Underground Distribution Feeder Design

Applicable to both direct buried or duct systems and utilizing padmouuted or below-grade equipment, this paper proposes a simple and economical design that offers a high degree of flexibility and reliability. Utilizing 200-ampere sublaterals, recently developed submersible fuses, and switching enclosures, the design minimizes initial investment while providing for future load growth. Additional switchgear, fuses, and other equipment need only be installed as required, without incurring outages to existing customers. The reliability of the main feeder backbone is enhanced by reducing the number of cable/equipment interfaces along the route, and restoration times are kept to a minimum since cable repairs can be made after service has been restored.