Design rules

Busbar calculation

For the short-time withstand current (Ith)

c We assume that for the whole duration (1 or 3 seconds): v all the heat that is given off is used to increase the temperature of the conductor v radiation effects are negligible. The equation below can be used to calculate the short-circuit temperature rise:

cc =

0.24 20 Ith2 tk (n S)2 c

with:
sc c : : short-circuit temperature rise specific heat of the metal copper: aluminium: busbar cross section number of busbar(s) per phase is the short-time withstand current: (maximum short-circuit current, rms value ) short-time withstand current duration (1 to 3 s) in s : density of the metal copper: aluminium: resistivity of the conductor at 20C copper: aluminium: permissible temperature rise 0.091 kcal/daNC 0.23 kcal/daN C cm2

S n Ith

: : :

A rms

Example: How can we find the value of Ith for a different duration? Knowing: (Ith)2 t = constant c If Ith2 = 26.16 kA rms. 2 s, what does Ith1 correspond to for t = 1 s? (Ith2 )2 t = constant (26.16 103)2 2 = 137 107

tk

8.9 g/cm3 2.7 g/cm3 1.83 cm 2.90 cm

20

( - n)

so Ith1 = ( constant ) = ( 137 10 )

t
1

sc =
sc = C

Ith1 = 37 kA rms. for 1 s c In summary: v at 26.16 kA rms. 2 s, it corresponds to 37 kA rms. 1 s v at 37 kA rms. 1 s, it corresponds to 26.16 kA rms. 2 s

0.24 (

10-6 ( )2

)2

The temperature, t of the conductor after the short-circuit will be:

t = n + (-n) + sc t =
C

Check:

t maximum admissible temperature by the parts in contact with the busbars.

Check that this temperature t is compatible with the maximum temperature of the parts in contact with the busbars (especially the insulator).

26

Merlin Gerin MV design guide

Schneider Electric

Design rules

Busbar calculation

Electrodynamic withstand
We have to check if the bars chosen withstand the electrodynamic forces.

Forces between parallel-mounted conductors

The electrodynamic forces following a short-circuit current are given by the equation:

F1 = 2 l Idyn2 10-8 d
with
F1 Idyn : : force expressed in daN is the peak value of short-circuit expressed in A, to be calculated with the equation below:

Idyn = k Ssc = k Ith Ue

F1 Idyn F1 Idyn
Ssc Ith U l d k : : : : : : short-circuit power short-time withstand current operating voltage distance between insulators on the same phase phase to phase distance 2.5 for 50 Hz ; 2.6 for 60 Hz for IEC and 2.7 according to ANSI kVA
A rms

kV cm cm

Giving : Idyn =

A and F1 =

daN

Forces at the head of supports or busducts

Equation to calculate the forces on a support:

F = F1
d
with
F H h : : :

H+h H

h = e/2 F1 F H support

force expressed insulator height distance from insulator head to busbar centre of gravity

daN cm cm

Calculation of forces if there are N supports

c The force F absorbed by each support is at most equal to the calculated force F1 (see previous chapter) multiplied by a coefficient kn which varies according to the total number N of equidistant supports that are installed. v number of supports =N v we know N, let us define kn with the help of the table below: giving F = (F1) (kn) =
N kn 2 0.5 3 1.25 4 1.10 5 1.14

daN

c The force found after applying a coefficient k should be compared with the mechanical strength of the support to which we will apply a safety coefficient: v the supports used have a bending resistance daN F = check if F > F v we have a safety coefficient of F' =
F

Schneider Electric

Merlin Gerin MV design guide

27

Design rules

Busbar calculation

Mechanical busbar strength

c By making the assumption that the ends of the bars are sealed, they are subjected to a bending moment whose resultant strain is:

=
with
:

F1 l v 12 I

is the resultant strain, it must be less than the permissible strain for the bars this is: copper 1/4 hard: 1 200 daN/cm2 copper 1/2 hard: 2 300 daN/cm2 copper 4/4 hard: 3 000 daN/cm2 tin-plated alu: 1 200 daN/cm2 force between conductors distance between insulators in the same phase cm daN

F1 l

: :

I/v

is the modulus of inertia between a bar or a set of bars

(choose the value in the table on the following page)

cm3

distance between the fibre that is neutral and the fibre with the highest strain (the furthest)

phase 1 b v h

phase 2

c One bar per phase:

3 I= bh 12

x'

I b h2 = v 6 c Two bars per phase:

phase 1 v b

phase 2 x

3 I = 2 ( b h + S d2) 12

I = v
d h
S :

2(

b h3 + S d2) 12 1.5 h

busbar cross section (in cm2)

x'
xx': perpendicular to the plane of vibration

Check:

< Bars Cu or Al

(in daN/cm2)

28

Merlin Gerin MV design guide

Schneider Electric