Selection of Conductors

(Kelvins Law)

Selection of Conductors
There are several factors in designing a line. Economy is also one of the consideration which is taken into account to select a conductor for the line. The cost of conductor material is a substantial part of the total line cost. It is, therefore, necessary to choose economic size of conductor. A design is considered to be the most efficient if the total annual cost is a minimum.

Selection of Conductors
a) b)

The total annual cost consists of two parts: The fixed standing charges, and the running charges The fixed charges consists of the interest on capital cost of the conductor, the allowance for depreciation, and the maintenance cost. The running charges consist of cost of electrical energy wasted due to losses during operation. But the capital cost and cost of energy wasted in the line are governed by the size of conductor. A bigger size would be more costly, but due to its lesser resistance the cost of energy corresponding to I2R will be smaller.

Selection of Conductors
On the other hand, if a smaller size of conductor is selected it will be cheaper, but its greater resistance will increase the cost of energy loss, and, therefore, the running charges.

Kelvins Law
The cross section of a conductor is selected according to heating limits rather than voltage, as voltage drop in a feeder can be compensated using devices like shunt capacitors or boosters. Kelvins law gives the cross section of a feeder conductor, based on an economic balance between expenditure on structure (capital cost) and expenditure on operation (running cost).

Kelvins Law
The cost of the conductor and therefore, the standing charges, namely, the interest and depreciation on initial investment will be directly proportional to the area of crosssection of the conductor. The cost of energy loss will be inversely proportional to the conductor section.

Kelvins Law
Mathematically, they can be written as:

C1 w a

C1 ! k1a

Kelvins Law
and annual cost of energy dissipated in the line

C2 w 1 / a
2

k2 ! a

Kelvins Law
Where K1 and K2 are constant and a represent the area of cross section of conductor. The total amount may therefore, be given, by

k2 ! k1a  a

Kelvins Law
For an economical design there will be one size of conductor at which the total cost is a minimum. For the most economical cross section, the total annual cost is differential with respect to the cross section and result is equated to zero

dC !0 da

Kelvins Law

i.e

k2 d k1a  ! 0 a da k2 k2 k1  2 ! 0 : k1a ! a a

C1 ! C2

and

a !

k2 k1

Kelvins Law
Hence the most economical cross-sectional area of the conductor is that which makes the annual cost of energy loss equal to the annual interest and depreciation on the capital cost of the material.

Kelvins Law
Kelvins law can be stated as;

The most economical cross-sectional area of the conductor is the area for which the variable part of annual charges is equal to annual cost of the energy wasted

Limitations of Kelvins Law

  

 

Interest and depreciation of on the capital outlay cannot be calculated correctly. The law does not take into account other important factors like current density, corona, losses etc. The calculation from this formula gives such a small cross section of the cable that it may cause too much voltage drop and corona losses. The kelvins law gives high current density, which cause excess heating. It is difficult to calculate energy losses in the line, without the load curve which is not available.

Modified Kelvins Law

In our previous discussion we have not considered the cost of poles or towers, insulators, erection etc. in an overhead line. Similarly, for an underground cable no account has been taken of the cost of the cable insulation and its laying. In practice its not true. As the size of conductor increases mechanical stress are increased. More strong towers and insulators are required. The cost of labour for erection also increases.

Modified Kelvins Law

To achieve a close approximation to the true conditions G. Kapp assumed that the initial investment on the complete installation of the line may be divided into two parts namely, one part which is independent of conductor size, and the other part which is directly proportional to the conductor section.

a.

b.

Modified Kelvins Law

The initial investment ma therefore be written as

C !k o k a
Where ko is a constant and represent the part of the capital investment which is independent of the conductor size. If x be the rate of annual interest and depreciation per unit, the annual cost of the line

' 1

'

' 1

C1 ! (k o  k a ) x

'

' 1

Modified Kelvins Law

the annual cost of power loss

k2 C2 ! a
the total annual cost

k2 C ! C1  C2 ! (k o  k a) x  a
' ' 1

Modified Kelvins Law

For the cost to be a minimum

dC !0 da

k2 k x 2 !0 a
' 1

Modified Kelvins Law

k2 ! k 1 xa a
and

a !

k2 xk 1

Modified Kelvins Law

Hence the most economical cross section is that for which the annual cost of energy loss is equal to the annual cost of interest and depreciation on that part of initial investment of the line which is proportional to the conductor area. This is the modification of Kelvins Law.

Graphical representation
Kelvins law can be illustrated graphically as shown the figure. The annual cost C1 of the conductor is directly proportional to its cross section. It can, therefore, be represented by a straight line passing through the origin. The variation of cost C2 of energy wasted with the conductor size is represented by rectangular hyperbola. The total cost C for any conductor section is the sum of the two components costs, C1 and C2 for that cross section. The sum curve is represented by C.

Graphical representation
The lower point p on the total cost curve gives the most economical area corresponding to the point of intersection of the two components cost curve C1 and C2 .At the point of intersection the two components costs are equal. The most economical area is om and minimum cost is mp in the figure shown.

Graphical representation