ArresterFacts 016

Selecting Arrester
MCOV and Uc
Part 1 of Arrester Selection Guide
Prepared by
Jonathan Woodworth

Consulting Engineer
ArresterWorks

Feb 12, 2009

ArresterFacts 016 Selecting Arrester MCOV and Uc

Selecting Arrester MCOV and Uc

terminals at frequency voltage
which an between its
arrester is terminals at which
Contents it is designed to
designed to
perform its duty operate correctly
Introduction Relevant under temporary
cycle test. TOV
Definitions System Curve A graph overvoltage
ConfigurationsX that shows the conditions as
power frequency established in the
operating duty
Determining Line-Gnd Voltage withstand
tests.
Determining Voltage Rise due to voltage vs. time NOTE 1
Fault Using the TOV CurveX for arrester
from .01 sec to The rated voltage is
Transmission Line Arresters
100,000 sec used as a reference
(IEEE, parameter for the
SummaryX IEC)
specification of
operating
characteristics.
Recommended Ratings TablesX Ground Fault NOTE 2
An event where
current flows from The rated voltage as
Introduction the power system
defined in this standard
is the 10 s power-
to ground when a frequency voltage used
There are several necessary steps system phase in the operating duty
that need to be taken when conductor is
test after high-current
or long-duration
selecting an arrester for an connected to impulses. Tests used to
application. An early step in this earth either establish the voltage
selection is the determination of through a direct rating in IEC 60099-1,
as well as some
the voltage rating of the arrester. contact or national standards,
The only voltage rating of an through an arc. involve the application
arrester that is important is the (IEEE, IEC)
of repetitive impulses at
MCOV (Maximum Continuous nominal current with
power frequency
Operating Voltage IEEE ) and Uc voltage applied.
(Continuous Operating Voltage Attention is drawn to
IEC). This MCOV - Uc rating
Uc - the fact that these two
Continuous methods used to
however is not always obvious established rating do
without a fairly good operating not necessarily produce
understanding of the system to voltage (IEC) equivalent values.
which it is to be applied. The
objective of this ArresterFacts is to The designated
make this decision clearer and permissible Determining
understandable. r.m.s. value of
power-frequency
Line-Gnd
voltage that may Voltage and
Definitions be applied Minimum
continuously MCOV or Uc
between the
MCOV rating (IEEE) - The
arrester
maximum designated root-mean When arresters
terminals
square (rms) value of power are applied to
indefinitely.
frequency voltage that may be protect systems
Ur - Rated
applied continuously between from lightning or
voltage of an
the terminals of an arrester. switching surges,
arrester (IEC)
they are installed
Duty-cycle voltage rating (IEEE) between the
Maximum phase and earth.
- The designated maximum
permissible r.m.s.
permissible voltage between its value of power- For this
application, the MCOV of the line to earth above system,
installed arrester must be equal voltage would be the line to
or higher to the continuous 440kV. Since all ground voltage
voltage between the phase and systems have could be 440x
earth. On three phase systems, some regulation 1.10 = 485kV.
the line to ground voltage is error, this too The MCOV or Uc
equal to the phase to phase must be taken or an arrester for
voltage divided by 1.73. For into this system at a
example, on a 760kV consideration. If minimum should
transmission system, the the regulation is be 485kV.
nominal system phase to phase 10%, then for
voltage is 760kV therefore the example, on the
ArresterW 2009 J. Woodworth Page2
Copyright orks 2008- Jonathan
ArresterFacts 016 Selecting an Arresters MCOV or Uc
4.80 16.8
5.04
2.91 34.5
Typical IEEE System 2.91 36.2
Voltages 20.9
6.90 20.9
Nom 7.25
Max Line 4.19 46.0
Max Line 4.19 48.3
27.9
8.32 27.9
8.74
Line to
5.05 69.0
5.05 72.5
41.9
Min 12.0 41.9
12.6
7.28 115.0
to Line 7.28 121
to Grnd 69.8
12.5 69.8
13.1
Line 7.57 138.0
7.57 145
83.8
MCOV 13.2 83.8
13.9
8.01 161.0
8.01 169
Voltage
Voltage 98
13.8 97.7
14.5
8.38 230.0
Voltage
8.38 242
140
20.8 140
21.8
12.6 345.0
12.6 362
209
22.9 209
24.0
13.9 500.0
13.9 525
kV rms
kV rms 303
kV rms 23.0 303
kV rms 24.2
14.0 765.0
14.0 800
2.40
2.52 462
1.46 24.9 462
1.46 26.2
15.1
15.1
4.16 System
4.37 Configurat
2.52 27.6
2.52 29.0 ions
16.8
Once the system 52
voltages are 30.1
understood, the next 30.1
step in the selection
process is to determine 66.0
the system 72
configuration to which 41.6
the arrester will be 41.6
applied. In other words,
one must determine if it 91.0
is a wye or delta 100
system (star or delta in 57.8
the IEC world). Also 57.8
needed for selection is kV rms
to know how the kV rms 110.0
system neutral kV rms 123
conductor is used in the kV rms 71.1
circuit if there is one. 71.1
The power source
transformer and the 132.0
neutral bonding 145
scheme determine how 83.8
high the line to ground 83.8
voltage of the unfaulted
3.3 155.0
phases 3.7 170
2.1 98.3
2.1 98.3

