January-March 2002

Issued by : EBG - Electrical Systems & Equipment, LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED, Powai Works, Mumbai 400 072

Prospect / Reprospect

Reliable
Discrimination U-POWER Air Circuit Breaker
In a multi-level power distribution L&T's U-POWER system of Air Circuit Breaker is the first Air Circuit
system, interruption of fault cur- Breaker totally designed and developed in India.
rent and isolation of faulty zone,
without affecting the supply of the It won the BEST PRODUCT PRIZE in the category of Overall Best
healthy system, is achieved Product developed by an Indian or an Overseas Exhibitor in the Best
through discrimination. Product Contest held at ELECRAMA 2002 exhibition.

In this regard, the breaking capac-

ity and the short time withstand
rating of the interruting devices play
an important role. Often it is ob-
served that to make the circuit
breakers compact and light in
weight, these ratings are lowered
by the manufacturers. In order to
justify this, a logic of reduced fault
levels in the cascaded system is
put forward.

However, in practice, this cas-

caded system can pose serious
repercussions during operation. In
this issue of L&T Current Trends,
we discuss the advantages of fully
discriminated system against the
cascaded system.

Visit us at www.LNTEBG.com
 FEATURE

Low Voltage Distribution System Selection

Of Circuit Breakers
- Mr. T. P. R. Sarma
Switchgear Design
& Product Delelopment

Introduction Distribution System intended to operate will do so while

the other(s) does (do) not.
Reliability of power supply in any network Let us look at a typical distribution
depends on various factors such as : system, shown in Fig.1, fed from a In any good distribution system, it is
Ä a reliable power source grid having a fault level of say, 50kA. normally desired that :
Ä a strong distribution network with Ä the fault should be cleared
fully coordinated distribution The incoming circuit-breaker A feeds immediately on its occurrence by
system the bus section of Panel 1. One of the a device closest to the location
Ä a well maintained and disciplined outgoing feeders controlled by breaker of fault
load management system B feeds Panel 2. The load L1 fed from Ä only the faulty section is isolated
Ä proper selection of ratings of all this panel is controlled by breaker C. Ä healthy feeders are not
devices, viz., transformer, There are other outgoing feeders for unnecessarily isolated due to a
switchgear and loads both the panels 1 and 2. Based on fault elsewhere
the discrimination scheme envisaged Ä the system is stressed least and
Selection of appropriate switchgear by the consultant or customer, the Ä the extent of outage/power
ensuring suitable discrimination system may provide complete interruption is kept to a minimum.
upstream and downstream plays a very discrimination or partial discrimination
important role in ensuring good or no discrimination at all. Fully Rated System With
performance of the distribution system. Discrimination
The term “Discrimination” implies ‘co-
Guidelines for selection of switchgear, ordination of the operating In a fully co-ordinated system, the
especially the circuit-breakers, may characteristics of two or more over- circuit-breaker nearest to the fault is
appear very simple as parameters like current protective devices so that designed to sense and clear the fault.
rated service voltage, rated current, and on the incidence of an over-current Other feeders connected to the system
frequency are obvious factors within stated limits, the device continue to remain energized. In Fig.1
considered during
selection. However, the
short-circuit performance B r eak er - A
specifications are
sometimes ignored/ P an el 1
missed. The price of a
circuit-breaker of a given
thermal rating will vary
widely depending on the B r eak er - B
short-circuit capabilities. In
order to keep the project
P an el 2
cost under control, there
could be a temptation to
compromise on the
breaking capacity/short B r eak er - C
time rating requirements of
the circuit-breakers,
without realizing its impact
on the system reliability X
F au lt
and operational efficiency
and convenience. Fig.1
L oad L 1
for a fault at X, the breaker C is higher rating, the following shall specifically approved for that
expected to operate for clearing the apply: purpose. Small moulded-case
fault. In case this breaker fails to (a)Marking - The additional series breakers tend to open more quickly
operate for any reason, the upstream combination interrupting rating than larger frame sizes of moulded-
breaker B will operate after a pre- shall be marked on the end-use case breakers and therefore
determined time delay. Breaker A that equipment, such as switchboards attempt to perform the job of
is upstream of breaker B will operate and panel boards interrupting fault currents prior to
after a further pre-set time delay only (b)Motor Contribution - Series ratings the operation of the larger breakers
if both the breakers B and C fail to shall not be used where with which they might be cascaded.
operate. This scheme will provide total (1)Motors are connected on the ....... (Text authored by W. B.
discrimination. Discrimination is load side of the higher rated PERKINS & D. E. MAXWELL,
achieved by matching the time-current over-current device and on the Distribution Equipment Division,
characteristics of the protective line side of the lower rated over- Square D. Company)
devices. current device, and,
(2)The sum of the motor full load A careful analysis of these
