the Nuclear Electrical Engineer
An educational resource for electrical engineers in the nuclear power industry
This can be a confusing topic. The issue usually arises in nuclear power plants because most cable is rated at 90 degrees C, but equipment terminals are rated for 60 or 75 degrees C. Getting this wrong leads to costly rework down the line. Continue reading “Cable ampacity – insulation temperature rating vs. equipment terminal ratings”
Breaker sizing is another basic skill required for electrical engineers in the nuclear power industry. Here’s the short of it . . . . Continue reading “Breaker sizing and short-circuits”
There are numerous ways to go about doing this. Here’s one that is sure to work. It’s concise: five steps . . . . Continue reading “A five-step cable sizing procedure”
Choosing a breaker based on its trip setting? Careful. You might need to make some adjustments . . . . Continue reading “Breaker temperature ratings”
Cables can be purchased that are rated for different temperatures. The three most common conductor temperature ratings are 60ºC, 75ºC, and 90ºC . . . . Continue reading “Cable temperature ratings – it’s all about the insulation”
Here are three common scenarios that you need to keep in mind when sizing a new cable. Its ampacity will have to be derated depending on how these three factors apply to you . . . .
Continue reading “Derating cable ampacity – count the ground or neutral?”
This is one of the first things an electrical engineer in the nuclear power industry will probably do: sizing a cable by determining, among other things, its ampacity. . . .
Continue reading “Basic cable sizing and ampacity determination”
Cable insulation is often known to nuclear electrical engineers by an industry shorthand. The different shortcodes describe different materials and properties. Here you can learn where to find the decoding cipher . . . .
Continue reading “Introduction to cable insulation designations”