Electric power industry consulting
Most new cables with a voltage rating above 1 kV use cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation. It is generally assumed that such insulation will last at least 30 years when subjected to a continuous operating temperature of 90°C. However, usually cable lines operate at temperatures no higher than 60°C for the greater part of their service
Most 6-500 kV (AC or DC) cable lines are made of single-core cables. At the same time, different laying methods may occur along the line. For example, for three-phase AC there are following well-known options:✅ Laying in trefoil;✅ Laying in pipes/ducts;✅ Laying in flat. The presence of sections with different mutual arrangement of phases increases
Most HVAC cable lines with a length of more than 1 km have a cross-bonding of screens (for shorter lines, single-point bonding is used, with Earth Continuity Conductor or without it). When implementing a cross-bonding, the line must be divided into a multiple of three sections, and joints must be placed at the junction of
Before this conversation, let us agree that when talking about bridges, by the word “cable” we will mean exactly “electric cables”, and not at all “stay cables”, which are necessary to hold bridge structures in their position (they are shown in 1️⃣). So, today let us discuss “electric cables” only. Laying electric cables and cable
Cable terminations are an essential element of every cable line. As the voltage class increases, the size of terminations and their cost increase significantly. Today let us discuss the supporting structures on which cable terminations are placed. Usually, such structures are the responsibility of the designer (or builders), and they need to be informed on
We understand that laying many cables in parallel creates certain difficulties, but there are cases when it is not possible to avoid such laying. For example, many cables are often typical in the vicinity of a switchgear, where it is necessary to connect lines to many switches. To place cables in such “narrow places”, it
The designation of cables usually includes the voltage classes, the conductor and screen cross-sections, and numerous letters describing various design features. Today, let us discuss only the voltage classes. To understand the problem, please take a look at the two cable lines shown in the photos:➡️ High-voltage alternating current (HVAC) three-phase line.➡️ High-voltage direct current
There are so many problems in the nodes of the cross-bonding of screens of single-core 6-500 kV cables. For example, issues of electrical safety of members of the society, issues of water penetration, issues of periodic inspection and testing, etc. Considering all the above, it is only welcome that the factories that produce Link Boxes
Let us take a quick overview of what I saw during my visit to CIGRE 2026. A lot of cables of the highest quality were presented by various factories. For example, I saw:➡️ cable of 750 kV voltage class (1.5 times higher than 500 kV);➡️ cable with copper conductor of 4000 mm2 (four thousand);➡️ cable
It’s August, the month of vacations, and people don’t have time for cables. As a result, the cables have to remind of themselves in all possible ways, even by making different sounds. Today is one such example. Please watch (listen to) the VIDEO. Do you hear? The video shows a 0.4 kV cable line consisting of