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Power Distribution Basics

Low Voltage Switchgear

Contents
Basic Concepts of Power System System Fault level Calculation Effects of addition of transformers in parallel More into fault level calculations Common Terminologies Circuit Breaker Selection Criteria Tripping Characteristics Types of Circuit Breakers Concept of Current Limiting Circuit Breakers Selectivity & Back-up Grounding Systems basics Earth Fault Protection Fuse Vs. Fuse-less Feeders

4 August 2011

Anamitra Biswas

India / Industry / I BT LV GC / BD

Basic Concepts Power System

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Anamitra Biswas

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Basic Concepts Power System

Generation

Transmission

Primary Distribution

Secondary Distribution

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Basic Concepts Various Sources of Generation

Wind

Solar PV

Geo-thermal 4 August 2011 Anamitra Biswas India / Industry / I BT LV GC / BD

Basic Concepts Power Distribution Components


Generating Stations Generator, Generator Breaker, Control Panel, Cables, Bus-ducts, Transformer, CT, PT, Relays, Communication Systems, Switchyards Towers, Insulators, Lines, Conductors Transformers, Breakers, CT, PT, Relays, Control Panels, Communication Systems, Incoming & outgoing Transmission Lines Transformers, Breakers, CT, PT, Relays, Control Panels, Communication Systems, Incoming & outgoing Transmission Lines Conductors, Cables, Transformers, Breakers, Protection Systems
Anamitra Biswas India / Industry / I BT LV GC / BD

Transmission Lines Grid Stations

Distribution Stations

Distribution Lines

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System Fault Level Calculation Objective of Power System Design


Protection from Faults Utilization Optimization Energy Conservation

Types of Fault: Overload Short Circuit Ground Fault

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Types of Faults
Over-current Current exceeding the rated current Short circuit Accidental or intentional conductive path between two or more conductive parts forcing the electric potential differences between these conductive parts to be equal to or close to zero Short-circuit current Over-current resulting from a short circuit due to a fault or an incorrect connection in an electric circuit Overload Operating conditions in an electrically undamaged circuit which cause an overcurrent
4 August 2011 Anamitra Biswas India / Industry / I BT LV GC / BD

Protection System Fault Level Calculation


Short circuit currents can have Maximum (Ikmax) & Minimum (Ikmin) values Depending on

The type of short circuit The voltage level & The impedance values

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System Fault Level Calculation


ThreeThree-Phase Short Circuit
L1 L2 L3 L1 L2 L3

Phase-toPhase-to-Phase Ungrounded Fault

I k3

I k2

Phase-toPhase-to-Phase Grounded Fault


L1 L2 L3 L1 L2 L3

Phase-toPhase-to-Ground Fault

I k2E2

I k1

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System Fault Level Calculation


Ik - Initial (Sub transient) Symmetrical Short Circuit Current
The R.M.S value of the a.c. component of a prospective S/C Current at the instant at which the S/C occurs

Ip - Maximum asymmetrical Short Circuit Current


The maximum possible instantaneous value of the prospective S/C current

Ik - Sustained Short Circuit Current


The R.M.S. value of the S/C Current after all the transient reactions have decayed

Ikmax - Maximum Sustained Short Circuit Current


The maximum value of sustained short circuit current that can Useful for determining the required breaking capacity of the SCPD occur at any given point in an installation.

Ikmin - Minimum Sustained Short Circuit Current


The minimum value of sustained short circuit current that can Useful for determining fuse selection and setting of circuit breakers occur at any given point in an installation.

