INTRODUCTION

 THE UNDERGROUND SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION

OF POWER IN LARGE CITIES IN INCREASINGLY BEING
ADOPTED, ALTHOUGH IT IS COSTLY SYSTEM OF
DISTRIBUTION AS COMPARED TO OVERHEAD SYSTEM. IT
ENSURES THE CONTINUITY OF SUPPLY APART FROM THE
FOLLOWING ADAVNTAGES:
 IT ENSURES NON-INTERRUPTED CONTINUITY OF SUPPLY
 ITS MAINTENANCE IS LESS
 IT HAS A LONG LIFE
 ITS APPERANCE IS GOOD
 IT ELEMINATES HAZARDS OF ELECTRO-CUTION DUE TO
BREAKAGE OF OVER HEAD CONDUCTORS.
UNDERGROUND CABLES
 AN UNDERGROUND CABLE CONSISTS OF ONE OR MORE
CONDUCTORS COVERED WITH SOME SUITABLE INSULATING
MATERIAL AND SURROUNDED BY A PROTECTING COVER. THE
CABLE IS LAID UNDERGROUND TO TRANSMIT ELECTRIC
POWER.

 THE UNDERGROUND CABLES ARE GENERALLY USED FOR

DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER. UNDERGROUND
CABLES ARE USED FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND
DISTRIBUTION PURPOSES IN URBAN AREAS AND ALSO
WHERE OVERHEAD SYSTEM BECOMES IMPRACTICABLE. THE
UNDERGROUND CABLES MUST FULFILL THE FOLLOWING
REQUIREMENTS GIVEN ON NEXT SLIDE:
 THE CONDUCTOR USED IN CABLES SHOULD BE OF TINNED
COPPER OR ALUMINIUM, HAVING HIGH CONDUCTIVITY. ONLY
STRANDED CONDUCTORS ARE USED SO THAT THE CONDUCTOR
MAY BECOME FLEXIBLE.
 THE SIZE OF CONDUCTORS USED IN UNDERGROUND CABLES
SHOULD BE SUCH THAT IT CAN CARRY THE REQUIRED LOAD
WITHOUT OVER HEATING AND SHOULD NOT CAUSE A VOLTAGE
DROP MORE THAN THE PERMISSIBLE LIMITS.
 THE CABLE MUST HAVE PROPER THICKNESS OF INSULATION SO
THAT IT CAN PROVIDE A HIGH DEGREE OF SAFETY AND
RELIABILTY AT THE VOLTAGE FOR WHICH IT IS DESIGNED.
 THE MATERIALS USED IN MANUFACTURING OF CABLES SHOULD
SUCH THAT THERE IS COMPLETE CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL
STABILITY.
 ALL THE CABLES MUST BE MECHANICALLY PROTECTED, SO THAT
THEY CAN WITHSTAND THE ROUGH USE IN LAYING THEM.
 CLASSIFICATION OF CABLES
 UNDERGROUND CABLES ARE USUALLY CLASSIFIED
ACCORDING TO THE VOLTAGE FOR WHICH, THESE ARE
MANUFACTURED. ACCORDING TO THE VOLTAGE, THESE ARE
CLASSIFIED AS:
A) LOW-TENSION (L.T.) CABLES......UPTO 1000V .
B) HIGH-TENSION (H.T.) CABLES.....UPTO 11000V.
C) SUPER-TENSION (S.T.) CABLES....FROM 22KV TO 33KV.
D) EXTRA-HIGH TENSION (E.H.T) CABLES.......FROM 33KV TO
66 KV.
E) EXTRA SUPER VOLTAGE CABLES.........BEYOND 132 KV.
SINGLE CORE V.I.R CABLE (BRAIDED)
TWIN CORE BELTED CABLE
3-CORE BELTED CABLE
4-CORE BELTED CABLE
3-CORE CABLE WITH STEEL WIRE
ARMOUT
H & HSL TYPE CABLE
 LOW-TENSION CABLES (L.T.)
 THESE CABLES ARE EMPLOYED FOR USE UP TO 1000V.
GENERALLY, THESE CABLES ARE USED FOR DISTRIBUTION
PURPOSES AT ABOUT 400V. THESE CABLES MAY HAVE ONE
OR MORE THAN ONE CORE DEPENDING UPON THE TYPE OF
SERVICES. THESE CAN BE OF SINGLE CORE OR MULTICORE
TYPE. FOR A 3-PHASE , 3-WIRE SERVICE , EITHER 3 SINGLE
CORE CABLES OR THREE CORE CABLES CAN BE USED.
 THESE LOW TENSION CABLES HAVE NO SPECIAL
CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THE STRESSES DEVELOPED IN
THE CABLE FOR LOW VOLTAGE (UPTO 6600V) ARE SMALL AND
