EHV/HV Underground Cable Sheath

Earthing (part 2/2)

Accessories for HT Cable Sheath Bonding
1. Function of Link Box?

Link Box is electrically and mechanically one of the integral accessories of HV underground above ground
cable bonding system, associated with HV XLPE power cable systems. Link boxes are used with cable joints
and terminations to provide easy access to shield breaks for test purposes and to limit voltage build-up on the
sheath.

Lightning, fault currents and switching operations can cause over voltages on the cable sheath. The link box
optimizes loss management in the cable shield on cables grounded both sides. In HT Cable the bonding
system is so designed that the cable sheaths are bonded and earthed or with SVL in such way as to eliminate
or reduce the circulating sheath currents.
Link Boxes are used with cable joints and terminations to provide easy access to shield breaks for test
purposes and to limit voltage build-up on the sheath. The link box is part of bonding system, which is essential
of improving current carrying capacity and human protection.

2. Sheath Voltage Limiters (SVL) (Surge Arrestors)

SVL is protective device to limit induce voltages appearing on the bonded cable system due to short circuit.

It is necessary to fit SVL’s between the metallic screen and ground inside the link box. The screen separation
of power cable joint (insulated joint) will be protected against possible damages as a result of induced
voltages caused by short circuit/break down.

Type of Sheath Bonding for HT Cable

There is normally three type of bonding for LT/HT cable screen:

1. Single Point Bonded

1. One Side Single Point Bonded System.

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 2. Split Single Point Bonded System.
2. Both End Bonded System
3. Cross Bonded System

1. Single point bonded system

1a. One Side Single Bonded System

Single point bonded system

• A system is single point bonded if the arrangements are such that the cable sheaths provide no path for
the flow of circulating currents or external fault currents.
• This is the simplest form of special bonding. The sheaths of the three cable sections are connected and
grounded at one point only along their length. At all other points there will be a voltage between
sheath and ground and between screens of adjacent phases of the cable circuit that will be at its
maximum at the farthest point from the ground bond.
• This induced voltage is proportional to the cable length and current. Single-point bonding can only be
used for limited route lengths, but in general the accepted screen voltage potential limits the length
• The sheaths must therefore be adequately insulated from ground. Since there is no closed sheath
circuit, except through the sheath voltage limiter, current does not normally flow longitudinally along the
sheaths and no sheath circulation current loss occurs.
• Open circuit in cable screen, no circulating current.
• Zero volt at the earthed end, standing voltage at the unearthed end.
• Optional PVC insulated earth continuity conductor required to provide path for fault current, if returning
from earth is undesirable, such as in a coal mine.
• SVL installed at the unearthed end to protect the cable insulation during fault conditions.
• Induced voltage proportional to the length of the cable and the current carried in the cable .
• Zero volt with respect to the earth grid voltage at the earthed end, standing voltage at the unearthed
end.

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 • Circulating current in the earth–continuity conductor is not significant, as magnetic fields from phases
are partially balanced.
• The magnitude of the standing voltage is depended on the magnitude of the current flows in the core,
much higher if there is an earth fault.
• High voltage appears on the unearthed end can cause arcing and damage outer PVC sheath.
• The voltage on the screen during a fault also depends on the earthing condition.

Standing voltage at the unearthed end during earth fault condition:

• During a ground fault on the power system the zero sequence current carried by the cable conductors
could return by whatever external paths are available. A ground fault in the immediate vicinity of the
cable can cause a large difference in ground potential rise between the two ends of the cable system,
posing hazards to personnel and equipment.
• For this reason, single-point bonded cable installations need a parallel ground conductor,
grounded at both ends of the cable route and installed very close to the cable conductors, to carry the
fault current during ground faults and to limit the voltage rise of the sheath during ground faults to an
acceptable level.
• The parallel ground continuity conductor is usually insulated to avoid corrosion and transposed, if the
cables are not transposed, to avoid circulating currents and losses during normal operating conditions.
• Voltage at the unearthed end during an earth fault consists of two voltage components. Induced voltage
due to fault current in the core.