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Anamitra Biswas

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System Fault Level Calculation


c - Voltage factor according to IEC 60 909 standard
For calculating Ikmax & Ikmin values. The c values are specified in IEC depending on the system voltage

Subxd - Sub-Transient Reactance of a Generator

R/X - Ratio of active resistance to inductive reactance


Used to calculate the maximum asymmetrical short circuit current

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System Fault Level Calculation

Sk C UnT Zk Rk

Short Circuit Apparent Power in kVA Voltage factor according to IEC 60 909 Rated Voltage of the Trafo LT side Total Impedance till the point of calculation = Total Resistance (Sum of system infeed resistance + HT Conductor resistance + For Ikmax resistance of conductor at 20 Deg C For Ikmin resistance of conductor at 80 Deg C Trafo Resistance + LT conductor resistance)

Xk

Total Reactance (Sum of system infeed reactance HT conductor reactance + Trafo Reactance + LT conductor reactance)

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System Fault Level Calculation

Nominal Voltage Voltage Factor c for calculating Un maximum short circuit currents minimum shor circuit currents cmax cmin Low Voltage 100V upto 1000V (IEC 60038, 1.05(1) or 1.10(2) 0.95 Table I) Medium Voltage >1 kV upto 35 kV (IEC 60038, 1.1 1 Table III) High Voltage >35 kV (IEC 60038, Table IV) 1) For low voltage network with a tolerance of +6 % 2) For low voltage networks with +10 %

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Anamitra Biswas

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System Fault Level Calculation

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Anamitra Biswas

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System Fault Level Calculation


SkQ max = 350 MVA SkQ min = 250 MVA

11 kV / 433 V 630 kVA %Z5% X/R Ratio 4.84

Cable 1 Length = 125 m 3 x 150 mm2 Armoured Al R / Km = 0.249 X / Km = 0.082

Cable 2 Length = 75 m 3 x 50 mm2 Armoured Al R / Km = 0.770 X / Km = 0.086

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System Fault Level Calculation


SkQ max = 350 MVA SkQ min = 250 MVA

11 kV / 433 V 630 kVA %Z5% X/R Ratio 4.84

Cable 1 Length = 125 m 3 x 150 mm2 Armoured Al R / Km = 0.249 X / Km = 0.082

Cable 2 Length = 75 m 3 x 50 mm2 Armoured Al R / Km = 0.770 X / Km = 0.086

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System Fault Level Calculation


We calculate the Total impedance till the point of Short Circuit Total impedance = Source impedance HT cable impedance Transformer impedance Busbar impedances LT cable impedance
(For ease of calculation, we have not considered the impedance of HT Cables & LT busbar in this example)

+ + + +

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System Fault Level Calculation System Impedance

c. Un2 Sk max

1.1 x 112 (KV) = 350 MVA

0.38

System Resistance R (1)Q = 10 % of X (1)Q = 0.1 x 0.378 = 0.0378

System Reactance X (1)Q =

Z (1) Q 1.005

0.38 1.005

0.378

System Impedance Z (1) Q

(0.0378 + j0.378)

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System Fault Level Calculation Transformer Impedance


Trafo Impedance ZT X/R Ratio = 4.84 Trafo Resistance RT = 0.003 Trafo Reactance XT = 0.0157 Trafo Impedance ZT = (0.003 + j = 0.0157) = % Z T x U T2 100 xTrafoKVA 5.41 x (.433)2 kV = 100 x .63 MVA = 0.0161

Impedance of System + Transformer


Impedance Z(1)Q + T = ZQ LT Voltage HT Voltage Impedance Z(1)Q + T = (0.0378 + j0.378) 0.433 11
2 2

This is to convert the impedance onto the LT side

ZT

+ (0.003 + j0.0157)

= (0.0031 + j0.016)
4 August 2011 Anamitra Biswas India / Industry / I BT LV GC / BD

System Fault Level Calculation Cable Impedances


Zcable Cable 1 Cable 2 = = = L (r + jx) L = 0.125 kM, r = 0.249 / KM , x = 0.082 / kM L = 0.075 kM, r = 0.770 / KM , x = 0.086 / kM

ZCa2

0.075 . ( 0.770 + j 0.086 )

= (0.06 + j0.006)

Total Impedance = Impedance of (System + Transformer + Cables)


= (0.0031 + j0.016) + (0.031+j0.01) + (0.06 +j 0.006) = (0.0941 + j 0.032) =

(0.0941) + (0.032)
2

= 0.099
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System Fault Level Calculation


