Implications of Thermal Characteristics on Joint Processing and Criteria for MV Cables

This paper presents the overheating issues in medium voltage (MV) aluminum cables that pose significant challenges for underground network operations. The analysis focuses on joint processing, specifically mechanical splicing processes, as a potential cause of these overheating problems. The study addressed the challenges related to cable preparation difficulties and reliability issues. It highlighted that substances inside the joint, such as water blocking tapes, caused thermal resistance. Since the removal of all tape layers has been a controversial issue in the field, simplifying the process was crucial. This not only provided economic advantages in terms of efficiency but also improved completion. The alternative jointing method verified the processing criteria without removing all substances. The paper conducted simulations and experiments to analyze the joint thermal characteristics of different types of connectors and processing methods. The suggested method examined how to determine the optimal number of substance removals based on the joint component resistance calculation. The results indicated a balance point where both the recommended substance removal processing and the desired joint thermal properties are concurrently satisfied, offering insights into mitigating overheating in aluminum cable joints