ELECTRICITY COMPANY

OF GHANA

SPECIFICATION G-02
ECG SYSTEM CONDITIONS

JULY 2010

System Conditions
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CONTENTS

Page No.

1. SYSTEM CONDITIONS ................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Design and construction parameters ....................................................................... 2
1.1.1 Current capacity calculations – overhead construction..................................... 2
1.1.2 Current capacity calculations – underground construction ............................... 2
1.1.3 Loading calculations ........................................................................................ 3
1.1.4 Safety factors ................................................................................................... 3
1.1.5 System electrical data and insulation levels ..................................................... 4
1.1.6 System internal clearances .............................................................................. 4
1.1.7 Clearance from ground .................................................................................... 5
1.1.8 Clearance from residential and other buildings ................................................ 6
1.1.9 Clearance from antennas, street lamps(on different pole), flag poles,
advertising signs and other similar structures .................................................. 7
1.1.10 Minimum clearances to other power lines or overhead telecommunication lines7

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1. SYSTEM CONDITIONS

All material, equipment and plant offered for connection to the system shall have been
proven by satisfactory operating experience for a minimum period of one year in similar
environmental conditions elsewhere. Details of the locations and quantity of equipment
installed in a similar function and operational environment shall be provided by the
Contractor. Equipment or systems not proven in similar environments will not be
considered.

All material and equipment to be used shall be in conformance to the ECG Technical
Specifications.

Equipment shall be designed for a 40 year life and to facilitate inspection, repairs and
maintenance where continuity of operation is the prime consideration. All apparatus shall
also be designed to ensure satisfactory operation under the atmospheric conditions
prevailing at site, and under such sudden variation of load and voltage as may be met with
under working conditions on the system, including those due to fault and short circuit.

The design of the equipment shall also incorporate all reasonable precautions and
provisions for the safety of those concerned in the operation and maintenance of equipment,
and of associated sub-assemblies. Particular attention shall be given to ease of
maintenance and fault finding. Test points and components requiring testing, adjustment or
anticipated replacement shall be readily accessible.

All equipment shall be designed to obviate the risk of accidental short circuit due to animals,
reptiles, birds, insects, mites, rodents or micro-organisms. All equipment shall be designed
to prevent accidental contact with live parts. All equipment shall be designed to operate
without undue vibration and with the least practicable amount of noise. All equipment shall
be designed to minimise the risk of fire and any damage that may be caused in the event of
fire. Where main and standby equipment is specified, each shall be housed in separate
cubicles.

The equipment and system designs shall incorporate all reasonable precautions and
provision for the safety of those concerned in the erection, operation and maintenance of the
works and of associated works supplied under other contracts. The use of polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) is not permitted in any of the equipment being supplied.

All outdoor apparatus including bushings, insulators and fittings, etc shall be designed so
that water cannot collect at any point.

All busbars, connections, isolators, fuses, contacts, cable boxes, trunking connections etc.
which form part of the Works shall not exceed the temperature rise values specified in the
relevant IEC publication or equivalent National Standard, when operating continuously and
at the specified IEC rating or under short-circuit conditions under the ambient conditions
encountered on site.

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All rubbing or wearing surfaces shall be machine surfaced. Joints employing a gasket
material shall be so constructed that the packing is maintained under sufficient compression
in all parts, so that an efficient joint can be made without the use of jointing compounds.
Gasket material shall be of the minimum thickness necessary and of proven composition
when operating under the environmental conditions prevailing on site.

Outdoor kiosks, cubicles, etc shall be adequately ventilated to restrict condensation and
provided with suitable low temperature heaters thermostatically controlled. Where
ventilation is provided, disposable filters shall be fitted to prevent dust infiltration. Doors and
gaskets shall be weather proof and dust proof.

Design calculations shall be prepared and submitted showing clearly details of all
assumptions made, sources of formulae used and International Specifications and
Standards applicable.

1.1 Design and construction parameters

1.1.1 Current capacity calculations – overhead construction
Calculation made in accordance with the recommendations and methodology of IEEE 738
and IEC 1597.

