Designing for Proper Power Plant System Cabling Layout

The physical layout for power system components and the length and diameter of cables should be selected for minimal losses. Power loss is wasted in cables in electrical systems. Losses also include those for switchgears and other current carrying devices such as controls and protection circuits. Design guidelines for reducing losses include: 

· Centrally located the load center for transformers, switchgears to:

o Reduce length of cable runs

o Reduce losses and voltage drops

· Keep buses and taps as short as possible to:

o Reduce the distance between auxiliary unit transformer and generator

· Increase cable diameter of smaller cables to one or maximum two gauge higher to gain benefits including:

o Lower ohmic losses

o More cable of fewer different cable sizes reduces wastage during installation, and get better terms such as minimum order quantities.

 The main equipment is laid out before the connections are determined between them. Determining design choice of smallest allowable diameter cables to reduce initial material costs, at the expense of much larger lifetime operating costs.

Cable Design Determination

Determining cross-section of cables between interconnecting loads must be calculated in relation to operating conditions and cable length. Factors that influence cable cross-section include: 

· Permitted loading under normal conditions, taking account of ambient temperature and layout methods.

· Thermal short-circuit strength

· Permitted voltage drop along the cable run under normal conditions and starting phase.

· Protective device response in the event of overloads and the smallest possible short-circuit current to interrupt dangerous voltages.

Cable Route Planning

Cable routing in complicated facility installations, power plants, and switching stations requires an immense amount of work on the engineer and planners part. It involves arranging cables to give the shortest path between their starting point and final destination, while ensuring that certain combinations do not adversely influence each other.

        Computer aided design (CAD) has been widely used as a means for developing and engineering proper implementation of component and cabling layout. Power plant facilities require tremendous care when developing a fully functional and energy efficient flow.

E3.3D Routing Bridge

E3.3D Routing Bridge allows for easy path routing with full integration with mechanical CAD softwares. Determining wire length, diameter, and standards for cable selection between interconnecting components has never been easier.

To help strive for the best in show design, Zuken has developed links between E3.series and all major MCAD (mechanical CAD) vendors, allowing the creation of fully integrated design model. Using the E3.3D Routing Bridge, schematic and connection information from E3.series can be interfaced to all major MCAD systems. Features including: 

· Transfer Component Information to MCAD (connectors, pins, splices)

· Transfer to-from Data to MCAD

· Check for Collision, or clash, detection in MCAD

· Check for Wire Bend Radius

· Automatically Calculate Length of Wires and Segments in MCAD

· Automatic Creation of Manufacturing Documentation in E3.Formboard

E3.Schematic

Designing and documenting electrical controls systems including schematic diagrams, terminal plans and PLCs. It helps prevent errors as you design so you can develop systems for the best energy efficient design. Easy drag and drop interface to save time designing connections and components for development so more time can be dedicated toward the plant efficiency and less on product development. Easily integrates work through multiple platforms for integration between mechanical and electrical design. This gives strides for design development for electrical engineers when mechanical and control systems are designed ahead of electrical consideration. E3.Schematic offers the following features for easing the design phase: 

· Creates and documents your electrical schematics efficiently

· Prevents errors with built-in design rules

· The ability of engineers to design with a huge library of pre-designed, pre-approved and tested components

· Design with drag and drop

· Easily connect electrical components

· Do your wiring number automatically

· Pre-define your own sub-circuits

· Manage terminals across multiple sheets with intelligent software design

· Generate project documentation in simple single steps