A HISTORICAL REVIEW
CABLE ENGINEERING COMMITTEE
1924 - 1998
Prepared by the Cable Engineering Committee - May 1998
"In the summer of 1880, Thomas Edison planned the installation of his first incandescent-lighting system in New York. The size of the mains, whose diameter would have to equal the sum of the individual wires leading to the houses, made it impossible to suspend them from poles. They would, therefore, have to be buried like gas pipes.
Edison thought wood was a good insulator and predicted that because of the low voltage of the current, there would be no trouble with leakage. Shallow trenches were dug, wooden moldings laid in them, and the wires placed in grooves. Edison waited for a wet day to conduct a full-scale test. On July 20, the rains came and electricity went in all directions. Even the trees were charged and the lamps appeared like dying fireflies.
An attempt was made to insulate the wires by pouring coal tar into the grooves. It failed, and muslin was wrapped around the wires without improvement. One thing after another was tried, until Edison, finally tiring of random experiments, told Wilson S. Howell to go into the library, read everything on insulation, and report back in two weeks.
Various compounds and combinations were tried. The compound ultimately settled on was Trinidad asphalt mixed with linseed oil and small amounts of paraffin and beeswax. The mixture was cooked up in 250 gallon kettles. Boys dipped two-and-a-half-inch-wide strips of muslin into the hot compound. The wires were lifted from the trenches onto saw horses, and three layers of the saturated muslin were wrapped around them.
On November 1, the first part of the reinsulated distribution system passed the test. By the end of the month, 400 lamps, including Edison's house, were connected and operating."
The preceding paragraphs from A Streak of Luck, the Life & Legend of Thomas Alva Edison, by Robert Conot, briefly describe the initial "cable engineering" efforts and results of the most prolific inventor in history and the founder of our industry.
The first insulated cable specification attributed to the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies was dated November 1, 1924, by coincidence or perhaps chance, 44 years after the first circuit was energized. The Specifications for Impregnated Paper Insulated, Lead Covered Cable for the Transmission and Distribution of Electrical Energy in Underground Conduit Systems was, "prepared under the auspices of the Lamp Committee of AEIC in co-operation with the Electrical Testing Laboratories and Representatives of Operating Companies."
Seven operating companies and five manufacturers prepared a comprehensive, thirty-six section specification that established the pattern used through the present edition of AEIC No. 1 for impregnated paper-insulated cables.
The Committee on High Tension Cable was organized in 1926, "to assist in advancing the cable art so that the annual investment and operating costs of the cable systems of our Member Companies will be reduced and the voltages at which cables can be economically employed can be increased."
By the time the Fourth Edition was issued in 1930, the High Tension Committee reported that the specifications were used by many purchasers not affiliated with AEIC and had become the principal specifications for impregnated paper insulated cable in this country. Therefore, the Underground Systems Committee of the National Electric Light Association (NELA) recommended withdrawal of the N.E.L.A. specifications.
The High Tension Committee was dissolved in 1937 after two more revisions to the paper cable specification were issued.
In 1938, the Executive Committee of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies authorized the president to appoint a new committee to "deal with problems in the transmission and distribution field, charged with evaluating progress and securing action where the work of the existing technical committees in this field may indicate it to be desirable"--"the committee expected generally to confine its attention to the broader aspects of power distribution."
During the first meeting of the new Power Delivery Committee it was recognized that there was a need to carry on the activities of the former Committee on High Tension Cable. This led to the immediate formation of the Cable Engineering Committee.
The newly formed Cable Engineering Committee was given four assignments:
The first meeting the Cable Engineering Committee occurred in May 1938, in Chicago.
The first annual report issued by the Committee included a comprehensive record of cable operation and a survey of causes of failures experienced by the thirteen participating companies.
In 1940, a relationship with the Insulated Power Cable Engineers Association (IPCEA), an engineering forum representing the cable manufacturing industry, was formed. Joint meetings held during the Committee meetings focused on efforts to simplify and standardize on cable sizes and voltage ratings. Arrangements were also completed with the Edison Electric Institute for combining the previously separate annual cable operating reports into one report prepared by EEI.
