Cables and Distribution

Dr. N. VISALI
Dept. of EEE,
JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri
Chittoor District, A P, India

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Outline of presentation

 UNDERGROUND CABLES
 Advantages and disadvantages of cables
 Classification of cables
 Construction of cables
 Electro static stress distribution
 Grading of cables
 Capacitance in 3-core cables
 Gate previous questions

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Outline of presentation(contd.)

 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
 Classification of distribution system
 Voltage drop in distributors
 Substations
 Gate previous questions
1. Two mark questions
2. One mark questions
 Work to students

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
UNDERGROUND CABLES

The combination of conductor and its insulator is called cable.

Copper conductor has extensively been used for cable but of late
aluminium is being used to a considerable extent.

All the electrical cables consists of three essential points:

• The conductor of transmitting electrical power.

• The insulation, an electrical insulating medium, needed to

insulate the conductor from direct contact with earth or other
object.

• External protection system protects from mechanical damage,

chemical or electro chemical attacks, fire or any other
dangerous effects that occur external to the cables.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

The main requirements of insulating materials used for cable are:

• High insulating resistance.

• High dielectric strength.

• Good mechanical properties.

Various insulations:

i. Vulcanised rubber

ii. Butyl rubber

iii. Silicon rubber

iv. Neoprene rubber

v. Polyvinyl chloride

vi. Impregnated paper.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Advantages and Disadvantages of cables

Under ground cables are used in place of overhead lines to

have following advantages:

Advantages:

1. In a densely populated circuit where overhead lines are not

possible.

2. Under ground cables provide better regulation.

3. The chances of accidents in under ground system are very low

compared to overhead lines.

4. As the cables are laid ground with better insulation, the

chances of failure or fault are less compared to overhead lines.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

Disadvantages:

1. Under ground cables are very costly as compare to overhead

lines .

2. Practically, identification of cable faults is difficult than in

case of faults in the overhead lines.

3. Jointing of cables is difficult. Hence tapping for loads and

service mains is not convenient.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Classification of cables
1. According to number of conductors
It can be classified as single, two, three or four core cables.
2. According to the voltage
i. Low tension(L.T) cables up to 1000 v
ii. High tension (H.T) cables up to 11,000 v
iii. Super tension (S.T) cables up to 22Kv to 33Kv
iv. Extra high tension(E.H.T) cables from 33kv to 66 kv
v. Extra super voltage(E.S.V) cables- beyond 132 kv
3. According to nature of application of insulation and lead sheath
i. Belted type
ii. H-type
iii. S.L. type
iv. H.S.L
Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
 Contd.

4. According to methods of improving the dielectric stress

i. Solid type up to 33 kv

ii. Oil filled type up to 500kv

iii. Gas pressure type up to 235kv

Types of cable:
1) Single core
2) Three core.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
1) Single core: It consists of stranded copper conductor a belt of insulation
of impregnated paper and lead sheath over it. The sheath is protected by
covering it with hessian tapes or jute which is soaked in some preservative
compound of bituminous nature.
Insulation resistance of single core cable
Let ‘l’ be the length of the cable in meter.
‘ᵨ’ be the resistivity of insulator in Ω- meter
‘r’ be the radius of single core cable of conductor.
‘R’ be the internal sheath 
Ri  l n R / r 
Insulation resistance, 2 l 
The insulation resistance of a cable is inversely proportional to its length.
Capacitance of a single core cable
Potential difference between the conductor and sheath.

l nD / d  volts.
q
V
2  
Let ‘D’ be the internal sheath diameter
‘d’ be the conductor diameter.
   0 r ,  0 is the permittivity of free space = 8.854 x 10-12 F/m
εr is the relative permittivity of the insulation.
‘q’ be the charge per meter axial length of the cable in coulombs.
Capacitance of the cable is 𝑞 2 
𝐶 = 𝑞/𝑣 =
𝑞/2𝜋𝜀 𝑙𝑛 𝐷/𝑑  F /m
l n( D / d )
Dielectric Stress of a single core cable:
 Under operating conditions, the insulation of a cable is subjected to
electrostatic stress, called dielectric stress
 Potential gradient at any point is defined as the rate of increase of
potential at that point and is same as the dielectric stress at that point.
 Since cable is a form of cylindrical condenser therefore electric
intensity at a distance ‘x’ from the centre of ‘o’ cable is given by
V = potential difference between core and sheath
𝑞 1
𝐸𝑥 = 2𝜋𝜀 × 𝑥 volt/metre

