Investigate the use of thermal protection for underground cables in Ergon Engery's electricity network

To transmit power through an electricity transmission or distribution network is by either overhead power lines or power cables. Overhead lines are the initial and usual option as cost can be greatly reduced. Cables are more reliable as they are less impacted by weather and other environmental influences than overhead lines. They also take up less space than the alternative option. The continued growth of consumer electricity use in Queensland, has led electricity service providers in subjecting a substantial amount of existing assets to a high utilisation ratio, even into overload to cope with the demand. Until system augmentation and further capital works are implemented to introduce greater capacity to their network, technical and engineering staffs are tasked to manipulate this network while attempting to maintaining electricity supply and reducing risk to safety and plant. To achieve the higher utilisation of assets, the method of dynamic rating of plant enables the electricity utility the ability to provide consumers both new and old with supply until further capital and system augmentation works are carried out. This project is aimed at developing a model that can be used in reality to assist in the ability to employ dynamic ratings of cables taking into account the varying parameters that dictate the current capability of power cables