Calculation of Ik3max at the load point Calculation of Ik3max at the transformer terminal

1.1 x 433

3 . 0.099

1.1 x 433

3 . 0.042881

or 2.78 kA

or 6.413 kA

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System Fault Level Calculation Calculation of fault current with synchronous generators ZG
ZG Xd

(RG + jXd)

Generator Impedance Generator Reactance


Xd. UG2

Xd
Xd

100 . Gen KVA

Sub Transient Reactance 0.05 . Xd for Generators with rated voltage > 1 kV and Rated Power 100 MVA 0.07 . Xd for Generators with rated voltage > 1 kV and Rated Power < 100 MVA 0.15 . Xd for Generators with rated voltage 1000 V
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RG

System Fault Level Calculation


Thumb Rule: 3-Phase Symmetrical Short Circuit Current at the outgoing bus of a source:
Transformer 2ndary Rated Current Isc = % impedance Transformer kVA = Sqrt(3) x Rated Voltage x % impedance This result gives approximate Fault level at the main bus but leads to approximation!

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System Fault Level Calculation Examples


400 V
Sn [ kVA ]

415 V In [A] 88 139 174 223 278 348 438 556 696 876 1113 1391 1739 2226 2782 3478 I sc [ kA ] 2,4 3,7 4,7 6,0 7,5 9,4 11,8 15,0 18,7 15,9 20,2 25,3 31,6 40,5 50,6 63,2

690 V In [A] 53 84 105 134 167 209 264 335 418 527 669 837 1046 1339 1673 2092 I sc [ kA ] 1,4 2,3 2,8 3,6 4,5 5,6 7,1 9,0 11,3 9,6 12,2 15,2 19,0 24,3 30,4 38,0

uk [% ] 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

In [A] 91 144 180 231 289 361 455 577 722 909 1155 1443 1804 2309 2887 3608

I sc [ kA ] 2,5 3,9 4,9 6,2 7,8 9,7 12,3 15,6 19,4 16,5 21,0 26,2 32,8 42,0 52,5 65,6

63 100 125 160 200 250 315 400 500 630 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500

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System Fault Level Calculation Typical Transformer specifications Rating Primary Voltage Secondary Voltage % Impedance Vector Group 1000 11 415 5 DYn11 kVA kV Volts %

Typical Generator specifications Rating Voltage % Impedance 1000 415 16 kVA Volts %

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Anamitra Biswas

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System Fault Level Calculation

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Anamitra Biswas

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Effects of addition of transformers in parallel

Minimum Short Circuit (1 Transformer)

Maximum Short Circuit (3 Transformers connected in parallel)


Zk 1 =Z Q mint + (Z TK+Z L 20C) 3 1 = 0.704m + (11.56m + 0.270m) 3 Z k min= 4.647m
min

Zk Zk

max

=Z Q maxt +1Z TK+Z L80C

= 0.8m + 11.56m + 0.303m


max

= 12.663m
0.95 400V 3 12.663m

Ik Ik

"

3 pol min =

Ik Ik

"

3polmax =

1.05 400V 3 4.647m

" 3 pol min

= 17.33kA

" 3polmax

= 52.18kA

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India / Industry / I BT LV GC / BD

More into fault level calculations

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Common Terminologies Power Distribution Components/ Products


Circuit Breaker

Switch Disconnector

Switch Disconnector Fuse (+ HRC Fuse)

Switch Fuse Disconnector (+HRC Fuse)

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Common Terminologies Symbols

G
X MER X MER

ACB ACB B/C ACB ACB

B/C ACB

ACB

ACB

MCCB

MCCB

SDF

SDF

TO CCP

TO MCC1

TO MCC2

TO ETP

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Common Terminologies Standards

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Common Terminologies Definitions of Power Distribution Components


Circuit-breaker A mechanical switching device, capable of making, carrying and breaking currents under normal circuit conditions and also making, carrying for a specified time and breaking currents under specified abnormal circuit conditions such as those of short-circuit Moulded-case circuit-breaker A circuit-breaker having a supporting housing of moulded insulating material forming an integral part of the circuit-breaker Disconnector A mechanical switching device which in open position complies with the requirement for the isolating function Switch Disconnector A switch which in open position satisfies the isolating requirements specified for a disconnector. Switch Disconnector Fuse A Switch Disconnector in which one or more poles have a fuse in series in a composite unit.

