"ANSI and NEMA or IEC a project decision"

Abstract

In recent years a perception seems to have developed concerning the cost of electrical installations on projects that the IEC electrical equipment and installation methods are less costly thaw using ANSVNEMA equipment. This paper relates the authors experience on one project specifically and other projects in general concerning this topic which directly contradicts this perception. The paper also outlines the process used to make the decision whether to use IEC or ANSVNEMA type electrical equipment on a project.

NEMA and IEC Standards: A Practical Approach

“…Many of the data tables in this example come from a real-life project presented at the 45th Annual Petroleum and Chemical Industry Conference by Howard Bradley and Sunita Kulkami, with actual data obtained from this project's approved European vendors. Much of these data are also aligned with the authors' own experience with projects in the Asia-Pacific regions and is referenced in this example as back-up data for discussion points [8].…”

“…The total cost for the trench was found to be just over $1 million, while the cost for the CT was found to be over $1.5 million [8].…”

“…System Design [8] In order to determine the lowest cost to design and construct for this project, a number of different factors, which are detailed as follows, were considered. Many of the data tables in this example come from a real-life project presented at the 45th Annual Petroleum and Chemical Industry Conference by Howard Bradley and Sunita Kulkami, with actual data obtained from this project's approved European vendors.…”

“…In looking at the cost of major electrical equipment, including medium-voltage transformer, medium-voltage switchgear, bus ducts, and other power distribution equipment, IEC equipment was determined to cost over $3 million, while similar ANSI/NEMA equipment was found to cost just over $1.5 million [8].…”

“…Looking at the total costs (determined by adding together the equipment cost and wiring cost), the new plant power system under design with ANSI/NEMA equipment, a CT system, and CT-type cables would result in a lower total cost (just over $4.2 million) than a similar system designed with IEC equipment, underground cable trench, and SWA-type cables (just over $5.6 million) [8].…”