11.

2 Selection of Power Cables

Selection of power cable is done based on the following factors.

(i) Voltage grade
(ii) Load factor (Current carrying capacity)
(iii) S.C. withstand capacity
(iv) Voltage drop
Temperature rise
(v)
abnornmal voltage as per standards
(vi) Insulation to withstand
cost of installation.
(vii) Power losses Vs
(i) Voltage grade
The following are the type of cables as per the voltage grades:
(a) Wiring cables (House wiring), control cables for panel board wiring.
flexible cords for the connection of lights and fans, multi-core flexible
domestic appliance cords etc. The voltage grade of these cables 1s
rated as 110OV grade. These cables are manufactured as per IS: 694-1990

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 (b) Heavy duty PVC insulated power cables: There are cables with
voltage grades 650V/1100OV/2200OV/3300OV etc. as per
IS-1554-Part-II-1988.
(C) Heavy duty paper insulated power cables, manufactured as per
IS-692-1973. The voltage grades under this
category are,
11000V/22000V/33000V etc.
(d) Heavy duty cross linked polyethylene (XLPE) power cables which
are manufactured asper IS- 7098-Part I1-1985. These cables are
available in the voltage grades of
Load factor 1100V/11000V/22000V/33000V.
(Current carrying capacity)
The current
carrying capacity of various types of cables, under
different conditions of
laying are different, suitable rating factors should also be
considered as part of the conditions of
(ii) Short circuit withstand
laying.
capacity
It depends on the fault level
of the system and the duration of
flow of fault current. the
(iv) Voltage drop
Once a cable is selected
and short circuit with stand considering the current carrying capacity
must be
capacity, the voltage drop for a particular load specified
checked. This voltage drop must be maintained
(v) within 3%.
Temperature rise and characteristic of load
The current carrying
the capacity given in various standards are based on
a.
following service conditions:
Maximum conductor temperature 700
b.
Thermal resistivity of Soil 150 C/watt
C.
Thermal resistivity of PVC 650 C/watt
d.
Ambient temperature 30°C
e.
Ground temperature 30°C

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 direct in ground)
f. Depth of laying (cables laid
75cm for 1.1 KV,
90cm for 3.3 KV and 6.6 Kv
In addition to the standard conditions, rating factors must be used.as
have been given for:
given in the rating factor tables. The rating factors
(a) Variation of ground temperature
(b) Variation in ambient air temperature
(c) Variation in depth of laying in ground
(d) Group rating factor for single core, multi-core, horizontal formation,
tier formation, laid direct in ground, in trays or in stone ware ducts
on racks in air etc.
(e) Variation in thermal resistivity of soil for ducts and directly buried in
ground
The cable may be selected based on the loading characteristic like
whether the loading is constant or cyclic or short time over loads.
(vi) Power loss Vs cost of installation
The power loss for one or two higher size cables are worked out and
plotted on a
graph paper with power loss converted in to money Vs interest and
depreciation over investment of installation. This exercise is done for cables or
length of the order of k.m. and for bulk power transmission.
.3 Identification of Cables
Identification of Aluminium and
Any type of cable shall be identified Copper cables are by different w
vays.

manufactures name and trade mark, through the length of the cable by the
or embossed or
voltage grade and year of manufacturing p" Tinted

by means of a tape bearing this information.

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 ldentification of Aluminium cables can be done by a code as follows:
Constituent Code letter
Aluminium conductor A
PVC insulator Y
Steel round wire armor W
Non-magnetic round strip armour W
Steel strip armour F
Non-magnetic strip armour F a

Double steel wire armour wW

Double steel strip armour FF
PVC outer sheath Y
XLPE insulation 2X
The number of cores, conductor cross section and voltage grade are
WTitten in the usual manner.
EX: AYFY Aluminium conductor PVC insulation, formed steel wire
amoured, PVC outer sheets 31/2 core cable, conductor size 240mm stranded
sector shaped 650/1100 V grade.
114 XLPE Power Cable

Cross linked polyethylene XLPE cable has now been recognized

It has better
uOughout the world as an ideal dielectric for cable manufacturing.
These properties
excellent of XLPE
dnical, electrical and thermal properties.
conventional insulated cables.
cables various advantages as compared to other
of
Superior cables has led to progressive replacement
performance of XLPE
EHV, XLPE power
T nsulated and other extruded dielectric cables. Now-a-days
Cables are available in the market.
Advantages of XLPE cables due to low density and high
1. reduced diameter
It has less weight,
insulation resistance. temperature
deformation under high
less
ALPE insulation suffers

and pressure.

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