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Electrical disturbances in LV
R. Calvas
"Cahiers Techniques" is a collection of documents intended for engineers
and technicians, people in the industry who are looking for more in-depth
information in order to complement that given in product catalogues.
Foreword
The author disclaims all responsibility subsequent to incorrect use of
information or diagrams reproduced in this document, and cannot be held
responsible for any errors or oversights, or for the consequences of using
information and diagrams contained in this document.
Roland CALVAS
Contents
1 LV industrial voltages 1.1 Nominal voltages p. 4
1.2 Frequency p. 4
2 Amplitude disturbances 2.1 Voltage dips and short interruptions p. 5
2.2 Overvoltages p. 9
3 Sine wave disturbances 3.1 Generators p. 16
3.2 Transformers p. 16
3.3 Loads p. 16
3.4 Switch mode power supplies p. 17
3.5 Industrial furnaces p. 17
3.6 Carrier currents p. 17
3.7 Effects of disturbances p. 17
4 Disturbances specific to multiphase 4.1 Current and voltage unbalance p. 19
systems 4.2 Phase unbalance p. 20
5 Electromagnetic disturbances 5.1 Fields and radiation p. 21
5.2 Electrostatic discharges p. 22
6 Conclusion p. 23
Appendix 1: transmission of overvoltages through transformers p. 24
Appendix 2: ferroresonance p. 25
Bibliography p. 26
All networks undergo or create disturbances. c electrical consultants and contractors must
However, loads, as well as control/monitoring also take these phenomena into account right
and protection devices, are sensitive to the from the design stage of networks, and,
quality of the voltage applied to them. Knowledge according to their customers’ needs, find
and consideration of these electrical power technical solutions for distribution diagrams and
supply requirements are thus justified: switchgear.
c manufacturers of electrotechnical and Important reminder:
electronic equipment designed for an Low Voltage installations must comply with
international market must allow for tolerances standard IEC 60364 (in France standard
that vary from country to country, NF C 15-100).
1.2 Frequency
With respect to frequency, slow fluctuations 50 Hz ± 1% for 95% of the week, and
around the nominal value of 50 or 60 Hz are [+4%, - 6%] in the event of major disturbances.
normally small. These fluctuations may be far greater for
In European countries, whose networks are autonomous networks, for example on an
interconnected, standard EN 50160 specifies island.
Networks are disturbed not only by load whatever their origin (LV, MV or HV). The two
fluctuations in normal operation, but also and main amplitude disturbances are:
above all by random phenomena of accidental
c voltage dips and short interruptions,
origin, for example short-circuits. A LV network
is subjected to these two causes of disturbances c overvoltages.
In t (s)
0
MV
b - Voltage on the faulty feeder
Un
∆u
t (s)
0
Faulty feeder
Un
∆u
t (s)
0
Principle: On an overhead MV network, most faults are intermittent. Thus, the incoming circuit-breaker on
each feeder is equipped with an automated system that attempts two reclosings (sometimes three):
c the first instantaneously (opening + closing time: 0.3 s),
c the second after roughly 15 s.
Fig. 4 : voltage fluctuations on rapid and slow reclosing on a MV distribution network.
Circuit “A”
Circuit “B”
U
Incomer 1
“A”
0
Incomer 1
“B”
0
tf tf
Network 1
supplied 0
by… A B A
tf = 5 or 25 s t
Fig. 5 : double shunt MV power supply. In the box, automated system sequence for a Merlin Gerin changeover
switch conform to EDF specifications (France).
MV/LV
transformers
Supply path of
substation no. 1
MV/LV MV/LV
transformers transformers
Ring opening
point
Substation no. 1
2.2 Overvoltages
Except for accidental voltage rises, for example
connection of a 230 V transformer to a 400 V
line, the only voltage rises that may exceed the Un
nominal variation range of Un + 10% are
observed when the LV network is not on-load.
