Design rules Short-circuit currents All electrical installations have to be protected against short-circuits, without exception, whenever there is an electrical discontinuity; which more generally corresponds to a change in conductor cross-section, ‘The short-circuit current shall be calculated at each stage in the installation for the various configurations that are possible within the network, in order to determine the characteristics of the equipment that has to withstand or break this fault current. iw cable ave 2Bhe r In order to choose the right switchgear (circuit breakers or fuses) and set the protection functions, three short-circuit values must be known: = Minimal short-circuit current: (KArms) (example: 25 Arms) 1p This corresponds to a short-circuit at one end of the protected link (faultat the end ofa feeder (see fig.1) and not just behind the breaking device. Its value allows us to choose the setting of thresholds for overcurrent protection relays and fuses; especialy when the length of the cables is high andor when the source is relatively impedant (generator, UPS). 1 rms value of maximal short-cirouit current: kn = (kArims 1s or 3 5)] (example: 25 Arms 1) This corresponds to a short-circuit in the immediate vicinity of the downstream terminals of the switching device (see fig 1). Itis defined in kA for 4 of 3 seconds) and is used to define the thermal withstand of the equipment, 1 Peak value ofthe maximum short-circuit current (Value ofthe inital peakin the transient period) lyn = (A poak) (@rampie 25+ 254A=62.5kApeak for aD tine-constnt of me and rated Frequency oF50 He (EC 6227-100) © laymis equalto 2.5 + Isc at 50 Hz (IEC) and 45 ms DC time-constant or, 2.6 + Isc at 60 Hz (IEC) and 45 ms DC time-constant or, 2.7 * Isc (IEC) for higher DC time-constants breakers and switches, as well as the electrodynamic withstand of busbars and switchgear. 1D The IEC uses the following values: 8-12.5-16-20-25 -31.5-40-50 kArms. These are generally used inthe specifications. NB. 1 A specification may give ane value in KArms and one value in MVA.as below: Iso= 19 kArms or350 MVAat 10k 1 ifwe calculate the equivalent current at 350 MVA we find 360 Bo ‘The diference depends on how we round up the value and on local habits. Tho value 19 KArms is probably the most realist, 1D another explanations possible: in mecium and high voltage, IEC 6009.0 apolies a coofcient of 1.1 when calculating maximal le u E Bt Zac” Zee he 0.2 kATms begs 14+ ‘AMTEDIO0014EN nda Schneider 15