IEEETransactions on Power Delivery Vol. 6, No.

2, Apnl1991 479

CALCULATION OF CURRENT DIVISION IN PARALLEL SINGLE-CONDUCTOR

POWER CABLES FOR GENERATING STATION APPLICATIONS

K. A. Petty, Senior Member, IEEE

Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation
245 Summer Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02107

Abstract - Generating station electrical system analysis may involve GLOSSARY OF SYMBOLS
evaluation of generator leads and the station service transformer secon-
dary leads to carry increased load currents. These leads usually consist of
several, large single-conductor power cables per phase. Phase currents Source voltage - phase A, line-neutral, volts
may not divide equally among the conductors in each phase. This paper Self reactance, conductor A l . ohms
presents a matrix solution method that enables the engineer to determine
the phase current distribution among the individual conductors. Use of a Mutual reactance between conductor A1 and A2, ohms
commercial mathematics software package on a desktop MS-DOS per-
AC resistance of conductor at temperature Tc , ohms
sonal computer to solve the resulting matrices is illustrated. Results of
field measurements on a six-conductor-per-phase cable installation are Current in conductor A l , amperes
compared with calculation results. Application of the results to cable as-
sessment activities is discussed, including ampacity verification for in- Matrix of source voltages, volts
creased loads, cable insulation life assessment studies, and cable imped-
Matrix of conductor current, amperes
ance input into station service system analysis.
Matrix of impedances, ohms
INTRODUCTION
DC resistance of conductor at temperature Tc , ohms
An integral part of generating station electrical system analysis is the per foot, for Eqs. 10 and 12, expressed in wn/ft
evaluation of electrical equipment capability. This includes power cables Length of conductor A l , feet
used for generator leads and the secondary leads of station service trans-
formers and unit auxiliaries transformers. In most cases, multiple single- Conductor skin effect, unitless
conductor cables per phase are used for these large loads. Unless the
Conductor proximity effect, unitless
single conductors are arranged and connected in a specific configuration
(e.g., flat arrangement - ABCCBA), the phase current does not divide Shield eddy-current loss, unitless
equally among the individual conductors. Determining this division in
phase current is necessary to ensure cable ampacity is not exceeded on Shield circulating-current loss, unitless
any one conductor, especially in the case of the larger loads that may Inverse of Z matrix
result from the enhancement of the electrical system. For insulation life
assessment studies, the temperature of the insulation, which is a function Conductor temperature, OC
of the current in the conductor, is required.
Impedance of load, ohms per phase
In 1949, F. H. Buller presented an iterative solution technique to
solve for the reactance of each conductor and the resulting current divi- Constants used in Eqs. 10 and 12
sion [ 11. Subsequent work by A. Y. Wu confirmed that the Buller tech-
nique does not converge for all cable configurations [2]. Both Buller and Radius of conductor, inches
Wu present the current distribution for several configurations, though not
A stranding correction factor in Eq. 13
necessarily all that will be encountered in typical plant design.
This paper presents a matrix algebra method for solving the current Center-to-center distance between conductor A 1 and
distribution among phase conductors. For most problems the matrix size A2, inches
becomes too large to calculate the necessary inverse matrix by hand. Ap-
Spacing between conductors, used in Eq. 11, inches
plication of a commercial math software package to produce the matrices
and calculate the inverse matrices is described. Diameter of conductor, inches
Test data are presented for a six-cable-per-phase application, and
the results compared with calculated values. D~
Application of the results of the current distribution calculation in
several areas of work on cable assessments is discussed, including cable When multiple conductors per p h s e are used to supply a load, cur-
ampacity verification, insulation life assessment, and determination of cir- rent division among the conductors in each phase will be in inverse pro-
cuit impedance for use in short circuit and voltage profile studies. portion to their individual impedances. Figure 1 presents a typical dia-
gram of the connections to the load supplied by two conductors per
phase.
The cable impedance is the combination of the conductor's ac resis-
tance R U C ,self reactance X A ~ and
, mutual reactance X A I- AZ from the
other conductors. Mutual reactance is a function of the distance between
89 SM 6 4 1 - 2 PWRD A p a p e r recommended a n d approved the conductors. The voltage drop due to mutual reactance depends on
by t h e I E E E I n s u l a t e d Conductors Committee of t h e I E E E the magnitude and phase of the current in the other conductors. If the
Power E n g i n e e r i n g S o c i e t y f o r p r e s e n t a t i o n a t t h e I E E E / conductors are not arranged so that the mutual reactance of the conduc-
PES 1989 Summer Meeting, Long Beach, C a l i f o r n i a , J u l y 9 tor to the other phase conductors is equal to that of its companion con-
- 1 4 , 1 9 8 9 . Manuscript s u b m i t t e d J a n u a r y 25, 1989; ductor in the same phase, then a nonsymmetrical configuration will exist.
made a v a i l a b l e f o r p r i n t i n g June 7 , 1 9 8 9 . The load current then will not divide evenly, resulting in a current imbal-
ance among the phase conductors.
480

