‘Surge Protection Devices & Power Supply Earthing ~Standards and Rules for its Installation Shri C.K.Prasad Professor Telecom/IRISET ‘Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) are provided to protect the sensitive electronic systems and sub-systems used in Signalling, Telecommunications, SCADA and Information Technology applications from lightning, switching surges and electrical spikes. It is extremely important to design the protection systems by choosing proper type of SPDs of required electrical characteristics confirming to the standards. Proper installation of SPDs conforming to the rules of installation will achieve the envisaged protection level for these devices. The standards and rules for SPDs are covered in this article. Table of SPD normative definition Benn Pee ee ened IEC 61643-1 Class Itest Class Il test Class Ill test EC 61643-11/2007 type LT type2: [2] types I EN/IEC 61643-11 Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Former VDE 0675v(Withdrawn) _B c D Type of test wave 10/350 8/20 1.2/50 + 8/20 Note 1: There exist 11} + LT2Jspp (or Type 1 + 2 SPD) combining protection of loads against direct and indirect lightning strokes. Note 2: some [T2IsPD can also be declared as [13 Connections of a SPD to the loads should be as short as possible in order to reduce the value of the voltage protection level (installed Up) on the terminals of the protected equipment. The total length of SPD connections to the network and the earth terminal block should not exceed 50 cm. One of the essential characteristics for the protection of equipment is the maximum voltage protection level (installed Up) that the equipment can withstand at its terminals. Accordingly, a SPD should be chosen with a voltage protection level Up adapted to protection of the equipment (see Fig. 1). The total length of the connection conductors is L=LI+L24+L3. For high-frequency currents, the impedance per unit length of this connection is approximately 1 H/m. Hence, applying Lenz's law to this connection: AU = L di/dt The normalized 8/20 ps current wave, with a current amplitude of 8 kA, accordingly creates a voltage rise of 1000 V per metre of cable. AU =1x 10° x 8 x 10° /8 x 10° = 1000 V Connections of a SPD < 50cm oo fol semees Fig. 110Asa result the voltage across the equipment terminals, installed Up, installed Up = Up + U1 + U2 IF L14L24+L3 = 50 cm, and the wave is 8/20 ps with an amplitude of 8 kA, the voltage across the equipment terminals will be Up + 500 V. Conne Plastic Enclosure Figure 2 below shows how to connect a SPO in plastic enclosure. ~ circuit breaker — Each auiiairy — Earth distribution Fig.2 Example of connection in plastic enclosure Connection in metallic enclosure In the case of a switchgear assembly in a metallic enclosure, it may be wise to connect the SPD ectly to the metallic enclosure, with the enclosure being used as a protective conductor (see Fig.3). This arrangement complies with standard IEC 61439-1 and the ASSEMBLY manufacturer must make sure that the characteristics of the enclosure make this use possible. Ear detrbton Fig.3: Example of connection in metallic enclosure Conductor cross section The recommended minimum conductor cross section takes into account: 1+ The normal service to be provided: Flow of the lightning current wave under a maximum, voltage drop (50 cm rule) Note: Unlike applications at 50 Hz, the phenomenon of lightning being high-frequency, the increase in the conductor cross section does not greatly reduce its high-frequency impedance. * The conductors’ withstand to short-circuit currents: The conductor must resist a short- circuit current during the maximum protection system cutoff time, IEC 60364 recommends at the installation incoming end a minimum cross section of: = 4mm? (Cu) for connection of Type 2 SPD; = 16 mm2 (Cu) for connection for Type 1 SPD (presence of lightning protection system). Cabling rules of Surge Protection Device * Rule1: The first rule to comply with is that the length of the SPD connections between the network (via the external SCPD) and the earthing terminal block should not exceed 50 cm. Figure 4 shows the two possibilities for connection of a SPD. 30 THs on? Maximum discharge current Imax The maximum discharge current Imax is defined according to the estimated exposure level relative to the building’s location. The value of the maximum discharge current (Imax) is determined by a risk analysis (see table in Figure 5). Exposure level Low Medium High ‘ding envi Building located in | Building Building where there is a Building environment an urban or located in a _| specific risk:pylon, tree, suburban area of | plain mountainous region, wet grouped housing area or pond, etc. Recommended imax | 20 40 65 value (kA) Fig. 5: Recommended maximum discharge current Imax according to the exposure level Fig 4:SPD with separate or integrated external SCPD 112© Rule2: ‘The conductors of protected outgoing feeders: * Should be connected to the terminals of the external SCPD or the SPD; * Should be separated physically from the polluted incoming conductors. They are located to the right of the terminals of the SPD and the SCPD (see Fig.6).. overs Protec ose Fig 6: The connections of protected outgoing feeders are to the right of the SPD terminals + Rule3: The incoming feeder phase, neutral and protection (PE) conductors should run one beside another in order to reduce the loop surface (see Fig.7). * Rule4: The incoming conductor of the SPD should be remote from the protected outgoing conductors to avoid polluting them by coupling (see Fig.7). © RuleS: ‘The cables should be pinned against the metallic parts of the enclosure (if any) in order to inimize the surface of the frame loop and hence benefit from a shielding effect against EM disturbances. In all cases, it must be checked that the frames of switchboards and enclosures are earthed via very short connections. Finally, if shielded cables are used, big lengths should be avoided, because they reduce the efficiency of shielding (see Fig.7). Fig. 7: Example of improvement of EMC by a reduction in the loop surfaces and common impedance in an electric enclosure 113Inelectricity supply systems, an earthing system defines the electrical potential of the conductors relative to the Earth's conductive surface. The choice of earthing system can affect the safety and electromagnetic compatibility of the power supply, and regulations can vary considerably among countries. Most electrical systems connect one supply conductor to earth (ground). if a fault within an electrical device connects a "hot" (unearthed) supply conductor to an exposed conductive surface, anyone touching it while electrically connected to the earth (c.g., by standing on it, or touching an earthed sink) will complete a circuit back to the earthed supply conductor and receive an electric