In this system, all the circuit-breakers currents exceed 1% of the recommendations will highlight the
should have breaking capacity equal interrupting rating of the lower- points listed below regarding the
to or more than the prospective system rated circuit-breaker. (This cascading of devices:
fault level. The entire bus system clause, i.e., Cl. 240.86 was
should also be designed to withstand added in the NEC as an Ä In a cascaded system, the customer
the short-circuit stresses till the amendment in 1999) is compromising on discrimination
upstream breaker A clears the fault (ii) Reference:- IEC 364 Part 4 requirements for a cost. For a fault
after its preset time delay as decided Chapter 43. Electrical installations downstream of the breaker with
by the requirements of co-ordination of Building the lower breaking capacity, the up-
and discrimination. Cl. 434.3.1 The breaking capacity stream breaker will trip along with
(of the switching device) shall not the down-stream breaker cutting off
Cascade system be less than the prospective short- power supply to other healthy
circuit current at the place of its feeders as well. This will reduce the
Though the good engineering practice installation, except where the
calls for all breakers used in a network useful life of the upstream device.
following paragraph applies. Ä The specific combination of the
to have breaking capacities equal to A lower breaking capacity is
or more than the prospective system upstream and downstream
admitted if another protective device breakers should be tested for the
fault level, some customers may use having the necessary breaking
breakers of lower breaking capacities required fault level before selection.
capacity is installed in the supply NEC recommendation implies that
for certain special applications. This side. In that case the characteristics
practice existed in certain countries, the combination may not have a
of the devices must be coordinated breaking capacity equal to that of
especially in the North America till the so that the energy let through by
recent past (may be due to technology the upstream or downstream
these two devices does not exceed device.
limitations at that time), but today it that which can be withstood without
is not preferred by most consultants Ä If more inductive (motor) loads are
damage by the device on the load added to the system on a future
and customers. Modern handbooks on side and the conductors protected
Electrical Engineering do not date, a combination, considered
by these devices. adequate till then, may suddenly
recommend this practice for new (iii)Reference:- Switchgear and Control
installations. The National Electrical turn out to be non-acceptable as
Handbook edited by Robert. W. per the NEC Code due to the
Code (of USA), i.e., NEC 1999 as Smeaton and published by
well as IEC standard on Electrical increased motor contribution
McGraw-Hill Book Company considerations.
Installations of Building-IEC 60364 ..... The cascade system, once
lay down special requirements for such Ä While faults upstream and also
considered acceptable is no longer downstream of the cascaded
applications. Relevant details are recommended by the
extracted and reproduced below: system are taken care of, the
standards.......... (Text authored by protection for an internal fault at
MAX. E. EVERETT, Senior a location between the two
(i)Reference:- NEC 1999 National Engineer Allis-Chalmers
Electrical Code-Chapter 2 devices is not verified and
Corporation) guaranteed.
Cl.240.86 Series ratings - Where a ...... Note that small moulded-
circuit-breaker is used on a circuit Ä Any system upgradation or
case circuit-breakers or fuses and replacement of any of the
having an available fault current circuit-breakers should not be
higher than its marked interrupting protective devices, on a future
cascaded to achieve adequate date, can cause havoc unless
rating by being connected to the short-circuit interrupting ability
load side of an acceptable over extreme care is exercised. E.g.
unless the combination is replacing one 100A MCCB by
current protective device having the
 another 100A MCCB as part of devices. Unless the combination is Conclusion
maintenance can lead to a safety tested for the required fault level, the It is up to the consultant who in
hazard unless the replaced performance of the combination cannot consultation with the end user should
breaker is identical to the old be guaranteed in the field. After a major make the choice of systems and
breaker in all respects. fault is cleared both the devices of the devices after assessing the real cost
combination need to be thoroughly of the cheaper-looking option and its
Referring to Fig.1, if the breaker C examined and replaced if necessary impact on the long-term service
does not have the breaking capacity equal to ensure safe operation during any performance, operational convenience
to the system fault level, for a fault at X, future fault in the system. and efficiency of his installation. In most
breakers B and C may have to operate cases, the final decision will be obvious.
in cascade to clear the fault. This will Comparison between distribution
result in an undesired power outage for systems
the other healthy feeders connected to A balance sheet analysis of the pros
Panel 2 as the system is not, in this and cons of fully rated system with
case, designed for discrimination between discrimination versus cascade
breakers B and C. system will look as given in the chart.