Phase A
-
Conductors

A. r - - - - - - - - -1
I

a
I
I
XL ~
where: all elements of matrix are expressed in SZ, if matrix E is in
volts.
Phase B I

Source IC
I
Personal computer (PC)-based software can be used to determine
R, I the inverse of the Z matrix. Z inverse Z -
times the E matrix provides
I the current in each conductor as follows:
I
XL 1
Phase C I I = Z-lE (6)
I
I
L---------! The development of terms in the Z matrix and in the E matrix are
Balanced
three-phase load discussed below.

AC Resistance of the Conductor

Fig. 1. Circuit connections of individual phase conductors
The ac resistance RUC of the conductor is a function of its dc resis-
To determine the current distribution, a series of equations is de- tance R d c , conductor temperature Tc , conductor skin effect YCs, con-
scribed that relates the source voltage to the voltage drop through the
ductor proximity effect ycp, shield eddy currents y,,, shield circulating
conductors and the load. The circuit is solved by applying Kirchhoff's
voltage law around each closed circuit produced by the conductors. current Y s c , and length LAI [3].
A neutral connection of the load is assumed to be present and to
carry the sum of the three-phase currents, which is zero for balanced
loads and source voltage. A wye-connected load is used in this modeling
approach for convenience. If the load is delta connected, it can always be
replaced by its equivalent wye for the purposes of this calculation. This Rdc at 25°C may be obtained directly from ICEA Standard
approach is consistent with assumptions made by F. H. Buller [l]. S-68-516 [4]. To adjust the Rdc for conductor temperature, the follow-
For phase conductor A 1 the equation would be: ing equations are used [SI:

For copper conductors:

234.5 + Tc
Rdc 63 Tc = (,,,., + 25) Rdc @ Z5"C (8)

For aluminum conductors:

A set of matrices can then be defined as:

Rdc @ TC = (228.1 + Tc
228.1 + ,) Rdc @ 25OC
(9)

The exact temperature of the conductors can not be known until the
conductor distribution among the conductors is determined, and the am-
E = Z I pacity of each conductor is solved. As a first-order approximation, the
temperature rating of the insulation should be used for all of the conduc-
tors. Successive iterations using conductor temperature based on calcu-

[]
lated current distribution are not necessary, as the resistance in large con-
ductors is small compared to the self reactance of the conductor.
Conductor skin effect Ycs is the phenomenon of unequal current
E = (3) distribution in a conductor that is caused by the pulsating magnetic field
set up by the current in the conductor itself. For a 60 H z system with
EC concentric or compact stranded conductors, Yc, is found as follows [3]:

ycs = 11 (unitless) (10)

Rdc @ Tc 4 ks
2 . 5 6 ___
(Rd: T ) ]

(4) where : Rdc T~ is expressed in p a l f t .