I2Rac = Hc - a S1 d + p E S d [ (q + t + 273)4 - (t + 273)4]

where Hc = 13.8 x 10-4 (Veq d)0.448 q

or Hc = 12.8 x 10-4 . d0.699 q1.233 if wind still

Operating Current I Amps

A.C. resistance at operating temp. and current Rac Ohms/cm
Solar absorption co-efficient a -
Intensity of Solar Radiation S1 Watts/cm2
Overall Conductor Diameter d cm
Convection Loss Hc Watts/cm
Emissivity of Conductor E -
Stefan's Constant S Watts/cm2
Temp. rise of Conductor above ambient q degrees C
Ambient Temperature t degrees C
Conductor Operating Temperature q+t degrees C
Wind Wind Velocity Equivalent
(altitude & temp. corrected) Veq cm/sec
Ambient temperature for ampacity 30°C
Wind velocity for ampacity 0.6 m/s * in accordance with IEC1597
Solar radiation 1050 W/m2
Emissivity/Absorption 0.6/0.6
Maximum bare conductor temperature 800C (existing lines)
850C (new build lines)
1.1.2 Current capacity calculations – underground construction
Assumed soil temperature 25°C

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Assumed soil thermal resistivity 1.5 Km/W

Direct buried trefoil arrangement

1.1.3 Loading calculations

Everyday temperature 27°C

Minimum temperature 10°C

Maximum wind velocity 33 m/s

Nominal wind pressure 680 N/m2

Winds drag coefficients:

Lattice towers consisting of profiles 2.8

Circular cross section poles 0.7

N-gonal cross section poles 1.0

Poles with I or H profile 1.6

Conductors with diameter < 12.5 mm 1.2

Conductors with 12.5mm < d < 15.8 mm 1.1

Conductors with diameter > 15.8 m 1

Conductors with non-circular cross section 1.3

1.1.4 Safety factors

Conductor system (maximum load) 2.5

Conductor system (everyday load) 5.0

Insulators & Hardware 2.2

Concrete & Wooden Poles (maximum load) 2.0

Steel poles & towers (maximum/unbalanced load) 1.5

Steel poles & towers (everyday load) 2.0

Steel crossarms for poles (maximum load) 2.0

Stay wire, fittings and stay block 2.5

Foundations 2.5

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1.1.5 System electrical data and insulation levels

Ground flash density 22.1/km2 x year

Creepage Distance (> 25 km from sea coast) 25 mm/kV

Creepage Distance (< 25 km from sea coast) 31 mm/kV

System Frequency 50 Hz

Nominal System Voltage kV 33 11 0.433

Maximum System Voltage kV 36 12 0.438

Short Circuit Level kA 31.5 25 40

Lightning Impulse Withstand

kV 170 75/951) -
Voltage
Power Frequency Withstand
kV 70 28 3
Voltage
Maximum Voltage Drop (feeder
% 5 5 7
length calculation purposes only)
Solidly
Earthing earthed/Earthing Solidly
Neutral Earthing Arrangement -
transformer2) transformer2)/ earthed
Earthing resistor
Notes:
1)
75 kV is minimum; 95 kV recommended
2)
For Delta arrangement

1.1.6 System internal clearances

1.1.6.1 Basic electrical clearance (phase-to-earth) Del and (phase-to-phase) Dpp:
Highest System
System Del (m) Dpp (m)
Voltage (V)
Low Voltage 433 0.08 0.1
Medium Voltage 11 kV 12 000 0.15 0.12
Medium Voltage 33 kV 36 000 0.35 0.4

1.1.6.2 Internal system clearances – bare conductors (midspan clashing criteria)

The following internal clearances at the pole/tower shall be kept as minimum clearances
between bare conductors of the same voltage and same system:

+ ) + 0.75

where :

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d ………… minimum distance for midspan clashing

k…………..coefficient depending on arrangement and conductor construction (VDE 0210)

f…………..sag at 40°C

l…………...suspension string length (zero for pin and post insulators)

System Maximum Pole – Pole – Tower –

span horizontal vertical or vertical
(m) arrangement delta arrangement
d (m) arrangement d (m)
d (m)
Low Voltage 50 NA 0.3 NA
Medium Voltage 11 kV 120 1.05 1.2 NA
120
Medium Voltage 33 kV 1.2 1.4 2
(200 on tower)

1.1.6.3 Internal system clearances – covered conductors

The covered conductor systems shall have one-third of internal clearances within the span
and at the pole of that for an equivalent bare conductor line.

