IEEE Std 96-1969

(Revision of AlEE No 1A-1941)

IE E E General Principles for

Rating Electric Apparatus for
Short-Time, Intermittent, or Varying Duty

,(x*,u.o(E l l C T l C I L -ss 1

lEEE Published by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc 345 East 47th Street, New York, N Y 10017, USA

SHOO41 4
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Institute wishes to acknowledge its indebtedness to those who have so freely given of their time and
knowledge and have conducted experimental work on which many of the IEEE publications are based.

This publication waa prepared by the IEEE Standards Coordinating Committee No. 4 whose membership is:
G. L. Moses, Chairman
H. P. Walker, Secrelary
P. L. Bellaschi M. L. Manning
J. L. Cantwell K. N. hlathes
J. F. Dexter G. E. Schall, Jr.
R. N. Eck hf. L. Schmidt*
R. W. Hall H. R. Sheppard
L. P. Mahon C. L. Sidway
* Working group chairman responsible for preparing the revision to this publication.

Note: The material herein is informative and advisory and, except for definitions, is not in suitable form for
use ~ 1 9a reference in Standards specifications.

@ Copyright 1969 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

 CONTENTS

96-1 Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
96-2 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 3
96-3 Duty and Rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
96-4 Data for Selection of Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
96-5 Methods of Rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 3
96-6 The Continuous Rating Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

96-7 The Continuous Plus Short-Time Overload or Nominal Rating Method . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

96-8 The Short-Time Rating Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

96-9 The Periodic Rating Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
96-10 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Bibliography ...................................................................... 5
 IEEE General Principles for
RATING OF ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT FOR SHORT-TIME,
INTERMITTENT, OR VARYING DUTY

96-1 SCOPE is not subject to standardization. Ratings, however, are

It is the purpose of this publication to establish general assigned characteristics of equipment and are ordinarily
principles for rating apparatus for sho*time, standardized so that equipment will be suitable for use
intermittent, or varying duty and to point out the factors Over a large group of duties. Large or special equipment
to be considered in selecting the method of rating for is occasionallY rated for a specific duty*
any particular case. 96-4 DATA FOR SELECTION OF EQUIPMENT
96-2 DEFINITIONS I n the selection of electric equipment for intermittent
or short-time duty, two distinct limitations on the load
Operating Conditions: The whole of the electric and must be considered. One limitation is the peak-load
mechanical quantities that characterize the work
ability as fixed by the breakdown torque, the commutation
of a machine, apparatus, or supply network a t a
limit, the reactance, the drop in voltage or speed, etc.
given time.
The other limitation is the thermal- or heat-dissipating
Duty: A statement of the operating conditions to ability as fixed by the heat-storage capacity, the cooling
which the machine or apparatus is subjected, their system, the duration of the load period, and the tem-
respective durations, and their sequence in time. perature rise permissible for the type of insulation used.
Rating: The whole of the electric and mechanical None of the commonly used rating methods provides
quantities assigned to the machine, apparatus, etc. , all of the information necessary for the best match of
by the designer to define its working in specified rating and duty and none of them, except continuous
conditions indicated on the rating plate. rating, are equally suitable for all types of equipment.
Differences in characteristics, particularly the thermal
Continuous Duty: A duty that demands operation
time constant, between the different types of equipment
a t a substantially constant load for an indefinitely
used in one system frequently result in different ratings
long time.
for the elements of the system even though the duty on
Short-Time Duty: A duty that demands operation all elements is substantially the same.
a t a substantially constant load for a short and
definitely specified time. 96-5 METHODS OF RATING
Intermittent Duty: A duty that demands operation There are several commonly used but distinct methods
for alternate intervals of 1) load and no-load, 2) of rating equipment for use on short-time or intermittent
load and rest, or 3) load, no-load, and rest; such duty. They are as follows:
alternate intervals being definitely specified. (a) the Continuous Rating Method
Varying Duty: A type of duty in which the amount (b) the Continuous Plus Short-Time Overload or
of load and length of time the load is applied are Nominal Rating Method
subject to considerable variation. (c) the Short-Time Rating Method
(d) the Periodic Rating Method
Continuous Rating: The rating that defines the
load which can be carried for an indefinitely long The characteristics of each of these methods are discussed
time. in the following paragraphs.
Short-Time Rating: The rating that defines the 96-6 THE CONTINUOUS RATING METHOD
load which can be carried for a short and definitely The most common rating for electric equipment is
specified time, the machine, apparatus, or appliance the continuous rating even though true continuous duty
being a t approximately room temperature a t the is a rather rare condition. Many duties commonly con-
time the load is applied. sidered to be continuous are actually varying duty; for
Periodic Rating: The load or loads which can be example, an air-conditioning compressor where the load
carried for the alternate periods of load and rest varies with temperature and time of operation. Others
specified in the rating with the periods being re- such as many distribution transformer locations are
peated continuously without exceeding the specified actually long-period intermittent duty.
heating limits. The ability of continuous-rated equipment to carry
short-time overloads may be indicated in Standards by
96-3 DUTY AND RATING specifying
. - such characteristics as a minimum breakdown
~