Conductor proximity effect y c p occurs from the force developed by

electric current flowing in the same direction in adjacent conductors,
which tends to concentrate electrons in the remote portions of the con-
 481

ductors. Y c ~varies with conductor spacing s and conductor diameter E Voltaee Matrix
D, . For a 60 Hz system with concentric or compact stranded conductors,
The magnitude of eich b l p x n t of the E matrix is the line to neutral

(%r
YCP is found as follows [5]:
value of the source voltage. Balanced source voltages are assumed, which

Y, = f(X,) [F(x:i:o,27 + 0.312 unitless) less) (11)

is a reasonable assumption for generator leads and transformer secondar-
ies. For example: on a 4160 V system, I ~~~l = 4160/1.73 volts. Assum-
ing normal convention, Eo phase is referenced at an angle of o", Eb is
1/- 120 O , and Ec is i/120° for A-B-C phase sequence. Using the
11 notation of a = -'I2 + j 0 ~ 8 6 6 then
, Ebn = a2 Ea,, and Ecn= a E a n .

Exuressine the Value on--a Per Unit Basis

The actual division of Eurrent between conductors is independent of

where : Rdc a T, is expressed in p a l f t . the magnitude of the loid current, the power factor of the load, source
voltage, and cable length (if all lengths are equal) [ 11. Therefore, for
convenience all values should be expressed on a per unit basis. The cur-
Table I provides the recommended values for ks and k, of rent ( I ) of each cable will then be the percentage of the total phase
Equations 10 and 12, respectively. current. This is more usefui in understanding the degree of current imbal-
ance. Suggested per unit values are:

Table I. Recommended ks, kp Values

Ibase = Load current A
Conductor Coating ks k,

Concentric round None, Tin, or Alloy 1.0 1.0 Ebase = Source voltage (line -neutral) v
Compact round None 1.0 0.6

APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICAL SOFTWARE PACKAGE

Losses in shield due to induced eddy current Y,, are small and can
be neglected for this calculation. It has less than 1 percent impact on the
results of the current distribution calculation.
Circulating current in the shield or sheath occurs when the shield or
sheath is grounded at both ends. The effect on ac resistance, i.e., shield
circulating-current loss Y,, , may be calculated by dividing the shield loss
obtained from Table 4.6 in Reference 6 by 3 Rdc ( P ) . Because I is not
known exactly, an average I can be used without significant loss of
accuracy.
Self Reactance of the Conductor
Self reactance of the conductor varies with diameter of the conduc-
tor and with stranding method [l].
For most applications, manual development and solution of the vari-
ous matrices is impractical. Mainframe software is available to handle the
complex numbers in the matrices and matrix inversion. For this applica-
tion, the author selected a graphic-based mathematical software package
designed for an IBM PC-compatible machine. Machine requirements
are 640K memory, CGA or EGA graphic card, and MS-DOS Version
3.0, XT or AT PC.
Appendix A illustrates an author-developed template to solve for
current distribution that uses the mathematical software package dis-
cussed above. As with any software, the user should test the accuracy of
the results before using the program.
This particular software package displays the equations and text on
the CRT and in print exactly as shown in Appendix A. Equations, results,
and tests can be stored and used as a template for subsequent applica-
tions. The inversion of the 2 matrix and the multiplication of the 2 -
and E matrix are done by the software with the results displayed directly
on the screen [7].

K' = 0 . 2 5 for class B stranding (14) TEST DATA

The generator leads of a fossil-power plant were analyzed in con-

Mutual Reactance of the Conductors
Mutual reactance of one conductor with respect to another is shown
below. If the lengths of the conductors are not equal, then the smaller of
the two cable lengths should be used for L [l].
junction with a generator size upgrade. The leads were six single-
conductor; 1500 MCM, copper-conductor, 15-kV shielded (single-point
grounded), rubber-insulated conductors per phase. Figure 2 shows the
physical arrangement of the conductors installed in the tray.
24 0 in

