Document nd4BMME2Kn1MaxnwJx1JvZJ1

_______ -!!. . n'V - v: -r.-'.^ aLJLu, .;.. - ! *................ -': .......... - ! : i . ' i * i ' - -! . J :i wiOnsjHsio " @ vkom iN*Mta wcationi Wilson W. 0vox*3.11 -- St* Louis o ;) ( ii 1! 1 id i ncrcftENCt TO June 5, 1969 . j ,: ASKAREL-FILLED ELECTRICAL CABLES! Richard Davis A' .-a W.i Rj \r. ollarb-\#RICH P.: Behignbs ! J1 It 4 ifB: nt t" ru |! 4V**h i 1 lK'-: On June 3, 1969>-T had-sT phone conversation, with Ebb Pollardy of Un^on ET&ctric Compariy, he^e in' St. Lotiis. Bob is the ChieT-Cable Engineer at Uniohfciectrlc.il . - ! - : 1 M: . f. : I Bob stated that he had not heard of any applications .where askarel-filled cables had been used* j; He thought the reasons were: i '/ f j \\ Hi ';( 1. ]].... compatibility xvith other materials in the systerii} toxicity problems; . .-Hi | ; ' high cost (most important). : '> 1 ;; ! |j 1 ." . ; ' ` '' " lij' ; f | He quoted a price differential of 30^/gtlloti for mineral Voil to $1.60/gallon for a skarel. ' 'r 1a1 1^M| ' ! :' . ;. .. M' ; V i !lt'V; V {: Most of the oil-filled cable applications at - Union pslectric are what they term as sub-transmission >r network circuits. usually 138 KV or below. 1'; j"' Bob stated that at one time, UE used askarel!transformers throughout their entire system. However, after an thalysis of their system and their safety re cord they |'elt that1 A it was not necessary to continue to pay ]the ;|5remlum| for the askarel. Therefore, they changed oyer: to bil where ; they could. Askarel is used in areas where .require| 1 by H building codes or where Union Electric thinks it wobld 1 be a hazard even though it isn't required.. in^their,own sub-stations, they are using mineral oil'. : i! \ ! 11 - v ; j. : ii ' ! j; ' Bob said that he has seen several askare^ transformers blow up and as expected. Warm or hot oil'would be th<^ only problem whereas with the oil-filled transformer -depending upon the temperature prior* to explosion br rupture, rtjhe oil would come out in flame. However, by controlling thjd con ditions in which these transformers are located, the ;safety hazard was considerably reduced. The control! conditions. are sprinkler systems/ fire-proof doors, sumps to catch the oil, etc. - ; ; . j !, i * f -f 4 OS>N 20A9A6 i,: if *:/ I! STLCOPCB4059983 w9 -2- iji 1 4J >i ! .L * 1 ? #nmu.iw .wm ,m - !;: :>.; j:'f . '.T:' An interesting sidelight; when filling the underground ^ cables with the mineral oil, they use; a degassing procedure prior to was done putting the oil in the by pulling a vacuum on pipe, i Bop said that this the: oil .and then allowing ? . \! 'v1; v- /.i- the air to escape. As far as equipment iis concerned, he' stated that they were using some very oldj equipment and ; 4 they now have very little use of this equipment because ;r of their low rate of installation of underground cable. Bob said that present day building codes formally allow : : flammable materials to be used under controlled conditions* This is the area in which an oil-filled cable' would be classified. Therefore, there is no pressure being put on ' by the municipalities and government bodies that control the building codes to use askarel. . } ' Bob Pollardy sees no advantage in paying more money for : askarel for cables and.-in. his..-tenure- of twenty; years: [of . working with cables', ;he'has- seen relatively".-few../file's ! caused by flammable mlneraiT....Oil-.^ JB^gfcafced^Mti-the.aeilllciKbl^^iire r: ,v all underground; therefore,, very inaccessible -lad far ias i. yi/h external sources starting a fire. Most oi the breakdowns I; [4 \}(r are electrical shorts' because of a breakdown in; jthe dielectric ' strength of the fluid. 4 Bob had heard of Pirelli in Europe and knew that, he was working on some new types of cable system^. However,' he said European and American cable engineering methods Were quite divergent. ;I : * ' ii - - 4; 5 : ' !4 f I would be interested in knowing mobe about Pirelli's work in Europe. My conclusions to date are that in this cbUntry there is no market at the present time foi .an .hskarel^-filled cable; however, in Europe there" may be one bfeckube joflfc3' `if~- ferent governmental regulations, population dietributjL|:ons, local building codes, etc. ;j 4 : 'i >11I I would appreciate any information aya^lal lb,1 ff.Ofij ^onfe into Europe concerning this, and!I^Wouldi jbe''glda Vtd, by information that you think would be. useful !t<j> pherh * j. X hi l:l j -i . 1 : ! i. f,^ /deb Wilbin.Wil erai .i t rH;fn'i , a I /l-i )\ i; ; i:':4 l ' i MVi' { ] -i u osnn 20^9Al - ! 4f;1: Ml lf STLCOPCB4059984