Scribd
Upload
111 views9 pages

Effects of Signal Interference

Mixing of power and control cables can cause signal interference issues in a power plant. Thermocouple and RTD signals are especially susceptible due to their low DC millivolt levels. Leakage resistance and capacitance allow alternating and direct currents to enter signal circuits, disturbing sensor signals and potentially causing measurement errors and process malfunctions. Site visits found several examples of improper cable routing and mixing at various plants, including lack of cable trays, mixing of control and power cables, and overflowing cable trays. Suggested remedies include considering cable routing and separation during installation, verifying adequate separation of power and control conductors, shielding signal wires, ensuring wiring crosses at right angles, and physically separating redundant channels

Uploaded by

PravivVivpra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
111 views9 pages

Effects of Signal Interference

Mixing of power and control cables can cause signal interference issues in a power plant. Thermocouple and RTD signals are especially susceptible due to their low DC millivolt levels. Leakage resistance and capacitance allow alternating and direct currents to enter signal circuits, disturbing sensor signals and potentially causing measurement errors and process malfunctions. Site visits found several examples of improper cable routing and mixing at various plants, including lack of cable trays, mixing of control and power cables, and overflowing cable trays. Suggested remedies include considering cable routing and separation during installation, verifying adequate separation of power and control conductors, shielding signal wires, ensuring wiring crosses at right angles, and physically separating redundant channels

Uploaded by

PravivVivpra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 9

Effects of signal interference by mixing of Power & Control cables

The basic function of electrical cable in a power plant is to transmit instrument signals, control
signals and electrical power. Erratic signals get induced due to signal interference by mixing of Power
& Control cables. Thermocouple and RTD signals, being at low DC millivolt levels are the most
susceptible. Leakage Resistance allows both alternating and direct currents to enter signal circuits.
Capacitance allows an alternating current to enter the signal circuits. When sensor signals are
disturbed by an external power source, we can expect measurement errors and process
malfunctions. The offending sources deliver leakage currents through capacitance and imperfect
insulation and spray magnetic and electric fields at the signal wiring. The resulting injected voltages
or currents can overload and paralyze the control signals.

Some glaring examples found from our stations are shown below which would be responsible for
increase of FO and our dreams for ZFO due to C&I being shattered:

Darlipalli
The C&I cables are laid in this fashion with no cable trays. Very pathetic conditions. No
improvement in the Erection quality.

Barh

Control & power cables are mixed


Gadarwara
Mixing and faulty layout
Solapur
Cable trays are insufficient, leading to overflowing.
Unchahar
Cable mixing and improper routing

Remedies suggested
1. Considerations for equipment Installation, Cable routing, Grounding and Wiring to be taken at
Erection / Commissioning stage only. Verification regarding mounting and routing, supporting
cable trays, conduits, raceways, instrument racks and panels to be done religiously.
2. Verify adequate separation of power and control conductors i.e. distance to be kept between
the signal wires away from power wiring. Both are better in their own conduits or ducts. These
measures will minimize resistive and capacitive currents.
3. Visual inspection must ensure adequate separation of power and control circuitry. To help
differentiate between control and power circuits, notice the conductor sizes and color-coding
schemes in use.
4. Shielding signal wires inside a metal shield to be done which is grounded at one point only. This
diverts both resistive and capacitive currents harmlessly to ground.
5. Verify any power and control wiring crosses each other, does so at ninety degrees angle only.
6. Perform visual inspection of wiring and components for any obvious abnormalities.
7. Best practices in Nuclear plants vouch for even physical separation of redundant transmitters
and separation of wiring, which is achieved by separate wire ways, cable trays, conduit runs for
each redundant channel.

You might also like