7.5 in
Imuedance of Load

The load requirements are normally given in either MVA or am-

peres. Station service analysis and cable ampacity calculations assume
balanced loads. Load impedance ZL is found as follows:

zL = Source voltage (line - neutral)

a (16)
Load - amperes Fig. 2. Physical arrangement of conductors a t a fossil-power plant
482

Table 11. Test Measurements

Phase A Phase B Phase C

Conductors Conductors Conductors

Expressed as % of Total 16.2 24.6 22.2 20.2 22.6 14.3

Phase Current 10.1 18.6 19.2 16.4 17.2 8.8

13.5 21.5 20.9 17.9 19.8 11.6

Measured Conductor Current 178 270 233 212 246 156

(Amperes) 111 204 202 172 188 96

148 236 220 188 216 126

Measured Phase Current (Amperes) 1,100 1,050 1,090

Arithmetic Sum of Conductor 1.147 1,232 1,028

Current (Amperes)

Table 111. Calculated Current Distribution

Phase A Phase B Phase C

Conduc- Conductors Conductors

Expressed as % of Total 13.7 24.1 22 7 20.8 23.8 12.6

Phase Current 8.4 19.5 20.5 18.0 19.9 7.7

12.9 23.0 22.7 19.8 23.8 12.5

Calculated Conductor Current 148 260 245 225 257 136

(Amperes) 90 211 221 194 215 83

139 248 246 214 257 135

Calculated Phase Current (Amperes) 1,080 1,080 1,080

Arithmetic Sum of Conductor 1,096 1,345 1,083

Current (Amperes)

Measurements of the individual conductor currents as well as the
total phase current were taken at a generator output of 27.5 MVA,
14.4 kV, as shown in Table 11. To determine the degree of accuracy that
can be expected using the matrix solution method, the generator leads
were modeled. Balanced load conditions were used in the model, even
though actual measurements show some phase imbalance existed.
The calculation also accounted for the expected difference in
lengths of each conductor for the turns made in the cables to exit the
building to the unit station transformer. Table I11 presents the calculation
results.
In Tables I1 and 111, conductor currents are given in amperes and
also expressed as percent of total phase current. Because of phase imbal-
ance, as indicated in measured phase current, the percent values are used
to correlate measured values with modeling results.
Calculation results correctly indicate the conductors with the maxi-
mum and minimum percent of total phase current: A2 and C4. respec-
tively. For the A2 conductor, the calculation predicted the conductor cur-
rent within 1.5 percent of actual measurements. The author recognizes
that correlation for other conductors is not as close. Use of as-built data
(which was unavailable) instead of design data would, in the author’s
opinion, improve the model.
APPLICATION OF RESULTS
The results of the current division calculation may be used to con-
firm the cable ampacity for cable insulation life assessment studies, and to
determine the cable feeder impedance for input to voltage drop and fault
current studies of the electrical system.
In many cases the electrical systems or generator are being enhanced
as part of life extension activities. This may require the feeder cables to
carry a new higher load. The actual current in each phase conductor must
be compared directly against the cable ampacity. The maximum current
 483

value can be determined directly from the I matrix. Discussion of cable
ampacity development is outside the scope of this paper. The reader is
referred to Reference 7 for cable ampacity. If ramp is set equal to the
ampacity of the single conductor cable, and max ( I - %) equal to the
maximum conductor current split in percentage of the total, then the
feeder ampacity is:
ramp
Feeder ampacity =
max ( I - % )
Cable insulation aging is accelerated by high insulation temperature
and by effects of moisture, ozone, and unequal electric-stress distribu-
tion. Once the cable ampacity is determined for the particular installa-
tion, then the cable insulation temperature for the actual cable loading
can be determined for the life assessment as follows:
CONCLUSION
Multiple single-conductor power cables per phase are used as gen-
erator leads and as secondary leads of station service and unit auxiliaries
transformers in generating stations. Unless a specific cable arrangement
exists, phase current will not divide equally among the conductors. The
matrix solution method presented herein for determining the expected
current division is recommended. This method provides the information
A
necessary to perform cable assessment activities, including cable ampacity
verification and insulation life assessment.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author would like to acknowledge K. Hicks for developing the
matrix solution method in 1985, Northern States Power for making the
test data available, and A. W. Goldman for his review and encourage-
ment of this paper.

