Underground Electrical Cable Vs Overhead Lines

Overhead lines are nothing but a conductor laid on the top of earth by installing transmission tower.

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. 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. And 2 dissipating the heat produced during the operation of the electrical. To minimize a large charging current produced in high voltage cables the length of the cable should be minimized.

Longer life 30 to 50 years vs. Cost overhead s number one advantage. The design and construction of underground transmission lines differ from overhead lines because of two significant technical challenges that need to be overcome. With underground feeders you have to watch out when you are digging.

Significantly less cost especially initial cost. Much less visual clutter. 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. 20 to 40 for new underground works.

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. Hvdc are three times higher compare to overhead lines e g. Safety factors of underground vs. It is difficult to find and repair the wire breaks in case of failure of system.

Aesthetics underground s number one advantage. The electric field of the cable lines is fully limited by the metallic screen. Safety less chance for public contact. Cost of underground cables e g.

1 providing sufficient insulation so that cables can be within inches of grounded material. Reliability shorter outage durations because of faster fault finding and faster. 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. Following are the disadvantages of underground transmission.

Moreover laying or burying cost of underground lines are greater compare to overhead lines.