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IEC 60287 Current Capacity of Cables

- Rated Current
By Steven McFadyen on February 18th, 2013

This note looks at the formulae used to calculate the rated current capacity of
a cable in line with IEC 60287 "Calculation of the continuous current rating of
cables (100% load factor)". Before you continue reading this note, if you have
not done so already we would suggest first reading our IEC 60287 introduction
note:

IEC 60287 Current Capacity of Cables - An Introduction

In the previous note we looked at the approach taken by the standard to the
sizing of cables and illustrated this with an example. We then looked at one
method of applying the standard and identified resources enabling the
calculation of all the various parameters involved. In the note we are going to
put everything together and reveal the necessary equations for actually
calculating the cable maximum current rating.

The image illustrates the thermal model for a cable.

Heat is generated within the cable by various mechanisms - conductor I2R

loss, dielectric loss, sheath loss, armour loss and direct solar radiation. Some
or all of this heat is dissipated through the cable insulation, bedding, serving
and into the surrounding medium. The rate of heat flow is related to the
temperature difference across the cable and affected by the ambient
temperature, temperature rises due to other cables and any critical
temperature rise of the soil above ambient.

In thermal equilibrium, when all these factors have balanced and the
temperature of the conductor is the maximum allowable for the insulation; we
have the maximum rated current for the cable. It can probably be appreciated
by now, that in typical real life situations, this can be quite a complicated
calculation.

Note: rated current capacity found by the method assumes that the
cable is fully loaded for 100% of it's operation time. For cables which
have varying or cyclic loads, the current rating could possibly be
increased.

Tip: the thermal model is worth remembering as enables us to

intuitively understand how a cable is likely to behave in conditions
which are not normally encountered. For example, if a cable is run
along a refrigerated gas pipe, we can hazard that this will reduce the
ΔΘ and hence the cable will be able to carry more current.

Change in temperature across a material is equal to the heat input multiplied

by the thermal resistance of the material. In terms of the thermal model and
for a simple a.c. cable, the heat balance equation is given by (a list of symbols
is given at the end of the note):

Within the standard this above is used to derive the equations for current
rating. It is simplified for d.c. cables by eliminating any a.c. only effects and
modified for partial drying of soil and solar radiation where appropriate.

Contents [hide]
1. Rated Current of Cables
2. List of Symbols

Rated Current of Cables

The standard gives the following equations for the calculation of the cable
current rating (for all alternating current voltages and direct current up to 5 kV):

Buried cables where drying out of the soil does not occur or
cables in air

AC cables

DC cables

Buried cables where partial drying-out of the soil occurs

AC cables

I =[
Δθ − Wd [0.5T1 + n(T2 + T3 + vT4 )] + (v − 1)ΔθX 0.5
R[T1 + n(1 + λ1 )T2 + n(1 + λ1 + λ2 )(T3 + vT4 )] ]

DC cables

I =[ ′
0.5

R [T1 + nT2 + n (T3 + vT4 )] ]

Δθ + (v − 1) ΔθX

Buried cables where drying-out of the soil is to be avoided

AC cables

I =[
0.5

nRT4 (1 + λ1 + λ2 ) ]
Δθx − nWd T4

DC cables

Cables directly exposed to solar radiation

AC cables

DC cables

Note: when calculating a cable where some drying of the soil may
occur, it is also necessary to perform the calculation for no drying out
of soil and take the worse case (lower) rating.

The calculation of each element needs some explanation and these have been
split across several notes (with each note dealing with one topic). For details,
please refer to the first note in this series , which lists the other related notes.

List of Symbols

n - number of load carrying conductors

v - ratio of thermal resistivity of dry and moist soils

I - rated conductor current, A

R - a.c. resistance of the conductor per unit length, Ω/m
R' - d.c. resistance of the conductor per unit length, Ω/m

T1 - thermal resistance per core between conductor and sheath, K.m/W

T2 - thermal resistance between sheath and armour, K.m/W
T3 - thermal resistance of external serving, K.m/W
T4 - thermal resistance of surrounding medium, K.m/W
T4* - external thermal resistance (free air) adjusted for solar radiation,
K.m/W

De* - cable diameter over insulation, m

H - intensity of solar radiation, W/m2
Wd - dielectric loss per units length, W/m

λ1 - ratio of losses in metal sheath to total losses in all conductors

λ2 - ratio of losses in armouring to total losses in all conductors
σ - absorption coefficient of solar radiation for cable surface

Θ - maximum conductor operating temperature, °C

Θa - ambient temperature, °C
ΔΘ - temperature difference (Θ-Θa), K
ΔΘx - critical temperature of soil, °C

Cables, Cable Sizing, Standards, IEC Standards, Equipment Ratings,

Equipment Sizing, Wire Sizes

More interesting Notes:

IEC 60287 Current Capacity of Cables - An Introduction
Cable Sheath and Armour Loss
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Steven McFadyen
Steven has over twenty five years experience working on
some of the largest construction projects. He has a deep
technical understanding of electrical engineering and is keen
to share this knowledge.
About the author

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정성경 • 10 months ago

Understanding Periodic
I wonder about "n" - the number of current carrying
Capacitor
conductors in a cable. IsCircuit
that meansBreaker Electrical
1 for single core cable
Theory Markings
and 3 for three core cable? Or 3 for three single core Installation
cable? Anybody tell me what is correct understanding.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›

Steven McFadyen Mod > 정성경 • 10 months ago

3 for a three core cable. For single core, it would be

2 for a single phase circuit and 3 for a three phase
circuit.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›

thendless • a year ago

Have a question about the delta theta Δθ calculation for DC
cables. On the formula AC resistance, R is shown. When
doing the DC calculation should this be changed to R'?
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›

Ryan • 6 years ago

You don't by any chance know where I might find a formula
pertaining to the derating of multiple circuits laid in the
ground? By this I mean if I have two groups of three single
core cables, do you know of any such formula to de rate
for this? I know there are correction factors available but I
would prefer a solid formula, which is referred to in the
stated correction factor tables. However, as yet, having
scoured the IEC standard, I cannot find such a formula to
exist.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›

Steven McFadyen Mod > Ryan • 6 years ago

Ryan, the IEC 60287 standard does cover multiple

cables and has formulae. There is also the Neher-
McGrath method (if you search with Google, you
can download their paper on sizing).

The above are quite difficult to apply so that most

people would use software (like ETAP).
Unfortunately, the software is expensive, or you
spend much time working it out by yourself (or you
pay a consultant who has the software to do
calculations).
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›

Ryan > Steven McFadyen • 6 years ago

Steven, would you be able to direct me to
such a formula then? As I've said I have
checked and rechecked the IEC standard
and the closet thing I have come is the
formula for three cables in trefoil or flat
formation. I realise the calculations are time
consuming but I need to confirm the
calculations of the software. Much obliged
for the assistance so far.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›

Steven McFadyen Mod > Ryan

• 6 years ago
Ryan, I believe IEC 60287-2-1
"Electric cables - Calculation of the
current rating - Part 2-1: Thermal
resistance - Calculation of the thermal
resistance" has formulae (or more
accurately methods) to be able to do
what you want.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›

Ryan > Steven McFadyen

• 6 years ago
Unfortunately it does not, however,
I've found a "massing factor" formula
in a siemens guide which should do
the same trick. Thanks.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›

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