132 - 400 kV AC Cable projects

Technical standard for cable components

Link boxes

technicalstandard

ETS-53-01-01 Rev. 0

Document no. 13/94559-1 - ETS-53-01-01 v.0

Standard for 132-400 kV cable components link boxes

REVISION VIEW
Document no.:
Version

Author

13/94559-1
Document status/change

Reviewer

USG

First draft

USG

Second draft

TKV, CNY, CSA,

EHN
TKV, EHN, HNP

USG

Final draft

SRO

USG

Approved

Document no. 13/94559-1 - ETS-53-01-01 v.0

Approver

Date
12-08-2013
13-08-2013

SDO

30-08-2013

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Standard for 132-400 kV cable components link boxes

Table of contents
Table of contents

1.

Introduction

2.

Standards and regulations

3.

Functional requirements

4.

Technical requirements

5.

Design requirements

6.

Documentation

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Standard for 132-400 kV cable components link boxes

1. Introduction
This standard specifies how Energinet.dk chooses to install and place link boxes for HV
cable systems. The standard is for all 132 400 kV cable projects using link boxes with
direct grounding, single point bonding or crossbonding.
In case of a single point bonding, an Earth Continuity Conductor (ECC) must be installed
with the HV cable.

2. Standards and regulations

The cable components must be in compliance with the latest version of following standards
and regulations.

IEC/EN 60229 Electric cables - Tests on extruded oversheaths with a special

protective function
IEC/EN 60840 Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories for rated
voltages above 30 kV (Um=36 kV) up to 150 kV (Um=170 kV) Test methods and
requirements
IEC/EN 62067 Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories for rate
voltages above 150 kV (Um=170 kV) up to 500 kV (Um=550 kV) Test methods
and requirements
CIGR LECTRA No. 28 Design of specially bonded Cable Systems
CIGR LECTRA No. 47 Design of specially bonded Cable Circuits - part II
CIGR TB 347 Earth potential rises in specially bonded screen systems.
Other standards referred to in the above standards.

3. Functional requirements
There are different types of link boxes; Crossbonding link boxes, Connection link boxes
(screens connected but not grounded), grounding link boxes and even combinations hereof.
Crossbonding and connection link boxes shall be equipped with Surge Voltage Limiters
(SVL) for protection of cable outer jacket. Each link box shall be equipped with 6
connection points, for the metal sheaths of the HV cables.
A connection link box is used for connecting three cable screens, without grounding, see
Figure 1 a). A crossbonding link box is used for phase shifting of the cable metal sheaths,
see Figure 1 b). A grounding link box is used for direct grounding of the HV cable metal
sheaths, see Figure 1 c).

Figure 1 A schematic of a) A connection link box for three phase connection point, b) A link
box with crossbonding, and c) A link box with direct grounding.
There can be different variations and combinations of the link boxes shown in Figure 1;
single phase open end (with an SVL), single phase grounding, three phase grounding in one

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Standard for 132-400 kV cable components link boxes

side and open on other side (with SVL) or three phase open end without connection (SVL
on each phase).

4. Technical requirements
The link box components must be:

Watertight (minimum IP68).

The link box shall have well-defined and marked grounding points, easy accessible
with standardized grounding equipment, for connection to joint pit grounding.
In case of risk for induced voltages;
The link box must be equipped with internal connection points accessible with a
grounding rod. Standardized type tested grounding balls (20mm), on all
terminations shall be provided in the box, to allow safety grounding during
maintenance work. The grounding balls shall be easily accessible with the adequate
grounding tongue. The grounding equipment shall be delivered together with the
boxes.
Placed in maximum distance of 10 m from the cable joint. The link cable, between
cable joint and link box, shall therefore be no longer than 10 m. (ELEKTRA 47)
Connected to cable joints with radial and longitudinal watertight coaxial link cables.
Corrosion free. Due to the rather harsh environment, all materials used must be
proven to be resistant to degradation for the lifetime of the cable system.
Delivered with a HV warning sign.
Installed with ID-marking of box and terminals.

