Q.

No Question (s) Marks BL CO PI

UNIT – V
1 Q a) List out the types of under-ground cables 1M L1 C215.6 3.1.6
A (i) Low-tension (L.T.) cables — upto 1000 V
(ii) High-tension (H.T.) cables — upto 11,000 V
(iii) Super-tension (S.T.) cables — from 22 kV to 33 kV
(iv) Extra high-tension (E.H.T.) cables — from 33 kV to 66 kV
(v) Extra super voltage cables — beyond 132 kV
Q b) What is capacitor grading 1M L1 C215.4 3.1.6
A The process of achieving uniformity in the dielectric stress by using
layers of different dielectrics is known as capacitance grading.
Q c) What is the purpose of using inter sheath in a cable. 1M L1 C215.4 2.2.4
A Inter sheath in a cable improves voltage distribution in the
dielectric of the cable and consequently more uniform potential
gradient is obtained.
Q d) What are the practical difficulties in grading? 1M L1 C215.4 2.1.2
A Firstly, insulation of greater thickness is required which increases
the cable size. Secondly, it may lead to the breakdown of insulation.
Q e) What is a grading. 1M L1 C215.4 2.1.1
A The process of achieving uniform electrostatic stress in the
dielectric of cables is known as grading of cables.
Q a) Write down the properties of insulating materials used for 2.2.1
2 3M L1 C215.6
underground cables?
A (i) High insulation resistance to avoid leakage current.
(ii) High dielectric strength to avoid electrical breakdown of the
cable.
(iii) High mechanical strength to withstand the mechanical handling
of cables.
(iv) Non-hygroscopic i.e., it should not absorb moisture from air or
soil. The moisture tends to decrease the insulation resistance and
hastens the breakdown of the cable. In case the insulating material
is hygroscopic, it must be enclosed in a waterproof covering like
lead sheath.
(v) Non-inflammable.
(vi) Low cost so as to make the underground system a viable
proposition.
(vii) Unaffected by acids and alkalies to avoid any chemical action.
Q b) A single-core cable has a conductor diameter of 1cm and 3M 3.2.1
insulation thickness of 0·4 cm. If the specific resistance of insulation
L3 C215.6
is 5 × 1014 Ω-cm, calculate the insulation resistance for a 2 km length
of the cable.
A Conductor radius, r1 = 1/2 = 0·5 cm
Length of cable, l = 2 km = 2000 m
Resistivity of insulation, ρ = 5 × 1014 Ω-cm = 5 × 1012 Ω-m
Internal sheath radius, r2 = 0·5 + 0·4 = 0·9 cm

= 0.234 X 109 Ω = 234 MΩ

 Q c) A single core cable has a conductor diameter of 1 cm and internal 3M 3.1.6
sheath diameter of 1·8 cm. If impregnated paper of relative
L3 C215.6
permittivity 4 is used as the insulation, calculate the capacitance for
1 km length of the cable.
A

Here Ɛr = 4; l = 1000 m
D = 1·8 cm; d = 1 cm

= 0.378 X 10-6 F = 0.378 µF

Q d) A 33 kV single core cable has a conductor diameter of 1 cm and 3M 2.2.2
a sheath of inside diameter 4 cm. Find the maximum and minimum L3 C215.6
stress in the insulation.
A The maximum stress occurs at the conductor surface and its value
is given by;

Here, V = 33kV (r.m.s); d = 1 cm; D = 4 cm

2 𝑋 33
gmax = 1 𝑋 log 4 kV/cm = 47.61 kV/cm r.m.s
𝑒
The minimum stress occurs at the sheath and its value is given by;