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Common Terminologies regarding Short Circuit Faults


Rated short-circuit making capacity (Icm) The rated short-circuit making capacity of a circuit-breaker is the value of short-circuit making capacity assigned to that circuit-breaker by the manufacturer for the rated operational voltage at rated frequency and at a specified power factor for a.c., or time constant for d.c. It is expressed as the maximum prospective peak current. For a.c. the rated short-circuit making capacity of a circuit-breaker shall be not less than its rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity, multiplied by a factor . For d.c., the rated short-circuit making capacity of a circuit-breaker shall be not less than its rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity. A rated short-circuit making capacity implies that the circuit-breaker shall be able to make the current corresponding to that rated capacity at the appropriate applied voltage related to the rated operational voltage.

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Common Terminologies regarding Short Circuit Faults


Rated short-circuit breaking capacities The rated short-circuit breaking capacities of a circuit-breaker are the values of short-circuit breaking capacity assigned to that circuit-breaker by the manufacturer for the rated operational voltage, under specified conditions. A rated short-circuit breaking capacity requires that the circuit-breaker shall be able to break any value of short-circuit current up to the prescribed test voltage values. For a.c., the circuit-breaker shall be capable of breaking a prospective current corresponding to its rated short-circuit breaking capacity and the related power factor. The rated short-circuit breaking capacities are stated as: rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity. rated service short-circuit breaking capacity.

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Common Terminologies regarding Short Circuit Faults


Rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity (Icu) The rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity of a circuitbreaker is the value of ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity assigned to that circuit-breaker by the manufacturer for the corresponding rated operational voltage, under the conditions specified in standards. It is expressed as the value of the prospective breaking current, in kA (r.m.s. value of the a.c. component in the case of a.c.). Test sequence III : O - t - CO Rated service short-circuit breaking capacity (Ics) The rated service short-circuit breaking capacity of a circuitbreaker is the value of service short-circuit breaking capacity assigned to that circuit-breaker by the manufacturer for the corresponding rated operational voltage, under the conditions specified in standards. It is expressed as a value of prospective breaking current, in kA, corresponding to one of the specified percentages of the rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity. It may be expressed as a % of Icu (for example Ics = 50 % Icu). Test sequence II : O - t - CO - t - CO

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Common Terminologies regarding Short Circuit Faults


Rated short-time withstand current (Icw) The rated short-time withstand current of a circuitbreaker is the value of short-time withstand current assigned to that circuit-breaker by the manufacturer under the test conditions specified in standards. For a.c., the value of this current is the r.m.s. value of the a.c. component of the prospective shortcircuit current, assumed constant during the shorttime delay. The short-time delay associated with the rated short-time withstand current shall be at least 0,05 s, preferred values being as follows: 0,05 0,1 0,25 0,5 1 s

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Common Terminologies Utilization Categories


Utilization categories The utilization category of a circuit-breaker shall be stated with reference to whether or not it is specifically intended for selectivity by means of an intentional time delay with respect to other circuitbreakers in series on the load side, under short-circuit conditions. Utilization category Application with respect to selectivity CAT A Circuit-breakers not specifically intended for selectivity under short-circuit conditions with respect to other short-circuit protective devices in series on the load side, i.e. without an intentional short-time delay provided for selectivity under short-circuit conditions, and therefore without a short-time withstand current rating. CAT B Circuit-breakers specifically intended for selectivity under short-circuit conditions with respect to other short-circuit protective devices in series on the load side, i.e. with an intentional short-time delay (which may be adjustable), provided for selectivity under short-circuit conditions. Such circuit-breakers have a short-time withstand current rating

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Circuit Breaker Selection Criteria


Overload Tripping Characteristics The overload characteristic of the Circuit Breaker should not foul with the OLPD (overload protection device) in the same circuit. Short Circuit Tripping Characteristic 1. The Circuit Breaker should immediately recognize a potentially high S/C current as a Short Circuit Fault and Trip 2. Nearest Circuit Breaker to the fault to trip to maintain continuity of supply to the whole plant/ installation. 3. Circuit Breaker withstand capacity should be sufficiently higher than the calculated fault level at the point of installation.