shock. A protective earth, known as an equipment grounding conductor in the US National Electrical Code, avoids this hazard by keeping the exposed conductive surfaces of a device at earth potential. To avoid possible voltage drop no current is allowed to flow in this conductor under normal circumstances, but fault currents will usually trip or blow the fuse or circuit breaker protecting the circuit. A high impedance line-to-ground fault insufficient to trio the overcurrent protection may still trip a residual-current device if one is present. In contrast, a functional earth connection serves a purpose other than shock protection, and may normally carry current. Examples of devices that use functional earth connections include surge suppressors and electromagnetic interference filters, certain antennas and measurement instruments. But the most important example of a functional earth is the neutral in an electrical supply system. It is a current-carrying conductor connected to earth, often but not always at only one point to avoid earth currents. IEC terminology International Standard IEC 60364 distinguishes three families of earthing arrangements, using the two-letter codes TN, TT and IT. The first letter indicates the connection between earth and the power-supply equipment {generator or transformer): T Direct connection of a point with earth (Latin:terra); ' No point is connected with earth (isolation), except perhaps via a high impedance. The second letter indicates the connection between earth and the electrical device being supplied. T Direct connection of a point with earth N Direct connection to neutral at the origin or installation, which is connected to the earth TN networks In a TN earthing system, one of the points in the generator or transformer is connected with earth, usually the star point in a three-phase system. The body of the electrical device is. connected with earth via this earth connection at the transformer. 114The conductor that connects the exposed metallic parts of the consumer's electrical installation is called protective earth (PE; see also Ground). The conductor that connects to the star point in a three-phase system, or that carries the return current in a single-phase system, is called neutral (N). Three variants of TN systems are distinguished: TN-S PE and N are separate conductors that are connected together only near the power source. This, arrangement is the current standard for most residential and industrial electric systems in North America and Europe. TN-C A combined PEN conductor fulfills the functions of both a PE and an N conductor. Rarely used. TN-C-S Part of the system uses a combined PEN conductor, which is at some point split up into separate PE and N lines. The combined PEN conductor typically occurs between the substation and the entry point into the building, and separated in the service head. In the UK, this system is also known as protective multiple earthing (PME), because of the practice of connecting the combined neutral-and-earth conductor to real earth at many locations, to reduce the risk of broken neutrals - with a similar system in Australia being designated as multiple earthed neutral (MEN). Sener or ‘Sener or IN-S: separate protective earth TNC: combined PE and N TN-C- earthing system: (PE) and neutral (N) conductors conductor all the way from the combined PEN conductor from from transformer to consuming _ transformer to the consuming transformer to building device, which are not connected device. distribution point, but separate together at any point after the PE and N conductors in fixed building distribution point. indoor wiring and flexible power cords, 115It is possible to have both TN-S and TN-C-S supplies from the same transformer. For example, the sheaths on some underground cables corrode and stop providing good earth connections, and so homes where "bad earths” are found get converted to TN-C-S. Tr network Ina TT earthing system, the protective earth connection of the consumer is provided by a local connection to earth, independent of any earth connection at the generator. The big advantage of the TT earthing system is that it is clear of high and low frequency noises that come through the neutral wire from connected equipment. TT has always been preferable for special applications like telecommunication sites that benefit from the interference-free earthing, Also, TT does not have the risk of a broken neutral. In locations where power is distributed overhead and TT is used, installation earth conductors are not at risk should any overhead distribution conductor be fractured by, say, a fallen tree or branch. In pre-RCD era, the TT earthing system was unattractive for general use because of its worse capability of accepting high currents in case of a live-to-PE short circuit (in comparison with TN systems). But as residual current devices mitigate this disadvantage, the TT earthing system becomes attractive for premises where all AC power circuits are RCD-protected. Generator or transformer WN cath consumer | Earth ‘The TT earthing system is used throughout Japan, with RCD units in most industrial settings. This can impose added requirements on variable frequency drives and switched-mode power supplies which often have substantial filters passing high frequency noise to the ground conductor. 116IT network In an IT network, the electrical distribution system has no connection to earth at all, or it has only a high impedance connection. In such systems, an insulation monitoring device is used to monitor the impedance. Properties Cost = TN networks save the cost of a low-impedance earth connection at the site of each consumer. Such a connection (a buried metal structure) is required to provide protective earth in IT and TT systems. = TN-C networks save the cost of an additional conductor needed for separate N and PE connections. However, to mitigate the risk of broken neutrals, special cable types and lots of connections to earth are needed. + TT networks require proper RCD (Ground fault interrupter) protection Electromagnetic compatibility + In TN-S and TT systems, the consumer has a low-noise connection to earth, which does not suffer from the voltage that appears on the N conductor as a result of the return currents and the impedance of that conductor. This is of particular importance with some types of telecommunication and measurement equipment. = In TT systems, each consumer has its own connection to earth, and will not notice any currents that may be caused by other consumers on a shared PE line 17Comparison of Earthing Systems Parameters T IT TN-S TNC TN-CS RCD preferred? Yes No Yes No No PE conductor cost Low Low Highest Least High Safe Less Safe Safest Least Safe Safe Safety risks High loop Double None Beoken Broken impedance fault, neutral neutral (step _overvoltage voltages) 118,