Since potential gradient=Electric intensity

g 
q

1 (1)
2 x

From capacitance derivation

l nD / d  volts.
q
V 
2  
Subt the value of q from the above expression in (1)
g 
V volts/meter
x ln( D / d )

• Potential gradient will be maximum when x=d/2

• Potential gradient will be minimum when x=D/2

2V 2V
g max  volts/meter g min 
d ln( D / d ) D ln( D / d )
 g max D

g min d
 The most Economical Diameter of Conductor:-For a given operating voltage
and given overall diameter of conductor which gives minimum potential at
the surface.
ln(D/d) = l i.e., D/d = e
therefore d = D/2.718
• For a given applied voltage electrostatic stress in a single core cable is
maximum at the conductor surface and decreases towards the sheath.
• gmax at the surface of the conductor, gmin at the surface of the sheath this
implies the unequal stress distribution in a cable.
• In a cable having homogeneous insulation the maximum voltage which can
be safely applied to cable is limited by the electrostatic stress at the
conductor surface.
• If a dielectric of high strength is used in a cable then it is useful just over the
conductor where the stress is maximum, but as we go away from the
conductor surface the value of dialectic stress is decreased so dielectric will
be unnecessarily strong and expensive.
• To overcome the above disadvantages it is necessary to have a uniform
stress distribution in cables.
• The process of achieving uniform electrostatic stress in the dielectric
of cable is known as grading of cables.
There are two methods
 Capacitance grading
 Intersheath grading
1.Capacitance Grading:-The process of achieving uniformity in the
dielectric stress by using layers of different Dielectric is known as
capacitance grading.

Fig. Capacitance Grading

 q
g max1  
q g max 1 
q
21r g max 2
2 2 r1 2 3 r2

To have same maximum working stress on different sheaths

q q q
 
21 r 2 2 r1 2 3 r2  1r   2 r1   3 r2

r  r1  r2

• The dielectric material with highest permittivity should be placed

nearest to the conductor and other layers will be in the descending
order of their permittivity’s
• To have the same factor safety for all the materials we have to place
the material with highest product of dielectric strength and
permittivity nearer to the conductor and the other layers should be in
the descending order of the product of dielectric strength and
permittivity.
 1G1   2 G2   3G3
Grading of cables

By distributing the stress uniformly, the breakdown of insulation

can be avoided.

Internal sheath grading:

r= radius of conductor

r1= radius of outer sheath

R=radius of outer sheath

v1= voltage between conductor and intersheath

v2= voltage between intersheath and outer sheath

V=voltage between conductor and outer sheath

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
2) Capacitance of a 3-core cable:
Capacitance of a cable is much more important than that of an overhead line because of
nearer phase conductors to one another and to earthed sheath.

• Sheath is at earth potential and the three conductors are at supply potential.
CS=Capacitance between the core and sheath
CC=Capacitance between core and core (or) core capacitance.
• Star point and sheath point are same
• There are two unknowns CS and CC to find out capacitances per phase of the cable. to
calculate CS and CC we have to make two measurements.
 CX=3CC (1)
Connect only two cores to the sheath and measure the capacitance between the
remaining conductor and the sheath.
CY=2CC+CS (2)

From equation 1 & 2 1 C 

C C   CY  X 
2 3 

CX 1 C 
CS  C C   CY  X 
3 2 3 

Capacitance per phase of the conductor Cph=CS+3CC

3 C
C ph  CY  X
2 6
 Problems
1. What is the overall diameter of a single core cable when its working on a three phase 264
kV system? The maximum permissible stress in the dieletric is not to exceed 20 kV/mm.
(a) 21.4 mm (c) 22.4 mm
(b) 24.4 mm (d) 28.2 mm
Ans.:-
264
r.m.s value of the phase voltage= 3
= 152.4kV

Peak value of phase voltage= 152.4 × 2 = 215.5KV

Given gmax=20KV/mm
For economical size of the cable, optimum ratio of sheath and core radii
is given by R/r=e
V V V
g max   
r ln( R / r ) r  1 r
215.5
20 
r
215
r  10.7 mm
20 Economical core Diameter=10.7x2=21.4mm
 A single core lead covered cable is to be designed for 132 kV to earth. Its conductor radius
is 20 mm and its insulating material A, B and C have relative permittivity’s 5, 4 and 3
respectively and corresponding maximum permissible stresses of 3.6, 2.4 and 2.0 kV/mm
(rms) respectively. The minimum diameter of the lead steath will be
(a) 190 mm (b) 125 mm (C) 150.0 mm (d) 173.7mm
Ans.:- d
q
q g max 2 
q g max 3 
g max1  2 o  2 r1 2 o  3 r2
2 o  1r

5  20  3.6  4  2.4  r1  3  2  r2

5  20  3.6
r1   37.5 mm
4  2 .4
Q)
Gate previous questions

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
The part of the power system by which electric power is distributed
among various consumers for their local use is known as distribution
system. A low tension distribution system is shown in fig. below, which
comprises the feeders, distribution and service mains.