Advantages
• No circulating current.
• No heating in the cable screen.
• Economical.

Disadvantages
• Standing voltage at the un–earthed end.
• Requires SVL if standing voltage during fault is excessive.
• Requires additional earth continuity conductor for fault current if earth returned current is
undesirable. Higher magnetic fields around the cable compared to solidly bonded system.
• Standing voltage on the cable screen is proportional to the length of the cable and the magnitude of
current in the core.
• Typically suitable for cable sections less than 500 m, or one drum length.

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1b. Split Single Point-bonded System

Split single point bonded system

• It is also known as double length single point bonding System.

• Cable screen continuity is interrupted at the midpoint and SVLs need to be fitted at each side of the
isolation joint.
• Other requirements are identical to single–point–bonding system like SVL, Earth continuity Conductor,
Transposition of earth continuity conductor.
• Effectively two sections of single–point–bonding.
• No circulating current and Zero volt at the earthed ends, standing voltage at the sectionalizing joint.

Advantages
• No circulating current in the screen.
• No heating effect in the cable screen.
• Suitable for longer cable section compared to single–point–bonding system and solidly bonded single-
core system.
• Economical.

Disadvantages
• Standing voltage exists at the screen and sectionalizing insulation joint.
• Requires SVL to protect the un–earthed end.
• Requires separate earth continuity conductor for zero sequence current.
• Not suitable for cable sections over 1000 m.
• Suitable for 300~1000 m long cable sections, double the length of single–point–bonding system.
Top

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2. Both End Solidly Bonded (Single-core cable) systems

Both End Solidly Bonded (Single-core cable) systems

• Most Simple and Common method.

• Cable screen is bonded to earth grids at both ends (via link box).
• To eliminate the induced voltages in Cable Screen is to bond (Earth) the sheath at both ends of the
cable circuit.
• This eliminates the need for the parallel continuity conductor used in single bonding systems. It also
eliminates the need to provide SVL, such as that used at the free end of single-point bonding cable
circuits
• Significant circulating current in the screen Proportional to the core current and cable length and de
rates cable.
• Could lay cable in compact trefoil formation if permissible.
• Suitable for route length of more than 500 Meter.
• Very small standing voltage in the order of several volts.

Advantages
• Minimum material required.
• Most economical if heating is not a main issue.
• Provides path for fault current, minimizing earth return current and EGVR at cable destination.
• Does not require screen voltage limiter (SVL).
• Less electromagnetic radiation.

Disadvantages
• Provides path for circulating current.
• Heating effects in cable screen, greater losses .Cable therefore might need to be de–rated or larger
cable required.

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 • Transfers voltages between sites when there is an EGVR at one site.
• Can lay cables in trefoil formation to reduce screen losses .
• Normally applies to short cable section of tens of meters long. Circulating current is proportional to the
length of the cable and the magnitude of the load current.
Top

3. Cross-bonded cable system

Cross bonded cable system with transposed

• A system is cross-bonded if the arrangements are such that the circuit provides electrically continuous
sheath runs from earthed termination to earthed termination but with the sheaths so sectionalized and
cross-connected in order to reduce the sheath circulating currents.
• In This Type voltage will be induced between screen and earth, but no significant current will flow.
• The maximum induced voltage will appear at the link boxes for cross-bonding. This method permits a
cable current-carrying capacity as high as with single-point bonding but longer route lengths than the
latter. It requires screen separation and additional link boxes.
• For cross bonding, the cable length is divided into three approximately equal sections. Each of the
three alternating magnetic fields induces a voltage with a phase shift of 120° in the cable shields.
• The cross bonding takes place in the link boxes. Ideally, the vectorial addition of the induced voltages
results in U (Rise) = 0. In practice, the cable length and the laying conditions will vary, resulting in a
small residual voltage and a negligible current. Since there is no current flow, there are practically no
losses in the screen.
• The total of the three voltages is zero, thus the ends of the three sections can be grounded.
• Summing up induced voltage in sectionalized screen from each phase resulting in neutralization of
induced voltages in three consecutive minor sections.
• Normally one drum length (500 m approx) per minor section.
• Sectionalizing position and cable jointing position should be coincident.
• Solidly earthed at major section joints.

