Professional Documents
Culture Documents
17th Edition
Model Calculation
Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 2
1. Load Summation ........................................................................................................................ 3
Example 1: Load Summation ............................................................................................................ 3
2. Circuit protective device current rating .................................................................................... 6
Example 2.1: CPD rating .................................................................................................................. 6
Example 2.2: CPD rating: motor circuit .............................................................................................. 6
3. Cable sizing................................................................................................................................ 7
Example 3.1: Cable sizing: Grouped cable – ‘subject to simultaneous overload’ ..................................... 7
Example 3.2: Cable sizing: Grouped cable – ‘not subject to simultaneous overload’ ............................... 8
Example 3.3: Cable sizing – motor circuit ........................................................................................... 9
Example 3.4: Cable sizing: ring final circuit to sockets ....................................................................... 10
Example 3.5: Cable sizing: cable run through thermal insulation ........................................................ 11
Example 3.6: Cable sizing: direct in ground ...................................................................................... 11
4. Voltage Drop ............................................................................................................................ 13
Example 4.1: Voltage drop calculation ............................................................................................. 13
5. Phase Fault .............................................................................................................................. 14
Example 5.1: Maximum phase fault current...................................................................................... 15
Example 5.2: Minimum phase fault current ...................................................................................... 16
Example 5.3: Line conductor adiabatic check ................................................................................... 17
6. Earth Fault ............................................................................................................................... 19
Example 6.1: earth fault disconnection by CPD ................................................................................. 19
Example 6.2: earth fault adiabatic ................................................................................................... 20
ProDesign: Model Calculation
INTRODUCTION
This document provides detailed examples of the principle calculation procedures in ProDesign. Each example
is intended to illustrate the method used and the rules applied when performing a particular check or
calculation. References made to relevant parts of ‘BS 7671: Requirements for Electrical Installations’ are
highlighted in bold and italic text, thus: 433.1.1. The edition referred to is: BS 7671:2008 (2015).
The examples described refer to circuits from the ProDesign project ‘Model Calculation’ which is located in the
folder ProDesign ‘projects’ folder.
The project single-line diagram is shown below. The Notes symbols denote which examples apply to which
circuits.
1. LOAD SUMMATION
The circuit conductors in a distribution network must be protected against the detrimental thermal effects of
overload currents (433.1). Therefore, conductors of adequate current-carrying capacity and correctly co-
ordinated circuit protective devices need to be selected for each circuit. To ensure this is done correctly, the
load current flow in all parts of the network are determined.
Loads resolved into resistive and reactive components and diversity applied:
Using: r = z cos = PF; and x = r tan(cos-1)
Load 1: r = 70 x 0.9 = 63 A; x = 63 x 0.484 = 30.5122926 A
Diversity for load = 0.8 x 0.9, therefore: r = 63 x 0.72 = 45.36 A; x = 30.5122926 x 0.72 = 21.96885067
A
Load 2: r = 15 x 0.8 = 12 A; x = 12 x 0.75 = 9 A
Diversity for load = 1.0 x 0.9, therefore: r = 12 x 0.9 = 10.8 A; x = 9 x 0.9 = 8.1 A
Load 3: r = 20 x 1.0 = 20 A; x = 20 x 0 = 0 A
Diversity for load = 1.0 x 0.9, therefore: r = 20 x 0.9 = 18 A; x = 0 x 0.9 = 0 A
Before summing the phase currents, the phase load vectors have to be rotated by their phase angle
displacements:
L1 + 0 rads (or 0); L2 + 2/3 rads (or 120); L3 + 4/3 rads (or 240).
To do this the complex numbers representing the vectors are converted to polar form, as follows:
Complex form: Z = r +jx; Polar form: Z, where: = tan-1(x/r)
In polar form: L2 = Z = 50.4tan-1(21.96885067/45.36)= 50.40.451026811
L3 =Z = 63.70307483tan-1(30.0688567/56.16) = 63.703074830.491575912
Find the neutral current magnitude from the resistive and reactive components:
Neutral current = (r2 + x2) = (19.614811032 – 13.403077322) = 23.75675258 A
3. CABLE SIZING
For each circuit, once the design current Ib has been determined, and then the CPD rating established, cable
sizing can proceed.
