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Edvard
EHV/HV Underground Cable Sheath Earthing (part 2/2)
Continued f rom previous part: EHV/HV Cable Sheath Earthing (part 1/2)
Accessories f or HT Cable Sheath Bonding
1. Funct ion of Link Box?
Link Box is electrically and mechanically one of the integral accessories of HV
underground above ground cable bonding system, associated with HV XLPE
power cable systems. Link boxes are used with cable joints and terminations to
provide easy access to shield breaks f or test purposes and to limit voltage
build-up on the sheath.
Lightning, f ault currents and switching operations can cause over voltages on
the cable sheath. The link box optimizes loss management in the cable shield
on cables grounded both sides. In HT Cable the bonding system is so designed
that the cable sheaths are bonded and earthed or with SVL in such way as to eliminate or reduce the
circulating sheath currents.
Link Boxes are used with cable joints and terminations to provide easy access to shield breaks f or test
purposes and to limit voltage build-up on the sheath. The link box is part of bonding system, which is
essential of improving current carrying capacity and human protection.
2. Sheat h Volt age Limit ers (SVL) (Surge Arrest ors)
SVL is protective device to limit induce voltages appearing on the bonded cable system due to short circuit.
It is necessary to f it SVLs between the metallic screen and ground inside the link box. The screen
separation of power cable joint (insulated joint) will be protected against possible damages as a result of
induced voltages caused by short circuit/break down.
Top
Type of Sheath Bonding f or HT Cable
There is normally three type of bonding for LT/HT cable screen:
1. Single Point Bonded
1. One Side Single Point Bonded System.
2. Split Single Point Bonded System.
2. Both End Bonded System
3. Cross Bonded System
Si ngl e poi nt bonded system
1. Single point bonded syst em
1a. One Side Single Bonded Syst em
A system is single point bonded if the arrangements are
such that the cable sheaths provide no path f or the f low
of circulating currents or external f ault currents.
This is the simplest f orm of special bonding. The
sheaths of the three cable sections are connected and
grounded at one point only along their length. At all
other points there will be a voltage between sheath and
ground and between screens of adjacent phases of the
cable circuit that will be at its maximum at the f arthest
point f rom the ground bond.
This induced voltage is proportional to the cable length
and current. Single-point bonding can only be used f or
limited route lengths, but in general the accepted screen
voltage potential limits the length
The sheaths must theref ore be adequately insulated f rom ground. Since there is no closed sheath
circuit, except through the sheath voltage limiter, current does not normally f low longitudinally along
the sheaths and no sheath circulation current loss occurs.
Open circuit in cable screen, no circulating current.
Zero volt at the earthed end, standing voltage at the unearthed end.
Optional PVC insulated earth continuity conductor required to provide path f or f ault current, if
returning f rom earth is undesirable, such as in a coal mine.
SVL installed at the unearthed end to protect the cable insulation during f ault conditions.
Induced voltage proportional to the length of the cable and the current carried in the cable .
Zero volt with respect to the earth grid voltage at the earthed end, standing voltage at the unearthed
end.
Circulating current in the earthcontinuity conductor is not signif icant, as magnetic f ields f rom
phases are partially balanced.
The magnitude of the standing voltage is depended on the magnitude of the current f lows in the
core, much higher if there is an earth f ault.
High voltage appears on the unearthed end can cause arcing and damage outer PVC sheath.
The voltage on the screen during a f ault also depends on the earthing condition.
Standing voltage at the unearthed end during earth f ault condition:
During a ground f ault on the power system the zero sequence current carried by the cable
conductors could return by whatever external paths are available. A ground f ault in the immediate
vicinity of the cable can cause a large dif f erence in ground potential rise between the two ends of
the cable system, posing hazards to personnel and equipment.
For this reason, single-point bonded cable installations need a parallel ground conductor,
grounded at both ends of the cable route and installed very close to the cable conductors, to carry
the f ault current during ground f aults and to limit the voltage rise of the sheath during ground f aults
to an acceptable level.
Spl i t si ngl e poi nt bonded system
The parallel ground continuity conductor is usually insulated to avoid corrosion and transposed, if
the cables are not transposed, to avoid circulating currents and losses during normal operating
conditions.