Typical IEC System Voltages 6.6

220.0
7.3 245
Nominal 4.2 142
Typical 4.2 142
Max Line
10.0 275.0
11.5 300
Line to 6.6 173
Max Line 6.6 173

Minimum 11.0 330.0

12.0 362
6.9 209
6.9 209
to Grnd
16.4 400.0
18.0 420
10.4 243
Line 10.4
to Line 243

22.0
Uc 24.0
13.9
13.9
will rise during
Voltage 33.0 a ground fault.
36.3 Fortunately
21.0 the number of
Voltage 21.0 system
Voltage configurations
47.0 are limited.
The most common
IEEE configuration is
the 4 wire solid multi-
grounded neutral as
shown in figure 2a. This
is also known as an Figure 2a Solidly
effectively grounded Multi-grounded 4
system. wire system
Arrester 2009 Jonathan J. Woodworth
Copyright Works Page3
ArresterFacts 016 Selecting an Arresters MCOV or Uc
Rise due
to Earth or
Ground
Faults
When a three
phase power
system
experiences a
fault to earth
on any one of
its phases, the
two unfaulted
phases
Figure 2b Impedance or experience an
Resonant Grounded System increase in the
voltage
A common industrial between the
and very common IEC phase and
configuration is the 3 ground. Since
wire impedance arresters are
grounded wye (or star). Figure 2c most often
Ungrounded
The reason for systems (isolated applied
popularity of this neutral) between the
system is that the fault phase
current to earth is conductor and
limited by the earth, then
impedance. When low they also see
A common
impedance is used, it this increase
transmission
can limit the fault in voltage
line
current to levels that across their
configuration
allow for lower fault terminals. This
is the single
current rated increase in
grounded Wye
equipment to be used voltage will
as seen in
on the system. This is remain across
Figure 2d .
often a cost savings the arrester
configuration. When the until a system
impedance is high, a breaker
Petersen coil is used operates and
which can offer fault breaks or
extinguishing interrupts the
capabilities without fault. This is a
using breakers to break very
the fault. This is significant
sometimes referred to event in the
as a resonant grounded life of an
system. arrester and
Figure 2d Single must be
A third common system grounded neutral accounted for
configuration is an system (Uni- during the
isolated or ungrounded grounded system) voltage rating
system. This can be selection of an
either delta or wye arrester.
configured. Figure 2c Determini
and 2d show these two The
systems.
ng Phase determination
Voltage
of a voltage rise during 5 cover this scenario is
a ground fault is not an subject. used for each
easy task if a precise type of
value is desired. There For distribution system. The
are some rules of systems voltage rise
thumb and graphs that where the during a fault
can be used, but these system and in these cases
are quit crude and transformer is determined
difficult at best to use. impedances by multiplying
Annex C of IEEE are relatively the line to
standard C62.22 and unknown, a ground
Annex A of IEC 60099- worst case voltage by
Arrester 2009 Jonathan J. Woodworth
Copyright Works Page4
ArresterFacts 016 Selecting an Arresters MCOV or Uc
It is also
important to
Isolated Ground note that the
a ground fault factor or Systems grounding of
earth fault factor. Figure1.73 the neutral at
3 lists the ground fault the source
factors used to transformer is
and Delta
determine the unfaulted Systems the
phase voltage rise configuration
during a ground fault. referred to in
determining
the voltage
rise of the
Ground
system.
Type of System
For example
Fault as seen in
Figure 3 Ground Figure 5, a
Fault Factors delta/delta
Factor transformer is
tied to a
Solidly Grounded 4 wire solidly
1.25 grounded wye
For example system. In this
systems in a 13.8kV case MOV1
multi- should be
grounded sized for a
system, the solidly
maximum grounded
continuous system, and
line to ground MOV 2 should
voltage is be sized for an
8.38kV. The isolated
voltage during ground
Uni-grounded 3 wire a ground fault system.
1.4 on the
unfaulted
systems phases can
reach 8.38 x
1.25 or
10.47kV rms.
This is the
voltage an
arrester will
see across its
terminals for
as long as the
Impedance grounded fault exists.
1.73 Source

