Australia, leader in soil thermal conductivity, soil thermal resistivity testing, electrical conductivity and design.
Soil thermal reistivity testing, soil thermal conductivity, soil electrical conductivity and soil thermal resistivity testing is the process of testing the ability of a soil to conduct or resist heat. Heat is produced when electricity is transferred through cable but in this case we are looking at underground cables and the effect soil conductivity or soil resistivity can have on heat transference. Like all things if the heat is not dissipated reasonably quickly it has an effect of possibly accumulating and at the very least slowing down the electricity and the very worst melting the cable. This is why a test of natural soil and the bedding media of the cables are so important. If we determine the properties by thermal testing of the natural soil before the cable is laid we are then able to determine the thickness of the cable for the voltage and amperage that is required. We can modify the electrical conductivity of the soil however by placing a bedding material around the cable that has the ability to transfer heat more readily. When this practice is adopted the soil conductivity or soil thermal resistivity testing of the supplied material must be determined and the appropriate cable design and bedding thickness designs adopted. As you can see thermal properties of bedding materials and natural soil are essential to the design of underground power cables.