Single-Core Cable: Insulation Resistance,

Capacitance and Dielectric Stress

 Insulation Resistance of a Single-Core Cable

Consider a single-core cable of conductor radius r1 and l be the length of

the cable. So, current i flows through this conductor or core and it has a
potential Va.

Outside of this conductor is surrounded by an insulating material. This

insulating material is connected to the ground which has a potential also,
Vb.

Due to the potential difference between conductor and ground (Va-Vb),

there is a small leakage current flows from conductor to ground.
In order to prevent leakage current flowing, the cable conductor is provided
with a suitable thickness of insulating material. For satisfactory operation, the
insulating material/insulation resistance of the cable should be very high.

The path for leakage

current is radially
outwards
 Insulation Resistance of a Single-Core Cable
Consider
r1= Radius of the conductor
r2=Radius of the cable=Radius of internal insulating sheath of the cable
t=Thickness of the insulating material= r2- r1
l =Length of the cable and
ρ =Resistivity of the insulation

From the total thickness of insulation, consider a very small layer of insulation of thickness dx at a
distance x from the center of the cable.

So when thickness is dx, then leakage current tends to flow through the thickness or length of
insulation is dx and the area where the leakage current offer to flow is 2πxl.

∴ Insulation resistance of considered layer

Insulation resistance of the whole cable is

𝜌 𝑟2
𝑅= 𝑙𝑛
2𝜋𝑙 𝑟1
Insulation resistance of a cable is inversely proportional to its length. In other words, if the cable length increases, its insulation resistance
decreases and vice-versa.
 Insulation Resistance of a Single-Core Cable: Problems
Problem 1: A single-core cable has a conductor diameter of 1cm and insulation thickness of 0·4 cm. If the specific resistance of insulation
is 5 × 1014 Ω-cm, calculate the insulation resistance for a 2 km length of the cable.

Solution 1:
 Insulation Resistance of a Single-Core Cable: Exercise

1. The insulation resistance of a single-core cable is 495 MΩ per km. If the core diameter is 2·5 cm and resistivity of insulation is 4·5 × 1014
Ω-cm, find the insulation thickness. [Ans:1.25 cm]

2. A single core cable 5 km long has an insulation resistance of 0·4 MΩ. The core diameter is 20 mm and the diameter of the cable over
the insulation is 50 mm. Calculate the resistivity of the insulating material. [13.72 × 109 Ωm]

3. A single-core cable has a conductor diameter of 2.5 cm and insulation thickness of 1.2 cm. If the specific resistance of insulation is 4·5 ×
1014 Ω cm, calculate the insulation resistance per kilometer length of the cable. [305·5 MΩ]

4. A single core cable 3 km long has an insulation resistance of 1820 MΩ. If the conductor diameter is 1.5 cm and sheath diameter is 5 cm,
calculate the resistivity of the dielectric in the cable. [28.57 × 1012 Ωm]

5. Determine the insulation resistance of a single-core cable of length 3 km and having conductor radius 12·5 mm, insulation thickness 10
mm and specific resistance of insulation of 5 × 1012 Ωm. [156 MΩ]
 Capacitance of a Single-Core Cable
Consider
d/2= Radius of the conductor
D/2=Radius of the cable=Radius of internal insulating sheath of the cable
Q=Charge carrying by the conductor
ε=Permittivity of the insulating medium=𝜀0 𝜀𝑟

Electric field at any point at a distance x from the center of the cable
𝑄
𝐸𝑥 = 2𝜋𝜀𝑥 V/m

Potential difference V between conductor and sheath

𝐷/2
𝑉= 𝐸 𝑑𝑥
𝑑/2 𝑥
Volts

𝐷/2 𝑄
𝑉= 𝑑/2 2𝜋𝜀𝑥
𝑑𝑥 Volts
𝑄 𝐷
= 𝑙𝑛
2𝜋𝜀0 𝜀𝑟 𝑑

Capacitance of the cable 𝑄

𝐶=𝑉 F/m
Note: For understanding details, See the lecture on the capacitance of a 1 phase line (Lecture 9]
 Capacitance of a Single-Core Cable

Capacitance of the cable 𝐶 = 𝑄 F/m

𝑉

𝑄
𝐶= 𝑄 𝐷 F/m
𝑙𝑛
2𝜋𝜀0 𝜀𝑟 𝑑

Putting 𝜀0 = 8.854 × 10−12 F/m

𝜀𝑟
𝐶= 𝐷 × 10−9 F/m
41.4𝑙𝑛 𝑑

If length of the cable is l meters

𝜀𝑟 𝑙
𝐶= 𝐷 × 10−9 F/m
41.4𝑙𝑛 𝑑
 Capacitance of a Single-Core Cable: Problems
Problem 1: A 33 kV, 50 Hz, 3-phase underground cable, 4 km long uses three single core cables. Each of the conductor has a diameter
of 2·5 cm and the radial thickness of insulation is 0·5 cm. Determine (i) capacitance of the cable/phase (ii) charging current/phase (iii) total
charging kVAR. The relative permittivity of insulation is 3.

