CIGRE TB 880 Case Study Validation for IEC 60287 Cable Rating
EasyCableSizing achieves perfect validation against industry-standard CIGRE TB880 case studies. Experience professional current rating calculations with verified accuracy across 16+ validation scenarios including underground, submarine, and ductbank installations.
Experience professional cable current rating calculations with EasyCableSizing's CIGRE TB880 validation suite. No registration required - test industry-standard cable sizing software used by electrical engineers worldwide.
Why Cable Sizing Software Validation Matters for Electrical Engineers
Cable current rating calculations aren't just about applying IEC 60287 formulas—it's about ensuring those formulas are implemented correctly and consistently across different cable sizing tools. When CIGRE Working Group B1.56 developed the TB880 cable rating verification standard, they discovered that even industry experts were getting different current ratings for identical high voltage cable installations. The problem wasn't the electrical engineering calculations themselves, but the interpretation and implementation of the IEC 60287 cable current rating standards.
This is precisely why we've built EasyCableSizing cable sizing software from the ground up using the CIGRE TB880 methodology for power cable current rating calculations. Every ampacity calculation, every thermal resistance iteration, every intermediate result has been validated against these electrical engineering industry benchmarks to 10 decimal places.
Free Cable Sizing Software Demo - No Registration Required
Access to All Implemented CIGRE TB880 Cable Rating Case Studies: No registration barriers, no trial limitations for this cable sizing software demo. You can now run the exact same cable current rating validation cases that we use to verify our electrical engineering software—the same high voltage cable case studies that cable sizing tools worldwide are measured against.
Professional Cable Current Rating Precision: Experience cable ampacity calculations to 10 significant figures, the same precision used by CIGRE experts for detecting discrepancies between cable sizing tools. This isn't about claiming unrealistic accuracy—it's about providing the granular detail needed for proper cable rating software validation. Note: Standard EasyCableSizing interface displays results to 2 decimal places for practical use, with 10-decimal precision available in demo mode for validation purposes.
Complete Cable Sizing PDF Reports: Generate professional cable current rating reports including all input parameters, intermediate thermal resistance calculations, and final ampacity ratings. These cable sizing reports are identical to what our electrical engineering subscribers receive for their custom power cable projects.
Cable Current Rating Validation Results - EasyCableSizing vs CIGRE TB880
| Cable Sizing Case Study | Cable Current Rating Description | CIGRE Reference [A] | EasyCableSizing [A] | Difference & Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 Base | 132kV XLPE cable direct burial, trefoil using Cable TB880-0 | 821.7763334392 | 821.7763334392 | 0 A 100% |
| 0-1 Var1 | Cable current rating with depth approximation for T4 using Cable TB880-0 | 821.8113708239 | 821.8113708239 | 0 A 100% |
| 0-1 Var2 | Single point bonding cable ampacity using Cable TB880-0 | 886.175285472 | 886.175285472 | 0 A 100% |
| 0-1 Var3 | Cable rating with eddy-current losses using Cable TB880-0 | 803.1595966445 | 803.1595966445 | 0 A 100% |
| 0-2 Base | HDPE duct cable installation current rating using Cable TB880-0 | 682.81446487 | 682.81446487 | 0 A 100% |
| 0-2 Var1 | Duct installation with eddy-current losses using Cable TB880-0 | 679.8409804502 | 679.8409804502 | 0 A 100% |
| 0-3 Base | PVC duct bank cable current rating using Cable TB880-0 | 634.073418992 | 634.073418992 | 0 A 100% |
| 0-3 Var1 | Concrete ductbank single point bonding using Cable TB880-0 | 904.5519955345 | 904.5519955345 | 0 A 100% |
| 0-3 Var2 | Ductbank with eddy-current losses using Cable TB880-0 | 633.0356512622 | 633.0356512622 | 0 A 100% |
| 1-1 | Multi-circuit trefoil cable current rating using Cable TB880-1 | 990.5401450554 | 990.5401450554 | 0 A 100% |
| 1-2 | Multi-circuit flat formation ampacity using Cable TB880-1 | 1460.4545417538 | 1460.4545417538 | 0 A 100% |
| 2 | 30kV submarine cable current rating using Cable TB880-2 | 838.3399739337 | 838.3399739336 | 0.0000000001 A 100% |
| 4 | 33kV land cable ampacity calculation using Cable TB880-4 | 537.4631099368 | 537.4631099368 | 0 A 100% |
| 5-1 | 400kV LPOF trefoil cable current rating using Cable TB880-5 | 903.6213914485 | 903.6213914485 | 0 A 100% |
| 5-2 | 400kV LPOF flat cable ampacity using Cable TB880-5 | 1590.225147906 | 1590.225147906 | 0 A 100% |
| 6 | 400kV submarine cable wide spacing using Cable TB880-6 | 1039.4347828913 | 1039.4354332932 | -0.0006504019 A 99.999937% |
| 8 | 220kV submarine export cable current rating using Cable TB880-8 | 1134.8196615454 | 1134.8196615454 | 0 A 100% |
Perfect cable current rating matches across all implemented CIGRE TB880 case studies, with Case Study 6 showing exceptional 99.999937% accuracy - well within CIGRE's acknowledged tolerances for this notoriously challenging cable sizing validation case.
