Electrical Design in Sub Zero Temperatures 1

[pace]

I am an electrical engineer moving from Australia (hot) to Canada (cold) in the near future and was wondering if there are any good reference materials for designing electrical installations (high voltage and low voltage) for sub-zero temperatures.
I wanted to read about the differences between designing in hot and cold climates before I went over.

 

[mgtrp]

Hi Pace,

I made a similar move, and so far haven't struggled too much with the designing for the cold part - it's the the change from working under AS/NZS and IEC standards to CSA and IEEE standards, along with all the associated quirks (MWG/kcmil cable sizes, using "ground" instead of "earth", etc) that takes more getting used to.

 

[PHovnanian]

I think most of the issues will be structural, particularly for utility work. Conductor ice loads will be an issue. Also, building in permafrost (setting poles, underground vaults, etc.) will be impacted. If you get that far north.

Your biggest worry might be driving on the other side of the road.

 

[BJC]

The UACOE use to have technical manuals on the web. Once upon a time you could donwload them free Now you may have to buy them).. I thin you still can if you find the right website. They have several on artic and subartic construction. I have pdf copies of them, I'll keep looking for the website.
For electrical systems the big difference is driving a rod is the ground is not a ground. Permafrost is pretty much like glass, not much of a ground. Cnnect all your parts together with bare copper.
Teh University of Washington has a 3 day course in Cold Regions engineering. It or a comprable class is required rfor an Alaska PE. Good class but spendy.

 

[waross]

Which part of the second largest country in the world are you coming to? A lot of Canada is NOT permafrost. Sometimes the toughest part of the day may be getting motivated to go to work at minus 30 degrees, if you can get your car started.
If you are lucky enough to be heading for the Vancouver area, high humidity and mildew are more of a issue than the cold.
I rememer a spring in Vancouver inmy student days. On Saturday we had a choice of walking to the park to play tennis or riding public transit to Grouse mountain and skiing.
This recreational overlap may last several weeks.


Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[marks1080]

I spent some time working at a rather large hydro plant in Labrador. We were all very pleased at the overall high p.f. of the plant which was attributed to the temperatures being cold on average... the flip side was that the Northern Lights would sometimes cause havoc on the switchyard, and there is basically nothing you can do but listen to the breakers.

 

[pace]

Thanks for the feedback guys. It's going to be a shock to the system (excuse the pun)
BJC
What does UACOE stand for?

 

[BJC]

pace- I should have used USACE (United States Army Corps of Engineers)
There are manuals here

http://140.194.76.129/publications/armytm/

you can download. I don't see the ones for Arctic installations. I can't find the site for the Arctic stuff, there were about 6 manuals.
I'll keep looking.

 

[slavag]

Sorry for off.
Bill, Vancouver area, a Vancouver island, Victoria and Butchart!!!!
It's a crazy place!!!! and not cold,
Sorry again for off.
Best Regards.
Slava

 

[ykee]

Pace, what part of Canada will you be working in? It will make a huge difference to conditions.

If you are working in northern Canada, there are perdiodically threads on grounding in permafrost, that would be useful for you (keep in mind what waross said -- most of Canada is without permafrost!).

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=223520

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=219600

If you are working in the far north (ie: north of the 60th parallel), your biggest concerns about the differences between working where you are now and where you will be will likely become logistics. That being said, I doubt you will be doing work north of 60, since there are very few of us that actually enjoy -40 for weeks on end!

 

[BJC]

pace
The site I referenced has some of the TMs as downloadabel.
I put TM 5-582-5 into google and got a downloadable copy.
TM 5-852-5 is "Arctic and Subarctic Utilities".
Not bad for free ( actually it's getting some of our tax money back.)

 

[BJC]

pace
the page with everything.

http://www.army.mil/USAPA/eng/