In general, the suitable cable size is determined by finding, from the tables (Tables 4D1 to Table 4J4), the
cable size of the type selected, that has a tabulated rating (It) for the specified installation method, that
equals or exceeds the minimum cable capacity (Iz).
The minimum cable capacity Iz is found by dividing the CPD rating ‘In’ by any applicable derating factors: Ca,
Cg, etc. [Appendix 4, 5.1.1, equation (1)].
Therefore the general rules are:
Iz = In / (Ca x Cg x etc.) or, for adjustable CPDs: Iz = Ir / (Ca x Cg x etc.)
and,
ItIz
Example 3.2: Cable sizing: Grouped cable – ‘not subject to simultaneous overload’
[Appendix 4, 5.1.2, equations (3), (4)]
Sub-main SM-3
The minimum required rating for grouped cables ‘not subject to simultaneous overload’ is the larger of the two
values resulting from: It Ib / Cg, or: It {In2 + 0.48Ib2 [(1 – Cg2) / Cg2]}
Therefore, the minimum cable capacity Iz is determined from the larger result of the following two
calculations:
Iz = Ib/(Cg x Ca x Ci x Cc),
or: Iz = 1/(Ca x Ci) x {In2 + 0.48Ib2 [(1 – Cg2) /Cg2]}
Cable details and installed conditions:
Cable type: Multicore, 70°C thermoplastic insulated/sheathed, non-arm Cu Table 4D2; Size = set to ‘Auto’;
Installation Method: Method 34 – On ladder supports (Reference Method E); Length = 10 m.
Ambient Temperature = 30.
Grouping: Circuit in Group = 4; Grouping – Not Subject to Simultaneous Overload.
CPD details:
The selected CPD is: Generic, BS 88 Fuse, HRC, gG(General), Rating set to 100A.
Determination of minimum cable capacity Iz:
Derating Factors:
Ambient Temperature = 30: Ca = 1
Protection is not BS3036, cable is not under ground; Ci = 1
Grouping (not subject to simultaneous overload): from Table 4C1, for ladder (Reference Method E), 4 in
group: Cg = 0.80
Calculation:
Iz = Ib/Cg = 67.06/0.8 = 83.83 A; or Iz = 1/(1 x 1) {1002 + 0.48 x 67.062 [(1 – 0.82) / 0.82]} = 105.9 A
Therefore, the minimum cable capacity Iz = 105.9 A
Determination of cable size:
From Table 4D2A, column 9 (Reference Method E, 1 three- or four-core cable, three-phase ac):
25 mm2 cable, It = 101 A; 35 mm2 cable, It = 126 A
Therefore, ProDesign sizes the cable at 35 mm2, i.e., 126 105.9 (ItIz)
CPD details:
The selected CPD is: Generic, BS 88 Fuse, HRC, gG(General), rating set to ‘Auto’. The design current Ib = 15
A, therefore ProDesign has set the CPD Rating In = 16 A.
Determination of minimum cable capacity Iz:
Derating Factors:
Ambient Temperature = 30: Ca = 1.
Grouping: not grouped, Cg = 1.
Run through thermal insulation. Distance = 150 mm. Derating factor Ci from Table 52.2:
0.78 for Distance = 100; 0.63 for Distance = 200
By linear interpolation:
Ci = {[(150 – 100)/(200-100)] x (0.63 – 0.78)} + 0.78 = 0.705
Calculation:
Minimum cable capacity Iz = In/(Ca x Cg x Ci) = 16/(1 x 1 x 0.705) = 22.70A
Determination of cable size:
From Table 4D1, column 6 (Reference Method C):
1.5 mm2 cable, It = 20 A; 2.5 mm2 cable, It = 27 A
Therefore, ProDesign sizes the cable at 2.5 mm2. i.e., 27 22.70 (ItIz)
4. VOLTAGE DROP
For each circuit, a per unit voltage drop (mV/A/m or m/v) is found for the cable (from Tables 4D1B, etc.)
or busbar (from manufacturer’s data). This data is used to calculate the total circuit voltage drop for the
conductor length and load current, corrected for load power factor and operating temperature (Appendix 4,
Section 6). See Example 4.1 below.
