Cable Size and Circuit Breaker Selection
for High Tension and Low Tension
ByMd. Nazmul Islam
24/05/2022
4206
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There are some calculations for selecting circuit breakers for LT and HT sides.
Today we will discuss cable size and circuit breaker selection and also the circuit
breaker rating chart.
Table of Contents
Breakers we can find in the market
o Circuit Breaker Rating Chart
VCB
ACB
MCCB: Adjustable Type
Circuit breaker calculation in high tension (Cable size and circuit breaker
selection )
o Breaker 1 selection
o Breaker 2 and 3 selection
o Total load power calculation of breaker 4,5,6
o Breaker 4 calculation
There is no need for any calculation for the HT section circuit breaker and it is
very easy to calculate. But LT side circuit breaker needs calculation.
VCB is used for HT Side
ACB, MCB, MCCB etc is used for LT side
Breakers we can find in the market
Circuit Breaker Rating Chart
VCB
Serial Rated Current (A) Breaking Capacity (KA)
1 630 25
2 1250 40
ACB
Serial Rated Current (A) Breaking Capacity (KA)
1 630 85
2 800 85
3 1000 85
4 1250 85
5 1600 85
6 2000 85
7 2500 100
8 3200 100
9 4000 100
10 5000 100
11 6300 150
MCCB: Adjustable Type
Serial Rated Current (A) Breaking Capacity (KA)
1 40, 43, 100 & 125 25
2 160, 200 & 250 25
3 250 25
4 320 & 400 65
5 500 65
6 630 85
7 800 85
8 1000 100
9 1250 100
10 1600 65
Circuit breaker calculation in high tension
(Cable size and circuit breaker selection )
1250A rating VCB is selected for 33 kV to 11 kV transformer and 630A rating
VCB is selected for 11KV to 0.4 kV. The last 0.4 kV is connected with the low
tension side, and VCB connected with low tension means we have to choose
630A rating VCB.
1250 A VCB in the HT section
630 A VCB is selected for the above LT section connected with the HT
section.
Look at the picture:
In the above picture, a step-down transformer with a 5 MVA rating is used. 33 kV
line has entered in its primary and got out as 11 kV from secondary. This is a
high tension section, where 1250 A rating VCB is used.
In the above picture, a 2500 KVA rating transformer is used. 11 kV has entered
into its primary and 0.4 kV got out from its secondary. It means, its primary
section is HT, and the second section is LT. HT section to LT section is connected
with transformer. In this case, the VCB of the HT section will be 630A.
For the selection of the circuit breaker, the value of the current should be almost
the same as the line current.
Breaker 1 selection
We have to calculate using the above transformer value of breaker 1.
P = 2500 KVA
V2 (Secondary) = 0.4 kV
I =?
From the picture notice that there is no resistive, inductive, or capacitive load
above 2500 kV. In this case, do you remember the condition?
Apparent Power, P = √3 V I (KVA)
Active Power, P = √3 V I Cosθ (KW)
Re-Active Power, P = √3 V I Sinθ (KVAR)
Which formula will be used?
Definitely, P = √3 V I because there is no active and reactive power above 2500
KVA. In this case, we will get whatever is sent from the grid.
So, I = P / √3 V
I = (2500 * 10^3) / √3 * 0.4 * 10^3
I = 3608.43 A
So we have to select a circuit breaker around 3608 A or slightly more. There is
no 3608 A circuit breaker on the market. Now, look at the above table.
So we can use a 4000 A rating ACB circuit breaker for 3608 A.
Breaker 2 and 3 selection
Notice the above picture, 3608 amperes from transformers output is divided in
2,3,4,5,6 through busbar. So, we have to calculate the current for each breaker
separately. To calculate the current, we have to know the power. We have
already found that LT voltage is 0.4 kV.
The capacitor bank is connected to breakers 2 and 3. This part gives reactive
power. To calculate the power,
Re-Active Power, P = √3 V I Sinθ (KVAR) should be applied.
We know that, for power factor,
Cosθ = 0.8, Sinθ = 0.6
We have already found that, V = 0.4 kV, I = 3608 A
P = √3 V I Sinθ
P = √3 * 0.4 * 10^3 * 3608 * 0.6
P = 1499817 ≅ 15,00000
P = 1500 KVA
Breakers 2 and 3 have two capacitor banks, where 750+750=1500 KVAR can be
used.
Power for breaker 2, P = 750 KVAR
I = P / √3 V
I = 750 * 10^3 / √3 * 0.4 * 10^3
I = 1082 A
We can’t find a circuit breaker with this value in the market. So we can use
ACB / MCCB 1250 A from the chart. The price of the ACB 1250 A is much higher
than MCCB 1250 A. So we can choose the MCCB 1250A Rating breaker.
So MCCB 1250A breaker was selected for breakers 2 and 3.
Total load power calculation of breaker 4,5,6
Here we have to calculate active power, where V = 0.4 KV, I = 3608A, Cos θ =
0.8
Active Power, P = √3 V I Cosθ (KW)
P = 1999756 ≅ 2000000 W
P = 2000 KW
So we will calculate the load power for breaker 4,5,6 = 1000 + 500 + 500. If you
want you can calculate with 100+750+250.
Breaker 4 calculation
P = 1000 KW, V = 0.4 kV, I = ?
I = P / √3 V Cosθ
I = 1804 ≅ 1800 A
As breaker 4,5,6 is connected with load, based on the international standard
20% extra breaker has to be selected.
so, 1800 * 20% = 360
I = 1800 + 360
I = 2160 A
This ampere rating breaker is around 2500 A ACB. So for breaker 4,
2500 A rating breaker selected.
We have to select breakers 5,6 in the same way.
That was all for today’s article on cable size and circuit breaker selection.
Hope now you understand the circuit breaker rating chart.
If you have any queries on the circuit breaker rating chart, feel free to ask in the
comment.