Solution 1:
 Capacitance of a Single-Core Cable: Exercise

1. A single core cable has a conductor diameter of 1 cm and internal sheath diameter of 1·8 cm. If impregnated paper of relative permittivity
4 is used as the insulation, calculate the capacitance for 1 km length of the cable. [Ans: 0·378 μF]

2. Calculate the capacitance and charging current of a single core cable used on a 3-phase, 66 kV system. The cable is 1 km long having a
core diameter of 10 cm and an impregnated paper insulation of thickness 7 cm. The relative permittivity of the insulation may be taken as
4 and the supply at 50 Hz. [0.254 μF ; 3.04 A]

3. A single core cable has a conductor diameter of 1 cm and internal sheath diameter of 1.8 cm. If the impregnated paper of relative
permittivity 3 is used as insulation, calculate the capacitance for 1 km length of the cable. [0.282 μF]

4. Calculate the capacitance and charging current of a single core cable used on 3-phase, 66 kV system. The cable is 1 km long having a
core diameter of 15 cm and impregnated paper insulation of thickness 22.5 cm. The relative permittivity of the insulation may be taken as
3.5 and supply at 50 Hz. [0.144 μF ; 1.74 A]

5. An 11 kV, 50 Hz, single phase cable 2.5 km long, has a diameter of 20 mm and internal sheath radius of 15 mm. If the dielectric has a
relative permittivity of 2.4, determine (i) capacitance (ii) charging current (iii) total charging kVAR. [(i) 0.822 μF (ii) 2.84 A (iii) 31.24 kVAR]
 Dielectric Stress of a Single-Core Cable
Consider
d/2= Radius of the conductor
D/2=Radius of the cable=Radius of internal insulating sheath of the cable
Q=Charge carrying by the conductor
ε=Permittivity of the insulating medium=𝜀0 𝜀𝑟

Electric field at any point at a distance x from the center of the cable
𝑄
𝐸𝑥 = 2𝜋𝜀𝑥 V/m

Potential difference V between conductor and sheath

𝐷/2
𝑉= 𝐸 𝑑𝑥
𝑑/2 𝑥
Volts

𝐷/2 𝑄
𝑉= 𝑑/2 2𝜋𝜀𝑥
𝑑𝑥 Volts
𝑄 𝐷
= 𝑙𝑛
2𝜋𝜀0 𝜀𝑟 𝑑
2𝜋𝜀0 𝜀𝑟 𝑉
𝑄=
𝐷
𝑙𝑛
𝑑
 Dielectric Stress of a Single-Core Cable
Under operating conditions, the insulation of a cable is subjected to electrostatic forces. This is known as dielectric stress. The
dielectric stress at any point in a cable is in fact the potential gradient (or electric intensity) at that point.

Therefore, potential gradient g at a point x metres from the centre of cable is

𝑄
𝑔 = 𝐸𝑥 = 2𝜋𝜀𝑥 V/m

2𝜋𝜀0 𝜀𝑟 𝑉
𝐷
𝑙𝑛
𝑔= 𝑑
V/m
2𝜋𝜀0 𝜀𝑟 𝑥

𝑉
𝑔= 𝐷 V/m
𝑥𝑙𝑛 𝑑

Therefore, It is clear from exp. () that potential gradient varies inversely as the distance x.
2𝑉
𝑔 is maximum when x=d/2 𝑔𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐷 V/m
𝑑𝑙𝑛 𝑑 𝑔𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝐷
=
2𝑉 𝑔𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑑
𝑔 is minimum when x=D/2 𝑔𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝐷 V/m
𝐷𝑙𝑛 𝑑
 Dielectric Stress of a Single-Core Cable: Problems
Problem 1: A single core cable for use on 11 kV, 50 Hz system has conductor area of 0·645 cm2 and internal diameter of sheath is 2·18
cm. The permittivity of the dielectric used in the cable is 3·5. Find (i) the maximum electrostatic stress in the cable (ii) minimum electrostatic
stress in the cable (iii) capacitance of the cable per km length (iv) charging current.
Solution 1:
 Dielectric Stress of a Single-Core Cable: Exercise

1. A 33 kV single core cable has a conductor diameter of 1 cm and a sheath of inside diameter 4 cm. Find the maximum and minimum stress
in the insulation. [Ans: 47·61 kV/cm r.ms. and 11·9 kV/cm r.m.s]

2. The maximum and minimum stresses in the dielectric of a single core cable are 40 kV/cm (r.m.s.) and 10 kV/cm (r.m.s.) respectively. If the
conductor diameter is 2 cm, find : (i) thickness of insulation (ii) operating voltage [Ans: 3 cm and 55.45 kV r.m.s.]

3. 33 kV, single-core cable has a conductor diameter of 1 cm and insulation of 1.5 cm. Find the maximum and minimum stress in the
insulation. [47·62 kV/cm (r.m.s.), 11·9 kV/cm (r.m.s.)]