BS7671:2008 Appendix 4 table 4Ab suggests voltage drop limits for various combinations of source and load
type. ProDesign will apply the voltage drop limits found in BS7671:2008 Appendix 4 table 4Ab or user entered
limits when defined. Each final load and motor dialog contains a tab showing its voltage drop limit back to
source.
Each cable in ProDesign is assigned a voltage drop limit. The voltage drop limit for fixed size cables is taken as
being the calculated voltage drop in that cable. Each cable which is set to ‘Auto’ is allocated a voltage drop
limit which represents a portion of the overall limit for the leg(s) of the distribution which it forms part.
If the calculated voltage drop in any circuit exceeds the allocated limit, the cable size will be increased to meet
the voltage drop requirement. If it is not possible to meet the allocated voltage drop limit by increasing the
cable sizes (e.g., where the cable size is fixed), an error message will be given for each circuit where the
overall voltage drop limit is exceeded.
5. PHASE FAULT
Fault currents are calculated at every point in the network. At each point the calculations are performed using
the voltage and the impedance between that point and the voltage source, i.e., the active source or sources.
The impedances are calculated and brought together using a Zbus impedance matrix. A separate matrix is
constructed for each of the fault types:
Phase fault: 3-phase circuits, maximum and minimum; 3-phase and neutral, maximum and minimum.
Earth fault.
A portion of the matrix for 3-phase maximum fault impedances for the Model Calculation project is shown
below. The impedances at each point in the network are located on the principal diagonal (the colour shaded
cells). For example, the fault impedance at the load end of Cbl_SM-1 is: resistance = 4.51316663; reactance =
14.44968318.
Per unit values to a 100 MVA base are used in the Zbus matrix calculations, the impedances shown in the
matrix are the per unit values used.
The following worked examples for maximum and minimum fault currents, and earth fault current in the next
section, use conventional calculation methods to demonstrate the accuracy of the ProDesign calculations,
while avoiding the complexities of the construction of the Zbus matrices. Also, each worked example is
repeated showing the calculations that are performed by ProDesign using the impedances obtained from the
Zbus matrix.
In some versions of ProDesign a Zbus matrix viewer is provided. This is displayed by clicking View Impedance
Matrices in the Calculation menu.
Maximum prospective phase fault current
Calculated using the total fault impedance at the source end of the circuit under consideration. The fault
impedance includes the source impedance and the conductor impedance of the circuit between the source and
the origin of the circuit under consideration. Conductor resistances are calculated at 20 C. For three-phase
and three-phase and neutral circuits, the maximum fault current condition is the three-phase symmetrical fault
current (for single-phase circuits, the phase to neutral fault current).
The maximum prospective fault current in a circuit is used to check that the breaking capacity of the circuit
protective device (CPD) is adequate (434.5.1).
Example 5.1 below describes the calculation for a three-phase and neutral circuit.
Minimum phase fault current
Calculated using the total fault impedance at the load end of the circuit under consideration. The fault
impedance includes the source impedance, the phase conductor impedance of the circuit between the source
and the origin of the circuit under consideration, and the impedance of the conductor in the circuit under
consideration. Conductor resistances are calculated using a temperature multiplier [Guidance Note 1: Table
E2].
The formula used to calculate the minimum fault current (Ifmin) depends on the circuit configuration:
Three-phase only: Ifmin = Iph-ph = UL / 2(Ze + Z1) [Ze = external impedance; Z1 = phase conductor
impedance]
Three-phase and neutral: Ifmin = Iph-n = Uph / (Ze + Z1 + Zn) [Zn = neutral conductor impedance]
Single phase: Ifmin = Iph-n = Uph / (Ze + Z1 + Zn)
The minimum prospective fault current in a circuit is used in the adiabatic test to ensure that the maximum
phase conductor temperature is not exceeded during a phase fault (434.5.2).
