What is a medium voltage cable? - igus Blog

What is a medium voltage cable?

Sascha Mais | 8. May 2020

Everyone has already heard the term high-voltage cable and knows how to classify it. But what is a medium-voltage cable? Where is it used and what are the special features? Answers to these questions can be found in the following article

What is medium-voltage cable?

The term medium voltage is used in electrical engineering for a voltage between 1000V and 30kV. However, the term medium voltage is not exactly defined.

Where is a medium-voltage cable used?

In our power grid, medium-voltage networks serve to supply a region with electrical energy. Medium-voltage networks are not used for supra-regional electricity exchange. They are the voltage levels between the high-voltage grid and the building installation. Larger electricity customers, such as industrial companies, hospitals, large swimming pools and larger broadcasting towers, usually have their own medium-voltage connections with an in-house transformer station. For railway power supplies with a traction supply voltage between 15kV and 25kV, the voltage is also referred to as medium voltage.

Large systems such as cranes or conveyor systems also require medium-voltage cables for power supply. This is due to the increased energy demand. One increases the voltage to carry a lower current with the same cable. As a result, the conductor nominal cross section can be reduced. However, in contrast to the cable network of a fixed installation, in these applications moving parts must be supplied with electrical energy. For this purpose, cables are required with which long travels can be implemented with increasingly higher dynamics. The medium-voltage cables in these applications must therefore be designed for permanent movement.

Ship unloading crane with a travel of 441m
Ship unloading crane with a travel of 441m

The medium-voltage cable CFCRANE

igus has developed the CFCRANE medium-voltage cable precisely for these applications. Travels of up to 1km can be implemented with this cable for voltages of up to 6/10kV. Due to the materials used, the CFCRANE is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. Like all igus cables, the CFCRANE was also put through its paces in the in-house test laboratory. The durability of the cable with a bend radius of up to 10xd is proven and therefore has a guaranteed service life of 36 months.

chainflex cable CFCRANE. PUR
chainflex cable CFCRANE. PUR

The CFCRANE is available in two different outer jacket materials, PUR and “igupren”, an in-house developed rubber-based jacket material. The model with igupren has been used successfully for decades. Both materials are highly abrasion-resistant and are therefore ideally suited for use in energy chains. If a replacement is required, e.g. due to cable damage, the PUR version is available directly from stock.

CFCRANE cables in the energy chain
CFCRANE cables in the energy chain

Conclusion

We have made it our business to find the right cable for every application. We will be glad to find the right solution for you. Talk to us.

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5 Comments
Indra

You have nailed this topic. Very detailed and informative. Such kind of weblog gives the right kind of information. It helped me to understand medium-voltage cables.

Indra

An excellent write up on this topic. You have made brilliant points which cleared out about medium voltage cables. Can you please share on transformers in MV distribution system.

    Sascha Mais

    Thank you for your positive feedback. We are a manufactorer for plastic parts for moving applications, such as energy chains and cables for those. Transformers are not our business and because of that it would not be right to write something about this topic from our side.

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