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MV power cables are perceived as commodities, but are all makes alike?Shielded, 90
[degrees] C (Type MV-90), medium-voltage(MV) power cane (5kV to 35kV) has long
been considered a commodity product, with little differentiation seen between competing
product offerings. Yes, the basic construction of this type of cable, as well as its physical
and electrical performance properties, are very similar
MV power cables are perceived as commodities, but are all makes alike?
More importantly, you should realize the shielded Type MV power cable is a more
complex and sophisticated product than it's usually given credit for. It's
manufactured to meet stringent engineering standards and requires special
attention in terms of proper handling and installation.
Considering the widespread use of this type of cable in primary feeders in a wide
range
of large complexes and facilities as well as in utility applications, we think it's time that you
take a fresh look at Type MV power cable fundamentals. We believe it will be both timely
and extremely useful.
Key components
Conductors can be solid or stranded, and either bare or with a tin or lead-tin alloy
coating for additional corrosion protection. Type MV power cable can contain up to
four conductors and can be manufactured in a variety of configurations to provide
application flexibility.
Most Type MV power cables use annealed (soft drawn), stranded, Class B copper in
a single conductor configuration. Strand arrangements and configurations are
categorized by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) tables that
use designation letters (Class B, for example) to identify individual classes for the
size, number, and arrangement of conductor strands. Conductor sizes are governed
by two scale systems: AWG (American Wire Gauge) and CMA (circular mill area).
A premium polymer compound, EPR (ethylene propylene rubber), is the next most
common insulation choice. While EPR is a specially compounded thermoset
material and does not quite have the dielectric properties of XLP, its nature does
provide excellent thermal protection, allowing it to withstand higher temperatures
with little effect on its physical properties.
XLP is harder than EPR and especially suitable for direct burial applications,
yielding less dielectric loss per mile. However, EPR is more flexible and can be
rated for higher ampacity when rated at 105 [degrees] C. (105 [degrees] C EPR, also
known as MV-105, has recently gained NEC recognition.)
Laminated insulations are less commonly used today for 5kV through 35kV cables
due to their poor resistance to moisture and difficulty in splicing and terminating.
In addition to the above information, the metallic shield reduces interference with
electronic equipment and also reduces the hazards of shock to anyone working with
the cable.
A metallic shield can be configured as either concentric copper wire applied
helically and closely spaced, spiral-wrapped copper metal tape with an overlap, or
corrugated copper wires embodied in a semi-conducting jacket (available in one
make of MV power cable). Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. A
concentric wire shielded cable is more flexible and has a tighter minimum bending
radius; however, the cable is more likely to suffer damage during installation if
allowable pulling tensions and/or sidewall pressures are exceeded. A tape shield
covers 100% of the insulation, resulting in greater physical protection for the cable.
It also has a higher short-circuit capacity, which can be adjusted in the design stage
to allow for even larger currents. The embedded corrugated wire metallic shield
also has a high short-circuit capacity and is used to strip the jacket away from the
insulation. As to shielding effectiveness, all work equally well. In fact, each
possesses features that make it the best choice under certain conditions.
Outer jacket. As the exterior element, the jacket covers the cable's insulation and
shield and protects them from the effects of moisture, chemicals, and mechanical
abuse.
SUGGESTED READING
EC&M articles:
"The Basics of Cable Pulling - Parts 1 to 5," September 1994 through January 1995
issues