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Ect 167
Ect 167
M. Serpinet
R. Morel
Foreword
The author disclaims all responsibility further 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.
Marc SERPINET
Joined Merlin Gerin in 1972 and worked until 1975 in the low-voltage
equipment design offices, in charge of designing electrical cabinets
for various installation layouts. Since 1975, he has managed research
and development testing for low-voltage circuit-breakers. Graduated
in 1981 from the ENSIEG engineering school in Grenoble.
In 1991, after managing a Compact circuit-breaker project from the
preliminary studies on through to production, he was appointed head
of the electromechanical design office in charge of «anticipating»
future developments.
Robert MOREL
tb Selective circuit-breaker
The actual breaking time (arc extinction). Circuit-breaker with an intentional time delay
system (time discrimination).
UT
Electronic processing unit. Short-time release (ST)
Release with an intentional time delay system
Actuator ranging from ten to several hundred
Device capable of producing a mechanical milliseconds. If the time delay is reduced as Ip
action. increases, the system is referred to as
dependent short-time (DST).
Circuit-breaker rating
Corresponds to the models of the range Total discrimination
(ex. 160 A, 250 A, 630 A, 800 A, etc.). Discrimination is said to be total when it is ensured
for all values of the prospective fault current.
Current-limiting circuit-breaker
Circuit-breaker which, when interrupting a short- Trip-unit rating
circuit current, limits the current to a value Corresponds to the maximum current setting of
considerably less than the prospective current (Ip). the trip unit.
Contents
1. Discrimination in low-voltage 1.1 Definition p. 4
protective devices 1.2 Enhanced safety and availability p. 5
1.3 Discrimination zones p. 5
2. Discrimination techniques for short-circuits 2.1 Current discrimination p. 7
2.2 Time discrimination p. 7
2.3 “SELLIM” discrimination p. 8
2.4 Zone selective interlocking p. 9
2.5 Combining the different types of discrimination p. 9
3. Energy-based discrimination 3.1 Choice of operating curves p. 10
3.2 Characterisation of a Compact NS circuit-breaker p. 11
3.3 Characterisation of the trip units p. 13
4. Advantages and implementation of 4.1 Current-limiting circuit-breaker fitted with a pressure trip system p. 16
energy-based discrimination 4.2 Discrimination with Compact NS circuit-breakers p. 18
4.3 Combination with traditional protective devices p. 19
5. Conclusion p. 21
6. Appendix - indications concerning breaking with current limiting p. 22
1.1 Definition
In an electrical installation, loads are connected Several types of overcurrents may be
to sources via a succession of protection, encountered in an installation:
isolation and control devices. This “Cahier c overloads,
Technique” publication deals essentially with the
c short-circuits,
protection function using circuit-breakers.
c inrush currents,
In a radial feeder layout (see fig. 1 ), the purpose
of discrimination is to disconnect only the faulty as well as:
load or feeder from the network and no others, c earth faults,
thus ensuring maximum continuity of service. c transient currents due to voltage dips or
If discrimination studies are not or are incorrectly momentary loss of supply.
carried out, an electrical fault may cause several To ensure maximum continuity of service, there
protective devices to trip, thus provoking an must be coordination between protective
interruption in the supply of power to a large part devices.
of the network. That constitutes an abnormal loss Note that voltage dips may provoke unnecessary
in the availability of electrical power for those opening of circuit-breakers by actuating
parts of the network where no fault occurred. undervoltage releases.
A
CB1
If
B
CB2
CB3
CB4
CB1 CB1
CB2 CB2
3
2
1
Ip Ip
Iins1 IDIN1
Note: use of a high-sed instantaneous release Note: use of dependent ST releases (dotted line) on
determines the discrimination limit. CB1 improves discrimination.
