Cable Routing

What is cable routing?

• Cable routing is a structure used to protect the
cable from mechanical stress and harsh situation
such as abrasion which might degrade the
insulation.
What are the different types of cable routing
techniques?
• Conduits
• Trays
• Busways (Bus Duct)
• Cable Trench
Conduits:
• Conduits are traditionally used technique for cable routing. Available
in either plastic or metal.
• Conduit resembles piping used to transport liquids, except that it is
much thinner-walled than fluid pipe and is not rated to resist internal
pressure as it is pipe.
• Installing cable into an electrical conduit is a task referred to as cable
pulling.
Type of Conduits-Metal conduits:
• Metal conduit naturally forms a continuously grounded conductive
enclosure that offers not only a measure of safety against
electrical shock, but also shields against electrostatic interference.
Used in power wiring for VFDs and Rectifiers which have a tendency
to broadcast large amounts of electromagnetic noise.
Type of Conduits-Metal conduits:
Type of Conduits-Plastic conduits:
• Plastic conduit provides no electrical grounding or shielding because
plastic is a nonconductor of electricity.
• It is better than metal conduits in terms of chemical resistance to
corrosion, which is why cables are used in fields containing water,
acids, caustics and other moist chemicals.
Type of Conduits-Plastic conduits:
Cable Trays
• Trays can be produced of strong steel wire for light-duty applications
such as instrument signal cabling or network computer cabling, or
they can be made of steel or aluminum channel for heavy-duty
applications such as electrical energy cabling.
• Cable trays are open, leaving the cables exposed to the environment.
While cable tray provides a continuously grounded surface for
electrical safety the same as metal conduit.
Cable Trays
Bus duct:
• TBus ducts, also known as busways, are a unique type of wiring often
seen in industrial power distribution installations.
• These are rectangular sheet metal pipes that contain pre-made
copper busbars for three-phase AC power conduction. Special
junction boxes, “tees,” and tap boxes enable busways to stretch and
connect to other busses and/or conventional conductor cables.
• Bus ducts mostly used in indoor applications, mostly in
Motor Control Center (MCC) and power distribution center rooms to
and from large disconnect switches, fuses, and circuit breakers.
Bus duct:
Cable Trench:
• Cable trenching is a method of laying cables into the ground by
digging trenches. The cables are submerged underground via the
trench and are then covered by a layer of earth, bitumen or concrete.
Cable Trench:
Sample Cable Routing Layout
Cable Routing Layout - Sections
Distance between Cable in Cable
Trench/Tray as per ADNOC Onshore
Standards