The economic size of conductor is determined by-a)Current carrying ca...
Let, area of cross-section of conductor = a
annual interest and depreciation on capital cost of the conductor = C1
annual running charges = C2
Now, annual interest and depreciation cost is directly proportional to the area of conductor.
i.e., C1 = K1a
And, annual running charges are inversely proportional to the area of conductor.
C2 = K2/a
Where, K1 and K2 are constants.
Now, Total annual cost = C = C1 + C2
C = K1a + K2/a
For C to be minimum, the differentiation of C w.r.t a must be zero. i.e. dC/da = 0.
Therefore,
"Kelvin's law states that the most economical size of a conductor is that for which annual interest and depreciation on the capital cost of the conductor is equal to the annual cost of energy loss." From the above derivation, the economical cross-sectional area of a conductor can be calculated
as,
a = √(K2/K1)