Underground and Submarine Cable Transmission Systems

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Underground and Submarine Cable Transmission
Systems
Roger Rosenqvist ABB Inc. Grid
Systems Raleigh, NC
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High Voltage Cable and Cable Accessories from ABB
ABB Kabeldon, Alingsås
ABB Moskabel, Moscow
ABB Power Technologies, Karlskrona
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Solid Dielectric Cables Examples of Milestone
Events

• In 1973 ABB began deliveries of solid dielectric
  (XLPE) underground cable systems for voltage
  ratings up to 145 kV AC.
• In 1984 ABB furnished and commissioned a complete
  XLPE underground cable system rated 220 kV AC for
  the municipal power company in Stockholm.
• In 1991 ABB furnished and commissioned a XLPE
  submarine cable system rated 138 kV AC to South
  Padre Island in Texas.
• In 1997 ABB introduced solid dielectric cable
  systems for high voltage direct current
  transmission (HVDC Light).
• In 1998 ABB furnished and commissioned a complete
  XLPE cable system rated 420 kV AC for BEWAG in
  Berlin.
• In 2002 ABB commissioned the longest underground
  transmission circuit in the world 110 miles
  long HVDC Light underground cable circuit in
  Australia rated 200 MW, 300 kV (150 kV)
• In 2002 ABB commissioned a 24 miles long solid
  dielectric HVDC Light submarine cable circuit
  across the Long Island Sound rated 330 MW, 300
  kV
• To date ABB has furnished and installed more than
  4,500 miles of XLPE cables rated 110 kV and above.

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Reliability of Solid Dielectric Cable Systems

• For EHV type cable systems (220 kV and above),
  only super-clean XLPE materials are used during
  manufacturing.
• The predicted annual failure rate per mile for
  EHV cable systems is approaching zero based on
  available operating data to-date.

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Solid Dielectric Cables for High Voltage
Transmission Systems

• A recent document submitted by two electric
  power utility companies in Connecticut as part of
  the approval process for a new 345 kV AC
  transmission circuit points out the following
  advantages of solid dielectric over fluid-filled
  cable technology
• Absence of insulating fluids eliminates the risk
  of accidental release of hazardous materials and
  substances into the environment
• Lower maintenance costs (solid dielectric cables
  are virtually maintenance free)
• Cable capacitance per mile and phase is less than
  60 of the capacitance of fluid filled cables
• Ability to splice cables in discontinuous shifts.
  (important characteristic when cable circuits are
  installed in public roads).

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Typical EHV AC Underground Cable Design

• Rated voltage Up to 550 kV
• Conductor material Copper (round, segmented)
• Insulation system
• Conductor screen material Conductive PE
• Insulation type/material Dry cured extruded XLPE
• Insulation screen Conductive PE
• Longitudinal moisture seal Swell able tapes
• Metallic screen Copper wires
• Temperature monitoring FIMT in metallic screen
• Radial moisture sealing Laminate (Cu or Al) and
  PE
• Outer jacket Polyethylene

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Typical EHV AC Submarine Cable Design

• Rated voltage Up to 230 kV
• (Up to 500 kV for short distances)
• Conductor material Copper
• Insulation system
• Conductor screen material Conductive PE
• Insulation type/material Dry cured extruded XLPE
• Insulation screen Conductive PE
• Longitudinal water seal Swelling tapes
• Metallic sheath material Lead alloy
• Inner sheath material Conductive PE
• Armor material Copper wires
• Outer serving material Polypropylene yarn

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Typical Submarine Cable Design 138 kV AC

• Rated voltage Up to 230 kV
• Conductor material Copper
• Insulation system
• Conductor screen material Conductive PE
• Insulation type/material Dry cured extruded XLPE
• Insulation screen Conductive PE
• Longitudinal water seal Swelling tapes
• Metallic sheath material Lead alloy
• Inner sheath material Conductive PE
• Armor material Galvanized steel wires
• Outer serving material Polypropylene yarn

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Solid Dielectric Cables for High Voltage
Transmission Systems

• Issues in connection with cable transmission over
  long distances
• Charging current in AC cables consumes capacity
  cumulatively with distance (e.g., 25 miles of 345
  kV XLPE cable requires approximately 600 A
  charging current)
• Capacity diminishes with distance limiting the
  maximum practical distance of AC underground
  transmission circuits

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Solid Dielectric Cable for High Voltage
Transmission Systems

• HVDC technology offers a feasible alternative for
  long distance underground or submarine cable
  transmission.