Fig. 5: time discrimination. Fig. 6: pseudo-time discrimination.
in the event of a fault. This figure may run up to a c they severely limit short-circuit currents due to
few hundred milliseconds (see fig. 5 ). fast opening times and high arcing voltages,
When the installation (and perhaps even the c the higher the prospective short-circuit current,
circuit-breaker) cannot withstand a high short- the faster they act.
circuit current (Isc) for the entire time delay, Use of a current-limiting circuit-breaker
circuit-breaker CB1 must be equipped with a
downstream thus makes it possible to ensure
high-set instantaneous release (HIN).
“pseudo-time” discrimination between two
In this case, the discrimination zone is limited to protection levels. This solution, due to the
the high-set threshold of the upstream circuit- current limiting effect and rapid clearing of the
breaker (see fig. 5 ). fault, limits thermal and electrodynamic stresses
Use of current-limiting circuit-breakers and in the installation (see fig. 6 ).
“pseudo-time” discrimination
These circuit-breakers have two main
characteristics:
Fault at B Fault at A
i1 i1
CB1
u1 u1
i2 i2
A
u2 u2
CB2
i3 26 k i3 34 kÂ
B
u3 u3
3.5 ms
2.5 ms 12 ms
Fig. 7: “SELLIM” discrimination.
(CB1 - Compact C250 L SB
CB2 - Compact C125 N).
I2 t 40 ms
20 ms
10 ms
7 ms
5 ms
2
(A s)
7
10
î = 40 kA
2.5 ms
6
10
î = 20 kA
5
10
î = 10 kA
î = 5 kA
4
10 Ip (kA)
1 3 5 10 30 50 100
Fig. 11: graph representing energies.
Ι2 t
40 ms
20 ms
10 ms
7 ms
5 ms
2
(A s)
7
10
î = 40 kA
2.5 ms
6
10
F
A
(E)
D
C
(B) î = 20 kA
5
10
î = 10 kA
î = 5 kA
4
10 Ip (kA)
1 3 5 10 30 50 100
(10 In)
Ι2 t
40 ms
20 ms
10 ms
7 ms
5 ms
2
( A s)
7
10
î = 40 kA
2.5 ms
High set )
6
T
10
y (S
d
Tim s fixe
t )
den
ela
ST
pen lay (D
ed
m
D e e
ed
20
tim
î = 20 kA
ous (INS)
Instantane
5
10
î = 10 kA
î = 5 kA
4
10 Ip (kA)
1 3 5 10 30 50 100
(10 In)
I2 t
40 ms
20 ms
10 ms
7 ms
5 ms
2
(A s)
7
10
)
ST
y(
ela
î = 40 kA
ed
y
tim
ela
2.5 ms
ed
6
ms
10
tim
40
ms
10
(INS) î = 20 kA
5
10
î = 10 kA
î = 5 kA
4
10 Ip (kA)
1 3 5 10 30 50 100
(10 In)
P1 P2 P3 Breaking units
Flap valves
Fault on phase 1
Piston
pressure P1 pressure P2 and P3
I2 t
40 ms
20 ms
10 ms
7 ms
5 ms
2
(A s)
7
10
î = 40 kA
2.5 ms
6
10
Pressure
trip system
î = 20 kA
ms
ms
40
10
ST
5
ST
10
î = 10 kA
î = 5 kA
4
10 Ip (kA)
1 3 5 10 30 50 100
Fig. 16: trip-unit combination curves (electromagnetic and pressure or electronic and pressure).
Tripping dependability
The pressure trip system is a part of the opening
mechanism for short-circuits and therefore
depends on the current rating of the circuit-
breaker.
The adjustable DST release, whether
electromechanical (see fig. 13 ) or electronic
(see fig. 14 ), is physically independent of the a) non-limiting circuit-breaker
pressure trip system. Physical independence
enhances operating dependability.
Voltage dips
Voltage dips in an installation can trip
undervoltage releases in circuit-breakers and
contactors. i
Unnecessary opening, following a voltage dip t (ms)
caused by a short-circuit, results in reduced 10 20
continuity of service. Ua
i
Consequently, discrimination studies must also
take into account the reactions of undervoltage Ur
releases and contactors during voltage dips.
