
Transmission system pilot cables
Transmission systems for the bulk transfer of electrical energy are typically comprised of one or
more three-phase power circuits operating at supertension i.e., voltages in excess of 33kV, which
interconnect substations where the supply is boosted via a transformer from a generating station,
or transformed down to lower voltages for distribution and utilisation. The transmission medium is
either underground power cables or overhead power lines. In either case, supervision and control
of the system is effected via low voltage auxiliary cables (or pilots) laid along the same physical length.
From the inception of these concepts in Britain in the fifties, it was realised that transient disturbances,
which could be a hazard to personnel, could occur in the pilot cables under an earth-fault condition
on any power line.
Under such a system earth-fault, a proportion of the earth-fault current will return to the earth star-
points of the transformers at the substation site. The current which flows to that site through the
ground will cause the site and all ‘earthed’ metal therein to rise in potential with respect to true earth.
This voltage rise would be impressed across anyone on the site if he were working on pilot cables or
equipment directly connected thereto, even though the pilots are not earthed. It is very important to
note that such a rise-in-earth potential could be caused by faults on other power circuits, in addition
to those directly associated with the pilot which is being worked on.
In underground power cable systems, the associated pilot cables are almost invariably laid alongside
the power cables, whereas for overhead line systems any associated pilot cables may
be laid in the vicinity of the overhead lines. Under power-system earth fault
conditions, the fault current flowing through the power
circuits can induce high end-to-end
voltages (of several kV) in
adjacent pilot cables.
Fig. 2