REFERENCES

F. H. Buller, “ A Technique for Calculating Inductance, Reac-

where: I’ = Load current [max ( I ) ] , A
tance, Impedance, and Sheath Voltage of Single-Conductor
I = Cable in Duct Banks.” General Electric Review, March 1949.
Cable ampacity ( I a m p in Eq. 20), A
A. Y. Wu, “Single-Conductor Cables in Parallel.” IEEE
T ~ T,, = Conductor temperature and ambient Transactions on Industry Applications, Vol. 1A-20, No. 2,
temperature associated with cable
ampacity conditions, “C MarchlApril 1984.

Tl, Tal = Conductor (insulation) temperature Power Cable Ampacities. New York: Republished by Institute
and ambient temperature for I’ of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, IPCEA, P-46-426
conditions, “C (ICEAOEEE S-135-1-62, S-135-2-62), 1962.

The conductor temperature Tc‘ is compared against the insulation Ethylene Propylene Rubber-Insulated Wire and Cable for the
temperature rating of the cable. Insulation life increases by a factor of 2 Transmission and Distribution of Electrical Energy. Washing-
with every decrease of 8 ” to 10°C in insulation temperature [6]. A rough ton, D.C.: National Electrical Manufacturers Association,
estimate of the possible life extension of the cable can then be made in ICEA S-68-516 (NEMA WC 8-1983), 1983.
concert with evaluation of the other aging mechanisms.
J. H. Neher and M. H. McGrath, “The Calculation of the
When the utilities system increases its available fault MVA system
Temperature Rise and Load Capability of Cable Systems.”
contribution, reanalysis of the station service switchgear rating may be
AIEE Transactions, Part I11 PAS, vol. 76, pp. 752-72,
necessary. As additional loads are added, a voltage study of the electrical
October 1957.
system also may be required. In both cases the cable impedance of the
feeder cable is required as input into these calculations. The cable imped- K. A. Petty, Power Plant Electrical Reference Series, Vol. 4 :
ance of each phase can be determined by dividing the voltage drop across Wire and Cable. Palo Alto, CA: Electric Power Research Insti-
the cables by the sum of the phase current of that phase. For most volt- tute, (EL-5036 Vol. 4), 1987.
age and fault calculations the average cable impedance is used. The end
of Appendix A illustrates the equations to determine the cable Mathsoft, User’s Manual - MATHCAD. Version 2.0.
impedance Cambridge, MA: Mathsoft, 1987.
APPENDIX A. Author-produced TemplatelResults for Current Imbalance Calculations

MATHCAD V 2 . 0 (JREATED TEMPLATE COORDINATES OF CONDUCTORS

(in.]
CURRENT IMBAWJCE I N SINGLE CONWCMR CABLES
x := 0 y := 0
1 1
x := s y := 0
CABLE DESCRIPTION IS: 1500 MCM, 1 5 kV 1/C 2 2
x := 2 . 5 y := 0
3 3
x := 3.5 y := 0
4 4
d := 1 . 2 8 9 bare conductor diameter, in. x := 4 . 5 y := 0
L := 400 cable length ft 5 5
x := 5 , s y := 0
Rac := 0.0167 ac resistance, Cl/lOOo ft (taken from previous 6 6
calculation)
S := 6 center to center spacing
conductors, in.
N := 6 number of conductors rli A
V := 4160 system voltage, volts
Iload := 4000 load current, amps The is a position matrix, N/3 rows are the A
C phase, the next rows are the B phase, the last
pf := 0 . 8 load power factor, assumed lagging third set of rows is the C phase.