1.1.6.4 Internal system clearances – overhead insulated cable system

The overhead insulated cable system should keep at the pole phase to earthed parts a
clearance of 0.1 m.

1.1.7 Clearance from ground

Overhead line conductors shall be so located that the distance to ground in any direction
from any position to which any point of such conductors will sag at a temperature of 80°C
(85°C respectively) in still air shall not be less than the distance specified below.

B…………………..bare conductor
C…………………..covered conductor

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I……………………insulated cable

Across the roads Other, with vehicular Other – no vehicular

access access
B C I B C I B C I
Low 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 5
Voltage
Medium 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6
Voltage
Rockface or steep slope Trees under/beside the Trees under/beside the
line – climbable line – non climbable
(vert/hor) (vert/hor)
B C I B C I B C I
Low 3 3 3 2.1/2.1 1.5/1.5 0.5/1 0.5/0.6 0.5/0.6 0.5/0.6
Voltage
Medium 3 3 3 3 1.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
Voltage

1.1.8 Clearance from residential and other buildings

Overhead line conductors shall be so located that the distance to residential or other building
in any direction from any position to which any point of such conductors will sag (at 80°C;
85°C respectively in still air for vertical clearance) and/or swing (everyday temperature and
full wind for horizontal) shall not be less than the distances specified below.

Minimum Horizontal Minimum Vertical

Clearance “X” (m) Clearance “Y” (m)
Low Voltage 2.0*) Not Allowed
Medium Voltage 2.0 Not Allowed

*) In a case of LV overhead insulated cable system (ABC or drop leads) attached to the
buildings, hanging alongside the building or entering the building, the clearances could be
reduced to 0.1 m horizontal and to 0.1 m vertical (in not normally accessible areas of the
building).

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1.1.9 Clearance from antennas, street lamps(on different pole), flag poles,
advertising signs and other similar structures

Minimum Horizontal Minimum Vertical

Clearance “X” (m) Clearance
“Y” (m)
Low Voltage 2.0*) 1.5*)
Medium Voltage 2.0 4.8

*) In a case of LV overhead insulated cable system (ABC or drop leads) attached to

street lamp poles or hanging alongside street lamp poles the clearances can be reduced to
0.1 m horizontal and to 0.1 m vertical.

1.1.10 Minimum clearances to other power lines or overhead

telecommunication lines
Generally the conductor of the system with higher voltage must be under crossed by the
conductor of the system with the lower voltage.

Where the lines are paralleling on common structures or on separate structures, the
conductor of the system of lower voltage shall be vertically located underneath the level of
the conductor of the system with higher voltage.

Communication or other non-power utility cables must be located on the lowest vertical level
when paralleling with power lines on common or separate structures.

For the lines converging on separate structures, the above rules apply.

B…………………..bare conductor
C…………………..covered conductor
I……………………insulated cable

Crossing of lines (All Parallel lines on Parallel or converging lines

lines up to 45 kV) common structures on separate structures
Vertical clearance Vertical clearance Clearance between
between lowest between conductors of conductors of lines up to
conductor of the lines of separate 45 kV on separate
upper circuit and utilities i.e. structures
live/earthed parts of telecommunication (m)
the lower line (m) (m)
B C I B C I B C I
Low 2.5 1 1 1.0 0.5 2*d 1 1 1
Voltage
Medium 2.5 1 1 2.5 2.5 2*d 1.5 1 1
Voltage

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d … means outside diameter of insulated cable

Note : If an adjacent, converging, paralleling or crossing line is of nominal voltage above

45 kV (transmission) , the minimum clearance shall be higher than Dpp of the line with the
higher voltage (i.e. Dpp170kV = 1.50 m) but for simplicity of the assessment clearance of 3 m
shall be kept for any distribution line voltage level.

System Conditions
Issue July 2010