Voltage at the unearthed end during an earth f ault consists of two voltage components. Induced
voltage due to f ault current in the core.
Advant ages
No circulating current.
No heating in the cable screen.
Economical.
Disadvant ages
Standing voltage at the unearthed end.
Requires SVL if standing voltage during f ault is excessive.
Requires additional earth continuity conductor f or f ault current if earth returned current is
undesirable. Higher magnetic f ields around the cable compared to solidly bonded system.
Standing voltage on the cable screen is proportional to the length of the cable and the magnitude of
current in the core.
Typically suitable f or cable sections less than 500 m, or one drum length.
1b. Split Single Point -bonded Syst em
It is also known as double length single point
bonding System.
Cable screen continuity is interrupted at the
midpoint and SVLs need to be f itted at each side of
the isolation joint.
Other requirements are identical to singlepoint
bonding system like SVL, Earth continuity
Conductor, Transposition of earth continuity
conductor.
Ef f ectively two sections of singlepointbonding.
No circulating current and Zero volt at the earthed
ends, standing voltage at the sectionalizing joint.
Advant ages
No circulating current in the screen.
No heating ef f ect in the cable screen.
Suitable f or longer cable section compared to singlepointbonding system and solidly bonded
single-core system.
Both End Sol i dl y Bonded (Si ngl e-core cabl e) systems
Economical.
Disadvant ages
Standing voltage exists at the screen and sectionalizing insulation joint.
Requires SVL to protect the unearthed end.
Requires separate earth continuity conductor f or zero sequence current.
Not suitable f or cable sections over 1000 m.
Suitable f or 300~1000 m long cable sections, double the length of singlepointbonding system.
Top
2. Bot h End Solidly Bonded (Single-core cable) syst ems
Most Simple and Common method.
Cable screen is bonded to earth grids at both
ends (via link box).
To eliminate the induced voltages in Cable Screen
is to bond (Earth) the sheath at both ends of the
cable circuit.
This eliminates the need f or the parallel continuity
conductor used in single bonding systems. It also
eliminates the need to provide SVL, such as that
used at the f ree end of single-point bonding cable
circuits
Signif icant circulating current in the screen
Proportional to the core current and cable length
and de rates cable.
Could lay cable in compact tref oil f ormation if permissible.
Suitable f or route length of more than 500 Meter.
Very small standing voltage in the order of several volts.
Advant ages
Minimum material required.
Most economical if heating is not a main issue.
Provides path f or f ault current, minimizing earth return current and EGVR at cable destination.
Does not require screen voltage limiter (SVL).
Less electromagnetic radiation.
Disadvant ages
Provides path f or circulating current.
Heating ef f ects in cable screen, greater losses .Cable theref ore might need to be derated or larger
cable required.
Transf ers voltages between sites when there is an EGVR at one site.
Can lay cables in tref oil f ormation to reduce screen losses .
Normally applies to short cable section of tens of meters long. Circulating current is proportional to
the length of the cable and the magnitude of the load current.
Top
3. Cross-bonded cable syst em
Cross bonded cabl e system wi th transposed
A system is cross-bonded if the arrangements are such that the circuit provides electrically
continuous sheath runs f rom earthed termination to earthed termination but with the sheaths so
sectionalized and cross-connected in order to reduce the sheath circulating currents.
In This Type voltage will be induced between screen and earth, but no signif icant current will f low.
The maximum induced voltage will appear at the link boxes f or cross-bonding. This method permits a
cable current-carrying capacity as high as with single-point bonding but longer route lengths than the
latter. It requires screen separation and additional link boxes.
For cross bonding, the cable length is divided into three approximately equal sections. Each of the
three alternating magnetic f ields induces a voltage with a phase shif t of 120 in the cable shields.
The cross bonding takes place in the link boxes. Ideally, the vectorial addition of the induced voltages
results in U (Rise) = 0. In practice, the cable length and the laying conditions will vary, resulting in a
small residual voltage and a negligible current. Since there is no current f low, there are practically no
losses in the screen.
The total of the three voltages is zero, thus the ends of the three sections can be grounded.
Summing up induced voltage in sectionalized screen f rom each phase resulting in neutralization of
induced voltages in three consecutive minor sections.
