CONSTRUCTION FEATURES AND ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS INFLUENCING CORROSIONON A SELF-CONTAINED FLUID-FILLED SUBMARINE CABLE CIRCUIT IN LONG-ISLAND SOUND

A 345kV self-contained fluid-filled cable circuit was installed in an environment where corrosion of the armor may occur. To better understa nd the conditions that may result in corrosion, stray currents in the cable end zones and in the middle (submarine) of the circuit were meas ured, and cable samples were analyzed to determine the electrochemical activity of the cable's outer layers. The results of the project reve aled that electrolytic corrosion would affect the semiconductive polye thylene if sufficient stray current density (greater than 0.15 A/m(2)) was induced by stray currents which were present in Long Island Sound where the cables are installed. Measurements revealed stray current d ensities in excess of this level towards one end of the cable route. V arious other considerations for corrosion are also discussed.