Department of Electrical Engineering

Riphah College of Science & Technology

Faculty of Engineering & Applied Sciences
Riphah International University, Lahore

Program: B.Sc. Electrical Engineering Semester: VI

Subject: EEL-316 Electrical Power Distribution & Utilization Date: ……………….

Name: ………………………………………… SAP: ……………….

Experiment 3: Cable Size calculation for the given Load.

OBJECTIVES:

(i) Select the appropriate cable size for the given load.

Lab Performance Evaluation

Obtained
No. Title Marks
Marks
1 Ability to Conduct Experiment 05
2 Data Analysis and Interpretation 05
Total 10

Lab Report Evaluation

Obtained
No. Title Marks
Marks
1 Report Content/Organization/Structure 05
2 Calculations & Data Presentation 05
3 Conclusion 05
4 Timely Submission 05
Total 20

Remarks (if any): ………………………………….

Name & Signature of faculty: ………………………………….

Experiment 3: Cable size calculation for the given Load.
Objectives:
(i) Select the appropriate cable size for the given load.

Apparatus:
 Given Load

 Cable Tables Book

Theory:
INTRODUCTION: The cable selection procedures set out in this LAB SESSION will give the
basic guidelines to be followed to determine the minimum size of cable required to satisfy a
particular installation condition.

The following three main factors influence the selection of a particular cable to satisfy the circuit
requirements:

(a) Current-carrying capacity—dependent upon the method of installation and the presence of
external influences, such as thermal insulation, which restrict the operating temperature of the
cable.

(b) Voltage drop—dependent upon the impedance of the cable, the magnitude of the load current
and the load power factor.

(c) Short-circuit temperature limit—dependent upon energy produced during the short-circuit
condition.

Procedure:
Subdivision and Number of Circuits:

 Even the smallest of the installation need to be divided into number of circuits. The
reason to divide the load is that it could be safely handled with minimum possible losses.
 It is sometimes necessary to connect two or more multi-core cables in parallel. For
example, a 300mm2,four core armoured cable is rated to carry 510Aper phase which is
more difficult to handle, maintain or joint as compared to two 120mm2,four core
armoured cable in parallel, are rated to carry 290A making total capacity of 580A.The
cost of these two cables is also less than that of one 300mm2.
Designed Circuit Current:

The following steps are required to determine the designed circuit current:

– Calculate total installed load.

– Calculate maximum demand after accessing diversity factor.

– Add allowance for future growth.

• The diversified load is the total expected load (power) to be drawn during a peak period by a
device or system of devices. Diversity factor is the ratio of diversified load to maximum system
load

Size of Live Conductor/Cable:

The size of live conductor can be calculated as,

mV = (Vd × 1000) / (I × L)

Where

• Vd =Average Voltage Drop (2.5%)

• mV = Voltage drop per unit

• I = Current through the Conductor/Cable

• L= Length of Conductor/Cable

Example:

For example, a conductor is required to carry a current of 200A over a distance of 500m on
nominal voltage of 1kV. So, average voltage drop for this conductor is 25V. By using all the
above values in the formula of last slide, the value of voltage drop per unit (mV) comes out 0.25.
So the next step is to find out conductor size against this value of voltage drop per unit. We will
use Pakistan Cables Catalogue for further Calculations.
Cable Sizing Factors

There are several factors on which cable sizing (calculation for size of cable) depends upon,

– Conducting Material of Cable (Aluminium, Copper)

– Type of Cable (Armoured, Unarmoured)

– Method of Laying

There are several methods of cable laying. These are,

– Installed in Air

– Laid Direct in Ground

– Run in Single Way Duct

– Laid Flat Spaced

– Trefoil Touching

Design Problem 1:

Propose a cable for 0.44kV for a current of 50A that has to be carried through a distance of
0.5km. The cable must be installed in air for proper cooling in three cables trefoil touching form.

Design Problem 2:

Is the cable proposed in the last slide is suitable, if the current has to be carried to a distance of
1000m?
Grouping Factor:

The important aspect which a designer needs to be considered is the grouping of cables because
if certain number of cables are going to be run in close proximity to one another, the current
capacity is reduced.

 With grouping factor, the size of live conductor can be calculated as,

mV = (Vd × 1000) × C1 / (I × L)

Ambient Temperature Factor:

Before the size of the cable is entertained, the ambient temperature must be taken into
consideration.

The tables on temperature are based on the average temperature of 30C. It will be seen that if the
ambient temperature is 45C, the correction factor goes to 0.71 and the ambient temperature goes
to 25C, then the correction factor of 1.04 is used.

The reason for the correction against temperature is increased losses against temperature rise.

 With ambient temperature factor, the size of live conductor can be calculated as,

mV = (Vd × 1000) × C2 / (I × L)

Thermal Insulation and Resistivity Factor:

If cable laying is done in thermal insulating material, then ability to shed heat is reduced.
Therefore, the cable rating also become insufficient for the said current. To avoid this, cables
should be routed in such a way that these will avoid being covered by thermal insulating
material. If it seems impractical, then the cable rating will have to be adjusted accordingly.

If cables are laid in some soil then soil thermal resistivity must also be a factor that could effect
the cable rating.

 With thermal resistivity factor, the size of live conductor can be calculated as,

mV = (Vd × 1000) × C3 / (I × L)
Depth of Laying Factor:

With depth of laying factor, the size of live conductor can be calculated as,

mV = (Vd × 1000) × C4 / (I × L)

Finalized Size of Live Conductor/Cable:

The finalized size of live Conductor/Cable is given by the following formula:

mV = (Vd × 1000) × C1 × C2 × C3 × C4 / (I × L)

Exercise:

Problem No.1

Propose a cable for 0.44kV for a current of 50A and carry through a distance of 500m. The
unarmoured cable must be installed in air in three cable trefoil touching form?

Problem No.2

Propose a cable for 0.44 kV from main feeder which is 200m apart and has to carry a 100A
current. These cables have a track direct in ground and are equally spaced?

Problem No.3

Propose a cable for single way duct of 440V, for a length of 100m to carry 80A current. In duct,
conductors are equally spaced by 0.15m. This duct is feeding four circuits in single way?

Conclusion:

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