The combined efforts of AEIC’s Cable Engineering Committee and IPCEA resulted in the issuance of the Simplified Practice Schedule for paper insulated cable. The Power Delivery Committee considered the document an "outstanding contribution" by covering over 75% of the cable used and ordered with 56 standardized sizes.
In January 1943, the Committee prepared and issued the first guide to be developed for cable systems, entitled, "Guide for Wartime Conductor Temperatures for Power Cables in Service." Four types of power cables used in underground systems were covered: 1) PILC solid type; 2) PILC oil-filled type; 3) varnished-cambric-insulated, lead-covered; and 4) rubber-insulated cable with and without lead sheath. Reduction in cable life due to increased deterioration of insulation, lead sheath movement, increased conduit and earth resistivity and possible problems with joints and potheads were reviewed. A bibliography of 17 technical papers and documents relating to cable loadings was included in the Guide.
The Committee continued to meet during World War II, making changes to the specifications to recognize the necessity to conserve materials. Reduced insulation thicknesses and increased operating temperature limits were incorporated into the specifications for paper insulated cable.
After the war, relations between the Committee and the EEI Transmission and Distribution Committee and the new AIEE Insulated Conductor Committee became well defined. Technical papers on cable matters originating in all three groups were to be handled through the Insulated Conductors Committee.
In late 1948, the Committee reported having their first discussions of underground distribution systems for new residential developments being created. There was special interest in economical and reliable alternatives for underground distribution.
In September 1951, the initial AEIC specification for high-pressure pipe-type cable from 15kV to 230kV was issued. This milestone was the culmination of several years of study and research funded by AEIC, EEI, and the manufacturers. The Committee was now responsible for development and maintenance of four cable specifications, all dealing with paper insulated cables: (Paper Insulated Cable - Solid Type, Paper Insulated Cable - Oil Filled, Paper Insulated Cable - Gas Filled, and Pipe Type Cable.)
Even though the IPCEA manufacturers had participated with technical assistance and reviews for the previous editions of the PILC solid type cable specification, some manufacturers took exceptions to the document. IPCEA even considered issuing their own PILC document. After many meetings, discussions and correspondence, the ninth edition of "Solid Type Impregnated-Paper-Insulated Lead-Covered Cable Specifications" was published in April 1954. In May 1954, it was adopted as an IPCEA standard, an unsolicited tribute to the cooperative reconciliation of differences which had prevented similar acceptance of the eight editions. The AEIC office subsequently received many requests for the document from non-members, engineering firms, and others, including many foreign countries.
In November 1955, with a positive recommendation from the Committee, the AEIC Executive Committee approved and arranged funding for the Extra High Voltage Cable and Accessory Research Project. A test site was selected and test station designed and constructed. Cable and accessory manufacturers performed special research investigations. They also developed and contributed samples of pipe type and self contained 345kV cable systems with many innovations for field proof test and evaluation. A three-year test program was scheduled, with the first two years used to evaluate the service aging and the third year to explore probable limits for extrapolation of the application of the cables at higher voltage and conductor temperatures. This program led to the immediate extensive use of 345kV pipe type cable by one utility, and acceptance by the utility industry resulted in the inclusion of 345kV in the pipe type cable specification. This program, originally initiated and funded by the AEIC and later co-funded by EEI, resulted in a large scale cooperative research effort by US users and manufacturers of high voltage cable systems. Two special conferences and numerous technical papers were also generated by the effort. The research also led to improvements in lower voltage pipe type cable designs. The development, construction, and operation of this program served as a prototype for later development of the Waltz Mill high voltage test program of the national transmission cable research program. This ultimately led to the establishment of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).
The Committee established a task group in the early 60s to address the increasing interest in synthetic insulation systems. By 1966, the use of polyethylene based insulations for underground residential distribution (URD) cable systems was widespread. The task group had expressed concern over the variations in quality of these cable systems. The first AEIC specification for synthetic insulated cables was issued in 1969 as an addendum to the IPCEA standard for polyethylene insulated cables. This led to the practice of making the AEIC standard a supplement to the IPCEA documents, hence the exclusion of items such as conductors, etc. This specification covered polyethylene insulated cables rated from 5 to 35kV.
