Aplicação do fator de carga cíclica no dimensionamento de cabos elétricos de potência de baixa tensão de corrente alternada em usina fotovoltaica

Abstract

This study presents a technical assessment of different methods for sizing low-voltage AC power cables for photovoltaic power plants, focusing on cost optimization and operational efficiency. The rationale is based on the growth of solar photovoltaic energy in Brazil and the need for sizing methods that account for the cyclical characteristics of solar generation, aiming to reduce costs without compromising safety. The objectives include comparing conventional (ABNT NBR 5410) and cyclic (IEC 60853-1) methodologies, highlighting their technical and economic differences. The methodology involved exploratory and descriptive research, regulatory analysis, energy generation simulation using Pvsyst software, and the application of sizing criteria in a case study. The results showed that the cyclic method, by considering the plant’s variable load profile, increased cable ampacity by up to 47.89%, leading to significant cost savings—such as a reduction of R$ 152,602.90 in cable procurement for the analyzed project. It is concluded that the cyclic methodology is viable and advantageous for photovoltaic projects, as it combines technical and economic efficiency while enabling optimizations in underground trench layouts.