Since duty refers to operating conditions a t a specific torque, a minimum momentary overload, or a maximum
location, there are infinite variations in duty and duty voltage regulation. Specifications for continuous-rated
5
equipment should not include abnormal values for these
characteristics as this may result in malfunction of aux-
iliary components of the system.
I n the case of an alternating-current motor, for example,
specification of an abnormally high breakdown torque
requires that the motor have a correspondingly high
starting current. The associated wiring, wiring protective
devices, and control equipment which are normally
selected in accordance with the continuous horsepower
rating mag not function properly and in extreme cases
may be damaged. Similarly, if transformers or generators
are required t o have abnormally low voltage regulation,
they will have correspondingly high short-circuit currents
and may need to be provided with special wiring, control,
and protective equipment.
I n general, continuous-rated equipment is suitable
for short-time, intermittent, or varying duty when there
are no sustained or frequently repeated overloads mate-
rially greater than the continuous-load rating or where
the duration of infrequent larger overloads is short com-
pared with the thermal time (.onstant. When, for example
in appliances, it is practical to test sample electric com-
ponents under simulated duty conditions or when electric
and thermal test data over a range of loads are available,
continuous-rated equipment is suitable for higher sus-
tained or frequently repeated overloads.
Some types of equipment are sufficiently standardized
both in performance and construction so that standard
application methods can be developed. Two methods
which are commonly used to evaluate the thermal effects
of nonconstant load are the load-factor method and the
root-mean-square load method. In both methods, peak
temperatures somewhat higher than normal rated tem-
peratures, based on a standard temperature-life curve,
are usually allowed.
96-7 THE CONTINUOUS PLUS SHORT-TIME
OVERLOAD OR NOMINAL RATING METHOD
I n this method, equipment has both a continuous
rating and a short-time overload rating normally 123
to 150 percent of the continuous rating. It is used where
the duty consists of a high-load period of from 15 minutes
to two hours preceded and follon-ed by a much longer
light-load period. A typical example of such a duty is
that in some railway substations where, due to traffic
patterns, there are daily load penlrs of short duration.
It is actually a special case of the periodic r:Lting method
with an implied rather than stated cycle time of eight
hours or more.
Normally temperature rise is specified a t the end of
the overload period and since the overloads are of short
duration it can usually be allowed to be 10°C to 15°C
higher than for similar equipment with a continuoui;
rating of approximately the same useful life expectancy.
Because of its limited range of application, the difficulty
of interpreting the rating for other types of duty, and
the complexity of the required tests, the use of this method
of rating is not generally recommended. In some appli-
cations such as the one mentioned above where the duty
corresponds closely to the rating, it is a useful method.
96-8 THE SHORT-TIME RATING METHOD
In this method, the equipment is required to operate
a t its rated load for a limited time period, starting cold,
without exceeding a specified temperature rise. The time
period is usually selected to represent the longest expected
period of operation in the intended service.
I n general, the short-time rating method is suitable
wherever the equipment is rarely required to repeat its
operating period before it has cooled down to approxi-
mately room temperature. It is also suitable for duties
requiring several successive load periods provided that
the total operating time between long rest periods is
within the time rating.
To minimize the variety of ratings in use, it is sug-
gested that whenever the short-time rating method is
