PROPERTIES OF COPPER Density—Ibs. per cu. in. Ibs. per ft. per sq. inch section ‘Young’s Modulus of Elasticity —tbs. per sa. in, 0.921 to 0.924 3.882 to 3.854 16.0 x 108 Melting Temperature— °@ —____——_ 1088 a Specific Heat — Btu per Ib. per °F ‘Thermal Expansion Coefficient (3)—in.in."F sin in?°C ‘Thermal Conductivity (at 64°F)—Btu. ft? ft/hr 7! Electrical Resistance (at 20°C Resistance Temperature Coefficient Constant Mass i+! (at 20° (at 68°F) (at T°C) If the Resistance, R, and the Resistance Temperature Coefficient, >, are known at any given Temperature, T the Resistance, R, at any temperature T, °C is given by: ne R, Microhm in in’ —Microhm. ft /in: pecan] 1981 0.092, 9.2 x 108 16.6 x 10 per?C per*F = per’C CURRENT-CARRYING CAPACITY OF COPPER BUS BARS ‘The current-carrying capacity of a conductor is usually determined by the maximum temperature at which the conductor is permitted to operate. The AEE. and NEMA 8 90°C rise over a temperaturefor a copper conductor. This wasdetermined by the temperature at which the copper will oxidize or anneal. NORMAL ‘CURRENT DENSITY Allowable or normal current density in a conductor ig the amount of current that the conductor can carry ‘per square inch of cross-section area without exceeding the permissible temperature rise. For both a-c and d-c buses, densities may vary from 600-700 amps per square inch in heavy current-carrying copper bus bars to 1200 to 1400 amps per square inch in light bus bars under favorable conditions. Often times, the value of 1000 amps per s is uted. This is poor gration since i mors service conditions and the ratio of thickne width of the bus. As the thickness to width ratio in- creases, the allowable current density of the bus bar decreases. For example, using the d-c Formula 5, for normal current density ratings, I = 504A‘! Pe, «2 copper bar (T/W ratio of 0.0312) will carry over 3 times more current per unit cross-sectional area than a }4 x 6 copper bar (T/W ratio of 0.0833). ‘The dc capacity under ideal conditions can be com- puted for any temperature rise by using Formulae 2. 3 and 4. This is plotted for the standard 30°C rise over 2 40°C ambient temperature on Fig. 17.