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Sizing autotransformers for motors?

I want to connect a 3 phase 480V motor to a 600V supply. Lets say for example the load of the motor is 100A at 480V.

600V - 480V = 120V is the voltage difference.

Typically the rating of the transformer would be expected to be

1.73 x 120V x 100A = approx 20 KVA, and I would add a safety margin of 125% but this is a very small transformer with small lugs and a small enclosure. Am I right in assuming that this transformer would be acceptable to start and run this motor load? It seems that there are other issues that might come into play like line impedence etc. I look at the size of the wire I need to feed the motor and the size of the wires and lugs inside the transformer and there is a huge difference.

Here is another hypothetical situation just to show the direction things go. Lets say I want to change a 200A load from 600V to 575V, a

25V difference.

1.73 x 25V x 200A = 8.6KVA.

You would never get a 250 Kcmil cable into this box. How would I size that transformer? Just upsize it until the case and lugs are big enough? Is this an acceptable means of doing this calculation?

Thanks

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Reply to
Frank White
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You MUST size the transformer for the full load of the motor (ot whatever you connect), no matter if the voltage difference is 5, 50 or

100 Volts.
Reply to
bobc

You size a buck-boost transformer for the power it is providing. If it is supplying single phase 25V at 200A to boost 208V to 233V it would need to be at least 25x200 = 5KVA. That is the power it is supplying to the load for boost or back to the line for buck.

bud--

Reply to
Bud--

That calculation is way off base. Dont take the difference in voltage; you must consider the primary and secondary individually, not the ratio. If your motor is 480V 100A (you said "typical" you should use the full load amps on the nameplate of the motor, whether or not you are fully loading it), then you do

480*100*1.732 to get your base kVA. Then *1.25. Your looking at a 100+ kVA transformer. THEN you can select your primary and secondary voltages, or your buck/boost numbers.

FYI, if you are going 600 to 480, there is a trick you can do where you reverse the polarity of a 120V transformer and connect it in series with each leg of the 600, since 600 minus 120 = 480. Is that what you are trying to do? If so, you can reduce the kVA of the transformer, since you need rated motor current through the 120V winding. In other words, you would need three transformers

120V * 100A = 12kVA each.

Get somebody who knows this stuff to do you a drawing before you blow something up.

Reply to
gnoge

Asuming this is covered by the NEC: If this is an "industrial occupancy where conditions and supervision ensure only qualified persons service the installation" you could use 2 buck wired as autotransformers (NEC210.9). Assuming "industrial":

B' / / B / \ / \ / \ / \ A -------- C----C'

AB'C' is the 600V source, ABC is the derived 480V. ABB' is an buck/boost transformer connected as an autotransformer. AB' is a 600V winding, BB' is a 120V winding. They are connected so the voltages subtract to 480V at AB. ACC' is the same.

If the current to the ABC motor is 100A the current at A B' and C' should be 100 x (480/600) = 80A. The rating of EACH transformer should be 80A x 120V x 1.732 approx equals 17KVA minimum. If continuous that should be increased by 20%. The (IIRC) 1.732 is because the current in the autotransformers is out of phase (low power factor). Would that supply starting current? I would guess yes but don't know.

This could also be done with 480/120 transformers with slightly more involved calculation. The transformer would have to be rated for a higher voltage to ground than a conventional 480V transformer.

I havn't done these calculations for a long time and they may look diferent in a few hours. And some of your questions are not inspiring. Someone who has significant experience should design this. 600V and 480V can do funny (or not so funny) things.

---------------------- If not "industrial" and if 600V is Y connected (I never got to play with

600V) this could be done with 3 neutral to phase autotransformers connected for the odd voltages of 345V to 277V.

--------------------- Not obvious why you have 250Kcmil wire with 200A load.

bud--

Reply to
Bud--

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