Example 5.2 below describes the minimum phase fault current calculation for a three-phase and neutral
circuit.
Example 5.3 below describes the phase fault adiabatic calculation.
Z1a: SM-1, 3ph cable impedance from Table 4E2B, col. 4 [r: m/m @ 90] 0.1750 0.1250
Single phase conductor [3] 0.1010 0.0722
Corrected for temperature [r @ 20 = r90 / (1 + (90 – 20) x 0.004)] 0.0789 0.0722
Corrected for fault temperature [Using Multiplier 54C = 1.28 in Table E2] 0.1010 0.0722
Calculated for 40 m circuit length [] 0.0040 0.0029
Zna: Neutral conductor – same as phase conductor 0.0040 0.0029
Z1b: FC-7, 3ph cable impedance from Table 4E4B, col. 4 [r: m/m @ 90] 0.2200 0.1250
Single phase conductor [3] 0.1270 0.0722
Corrected for temperature [r @ 20 = r90 / (1 + (90 – 20) x 0.004)] 0.0992 0.0722
Corrected for fault temperature [Using Multiplier 54C = 1.28 in Table E2] 0.1270 0.0722
Calculated for 10 m circuit length [] 0.0013 0.0007
Znb: Neutral conductor – same as phase conductor 0.0013 0.0007
where: I2t is the let-through energy (A2s) for the circuit protective device.
In the case of the circuit under consideration, the level of both the phase and earth fault currents are
sufficiently high to cause the fuse to rupture in less than 0.1 s. Therefore, the level of energy let-through
would be the same for either fault current condition. In such cases, the results are given for the phase fault
condition.
The protective device in the circuit FC-6 is a BS 88 Fuse, rated 32 A. From its characteristic curve it can be
seen that, at the calculated minimum phase fault current (855 A), the disconnection time would be less than
0.1 s.
From Table 43.1, for a copper conductor with 90 C thermosetting insulation, k = 143;
The cable section S = 1.5 mm2.
k2S2 = 1432 x 1.52 = 46.01 x 103
The let-through energy for the fuse is 3.4 x 103 A2s.
Therefore the cable complies with the adiabatic requirement: 46.01 x 106 > 3.4 x 103
6. EARTH FAULT
Earth fault calculations are performed for each circuit in a network, to check compliance with 411.3:
‘Requirements for fault protection’, as follows:
the earth fault loop impedance (Zs) is calculated;
Using the earth fault loop impedance, the earth fault current (Ief) is calculated;
Using the earth fault current, the earth fault disconnection time is determined from the circuit
protective device (CPD) characteristic (or the residual current device (RCD) characteristic where an RCD
is used);
A check is made to determine whether the disconnection time is within the maximum for the circuit
(411.3.2, Table 41.1);
Where an RCD is used on a TT system, a check is made to ensure the Touch Voltage does not exceed
the limit for the circuit (411.5.3);
An adiabatic calculation is performed to ensure that the maximum permitted CPC temperature is not
exceeded during an earth fault (543.1.3).
Example 6.1 below describes the calculation for earth fault disconnection by means of the CPD.
Example 6.2 below describes the adiabatic calculation.
Z1: 3ph cable impedance from Table 4E2B, col. 4 [r: m/m @ 90]0.175 0.125
Single conductor [÷3] 0.1010 0.0722
Calculated for 40 m circuit length [m] 4.0415 2.887
Z2: cable impedance from Table 4E1B, col. 5 [r: m/m @ 90] 0.99 0.27
Single conductor [÷2] 0.495 0.135
Calculated for 40 m circuit length [m] 19.800 5.400
Total [] 0.027906 0.02852
2 2 2 2
|Z| = (R + X )] = (0.0279 + 0.0285 )] = 0.039902 Ω
As shown in Example 6.1 above: the calculated earth fault current = 5,500 A, the calculated disconnection
time = 0.93 s, which is greater than 0.1 s, therefore:
S = (I2t)/k = (earth fault current squared x disconnection time)/k = (55002 x 0.93)/143 = 37.1 mm2
Therefore, the CPC complies with adiabatic requirement: 50 > 37.1 mm2