Part 4 Vessel Systems and Machinery

Chapter 8 Electrical Systems

Section 2 System Design 4-8-2

9.11 Protection of Generators

9.11.1 Overload Protection

Generators are to be protected by circuit breakers providing long-time delay overcurrent
protection not exceeding 15% above either the full-load rating of continuous-rated machines
or the overload rating of special-rated machines. Alternatively, generators of less than 25 kW
not arranged for parallel operation may be protected by fuses.

9.11.2 Short-circuit Protection

Generators are to be protected for short circuit by circuit breakers provided with short-time
delay trips. For coordination with feeder circuit breakers, the short-time delay trips are to be
set at a suitable current and time which will coordinate with the trip settings of feeder circuit
breakers.
Where two or more AC generators are arranged for parallel operation, each generator’s circuit
breaker is, in addition, to be provided with instantaneous trip set in excess of the maximum
short-circuit contribution of the individual generator.
For generators of less than 200 kW driven by diesel engines or gas turbines which operate
independently of the electrical system, consideration may be given to omission of the short-
time delay trip if instantaneous and long-time trips are provided.

9.11.3 Thermal Damage Protection

Generator circuit breakers at the main and emergency switchboard are to have tripping
characteristics and to be set such that they will open before the generator sustains thermal
damages due to the fault current. See 4-8-2/9.7.

9.11.4 Reverse Power Protection (2006)

A reverse power protection device is to be provided for each generator arranged for parallel
operation. The setting of the protective devices is to be in the range 2% to 6% of the rated
power for turbines and in the range 8% to 15% of the rated power for diesel engines.
A setting of less than 8% of the rated power of diesel engines may be allowed with a suitable
time delay recommended by the diesel engine manufacturer.

9.11.5 Prime Mover Shutdown

The shutting down of the prime mover is to cause the tripping of the generator circuit breaker.

9.11.6 Undervoltage Protection

Generators arranged for parallel operation are to be provided with means to prevent the
generator circuit breaker from closing if the generator is not generating, and to open the same
when the generator voltage collapses.
In the case of an undervoltage release provided for this purpose, the operation is to be
instantaneous when preventing closure of the breaker, but is to be delayed for discrimination
purposes when tripping a breaker.

9.13 Protection of Feeder Cables (2005)

Each feeder conductor is to be protected by a circuit breaker, or fuse with disconnecting switchgear,
from short circuit and overload at the supply end.
Fuse ratings and rating of time-delay trip elements of circuit breakers are not to exceed the rated
current capacity of the feeder cables, except as otherwise permitted for motor and transformer circuits
where starting in-rush current need be taken into account.

ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING STEEL VESSELS . 2007 603