employed, one of the following time periods be used,
expressed in minutes or seconds. Since short-time rated
equipment operates a small proportion of the time, the
specified temperature rise can be materially above that
for continuous-rated equipment.
Time Periodp for Short-Time Ratings
1 30
5 60
10 90
15 120
Counterbalancing this there is n possibility of greater
temperature differentials between parts of the equipment
and the inherent time lag in most kinds of temperature-
measuring devices. For most types of equipment a tem-
perature rise 10-20°C higher than that for continuous-
rated equipment, when measured by the resistance or
thermocouple method, is a suitable compromise. For
thermometer measurements, the time lag is such that a
differential can rarely be justified. When temperature
rise is determined by calculation from losses and thermal
capacity, considerably higher differentials are justified
since actual temperature will always be less than cal-
culated temperature.
96-9 THE PERIODIC RATING METHOD
This method attempts to approximate zctud inter-
mittent-duty conditions by specifying repetitive periods
of load and no-load, load and rest, or some more com-
plicated cycle which may include two or more load l t ~ c l s ,
reversing, braking, etc. Because of the I\ ide virintion
in duty cycles which limits the applicnbi!ity of n sperific
design and the high cost of tests to verify the r:itiiig,
this method is not recommended for geiieral uqe. In soi11e
special cases, however, it is the only method nhich
describes the equipment characteristics.
The complete load cycle may be described oil the
rating plate. I n the simplest form, load and rest, this
includes the rated load, the cycle time, and the time
factor indicating the proportion of time the equipment
is loaded. Due to space limitations, more complicated
cycles are usually described in Standards and coded for
rating plate marking.
~~
I n general, periodic-rated equipment may be used on
duty cycles having load periods shorter than rated load
times Drovided that the time factor is not exceeded.
When transitional operation such as starting, reversing,
or dynamic braking is an appreciable part of the operating
time, this is not true. I n this case the load time may be
reduced without a corresponding reduction in cycle time.
~ i ~ periodic-rated
, ~ . ~ equipment is rated for continuous
c y l i c operation, the specified temperature rise is normally
the Same as for continuous-rated equipment. There are
two different methods Of spec’ifying this temperature.
When it is practical to make continuous measurements
of temperature throughout the cycle, the average of the
maximum and minimum temperatures during the cyc1e
is normally considered to be the specified temperature.
When temperature be measured during rest periods
O l l l Y , the temperature at the end of a load period is
normally considered to be the specified temperature.
96-10 SUMMARY
The continuous rating method is the simplest and
most widely useful but provides little information on
overload ability. The short-time rating method is also
simple and has wide usage because there are many
locations where the duty requires short and infrequent
load periods. The continuous plus short-time overload
and periodic ratings are complex and limited in appli-
cation to duties substantially the same as the rating
conditions.
None of the rating methods provides sufficient infor-
mation for application to short-time, intermittent, or
varying duties greatly different from the rating conditions.
In general, information not included in the rating and
standards is necessary foF exact selection of equipment
under these conditions. In a large proportion of appli-
cations this additional engineering cannot be justified
by savings in equipment cost.
Regardless of the rating method used, characterjstics
normally a function of the rated load such as percent
reactance, regulation, breakdown torque, etc., should be
maintained a t approximately standard values sinre
