Avi Ramdhin, Sales Manager Southern Region, May 2013

Low V
L
Voltage
lt
S
Systems
t
ARC Fault Containment
BU 3101 Low Voltage Systems
May 20, 2013 | Slide 1

ARC Fault Containment

Development

ABB can rely on its experience with approximately 400 internal arcing tests
carried out to
to-date
date.

As early as 1979, ABB already performed the first internal arcing tests on
MNS

Which at that time were still based on the medium-voltage standards VDE
0670 and IEC 60298 as well as the PEHLA standards.

Central importance was pure personnel protection

protection.

The first international standard regarding the performance of internal arcing

tests in low-voltage switchgear systems was published in 1996 (IEC 61641
- VDE 0660 Part 500, additional sheet 2)

The aim was to detect the effects of a possible internal arc on the safety of
the operating personnel

BU 3101 Low Voltage Systems

May 20, 2013 | Slide 2

ARC Fault Containment

Reasons to have an internal arc in low
low-voltage
voltage
switchgear ?
N l 80% off electrical
Nearly
l t i l accidents
id t are human-related
h
l t d mistakes,
i t k
i
i.e.

Poor Judgement, Familiarity, procedures

Lack of training

working under voltage (Fixed Technology) without safety rules

others, i.e.

failure of electrical device, i.e. fuses, breakers, etc.

failure of other technical parts

Conductive deposits on isolating supporting elements under unfavorable

environmental conditions.

If the gases and decomposition products resulting from the faults described are capable of
b id i the
bridging
th gap between
b t
two
t
neighboring
i hb i phases,
h
an arc will
ill b
be fifired
d with
ith currentt intensities
i t
iti
of several thousand amperes and temperatures up to 10,000C. These conditions will result
in a strong pressure build up inside the switchgear.

ARC Fault Containment

IEC 61641 Guide for testing under conditions of arcing
due to internal fault:

BU 3101 Low Voltage Systems

May 20, 2013 | Slide 4

This technical report applies to enclosed low-voltage

switchgear and controlgear assemblies manufactured
according to IEC 61439-1. This test is subject to an
agreement between manufacturer and user. It is not
considered to be a type test

IEC 61641 is a technical report, The sole purpose of this

test is to assess the ability to the assembly to limit the risk
of p
personal injury
j y resulting
g from an internal arcing
g fault.

Target is to check what will happen in the worst case if

there is an internal arc inside the switchgear for any reason

ARC Fault Containment

Priorities for AFC protection

BU 3101 Low Voltage Systems

May 20, 2013 | Slide 5

ARC Fault Containment

Internal arc safety

ARC proofing almost impossible to achieve

Internal arc safety is divided into 2 types:

personal safety for operators

operators, service and maintenance
personnel

switchgear safety to limit the damages inside the

switchgear and restrict the internal arc to certain area functional compartments

ABB is
s market
a et leader
eade with
t MNS
S for
o internal
te a a
arc
c sa
safety
ety in
low-voltage switchgears:

standard MNS - 690V, 100kA, 300ms

- 400V , 100kA 300ms

ARC Fault Containment

Test criteria

BU 3101 Low Voltage Systems

May 20, 2013 | Slide 7

ARC Fault Containment

Points of Ignition

BU 3101 Low Voltage Systems

May 20, 2013 | Slide 8

ARC Fault Containment

Safety Policy
ABB

Practices the ZERO HARM policy

with the design of MNS...

ARC Fault Containment

IEC 61641

BU 3101 Low Voltage Systems

May 20, 2013 | Slide 10

ARC Fault Containment

The Test Method

The test-method:
test method:

The short-circuit values will be adjusted directly at the

g side of the switchgear,
g
i.e. 690V+10%, 50kA
incoming

The incoming ACB is mechanically blocked, the current

will be not limited and the breaker will not trip during the
arc burning time

additional safety due to high-speed tripping of Emax ACBs

in 30ms,
if Icc > Icw

normal tripping time of Emax ACBs is maximum 100ms

An arc will be ignited

g
by
y a short-circuit ((bare copperpp
wire 1.5mm) at the unprotected side of a functional
unit, incoming breaker, main bus, etc.

The high short

short-circuit
circuit values will melt the wire and the
arc is ignited

ARC Fault Containment

Module Tested
!!

8E/4
att

withdrawable unit with ignition-wire 1,5mm

the
th supply
l side
id

ARC Fault Containment

Actual Test

After 300ms the current will be turned off and the test
is complete

300ms arc burning time enables selectivity of incoming

breakers

300ms is the maximum arc burning time in low-voltage

switchgears

5 criteria's will be checked after the test, i.e.

no doors,
doors covers opened

no parts, which may cause hazards, flew off

no holes were burned in the enclosure

the operator*) in front of the switchgear in a distance of

300mm will not be seriously harmed

protection earth system is still effective

*) the operator is simulated by a wall of cotton ... The

cotton quality is about 150g/m, which is 50% thinner than
typical electrician clothes

Internal arc safety

Test

arrangement, MNS with

cotton
tt indicators
i di t
att critical
iti l places
l

Horinzontal

indicators
are only required in
medium voltage
Vertical

cotton indicators
up to 2m height
Cotton
C tt

indicator
Switchgear

front

Internal arc safety

!!

!!

MNS

cubicle after the test

ARC Fault Containment

ABB IEC 61641 Test

BU 3101 Low Voltage Systems

May 20, 2013 | Slide 16