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An example of calculating transformer size and voltage

drop due to starting of large motor
jiguparmar

Medium-voltage motor starting transformer (man. J. Schneider Elektrotechnik; photo credit: DirectIndustry)

Example
Lets calculate voltage drop in transformer 1000KVA, 11/0.480 kV, impedance 5.75% due to starting of
300 kW, 460V, 0.8 power factor, motor code D (kva/hp). Motor starts 2 times per hour and the
allowable voltage drop at transformer secondary terminal is 10%.
Calculation can be checked by using this MS Excel Spreadsheet dedicated especially to this kind of
problem.
Ok, lets get into the calculations

Motor current / Torque

Motor full load current = (Kw x 1000) / (1.732 x Volt (L-L) x P.F
Motor full load current = 300 1000 / 1.732 x 460 x 0.8 = 471 Amp.

Motor locked rotor current = Multiplier x Motor full load current

Locked rotor current (Kva/Hp)

Motor Code Min

Max

3.15

3.16 3.55

3.56 4

4.1

4.5

4.6

5.1

5.6

5.7

6.3

6.4

7.1

7.2

8.1

9.1

10

10.1 11.2

11.3

12.6 14

14.1 16

16.1 18

18.1 20

20.1 22.4

22.5

12.5

Min. motor locked rotor current (L1) = 4.10 471 = 1930 Amp
Max. motor locked rotor current (L2) = 4.50 471 = 2118 Amp
Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = Volt x locked rotor current x Full load current x 1.732 /
1000
Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = 460 x 2118 x 471 x 1.732 / 1000 = 1688 kVA

Transformer

Transformer full load current = kVA / (1.732 x Volt)

Transformer full load current = 1000 / (1.73 2 480) = 1203 Amp.
Short circuit current at TC secondary (Isc) = Transformer full load current / Impedance
Short circuit current at TC secondary = 1203 / 5.75 = 20919 Amp
Maximum kVA of TC at rated Short circuit current (Q1) = (Volt x Isc x 1.732) / 1000
Maximum kVA of TC at rated Short circuit current (Q1) = 480 x 20919 x 1.732 / 1000 = 17391 kVA
Voltage drop at transformer secondary due to Motor Inrush (Vd) = (Irsm) / Q1
Voltage drop at transformer secondary due to Motor inrush (Vd) = 1688 / 17391 = 10%
Voltage drop at Transformer secondary is 10% which is within permissible limit.
Motor full load current 65% of Transformer full load current
471 Amp 65% x 1203 Amp = 471 Amp 781 Amp
Here voltage drop is within limit and Motor full load current TC full load current.
Size of Transformer is Adequate.
jiguparmar - Jignesh Parmar has completed his B.E(Electrical) from Gujarat University.
He is member of Institution of Engineers (MIE),India. Membership No:M-1473586.He has
more than 12 years experience in Transmission -Distribution-Electrical Energy theft
detection-Electrical Maintenance-Electrical Projects (Planning-Designing-Technical
Review-coordination -Execution). He is Presently associate with one of the leading
business group as a Assistant Manager at Ahmedabad,India. He has published numbers
of Technical Articles in "Electrical Mirror", "Electrical India", "Lighting India", "Industrial Electrix"(Australian
Power Publications) Magazines. He is Freelancer Programmer of Advance Excel and design useful Excel
base Electrical Programs as per IS, NEC, IEC,IEEE codes. He is Technical Blogger and Familiar with
English, Hindi, Gujarati, French languages. He wants to Share his experience & Knowledge and help
technical enthusiasts to find suitable solutions and updating themselves on various Engineering Topics.