Application of submarine (subsea) cable - wet and dry type cables

[krisys]

Today only I have learned that in the family of submarine cables there is a wet cable and dry cable. Can anyone elaborate or throw some light on this issue.

 

[JJ_Roy]

A "dry" submarine cable uses extruded lead sheath over the insulation as a water barrier for the cable. A "wet" submarine cable uses other material (not lead) as the water barrier. Wet cables are most often EPR insulated.

 

[krisys]

Roy,
Thanks for the input.

Can you share some application information where dry cable is preferred and where wet cable is preferred. The basis for the selection.

My requirement is for 6.6kV and 11kV application. This will also have 96 fibers of Fiber Optic (FO) core. So this cable also called as Subsea composite cable.

 

[JJ_Roy]

The cable design characteristics such as insulation type (EPR or XLPE), loss requirements, transport/installation limitations (cable weight, bending radius, etc.), water depth, mechanical action when the cable is in service, etc... drive the "wet" versus "dry" (or even "semi-wet") cable type.

Mechanical action, for example a floating platform, on a lead sheathed cable is somewhat unforgiving if not designed properly.

I suggest talking to a cable manufacturer and your installation contractor to see what cable design best meets your requirements.