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Tripping Characteristics
Overload Release "L" Standard I2t Optional I4t Delayed Short circuit release "S" Standard tsd optional I2t

L S

Ir tr Ig Isd tsd
X Current (A) L S I G = = = = Long time, inverse-time delayed overload release Short Time delayed Short Circuit release Instantaneous short circuit release Ground fault protection
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I G

Instantaneous short circuit release "I" Standard On Optional Off Ground Fault Release Standard t Optional I2t Neutral protection Standard 0-1/ 2 Optional Off
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tg

Ii

Anamitra Biswas

Tripping Characteristics overload release

L S

standard optional

I2t I4t

Ir tr Ig tg Isd

short time delay short-circuit protection


standard optional tsd I2t

I G

instantaneous short-circuit protection earth fault protection


standard optional t I2t
current (A)

tsd

Ii

coI4t Characteristics for co-ordination with HV CB / Fuse.

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Types of Circuit Breakers


Circuit Breaker A mechanical switching device, capable of making, carrying and breaking currents under normal circuit conditions and also making, carrying for a specified time and breaking currents under specified abnormal circuit conditions such as those of short-circuit Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) A circuit-breaker having the arc quenching (Fault current breaking atmosphere) medium as air. Moulded-Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB) A circuit-breaker having a supporting housing of moulded insulating material forming an integral part of the circuit-breaker Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) A small (miniature) circuit-breaker having a supporting housing of thermoplastic or thermoset material forming the body of the circuit-breaker in which the thermal magnetic tripping mechanism and arc chutes are housed.
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Types of Circuit Breakers

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Concept of Current Limiting Circuit Breaker


Current Zero Principle: Contacts open at the zero current time crossing of the AC waveform, effectively breaking no load current at the time of opening. The zero crossing occurs at twice the line frequency i.e. 100 times per second for 50Hz

Current Limiting Circuit Breaker: a circuit-breaker with a break- time short enough to prevent the short-circuit current reaching its otherwise attainable peak value

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Selectivity
Selectivity (discrimination) implies that the protective devices closest to the point of fault should operate in the quickest possible manner to avoid the healthy feeders being affected

Selective

NonNon-Selective

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Selectivity Full Selectivity


Down Stream Circuit Breaker alone trips in the event of any short circuit up to Ik Max

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Selectivity Partial Selectivity

Down Stream Circuit Breaker overalone trips upto a defined overcurrent level (called Selectivity Limit Isel) Beyond this limit both Circuit Breakers Trip

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Back-up Protection
Back-up protection features Both Protective Devices can trip

The Upstream Protective Device has more shortcircuit strength than the downstream device (Icu of the upstream device is larger than the Ik Max) (Icu of the downstream device is smaller than the Ik Max)

Icu = 55 kA

The Upstream device limits the short circuit current of the downstream protective device up to its short circuit strength The Switching device combination is only partially selective
Ikmax = 38 kA

Icu = 35 kA

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Grounding Systems basics


First letter Refers to Source / System Earthing
T Source is directly earthed I Isolation of all live parts from earth or connection via an impedance

Second letter Refers to Equipment Earthing


T Exposed conductive part is directly earthed N Exposed conductive part is directly connected to the system ground

Further letter Differentiates between Neutral & Grounding


S Neutral and protective conductor are routed separately C Neutral and protective conductor are routed as shared conductor (PEN)

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Grounding Systems basics

Lets Draw!!
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Earth Fault Protection

The Graphic shows the circulating current is dependent on the voltage across the fault loop and the loop impedance only, and not in terms of % of Nominal rating of the SCPD. If so, they may remain Undetected. Undetected Earth faults can result in Fire Hazards Welding of CB with Guide Frame Detecting/ Carrying Higher E/F Current requires bigger PE Conductor Extra Cost.