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 • Transpose cable core to balance the magnitude of induced voltages to be summed up.
• Link box should be used at every sectionalizing joint and balanced impedance in all phases.
• Induced voltage magnitude profile along the screen of a major section in the cross–bonding cable
system.
• Virtually zero circulating current and Voltage to the remote earth at the solidly earthed ends.
• In order to obtain optimal result, two ‘‘crosses’’ exist. One is Transposition of cable core crossing cable
core at each section and second is Cross bond the cable screens effectively no transposition of screen.
• Cross bonding of cable screen: It is cancelled induced voltage in the screen at every major Section
joint.
• Transposition of cables: It is ensure voltages to be summed up have similar magnitude .Greater
standing voltage at the screen of the outer cable.
• Standing voltages exist at screen and majority of section joints cable and joints must be installed as an
insulated screen system.
•
Requirement of transpose for cables core

Cross bonded cable system without transposed

• If core not transposed, not well neutralized resulting in some circulating currents.
• Cable should be transposed and the screen needs to be cross bonded at each sectionalizing joint
position for optimal neutralization
•
Advantages
• Not required any earth continuity conductor.

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 • Virtually zero circulating current in the screen.
• Standing voltage in the screen is controlled.
• Technically superior than other methods.
• Suitable for long distance cable network.

Disadvantages
• Technically complicated.
• More expensive.
Top

Bonding Method Comparison

Earthing Method Standing Voltage at Sheath Voltage Limiter Application
Cable End Required

Single End Bonding Yes Yes Up to 500 Meter

Double End Bonding No No Up to 1 Km and Substations short

connections, hardly applied for HV cables,
rather for MV and LV cables

Cross Bonding Only at cross Yes Long distance connectionswhere joints are
bonding points required

Sheath Losses according to type of Bonding

• Sheath losses are current-dependent losses and are generated by the induced currents when load
current flows in cable conductors.
• The sheath currents in single-core cables are induced by “transformer” effect; i.e.by the magnetic field
of alternating current flowing in cable conductor which induces voltages in cable sheath or other parallel
conductors.
• The sheath induced electromotive forces (EMF) generate two types of losses: circulating current losses
(Y1) and eddy current losses (Y2), so the total losses in cable metallic sheath are: Y= Y1+Y2
• The eddy currents circulating radially and longitudinally of cable sheaths are generated on similar
principles of skin and proximity effects i.e. they are induced by the conductor currents, sheath
circulating currents and by currents circulating in close proximity current carrying conductors.
• They are generated in cable sheath irrespective of bonding system of single core cables or of three-
core cables
• The eddy currents are generally of smaller magnitude when comparing with circuit (circulating) currents
of solidly bonded cable sheaths and may be neglects except in the case of large segmental conductors
and are calculated in accordance with formulae given in the IEC60287.

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 • Circulating currents are generated in cable sheath if the sheaths form a closed loop when bonded
together at the remote ends or intermediate points along the cable route.
• These losses are named sheath circulating current losses and they are determined by the magnitude of
current in cable conductor, frequency, mean diameter, the resistance of cable sheath and the distance
between single-core cables.

Conclusion
There is much disagreement as to whether the cable shield should be grounded at both ends or at only one
end. If grounded at only one end, any possible fault current must traverse the length from the fault to the
grounded end, imposing high current on the usually very light shield conductor. Such a current could readily
damage or destroy the shield and require replacement of the entire cable rather than only the faulted section.

With both ends grounded, the fault current would divide and flow to both ends, reducing the duty on the
shield, with consequently less chance of damage.

Multiple grounding, rather than just grounding at both ends, is simply the grounding of the cable shield or
sheath at all access points, such as manholes or pull boxes. This also limits possible shield damage to only
the faulted section.

References
1. Mitton Consulting.
2. EMElectricals

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