j := $I;
a := -0.5 + -. j
2 NOTE: NO FURTHER INPIPP DATA BEYOND THIS POINT
484

The following produces the E matrix THE FOLLOWING EQUATION EXPaESSES THE IDAD AS A CONSTANT IMPEDANCE
Zload := pf + sin(acos(pf)).j
N
nPH := - this is the number of conductors per phase Zload = 0.8,+ 0.6i per unit
3
PRODUCES THE DIAGONAL ELEMENTS FOR Z MATRIX: RESISTANCE AND SELF
q := 1 ..nm E := 1 A phase source voltage REACTANCE OF CONWCTOR, PER UNIT.
q
tempx := 1 ..N tempy := 1 ..N
q := (nPH + 1) ..2-nPH 2
E := a B phase source voltage b := 0
¶ tmpxI tmPY
k := 1 ..N

q := (2-nF"+ 1) ..3,nPH E := a C phase source voltage

q
bk,k := [A],
Zbase. [Rac + [0.023. b.25 + ln[;]]].
1000 j] per unit

MUTUAL RULCTANCE. PER UNIT

a := 0
t m p x I temPY

0.023 L per unit

p,q Zbase 1000

The Z matrix is the sum of "a" matrix, which is the mutual reactance,
"b" matrix, which is the Rac and the self reactance, and "c"matrix,
which is the Zload portion of the equations THE FOLIOWING PRODUCES Zload IMPEDANCE MATRIX:
The following produces a Position matrix by arranging the x-y
corrdinate of each conductor by phase. C := 0
tempx. tMlPY
a := P PX := x PY := y q := 1 ..nPH r := 1 ..m
1 l a l a
a := P PX := x PY := y c := Zload
2 2 a 2 a
a := P Px := x PY := Y q,r
3 3 a 3 a q := (nPH + 1) ..2.nPH r := (nPH + 1) ..2.nPH
a := P PX := x PY := y
4 4 a 4 a c := Zload
a := P m : = x PY:=y
5 5 a 5 a q,r
q := (2 nPH + 1) ..3.nPH r := (2 nPH + 1) ..3.nPH
a := P PX := x PY := y
6 6 a 6 a c := Zload
9,r

ORIGIN ?f 1 THIS DEFINES THE UPPER LEFT CO= OF A MATRIX

As 1.1. The following produces the Z matrix

Z : = a + b + c

The following produces the base impedance per unit values -1

I := Z . E

Zbase := - V
R per unit
Iload $;
-

I 1
0.351 0.227i
0.429 - 0.37i
-0.467 0.153i-
I = -0.443 0.223i-
0.014 + 0.551i
10.117 + 0.426il 1-0.5 + 0.866ij

CREATE CONWCTOR SPACING MATRIX, D

p := 1 ..N q := 1 ..N t := 1 ..N

D
P.q
:= lp - PXd2 + pp- PYA2
DISTANCE,CENTER TO
cENTER,BElwEEN
EACH CONDUCTOR,in.
IMAG
t.1
:=
I1t.ll

k := 1 ..N
D := 1 This makes is possible to add a mutual reactance
k.k matrix to the self reactance matrix.