THE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY IS ALSO OF NOT MUCH
IMPORTANCE.
THESE LOW TENSION CABLES HAVE NO
SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THE
STRESSES DEVELOPED IN THE CABLE
FOR LOW VOLTAGE (UPTO 6600V) ARE
SMALL AND THE THERMAL
CONDUCTIVITY IS ALSO OF NOT MUCH
IMPORTANCE. THE CONDUCTORS ARE
INSULATED WITH RUBBER OR POLYVINYL
CHLORIDE AND A LEAD SHEATH COVER
OVER THE INSULATION TO RESTRICT THE
MOISTURE TO ENTER THE CORE OF THE
CABLE. THE LEAD SHEATH IS COVERED
WITH A COMPOUNDED FIBROUS
MATERIAL . SINGLE CORE CABLES ARE
USUALLY NOT PROVIDED WITH
AMOURING IN ORDER TO AVOID
EXCESSIVE LOSS IN THE ARMOUR.
 HIGH-TENSION CABLES (H.T.)
 HIGH TENSION CABLES ARE USED UPTO 11KV. A3-CORE BELTED TYPE
CABLE GENRALLY EMPLOYED AT 11KV. IT CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING
MAIN PART:
1. CORE OR CONDUCTOR: A THREE CORE CABLES HAS THREE
CONDUCTORS.
2. INSULATION: EACH CORE OR CONDUCTOR IS PROVIDED WITH A
SUITABLE THICKNESS OF INSULATION, THE THICKNESS OF LAYER
DEPENDING UPON THE VOLTAGE TO BE WITHSTOOD BY THE CABLE.
THE INSULATING MATERIAL IS USED TO INSULATE THE CONDUCTORS
ARE PAPER, VARNISHED CAMBRIC AND VOLCANISED BITUMEN, BUT
IMPREGNATED PAPER IS MOSTLY USED.
3. METALLIC SHEATH: IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE CABLE FROM
MOISTURE, GASES OR OTHER DAMAGING LIQUIDS (ACIDS, ALKALIES
ETC.) IN THE SOIL AND ATMOSPHERE, A METALLIC SHEATH OF LEAD
OR ALUMINIUM IS PROVIDED OVER INSULATION AS IN NEXT FIGURE.
PARTS OF CABLE
X SECTION OF CABLE
4.BEDDING: IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE METALLIC SHEATH
FROM CORROSION AND MECHANICAL INJURY DUE TO
ARMOURING, A LAYER OF BEDDING IS PROVIDED OVER THE
LEAD SHEATH. THE BEDDING CONSISTS OF FIBROUS
MATERIAL LIKE JUTE OR HESSIAN TAPE.
5. ARMOURING : OVER THE BEDDING,ARMOURING IS PROVIDED
TO PROTECT THE CABLE FROM MECHANICAL INJURY WHILE
LAYING IT AND DURING THE COURSE OF HANDLING.
ARMOURING IS USUALLY CONSISTS OF ONE OR TWO LAYERS
OF GALVANISED STEEL WIRES OR STEEL STRIPS.
6.SERVING: IN ORDER TO PROTECT ARMOURING FROM
ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS, A LAYER OF FIBROUS
MATERIAL(LIKE JUTE) SIMILAR TO BEDDING IS PROVIDED
OVER THE ARMOURING. THIS IS KNOWN AS SERVING.
LAYING OF UNDERGROUND CABLES
BEFORE LAYING CABLE UNDER THE GROUND, ITS ROUTE SHOULD BE
SURVEYED & SELECTED. THE POSITION OF WATER MAINS OR DRAINS
ETC. SHOULD BE ASCERTAINED. CABLES WHICH ARE TO BE BURIED
UNDER GROUND MUST POSSESS FOLLOWING PROPERTIES:
A) MOISTURE OF SOIL SHOULD NOT ENTER THE CORE OF CABLE.
B) IT MUST POSSESS HIGH INSULATION RESISTANCE.
C) IT SHOULD NOT BE COSTLY.
D)IT SHOULD BE SUFFICIENTLY FLEXIBLE.
E) IT SHOULD NOT BE BULKY.
F) IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND HEAT PRODUCED DUE TO
FLOW OF CURRENT.
G) IT SHOULD NOT BE CAPABLE OF BEING DAMAGED WHILE LAYING
IN THE GROUND.
LAYING OF UNDERGROUND CABLES
THERE ARE THREE MAIN METHODS OF LAYING
UNDERGROUND CABLES:

1) DIRECT LAYING

2) DRAW-IN-SYSTEM

3) SOLID-SYSTEM
 DIRECT LAYING
IN DIRECT LAYING METHOD, THE
CABLES WITH STEEL TAPE OR WIRE
ARMOURING ARE LAID DIRECTLY AS
THEY AFFORD EXCELLENT
PROTECTION FROM MECHANICAL
INJURY. THIS METHOD OF THE LAYING
UNDERGROUND CABLES IS SIMPLE
AND CHEAP AND IN MUCH USE. IN THIS
METHOD OF LAYING, A TRENCH ABOUT
1.5 M DEEP AND 45CM WIDE IS DUG
THROUGH OUT THE ROUTE OF THE
CABLE. THE TRENCH IS COVERED
WITH A LAYER OF FINE SAND AND THE
CABLE IS LAID OVER THIS SAND BED.
THE PURPOSE OF SAND IS TO
PREVENT THE ENTRY OF MOISTURE
FROM THE GROUND AND THUS PROTECTS THE CABLE FROM
DECAY. AFTER THE LAYING OF THE CABLE IN THE TRENCH, IT IS
COVERED WITH ANOTHER LAYER OF SAND OF ABOUT 10 CM
THICKNESS, CARE BEING TAKEN THAT NO SHARP STONE SHOULD
COME IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE CABLE. THEN A SINGLE
LAYER OF BRICKS OR TILES IS LAID TO PROTECT THE CABLE
FROM PROTECTED BY WOODEN PLANKS OR CONCRETE SLAB.
WHEN MORE THAN ONE CABLE IS TO BE LAID IN THE SAME
TRENCH, HORIZONTAL OR VERTICAL INTERAXIAL SPACING AT
LEAST 30CM IS PROVIDED IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE EFFECT OF
MUTUAL HEATING AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT FAULT OCCURING
IN ANY ONE CABLE DOES NOT DAMAGE THE ADJACENT CABLE.
THE CABLES WHICH ARE TO BE LAID BY THIS WAY MUST HAVE
SERVING OF BITUMINISED PAPER AND HESSIAN TAPE, SO AS TO
PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST CORROSION AND ELECTROLYSIS.
 DRAW-IN SYSTEM
IN CONGETSED PLACES, WHERE
EXCAVATION IS EXPENSIVE AND
INCONVENIENT, THE DRAW-IN SYSTEM
IS OFTEN USED. IN THIS METHOD, A
LINE OF CONDUITS OR DUCTS ARE OF
THE GLAZED STONEWARE CEMENT
OR CONCRETE. AFTER LAYING
CONDUITS OR DUCTS, THE CABLES
ARE PUT INTO THE POSITION FROM
MAN-HOLES OR BRICK PITS SPACED
AT REGULAR INTERVALS. FIGURE
SHOWS SECTION THROUGH FOUR
WAY UNDERGROUND DUCT LINE.
THREE OF THE DUCTS CARRY
TRANSMISSION CABLES AND THE
FOURTH DUCT CARRIES RELY
PROTECTION CONNECTION, PILOT
WIRES.
 SOLID SYSTEM
IN THIS METHOD OF LAYING OF THE CABLES, TRENCHES
ALONG THE ROUTE ARE MADE AS IN DIRECT LAYING SYSTEM.
TROUGHS OF CHINA CLAY, EARTHEN WIRE, TREATED WOOD,
CAST IRON, STONEWARE OR ASPHALT ARE PLACED IN A ROW
AND THE CABLE IS LAID OUT IN THESE TROUGHS. AFTER THE
CABLE IS LAID IN POSITIONS, THE TROUGHING IS FILLED WITH
A BITUMINIOUS OR ASPHALT COMPOUND AND COVERED OVER.
CABLES LAID IN THIS MANNER ARE USUALLY PLAIN LEAD
COVERED, AS THE TROUGHING AFFORDS GOOD MECHANICAL
PROTECTION.
 COMPARISON BETWEEN
UNDERGROUND & OVERHEAD SYSTEM
COMPARISON BETWEEN UNDERGROUND
& OVERHEAD SYSTEM CONT..