Normally one drum length (500 m approx) per minor section.
Sectionalizing position and cable jointing position should be coincident.
Solidly earthed at major section joints.
Transpose cable core to balance the magnitude of induced voltages to be summed up.
Link box should be used at every sectionalizing joint and balanced impedance in all phases.
Induced voltage magnitude prof ile along the screen of a major section in the crossbonding cable
system.
Virtually zero circulating current and Voltage to the remote earth at the solidly earthed ends.
In order to obtain optimal result, two crosses exist. One is Transposition of cable core crossing
cable core at each section and second is Cross bond the cable screens ef f ectively no transposition
of screen.
Cross bonding of cable screen: It is cancelled induced voltage in the screen at every major Section
joint.
Transposition of cables: It is ensure voltages to be summed up have similar magnitude .Greater
standing voltage at the screen of the outer cable.
Standing voltages exist at screen and majority of section joints cable and joints must be installed as
an insulated screen system.
Requirement of t ranspose f or cables core
Cross bonded cabl e system wi thout transposed
If core not transposed, not well neutralized resulting in some circulating currents.
Cable should be transposed and the screen needs to be cross bonded at each sectionalizing joint
position f or optimal neutralization
Advant ages
Not required any earth continuity conductor.
Virtually zero circulating current in the screen.
Standing voltage in the screen is controlled.
Technically superior than other methods.
Suitable f or long distance cable network.
Disadvant ages
Technically complicated.
More expensive.
Top
Bonding Method Comparison
Earthing
Method
Standing
Voltage at
Cable End
Sheath Voltage
Limiter Required
Application
Single
End
Bonding
Yes Yes Up to 500 Meter
Double
End
Bonding
No No Up to 1 Km and Substations short connections, hardly
applied f or HV cables, rather f or MV and LV cables
Cross
Bonding
Only at cross
bonding points
Yes Long distance connectionswhere joints are required
Sheath Losses according to type of Bonding
Sheath losses are current-dependent losses and are generated by the induced currents when load
current f lows in cable conductors.
The sheath currents in single-core cables are induced by transf ormer ef f ect; i.e.by the magnetic
f ield of alternating current f lowing in cable conductor which induces voltages in cable sheath or other
parallel conductors.
The sheath induced electromotive f orces (EMF) generate two types of losses: circulating current
losses (Y1) and eddy current losses (Y2), so the total losses in cable metallic sheath are: Y= Y1+Y2
The eddy currents circulating radially and longitudinally of cable sheaths are generated on similar
principles of skin and proximity ef f ects i.e. they are induced by the conductor currents, sheath
circulating currents and by currents circulating in close proximity current carrying conductors.
They are generated in cable sheath irrespective of bonding system of single core cables or of three-
core cables
The eddy currents are generally of smaller magnitude when comparing with circuit (circulating)
currents of solidly bonded cable sheaths and may be neglects except in the case of large segmental
conductors and are calculated in accordance with f ormulae given in the IEC60287.
Circulating currents are generated in cable sheath if the sheaths f orm a closed loop when bonded
together at the remote ends or intermediate points along the cable route.
These losses are named sheath circulating current losses and they are determined by the magnitude
of current in cable conductor, f requency, mean diameter, the resistance of cable sheath and the
distance between single-core cables.
Conclusion
There is much disagreement as to whether the cable shield should be grounded at both ends or at only one
end. If grounded at only one end, any possible f ault current must traverse the length f rom the f ault to the
grounded end, imposing high current on the usually very light shield conductor. Such a current could readily
damage or destroy the shield and require replacement of the entire cable rather than only the f aulted
section.
With both ends grounded, the f ault current would divide and f low to both ends, reducing the duty on the
shield, with consequently less chance of damage.
Multiple grounding, rather than just grounding at both ends, is simply the grounding of the cable shield or
sheath at all access points, such as manholes or pull boxes. This also limits possible shield damage to only
the f aulted section.
Ref erences
1. Mitton Consulting.
2. EMElectricals
Edvard - Electrical engineer, programmer and f ounder of EEP. Highly specialized f or design
of LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, buildings and industry
f ascilities. Designing of LV/MV switchgears. Prof essional in AutoCAD programming and web-
design. Present on Google+.