There are some similarities

between SCPD of contactors /
motor-starters and the cascade Fully rated system Cascade system
system of circuit-breakers in a with discrimination
distribution feeder. It is well-
known that the contactors/motor- Total discrimination possible Only partial discrimination can
starters have making and breaking be expected
capacities of only 6-8 times the
operational current rating which Only the device closest to Larger outage in case of fault
may be far lower than the system fault needs to operate
fault level. In these cases a SCPD
is selected so that in case a As only one device need to In case of any fault tripping, all devices
current above the breaking operate for a given fault, life of have to be thoroughly inspected and
capacity of the starter is to be upstream devices not affected serviced before re-commissioning.
broken, it will be the SCPD and
Minimum disruption in case of Short-circuit rating of the combination
not the starter that will operate.
This is ensured by proper co- any fault has to be assessed by testing prior
ordination of the upstream SCPD to use
and the downstream starter. The All devices are fully rated and Will appear economical (on initial cost
feeder to be isolated in this case
hence no safety hazard in considerations only), but will work out
is only a single motor feeder
unlike in a distribution network service more expensive if total cost of outages
where multiple loads fed by the and the cost of lost opportunity are
upstream feeder will also get properly computed.
isolated causing large and
Could be marginally more Future system up-gradation/equipment
undesired power outages.
In a cascade system, both the expensive, though extra service replacement needs extreme caution
upstream and downstream reliability/less outage will more
devices are expected to operate than off-set the extra cost
simultaneously so that the fault
High reliability Less reliable
energy is shared by the breaking

For further details on this subject, please contact:

EBG - Electrical Systems & Equipment, Larsen & Toubro Limited, Saki-Vihar Road, P.O. Box 8901, Powai, Mumbai 400 072
Fax: 022-858 1024 * E-mail: kotnisnd@Intebg.com

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4540 Fax : 402 4703 Email: pds6@bol.net.in Edited by Dr. Arun C. Vakil for Larsen & Toubro Limited, from L&T House,
Narottam Morarji Marg, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001, The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of
the management of Larsen & Toubro Limited. The contents of this magazine should not be reproduced without the written
permission of the Editor. Not for sale-only for circulation among the customers. Executive Editor : Sharmila Banerjee.
Associate Editors: Lawrence Mohan and Anand Aashay. Editorial Coordinators : R. S. Mahajan, Neelam D. Kotnis, EBG-ESE,
Powai and Olympia Couto,CCD, LTH.