Transformer
systems

Mixed
Configuration
s
Figure 5 Mixed
Configuration Use the source After the shows TOV
transformer grounding scheme system curves of
to determine the MOV rating
configuration several types
and potential of arresters.
overvoltage is Figure 6
determined, it shows a
Using the TOV must be comparison of
Curve to Select compared to system
the arrester overvoltage
an Arresters TOV curve. and arrester
MCOV TOV
Figure 6 capability.
System ht ArresterWorks 2009
Overvolta
Jonathan J.
ges
Copyrig Woodworth Page5
Figure 4 Potential
ArresterFacts 016 Selecting an Arresters MCOV or Uc
Figure 7 time of the
Comparing TOV overvoltage is
Curve and
unknown.
Potential
System Because of this
Overvoltage issue, for all
systems other
In the than the multi
example in grounded system,
Figure 7, the the MCOV or Uc
selected of the arrester is
distribution selected to equal
arrester or exceed the line
would not to line voltage.
withstand an Most
overvoltage manufacturers
of an also offer a quick
ungrounded lookup table to
or delta select the arrester
system, but rating based on
would the system to
withstand an which it is
overvoltage attached. See
from a uni- Figure 8 for this
grounded recommendation.
and multi-
grounded For substation
system. applications, the
Figure 6 Example Arrester However if a comparison of the
TOV Curve gapped potential system
MOV overvoltage and
arrester was the arrester
selected, it overvoltage
could withstand
withstand capability is
even an essential in
ungrounded selecting the
system arrester MCOV or
overvoltage. Uc. In the case of
transmission
systems and
substations, the
expected system
For
overvoltage
distribution
magnitude and
systems,
duration are
the process
known quantities
of
so this
comparing
comparison is
the potential
quite accurate.
system
overvoltage
The best means of
and the
obtaining the
arrester
expected
withstand overvoltage during
capability is a fault on a
seldom transmission
completed system is to ask
because the the persons
responsible for relay the obje protect
settings. They have The insulators from
usually modeled the selection of the undesirable
system extensively transmission
with proven software,
line backflash during a
they can supply botharresters switching or
magnitude and (TLA) lightning surge.
durations of faults at Since overhead
MCOV
most location on the insulators are
rating or Uc
system. Use this generally a self-
rating is
information to restoring type of
different
than a insulation it is not
compare against the imperative to have
distribution
target arr curve. the lowest possible
or substation
clamping voltage
arrester. In
for the arrester to
mitigate
Transmission the case of
Line Arresters TLAsonly
Arreste 2009 Jonathan J. Woodworth
Copyright rWorks Page6
ArresterFacts 016 Selecting an Arresters MCOV or Uc
surges, then can be
the arrester daunting at
MCOV should times, but
flashover. Sometimes it be similar to once the
is also desirable to size that of the system
the arrester so that it substation configuration
does not absorb any arresters. and
significant energy overvoltage
during a switching potentials are
surge. In this case known it is a
increasing the MCOV orSummary simple
Uc rating is an effective comparison.
means to do just this. Selection of an
However if the TLA is *************
arrester
being applied to *************
MCOV rating
mitigate switching or Uc rating ***
Line (3 wire)
Figure 8a IEEE
MCOV Line to
Suggested
Ratings (based Voltage
on historical 2.40
preference and 2.52
TOV analysis) 1.46
grounde
d,
Typical IEEE Arrester Delta
System s for Systems 2.55
Suggested Protecti
on Only
IEEE to Line
Arrester to Grnd
MCOV grounde
d
Rating Systems