2 𝑋 33
= 4 𝑋 log kV/cm = 11.9 kV/cm r.m.s
𝑒4
Alternatively;
d
gmin = gmax × D
= 47·61 × 1/4 = 11·9 kV/cm r.m.s.
Q e) Find the most economical value of diameter of a single-core cable 3.2.3
to be used on 50 kV, single-phase system. The maximum 3M L3 C215.6
permissible stress in the dielectric is not to exceed 40 kV/cm.
A Peak value of cable voltage, V = 50 × √2 = 70.7 kV
Maximum permissible stress, gmax = 40 kV/cm (assumed peak)
2𝑉
Most economical conductor diameter d = 𝑔𝑚𝑎𝑥
2 𝑋 70.7
= = 3.53 cm
40
3 Q a) Explain in detail about H type cables. 5M L2 C215.6 3.2.3
A H-type cables. This type of cable was first designed by H.
Hochstadter and hence the name. Fig.1 shows the constructional
details of a typical 3-core, H-type cable. Each core is insulated by
layers of impregnated paper. The insulation on each core is covered
with a metallic screen which usually consists of a perforated
aluminium foil. The cores are laid in such a way that metallic
screens make contact with one another. An additional conducting
belt (copper woven fabric tape) is wrapped round the three cores.
 The cable has no insulating belt but lead sheath, bedding,
armouring and serving follow as usual. It is easy to see that each
core screen is in electrical contact with the conducting belt and the
lead sheath. As all the four screens (3 core screens and one
conducting belt) and the lead sheath are at earth potential,
therefore, the electrical stresses are purely radial and consequently
dielectric losses are reduced.

Fig 1
Two principal advantages are claimed for H-type cables. Firstly, the
perforations in the metallic screens assist in the complete
impregnation of the cable with the compound and thus the
possibility of air pockets or voids (vacuous spaces) in the dielectric
is eliminated. The voids if present tend to reduce the breakdown
strength of the cable and may cause considerable damage to the
paper insulation. Secondly, the metallic screens increase the heat
dissipating power of the cable.
Q b) Discuss the capacitance grading of underground cables 5M L4 C215.4 2.2.2
A The process of achieving uniformity in the dielectric stress by using
layers of different dielectrics is known as capacitance grading.
In capacitance grading, the homogeneous dielectric is replaced by
a composite dielectric. The composite dielectric consists of various
layers of different dielectrics in such a manner that relative
permittivity Ɛr of any layer is inversely proportional to its distance
from the centre. Under such conditions, the value of potential
gradient at any point in the dielectric is constant and is
independent of its distance from the centre. In other words, the
dielectric stress in the cable is same everywhere and the grading is
ideal one. How ever, ideal grading requires the use of an infinite
number of dielectrics which is an impossible task. In practice, two
or three dielectrics are used in the decreasing order of permittivity;
the dielectric of highest permittivity being used near the core.
The capacitance grading can be explained beautifully by referring
to Fig. 1. There are three dielectrics of outer diameter d1, d2 and D
and of relative permittivity Ɛ1, Ɛ2 and Ɛ3 respectively. If the
permittivities are such that Ɛ1 > Ɛ2 > Ɛ3 and the three dielectrics
are worked at the same maximum stress, then,
1 1 1
= = Ɛ3𝑑2
Ɛ1d Ɛ2𝑑1
 or Ɛ1d = Ɛ2d1 = Ɛ3d2
Potential difference across the inner layer is

Similarly, potential across second layer (V2) and third layer (V3) is
given by;

Total p.d. between core and earthed sheath is

If the cable had homogeneous dielectric, then, for the same values
of d, D and gmax, the permissible potential difference between core
and earthed sheath would have been

Obviously, V > V’ i.e., for given dimensions of the cable, a graded

cable can be worked at a greater potential than non-graded cable.
Alternatively, for the same safe potential, the size of graded cable
will be less than that of non-graded cable. The following points may
be noted:
(i) As the permissible values of gmax are peak values, therefore, all
the voltages in above expressions should be taken as peak values
and not the r.m.s. values.
(ii) If the maximum stress in the three dielectrics is not the same,
then,