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TN System Earth Fault

General formula for Fault current If = 3E/ [Z1+Z2+Z0+3(Zn+Zg)]


E = Phase Voltage Z1, Z2, Z0 = Positive, Negative and Zero Sequence impedance, respectively. Zn = Neutral Earthing Impedance, Zg = impedance of ground return circuit

Considering a 1-earth fault on the 2ndary side of a delta/star transformer having neutral grounded, Z2, Z0 can be considered to be of same value as of Z1 The equation is simplified as: If = E/ [Z1+Zn+Zg)] With the consideration of solid earthing of the LT winding i.e., the 0.415kV winding Zn can be ignored. So, further simplified equation stands: If = E/ [Z1+Zg]

Now, let us see a case study for a 2MVA transformer, %Z = 7.5% Return conductor e.g. 100m, Aluminum 240 mm2 , R = 0.0122; X = 0.0071

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TN system Earth Fault


Base impedance = 0.415x0.415/2 = 0.0861 Ohmic Impedance of Transformer winding = 0.0861x0.075 = 0.00645 Z1+Zg = j0.00645+0.0122+j0.0071 = 0.0182 So, If = E/ [Z1+Zg] = (415/1.732)/0.0182 = 12.7kA 3-phase symmetrical fault current = (415/1.732)/0.00645 = 37.148kA

So, for a TN System, in case of single phase to earth fault, most of the fault current shall flow through the protective earthing and the earth bus is expected to withstand almost 30% of the 3-phase fault for 1 sec.

I2t = S2K2 S = (I2t/K2)

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TN system Earth Fault

Example: From the previous formula we can calculate the cross section of the cable of the earth bus or PE conductor for a LT system having 50kA 3ph symmetrical fault level, considering the earth bus is expected to withstand MINIMUM 30% of the 3-ph fault for 1sec. S = cross section of the cable, I = fault current ~ 30% of 50kA ~ 15kA, t = 1 sec K = 115 for PVS insulated Cu (constant for the material) S = (152x1/1152) = 130.43 mm2 Now considering 1.6A/mm2 for Cu bus, the continuous current carrying capacity of the cable would be roughly 208A.

So, a sustained earth fault > 208A, if left undetected leads to consequent fire hazard.

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TN System Detection of Earth Fault

Conventionally the earth fault protection setting in Circuit Breakers are in terms of % of the Nominal Current (In) of the CB. So for an incoming CB of 4000A with a minimum setting of 20% of In shall detect the earth fault only if the fault current is 4000*20% = 800A, which means a sustained earth fault of 208A shall be left undetected!! Solution: Absolute values of Earth Fault protection with lower current settings or Over-designed earth bus

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Fused vs. Fuse-less Systems


Attribute Fuse-less System Fused Systems High Downtime for replacement lowers productivity Fuses are current based Thermally activated Devices No setting range Overload and Short circuit Protection only Time-coordination not possible, Only current discrimination is possible Only local operation No fault indication No Communication Capability Higher inventory No Draw-out SDF available

Productivity Productivity/ Safety Productivity Productivity Safety & Productivity Safety & Productivity Productivity Productivity Productivity

Low Down-time increased productivity Releases Longer Setting range Overload, Short Circuit & Earth Fault Protection Effective Coordination with time-delay Remote and Local Operation possible Various Fault Indications Communication Capability Low Inventory Draw-out feature reduces downtime even in a Fixed Switchboard

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Anamitra Biswas

India / Industry / I BT LV GC / BD

Any Question?

Thank You
Anamitra Biswas Siemens Ltd, India anamitra.biswas@siemens.com

4 August 2011

Anamitra Biswas

India / Industry / I BT LV GC / BD

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