Nathan Pascarella,
Global Solutions Manager, Energy
Although there are no similarities between the 1986 movie Short Circuit and a short circuit explosion, the quote from the movie holds true. Life is not a malfunction and neither should your cabling infrastructure. Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) communities are tasked with the responsibility to deliver robust, reliable physical infrastructure solutions that safely and securely route, manage, and protect (the 3-phase AC) medium voltage cables.
These cable installations are often deployed in harsh environments and reside close to personnel, making it critical that the health and safety of workers and equipment is protected. Common applications include:
- Military and commercial shipbuilding
- Upstream / downstream oil, gas, and petrochemical facilities
- Offshore oil rigs
- Floating production, storage, and offloading facilities (FPSOs)
- Wind Farms
When a short circuit occurs in 3-phase AC systems, cables repel each other with tremendous force:
|
Cable Size |
Cable Tie Spacing |
Fault Current |
Force on the Tie |
||
|
mm2 |
mm |
in. |
kA |
N |
lb |
|
300 |
300 |
12 |
25 |
865 |
195 |
|
50 |
3,465 |
780 |
|||
|
75 |
7,796 |
1,754 |
|||
|
600 |
24 |
25 |
1,732 |
390 |
|
|
50 |
6,929 |
1,559 |
|||
|
75 |
15,591 |
3,508 |
|||
|
1000 |
39 |
25 |
2,887 |
650 |
|
|
50 |
11,549 |
2,599 |
|||
|
75 |
25,985 |
5,847 |
|||
Examples of Forces Generated by a Short Circuit Event (IEC 61914 Specifications)
Cable restraint devices must be able to withstand these forces during a short circuit event, protecting the health and safety of workers and equipment. Most specifiers and engineers are diligent when it comes to system design. Problems usually arise when the specification reaches others that might not have the technical understanding and instead focus more on cost.
Learn more about how Panduit short circuit protection solutions can provide you both the safety and reliability you require while reducing installation time and project costs!
