Maintenance  / Transmission and Distribution

An example of calculating transformer size and voltage drop due

to starting of large motor

By jiguparmar    May, 12th 2014

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 hourand 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
Full load current x 1.732 / 1000
 Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = 460 x 2118 x 471 x 1.732 / 1000 =
1688 kVA
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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.

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 Jignesh Parmar

Jignesh Parmar has completed M.Tech (Power System Control), B.E

(Electrical). He is member of Institution of Engineers (MIE), India. He has more
than 13 years experience in transmission & distribution-energy theft detection
and maintenance electrical projects.

38 Comments

1.
Sougata Mukherjee
A P R 0 9, 20 19
kindly mention IS or IEC standard from which voltage drop formula used for
transformer sizing has been furnished.
(reply)

2.
MONAL DHAKAD
F EB 1 5, 20 19
Hello sir,

We have to purchase new transfirmer 33 kv/ 440 volt,i know the LOAD IN
KW,how to calculate how much kva transfomer we need …what is formula
(reply)


Ahmed Sheikh
M A Y 2 7, 2 01 9
You need to use an application.
 (reply)

3.
Md. Arifuzzaman
F EB 1 1, 20 19
if we start 1000 kva generator( prime power-800 kw, output voltage-440 v) and
we want to produce 11 KV voltage with a tranformer(step up) to the load of
generator.
what rating s of x-er to be connected.
if 1000 kva rating of x-er , the generator tripped?
or if uses 1500/2000 kva x-er is it safe?
(reply)

4.
Jeyapandian Nagaraj
J U N 1 3, 20 18
Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = Volt x locked rotor current x Full load
current x 1.732 / 1000

it is supposed to be Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = Volt x locked rotor

multiplier x Full load current x 1.732 / 1000

Typo error.
(reply)

5.
Sirajuddin Hamdard
M A Y 2 8, 2 01 8
Please explain me Sir the average of actual load in(Amp)
rated capacity (Amp)
percetage of Transformer loading
and over loading (%)
(reply)

6.
Ramesh Kumar
M A Y 1 0, 2 01 8
We have 1000kw three motors with VFD How can i select Inverter transformer
size
 (reply)

7.
Lilantha Neelawala
D EC 04 , 20 17
Awaiting reply for all above comments.
(reply)

8.
Giorgi
J U L 0 3, 20 17
Hello
When you calculated the full load current of the motor, why did you not take into
the account the efficiency of the motor, as i know the full formula is as follows:
(KW*1000)/(1.732*v*pf*eff)
(eff-efficiency).
(reply)


JITHU RAJ
J U N 0 7, 20 18
kW rating given for motors are normally output mechanical power. it must be
converted to input electrical that is why efficiency come in to play.
(reply)

9.
Owen Ezeagwula
J A N 3 0, 20 17
(1) Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = Volt x locked rotor current x Full load
current x 1.732 / 1000.
(2) Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = Volt x locked rotor current x 1.732/1000
(2) above is the correct relationship.
(reply)

10.
Shantilal Parmar
J A N 0 6, 20 17
 Dear Jignesh sir,
Please can you tell me.
how to find out powe HT TX correct number of turns for primary& secondary
winding, size of the winging conductor, core size as we know primary
voltage/secondary voltage & secondary load.
(reply)

11.
Rama Rao
S EP 3 0, 20 16
sir,
Good morning,
we have the loads like 48X2kw(single phase energy meters) + 20X5Kw(3phase
energy meters) + 13kw (separate building purpose) = 209KW . what is the
capacity of Transformer. Please give the detailed formula to know the actual
rating
(reply)

12.
Umair Aziz
S EP 2 8, 20 16
It correct. But if load increase in future
Load plus 30% to 50% future load add. Then after calculate.
(reply)

13.
Vishwajeet
J U N 2 9, 20 16
A single phase transformer rating
33 kva 2400/240 V, 60Hz….here I want to know that the secondary voltage
V2=240V is at No Load or Full load…if it is at No load or at full then please
explain how..
(reply)

14.
SACHIN DAVE
J U N 1 0, 20 16
I want to know design of transformer,
having data only 1000 VA i/p : 415 V , o/p : 230 V , single phase
Hoe to decide primary and secondary turns and also cross section area
please give all details with formulas if possible
 (reply)

15.
Oladipo
A P R 2 5, 20 16
Thanks for the calculation its so helpful, however I have a small doubt.
As regards the motor starting 2 times per hour, no 20% was added to the
motor’s minimum kVA rating to compensate for heat losses within the
transformer as said in many references.
Please clarify , if starting the motor 2 times per hour has little or no impact as
nothing was mention in your calculation.

Thanks for the good job once more

Regards
(reply)

16.
Manish
J A N 1 6, 20 16
I have one compressor with 20HP motor and our transformer is 200KVA, due to
strarting current of motor a voltage drop is there which affects other machines.
How can i minimise the same.
(reply)

17.
Siddharth Awasthi
N O V 1 7, 20 15
sir i m interested in opening a saw.mill . for.that i m installing a 15 hourse.power
electricity moter. department.sying thae.above said.moter will take.a.load.off
100 killowatt.
i m very surprise. to tha load calculated by them
will u please help me.to calculate.the load.
1.) 15 hourse.power.moter
2.) 3 normal. 100 watt bulb
(reply)
18.
Rustico Taguiam
A P R 2 2, 20 15
Which better % impedance of distribution transformer, a higher % or lower %?
5.75% or 4.5%?
(reply)


ABANG NIZAMUDDIN
D EC 11 , 20 17
Based on my understanding, selection of Z% of the transformer depends on
the distribution system. If you have another transformer to be paralleled,
where the KVA are similar, we will definitely select the same Z% for both
transformers. This will ensure equal load sharing and avoid circulating
current in the transformers windings.