The participation of the Committee in the development of an AEIC specification for synthetic insulated cables began a long and ongoing project to insure that the best technology was used in cable manufacture. For instance, in the first generation of the synthetic cable specifications, the Cable Engineering Committee promoted the development and use of much more sensitive partial discharge detection equipment than had been previously considered. The concept of including Qualification Testing was a result of input from Commonwealth Edison. They had such a test program and didn’t experience some of the problems with materials and construction that other AEIC members did. The inclusion of these tests into the specifications was a major step forward in the quest for high quality cable for utility systems.
The AEIC has been responsible for a significant effort that turned polyethylene, crosslinked polyethylene, and ethylene propylene rubber insulated cables into the highly reliable products that they are today. By working with highly dedicated representatives from the cable manufacturers, much better cables were available for the industry.
By 1973, many in the utility industry were asking for a national consensus standard for cables similar to those available for transformers and other equipment. Work was started between the IPCEA and the AEIC’s Cable Engineering Committee to develop a joint specification after a UL draft specification was presented to ANSI for acceptance as a national specification.
As work progressed on the joint IPCEA-AEIC specification, the Committee continued to update and revise the existing AEIC cable specifications to keep them current. This effort was continual, due to the rapid developments in synthetic cable insulations. By 1978, the Committee had issued a new specification covering ethylene propylene rubber insulation systems (CS6) and had issued the fifth edition to the specification for polyethylene insulated cables (CS5). In addition, work was ongoing in the development of several new Guides for AEIC members.
The Committee membership was active not only in the work of the Committee, but also maintained a leadership role in the Insulated Conductors Committee of the IEEE and in both the transmission and distribution programs sponsored by EPRI.
The effort to complete the national specification dwindled away as it became apparent that the IPCEA goals were different than those of AEIC’s Cable Engineering Committee. The manufacturers wanted a standard developed around the capabilities of their industry and were less concerned about some of the utility issues such as cable accessories, guarantees and test requirements. It was concluded that even if a joint standard were to be developed, a supplement would still be necessary to address the needs of the electric utility industry.
New technologies were becoming available that would result in the issuance of new specifications and additional revisions to existing specifications by the early 80s. The use of high voltage cables was expanding, particularly the use of polyethylene insulated high voltage cables. Laminates of synthetic materials and traditional paper insulation were being developed for pipe type cable systems. Improvements in materials formulations and cable testing regimens were being brought to the marketplace for all varieties of cables. It was a busy time for the Cable Engineering Committee.
By 1985, the Committee and other specification writing organizations were faced with a new problem that had the potential to end their existence. The legal ramifications of participation in specifications development became apparent when an organization that had been active in specifications writing was found to be at fault in a lawsuit. Significant penalties were imposed. The Cable Engineering Committee asked the AEIC’s Power Delivery Committee to review the status of the cable related activities that were underway and determine the liability of the Cable Committee. After significant review, it was determined that by inclusion of parties outside of the AEIC in the development of the specifications, and maintenance of a proactive approach to suggestions from others, the specification writing activities could continue. A detailed set of guidelines was developed by the Cable Engineering Committee to insure that appropriate actions are followed in the development and maintenance of the AEIC specifications. The AEIC reaffirmed the need to continue the activities of the Committee based on the recommendations of legal counsel and guidelines established by the Committee.
The continued improvement of the cable specifications, particularly the medium voltage specifications used to purchase the URD cable that is used so widely throughout the industry, was a high priority with the Committee in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Major revisions to CS5 and CS6 were completed in 1994 and 1995 respectively.
In addition, the management of the AEIC companies had asked the Committee to look at recommendations for dealing with cable replacements. Millions of feet of extruded dielectric URD cable had been installed over the years. Many utilities had already begun the replacement of cable sections that were not performing well. In response to the request, a new guide was developed by the Committee to cover many of the aspects of cable replacement projects. Guides for installation of high voltage cable and also for pulling of extruded dielectric power cables were also issued by the Committee as aids to the utility industry. The latest effort is the development of a guide to assist utilities in the establishment of a quality assurance program to insure that they receive high quality cable from their manufacturers.