The SVL shall connect the metal sheath to ground in case of over voltages due to switching
and lightning transients. The Transient Overvoltage Capability (TOC, 1s) must be high
enough to allow for the 50 Hz voltage induced from the maximum fault current in the
system. If SVL will conduct during fault, it can become defect. The size of the SVL shall
therefore be designed with a minimum and maximum size.
Minimum size of SVL
The minimum size of the SVL shall be able to withstand the induced AC voltage on the
metal sheath, during steady state and short circuit plus a margin of 20% and a simplified
safety margin level of 25%.
Furthermore, the voltage rating of the SVL shall be high enough to allow periodic testing of
the cable jacket, normally 5 kV DC or as specified.
I.e. in some cases it is required that the Jacket can be tested to the voltage of the after
installation test of up to 10 kV due to limited accessibility of the Link boxes just after
installation.
Maximum size of SVL
The maximum size of the SVL is limited to the residual voltage [Ures] due to a traveling
wave from a lightning. The most harmful transient shall be used for maximum size design,
which normally is due to a lightning to the entrance of the cable line. The lightning impulse
withstand voltage (1.2/50 s) is 1425 kV and the switching impulse withstand voltage
(250/2500 s) is 1050 kV. Both shall be considered when the worst case is defined.

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Standard for 132-400 kV cable components link boxes

5. Design requirements
In order to reduce probability of failure, Energinet.dk wants to minimize the number of link
boxes. The length of minor sections can be maximized with straight joints, according to the
expected maximum short circuit current during the life time of the cable and withstand
level of the jacket.
Whenever possible, SVLs should be avoided.
Following two possibilities should therefore be considered:

Installation of link boxes without SVLs. This does not include link boxes on the first
major section from each cable end.

Use of cable lines with direct crossbondings. These crossbondings do not include
link boxes and cannot be used on the first major section from each cable end, due
to switching and lightning over voltages.

Figure 2 A schematic of a direct crossbonding without a link box.

For outer jacket testing, as a minimum, the grounding link boxes must be accessed and the
grounding removed. It is therefore beneficial to reduce the number of these link boxes. For
this purpose, it is possible in crossbonded systems, to only have every sixth link box as a
grounding link box, instead of every third.
Station A

Station B

Figure 3 Setup for reduction of grounding link boxes, by using a combination of grounding
and connection link boxes.
According to CIGRE recommendations [LECTRA 47, p75-76], the link cables between the
cable joint and link box, may not exceed 10 m. This limit is to avoid the creation of voltage
multiplication of the induced pulse voltages of the metal sheath, which can occur due to the
link cables different inductance compared to the metal sheath of the HV cable. If the length

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Standard for 132-400 kV cable components link boxes

of the link cables exceed 10 m, the limits for over voltages on the grounding system are no
longer valid, and there are thus no guidelines for how the cable jacket and the link cable
can be tested [LEKTRA 47, Taple II on P83 / IEC/EN 60 229].
When link boxes are used, their location shall follow the definition:

In urban areas, the link boxes shall be placed easily accessible in the surface or
elevated where possible, depending on the local conditions.

Outside of urban areas, the crossbonding link boxes may be buried, to avoid
interference with the farmers normal work in the field.

Grounding boxes, every third or every sixth link box, shall be located so that they
can be accessed easily. These must be accessible for fault locating activities and for
periodical jacket testing. Consideration must be given to local conditions when
selecting the location of the link boxes.

It is important that link cables are not longer than 10 m. This limit is set to avoid
the creation of voltage multiplication of the induced pulse voltages of the metal
sheath.
A link box shall be watertight, and filled with a compound that covers the link cables to seal
the cable glands and the exposed ends of the link cable. This compound may not overflow
the SVLs or coupling bars.
The link box shall include a well defined and accessible grounding point, which can be
connected to a jointing pit grounding.

6. Documentation
The size of the SVL shall be designed by the cable manufacturer. The size and background
for the minimum and maximum voltage choices shall be documented in the tender and as
built documentation.
A drawing of the link box shall be given in tender and as built documentation.
A maintenance manual shall be given, including:

Specification of all materials used for the box and its accessories.

Safety sheets for all chemicals.

Test reports
o Voltage
o Water tightness of link cable and link box
o Corrosion tests
o Short circuit current tests
o Mechanical strength

Safety instructions for maintenance, and replacement of the box and its
accessories, taking induced and transferred voltages into account.

Instruction for installation, replacement and recommended maintenance.

List of tools and spares needed.

Maintenance plan.
Definition of size, material, filling compound and water tightness (minimum IP68) must be
given in tender material as well as in as built documentation.

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