If your installation solely relying on only 1 transformer, now, you can select
any size of your Z%. This Z% will be useful especially to limit the fault
current. The higher the Z% the lower the fault current can be reduced.
However, in the future, if there is a new installation, you would consider the
branches being connected to your distribution system. Introducing a load /
source in parallel to your system will increase the fault current in your
system.

So depending on your application, you decide which Z% to be applied by

considering the philosophy of your system operation, your transformer
configuration/connection (parallel?) and considering the fault level in your
system. This will also lead to your sizing of cables and busbars as well.

I hope this help. Appreciate for your feedback / comment.

(reply)


Sudheer Ogeti
J U N 0 3, 20 19
4.5% impudence is best, because isc will increase
(reply)
19.
Minu
A P R 2 0, 20 15
There is a error in the attached excel calculator. It calculated kVA by multiplying
kW and power factor. Actual equation is kVA=kW/power factor.
(reply)

20.
Bhavin Mistry
J A N 2 8, 20 15
Dear sir, i want know about maximum secondry connectable load as per
transfor mer rating
(reply)

21.
Djarot Prasetyo
N O V 1 5, 20 14
Hi! I’d like to know, what standard did you use for the locked rotor current?
Thanks!
(reply)

22.
Benn Richey
S EP 0 2, 20 14
There’s an error in the calculations above: “Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) =
460 x 2118 x 471 x 1.732 / 1000 = 1688 kVA”
It should be: Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = 460 x 4.5 x 471 x 1.732 /
1000 = 1688 kVA
(reply)

23.
Mujeeb Raza
A U G 28 , 2 01 4
Hi All,
I want to get this into detail, if the output of this transformer is connected to load
of small industries (assume same data), What factors are to look into while
selecting cable for the secondary of transformer up to the LV panel.
 (reply)

24.
Zulfiqar Ali
A U G 20 , 2 01 4
Dear sir i hope u r doing fine..your website is very helpfull for engineering
articles.many thanks for creating a such type of website.
but in above article there is a slight mistake in calculations.i hope u ll remove
and correct it immediately to avoid more confusions between engineers
Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = 460 x 2118 x 471 x 1.732 / 1000 = 1688
kVA
in above equation 471 is repeating .which should not b repeated
this equation should be
Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = 460 x 2118 x 1.732 / 1000 = 1688 kVA
hope u got my point.

Thanks And Regards,

Engr Zulfikar Ali

(reply)

25.
Mayank P Shah
A U G 13 , 2 01 4
We are going to set up a new project.Biggest motors are of 260 KW x 2 and 245
KW x 4.
Total running load is expected of 3100 KVA.Please let us know the size of
Dist.Transformer of 11 / 0.433 KV when we starts these heavy motors.All
motors are proposed by VFD.We are working around 3500 KVA
Transformer.Please guide us.
(reply)

26.
Haytham151
J U N 2 1, 20 14
It’s v.g refreshable exp , but l have to wander if i missed something here or you
make amistake by the formula :
Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = Volt x locked rotor current x Full load
current x 1.732 / 1000
I think you point to :
 Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = Volt x locked rotor current x Full load
current x 1.732 / 1000
(reply)


Haytham151
J U L 1 2, 20 14
Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = Volt x locked rotor current x 1.732 /
1000
(reply)

27.
Vinod
J U N 0 8, 20 14
Please furnish relevant standard for the portion” Motor full load current ≤ 65% of
Transformer full load current”.
Efficiency not considered while calculating full load current of motor.
(reply)

28.
Mohammed Zougti
M A Y 3 0, 2 01 4
Mistake
•Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = 460 x 2118 x 471 x 1.732 / 1000 = 1688
kVA
Should be •Motor inrush Kva at Starting (Irsm) = 460 x 2118 x 1.732 / 1000 =
1688 kVA
(reply)

29.
P.Paulpandy.
M A Y 2 1, 2 01 4
I have found formula of motor inrush kva at starting time wrong because when i
use your formula the motor kva must be 795353 kva ( motor capacity is 300
kw). but, i see your electrical article 1688 kva.

Please check and clarify.

 (reply)

30.
Maher M. Al Qadhi
M A Y 1 8, 2 01 4
Dear Sir

I hope you are doing well.

And thank you for this useful example
I have one question which is if I want to calculate the transformer size & volt
drop due to building of 11.89 Km square.
Can I use the important above tips to calculate it ?
thank you again.
(reply)

31.
Amr Ahmed
M A Y 1 8, 2 01 4
This calculation for DOL motor starting only or for any starting method , also
kindly give me information about the following standard in the point ”Motor full
load current ≤ 65% of Transformer full load current ”.

Thanks & Regards

(reply)

32.
Subrata Deb
M A Y 1 6, 2 01 4
Following points to be considered even assuming that prior to starting of this
motor

there is no other load which is fed by the transformer:

1) 300KW is the output rating of motor.Therefore efficiency of motor should be

considered
to find F.L current 2) +10% tolerance on percentage impedance of transformer
should be considered
As per IS 6600, all the parts of transformer are designed to carry maximum
overload
 of +50%. Therfore it should be checked that motor starting kva must be within
1.5 times of
transformer capacity.
The logic that motor F.L current shall be less or equal to 65% of transformer
rated current is not clear. Please furnish the relevant standard.
(reply)

33.
Lalit Kumar
M A Y 1 3, 2 01 4
The above calculations does not consider additional loads which might be fed
from the same transformer feeding the large motor.