Safe and Efficient
Cable Measurements with CIB1
The CIB1 accessory for the COMPANO 100 is ideal for cable impedance and shield current measurements. This combination offers significant benefits by reducing wiring, providing an intuitive and guided workflow, and enabling on-device calculations (including symmetrical components). It is suitable for cables and short medium voltage overhead lines up to 10 km / 6 miles.
Together, COMPANO 100 and CIB1 weigh less than 20 kg / 45 lbs including all cables and offer battery powered operation. This helps to further reduce the testing time by avoiding the need for mains supply and extension cords.
Cable Impedance Measurement
The Cable Impedance Application Module enables fast and accurate impedance measurements. It automatically controls the CIB1 and measures all required current-loops. It also integrates calculations for positive sequence (Z1), zero sequence (Z0), and earth (ZE) impedance. The calculating of several other cable models and k-factors is supported. The measured results can be exported and used for relay parametrization and load flow calculations.
Cable Shield Current Measurement
The Cable Shield Current Application Module enables the measurement of the shield current distribution in single-core cable systems. These systems are commonly used in power supply systems, especially in industrial applications. It supports up to 9 parallel systems and optional auxiliary ground connections. It has a built-in calculation of expected currents for symmetrical three-phase applications. This helps you detect unbalanced shield current distribution and potential overloading of some cable shields, so that cable damage and costly outages can be avoided.
Fast and easy Set Up without Rewiring
The COMPANO 100 with CIB1 optimizes cable testing by automatically switching current and voltage measurement paths. As a result, wiring effort and potential errors are reduced. The two single cables not only provide a clean, organized workspace, but they also improve safety and are easy to set up and take down. The CIB1 includes built-in overvoltage and overcurrent protection, offering additional protection for the operator and hardware. The intuitive and guided workflow enables efficient testing with accurate results and direct on-device calculations.
What makes Cable Impedance important?
Cable impedance is critical to electrical power systems because it affects power quality, efficiency, and safety. High impedance can lead to voltage issues and power loss, while proper impedance ensures safe operation and system stability. As a result, managing cable impedance is essential for the design and maintenance of reliable power systems. There are many applications, including load flow calculations, fault location, and distributed energy resource (DER) integration.
Areas of Applications
Load Flow Calculations
Essential for simulation software like RelaySimTest or third-party simulation products. Which are used to simulate realistic load and fault events.
Fault Location
Protection relays use impedance data to identify fault zones by measuring the voltage and current at the relay terminals and calculating the impedance.
DER Integration
In solar, wind, and EV charging systems, cable impedance affects load flows, transient overvoltage, harmonic resonances, and reactive power management.
Calculations vs. Measurements
The impedance of a cable depends on its type and configuration. Manufacturers provide cable-specific data for calculations, which can be used for new cable systems. For overhead lines the impedance can be calculated. While positive-sequence impedance (Z1 = R1 + j X1) calculations are usually accurate, zero-sequence impedance (Z0 = R0 + j X0) is highly dependent on grounding and soil conditions, making measurements more reliable.
As energy demands continue to rise, cable systems are frequently extended or partially replaced using joints to connect old and new cables. Additionally, overhead lines with varying impedance data can be combined. In these complex scenarios, measurements often prove to be easier and more accurate than calculations.
Why measuring Cable Shield Current?
Cable shield current measurements help to check if the shield currents in a system are equally distributed. Depending on the physical layout of the cable system (e.g. trefoil or flat) and the cable routing at the transition to the busbar or cable terminals, the shield currents may differ on the individual cables. In extreme cases, some cable shields are subject to much greater current load than others. This could lead to overload of single cables and consecutive thermal destruction of the cable. Especially in industry systems, this could cause costly outages of the system.
Additionally, the cable shield current measurement can also be used to check the continuity of the shield of the power cable.