Current Implementation Scope
While EasyCableSizing covers the vast majority of real-world cable sizing scenarios, certain specialized installation methods and cable types are not yet implemented. This reflects both market priorities and technical complexity:
Not Yet Implemented
Pipe-Type Cables (Case Studies 3 & 9): These cables installed in steel pipes are primarily used in North America for specific transmission applications. Case Study 9 specifically covers a 110kV retrofitted triplex cable in steel pipe. While historically important, they represent a small percentage of new installations globally as utilities have largely moved to modern XLPE alternatives.
Air Installations (Case Studies 0-4 variants): Cables installed in free air with solar radiation effects are next in our development pipeline. While the thermal modelling is complex due to convection and radiation heat transfer, this represents a moderate subset of installations and will be implemented in the near future.
Unfilled Trough Installations (Case Studies 0-5 variants): Cables laid in open troughs without backfill material. These installations require specialised thermal modelling for air gaps and convection effects.
Strategic Implementation Priorities
Our implementation roadmap focuses on the cable types and installation methods that represent the overwhelming majority of current engineering projects: modern XLPE insulated cables in buried installations, duct banks, and submarine applications. This covers approximately 95% of new cable installations worldwide.
The specialised cases above require significant development effort for relatively niche applications. We continually evaluate market demand and technical requirements to prioritise future development.
The CIGRE TB880 Validation Suite
The demo area provides access to all implemented case studies from CIGRE TB880, representing the core calculation methodologies used across the global power industry:
Case Study 0-1 using Cable TB880-0
132kV XLPE cable with multiple installation and operational variations:
- Base case: Direct burial in trefoil formation at 1.0m depth
- Variation 1: Alternative depth calculation methodology
- Variation 2: Single-point bonding configuration
- Variation 3: Including eddy-current losses in metallic sheaths
Case Study 0-2 using Cable TB880-0
Cables in touching HDPE ducts, with variation including eddy-current losses.
Case Study 0-3 using Cable TB880-0
PVC ducts in flat formation embedded in concrete with single point bonding and eddy-current loss variations.
Case Study 0-3: PVC ducts in concrete ductbank configuration
Case Study 1 using Cable TB880-1
Multi-circuit installations in trefoil and flat formations demonstrating thermal interaction effects between parallel circuits.
Case Study 2 using Cable TB880-2
30kV submarine three-core cable with steel wire armour.
Case Study 4 using Cable TB880-4
33kV land cable in trefoil formation with solid bonding.
Case Study 5 using Cable TB880-5
400kV LPOF submarine cables in both trefoil and flat formations.
Case Study 6 using Cable TB880-6
The notorious validation challenge: 400kV single-core submarine cables with 10m spacing - a case that challenges even commercial software.
Case Study 8 using Cable TB880-8
220kV three-core submarine export cable with stainless steel armour.
Case Study 8: 220kV three-core submarine cable designer interface
Beyond the Demo Cases
While the CIGRE TB880 cases provide comprehensive validation, real-world cable sizing often involves scenarios not covered in the standard validation suite. Our subscribers gain access to:
- Custom cable definitions with any conductor size, insulation type, or construction
- Project-specific environmental conditions including varying soil thermal resistivities and ambient temperatures
- Multi-voltage installations from LV distribution to EHV transmission applications
- Historical project archiving for reference and repeat calculations
- Complete PDF reporting with all calculation parameters and results
The demo cases show you exactly what you're getting—professional-grade calculations with full transparency into every step of the process.
Getting Started
Ready to experience professional cable sizing calculations? No registration required—simply visit any of the case study links above and start exploring. Run the calculations, examine the detailed results, export the PDF reports, and see for yourself the level of detail and accuracy that EasyCableSizing provides.
Whether you're evaluating software options, learning cable sizing principles, or verifying your current tools against industry standards, these validation cases provide the perfect starting point.
For further reading on cable sizing fundamentals, explore our articles on Tackling Voltage Drop in Electrical Cables and Understanding the IEC 60502 Sizing System.
Available Now - No Registration Required:
- ✅ Access to all implemented CIGRE TB880 validation cases
- ✅ 10-decimal place calculation precision for validation
- ✅ Professional PDF report generation
- ✅ Industry-leading validation accuracy (99.999937%+ match rate)
- ✅ Direct access to all case studies and cables
- ✅ Zero barriers to professional cable sizing experience