Improving underground power distribution capacity using artificial backfill materials

A system of underground distribution cables is usually used to carry electrical energy inside the populated areas. Under loading and faulty conditions backfill soils lose their moisture content around underground distribution cables. This phenomenon forms dry area around the underground cables and leads to the increase of thermal resistance of backfill soil and sequentially decreases in the cable rating. One aim of this study is to determine the most appropriate of the artificial soil that can be used to fill the blanks around the underground distribution cables to minimise the effect of dry zones that cause thermal failure to the cable insulation. The results of the experimental works conducted in this study showed that some soils lose moisture faster than the other; hence in these types of the soil the dry area will be formed around the underground cable faster than the others.