The principal disadvantage of this method is that there are a few

high-grade dielectrics of reasonable cost whose permittivities vary
over the required range.
Q c) A 33 kV, 50 Hz, 3-phase underground cable, 4 km long uses three 5M 3.2.3
single core cables. Each of the conductor has a diameter of 2·5 cm
and the radial thickness of insulation is 0·5 cm. Determine (i) L3 C215.6
capacitance of the cable/phase (ii) charging current/phase (iii) total
charging kVAR. The relative permittivity of insulation is 3.
A

Q d) Calculate the capacitance and charging current of a single core 5M 3.1.6

cable used on 3-phase, 66 kV system. The cable is 1 km long having
a core diameter of 15 cm and impregnated paper insulation of L3 C215.6
thickness 22.5 cm. The relative permittivity of the insulation may be
taken as 3.5 and supply at 50 Hz.
A

Q e) A single core cable of conductor diameter 2 cm and lead sheath 5M 3.2.1

of diameter 5.3 cm is to be used on a 66 kV, 3-phase system. Two
intersheaths of diameter 3·1 cm and 4·2 cm are introduced between L3 C215.6
the core and lead sheath. If the maximum stress in the layers is the
same, find the voltages on the intersheaths.
 A

Voltage on first intersheath (i.e., near to the core)

= V − V1 = 53·9 − 16·88 = 37·02 kV
Voltage on second intersheath = V − V1 − V2
= 53·9 − 16·88 − 18·14 = 18·88 kV
Q a) Describe with the neat sketch, the construction of a single core 10M 2.2.3
4 L4 C215.6
belted type cable.
A These cables are used for voltages upto 11kV but in extraordinary
cases, their use may be extended upto 22kV. Fig. 1 shows the
constructional details of a 3-core belted cable. The cores are
insulated from each other by layers of impregnated paper. Another
layer of impregnated paper tape, called paper belt is wound round
the grouped insulated cores. The gap between the insulated cores
is filled with fibrous insulating material (jute etc.) so as to give
circular cross-section to the cable. The cores are generally stranded
and may be of noncircular shape to make better use of available
space. The belt is covered with lead sheath to protect the cable
against ingress of moisture and mechanical injury. The lead sheath
is covered with one or more layers of armouring with an outer
serving (not shown in the figure).
 Fig 1
The belted type construction is suitable only for low and medium
voltages as the electrostatic stresses developed in the cables for
these voltages are more or less radial i.e., across the insulation.
However, for high voltages (beyond 22 kV), the tangential stresses
also become important. These stresses act along the layers of
paper insulation. As the insulation resistance of paper is quite small
along the layers, therefore, tangential stresses set up leakage
current along the layers of paper insulation. The leakage current
causes local heating, resulting in the risk of breakdown of insulation
at any moment. In order to overcome this difficulty, screened
cables are used where leakage currents are conducted to earth
through metallic screens.
Q b) single-core 66 kV cable working on 3-phase system has a 10M 3.2.1
conductor diameter of 2 cm and a sheath of inside diameter 5.3 cm.
If two intersheaths are introduced in such a way that the stress varies
between the same maximum and minimum in the three layers, find: L3 C215.4
(i) positions of intersheaths
(ii) voltage on the intersheaths
(iii) maximum and minimum stress
A d = 2 cm; D = 5.3 cm; V = 6 6𝑋 √2 = 53.9 kV
√3
(i) Positions of intersheaths. Suppose that diameters of
intersheaths are d1 and d2 cm respectively. Let V1, V2 and V3
respectively be the voltage between conductor and intersheath 1,
between intersheath 1 and 2 and between intersheath 2 and outer
lead sheath.
Q c) A single core lead sheathed cable has a conductor diameter of 3 10M 2.2.3
cm; the diameter of the cable being 9 cm. The cable is graded by
using two dielectrics of relative permittivity 5 and 4 respectively
L3 C215.6
with corresponding safe working stresses of 30 kV/cm and 20
kV/cm. Calculate the radial thickness of each insulation and the safe
working voltage of the cable.
A

Safe working voltage (r.m.s.) for the cable = 54.71/√2 = 38·68 kV