Picture yourself having to place electrical cables in the ground or some other conditions. You would want them to be hard, yes? That is where armoured cables come in. These cables have outer sheath which prevent physical damage on these cables so that current flow through them in the right manner. Here is the brief look at armoured cables with description, differences from traditional cables, types, advantages, etc.
Armoured cables are the right hand man or the bodyguards of the electrical world. They are manufactured with the view of shielding electrical conductors from physical abrasion, dampness, and other physical canvas. Here's where you might find them:
Underground Installations: When cables are buried, they come under great pressure from the soil and other probable digging operations. The armour also offers the needed cover to avoid harm.
Outdoor and Industrial Environments: Where the cables could be subjected to mechanical injury or conditions that are unfavourable, armoured cables provide the solution.
Power Distribution: Power transmission through armoured cables in some power transmission networks are preferred due to their protective features of electricity power.
Submarine Communications: Armouring is commonly applied in underwater cables such as those installed on the seabed since they are vulnerable to the attack from marine life as well as anchors.
Transportation Sector: Armored cables can withstand external interference, ensuring the stability of railway power supply systems. This, in turn, guarantees the safe and punctual operation of trains, the accurate transmission of railway signals, and the orderly maintenance of railway transportation.
At first glance, armoured and unarmoured cables might seem similar, but they have key differences:
Protective Layer: Armoured cable differs from articulated cable by having one extra layer of metal that can be composed of steel or aluminum that encases the interior conductors from harm. Normal cables do not possess this particular advantage, which makes them more susceptible.
Durability: In these cables, additional armour is added to enhance mechanical protection; these cables can perform where normal cables cannot.
Flexibility and Weight: A normal cable is more elastic and slender than an armoured cable, because it has an extra metal layer.
Installation: Armoured cables are somewhat more difficult to install due to their stiffness, as well as their mass; however, they do not require extra coverage conduits.
Armoured cables come in various types, each suited for specific applications:
Steel Wire Armoured (SWA) Cable: With its enhanced flexibility, SWA cables are better suited for applications requiring bending. They excel in insulation and tensile strength, making them ideal for scenarios with large spans or significant installation height differences. Commonly used in industries such as coal mining, steel production, cement manufacturing, and chemical processing.
Steel Tape Armoured (STA) Cable: Featuring strong compression resistance and protection against pests such as rodents and termites, STA cables are suitable for high-pressure environments. These include urban power grids, airports, and docks, where structural integrity under heavy loads is essential.
Aluminum Wire Armoured (AWA) Cable: This cable employs aluminum wire for armouring and therefore is light in weight and non-magnetic for use in single core installations where magnetic effects are undesirable.
Aluminum Tape Armored Cable (LAP): These cables combine certain mechanical protection capabilities with excellent electrical performance. They are commonly used in scenarios where cable weight is a concern or where protection against electromagnetic interference is required.
Wire-Braid Armoured Cable: This type utilizes a braid metal layer which has the capability to move around frequently and they practically have minimal protection.
Opting for armoured cables offers several benefits:
Enhanced Protection: The metal armour excludes physical impacts and moisture to increase the product’s durability and resistance to corrosion.
No Need for Conduits: Armoured cables do not require extra protective conduits, which makes installation a considerably easier affair and therefore less costly.
Corrosion Resistance: A lot of the armoured cables are built to withstand such solutions, and thus can be used in areas that are wet or in some other unsuitable conditions.
Mechanical Strength: In mechanistic terms, they have a greater ability to bear tensile loads thereby suitable for use in demanding mechanical performance.
Electromagnetic Interference Resistance: Armored materials like steel tape and steel wire have high magnetic permeability, providing excellent magnetic shielding. This effectively reduces external electromagnetic field interference with the cable's internal signal transmission, while also preventing the cable's own electromagnetic field from affecting the surrounding environment.
Long Service Life: Due to their excellent mechanical protection, corrosion resistance, and electromagnetic interference resistance, armored cables maintain good stability and reliability in various harsh environments. This reduces cable damage and failures caused by external factors, thereby extending the cable's service life.
While there are various armoured cables, two primary types are:
Steel Wire Armoured (SWA) Cable: SWA cable is highly used in areas with mechanical stress since it is among the most robust cables in the market.
Steel Tape Armoured (STA) Cable: STA cable provides adequate mechanical safeguard and is suitable for direct burial however not created for managing tensile force.
Proper installation is crucial to ensure the safety and effectiveness of armoured cables:
Bending Radius: Do not twist the cable beyond the minimum bending permitted so as not to endanger the cable.
Proper Termination: Make sure that the armour is properly terminated and grounded in order to state safe and electromagnetic compatibility.
Environmental Considerations: Depending on installation environment, select the cables having suitable corrosion preventions.
Avoid Mechanical Stress: During installation, do not pull the cables vigorously, or put excessive force on the armour since this may damage it.
Armoured cables are designed to perform reliably across various environments:
Underground: They protect from soil pressure and possible mechanical damage, thus ensuring stability of operation.
Outdoor: This armour guards against things such as moisture, ultraviolet radiation, as well as any form of physical impacts.
Industrial Settings: In factories or plants, armoured cables are capable of performing under mechanical stresses, chemical actions on cables, and other tough situations.
Submarine Applications: Marine threats and corrosion of underwater cables are shielded by a particular Armouring.
Conclusion
Mineral Insulated cables are used in various fields which requires safe and consistent supply of Electrical energy to operations carried out in harsh conditions. Due to their strong shell shields physical impacts, moisture ingress and others, making them important in numerous uses. It is thus easier to appreciate the types and uses of armoured cables fundamental to choosing the proper cables for installation in underground facilities, industries, and other outdoor applications.
For high-quality armoured cables, consider Jiangnan Cable. Visit our website to explore their range of products.