However, the transformers of primary Energisation
1
substations are normally equipped with on-load
tap changers that enable the electrical utility to
maintain MV within the range Un ± 7%. 0 t
Ul
Z Spark-gap Ul
Rpn Ul Ra
Primary substation MV/LV substation Load
Fig. 12 : TTN earthing system of a MV/LV substation (common earthing of the spark-gap, transformer frame and
LV neutral), and transmission of the lightning wave to the LV network.
MV/LV LV “pole-top”
transformer protection
Metering “Individual”
LV protection
Rp Rn Ra
Fig. 13 : MV/LV “pole-top” substation. TTS earthing system of a MV/LV substation (separate earthing of the spark-
gap, transformer frame and LV neutral). This earthing system is ITS if a surge limiter is inserted in the LV neutral
earthing connection.
T
∆U
Fuse
∆U/2
U
t
10 ms
Fig. 19 : overvoltage depends on the distance separating the fault from the protection device.
∆Û + Û
Û
10
5 10 A
3
400 A
Fuse
35 A
2
t
1
0.03 0.1 0.3 1 3 ms
Fig. 20 : with the same upstream short-circuit power, overvoltage levels and durations on a feeder depend on the
rating of its protection device and the cross-section of its conductors.
50%
t
0.25 2.5 ms
Recurrent damped b
v
oscillating wave:
(100 kHz < f < 1 MHz) U
0.9 U
10
0.1 U t
0.5 ms
50 %
t
1.2 50 µs
Current wave d
i
8 / 20 µs
50 %
t
8 20 µs
LV switchgear, 5 / 50 ns wave e v
(e.g. fuse blowing)
50 %
t
5 50 ns
3.1 Generators
Inexpensive devices, normally low power, are
often harmonic-generators (see fig. 24 ). Generators
(presence of a slot “noise”)
3.3 Loads
Capacitors
Harmonic currents are particularly well absorbed
by capacitors when their frequency is high. The
current absorbed by the capacitors is thus a
caricature of the voltage of the network on which Ie
they are placed. Associated with inductances, Ue
they form network cleaning filters and then
absorb a non-sinusoidal current (see “Cahier
Technique” no. 152). Fig. 25 : off-load current wave absorbed by a
transformer with an insufficiently large power rating.
Fluorescent tubes
Electric arcs absorb non-sinusoidal currents
particularly harmonic-loaded. “Tandem”
mounting and compensation do not prevent U
I
fluorescent tubes from generating harmonics.
V3 Vd3 Vi2 ωt
= + +
Vh
Fig. 29 : reminder of the various components, direct, negative and zero-sequence of the three-phase system.
(+)
Ve Vs
V+/-
(-)
E
Zc = Fig. 31 : voltage induced by a current.
H
In fact, all electromagnetic fields are
characterised by the simultaneous presence of
electrical and magnetic fields linked in what is → V
E= (V/m)
known as the Poingting vector: V →
D
→ → → e = E d (Volt)
P (W / m ) = E (V / m) ∧ H( A / m)
2
2Ω
50
150 pF 2Ω
T
10
tm t
Fig. 34 : modelling the electrostatic load circuit of a Fig. 35 : electrostatic discharge current
person. (tm = 5 ns, T = 30 ms).
LV networks are very polluted as they are specifications of standards such as IEC 61000
subjected to numerous aggressions of varying (see appendix 3). However they are increasingly
origins: external (sources, MV networks, etc.), offering new products able to meet users’
operation (elimination of faults, control by carrier expectations with respect to follow-up of energy
current, etc.), applications (furnaces, electronic quality and distribution reliability, for example:
loads, etc.). At the same time, quality v control units placed in circuit-breakers are
requirements of the “electricity” product as well used to take all measurements (I, F, P, cos ϕ,
as operating dependability of electrical and etc.),
electronic equipment, whether for production,
management or commerce, are increasingly v switchboard centres are now used to know
great. instantaneous, maximum and average reactive
and apparent energies and powers over a
c Users, aware of malfunctions and operating specific period. They can also measure total
losses, are seeking to control their energy supply. harmonic distortion, the peak factor and phase
They are increasingly measuring conventional unbalances (voltage and current).
