Overvoltage protection (surge arrester)
Agenda
Choose the best surge protection. Install overvoltage protection. Choose the best upstream protection for a surge arrester. Installation rules.
Electrical overvoltage, unique characteristics
Sources
Lightning
Characteristics
Ultra-rapid transient phenomenon. Unit of measurement = kV/ s Highly destructive energy. Repetitive phenomenon leading to premature aging. Malfunction which may even result in permanent damage.
Lightning
Voltage
Operations
Overvoltage generated by operations or incidents on the network.
Irms
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Lightning and its consequences
The main effect of lightning is electrical
overvoltage which exposes the electrical installations to a serious risk of:
malfunction, destruction of equipment, unavailability of production tools, etc.
The overvoltages come either from the electricity
network or from the earth.
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The damage caused by lightning
90% of sockets power sensitive equipment and an overvoltage
can damage them (Total values estimated amount = 3,650).
Bedroom: computer, hi-fi, telephone (650) Living-room: TV, home cinema, rolling shutters, air-conditioning, ADSL modem (1,000)
Laundry: freezer, washing machine, dryer, boiler, alarm (1,500)
Kitchen: microwave oven, oven, fridge, dishwasher (500)
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Choose the best surge protection
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A means of protection for every situation
No LPS*
Type 2 surge arrester
With LPS*
Types 1 and 2 surge arrester
Type of surge arrester T1: only used
when LPS is present
Distance of the loads < 30m
T2: used systematically. T3: only used in
addition to a T2 (as lower discharge capacity), if the loads are more than 30m from the incoming T2 surge arrester
Distance of the loads > 30m**
T2
T3 T3 T3 T3
T1 + T2
T3
Types 2 and 3 surge arrester
Types 2, 1 and 3 surge arrester
* LPS (Lightning Protection System) = lightning rod, meshed cage on buildings) ** After 30m (between the surge arrester and the loads) lightning wave reflection phenomena appear in the cables.
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In practice: distance of equipments >30 metres
Case No.1
(the most common)
T2 Distance under than 30 metres Mainboard T2 = type 2 surge arrester
Case No.2
T2 Distance of more than 30 metres Mainboard T2 = type 2 surge arrester
T3 T2
Floor switchboard
Mainboard
Install the surge arrester as close as possible to the sensitive equipment
* T2 = type 2 surge arrester, T3 = type 3 surge arrester.
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To summarise
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Install surge arrester
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Location in the switchboard: in parallel
Incoming circuit-breaker
Lightning current
Sensitive equipments
* SPD = Surge Protection Device.
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Lifetime of the surge arrester
The surge arrester has the same lifetime as the switchboard. At the end of its life, a thermal protector integrated into the surge arrester: isolate the surge arrester from the rest of the installation. activates the red end-of-life warning light, indicating that the surge arrester needs to be changed.
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The upstream protection of the surge arrester
The role of the surge arrester is to drive the lightning current to the earth in a very short time (< 350 microseconds). However, the surge arrester is not intended
to be exposed to a permanent overvoltage
(phase/neutral inversion, or neutral rupture). In this case, it would be short-circuited and may damage the switchboard. A device protecting the surge arrester against short circuits is therefore required to ensure the safety of the electrical installation.
The surge arrester must be protected
upstream by a disconnection circuit breaker.
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SPD
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Choose the best upstream protection for a surge arrester
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2 aspects must be taken into account
When making your choice, take into account:
lightning current withstand capacity (to avoid nuisance trpping), short-circuit withstand capacity of the installation (Isc). Isc
25kA C60L C60L NG125N NG125N
15kA
C60H
C60H
C60H
C60H
6kA
C60N
C60N
C60N
C60N
8kA
20kA
40kA
65kA
Lightning current
E.g. the best disconnection circuit breaker for a breaking capacity of 15kA and Imax of 40kA is a C60H.
The surge arrester/protection device coordination table is supplied by Schneider
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Electric.
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Example of Schneider Electric coordination table
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Schneider Electric innovates for safe coordination and easy installation
Quick PF and Quick PRD include both an upstream circuit breaker and a surge arrester, thus ensuring: no risk of coordination error, continuity of service.
Safe Efficient Easy selection Quick PF and Quick PRD
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Installation rules
The surge arrester is effective only if it is properly installed!
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Installing a surge arrester
Lightning is a phenomenon that generates a high frequency voltage: The length
of the cables must be taken into account in cases of high
frequency 1 metre of cable crossed by a lightning current generates an overvoltage of 1,000V.
1000V U spd 1000V
500V Load Uload = USPD + 2000V U spd Load Uload = USPD + 500kV
For an effective surge protection, shorten the length of cables.
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In practice: consider the intermediate earth terminal to shorten cables length
L1 L1
L 50cm
Intermediate Main earth earth terminal bar
L2
L2
L3
L3
Main earth bar
L > 50cm
Mandatory in Standard IEC 60364-5-534:
L (length of cables) < 50cm, cable cross-section S < 4mm(Type 2) and S< 16mm (Type 1).
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L = L1 + L2 + L3
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Installation in a plastic enclosure (e.g. Pragma)
L1 ~ 12cm
L1+L2+L3 < 50 cm
L2 ~ 0cm L3 ~ 5cm
Main incoming earth via the bottom (main earth bar and intermediate earth terminal).
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Installation in a plastic enclosure (e.g. Pragma)
L1 ~ 12cm L2 ~ 0cm
L1+L2+L3 < 50 cm
L3 ~ 15cm
Incoming earth cable via the top (main earth bar and intermediate earth terminal).
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Installation in a metal enclosure (e.g. Prisma Plus)
Directly on "metal chassis". Use a lock washer to connect the cable to the chassis to give a good electrical contact.
The installation is possible only if the enclosure complies
with standard IEC 60439-1.
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ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION PROTECTION
Protection of people Circuit protection Protection of sensitive equipment
Against temporary failure (overvoltage, lightning)
Against permanent failure (due to overcurrent, overload, earth fault)
In the low-voltage system, the surge arrester is essential to
ensure complete protection.
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