Method for rating power cables buried in surface troughs

An alternative method is detailed by which the ambient temperature parameter as applied to the calculation of ratings of power cables buried in surface trough installations can be determined. Improvement in the accuracy of cable rating calculations will allow greater utilisation of the cable asset and assist for example in the planning of system outages for maintenance work. The proposed model calculates the temperature at the cable burial depth based on measurements of solar radiation, windspeed and air temperature. The model is based on physical laws rather than empirical approaches that have been shown to be generally conservative in application. Results based on weather data monitored over a two-year period show that the ambient temperature of the soil at cable depth can be accurately determined and the model provides a significant improvement on existing methods