28/1022 Electrical Power Engineering Reference & Applications Handbook Table 28.7 Approximate deratings due to proximity effect for diferent configurations of bus systems. Current rating Centre spacing S Approx. derating (1) Plat busbar Si + Ile dd LV systems 1 Smaller ratings up to 1600 A Normal spacings 5% 2 2000-3000. (S24 5% Gi) S22 13% 3 Large ratings up to around 6500 AX SE4b 15% (ll) For HV systems 2000-3000 Generally $= 4b 5% 2) For channel sections For 2 channels in box form Soa 189% red Se4at 11% 5 5% ita i 5 S260" 1% “Applications: Required for medium sized turbo-alternators, up to $ MVA used for captive power generation ina process plant, such as a sugar mill, mostly uilizing its own surplus or waste gasesluel and steam, Gi) Small gas and hydroelectric power-generating stations Channels in box form in smaller sections a > b as shown in Table 30.9. chosen to minimize these effects as far as possible. It is possible todo this by adopting one or more of the following methods. Since the spacing in an HV system is already large, an HV system is generally not affected by the proximity effects. The following discussion therefore relates primarily to an LV system, 28.8.4 Minimizing the proximity effect Following are some conspicuous methods to achieve this: 1 Maintaining greater spacing (S) between the phases This can be done by providing adequate clearances (say. = 300 mm) between the conductors and the inside of the enclosure. Table 30.5 and all the other tables in Chapter 30 are based on the fact that the proximity effect is almost negligible at 300 mm from the centre of the current- carrying conductors and the conductor is subject to its self-inductance only. But in thicker sections, or where a number of smaller sections are used together to form a phase, the current will concentrate at the outer surf only (skin) rather than the nucleus. Therefore, to achieve an almost zero-proximity effect condition it is desirable to provide a space of 300 mm and more between the extreme outer surfaces, rather than between the centres, as shown in Figure 28.17(b). The condition of S > 4b (Table 28.7) will also be almost satislied by doing so. For still higher currents, this distance must be increased further or a segregated construction adopted (Section 28.2.2). But to keep the phase conductors completely out of the inductive effect of the other phases may require very large enclosures, particularly at higher ratings (above 3200 A or so), which may not be practical Below we describe improvised bus systems to limit the reactance and hence the voltage drop and obtain an inductively balanced system to achieve a balanced voltage and equal load sharing by the three phases at the far end. 2 Phase interleaving This is a highly efficient and more practical method for large ratings and offers a very high metal utilization of the conductors. It provides an almost balanced and a low reactance system. Each phase, consisting of a number of conductors, is split into two or more groups and each ‘group of conductors is then rearranged into three or three and a half phases, according to the system requirement, as illustrated in Figures 28.29(a) and (b). It is, however, suggested, to limit the number of groups to only two for considerations of size and the cost of enclosure (for open bus systems, however, such as for large smelters, electroplating and rectifier plants, there may not arise such a limitation). ‘The two groups would meet the design requirements in most cases. Therefore if four or more flats are used per phase it is not always necessary that as many groups be arranged, unless the current rating of the system is too large to effectively reduce the reactance of the entire system. In four conductors, for instance, two groups, each with two conductors per phase, can be arranged as