10.4421

1MAG.Iload = 1.967.10 conductor currents, amps

PRNPRECISION := 3 Used for defining the printing of the results

to a file.
PRNCOLWIDTH := 8
 485

-4 Keith A. Petty (M’76-SMI87) was born

I = 6.005 io + 0.004i PER UNIT
t in St. Louis, MO on October 2 5 , 1951.
t He received his BSEE from the Univer-
sity of Missouri-Rolla.
The following equations develop the actual cable impedance, which
can be used in fault current or voltage analysis of the station Since 1973, he has worked at Stone
service system. & Webster Engineering Corporation
(SWEC) on various fossil and nuclear
projects, primarily in the area of cable
and firestops. In his present assignment
q := 1 ..nPH as Senior Electrical Engineer and Cable
Specialist, he provldes consulting serv-
Vdrop := E - Zload I
nPH q ices to all SWEC projects. This includes
9 sizing, specification, qualification, and
,installation of cable. He is active on sev-
Vdrop
ImpedPHA := - ImpedPHA = 0.008 + 0.019i per unit eral IEEE committees, including WG
12-32 “Remion of IEEE 383” (ICC),
Iq WG 12-28 “Thermal and Radiation Ag-
ing of Cables” (ICC), and WG on Wire
1000 and Cable (PGC), and is the chairman of TF 14-1 “Station Cable Instal-
1mpedPHA.Zbase - = 0.013 + 0.029i ohms/lOOO ft
lation” (ICC).
L
Mr. Petty has written four technical papers and authored Volume 4,
q := (nPH + 1) ..2-nPH
“Wire and Cable,” of EPRI’s Power Plant Electrical Reference Series.
r := 2.nPH He is a registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of MA.

Vdrop := E - 2load.x I Vdrop

r q ImpedPHB := -
q

1000
1mpedPHB.Zbase -
L
= 0.008 + 0.028i ohms/lOOO ft

q := (2.nPH + 1) ..3,npH r := 3 . n p H

Vdrop := E
r
- Zload.>: I
¶
¶

Vdrop
ImpedWC := -

1000
1mpdHC~Zbdse~- = 0 . 0 0 5 + 0.029i ohms per phase
L
 Discussion
THOMAS L. JONES, American Electric Power Service
Corporation, Columbus, Ohio: The need to consider
both the thermal and electrical circuits in analyzing
the ampacities of paralleled cables installed in trays
is recognized by the author. A method which considers
both circuits has been developed for cables installed
underground [l]. However, for cables in trays, a
thermal circuit model which considers the heat trans-
fer between each cable and tray is needed, as well as
mutual thermal coupling. A l s o , for metallic trays, an
electrical representation of the tray is needed to
account for circulating currents, eddy currents, and
the distortion of the magnetic fields caused by the
presence of a high permeability material. Is the
author aware of thermal and electrical models that
take into account these factors?
the cable system. How does the author account for the
effects of an unbalanced system?
The author is to be commended for his recognition
of the need to integrate both the thermal and electri-
cal circuits into the solution of the ampacity of a
cable system. If the author would answer the questions
posed, it would help to clarify his approach.
111 T. L. Jones, "The Calculation of Cable Parameters
Using Combined Thermal and Electrical Circuit
Models," IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery,
V o l . 4 , No. 3, July, 1989.
[2] T. L. Jones, "Neher-McGrath Revisited," Insulated
Conductor Committee Minutes, 82nd Meeting,
Columbus, Ohio, April 17-20, 1988.

