Standards and applications of medium voltage

Bus Duct
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Bus duct is used for the effective and efficient supply of electricity in mostly
industrial locations. Copper or aluminum is
used for the conductor of bus duct that be
insulated and enclosed completely for
protection against mechanical damage and
dust accumulation. A bus duct system is an
effective method of distributing power to your
switchgear and various loads. However, bus
duct problems can lead to catastrophic
damage and extensive downtime.

There are basically three general categories

of bus duct (all-metal enclosed). The
nonsegregated phase bus implies a duct
where all phase conductors are in a
common metal enclosure without barriers
between phases. This definition applies to rigid and flexible conductors such as the bar or
cable duct.

Segregated phase bus is a duct where phase conductors are in a common metal
enclosure but are segregated by ground metal barriers between each phase conductor.
Isolated phase duct is when each phase conductor is enclosed in its own metal housing
and adjacent conductor housings are separated by an air space. This duct usually has
higher amp ratings than other types. The housing and conductors are tubular in shape
and are welded at site together. This duct is force-air cooled above a 25000A continuous
rating.

Applicable standards
ANSI C37.23 standard covers the design, manufacture, testing and ratings of the allmetal
enclosed bus duct, including cable duct systems. When part of the equipment, it contains
the associated equipment such as inter connections, enclosures, switches, supporting

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structures and disconnecting links. This includes disconnects primarily used with isolated
phase duct but can be used with all other types of duct, including cable duct.

Outside the scope of this standard is duct rated to 600V or open type conductor
assemblies. The CSA C22.2 No. 201 standard is the Canadian measure for
metalenclosed duct for voltages rated from 751V to 46kV, AC or DC. This standard covers
the design, manufacture, testing and ratings of all types of metal-enclosed bus duct
including cable duct systems. It includes all accessories associated with all types of duct,
as does ANSU. For isolated phase duct, it is limited to amp ratings up to 5000A
continuous.

Typical medium voltage Bus Duct

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Application
All three duct systems are actually identical as to application and have the same basic
ratings as previously listed. Price usually determines which application is most appropriate
for which type of duct. One should not consider the duct cost alone but include the cost of
installation, and therefore the total cost of the installed duct system.

In general, segregated bus duct can be considered slightly more reliable than non-
segregated duct based on the fact that a-bus-to-ground fault may be contained within the
separate, groundedmetal- barriered compartments. This is particularly true for initially low-
level ground faults that exist on an ungrounded, or high-resistance grounded, system.
Rigid conductor bus duct is basically factory manufactured and requires bolting sections
together in the field and installing insulated conductor joint boots.

Accessories are generally factory assembled, including equipment such as switchgear

and transformers. On the other hand, cable duct is normally supplied to the installing
contractor on nonreturnable reels for field installation and termination.

Standard switchgear or transformer connections are direct via the cable with suitable
stress kits or terminating kits, depending on the termination requirement. Special
terminating boxes with rigid copper conductor connections can be supplied to the cable
from which the duct is connected. With rigid duct, tee arrangements are quite practical.

It can also be accomplished with cable duct but with much more difficulty. The tee
arrangement is manufactured of rigid conductors in an enclosure in which the cable duct
system is connected to all sides. This requires stress cone kits or cable terminating kits at
each cable termination. Such an arrangement requires considerable space and is costly.

Hanger supports, wall supports and freestanding floor supports are basically similar for all
types of duct. Isolated phase duct, which becomes a requirement for generator feeds due
to the normal continuous current rating and minimum BIL level of 110kV, is manufactured
from aluminum tube type housings and conductors. The conductors are supported on
porcelain, post-type insulators, and the duct system is pre-manufactured in specified
lengths depending on the duct systems physical arrangement. The installing contractor
welds the conductors and housing in the field.

Isolated phase ducts are used for high ampacity requirements and can be supplied up to
25000A continuous rating without forced-air cooling. Beyond this rating, forced-air cooling
is required with all the associated equipment. All accessories such as elbows, tees, the
isolating switch and termination to the equipment it feeds are specifically designed for the
application and generally come factory assembled, except for termination.
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Isolated phase duct is quite special compared to the other duct systems described and
requires considerably more space. It is also significantly more expensive to purchase and
install, but deemed a unique system for specific applications and, in particular, as a
generator duct feed. In general, rigid conductor type bus duct length is measured from
centre line to centre line, and the equipment to which it is attached, to establish overall
duct-length footage. Bar extensions within a termination cubicle are considered part of the
termination equipment. For cable duct, the same criteria is used to establish length.

The only exception is that 60 inches of duct length must be added to establish overall
length dimensions, due to the cable extension leads required at each end. Such cable
lead extensions are considered part of the duct length, rather than part of the termination
equipment.

Ratings
Non-segregated duct, which includes cable duct, basically has the same continuous
current ratings, from 600A to 6000A. Duct of higher ratings is supplied up to 12000A, but
this is for special applications requiring special design, manufacturing and installation
considerations. Ampacities are normally based on 40C ambient where conductors have
silver-plated joints, and the allowable temperature rise of the conductor is 65C.
Noncurrent carrying parts that can be readily touched are allowed a 40C rise. Ambient
temperature range limits are -30C to +40C, and altitude is up to 1000 metres (3300
feet). Other ambient conditions need special consideration and may contribute to derating.

Voltage range for these types of duct are basically from above 600V to 34.5kV to ANSI but
to 46kV to CSA. In practical terms, the maximum rating is 38kV with a BIL rating of 150kV.
This includes cable duct, even though cable at nominally 38kV can have a higher BIL
rating and can certainly have a higher insulating voltage class such as up to 33 per cent
insulation on higher voltage ratings. To ANSI standards, corona extinction levels are not
specified, but they are to CSA standards and are considered a production type test.

Momentary ratings are not specified in the standards but the duct is expected to be
suitable and match the momentary rating of the equipment to which it is connected. In
general terms, the momentary ratings offered are 82 kA, 100kA or 150kA for 600V ratings;
60kA, 80kA and 100kA for five and 15kV ratings; 6kA and 80kA for 25 and 38kV ratings.
The DC bus duct nominal voltage rating is 300 to 3200 volt DC with continuous ratings up
to 6000A. Isolated phase duct continuous ratings go from 1200 to 24000A (self-cooled)
although tests have been conducted to 25000A for self-cooled current ratings.

Voltage ratings are 24.5, 29.5 and 34.5kV with corresponding BIL ratings of 110, 125 and
150kV for direct generator connections. Other than generator connection, voltage levels
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are 15.5, 25.8 and 38kV with corresponding BIL ratings of 110, 125, and 150kV.

SOURCE: Unknown

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