香港科技大學

THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Master of Science in Intelligent Building Technology
and Management

IBTM 601A Electrical Facilities in Intelligent Buildings

Group Project
Busbar Volt Drop In The Building

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 CONTENT

1. Introduction
2. Problem
3. Investigation Results
4. Improvement
5. Conclusion & Analysis
6. Reference

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1. Introduction
1.1 Building Description
Property: Global Gateway (HK) ( 國際信通中心 )
Type: Office / Warehouse
Location: Tsuen Wan, New Territories
No. of Storey: 27 nos.

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1.2 Busbar System

4
 1.2 Busbar System

Rating Busbar No. Location Purpose

3200A LVH-ESS From G/F SWBD 7B to Cark Park Level Essential Power
2 SWBD 4, 5 & 6
1600A SW7- From G/F SWBD 7B to 13/F SWBD Normal Power
MSB-7A MSB-7A
1600A SW7- From G/F SWBD 7B to 13/F SWBD Normal Power
MSB-7B MSB-7B
1250A MSB-AC7 From G/F SWBD 7B to 27/F SWBD A/C Plant
MSB-AC7B

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 2. Problem
The voltage drop phase L1 of MSB-7B busbars route is
abnormally higher than the other 2 phases.

Busbar No. Length Voltage in supply side (volt) Voltage in load side (volt)
(m) L1-N L2-N L3-N L1-N L2-N L3-N

SW7- 202 222 222 222 217 217 217

MSB7A
SW7- 260 219 220 219 211.5 217 215
MSB7B
MSB-AC7 311 219 219 221 216 216 218

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2. Problem

Length(m)

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3. Probability factor affect
1. High contact resistance at the concerned busway joints due
to insufficient torque tightening.

2. High resistance at the concerned flat elbow bends due to

improper welding or materials being supplied. Based on the
drawing, please note the concerned area have quite a few
numbers of flat elbow bends.

3. Low conductivity of the conductor due to its impurity

materials supplied.

4. The run is exceptionally long (260m) which created higher

inductance.

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4. Improvement

4.1 Torque test for the joint bolts

4.2 Ductor test for busbar

4.3 Adding the transposition unit

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4. Improvement
4.1 Torque test for the joint bolts

 Check the tightening torque of bolts not fitted with torque

nuts. For bolts fitted with torque nuts, check the head has
broken-off.
 Check the bolt length exceeding the nut (10mm): some bolts
should be removed and then put back, but left un-tightened.
 Mark each tightened nut using indelible varnish. As well as a
means of self-inspection to ensure correct tightening torque,
it also allows any untightening to be identified.

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4. Improvement
4.1 Torque test on the joint bolts

Bolt Tightening torque Bolt Tightening torque

HM 16 16 mdaN HM 12 7 mdaN
HM 14 12 mdaN HM 10 5 mdaN

All joint bolts of busbar were fixed as per the method statement of
manufacturer.
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 4. Improvement
4.2 Ductor test for busbar

Use the digital low resistance

ohmmeter
To test the busbar joint condition

The results are listed as below:

Resistance Test in mΩ
Busbar no. Rating N-L3 N-L2 N-L1 L3-L2 L3-L1 L2-L1
SW7-MSB7B 2000A 10.859 10.861 10.835 10.882 10.854 10.858

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4. Improvement
4.3 Adding the transposition unit
Adding the transposition unit
To minimize the inductance effect
3 nos. of phase transposition units are to be added

Each busbar enclosure contains 3 phases and all 3 phases are in

the same length.
It was identified that there are no abnormality with the resistance
values of the 3 “live” phases + neutral phase.

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4. Improvement

3
1
2

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 4. Improvement
4.3 Adding the transposition unit
Equal intervals per each busbar run.
Balance the voltage drop

N N N N N
L3 L2 L2 L1 L1 L3
L2 L1 L1 L3 L3 L2
L1 L3 L3 L2 L2 L1

Section 1 Section 2 Section 3

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4. Improvement
4.3 Adding the transposition unit

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4. Improvement
4.3 Adding the transposition unit

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4. Improvement

4.3 Adding the transposition unit

The anticipated voltage drop around

= (219-211.5)+(220-217)+(219-215)/3
= 4.8 V

 % of Volt drop = (4.8/220)X100%

= 2.2% < 4%

The voltage drop is complied with the EMSD requirement (between the
supply terminals and the fixed current using equipment does not exceed
4% of the nominal voltage of the supply.

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 5. Conclusion & Analysis

XL
XL

R θ R

XC XC

Total Impedance: Z  ( R 2  ( X L  X C ) 2 ) Z  ( R 2  ( X L sin   X C ) 2 )

Total Impedance, Z increased

 Then total power loss will increased

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 5. Conclusion & Analysis
A A

c
b B

B a
C
C L/3 L/3 L/3

1 bc c
Individual Inductance [A/metre length]: L  [  2 log
A
2 r
 j 3 log h ] 107
b
1
LB  [  2 log
ca a
 j 3 log h ] 10 7 Total power loss
2 r c
1 ab b
LC  [  2 log  j 3 log h ] 10 7
2 r a

1
Total Inductance (Transpose at equal intervals): LT  ( LA  LB  LC )
3
3
1 abc
LT  (  2 log h ) 10 7 H / metre
2 r

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5. Conclusion & Analysis

 To avoid this problem, the transposition unit

shall be installed in construction period as per
the ASD requirement.

 Use the non-segtegated bus ducts.

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6. Reference

 Design Fundamentals for Low-Voltage Distribution and control –

Frank W. Kussy/Jack L. Warren

 ASD Electrical installation General Specification

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 END
&
THANK YOU!
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