Armored cable is a flexible, solid structure made of conductors of various materials enclosed in an insulating metal sheath. Armored cables are typically fixed power cables, essentially fixed in place and essentially immobile, transmitting electrical energy. Armored cables include armored thermocouples, armored RTDs, armored heaters, and armored lead wires. They are primarily used for temperature measurement, signal transmission, and special heating applications in the chemical industry, metallurgy, machinery manufacturing, power generation, and scientific testing. Armored thermocouples are the most widely used.
Armored Cable Classification
Armor is categorized into steel strip armor (22, 23), fine steel wire armor (32, 33), and coarse steel wire armor (42, 43).
Steel-belt armored cables include VV22, VVP22, ZRVV22, and NH-VV2.
Control cable steel-belt armored cables include KVV22, KVVP2, KVVP22, and ZR-KVV22.
Steel-wire armored power cables include VV32, YJV32, and ZR-VV32.
Steel-wire armored control cables include KVV32 and KVVP32.
Armored communication cables include HYA53, HYAT53, HYA23, HYV22, and HYA22 (rodent-proof, buried).
Meanings of armored cable models
To ensure the cable can withstand radial pressure, a double steel-belt, gap-wrap process is used, resulting in a steel-belt armored cable. After cable assembly, the steel-belt is wrapped around the cable core, and then a plastic sheath is extruded.
This type of cable is designated by model numbers such as control cable KVV22, plastic cable VV22, and communication cable SYV22. The two Arabic numerals in the cable model subscript indicate double steel tape armor and a PVC sheath. If polyethylene sheathing is used, the "2" can be replaced with a "3."
This type of cable is generally used in applications with high bearing pressures, such as crossing highways, public squares, and along roads and railways with high vibration levels. It is suitable for underground installation, tunnels, and pipe installation.
To ensure the cable can withstand high axial tension, it is wrapped with multiple low-carbon steel wires, resulting in a steel wire armored cable. After cable assembly, the steel wires are wrapped around the core at the required pitch, and then the sheath is extruded. This type of cable is designated by model numbers such as control cable KVV32, plastic cable VV32, and coaxial cable HOL33.
The two Arabic numerals in the model number—the first "3" indicates fine steel wire armor; the second "2" indicates PVC sheathing, and the second "3" indicates polyethylene sheathing. This type of cable is generally used in applications with large spans and installation heights.
Armored Cable Applications
Armored cable, a mechanical protective layer, can be added to any cable structure to increase mechanical strength and improve corrosion resistance. It is designed for telephone cables in areas susceptible to mechanical damage and corrosion. It can be laid in any manner and is particularly suitable for direct burial in rocky areas.
Armored cable is generally used for fixed-layout power cables. In layman's terms, it is fixed in place and rarely moves, transmitting electrical energy.
In addition to the above, the purpose of adding armor to cables is to enhance mechanical protection, such as tensile and compressive strength, and extend their service life.
The armor provides a certain degree of resistance to external forces and protects against rats, preventing them from penetrating the armor and causing power transmission problems. The armor should have a large bending radius and can be grounded to protect the cable.
Foreign armored cable production is primarily concentrated in a few relatively developed countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and Russia. Southeast Asia lacks manufacturers. However, wherever there are industries such as chemical, metallurgical, mechanical manufacturing, and power generation, temperature measurement is essential, and armored cable is needed.
The Function of Armored Cable
Armored cable refers to a cable with a metallic armored protective layer. The purpose of the armor layer is not only to enhance mechanical protection such as tensile and compressive strength, thereby extending the service life, but also to improve the cable's anti-interference performance through shielding.
Common armoring materials include steel strip, steel wire, aluminum strip, and aluminum tube. Steel strip and steel wire armor layers have high magnetic permeability and provide excellent magnetic shielding, which can be used to suppress low-frequency interference. They also allow for direct burial of armored cables without conduit, are cost-effective, and are widely used.
The mechanical protective layer of armored cable can be added to any cable structure to increase its mechanical strength and improve its corrosion resistance. It is a specialized cable designed for areas susceptible to mechanical damage and corrosion. For example, Zhujiang Cable's XLPE-insulated, steel-tape-armored, and PE-sheathed power cables, while maintaining the excellent electrical performance of the original XLPE cables, are armored, allowing them to be installed in any installation method. They are suitable for indoor installation, tunnels, cable trenches, and direct burial underground (burial depth: ≥ 0.7m above the ground). The cables are also capable of withstanding certain mechanical forces.
The purpose of adding armor to power transmission cables is not only to enhance mechanical protection through tensile and compressive strength to extend service life, but also to prevent rodents from gnawing on them and causing power transmission problems. The armor should have a large bending radius and provide grounding protection for the cable.
