Scribd
Upload
445 views4 pages

Voltage Drop Calculation

This document provides information and formulas for calculating voltage drop and ampacity for electrical cables. It includes charts for determining voltage drop correction factors based on cable operating temperature. The voltage drop formula calculates voltage based on current, resistance, reactance, and power factor. Tables provide resistance and reactance values for different cable gauges. The document also details the Neher-McGrath method used to determine ampacity based on conductor and ambient temperatures, resistance, and thermal resistance. Ampacity charts in the specification include a 10% safety factor below the calculated value.

Uploaded by

Sreekanth Raveendran
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
445 views4 pages

Voltage Drop Calculation

This document provides information and formulas for calculating voltage drop and ampacity for electrical cables. It includes charts for determining voltage drop correction factors based on cable operating temperature. The voltage drop formula calculates voltage based on current, resistance, reactance, and power factor. Tables provide resistance and reactance values for different cable gauges. The document also details the Neher-McGrath method used to determine ampacity based on conductor and ambient temperatures, resistance, and thermal resistance. Ampacity charts in the specification include a 10% safety factor below the calculated value.

Uploaded by

Sreekanth Raveendran
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

SPEC H005

September, 2011

Voltage Drop and Ampacity Calculation


Voltage Drop The voltage drop per 1000 feet of cable at 25C (77F) can be found in the Voltage Drop charts located on the applicable specification, pages 5-26. For cables operating at higher conductor temperatures, the values in the Voltage Drop charts must be multiplied by the Correction Factor from Table 1. The voltage drop formula used for a given length of cable is as follows: 3 I [(RAC cos ) + (XL sin )] Vd =
f 60

Table 1 Voltage Drop Correction Factors


C 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 F 86 104 122 140 158 176 194 212 230 248 266 284 302 320 338 356 374 392 410 428 446 C.F. 1.04 1.08 1.12 1.16 1.20 1.24 1.28 1.31 1.35 1.39 1.43 1.47 1.51 1.55 1.59 1.63 1.67 1.71 1.75 1.79 1.83

Where: Vd = volts at specified conductor temperature, frequency and power factor I = current in amperes RAC = ac resistance at specific conductor temperature (ohms per 1000 feet) = RDC (@ 20C) x ac/dc factor x temperature correction factor = RDC (@ 20C) x 1 (for sizes #6, 5, 4, 2, 1 AWG) x where T2 is the specified operating conductor temperature (C)
[234.5+T2] [234.5+20]

140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230

RDC of Annealed Solid Bare Copper at 25C (ohms per 1000 feet):
AWG
6 5 4 2 1

RDC*
0.403 0.313 0.253 0.159 0.126

*add 2% for round constructions

cos and sin are based on the power factor of system:


POWER FACTOR
80% 85% 90% 95% 100%

cos
0.80 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00

sin
0.60 0.53 0.44 0.31 0.00

XL = inductive reactance (ohms per 1000 feet @ 60Hz)


AWG
6 5 4 2 1

ROUND
0.045 0.042 0.039 0.034 0.031

FLAT
0.051 0.048 0.046 0.040 0.038

= frequency of operation (Hertz)

Phone: 888-593-3355 www.generalcable.com

40

SPEC H005

September, 2011

Voltage Drop and Ampacity Calculation


Ampacity The Ampacity charts shown on specification pages 5 26 are used to select conductor sizes based on the appropriate cable construction, maximum well temperature and ampacity requirements. Figures 12 21 can be used to determine the cable temperature rating required based on the conductor temperature, well temperature and ampacity. These Ampacity charts have been prepared using a Neher-McGrath method tailored for submersible pump cable (G. Baker and M. Durham, Correlations of Submersible Cable Performance to Neher-McGrath Ampacity Calculations, IEEE Paper No. PID 91-15). They are based on the performance of a cable in the worst-case situation where there is no well liquid surrounding the cable. In this case, the rate of heat transfer from the cable into the surrounding well ambient is greatly hindered. Though the method presented in the referenced paper includes many complex formulas, the basic modified ampacity calculation used is as follows: I=

(Tc - Ta) (RDC TR)

)
current in amperes maximum conductor temperature (C) ambient temperature (C) conductor DC resistance at conductor temperature (/ft) thermal resistance (thermal ohm feet)

Where:

I = Tc = Ta = RDC = TR =

The thermal resistance value is the summation of the individual thermal resistance values of the cables insulating and reinforcing layers as well as the gas zone between the cable surface and surrounding casing and is dependent upon the individual material properties as well as cable geometry. The ampacity values presented in the ampacity charts shown on specification pages 5 26 and Figures 12 21 include a safety factor that is 90% of the Neher-McGrath calculated value per IEEE 1018-2004.

Phone: 888-593-3355 www.generalcable.com

41

SPEC H005

September, 2011

Voltage Drop and Ampacity Calculation

Phone: 888-593-3355 www.generalcable.com

42

SPEC H005

September, 2011

Voltage Drop and Ampacity Calculation

Phone: 888-593-3355 www.generalcable.com

43

You might also like