The author mentions that using electrical resis- Manuscript received July 25, 1989.
tances calculated at the rated insulation temperature
is satisfactory from a cable impedance viewpoint.
However, when calculating conductor and shield losses,
this seems to be a very conservative assumption. Does I would like to thank Mr. Jones for his interesting and
the author adjust conductor and shield resistances for valuable contribution to the discussion of the paper. The thrust of the
their calculated operating temperatures when determin- paper was not meant to cover cable ampacity, but instead to present a
ing losses? simplified approach in determining current imbalance in single conductor
power cable for generating station applications and support it by test data.
The author provides a method to account for This has been done.
shield losses. The presence of shields that are In discussion with W. Rueger [l], he indicates that the approach
multigrounded can significantly alter the current presented in his paper [2] could be used to account for the effect of the
distribution in a paralleled cable grouping. For the tray on the distribution of the current. The tray would be modeled as a
example given in Figure 2, assuming equal cable series of conductors in the shape of the tray. In review of the field data
lengths, the following current distributions were presented in my paper (see Table II in the body of the paper), the effect of
calculated using the method in [l] assuming 1100 amps the tray does not appear to be significant enough to warrant the additional
per phase. The currents without parentheses are complexity associated with the calculation. In regards to the thermal
without shields and those in parentheses are with influence from the tray, typically the cables are spaced away from the
21-#16 copper wire shields. How does the author siderail of the tray a minimum of one cable diameter. This ensures that if
consider this in his calculations with multigrounded significant currents were induced in the tray the resultant heat from the
shields? tray would not significantly influence the phase conductors.
In calculating losses in the conductor and shields for ampacity consider-
Phase A Phase B Phase C ation, I agree that resistance of these components should be based on
Conductors Conductors Conductors actual temperature. However, for calculating the current distribution this
is not warranted, since the reactance is significantly greater than the
143 259 265 245 260 138 resistance.
(144) (244) (189) (282) (256) (146) It is recognized that the grounding of the shields at both ends, thus
permitting circulating currents in the shields, will produce a balancing
91 216 244 224 219 81 effect on the distribution of the currents in the phase conductors. Neglect-
(106) (216) (166) (261) (213) (101) ing shield circulating current in the model as presented does yield conser-
vative results, however, without significant loss of accuracy. I should
143 259 265 245 260 139 point out that the shields used in the medium voltage cables in generating
(144) (244) (189) (282) (256) (146) stations are typically one 20% overlapped 5 or IO mil copper tape, not
21-16 AWG copper wire shields, so that the degree of balancing would
The author defines the term I as the ampacity not be as great as you have shown, i.e., 6% reduction in imbalance.
of the single conductor which &pies the highest In my paper, I, would be based on the stated ampacity at rated
current. In underground systems, the hottest conduc- conductor temperature not necessarily actual conductor temperature. In
tor is not necessarily the one with the highest duct bank applications the hottest conductor may not be the conductor with
current [21. Has the author considered this possibil- the largest current imbalance. In those cases the approach outlined in your
ity? Also, it is not clear what ampacity is assigned paper might offer some benefits. In duct bank or direct burial applications,
to I Is it that of a single cable operating by I would calculate the current distribution as outlined in my paper based on
itsef%?'or that of a cable when all other cables have actual load conditions. I would then input these currents into an ampacity
the same current, or that of a cable when the other model based on reference [3], which can calculate the conductor tempera-
cables have currents in accordance with their current ture for unequally loaded conductors. The resulting conductor temperature
distribution? If it is the latter, how is this will be compared against the insulation temperature rating. No successive
distribution incorporated into the thermal model to iterations is necessary, except to arrive at the conductor temperature.
obtain the desired solution? I am not aware of thermal models which account for unequal loading of
cables in trays. As indicated above, the normal installation method assures
The electrical model that is used by the author little thermal interaction between the cables.
is valid for balanced three phase systems. Does the In generating stations, the large loads which require the use of multiple
author have a method to account for single phase conductors per phase are balanced three phase loads, e.g. generators,
cables or neutral conductors? Also, does the author transformers, and motors. Line-to-ground faults are temporary conditions,
consider unbalanced faults, such as a line-to-ground which do not impact the thermal design of the cable. Also, these large
fault, when designing and operating a system? For loads typically do not have neutral conductors routed with the phase
unbalanced systems, the zero sequence impedance plays conductors. It is for these reasons that effects of unbalanced systems have
a significant role in determining current flows, which not been included in the paper. I offer no method to calculate current
ultimately affect the ampacity and overall design of distribution for your application of unbalanced conditions.
 481

References [3] J. H. Nehr and M. H. McGrath, “Calculation of the Temperature

[I] w,R ~ and ~G, H ~ ~ ~ improvement
~ ~, of ~ of
~ Ampacity ~ , of Cable Systems.” AIEE Transactions,
Rise ~and Load~Capability
Parallel Single-Core Cables by Uninsulated Additional Conductor”, October, 1957, pp. 752-172.
89 SM 632-0 PWRD.
[2] Personal Conversations between W. Rueger and K. Petty, July 12,
1989. Manuscript received October 23, 1989.