Factors to be considered for High Voltage

Cable Joint Design

Presented by : Shahab Khan

MSc Electrical Power Systems

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Contents
Introduction

Importance of Cable Joint Design

Design Factors for HV Cable Joints

Conclusion

References

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Introduction
Cable Joints and their Use

 An integral part of Cable systems

 Joins up the individual sections of power cables to obtain desired cable
length
 Used in the event of cable failure

 Used to tap into an existing cable (T or Y joints) [1]

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Importance of Cable Joint Design
 Why good Cable Joint Design is so important?

 Majority of Faults are in cable Joints (52%) [2]

 Reduction of highly skilled Jointers

 Economic pressures to reduce Joint installation times as no live jointing

is done on high voltages
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Factors for HV Cable Joint Design
Types of Cables to be joined (Paper, XLPE, Oil, and Gas
filled)

 Transition Joints are required for cables with different insulation

Oil Filled Paper XLPE Insulated

Insulated Cable Cable
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Factors for HV Cable Joint Design
What voltage transient levels a Joint may experience?

 Transient Overvoltages in cable system through switching surges and

faults.

 Transients leads to Insulation Coordination issues.

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Factors for HV Cable Joint Design
The Voltage level for which the cable is designed
 Insulation requirement will increase with voltage level
 Also different voltage level requires different level of electrical
stress control.

Number of Phases
 3Φ and 1Φ cable have different number of cores. Therefore,
Joint design is different.

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Factors for HV Cable Joint Design
Dielectric Strength of Cable and Joint body interface
 Interface pressure and surface smoothness affects the interface
dielectric strength [3]

 Better dielectric strength of interface is attained by having high pressure

and perfect smoothness.

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Factors for HV Cable Joint Design
Choice of Material for Manufacturing of Joint

 Material chosen should lead to easy and quick joint installation

 No or less sophisticated installation tool requirement

 Should be reliable and safe as well

Manufacturing and installation costs

 Joint manufacturing and installation should be economical

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Factors for HV Cable Joint Design
Design must cater for Straight, Branched and Transition
Joints.

 Straight Joint for Identical cables

 Transition Joint for different insulation cables

 Branched Joints to tap into existing cables.

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Factors for HV Cable Joint Design
Location of Cable installation

Underground Above the ground Inside tunnel

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Factors for HV Cable Joint Design
Thermal performance

 Thermal performance affects cable ampacity.

 Joint must exhibit good thermal performance.

 Joint should have continuous temperature monitoring sensors for

preventive replacement [4].

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Factors for HV Cable Joint Design
Electrical Stress Control
 Fundamental requirement in construction of shielded cable Joint [5] .

 High electrical stress in dielectric, much higher than the design

stress, might lead to permanent cable damage.
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Factors for HV Cable Joint Design
Electrical Stress Control
 Control of electrical stress can be done by stress cone or high
permittivity material.

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Factors for HV Cable Joint Design
Environmental protection

 Joint design must prevent the water ingress into cable joint from
surrounding.

Mechanical protection

 Joint design must have sufficient mechanical strength. Important for

cables vulnerable to damage.

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Conclusion
 Cable Joints are the weakest links in Cable Systems.

 Joint’s design must have high degree reliability, good thermal

performance.

 Easy and quick to install yet reliable and safe.

 Joint’s manufacturing and installation should be economical.

 Types of cable to be joined, cable-joint body interface, cable system

voltage and voltage transients greatly influence cable joint designing.

 Electrical stress control problem is more pronounced at higher voltages

and must be addressed for good joint design.
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References
1. R. Goodman, I. Osborn. ”3M Power cable splicing and terminating”.
http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?
mwsId=SSSSSu7zK1fslxtUNx_UlxMSev7qe17zHvTSevTSeSSSSSS--

2. E. Gulski, F. J. Wester, W. Boone, et al, “Knowledge rules support for CBM of power
cable circuits”, CIGRE, Paris, 2002

3. S. Ansorge, B. Arnold, ”Jointing of high voltage cable systems”.

http://pfisterer.com/download_download/d_3630.pdf

4. D. Fournier and N. Amyot, “Diagnostic of overheating underground distribution cable

joints,” IEE Conf. Electricity Distribution, vol. 1,no. 482, June 2001, pp. 18-21

5. Moore, G.F (1997). Electric Cables Handbook. 3rd ed. Cornwall: Blackwell Science.
p401-418.

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Thank you for your
Time & Attention

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Questions

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