Victor Andrade of ETAP

Establishing the Current-Carrying Capacity (Ampacity) of underground-buried cables plays a vital role when figuring out the maximum power, which the cable system can transmit. Equally important is calculating an optimal ampacity in order to operate the cables below their maximum temperature limit. If the temperature exceeds the maximum allowable limit, the reliability and life expectancy of the cable will be shortened. Manufacturers typically publish cable ampacity values at very specific conditions that rarely match actual practice. The Steady-State Cable Temperature calculation determines the operating temperature of cable conductors in a raceway system under a specified loading condition. The calculation is based on the NEC accepted Neher-McGrath approach, which employs a thermal circuit model to represent heat flow situations. We will review hand calculations as well as the use of power systems analysis software for these calculations.  

Biography:

Mr. Victor Andrade received his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University in 2007. At ETAP, Victor is the Applications Engineer responsible for supporting the Gulf Region accounts. Victor’s previous duties included the review of power system studies, ranging from Power Flow, Short Circuit, Protection/Coordination, Arc Flash, Harmonics and Transient Stability. Before joining ETAP, Mr. Andrade worked as a technical support engineer for SKM Systems Analysis, Inc., implementing software testing and V&V procedures, and creating CAPTOR protective device library models.