5.

4 Cable Evaluation
5.4.1 Medium Voltage Cable Minimum Sizing
Aside from the normal load current flowing into the
conductor, it is expected that the cable should be able to carry
short circuit current at a specified duration without damaging.
From equation 5.5, the relation between the short circuit
current I in Ampere, conductor cross-sectional area A in mm2
and tripping time t in seconds is generally referred as the cable
damage equation or curve for a given type of cable having short
circuit current temperature TF and maximum continuous current
temperature Ti.
2

ISC
234.5 TF
5
A t 1.18x10 log10 234.5 Ti

From table 9-2 of IEEE Std 242-2001, for XLPE cable,

as TF=250oC and Ti=90oC. Substituting these temperature
values to above equation yields

I
t
A SC
143
This

represent

the

minimum

cross-sectional

area

required to withstand the maximum short circuit current ISC at

tripping time of the protective device t. In this study, the author
will consider the tripping time of the backup protective device
and applying the coordination time interval. This scheme will
ensure that the cable selected is a fully protected by the
primary protective device and by the backup protection device
in case the primary protection device fails.

Chapter 1-Introduction

Page 343

For KM5806
From the TCC of KM5806 on figure 5.5, the tripping time of
the instantaneous relay at a maximum fault current of 20.34kA is
0.05s and with the same fault current the tripping of 6.9kV bus
protection is 0.578s. Allowing 0.2s coordination time interval, the
minimum required cross-sectional area is

I
t (20,340) 0.578 0.2
A SC

125.45mm2
143
143
Since the cable size used is 185mm2, then this is acceptable and will
provide about 32% margin.
The table below shows the summary of results by performing
the same calculation procedure as the above for the rest of the
major buses for the rest of the medium voltage loads. Based on the
calculation results, all medium voltage cables used are satisfactory
and can handle short circuit condition with appropriate primary and
backup protection.
Table 5.24 Summary of Calculation for Minimum Cable
Ampacity for Medium Voltage Cable
Equipment

Isc (A)

t (s)

KM5806

20,340

0.778

Calculated
Minimum
Cable Size
(mm2)
125.46

YM7601
KM8639
KM8601
PC001
TRL3A
TRL3B
TRM1
(primary
Cable)

17,850
21,500
19,200
22,490
22,124
22,000
22,318

0.873
0.75
0.817
0.721
0.482
0.461
0.570

116.63
130.21
121.36
133.54
107.41
104.45
117.83

Actual
Cable
Size
(mm2)
185

Satisfactory

240
185
185
185
185
185
630

Satisfactory
Satisfactory
Satisfactory
Satisfactory
Satisfactory
Satisfactory
Satisfactory

Remarks

5.4.2 Equipment Grounding Cable Verification

Chapter 1-Introduction

Page 344

For Medium Voltage

PEC Sizing For KM5806 equipment grounding conductor
As per PEC 2009 Article 2.50.6.13 (d) Motor Circuits, Where
the overcurrent device consists of an instantaneous trip circuit
breaker or a motor short-circuit protector, as allowed in
4.30.4.2, the equipment grounding conductor size shall be
permitted to be based on the rating of the motor overload
protective device but shall not be less than the size shown in
Table 2.50.6.13.
The motor overload pickup setting for KM5806 is 68.75
A and based on table 2.50.6.13, the size of the equipment
grounding conductor should be 8.0mm2. Note that this is 5
times smaller than what the thermal sizing suggests and in this
case the thermal sizing should be used as a minimum size to
ensure safe operation of protective device and grounding cables
in an event of short circuit.
The same procedure is repeated and the results are
summarized in table 5.25.
Table 5.25 Summary of Equipment Grounding Conductor
Sizing for MV Loads
Motor
Overload
Required
Actual
Protection/
Minimum
Equipment
Remarks
Equipment
Rating of
Size PEC
Grounding
Protective
2.50.6.13
Conductor
Device
(mm2)
Size (mm2)
(A)
KM5806
68.5
8
35
Satisfactory
YM7601
550
38
35
Not
Acceptable
KM8639
37.5
5.5
35
Satisfactory
KM8601
30.5
5.5
35
Satisfactory
PC001

224

Chapter 1-Introduction

22

35

Satisfactory

Page 345

For Low Voltage

From Table 5.22 and 5.23, the comparison of actual
equipment grounding conductor size and the minimum required as
per PEC is presented. All low voltage equipment grounding
conductor used are satisfactory.

Chapter 1-Introduction

Page 346