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A: CALCULATION OF CURRENT
Whether we are given kW, kVA or Horsepower, we need to convert this to the
required full load current. (I)
For motor starting current use: 3 x I for Star-Delta (soft start).
Usually 5% volt drop is allowed. For a 400 Volt 3 phase system, 5% is equal to
20 Volts.
4 5,52 38 31 32 9,561
6 3,69 48 39 40 6,391
10 2,19 64 52 54 3,793
16 1,38 82 67 72 2,390
CURRENT RATING AND VOLTAGE DROP OF 3 AND 4 CORE PVC INSULATED CABLES
WITH SOLID ALUMINIUM CONDUCTORS
AREA mm² Z ohm/km SUSTAINED CURRENT RATING (A) VOLT DROP
mV/A/m
25 1,4446 98 79 88 2,502
If the distance was 200 meters, then volt drop would have been:
Select a cable from the previous table with a volt drop mV/A/m figure just smaller
than the above calculated value. Check that the current rating of this cable is
adequate for the full load current required.
Brochure quoted current ratings are based on the following standard conditions:
Grouping of PILC cables in Horizontal Formation at standard depths of laying and in standard soil
conditions (multicore cables).
No of Direct in ground In single way ducts
cables in
group
25 30 35 40 45
25 30 35 40 45
Grouping of XLPE cables in horizontal formation at standard depths of laying and in standard soil
conditions (multicore cables).
25 30 35 40 45
30 35 40 45 50
Derating factors for grouping of cables in horizontal formation, at standard depths of laying and in
standard soil conditions. Multicore cables (up to 300mm²)
25 30 35 40
30 35 40 45
No of cables 1 2 3 6 9
FAULT CURRENT
This topic is mainly concerned with higher voltages than LV.
The formula for the short circuit current withstand capability of an electric cable
is:
Where:
Isc = Short circuit rating of cable (kA)
A = Area of conductor (mm²)
t = Time to trip (in seconds)
K = 96 for PVC, Copper conductor
= 62 for PVC, Aluminium conductor
= 116 for PAPER, Copper conductor
= 78 for PAPER, Aluminium conductor
= 143 for XLPE, Copper conductor
= 98 XLPE, Aluminium conductor
Example: For a 70mm², PVC insulated Copper conductor, the 1 second short
circuit rating is:
If the protection is fast, (say 0.2 seconds) then the conductor will have a 0.2
second short circuit rating of:
Where:
K Depends on the earth path material. (Steel wire armour, lead sheath, or copper
tape)
A = Cross-sectional area of earth path.
t = Fault duration in seconds.
Values of earth fault ratings are available in our brochures.
The depth of burial of the cable is 1.25m. Ground thermal resistance is 2 K.m/W.
The ground temperature is 25°C and there are no other cables in the trench.
Short circuit level may be assumed to be 250MVA, and the earth fault level
100MVA, and it may be assumed that a fault will be cleared in ½ second.
Either derate the standard cable current rating as given in our catalogues by
multiplying this value by the total derating factor as calculated above, or increase
the required load current by dividing the load current by the total derating factor.
Cable size required is thus 35mm², Copper conductors, 3 Core general purpose
belted cable.
Volt drop is seldom a problem at Medium Voltage, even for long runs of small
conductor size as shown above.
Checking for fault current:
This cable will not survive the prospective short circuit current of 13.137kA.
Smallest standard size is a 95mm² Copper conductor. This has a current rating of
235 Amps under standard conditions.
This cable will survive the prospective earth fault current of 5.254kA.
In order to survive short circuit conditions, in many cases the cable conductor
size is required to be larger than dictated by the full load current. Less commonly
the cable size is chosen in order to survive the prospective earth fault current.
The use of large conductors can sometimes be avoided by improving the speed
of protection, and in the case of earth fault current, by the use of sensitive earth
fault protection equipment.