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High Voltage DC Transmission Systems around the
World
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High Voltage DC Transmission Systems in North
America
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Solid Dielectric HVDC Light Underground Cable
Cable technology advancements facilitate long
distance underground transmission systems
1999 Gotland 160 kV, 50 MW 43 miles 2000 Direct
Link 160 kV, 360 MW 340 miles
2002 Murray link 300 kV, 220 MW 112
miles 2006 EstLink 300 kV, 350 MW 20 miles (46
miles subsea) 2008 Nord E.On 1 300 kV, 400 MW 47
miles (80 miles subsea)
2006 2500 mm2 Cu (Al) 640 kV, 1100 MW (700 MW)
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Solid Dielectric HVDC Light Submarine Cable

• Significant technology milestone events
• 2002 Cross Sound 300 kV, 330 MW, 25 miles
• 2005 Troll A 120 kV, 240 MW, 242 miles
• 2006 EstLink 300 kV, 350 MW, 46 miles
• 2006 Single-circuit ratings up to 640 kV, 1100
  MW
• 2008 Nord E.On 1 300 kV, 400 MW, 80 miles

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MAPP Cable Technology Considerations

• Cable terminations are commercially available for
  voltage ratings up to 550kV AC and 500kV DC.
• Flexible factory joints for XLPE submarine cables
  are commercially available for voltages up to
  230kV AC and 640kV (320kV) DC.
• ABBs cable factory in Karlskrona, Sweden, can
  extrude EHV submarine cable in continuous lengths
  (i.e., lengths without any flexible factory
  joints) of up to around nine (9) miles.
• The planned Chesapeake Bay Crossing is
  approximately 12 miles in length. Any 500kV AC
  XLPE cable option will have to include submarine
  cable field splices. To date, such splices have
  never been used in any commercial application.
• For installation at moderate water depths (i.e.,
  depths of 300 feet or less), a submarine cable
  field splice consists of two principal parts
• a pre-molded XLPE cable splice of a similar type
  used for splicing of underground XLPE cables
• a rigid water tight metal enclosure for
  mechanical and moisture protection of the splice

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MAPP Cable Technology Considerations

• 500 kV AC Option
• 700 MW MAPP transfer capacity
• 850 MW MAPP contingency capacity

• 640 kV DC Option Stage 3
• 3000 MW MAPP transfer capacity
• 3000 MW MAPP contingency capacity

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Solid Dielectric Cables for High Voltage
Transmission Systems
Project 300 kV (150 kV) HVDC Light
cableTransEnergie US Cable typeHVDC Light 1300
mm2 Cu Length26 miles route length Scope of
supplyProject management, cable system,
converters, installation, trial
operation Year 2002
New Haven
Long Island Sound
New York
Shoreham
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Solid Dielectric Cables for High Voltage
Transmission Systems
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Solid Dielectric Cables for High Voltage
Transmission Systems
Project 300 kV HVDC Light submarine cable, 350
MWAS Nordic Energy Link Cable typeHVDC Light 1
x 1000 mm2 Cu Armored submarine cable HVDC
Light 1 x 2000 mm2 AlUnderground cable
Length2 x 47 miles submarine cable 2 x 18
miles underground cable Scope of supplyCable
system design, project management, cable and
accessories, land- and offshore installation,
testing Year 2006
Finland
Estonia
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Solid Dielectric Cables for High Voltage
Transmission Systems
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Solid Dielectric Cables for High Voltage
Transmission Systems
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Solid Dielectric Cables for High Voltage
Transmission Systems
Project 200 MW transmission circuitfor
TransEnergie in Australia Cable type300 kV
(150 kV) HVDC Light180 km total route length
(approximately 110 miles) Scope of supplyHVDC
Light cablejoints and terminations Commissioning
September 2002
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Solid Dielectric Cables for High Voltage
Transmission Systems

• Murray link received three different Case Earth
  Awards

• Right-of-way lt 4 m (13 feet)
• 400 field joints

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MAPP Cable Technology Considerations
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SouthWestlink, SVK and Statnett

• Stage 1
• 2 1200 MW converters
• 124 miles underground cable
• 124 miles AC OHL upgrade 220 to 400 kV

• Stage 2
• 1 1200 MW convertors
• 217 miles underground cable

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Submarine Cables for Transmission Systems
Installation of submarine cables
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Submarine Cables for Transmission Systems
Installation of submarine cables

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Cable Laying In Trench (Direct Burial)

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Thank you!