This document discusses key characteristics of single-core and 3-core cables, including: 1) Insulation resistance of a single-core cable is determined by the resistivity of the insulation material and thickness of insulation between the conductor and sheath. 2) The capacitance of a single-core cable can be modeled as two long co-axial cylinders, with the conductor as the inner cylinder and outer sheath at earth potential. 3) Dielectric stress within a single-core cable is highest at the conductor surface and decreases with distance from the conductor, with the stress defined as the potential gradient at each point.

1. Characteristics of Cables
By
Anu SinglaAnu Singla
Associate Professor
Department of
Electrical Engineering
Chitkara University,
Punjab Campus

2. h bl d i id d i h i bl hi k f i l i i l
Insulation Resistance of a Single‐Core
Cable
The cable conductor is provided with a suitable thickness of insulating material
in order to prevent leakage current. The path for leakage current is radial
through the insulation. The opposition offered by insulation to leakage current is
known as insulation resistance of the cableknown as insulation resistance of the cable.
Consider a single‐core cable of conductor radius r1 and internal sheath radius r2 .
Let l be the length of the cable and ρ be the resistivity of the insulation.
Consider a very small layer of insulation of thickness dx at a radius x.
The length through which leakage current tends to flow is dx and the area of X‐
section offered to this flow is 2π x l.

3. Insulation Resistance of a Single‐Core
Cable contd.

4. Capacitance of a Single‐Core Cable
A single‐core cable can be considered to be equivalent to two
long co‐axial cylinders. The conductor (or core) of the cable is
the inner cylinder while the outer cylinder is represented by
lead sheath which is at earth potentiallead sheath which is at earth potential.
Consider a single core cable with conductor diameter d and
inner sheath diameter D.
Let the charge per metre axial length of the cable be Q
coulombs and ε be the permittivity of the insulation material
between core and lead sheath.
ε = ε0 εr where εr is the relative permittivity of the insulation.ε ε0 εr where εr is the relative permittivity of the insulation.

5. Capacitance of a Single‐Core Cable
contd.

6. Dielectric Stress in a Single‐Core Cable
Under operating conditions, the insulation of a cable is
subjected to electrostatic forces. This is known as
dielectric stress.
h d l bl f hThe dielectric stress at any point in a cable is in fact the
potential gradient (or electric intensity) at that point.
Consider a single core cable with core diameter d and
internal sheath diameter D The electric intensity at ainternal sheath diameter D. The electric intensity at a
point x metres from the centre of the cable is
By definition, electric intensity is equal to potential
gradient. Therefore, potential gradient g at a point x
metres from the centre of cable is

7. P i l diff V b d d h h i
Dielectric Stress in a Single‐Core Cable
contd..
Potential difference V between conductor and sheath is
*potential gradient at any point is equal to the electric intensity at that point.

8. Dielectric Stress in a Single‐Core Cable
contd..
The variation of stress in the dielectric is shown in Fig.
It is clear that dielectric stress is maximum at the conductor
surface and its value goes on decreasing as we move away fromg g y
the conductor.
Maximum stress is an important consideration in the design of a
cable. For instance, if a cable is to be operated at such a voltage
that maximum stress is 5 kV/mm, then the insulation used must
have a dielectric strength of atleast 5 kV/mm, otherwise
breakdown of the cable will become inevitable.

9. Capacitance of 3‐Core Cables
h i f bl i h i h h f h dThe capacitance of a cable system is much more important than that of overhead
line because in cables (i) conductors are nearer to each other and to the earthed
sheath (ii) they are separated by a dielectric of permittivity much greater than
that of air Fig shows a system of capacitances in a 3 core belted cable used forthat of air. Fig. shows a system of capacitances in a 3‐core belted cable used for
3‐phase system.
Since potential difference exists between pairs of conductors and between each
conductor and the sheath electrostatic fields are set up in the cable as shown inconductor and the sheath, electrostatic fields are set up in the cable as shown in
Fig. 1(i). These electrostatic fields give rise to core‐core capacitances Cc and
conductor‐ earth capacitances Ce as shown in Fig. 1 (ii). The three Cc are delta
connected whereas the three Ce are star connected, the sheath forming the stare , g
point fig.1(iii).

10. Capacitance of 3‐Core Cables
It is reasonable to assume equality of each Cc and each Ce. The three delta
connected capacitances Cc [See Fig. 2(i)] can be converted into equivalent star
connected capacitances as shown in Fig. 2 (ii). It can be easily shown that
l l h h d lequivalent star capacitance Ceq is equal to three times the delta capacitance Cc
i.e. Ceq = 3 Cc.

11. h f i h i i (iii) d h i l i iThe system of capacitances shown in Fig. 1 (iii) reduces to the equivalent circuit
shown in Fig. 3 (i). Therefore, the whole cable is equivalent to three star‐
connected capacitors each of capacitance [Fig. 3 (ii)],

12. Any Queries