Scribd
Upload
152 views

ACES OPGW Selection

1. The document discusses selecting an OPGW cable and outlines several considerations: cable type, available fiber counts ranging from 12-144, and fault current capacity which is computed based on expected fault current and clearing time. 2. It explains how fault current capacity is calculated, noting different utilities use varying philosophies for expected clearing times. A more conservative approach considers the possibility of backup protection clearing the fault. 3. The document discusses the difference between maximum rated design tension (MRDT) and rated breaking strength (RBS), with MRDT being the usable strength for design and RBS being the maximum guaranteed strength. It provides guidelines for setting MRDT values based on fiber strain limits for different cable types.

Uploaded by

Hugh cab
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
152 views

ACES OPGW Selection

1. The document discusses selecting an OPGW cable and outlines several considerations: cable type, available fiber counts ranging from 12-144, and fault current capacity which is computed based on expected fault current and clearing time. 2. It explains how fault current capacity is calculated, noting different utilities use varying philosophies for expected clearing times. A more conservative approach considers the possibility of backup protection clearing the fault. 3. The document discusses the difference between maximum rated design tension (MRDT) and rated breaking strength (RBS), with MRDT being the usable strength for design and RBS being the maximum guaranteed strength. It provides guidelines for setting MRDT values based on fiber strain limits for different cable types.

Uploaded by

Hugh cab
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Step 1.

ACES OPGW selection


1. Cable Type = OPGW
2. Fiber Count
Incab OPGW cables may have the following fiber counts: 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 96
and 144 optical fibers.
3. OPGW Fault Current Capacity
The required fault current for an OPGW is computed and expressed as “kA²·s” where
“kA” is the expected fault current in kA and “s” is the expected duration in seconds. The
current variable typically is a computation provided by the system planning department
of a utility. Most commonly, it is based upon a three-phase short circuit, but some
utilities use the short circuit from a single-phase fault. The duration variable is the
expected clearing time for the fault.
When there is a fault, a line typically trips out in 4 – 6 cycles (0.067 s – 0.1 s), but there
is usually at least one attempt at a re-close in 1 - 2 cycles. If the fault condition is still
present, then the line will trip out again in another 4 – 6 cycles, and then it is locked out.
A few utilities base the clearing time on just the single trip out. Others base the clearing
time on an initial trip plus one re-close. When they do this, they ignore the intervening 1
- 2 cycles (because the cable cannot cool during such a short time), and thereby use a
time of 8 – 12 cycles (0.13 s – 0.2 s). The most common practice is to consider the
possibility that the primary protection system has failed and that the fault will be cleared
by the backup protection. This can take 20 – 30 cycles (0.33 s – 0.5 s).
Which you should use is a function of your design philosophy. Using a three-phase fault
as your basis for the current is more conservative than using a single-phase fault.
Likewise, considering that a fault will be cleared by backup protection is also more
conservative. The higher the resulting fault current capacity, the more metal must be in
the cable which makes a cable larger and heavier which in turn increases structural
loadings. More metal also increases cost. ACES OGPW can help you understand the
resulting trade-offs as you continue to use it.
4. Maximum Rated Design Tension (MRDT) versus Rated Breaking Strength (RBS).
Both values are expressed in pounds (lb). RBS is the tensile force at which the cable is
at risk of breaking which means it is the maximum strength of the cable that a
manufacturer will guarantee. MRDT is the useable strength of the cable for design
purposes. Typically, this limit is based on ensuring the long-term reliable performance of
the optical fibers. In other words, in your engineering you cannot permit the tension on
the cable to exceed this value or you run the risk of permanent damage to one or more
of the optical fibers, perhaps even breaking one or more of them.
Incab bases our values for MRDT on the fiber strain in a cable. In our types “S” and
“AP” designs, we make the MRDT equal to the point where the fibers first begin to
experience strain when the cable is under tension. That is, we make MRDT = the Zero
Fiber Strain point. Our standards for the Zero Fiber Strain margin for these types of
cables are: MRDT ≈ 80% RBS for “S” type designs and MRDT ≈ 60% RBS for “AP” type
designs. In our center-tube type designs, we do permit 0.2% fiber strain which is a value
that Corning research shows yields a low probability of fiber failure. So, for our “C” and
“CA” type designs, our standards are: MRDT ≈ 50% RBS ≈ 0.2% fiber strain point.

You might also like