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Typical calculation of voltage drop & electrical cable

The document outlines the calculation of voltage drop and electrical cable sizing according to National Electrical Code guidelines, specifying maximum allowable voltage drops for different circuit types. It provides examples of cable selection based on load calculations, derating factors, and voltage drop assessments for specific cable sizes. Additionally, it includes correction factors for various conditions affecting cable performance, ensuring proper cable sizing for efficient circuit operation.

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110 views4 pages

Typical calculation of voltage drop & electrical cable

The document outlines the calculation of voltage drop and electrical cable sizing according to National Electrical Code guidelines, specifying maximum allowable voltage drops for different circuit types. It provides examples of cable selection based on load calculations, derating factors, and voltage drop assessments for specific cable sizes. Additionally, it includes correction factors for various conditions affecting cable performance, ensuring proper cable sizing for efficient circuit operation.

Uploaded by

ahadabdul47
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Calculation of voltage drop and electrical cable sizing.

Designing circuits and voltage drop:


As per National Electrical Code guideline, the general use circuits to operate reasonably
efficiently, the maximum voltage drop for branch circuit conductors is 3% and for feeder and
branch circuit conductors is 5%. When designing circuits for sensitive electronic loads, it is
important to calculate for a highest voltage drop of 1.5% for branch circuits and 2.5% for feeder
& branch circuits under full load.
Example for typical calculation:
Electrical Load =80KW,
Distance from source to load= 200 meters,
System voltage= 415V, Power factor =0.8,
Allowable VD= 5%,
Demand factor = 1
Cable laying specification:
Cable Laying = directly buried in ground in trench,
Depth = 1 meter,
Ground temperature = 35 Deg. (Approx.)
Number of cable per trench = 1,
Run of cable = 1 run.
Soil details:
Thermal resistivity = Unknown,
Nature of soil = damp soil.
Calculations:
Consumed Load = Total Load × Demand Factor = 80 x 1 = 80 KW
Consumed Load in KVA = KW/P.F = 80/0.8 = 100 KVA
Full Load Current = (KVA × 1000) / (1.732 × System Voltage):
= (100 × 1000) / (1.732 × 415)
= 139 Amp.
According to the below table details for cable correction factors:
 Ground temperature correction factor (K2) = 0.89
 Soil correction factor (K4) = 1.05
 Cable depth correction factor (K5) = 1.0
 Cable distance correction factor (K6) = 1.0
 Total derating factor = K1 × K2 × K3 × K4 × K5 × K6 × K7 = 0.89*1.05*1*1
 Total derating factor = 0.93
Selection of Cable:
1. Cable derating amp should be higher than full load current of load.
2. Cable voltage drop should be less than defined voltage drop.
3. No. of cable runs ≥ (Full load current / Cable derating current).
4. Cable short circuit capacity should be higher than system short circuit capacity at that point.
Example –1:
Let’s select 3.5 core 70 Sq.mm cable for single run.
Current capacity of 70 Sq.mm cable is: 170 Amp,
Resistance = 0.57 Ω/Km , Reactance = 0.077 mho/Km
Total derating current of 70 Sq.mm cable = 170 × 0.93 = 159 Amp.
Voltage Drop = (1.732 × Current × (RcosǾ + jsinǾ) × Cable length × 100) / (Line voltage × No of run × 1000)
= (1.732 × 139 × (0.57 × 0.8 + 0.077 × 0.6) × 200 × 100) / (415 × 1 × 1000) = 5.8%
Voltage drop of cable = 5.8%
Hence, voltage drop for 70 Sq.mm Cable (5.8 %) is higher than required voltage drop (5%).
so either select higher size of cable or increase no of cable runs.

Example –2:
Let’s select 3.5 core 95 Sq.mm cable for single run, short circuit capacity = 8.2 KA.
Current capacity of 95 Sq.mm cable is 200 Amp,
Resistance = 0.41 Ω/Km , Reactance = 0.074 mho/Km
Total derating current of 70 Sq.mm Cable = 200 × 0.93 = 187 Amp.
Voltage drop of cable =
(1.732 × 139 × (0.41 × 0.8 + 0.074 × 0.6) × 200 · 100) / (415 × 1 × 1000) = 2.2%

To decide 95 Sq.mm cable, cable selection condition should be checked:


1. Cable derating Amp (187 Amp) is higher than full load current of load (139 Amp) = O.K
2. Cable voltage Drop (2.2%) is less than defined voltage drop (5%) = O.K
3. Number of cable runs (1) ≥ (139A / 187A = 0.78) = O.K
4. Cable short circuit capacity (8.2KA) is higher than system short circuit capacity at that point
(6.0KA) = O.K

95 Sq.mm cable satisfied all three condition, so final cable will 3.5 Core 95 Sq.mm cable.
Calculating Correction Factor of Cable from following data:
Temperature Correction Factor in Air: K1 Ground Temperature Correction Factor: K2

Ambient Insulation Ground Insulation


Temperature Temperature
PVC XLPE/EPR Deg. PVC XLPE/EPR
10 1.22 1.15 10 1.1 1.07
15 1.17 1.12 15 1.05 1.04
20 1.12 1.08 20 0.95 0.96
25 1.06 1.04 25 0.89 0.93
35 0.94 0.96 35 0.77 0.89
40 0.87 0.91 40 0.71 0.85
45 0.79 0.87 45 0.63 0.8
50 0.71 0.82 50 0.55 0.76
55 0.61 0.76 55 0.45 0.71
60 0.5 0.71 60 0 0.65
65 0 0.65 65 0 0.6
70 0 0.58 70 0 0.53
75 0 0.5 75 0 0.46
80 0 0.41 80 0 0.38

Unknown Soil Thermal Resistivity: K3 Known Soil Thermal Resistivity: K4


Resistivity K3 Nature of Soil K4
1 1.18 Very Wet Soil 1.21
1.5 1.1 Wet Soil 1.13
2 1.05 Damp Soil 1.05
2.5 1 Dry Soil 1
3 0.96 Very Dry Soil 0.86

Cable Depth Correction Factor (K5):


Laying Depth (Meter) Rating Factor
0.5 1.1
0.7 1.05
0.9 1.01
1 1
1.2 0.98
1.5 0.96
Cable Distance correction Factor (K6):
No of Circuit Nil Cable diameter 0.125m 0.25m 0.5m

1 1 1 1 1 1
2 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.9
3 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85
4 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.75 0.8
5 0.55 0.55 0.65 0.7 0.8
6 0.5 0.55 0.6 0.7 0.8

Cable Grouping Factor (No of Tray Factor) (K7):


No of Cable/Tray 1 2 3 4 6 8
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 0.84 0.8 0.78 0.77 0.76 0.75
3 0.8 0.76 0.74 0.73 0.72 0.71
4 0.78 0.74 0.72 0.71 0.7 0.69
5 0.77 0.73 0.7 0.69 0.68 0.67
6 0.75 0.71 0.7 0.68 0.68 0.66
7 0.74 0.69 0.675 0.66 0.66 0.64
8 0.73 0.69 0.68 0.67 0.66 0.64

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