1. Feeder: A line or conductor which

connects the major station to the distributor

is known as feeder.

2. Distributor: A line or conductor to which

various consumers are connected through

service mains is known as distributor.

3.Service main: A line (conductor or cable) which connects the

consumer to the distributor is known as service main.
Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Classification of distribution systems

1. As per the type of current:

i. D.C distribution

ii. A.C distribution

2. According to construction

i. Overhead distribution system

ii. Underground distribution system.

3. According to the service

i. General lighting and power

ii. Industrial power

iii. Railway

iv. Street lighting etc;

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

4. According to the number of wires

i. Two wire

ii. Three wire

iii. Four wire

5.According to the scheme of connection

i. Radial system

ii. Ring system

iii. Interconnected system

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

D.C distribution: The electric power is almost exclusively generated,

transmitted and distributed as ac but for certain applications (e.g.for
the operation of speed machinery d.c motors etc.) d.c is absolutely
necessary. For this purposes, a.c is converted into d.c at the substation
and is then distributed by

i. 2- wire system

ii. 3- wire system

A.C distribution: The electric power or energy is in variably generated,

transmitted and distributed in the form of alternating current. The
main reason of adopting a.c. system for generation, transmission and
distribution of power is that a.c voltage can conveniently be changed to
any desired value with the help of a transformer.
Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

Primary distribution: The system in which electrical power is

conveyed at 11kv or 6.6kv or 3.3kv to different substations for
distribution or to big consumers(e.g. industries, factories etc) is called
primary distribution system.

Secondary distribution system: The system in which electric power

is distributed at 400/230v to various consumers is called low voltage
or secondary distribution systems.

Radial systems: In radial systems, separate feeders radiate from a

single substations and feed the distributors at one end only.

Ring main system: In this system each consumer is supplied via

two feeders. The arrangement is similar to two feeders in parallel on
different routes.
Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Voltage drop in distributors

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

Importance of capacitor in distribution system:

1. Voltage improvement

2. Loss reduction

3. Power factor improvement

• Series capacitor influence is down streamside and whereas in case

of shunt capacitor influence is upstream side.

• Series capacitor is mainly used in voltage improvement and shunt

capacitor is mainly used in loss reduction and power factor
improvement.

• Automatic voltage boosters are used for voltage improvement and

these give low cost, marginally loss reductions.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
SUBSTATIONS

Substations are located from the generating station to consumer

premises.

Types of substation
Classification of Substations by Nature of Duties
The classification of the substation by nature of functions is explained
below in details.
Step-up or Primary Substations – Such types of substations generate
low voltage like 3.3, 6.6, 11, or 33kV. This voltage is stepped up by the
help of a step-up transformer for transmitting the power over large
distances. It is located near the generating substation

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

Primary Grid Substations – This substation lowered the value of

primary stepped up voltages. The output of the primary grid
substation acts as the input of the secondary substations. The
secondary substation is used for stepping down the input voltage
to more lowered for further transmission.
Step-down or Distribution Substations – This substation is
placed near the load centre where the primary distribution is
stepped down for sub-transmission. The secondary distribution
transformer feeds the consumer through the service line

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.
Here is mainly four type of substations we use for distribution
purpose
1 outdoor substation
2 Indoor substation
3 underground substation
4 pole mounted substation
1. Indoor substation: It is used upto 11 kv . in this substation all
equipments are placed indoor.
2. Outdoor substation: It is used for voltage upto 66 kv .as the
voltage level in this substation is high so we install all equipments
outdoor because of high voltage Size f circuit breaker relays get
increase and the clearence required between conductors also
increase.
Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

3. Underground substation: It is used in high populated area

where space for equipments and building is limited.
4. Pole mounted: It is a type of a outdoor substation in which
equipments are installed over a h type pole structure. It is used
upto 11 kv .
Classification of Substations by Service Rendered
Transformer substations – In such type of substation
transformers are installed for transforming the power from one
voltage level to another level as per need.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

