Large-Scale installation Single-Line Electrical diagram

[brewbeer]

The way the project was designed sounds more appropriate for where it is to be implemented.

[J.P.M.]

This project was in East-Africa.

The thread can be closed or deleted if you want.
Thanks to those who participated, they have helped me in a different way.than expected.

Good luck. Stay curious.

[Apellidos]

My guess is the OP isn't working on a system to be built in the US.

This project was in East-Africa.

The thread can be closed or deleted if you want.
Thanks to those who participated, they have helped me in a different way.than expected.

[Sunking]

And that, folks, is why we love Sunking and his photo gallery. Here - hold my beer and watch this .......

Sorry, wrong thread, moved it.

[Mike90250]

And that, folks, is why we love Sunking and his photo gallery. Here - hold my beer and watch this .......

[littleharbor]

I'd say they have bigger problems than a missing hand or feet. Copper thefts probably went way down in that area after this event.

[Sunking]

JPM our electrical system in the USA is not perfect, but our codes are second to none. Goberment has no input on codes, they just enforce them. Codes are made by pros. However since we were first to electrify we chose a very poor voltage to make Edison very rich and the largest manufacture in the world called GE. Morgan bought Edison out and put him out of biz. Anyway we started with 110 because that is what Edison's Light Bulb required.

Today we use 250/125 standard which is piss poor but no way out of it. 125 volts is unbalanced, noisy, and dangerous. Sure you could wire your home for 250 volt circuits which is fine for HVAC, ovens, and water heaters. Good luck finding any 240 volt gizmo's in the USA to plug in and use. You would have to import from Europe.

[J.P.M.]

My guess is the OP isn't working on a system to be built in the US.

For those of us in the U.S., let's hope not, or engineering protocol and who gets to practice engineering is really in the toilet. No discussion here, I hope, but whatever political stripe or views, we in the U.S. seem to have our hands full just now.

[brewbeer]

My guess is the OP isn't working on a system to be built in the US.

[SunEagle]

Wow, most of these posts sound like a debate for President of the United States.

I only saw one real question in the original post;
"My main concern is how it is the connection of 50 inverters in a single transformer of 1250 kVA. Could you explain me that?."

This would be done with large 230VAC 3ph panel boards and/or motor control center.
At the Energy Firm I work for, we see many projects using multiple generators (solar or otherwise) at developing countries. Usually for flexibility reasons or maintenance downtime; capacity.

A large inverter, when turned off prevents ALL generation, many smaller ones alleviates the problem.
e.g we designed a power plant with 40 diesel generators for Chile. THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAY RGHT

Your multiple inverters would feed a panelbard, or many, then combine and cascade up to a motor control center.
This intermediate stage would most likely always have the breakers closed-in, then using the startup and synchronizing with the inverters to get the system online or off line.

20KW @230 3ph is around 50 amps.
You could run 25 inverters to a panelboard, 25 inverters to a second panel board, leave room for spare breakers.
Send the output to a motor control center (MCC) rated for 1250KVA, then bus bar connections to transformer.
You may find that you need 6 breakers in the MCC, and 6 panelboard when you do the math.

Dennis Schller P.E.

I would agree your way would be a possible solution but the single line presented had a 1000kva 11kv primary voltage 1 phase transformer which makes it very hard to come up with a serious answer or solution.

[dennis461]

Wow, most of these posts sound like a debate for President of the United States.

I only saw one real question in the original post;
"My main concern is how it is the connection of 50 inverters in a single transformer of 1250 kVA. Could you explain me that?."

This would be done with large 230VAC 3ph panel boards and/or motor control center.
At the Energy Firm I work for, we see many projects using multiple generators (solar or otherwise) at developing countries. Usually for flexibility reasons or maintenance downtime; capacity.

A large inverter, when turned off prevents ALL generation, many smaller ones alleviates the problem.
e.g we designed a power plant with 40 diesel generators for Chile. THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAY RGHT

Your multiple inverters would feed a panelbard, or many, then combine and cascade up to a motor control center.
This intermediate stage would most likely always have the breakers closed-in, then using the startup and synchronizing with the inverters to get the system online or off line.

20KW @230 3ph is around 50 amps.
You could run 25 inverters to a panelboard, 25 inverters to a second panel board, leave room for spare breakers.
Send the output to a motor control center (MCC) rated for 1250KVA, then bus bar connections to transformer.
You may find that you need 6 breakers in the MCC, and 6 panelboard when you do the math.

Dennis Schller P.E.

[J.P.M.]

No you wil not regret it, that is where the real money is in engineering.

I also found it to be more satisfying in terms of personal satisfaction. Nothing quite like standing on/next to a large or complicated system or piece of equipment you designed or had responsible charge for when it's operating as designed (especially if it makes a lot of noise and you can feel the ground shake under it. )

Mostly in agreement with your comments about priorities/capabilities or what passes for engineering. I guess it ain't my world any more.

[Sunking]

FWIW, S.K. & I seem to have had similar experiences in different engineering disciplines, which surprises me not at all. I'd only add - as S.K. may well be implying - pursue professional registration and licensure ( A "P.E." license). You will not regret it.

No you wil not regret it, that is where the real money is in engineering.

What stuns me is young engineers today think a PE is worthless, that no companies require a PE. In some disciplines that maybe true. Example i work a lot in telecom, and many of the so called engineers would gain nothing with a PE. Heck no work to even qualify for application. That is when I remind them they are nothing more than a Technical Writer or a Purchase Agent buying technical equipment. Most Telecom and even in Utility Power, the companies do not actually do the engineering anymore. Today utilities Farm out the work to AE firms like mine who have the PE's with the Stamps and experience to get the job done. The so called engineers just write the RFQ and award contracts. Guess what that is? A Technical Writer and Purchase Agent. Not a single one of them are qualified to build anything that requires certification. They will never build power plants. buildings, dams, roads, infrastructure, water plants, steam plants, furnaces, boilers, and the list goes on. They wer never motivated to do more and become licensed.

It is kind of funny. When I got laid off from Worldcom back in 2003 and started my own company, I turned right around and still did work for my old boss as a contract engineer. I know what he makes and the kids under him. He makes roughly $100K/year. My employees make quite a bit more than that. As for me, I do not have a salary or make a wage. I get whatever Is left over. Thus I pay no income tax.

[J.P.M.]

Yes, the key is to be passionate about your work, since we are going to spent 30% of our life on it. But just a few people achieve that.

Thanks to those who shared their experience.

I am not as young as you think, my last twenties, and I feel the rush to settle definetely in a specific engineering field. My little experience is in HVAC installations, however the energy engineering is what fascinates me. Without experience in this field is tought to get in, I got hired in this company recently and I tougth that it was a great opportunity for me, because they match sustainable opportunities with technology suppliers. But if I don't have direct contact with the technology suppliers (workshops, training...) my learning is going to be a path of stones.

Don't be rushed. It ain't a race. Your training will be what you make it. You will get out of it what you put into it. You're driving the bus on that one. Anyway, and FWIW, the way I see it, you're not as old as you may think. I was 29 when I actually returned to school to pursue another degree (BSME) after being a peddler for ~ 8 yrs. + 2yrs. transferring my work and accounts to others after school started. Long, boring story, but I didn't worry about rushing it as much as much as getting it right, and above all, learning to think and see the world as an engineer thinks and sees the world.

[Sunking]

Yes, the key is to be passionate about your work, since we are going to spent 30% of our life on it. But just a few people achieve that.

That is the difference between wealth and poverty. Most the population default choice is to be poor and no motivation to change. They prefer to play the role of victim and blame someone else for their trouble.

[/QUOTE]