Power Transmission and Distribution

Pressure Dependant Internal Arc

Detection System
Product: Pressure Switches
s
5270.48
Stand: 15.12.2005 , Page: 2
Unwanted
intruders & faulty
Operations
can
cause
Internal Arc
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Unwanted
results
1. Loss of Life
2. Loss of
Revenue
Internal Arc
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Internal Arc
Arc in
Cable Compartment
Arc in
Breaker Compartment
Arc in
Busbar Compartment
Effects of Internal Arc in Medium Voltage Switchgear
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31.5kA Internal Arc for 1sec. in cable compartment
~ 9 ms
100 ms
~600 hPa
Pressure Characteristic of Arc Fault
ArcInitiation
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31.5kA Internal Arc for 1sec.in breaker compartment
~ 7 ms
~ 800 hPa
Pressure Characteristic of Arc Fault
100ms
ArcInitiation
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31.5kA Internal Arc for 1sec.in bus bar compartment
680 hPa
Pressure Characteristic of Arc Fault
~ 7 ms
ArcInitiation
100 ms
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Pressure Characteristic of Arc Fault
1. Highest steep fronted pressure wave within first 10 ms
2. Steep fronted pressure wave causes severe stress to the
switchgear
3. Thermal phase after 100 ms.
4. During thermal phase material melts, vaporises and decomposes.
Will result in fire producing hot gases and decomposed products
~ 10 ms
100 ms
Thermal phase
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Effect of Thermal Phase
Material melts, vaporises and decomposes
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Effect of Thermal Phase
... can also cause major fire if heavy insulation is used
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Use of insulation
Slight
Considerable
Approx. 100 ms after ignition of the arc
Effect of Thermal Phase
Effect of thermal phase increases with increase in insulation
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Most Popular Arc Detecting Systems
Effect of thermal phase can be prevented by early detection
of arc and isolating the switchgear within 100 mS.
Most popular arc detection sensors:
1. Pressure: Reacts to the increasing pressure
2. Light: Reacts to the light
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Sensors: Pressure Dependant
Pressure switches
with tubes as sensors
Test Unit
(Optional)
Trip Lock-out relay
(Optional)
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Sensors: Light Dependant
Components:
1. Photo diode as sensor
2. Connection between the sensors and slave unit
3. Slave unit to transfer the signal to Master Unit
4. Master unit to prevent unnecessary tripping
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Comparison of Arc Detecting Systems
Pressure Light
Detection of Pressure peak Increase of light intensity
arc faults (dynamic) (dynamic)
Required 1. Sensor: A simple tube 1. Sensor: Photo diode in
components in each MV compartment each compartment
and the respective switch (light is transformed into
in LV compartment current)
2. Not applicable 2. Band pass filter +amplifier
(Slave unit) +optionally
Master unit
3. Tripping Lock-out relay 3. Tripping Lock-out relay
(Optional) (Optional)
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Pressure Light
Electromagnetic No electric wires Questionable, as photo
interference within the H.V. part diodes in MV compartment.
Otherwise optical fibres are
required
Reliability against System reacts only System is sensitive against
unwanted operation on pressure rise in other light effects. Hence
case of an arc fault master unit wired with over
current protection is also
required
System test Simple test device Photo flash light. Access to
(bottle with pressure MV compartment necessary
gauge) - Optional
Comparison of Arc Detecting Systems
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Comparison of Arc Detecting Systems
Pressure Light
Criteria for Direct signal from Signal from master unit
breaker tripping pressure switch or and additionally from
optionally through over current relay to
tripping lock-out relay avoid false tripping.
Optionally tripping relay
can be used in addition
Selective detection Possible, depending on Limited possibility as
of arc faults type of switchgear with light can enter the
(increase of availability) Compartment walls adjacent compartments
resistant to pressure activating the respective
e.g.. NXAIR sensors
Installation cost Economical Expensive
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Comparison of Arc Detecting Systems
We recommend Pressure dependant system:
1. More reliable than light
dependent system due to less
interfaces
2. No compromise on technical
requirements
3. On line testing possible as option
4. Less expensive compare to light
dependent system
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Pressure Switch Assembly
1. Pressure switches mounted
in Low Voltage Chamber.
2. All switches are tested
before the delivery to
switchgear manufacturer
3. Total maintenance free
4. Do not require any testing/
supervision at site
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Pressure Switch Assembly
Optionally online testing
version also available
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Operating pressure of pressure switch
10 0,75 hPa
Reset pressure of pressure switch
3 0,75 hPa
Minimum arc current for reliable operation
( for Compartment volume > 1,3 m
3
)
4 kA
Response time of pressure switch 10-20 ms
Response time of Tripping lock-out relay
( Optional tripping )
< 15 ms
Break time of 3AH, 3AJ , 3AK VCB with 1
st
shunt
release
< 80 ms
Break time of 3AH, 3AJ VCB with 2
nd
shunt release < 65 ms
Break time of 3AK VCB with 2
nd
shunt release < 60 ms

Pressure Switch Technical Data
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Pressure switch timings
75 80 85 90 95 100 105
1. VCB with Normal trip coil and direct tripping from pressure switch
2. VCB with Fast trip coil and tripping through inter tripping relay*
3. VCB with Fast trip coil and direct tripping from pressure switch
Maximum arc duration in ms
1.
2.
3.
Arcing time
limited to 100ms
*: Tripping lock-out relay recommended for blocking the
subsequent closing of Incomers and Bus-sectionaliser
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Example-1: Pressure switch assembly in NXAIR
1. Tripping lock-out
relay (Optional)
2. Pressure switches
3. Tubes
P> P> P> P>
E
D
C
B
R 1
2
3
Druckschalterrelais
Pessure switch relay
Schlauchleitung
Tube
Druckschaltersystem
Pessure switchsystem
A Sammelschienenraum
Busbar compartment
B Anschlussraum
Connection compartment
A
C Modulraum
Module compartment
D Zusatzraum fr Anbauten an der Sammelschiene (Option)
Additionalcompartment for busbar fittings(optional)
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Pressure switch wiring in NXAIR
Example: NXAIR: 12kV, 25kA
( 3 compartments)
1. Each medium voltage
compartment with individual
pressure switches: B70, B71, B72
2. Pressure switches in Busbar and
circuit breaker compartment looped
together to trip the Incomer and
bus-sectionaliser
3. Selective shutdown can be
restricted to affected outgoing
feeder due to confinement of
internal arc and bushing type
CT properties of NXAIR
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Example-2: Pressure switch assembly in SIMOPRIME
P> P> P>
E
C
R 1
2
3
Druckschalterrelais
Pessure switch relay
Schlauchleitung
Tube
Druckschaltersystem
Pessure switchsystem
1. Tripping Lock-out
relay (Optional)
2. Pressure switches
3. Tubes
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Pressure switch wiring
Example: SIMOPRIME
1. Each medium voltage
compartment with individual
pressure switches: B70, B71, B72
2. Pressure switches in Busbar,
circuit breaker and cable
compartment looped together to
trip the Incomer and
bus-sectionaliser
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Stand: 15.12.2005 , Page: 27
Conclusion
1. If the switchgear and control gear is installed, operated
and maintained as per the instructions of manufacturer,
there should be little probability of internal arc occurring
during its entire service life, but is can not be completely
disregarded
2. Internal arc qualified switchgear as per IEC62271-200
will offer the highest personal safety within the period
for which switchgear has been tested
3. To reduce the thermal phase effects, arc detecting system
limiting the arc within 100ms can be employed as option
4. If early arc detection system is desired, then system
based on Pressure is recommended