changes may affect the selection and suitability of other
components of the electric system.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1941
R. C. Freeman and A. U. Welch, “The service factor rating of arc-
welding generators and transformers,” A I E E Trans., vol. 60, pp.
137-141, April 1941. Includes a reference list of 12 items.
R. E. Hellmund. “Classification and co-ordination of short-time
and intermittent ’ratings and applications,” A I E E Trans., vol. 60,
pp. 792-797, July 1941.
1940
Standard Pub1. No. ‘1 “Genera1 Principles upon which tern-
perature limits are based in the rating of electrical machinery and
apparatus,” June 1940. Includes a reference list of 67 items.
American Standards Association, “Proposed American standards-
transformers and regulators,” 97 PP.1 March 1940. Incldes a
proposed test code and guides for operation of transformers, regu-
lators, and reactors. With some attention to unusual service con-
ditions, etc.
F. A. Compton, Jr., “The application of class B insulation to aux-
iliary-type d-c motors in severe duty service,” A I E E Trans. (Suppl.),
vol. 59, pp. 828-834, December 1940. Discussion by P. L. Alger and
F. A. Compton~Jr.y p. log’.
R. E. Hellmund and P. H. McAuley, “A study of short-time ratings
and their application to intermittent duty cycles,” AIEE Trans.
( S u p p l . ) , vol. 59, pp. 1050-1055, December 1940. Discussion by
P. L. T. C. Johnson, L. A. Finzi, and C. G. Veinott, PP. 1221-
1224.
v. M. Montsinger, “Effect f,, load factor on o eration of power
transformers by temperature, A I E E Trans., vof 59, pp. 632-636,
November 1940.
“Report of technical conferences: standards,” a t 1940 AIEE Slimmer
Convention, Elec. Engrg., vol. 59, pp. 337-338, August 1940. Informal
papem on welding transformers and generaton by A. U. Welch and
R. C. Freeman. Also, a discussion of co-ordination of current ratings
by R. E. Hellmund.
C. G. Veinott. “Some Droblems in the standardization of temwrature
ratings of fractional-horsepower motors,” A I E E Trans. (Suppl.),
vol. 59, pp. 1055-1061, December 1940. Discussion by P. H.
McAuley, P. L. Alger, B. M. Cain, R. Rudenberg, and R. E.
Hellmund, pp. 1218-1221.
1939
P. L. Alger and T. C. Johnson, “Rating of general-purpose induction
motors,” A I E E Trans., vol. 58, pp. 445-459, September 1!)39.
M. F. Beavers, “Guide for selection of distr ibution-transformer
size as determined by load-cycle requirements,” AIEE Tech. Paper
39-171, pp. 1-14, September 1939. Includes a reference list of 16
items.
H. Halperin, “Load ratings of cable,” A I E E Trans., vol. 58, pp.
535-555, October 1939. Includes emergency ratings.
R. E. Hellmund, “The rating of electrical machinery and apparatus,”
Elec. Engrg., vol. 58, pp. 499-503, October 1939.
L. E. Hildebrand, “Duty cycles and motor rating,” A I E E Trans.,
vol. 58, pp. 478-483, September 1939.
A. H. Kidder, “Notes on emergency ratings,” .4ZEE Trans., vol. 58,
pp. 599-610, November 1939.
P. H. Rutherford, “The rating and application of motors for re-
frigeration and air conditioning,” A I E E Trans., vol. 55, pp. 519-
527, October 1939.
1938
V. M. Montsinger, “Temperature limits for short-time overloads
for oil-insulated neutral grounding reactors and transformers,”
A I E E Trans., vol. 57, pp. 39-44, January 1938.
F. Unger, “Overload capacity of motors with intermittent loading,”
(in German), Ark. Eleclron., vol. 32, pp. 622-626, September 10,
1938. Developing Newtonian heating and cooling curves for a motor
loaded by periodic overloads above its basic load, the dependency
between final temperature excess and power overload is theoretically
investigateddcience Abstracts.
1934
V. M. Montsinger and W. M. Dann, “Overloading of power trans-
formers,” Elec. Engrg., vol. 53, pp. 1353-1355, October 1934.
1930
W. M. Dann, “Operating transformers by temperature,” d I E E J . ,
vol. 49, pp. 3-6, January 1930; A I E E Tram., vol. 49, pp. 793-797,
April 1930.
V. M. Montsinger, “Loading transformers by temperature,” A I E E
J., vol. 49, pp. 293-297, April 1930, Abridgement; .41EE Trans.,
vol. 49, pp. 776-792, April 1930.