Transmitter to apply signal,
including applying signal to the transformer, meter, and cable to be located.
The one end of power cable is grounded so that the signal will return to the black
terminal of the transmitter, hence completing the circuit.
The receiver will then be used to detect these signals being transmitted through the cable
h and hence can trace the exact location of the cable through the ground.
1.3.3 Inductive Injection
The inductive signal injection method is an advanced form of injection method which
unlike the conductive injection method, it does not need a direct contact with the power
cable inorder to inject the transmitter signal.The signal gets induced to the cable by
electromagnetic induction.
Use the Inductive Clamp method to put tracing signal only on the neutral of primary
energized cables and never on the primary cable itself. The neutral and its grounds form
a a circuit path for the signal to follow. When signal is applied with the Inductive Clamp to
the neutral anywhere between grounds, signal will be on the section between the grounds.
The
FIG 1.3.3 Process Of Inductive Injection
receiver will
then be used
to detect these
signals being
transmitted through the cable h and hence can trace
the exact location of the cable through the ground
The support frame with its search coils are placed at a number of position above the search
a area, and its position is recorded.The voltages induced in the coils are measured, and Fourier
a analysis is used to extract the 50 Hz and harmonic signal components
• The signal injection method uses a transmitter and a receiver which make it more difficult
to carry and it takes a lot of time to setup or initialize the process.
• In addition, it heavily relies on the expertise, experience, and judgment of the operator to
properly locate the underground cables.
• These tools are in principle just a magnetometer and they do not provide much analysis
about the measured data.
The magnetoresistive sensors are based on the magnetoresistive effect. The magnetoresistive
effect is the change of the resistivity of a current carrying ferromagnetic material due to a
magnetic field. MR sensor can be called as magnetically controllable resistors.
The below figure shows the Magnetoresistive effect.
Angle measurement
Current measurement
Metal detection
Nowadays, cable avoidance tools [7] are used to detect the underground power cables. This kind
of device works in different modes. In passive mode (50/60 Hz), it provides the approximate
horizontal location of the target cable. In active mode, it measures the depth of an underground
cable with the aid of a signal generator that typically injects 33 kHz signal into the cable.
However, these tools can only detect spatial parameters of the underground cables. They cannot
provide any electrical information in most cases. In addition, it heavily relies on the expertise,
experience, and judgment of the operator to properly locate the underground cables. These
tools are in principle just a magnetometer and they do not provide much analysis about the
measured data. A certified personnel is typically needed (it is required by law in many
countries) to use this kind of tool to carry out underground cable detection.
FIG 3.1 MR Sensor Array Setup
These cable avoidance tools are expensive particularly, the signal generators needed in active
mode are costly. Therefore, it is of great application value to develop a novel detection and
inspection technology for undergroundpower cables [8].According to Biot–Savart Law, a
conductor carrying electric current generates magnetic field. The source current and the
spatial location of the cable determine the distribution of the emanated magnetic field. Generally,
a buried 11-kV 540 A underground power cable emanates magnetic field in the order
of microTesla at the ground level. When the phase current varies, the ground-level magnetic field
changes in magnitude and distribution correspondingly.
To compensate for these limitations ,we developed a novel underground powercable detection
and inspection technology based on magnetic field sensing at ground surface level without the
need of excavating the cable. It operates in passive mode with no need for any signal injection
and it can perform multicable detection. Using this technology, the horizontal locations and the
vertical depths of the underground cables can both be remotely and accurately measured
requiring no prior knowledge about the exact locations of the cables. In addition, it can inspect
the operation states of underground power cables.
and provide more detailed information than the existing cable avoidance tools. Besides spatial
parameters, it can provide detailed electrical parameters of the underground power lines,
which are important for analyzing the power systems. For examples, when phase current
imbalances are detected, the operator can diagnose the system operating in an unstable
state. This technology can also provide the information of system frequency, which is the only
parameter that can indicate the balance of the power system and reflect if supply–demand
mismatch occurs.
3.2 Algorithm
FIG 3.2 FLOW CHART
Stochastic optimization technique is used to solve the inverse problem and reconstruct the
horizontal locations, the vertical depths, and the electrical parameters of the target cable
conductors from the magnetic field measured remotely at the ground surface level [10]. Two
nested algorithms including least square approximation (LSA) and artificial immune system
(AIS) are used in the optimization process [12], [13].
The whole process is described in the flowchart(Fig. 3.2). It starts with the default position
parameters P0 of the underground cable conductors. Phase current Ip in each conductor is
calculated by inverse current program (ICP) based on the LSA algorithm, with position
parameters and measured magnetic field Bmea as variables by
Ip = (AT A) −1
A T
Bmea - (1)
There is a predetermined minimum threshold value of the Euclidean distance ||Bcal –Bmea|| as
the end condition for terminating the optimization. If the end condition is not satisfied, the
algorithm randomly generates a group of new position parameters Ps using AIS algorithm in
source position optimization module. With the Bmea and the new Ps, the Ip is computed again in
the ICP module.
The new Ps and Ip are then used to simulate new Bcal in the MFE. When the Euclidean distance
between the calculated Bcal and Bmea is smaller than the minimum threshold value, the
optimization process is finished, and then the resulting Ps, and Ip are saved as the optimum
current source parameters; otherwise, the iteration continues to loop. This optimization process is
repeated multiple times (N) to obtain the final Ps which are the ensemble averages of these N
optimum values. Accordingly, the final Ip is obtained from the final Ps and the measured
magnetic field.
3.3 Applications
Can even be used to detect high voltage carrying cables up to 132 KV.
It can be used to sketch the cable layout patterns in the region .
It may be used to find faults in cables.
May help excavation workers to avoid high power lines
Can detect power cables that lie in any kind of layouts. FIG 3.3 & FIG 3.4
COMMON LAYOUT PATTERNS OF UNDERGROUND CABLES
4.1 ADVANTAGES
• Can detect not only the spatial parameters, but also the electrical parameters of the
cable.
• can even be used to detect high voltage carrying cables up to 132 KV.
4.2 DISADVANTAGES
• Sensitive to interfering magnetic fields. Very strong magnetic field can damage the
sensor
CHAPTER 5
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
The figure shows the practical application of the detection technique using 3
phase power transmission through conductors A,B and C respectively.The
array of magnetis sensors were placed above the conductors and magnetic
fields were measured.
It is worth noting that the placement of the magnetic sensor array is flexible and it does not need
to be exactly above the cables to be detected as demonstrated by these two application examples.
A horizontal offset of over a meter between the center of the sensor array and the cables can be
tolerated, and accurate reconstructed results can still be obtained. It is highly advantageous to the
practical application of this technique on site because in reality only rough locations of the power
cables are provided by the underground cable route maps from the power companies.
CHAPTER 6
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
6.1 SUMMARY
In this paper, we developed a novel underground power cable detection and inspection
technology based on magnetic field sensing and current source reconstruction. When a group of
magnetic field values are measured by a magnetic sensor array at ground surface level, current
source reconstruction can be applied to solve the inverse problem and obtain the spatial and
electrical parameters of the cables including horizontal location, vertical depth, and current
information requiring no prior knowledge of the exact cable locations. Since the complete
process is only based on the remote magnetic field sensing and current source reconstruction, it
is a passive detection and inspection method with no need of any signal injection.
This technology may be integrated with a fault detection system and also a movable setup is
being developed to provide portable detection across wide range of area.
Soon, this technology may be implemented on every construction work that involves trenching to
check for under lying cables and hence avoiding it.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
[16] (2012, Oct. 18). EMFs info: Electric and Magnetic Fields [Online].
Available: http://www.emfs.info