1
\$\begingroup\$

I have visited various site which include the table for current capacity of insulated wire and the busbar but no a single website gave the any particular equation or any calculation to measure current capacity of rectangular hollow copper bar with any thickness

Text

It would be grateful if you guys would do any help.

If anyone can make me formula as it is there in busbar which is 1.2 time the area of conductor for copper.

Current Capacity (in amps) = 1.2 * (area of conductor)

And Also how long our conductor is does it depends or not as a factor of current capacity?

And the ambient temperature would be 40 °C and we would cool the pipe by flowing water from hollow space in pipe.

Text

I want to run almost 3000 DC amps in the hollow copper pipe with measurement of 18x23mm and 4 mm thickness inside. So it would be possible to run that much amount of dc amps through the 22 sets of coil each coil consist of 20 meter long copper pipe.

So I will be able to run it or not. or something disaster happens

\$\endgroup\$
17
  • 5
    \$\begingroup\$ Start by working out the cross-sectional area of the conductor. Then find the equivalent solid. The hollow section should run a lot cooler due to increased surface area so you may find that voltage drop is a more significant parameter to work on. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jul 31, 2021 at 19:12
  • \$\begingroup\$ No simple, single equation because ampacity is defined by maximum tolerable temperature and the environment determines what temperature the conductor reaches. In theory, you can run current until the copper itself melts if nothing around it (like insulation or mounting points) melts or burns first. Best just to look at a table for a similar cross section of wire with no insulation (or very high temperature insulation) and go with that, knowing that the limiting temperature in those tables is the insulation (or some other maximum allowable temperature which should be stated). \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jul 31, 2021 at 19:22
  • \$\begingroup\$ AC or DC matters, too, because of skin effect. I'd have to do a lot of wacky math that I haven't touched in over 30 years to even know if the square bar makes a difference from round for AC (I think it does, but -- wacky math). \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jul 31, 2021 at 19:22
  • \$\begingroup\$ And if you have large metal mounting points for your copper bar you can probably run way more current than any table will tell you so you probably have other considerations there beyond heat (such as voltage drop). \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jul 31, 2021 at 19:23
  • \$\begingroup\$ Busbars are typically solid, not hollow, which is where 1.2 A / 1 mm^2 for copper comes from. What current will be flowing? \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jul 31, 2021 at 19:48

0

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.