Calculate voltage drop

Let’s 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%.

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

DirectIndustry)
Calculation can be checked by using this MS Excel Spreadsheet dedicated
especially to this kind of problem.

Ok, let’s 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
A 3.15
B 3.16 3.55
C 3.56 4
D 4.1 4.5
E 4.6 5
F 5.1 5.6
G 5.7 6.3
H 6.4 7.1
J 7.2 8
K 8.1 9
L 9.1 10
M 10.1 11.2
N 11.3 12.5
P 12.6 14
R 14.1 16
S 16.1 18
T 18.1 20
U 20.1 22.4
V 22.5
 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
1.732 / 1000
 Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = 460 x 2118 x1.732 / 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.
Easy way to calculate transformer and
motor details
Transformer details:
1. Transformer size
2. Transformer secondary voltage (v2)
3. % Impedance (z)
4. Allowable voltage drop in system
Motor details for one and more motors:
1. Motor full load current (ILM)
2. Locked rotor current multiplier (Min)
3. Locked rotor current multiplier (Max)
4. Locked rotor current (L1) (Min)
5. Locked rotor current (L2) (Max)
6. Motor inrush KVA at starting (IrsM)
7. How many times motor starts per hour
and Calculations:
1. Full load current of transformer (ILX)
2. Short circuit current at transformer secondary (Isc)
3. Maximum KVA of transformer at Isc (Q1)
4. Motor inrush KVA At starting (IrsM)
5. Voltage drop at transformer secondary due to motor inrush (Vd)
6. Transformer secondary voltage
Results you get:
 Motor Full Load Current
 Voltage Drop at Transformer Secondary Due to Motor inRush
 Transformer Size:(20% Added due to motor starts more than once/Hour)
Calculation formulas used:
 ILX = KVA / (1.732 x v2)
 ILM = (Kw x 1000) / (1.732 x Vm x P.F)
 Isc = ILx / z
 Q1 = (v2 x ISC x ILM x 1.732) / 1000
 IrsM = (Vm x L2 x 1.732) / 1000
 Vd = IrsM / Q1