Busbar Trunking System is the is a system of distributing electric power using copper or aluminium busbar with suitable enclosures and good amount of protection to prevent the cables from getting damaged due to foreign bodies.
Busbars are now becoming irreplaceable simply because of the convenience and safety factor. While using traditional cables, the cost of cabling and trunking and the time taken for installation is much higher than busbars as well.
Installing busbars over conventional cabling has a range of advantages some of which are mentioned below:
Design: Busbars have a compact design through which compressed flat conductors can pass through the enclosure. Due to the compact designs, busbars require lesser space than traditional cabling systems and this is a major advantage when thousands of amperes of electricity need to be transmitted.
Heat Absorption: Since the design is compact and has a metal casing with well-defined surface, busbars can absorb heat generated while transmissions and distribution of electricity in the walls of the enclosure. The system of cooling is much better than traditional cabling system.
Flexibility: Busbars are more flexible in nature compared to cables in the sense that it can be used in any kind of structure with any configuration. They are easily modifiable and hence the addition of an extra room or building can be easily done. Busbars can also be relocated without much of a capital expenditure.
Cost Savings: Busbars can be mounted easily than a cable and incurs a lesser cost of installation than traditional cables. They can also be mounted at a lesser time than traditional cables.
Better Resistance: Busbars have rigid design elements and hence has better resistance than cables, especially in case of short circuits. Busbars have a minimum distance between the conductors which in turn reduces the induction of resistance. Busbars also have a thin and flat tire which helps in optimal distribution of density of current and in turn reduces resistance. Due to lower levels of density, voltage loss is much lower than cables for the same length.
Reduced Loss of Energy: Busbars have lower resistance than cables. Hence the loss of energy due to transmission and distribution is lower in Busbars. Busbars also have a limited growth of reactive power to operate compared to cable systems.
Lower Electromagnetic Field: Due to the compact design and the steel shell, a comparatively lower electromagnetic field is created around a Busbar as compared to a cable. Hence, high loads of 4000 ampere to 5000 ampere can easily be created near the data cables which is free from electromagnetic interference.
No Dependency on Length: In case of traditional cables connecting a phase with high amperage, the length of the cables varies both on location and connection. But in case of Busbars, the difference of length is eliminated since they have the parameters of active and inductive resistance to ensure that the load on each phase is equal.
Ease of Distribution: Busbars help in easy, efficient and safe distribution of line with the junction boxes in places where they are required. Moreover, the location data junction boxes can be changed whenever and where-ever in the future. The junction boxes can be easily increased in the future as well with busbars.
Standard Cells: Fully certified standard cells are an integral part of busbars which is meant to eliminate human error. Examples of such standard cell include junction boxes and plugs. These are certified parts of busbars which meet all kinds of safety standards.
Safe and Secured: Busbars are fitted with a steel casing and cannot be damaged by rodents as compared to cables.
Apart from the above, there are a variety of other advantages that busbars have over cables. With the network and distribution requirement growing day by day, traditional cables will soon be history and busbars will continue to gain importance.
C&S Electric is the leading manufacturers of busbars in India. We manufacture different kinds of busbars, including Compact Air Insulated Bustrunking System Metabar, Sandwich Bustrunking System Metabar, Lighting Trunking System Metabar and Cast Resin Low Voltage Betobar. Our busbars are internationally certified & used all across the world including USA, Europe, Russia, Brazil, Malaysia, Middle East and Australia.
Busbar Trunking Vs. Cables
| S.No | Busbar Trunking | Cables |
|---|---|---|
| I | Features: | |
| Finishing is very good, hence adds to aesthetics of building | Improper laying of the cables may spoils the aesthetics of building | |
| Multiple floor building power feeding can be done with single Bustrunking system | Multiple floor building power feeding has to be done with multiple cable sets. This make the complete system cumbersome. | |
| Power tap off can be done from the single system installed.. Incase the load changes we have to just replace the Tap off boxes of higher rating. | Not possible. Additional cables to be laid till the particular floor. | |
| II | Voltage Drop : | |
| The voltage drop of bustrunking is less as compared to cables. | The voltage drop is more in cables. | |
| III | Structure : | |
| Example for 3200A(Cu) dimensions : 151(w)x340(h) and light in weight | Cables and its structure 700mm wide i.e., cable tray etc. is very heavy and occupies more space. | |
| Total run is made up of multiple element which are joint together. Thus making the complete system maintenance friendly. | As single length of multiple cables are installed, making it maintenance nonfriendly. | |
| Easy retrofitting of the element is possible in case the location and consumer load | Easy retrofitting of the element is not possible in case the location and consumer load | |
| Totally enclosed, cannot be tampered. Fit and forget system2 | Insulation can wear off with time. Can get damaged by rodents. Has to maintained on regular basis. | |
| IV | Degree of Protection : | |
| IP-54 for plug in type, IP55, 65 for feeder | No protection as such | |
| Special protection is to be taken for installation in OUTDOOR area. | Special protection is to be taken for installation in OUTDOOR area. | |
| V | Enclosure : | |
| It consists of busbars in a protective enclosure, including straight lengths, fittings, devices and accessories. | Cables are simply insulated with multiple layers of PVC. | |
| High Short circuit strength & high fire protection | Low Short circuit strength & low fire protection | |
| VI | Termination : | |
| Direct termination through busbars | The method for cable termination is very cumbersome. | |
| Termination is simple and easy. | Additional supports are required to hold the cables inside the panel. | |
| Have a highly compact structure and can be bent up to 90 degree. | Cables are generally installed in bundles & with such a cross section that they can not be bent tightly. | |
| VII | Time & cost consumption : | |
| When sizing busbars the designer only needs to make calculations on a single riser which reduces design time and costs. | It is necessary to protect each cable individually with a fuse and when laying the cables in bundles it is necessary to anchor them properly so that they can withstand the electrodynamic forces generated in the event of a short ckt. So, the designers have to spend more time on calculations. | |
| VIII | Use of additional items : | |
| No additional supports are required. | Heavy labor is required to lay the cables | |
| No extra holes/cutouts are required. | Holes to be made in the gland plate for fixing cable glands | |
| No cable tray is required, supported on ceiling / wall. | Cable tray or the digging of the trench is required to lay the cables | |
| No special tools are required. | Special tool are required for crimping the cable lugs | |
| Design verified switchgear assembly, limits from manufacturer’s catalogue | Limits depend on the laying method and cable accumulation. The derating factor must be determined / calculated | |
| IX | Halogen Free : | |
| Principally free from halogen. | PVC cables are not free from halogen. Halogen-free cables are very expensive. | |
| X | Damage by rodents : | |
| Busbar systems cannot be damaged by various rodents, which prevents the steel casing. | Cables can be damaged by various rodents. | |