In early 1994, the Committee was once again confronted with a significant challenge from the manufacturing community. The cable manufacturers expressed a very strong desire to develop a national consensus cable standard. The initial concept for this type of standard was born years before in the IEEE ICC, but progress was very slow. The beneficial relationship that had existed for years between the ICEA (formerly the IPCEA) and AEIC’s Cable Engineering Committee was made more formal with the establishment of a joint working group from both organizations with the express purpose of working to develop a consensus standard. This group, called the Utility Power Cable Standards Technical Advisory Committee (UPCSTAC), was patterned after a similar group formed to deal with communication cable issues earlier. The Power Delivery Committee was asked for approval to participate in this forum and gave its total support to the process.
Progress toward the first national consensus standard was very quick. Within a few months the first draft was under review, and by the end of 1997 the first standard developed by the UPCSTAC covering medium voltage concentric neutral cables was undergoing the final approval process by ANSI, prior to issuance as a national standard. Additional work is already underway on other standards covering other cable designs used by the utility industry.
With the change in thrust of cable specification development, from the traditional utility sponsored specifications to national standards developed in conjunction with the ICEA, the AEIC’s Cable Engineering Committee began a review of its activities to insure that it continued to add value to the utility industry and the utilities within the AEIC organization. A thorough review of its current activities was made. The Committee has set a course that will be more proactive in areas where it can provide significant benefit. The development of guides for cable system operations and system design are high on the list of priorities that was developed by the group.
By continuing to update and modernize the existing guides and specifications, and to develop new ones as the need arises, the Cable Engineering Committee expects to continue to be a source of guidance and information for the industry.
Appendix 1
Organization of the Cable Engineering Committee
The Cable Engineering Committee of the AEIC is composed of between 25 and 30 individual representatives from AEIC member companies. Membership is by invitation of the Cable Engineering Committee. These members are appointed to serve on the Committee based on their experience, willingness to participate, and approval of their corporate management. They bring to the Committee a wide spectrum of experience with underground systems including design, layout, construction, and testing.
The Cable Engineering Committee meets twice each year. The meetings are scheduled to coincide with the semiannual meetings of the Insulated Conductors Committee (ICC) of the IEEE. This allows for economical participation at both meetings since the majority of AEIC’s Cable Engineering Committee members are also active members of the ICC. The meetings are held in the spring and fall of the year. For the last several years, the fall meeting has been held in one location, while the spring meeting moves to different spots around the country.
The Committee leadership follows through several stages. A member is selected to become the Secretary/Vice Chairman by the membership task group (comprised of past chairmen and current officers). If they are willing to accept the position and have the support of their company, they will perform this function for 2 years. After serving in the Secretary/Vice Chairman position, the member then ascends to the chairmanship for a two-year period.
The members volunteer to serve on any of a number of active task groups established by the Committee. These task groups are formed to deal with a particular issue or project. There are task groups for each active specification and guide. The members of a task group undertake the work needed to develop (or revise) a guide or specification. Draft documents are reviewed and ultimately they are submitted to the Cable Engineering Committee as a whole for approval. If approved, they are then issued by the AEIC headquarters.
The AEIC specifications are either reaffirmed or revised on a 5-year cycle. Guides follow a 7-year cycle.
Appendix 2
PAST CHAIRMEN OF THE AEIC
CABLE ENGINEERING COMMITTEE
YEAR - CHAIRMAN - COMPANY
1939-1944 - W. F. Davidson - Consolidated Edison
1945-1946 - H. Halperin - Commonwealth Edison
1947 - G. M. Armbrust - Commonwealth Edison
1948 - H. Halperin - Commonwealth Edison
1949-1951 - C. T. Hatcher - Consolidated Edison
1952-1955 - A. H. Kidder - Philadelphia Electric Co.
1956-1957 - L. I. Komives - Detroit Edison
1958-1959 - A. S. Brooks - Public Service Electric & Gas Co.
1960-1961 - C. S. Schifreen - Philadelphia Electric Co.
1962-1963 - A. F. Corey, Jr. - Boston Edison
1964-1965 - R. H. Kolks - Cincinnati Gas & Electric
1966-1967 - J. J. Rueckert - Baltimore Gas & Electric
1968-1970 - J. O. Branch - Potomac Electric Company
1971-1972 - C. N. Peters Wisconsin Electric Power Company
1973-1974 - W. A. Thue - Florida Power & Light Company
1975 G. P. - Adams - Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.
1976-1977 - R. N. Pallardy - Union Electric Company
1978-1980 - E. T. Schneider - Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co.
