A programming model for the economic use of power cables

Summary

An attempt is made here to implicate the technical problem of power cables into programming language. Economic use of power cables demand consideration of various cost-factors, both of technical and commercial character. The problem is mathematically solved to derive the condition for minimum of costs or — in other words — for optimum use of a cable. Graphical exhibits clearly demarcate the optimum use of cables under changes in cost-factors. The problem simultaneously tries to differentiate between the criterions of „technical maximum“ and „economic optimum“.

Zusammenfassung

Es wird das technische Problem elektrischer Kabel als ein solches der Programmierung formuliert. Der ökonomische Einsatz von Kabeln verlangt die Heranziehung der verschiedenen Kostenfaktoren sowohl technischen wie kommerziellen Charakters. Die Bedingungen für minimale Kosten, d. h. optimalen Einsatz eines Kabels, werden hergeleitet. Die graphischen Darstellungen lassen die optimale Verwendung bei Veränderung der Kostenfaktoren erkennen. Gleichzeitig wird der Unterschied zwischen „technischem Maximum“ und „wirtschaftlichem Optimum“ herausgearbeitet.

This study in its technical form was originally carried out in 1957 by the joint author AmritlalGosalia while undergoing a training course at Drammens Elektrisitets Verk, Drammen, Norway. The cost analysis was to provide an idea as to the proper choice of cables for house-hold and commercial supply of electric power in the city of Drammen. The numerical values of different cost-factors as well as prices of cables for calculations in Dia. 5 and 6 therefore correspond to the normal market level of 1957 in Norway. These two diagrams have been reproduced in the text by the kind permission of DEV, Drammen, Norway. The original drawings have been altered as required for the easy explanation of the subject.