CHAPTER 6

Voltage Regulation:
Using equation (6-18):

SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENTS

Todays high capacity power systems require that the short circuit capabilities of system
cables be considered. Calculations can be used to determine an installed cables ability to
withstand various short circuit conditions or the cable size needed to withstand a given
short circuit condition.

Conductor Formula
The usual form of the equation used to calculate the conductors short circuit current (ISC) is
presented in ICEA for copper and aluminum conductors.2 The equations for calculating
short circuit currents for copper and aluminum conductors are presented on the following
pages. The accompanying figures graphically depict the relationship between conductor
size and short circuit current duration for copper and aluminum conductors with thermoset
or thermoplastic insulation. For these equations and curves to be valid, the conductor must
be allowed to return to or below the rated maximum operating temperature (T1) before
another short circuit is encountered.
The short circuit current equations may be simplified after designating the conductor
metal and the values of T1 and T2 as follows:

(6-31)

where: ISC = short circuit current in amps

A = conductor area in cmil
FC = conductor short circuit factor from Table 6-1
t = duration of short circuit in seconds

TABLE 6-1
CONDUCTOR SHORT CIRCUIT FACTORS, FC
Insulation Copper Aluminum
Thermoset (XLPE, EPR) 0.0678 0.0443
T1=105C, T2=250C

Thermoset (XLPE,EPR) 0.0719 0.0470

T1=90C, T2=250C

Thermoplastic (PVC, PE) 0.0529 0.0346

T1=75C, T2=150C

Calculation can be made for any value T1 and T2 by using (6-32) or (6-33)

2
ICEA P-32-382, Short Circuit Characteristics of Insulated Cable Fourth Edition, 1999.

SOUTHWIRE 6-14
 ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Short Circuit Current (Thousands of Amps)

Conductor Size

Figure 6-15
Allowable Short Circuit Currents for
Copper Conductor and Thermoset Insulation

Curves based on:

(6-32)

where: ISC = short circuit current in amps

A = conductor area in cmil
t = duration of short circuit in seconds
T1 = maximum operating temperature of the conductor (105C)
T2 = maximum short circuit temperature rating of the conductor (250C)

SOUTHWIRE 6-15
CHAPTER 6

Short Circuit Current (Thousands of Amps)

Conductor Size

Figure 6-16
Allowable Short Circuit Currents for
Copper Conductor and Thermoset Insulation

Curves based on:

(6-32)

where: ISC = short circuit current in amps

A = conductor area in cmil
t = duration of short circuit in seconds
T1 = maximum operating temperature of the conductor (90C)
T2 = maximum short circuit temperature rating of the conductor (250C)

SOUTHWIRE 6-16
 ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Short Circuit Current (Thousands of Amps)

Conductor Size

Figure 6-17
Allowable Short Circuit Currents for
Copper Conductor and Thermoplastic Insulation

Curves based on:

(6-32)

where: ISC = short circuit current in amps

A = conductor area in cmil
t = duration of short circuit in seconds
T1 = maximum operating temperature of the conductor (75C)
T2 = maximum short circuit temperature rating of the conductor (150C)

SOUTHWIRE 6-17
CHAPTER 6

Short Circuit Current (Thousands of Amps)

Conductor Size

Figure 6-18
Allowable Short Circuit Currents for
Aluminum Conductor and Thermoset Insulation

Curves based on:

(6-33)

where: ISC = short circuit current in amps

A = conductor area in cmil
t = duration of short circuit in seconds
T1 = maximum operating temperature of the conductor (105C)
T2 = maximum short circuit temperature rating of the conductor (250C)

SOUTHWIRE 6-18
 ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Short Circuit Current (Thousands of Amps)

Conductor Size

Figure 6-19
Allowable Short Circuit Currents for
Aluminum Conductor and Thermoset Insulation

Curves based on:

(6-33)

where: ISC = short circuit current in amps

A = conductor area in cmil
t = duration of short circuit in seconds
T1 = maximum operating temperature of the conductor (90C)
T2 = maximum short circuit temperature rating of the conductor (250C)

SOUTHWIRE 6-19
CHAPTER 6

Short Circuit Current (Thousands of Amps)

Conductor Size

Figure 6-20
Allowable Short Circuit Currents for
Aluminum Conductor and Thermoplastic Insulation

Curves based on:

(6-33)

where: ISC = short circuit current in amps

A = conductor area in cmil
t = duration of short circuit in seconds
T1 = maximum operating temperature of the conductor (75C)
T2 = maximum short circuit temperature rating of the conductor (150C)

SOUTHWIRE 6-20
 ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Metallic Shield Formula

The same general equation (6-32) may be applied to copper metallic shields. For this
equation to be valid, the shield temperature must be allowed to return to or below the
maximum rated shield temperature (T1) before another short circuit is encountered. However,
the determination of the area (A) of the shield is more involved than for a conductor.

(6-34)

where: FS = shield short circuit factor from Table 6-2

TABLE 6-2
SHIELD SHORT CIRCUIT FACTORS FS
Insulation Jacket T1 T2 FS (Copper)
Thermoplastic 200C 0.0630
Thermoset (PVC, PE, LSZH, CPE) 85C
(XLPE, EPR) Thermoset 350C 0.0890
(Hypalon)
Thermoplastic Thermoplastic 70C 200C 0.0678
(PVC, PE) (PVC, PE, LSZH, CPE)

NOTES: (A) T1 is the shield temperature resulting from the maximum conductor operating temperature.
(B) T2 is the maximum short circuit shield temperature.
(C) T1 and T2 are from ICEA P-45-482.3
(D) Calculations can be made for any value of T1 and T2 by using equation (6-32).

Equations for Calculation of Shield Areas

The equations for calculating the area of the shield are taken from ICEA.3 For overlapped
tapes, ICEA used the concept of effective tape shield area to compensate for the contact
resistance between the tape laps that can increase the shield resistance. While in service,
the contact resistance will likely increase as the cable ages and is exposed to heat and
moisture. ICEA states that under these conditions the contact resistance may approach
infinity, where (6-35) could apply.

Helically Applied Tape Shield

Tape Overlapped
(6-35)

Tape Not Overlapped

(6-36)

Tubular Shields
(6-37)

Wire Wrap (Concentric) or Braided Shields

(6-38)

Longitudinally Applied Corrugated Tape

(6-39)

3
ICEA P-45-482, Short Circuit Characteristics of Metallic Shields and Sheaths on Insulated Cable Fourth Edition, 1999.
SOUTHWIRE 6-21
CHAPTER 6

where: A = effective cross-sectional area of metallic shield in cmils

b = tape or tube thickness in mils
Dc = diameter of core over semiconducting insulation shield in mils
L = overlap of tape in percent
dm = mean diameter of shield in mils
N = number of wires
ds = diameter of wire in mils
B = tape overlap in mils
w = width of tape in mils

Typical Calculation
A given circuit has protection devices that are guaranteed to operate within 1 second
(60 Hz). What are the maximum conductor and shield short circuit currents when using
an EPR insulated 500 kcmil copper cable that has a semiconducting insulation shield
diameter of 1.305 inches, with a 5 mil, 1.5 inches wide, 1/4 (25%) overlap copper tape
shield and a PVC jacket? The continuous operating temperature of the cable is 105C.

Conductor Short Circuit Current

Using equation (6-34):

Shield Short Circuit Current

Using equation (6-35):

Using equation (6-34):

SOUTHWIRE 6-22