What size of cable for a 4MW generator?

wasted years · Jan 24, 2017

As above , contacted a cable wholesaler today, they can only quote for specified cable , they won't advise.
Cable will run for 1300 metres, any help appreciated.

e3120 · Jan 24, 2017

Need to know the voltage to work out the amps.

wasted years · Jan 24, 2017

e3120 said:
Need to know the voltage to work out the amps.

Do you mean the voltage generated at the generator end?

e3120 · Jan 24, 2017

wasted years said:
Do you mean the voltage generated at the generator end?

Aye, if it was 240, the cores would need to be the size of your arm, but not if it was 10kV.

wasted years · Jan 24, 2017

e3120 said:
Aye, if it was 240, the cores would need to be the size of your arm, but not if it was 10kV.

I haven't decided on what generator to buy . if I look at a few and take an average?

e3120 · Jan 24, 2017

Nearly impossible to answer then. Maybe you can quiz potential generator suppliers. If you google cable size calculator, you'll see there are a lot of variables involved. Bigger than needed cable wastes money but too small causes significant voltage losses which can create merry hell.

Exfarmer · Jan 25, 2017

You are certainly looking at a very serious cable there. Are you sure you mean 4MW not 4KW
You would need to up the voltage to something like 1,000 and it would still be something like 150 amps on 3 phase

sleepy · Jan 25, 2017

Presumably at that size generator it would be 11kv

wasted years · Jan 25, 2017

Exfarmer said:
You are certainly looking at a very serious cable there. Are you sure you mean 4MW not 4KW
You would need to up the voltage to something like 1,000 and it would still be something like 150 amps on 3 phase

Yes 4 MW, its a nat grid back up gen set.
Ideally would like to know how much a bigger cable would be to allow for expansion.
Have approached DNO but seem hellish slow, local electrical engineers ditto.

Exfarmer · Jan 25, 2017

The whole job would be done by extending the 11,000 cable to the back up. Think that is a DNO job . Cost will much depend on time of day and whether the estimator got out of bed right side, then it may not be possible after all is quoted.

WindCare · Jan 25, 2017

We would be happy to help you with this if you need any (free) advice?

We would need to understand the scheme/connection a bit more and then run the numbers through our software and come up with a design for you.

Colin Green is your man. 01751 472595.

Bob · Jan 25, 2017

You would have to get the whole connection designed and quoted for by either an ISP or the DNO. Have you had a Grid Connection offer by the DNO ?

Switchgear will be 50K bet your cable will be 150K installed My guess 500K to 1M

Exfarmer · Jan 25, 2017

You will need to have DNO permission for any gen set. They should tel you max you can fit. There will be little point putting in larger cable if there is no capacity in the network

PhilSL · Jan 25, 2017

The Demand Side Response aggregators are offering lower rates for diesel gen sets to support the grid now. Quotes we have had back on 1MW generators are 30-40% lower than three months ago, and only one year contracts! EES (battery storage), is the preferred option now.

If you want to tell me, and it's purely out of my own interest, what is the contract term for your 4MW gen set supporting the grid? If it beats what we can get, I will send you some business

akaPABLO01 · Jan 26, 2017

You powering a ship building yard?

Courier · Jan 30, 2017

We have a 400 metre 95mm x 3 (red) underground cable for a single 200 kWh wind turbine - this puts a maximum of 29 amps (@ 11,000. Volts ) down the cable which is theoretically capable of carrying 300 amps+. (In the region of 2 mWh) IIRC the next higher sizes are 185mm and 300mm so because carrying capacity is not directly related to cross-section of the cable you would presumably need the 300mm size (x3) . This type of information seems to be only available after paying £20k for a system design .
My above fag packet calculations would need verifying by a suitably qualified and insured high voltage electrical engineer such as Seymour & Castle.[emoji15]

akaPABLO01 · Jan 30, 2017

It moves into red HV cable which is a different beast at this power

What size of cable for a 4MW generator?

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