values (voltage, current, power, cos ϕ) and
recording overvoltages, dips and power cuts, etc. c Professional electricians (ranging from
For example they also want to know: designers to cable layers) must study the main
probable disturbances in order to find the most
v total harmonic distortion,
suitable solutions. For example designers have
v harmonic level, to provide emergency sources, Uninterruptible
v peak factor, Power Supplies (UPS), surge arresters, filters
v voltage unbalance ratio. and active harmonic compensators.
In this sense, for all people concerned with
c Electrical utilities have to guarantee a certain
quality and availability of electrical power
level of quality of the “electricity” product they
throughout the distribution process, this “Cahier
deliver (see appendix 3: standard EN 50160).
Technique” forms an initial tool in so far as it
c Electrical and electronic switchgear explains the various disturbances that can affect
manufacturers are obliged to comply with the electrical networks and equipment. Its purpose is
European directive on EMC as from design of to increase knowledge of these disturbances in
their products that they then test according to the order to combat them more effectively.
Magnetic transfer
For an MV/LV transformer, no-load or on
minimum load, lightning and switching
overvoltages are transmitted to the secondary HV LV
according to the ratio to which a corrective
coefficient is applied.
This coefficient is normally less than 1.3 for the
1.2/50 µs lightning wave, and only rarely
exceeds 1.8 for switching overvoltages
according to the 250 / 2,500 µs wave specified
by IEC 60060-2.
For example in the case of a 20 kV/410 V-Dyn 11
transformer, its ratio has the following value:
20, 000
= 48.8 Fig. 36 : position of the windings on a MV/LV
410 transformer column.
c a 1.2/50 µs wave of 125 kV applied on its
primary winding gives its secondary a similar
waveform of an amplitude equal to:
1
125 kV x x 1.3 = 3.3 kV peak
48.8
CHV
c a 250 / 2,500 µs wave of 90 kV gives:
Ue
1
90 kV x x 1.8 = 3.3 kV peak .
48.8 CLV
Us
Capacitive transfer
This depends on the arrangement of the primary
and secondary windings with respect to the
transformer frame. Fig. 37 : diagram of the capacitive transfers of
overvoltages in a MV/LV transformer.
Normally for each “column”, the LV winding is
close to the core and the MV winding is
relatively far away, since it is placed around to the secondary. The presence of capacitances
the LV winding (see fig. 36 ). between the live conductors and the frame at the
The overvoltage transmitted to the secondary, by LV main switchboard considerably reduces these
the various “stray capacitances” of the overvoltages.
transformer (see fig. 37 ) is calculated by the It should be borne in mind that to avoid
formula: breakdown in the LV part of the “overhead”
CLV / Frame supplied substations, the switchgear installed
Us = Ue
CHV / Frame + CLV / Frame must have reinforced insulation (10 kV / 50 Hz)
and that it is strongly recommended to install
In the worst possible case, according to surge arresters in the main LV board.
IEC 60071-2, it can reach 0.7 Ue. Furthermore, if this board contains control and
In reality, the transmission coefficient is around monitoring auxiliaries, they must be supplied by
0.3 for a MV/LV transformer with no connection means of a shield LV/LV transformer.
L U
i
Cω
Lωi
e C
i
- Lωi
Cω
E
0 Overvoltage B
e e
i/JCω A
i/JCω
i
Other publications
c Caractéristique de la tension d’alimentation BT.
Rapport UNIPEDE (Union Internationale des
Producteurs et Distributeurs d’Electricité) 1981.
c Qualité de l’alimentation électrique.
EDF, 09-90, Cahiers de l’ingénierie.
c Electromagnetic compatibility
A. KOUYOUMDJIAN
Schneider Training Institute, 07-96.
086144 03-00