A voltage dip in a network lasts until the arc
voltage that opposes the source voltage enables
interruption of the current. It follows that the b) highly limiting circuit-breaker
voltage dip depends on the type of circuit-
breaker and/or trip unit used:
c with non-limiting circuit-breakers, the voltage
dip is more pronounced and can last from 10 to
15 ms (see fig.17 ),
c with current-limiting circuit-breakers, the rapid
development of a high arc voltage reduces the Ua
voltage dip both in duration and in amplitude ic
(see fig.17 ). Ur t (ms)
The voltage dip lasts approximately 5 ms and 5 10 20
amounts to 50 % of the rated voltage for currents
close to the level required for contact repulsion.
The voltage dip amounts to 30 % of the rated
voltage for higher currents, but the duration is
reduced to 3 to 4 ms. The higher the Isc, the
shorter the voltage dip.
Any undervoltage releases equipping the circuit- Fig. 17: the voltage dip on the network depends on
breakers are not affected by such voltage dips. the type of circuit-breaker.
Discrimination
The severely limited energy let through by the the upstream circuit-breaker which remains
circuit-breaker is insufficient to trip the trip unit on closed.
I2 t
40 ms
20 ms
10 ms
7 ms
5 ms
2
(A s)
7
10
Magnetic
ST 400
ST 500
ST 630
100 A
630 A Breaking
î = 40 kA
ST 160
ST 200
ST 250
630 A Non-tripping
2,5 ms
6 2.5 ms
10
250 A Breaking
250 A Non-tripping
î = 20 kA
100 A Breaking
5
10
Non-tripping
100 A
î = 10 kA
î = 5 kA
4
10 Ip (kA)
1 3 5 10 30 50 100
Note
ST 160, ST 200 and ST 250: electronic trip units
for 250 A circuit-breakers.
ST 400, ST 500 and ST 630: electronic trip units
for 630 A circuit-breakers.
Fig. 18: total discrimination between 100 A, 160 A and 250 A Compact NS circuit-breakers.
40 ms
20 ms
10 ms
7 ms
5 ms
2
(A s)
7
10
(10 In)
( 8 In)
160 A
250 A
î = 40 kA
2.5 ms
6
10
Breaking 160 A
Non-tripping 250 A
î = 20 kA
Discrimination limit
5
10
î = 10 kA
î = 5 kA
4
10 Ip (kA)
1 3 5 10 30 50 100
Fig. 19: partial discrimination between two Compact NS circuit-breakers, 160 and 250 A.
Fuses
The I2 t = f (Ip) curves (supplied by
manufacturers) concern:
c the energy required to blow the fuse
(prearcing),
I2 t
40 ms
20 ms
10 ms
7 ms
5 ms
2
(A s)
7
10
Magnetic 630 A
H
C 250
N
î = 40 kA
C 250 L 2.5 ms
6 Non-tripping
10
NS 250
î = 20 kA
5
10
î = 10 kA
î = 5 kA
4
10 Ip (kA)
1 3 5 10 30 50 100
Fig. 20: replacement of a Compact C250 N, H or L by a Compact NS 250 provides improved discrimination. In this
example, discrimination becomes total.
( )
t 2 Eb 2
Eb = 2
∫0vb ib dt = t vb 2 f Ip 2
t vb
where ib is a sinusoidal function:
hence:
1 2
Eb = î t (1). Eb = 4 f 2 Ip 2 t vb 3 (3)
2 b vb
It is useful to express Eb as a function of Ip and Again on the basis of (1), but with îb in mind:
the duration (tvb) of the break:
2 Eb îb
c tvb u 10 ms t vb = 2
=
For such a duration, the fault current is low, the îb 2 f Ip 2
circuit-breaker contacts do not repel each other we obtain:
and there is therefore no arcing voltage:
î b3
ib = ip and î b = 2 Ip ; Eb = ( 4)
4 2 f Ip
and formula 1 may be expressed as:
Formulas (3) and (4) can be used to plot the time
Eb = Ip 2 t (2) and peak current curves.
ip
îb
ib
ir
t
^
0 tr ta t tvb t b T/2
63645 03-98