Investigating and studying the thermal effect of the underground cables

This paper is a step forward to investigate the thermal effect of underground cables. It is to experiment the circumstances that affects the real cable and to find out what are the most effecting factors heats up and causes thermal stress in the cable. This paper will give brief information about the underground cables. In addition, it will talk about the soil effects. Finally, it discusses the whole experimental issues about this examination and study. The paper covers a sufficient background about low voltage underground cables. Many other related factors that affect underground cables were briefly discussed such as soil resistively, insulation material and manufacturing problems. An experiment setup was developed and model was fabricated. Two different low voltage cables were then tested using this setup. Low voltage cables were tested under day and night conditions and under different current values up to the tested cables ampacities. Many investigation cases were executed during the summer season of 2008 (July - August) indicating the highest hot season in Saudi Arabia. Current was changed from 100-300 amperes in time steps of 30 minutes which indicates the approximate loading cycle of the cables.