1981-1982 - J. H. Lawson - Pacific Gas & Electric Company
1983-1984 - E. F. Geary - Boston Edison Company
1985-1986 - J. T. Corbett - Detroit Edison Company
1987-1988 - S. V. Heyer - Philadelphia Electric Company
1989-1990 - C. Walz - Potomac Electric Company
1991-1992 - R. A. Hartlein - Georgia Power Company
1993-1994 - C. Hoogerhyde, Jr. - Public Service Electric & Gas Co.
1995-1996 - R. J. Dashner - Boston Edison Company
1996-1998 - W. H. Cochran - Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co.
1998 - 2000 - Dave Bogden - Detroit Edison
Appendix 3
LIST OF SPECIFICATIONS AND GUIDES (WITH DATES OF ISSUANCE)
CS1 - Specifications for Impregnated Paper-Insulated Metallic-Sheathed Cable - Solid Type
1st Edition 1924
2nd Edition 1926
3rd Edition 1928
4th Edition 1930
5th Edition 1934
6th Edition 1938
7th Edition 1941
8th Edition 1948
9th Edition 1954
10th Edition 1968
11th Edition 1990
CS2 - Specifications for Impregnated Paper and Laminated Paper Propylene Insulated
Cable - High Pressure Pipe Type
1st Edition 1951
2nd Edition 1967
3rd Edition 1973
4th Edition 1982
5th Edition 1990
6th Edition 1997
CS3 - Specifications for Impregnated Paper-Insulated Metallic-Sheathed Cable - Low Pressure Gas Filled Type
1st Edition 1948
2nd Edition 1969
3rd Edition 1990
CS4 - Specifications for Impregnated Paper-Insulated Low and Medium Pressure Self Contained Liquid Filled Cable
1st Edition 1934
2nd Edition 1937
3rd Edition 1938
4th Edition 1945
5th Edition 1951
6th Edition 1969
7th Edition 1979
8th Edition 1993
CS5 - Specifications for Cross-Linked Polyethylene Insulated Shielded Power Cables Rated 5 through 46kV
1st Edition 1969
2nd Edition 1969
3rd Edition 1971
4th Edition 1974
5th Edition 1975
6th Edition 1979
7th Edition 1981
8th Edition 1982
9th Edition 1987
10th Edition 1994
CS6 - Specifications for Ethylene Propylene Rubber Insulated Shielded Power Cables Rated 5 through 69kV
1st Edition 1973
2nd Edition 1975
3rd Edition 1979
4th Edition 1982
5th Edition 1987
6th Edition 1995
CS7 - Specifications for Cross-Linked Polyethylene Insulated Shielded Power Cables Rated 69 through 138kV
1st Edition 1987
2nd Edition 1993
CS31 - Specification for Electrically Insulating Low Viscosity Pipe Filling Liquids for High- Pressure Pipe-Type Cables
1st Edition 1984
2nd Edition 1995
CG1 - Guide for the Application of AEIC Maximum Insulation Temperatures at the Conductor for Impregnated-Paper Insulated Cables
1st Edition 1961
2nd Edition 1968
CG2 - Guide for Electrical Tests of Cable Joints 138kV and Above
1st Edition 1972
CG3 - Guide for the Installation of Pipe Type Cable Systems
1st Edition 1978
CG4 - Guide for the Installation of Extruded Dielectric Insulated Power Cable Systems Rated 69kV through 138kV
1st Edition 1990
2nd Edition 1997
CG5 - Underground Extruded Power Cable Pulling Guide
1st Edition 1990
CG6 - Guide for Establishing Maximum Operating Temperatures of Extruded Dielectric Insulated Shielded Power Cables
1st Edition 1995
CG7 - Guide for the Replacement and Life Extension of Extruded Dielectric 5-35kV Underground Distribution Cables
1st Edition 1990
CG8 - Guide for an Electric Utility Quality Assurance Program for Solid Dielectric Power Cables
1st Edition 1995
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