Voltages
Line
4.16
kV rms 4.37
kV rms 2.52
kV rms
2.55
MCOV 5.1
Ungroun MCOV 5.1
ded and [*]
Lightnin MCOV
g [*]
Nom
Max Line
Max Line
Voltage
Solid Multi- Voltage
Uni-grounded
Impedance Systems
Transmission ( 4 wire)
 12.0 13.8
4.80 12.6 14.5 23.0
5.04 7.28 8.38 24.2
2.91 14.0
7.65 8.4
10.2 12.7 15.3-17
[8.4]
5.1 15.3 24.4 [15.3]
[8.4] 22-24
15.3

12.5
6.90 13.1 24.9
7.57 20.8 26.2
7.25
21.8 15.1
4.19
7.65 12.6
12.7 15.3
[7.65] 12.7 22 [15.3]
15.3
7.65 [12.7] 24-29

21

13.2 27.6
8.32
13.9 29.0
8.74 22.9
8.01 16.8
5.05 24.0
13.9 17
5.1 8.4
12.7 24.4 [17]
7.65 15.3
[8.4]
19.5 24-29
[15.3]

22-24
34.5 115-131 500.0
36.2 115-131 525
20.9 303

22
29 [22] 318-452
36-39 [22]
29-36 115.0
121 >452
69.8

70-76
84-98 230.0
76-98 242
140

140-152
46.0 182-190 765.0
48.3 152-190 800
27.9 462

29 462-490
39
29-39 138.0
145 >490
83.8

84-98
106-115 345.0
98-115 362
209

209-245
69.0 230-289 [*] MCOV rating of a
72.5 245-289
41.9
Gapped MOV arrester

42-48
53-67
48-67 161.0 Copyright ArresterWorks
169 2009
98
Jonathan J. Woodworth

Page7
98-115
ArresterFacts 016 Selecting an Arresters MCOV or Uc

Figure 8b Suggested Uc for IEC systems

Typical IEC System

Suggested Uc for IEC Systems

Voltages

Nominal
Typical

Max Line

Solidly Earthed
Impedance Earthed,
Transmission Line

Line to
Max Line

Neutral at the

Arresters for

to Grnd

Isolated and Delta

Line
to Line
Source

Lightning Protection

Voltage

Systems

Voltage
Voltage

Transformer

Only

kV rms
kV rms

kV rms

Uc
Uc
3.3
3.7

2.1

2.4
4.0

6.6
7.3

4.2

4.8
7.2

10.0
11.5

6.6

7.2
12
11.0
12.0

6.9

9.6
12
12

16.4
18.0

10.4

12
18
18

22.0
24.0

13.9

16.8-24
24
24
33.0
36.3

21.0

24-36
36
36

47.0
52

30.1

33-43
53
43-53

66.0
72

41.6

43-58
72
58-72

91.0
100

57.8

66-77
102
77-102

110
123

71.1

77-86
125
86-125

132
145

83.8

96-115
145
115-145

155
170
98.3

110-125
170
125-170

220
245

142

154-188
245
188-245

275
300

173

182-192
300
192-300

330
362

209
221-230
360
230-360

400
420

243

269-288
420
288-420

500
550

318

420-440
550
440-550

CharacteristicsX
Infrared
Other ArresterFacts Available ThermometerX The Externally
Gapped Arrester
Arrester Lead LengthX Guide for Selecting (EGLA) The
an Arrester Field Test DisconnectorX
Field Testing ArrestersX Method VI
 Understanding Mechanical Tests of Arresters What is please give
ArresterWorks
a Lightning Arrester?X proper credit.

The Switching Surge and ArrestersX Thank you for using

ArresterFacts Usage www.ArresterWorks.c
om as your source of
The Lightning Surge and Arresters Understanding the information on high
ArresterFacts are
Arrester Energy Handling IssueX Copyrighted documents
voltage surge
intended for the education arresters. X
of arrester users and
Understanding Discharge Voltage What is a Riser Pole stakeholders. If you choose Jonathan
Arrester?X to copy any part of this Woodworth
document for teaching
purposes you have my
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ArresterFacts 016 Selecting an Arresters MCOV or Uc
Copyright ArresterWorks 2009 Jonathan J. Woodworth Page9