Underground Electrical Cable Vs Overhead Lines

According to the may 2011 paper underground electric transmission lines published by the public service commission of wisconsin the estimated cost for constructing underground transmission lines ranges from 4 to 14 times more expensive than overhead lines of the same voltage and same distance.

Underground electrical cable vs overhead lines.

Overhead line is a source of electrical and magnetic field where underground cables have the magnetic fields screened so only electrical fields might be an issue in this case. Following are the disadvantages of underground transmission. Overhead lines interfere with communication lines that are in close proximity have corona discharge radio and tv interference which does not happen with the underground lines. With overhead lines you have to watch that tall trucks farm implements augers and other tall pieces of equipment don t get tangled in them.

Voltage drop there is more voltage drop in the overheads due to the fact that their cables are of much smaller diameter than underground cables for the same power delivery. Hvdc are three times higher compare to overhead lines e g. Significantly less cost especially initial cost. Much less visual clutter.

And 2 dissipating the heat produced during the operation of the electrical. Longer life 30 to 50 years vs. Safety less chance for public contact. Aesthetics underground s number one advantage.

Cost of underground cables e g. Undergrounding is the replacement of overhead cables providing electrical power or telecommunications with underground cables it demonstrates the higher technology in developed countries for fire prevention and to make the power lines less susceptible to outages during high wind thunderstorms or heavy snow or ice storms. 1 providing sufficient insulation so that cables can be within inches of grounded material. With underground feeders you have to watch out when you are digging.

It is difficult to find and repair the wire breaks in case of failure of system. Safety factors of underground vs. Overhead lines are nothing but a conductor laid on the top of earth by installing transmission tower. Moreover laying or burying cost of underground lines are greater compare to overhead lines.

To minimize a large charging current produced in high voltage cables the length of the cable should be minimized. Reliability shorter outage durations because of faster fault finding and faster. The design and construction of underground transmission lines differ from overhead lines because of two significant technical challenges that need to be overcome. 20 to 40 for new underground works.

In overhead line inductor plays major roles and in underground cable the capacitor plays major role.