Switching Substations – The substations use for switching the

power line without disturbing the voltage is known as the
switching substations. This type of substations is placed between
the transmission line.
Converting Substations – In such types of substations, AC
power converting into DC power or vice versa or it can convert
high frequency to lower frequency or vice versa.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

Classification of Substations by Operating Voltage

The substations, according to operating voltage, may be
categorised as
High Voltage Substations (HV Substations) – Involving voltages
between 11 KV and 66 KV.
Extra High Voltage Substations – Involving voltages between
132 kV and 400 KV.
Ultra High Voltage – Operating voltage above 400 KV.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

Classifications of Substation by Importance

Grid Substations – This substation is used for transferring the
bulk power from one point to another. If any fault occurs on the
substation, then the continuity of whole of the supply is affected
by it.
Town Substations – These substations step down the voltage at
33/11 kV for more distribution in the towns. If there is any fault
occurs in this substation, then the supply of the whole town is
blocked.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions ( 2 marks)

Q.No.1) A distribution feeder of 1 km length having resistance,

but negligible reactance, is fed from both the ends by 400V, 50Hz
balanced sources. Both voltage sources S1 and S2 are in phase.
The feeder supplies concentrated loads of unity power factor as
shown in figure.
The contribution of S1 and S2 in 100 A current supplied at
location p respectively, are
a) 75 A and 25 A
b) 50 A and 50 A
c) 25 A and 75 A
d) 0 A and 100 A
Ans: (d)

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions (2marks)

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
 Gate previous questions (2marks)

Q.No.2) A two conductor feeder extending over a distance carries

current of 120 A at point C and 60 A at point B. the impedance of the
section AB and BC are ZAB = (0.04 + j 0.08) Ω and ZBC = (0.08 + j 0.12) Ω.
Currents at point B and C operates at power factor of 0.8 lagging. The
voltage at point C is 400 V. Calculate currents at B & C.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions (2marks)

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions (2marks)

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions (2 marks)
Q.No.3) A single-phase A/C distributor 500 mt long having
impedance (0.02+j 0.04) Ω is fed with 250V at the extreme end.
Currents are tapped at 3-points on the distributor
50 A UPF and 200 mt from
extreme end 100 A, 0.8 pf lag,
300 mt from extreme end
50 A, 0.6 pf lag 500 mt from
extreme end.

Determine the voltage drop in each section and potential at the point
where current 50 A at 0.6 pf lag is tapped

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions (2 marks)

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions (2 marks)

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions (2 marks)

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions (2 marks)

Q.No.4) A two wire A/C distribution ABCDEA is in the form of a

ring main fed point A at 220 V and is loaded as follows
10 A at point B, 20A at point C, 30 A at point D and 10 A
at point E. the resistances of various sections are
RAB = 0.1 Ω; RBC = 0.5 Ω; RCD = 0.01 Ω; RDE = 0.025 Ω;
REA = 0.075 Ω.
Determine
1. Current flowing between point
A and B.
2. The point of minimum potential.
3. Current in each section of distributor.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions (2 marks)

Sol
Applying KVL to ring main system
0 = I (0.1) + (I – 10) × 0.5 + (I – 30) × 0.01 + (I – 60) × 0.025
+(I – 70)× 0.075 Ω
0 = I (0.1 + 0.5 + 0.01 + 0.025 + 0.075) + 5 – 3 – 15 – 5
I = 29.04 A

IAB= I =29.04 A
Potential at point B, VB = VA – I (0.01)
= 220 – (29.04) (0.01)
= 217.09 V

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions (2 marks)

Now,
VC = VB – (I – 10) (0.05)
= 217.09 – (29.04 – 10) (0.05)
= 216.158 V
VD = VC – (I – 30) (0.01)
= 216.128 V
VE = VC – (I – 60) (0.025)
= 216.902 V

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions (1 mark)

Q.No.5) Why is a ring main distribution system preferred to a

radial system?
1. Voltage drop in the feeder is less.
2. Power factor is higher.
3. Supply is more reliable.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1 and 2
b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 3
d) 1,2 and 3
Ans: (c)

Solution:

In a ring main distribution system, the supply reliability is more

and there is minimum voltage drop in the feeder and power factor
is not affected because it is affected by the type of system.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions (1 mark)

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Work to students

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Contd.

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India
Gate previous questions

THE END

Dr.N.Visali, Dept. of EEE, JNTUA College of Engineering, Kalikiri, Chittoor District, A P, India