Critical power:

Transfer switches and switchgear

Sponsored by:
Today’s Webcast Sponsors:
Presenters:

Danna Jensen, PE, LEED AP BD+C,

ccrd partners,
Dallas, TX.

Ken Lovorn, PE,

Lovorn Engineering Associates,
Pittsburgh, PA.

Moderator: Jack Smith,

Consulting-Specifying Engineer and Pure Power,
CFE Media, LLC
 Critical power:
Transfer switches and switchgear
Understanding the code requirements for transfer switches and properly
applying them in an emergency power design

Danna Jensen, PE, LEED AP BD+C,

ccrd partners,
Dallas, TX.

Ken Lovorn, PE,

Lovorn Engineering Associates,
Pittsburgh, PA.
Topics
• Applicable codes and requirements
• Open and closed transition switches
• Applying transfer switches and switchgear in
emergency power system design
• Transfer switch timing and sequencing.
Applicable codes
• NFPA 70:
National Electrical Code
(2014)
• NFPA 110:
Standard for Emergency
and Standby Power
Systems (2013)
• NFPA 99:
Health Care Facilities
Code (2012).
Applicable codes
• NFPA 70 Articles:
– 517, 695, 700, 701, 702, and 708
– 700: Emergency systems
• NFPA 110, chapter 6
– Transfer switch equipment
• NFPA 99, chapter 6
– Electrical systems.
Transfer switch requirements
• Prevent interconnection of two sources
• Electrically operated/mechanically held
• Listed for emergency system use
• Supply only emergency loads
• Suitable for operation of all functions intended to
supply.
Transfer switch requirements
• Generator exercising timers
• Protection (selective coordination)
• Motor load transfer provisions
• Isolation of neutral conductor provisions
• Include source monitoring and time delays.
Signaling/monitoring requirements
• Source monitoring:
– Undervoltage sensing
– Frequency sensing.

• Audible and visual

annunciation
– Switch position
– When “not-in-automatic” mode
– Not functioning
– Ground fault.
Required time delays
• Engine start
• Transfer to EPS
• Retransfer to utility
• Bypass delay
• Engine shutdown.
Additional (optional) time delays
• Load priorities
• Programmed transition
• Elevator pre-transfer.
Switch types
• Automatic
• Nonautomatic
• Open or delayed
transition
• Closed transition
• Bypass isolation.
Open transition transfer switches
• Open transition means the load is
disconnected from source one prior to being
connected to source two
• Maximum isolation of the two sources
• Power interruption to the load.
Closed transition transfer switches
• Closed transition means that the load is
connected to source two prior to being
disconnected from source one
• The two sources must be synchronized to be
able to use closed transition
• As long as both sources are available, there is
no power interruption to the load
• May have control issues if source one is
dead, because source two cannot
synchronize with a dead source.
Bypass transfer switches
• In the bypass mode, the transfer switch is
isolated from both the normal and emergency
sources so its mechanism may be maintained
without a power interruption
• Applications
• Drawbacks.
Switchgear mounted transfer switches
• Locating transfer switches in the switchgear
lineup can:
– Save installation time
– Cause problems with adequate isolation between
switches and other components
– Simplify control wiring when a number of switches
need to be coordinated
– Potentially reduce electrical space requirements.
Transfer switch timing
• All loads at the same time
• Separate loads into two or more steps
• Delayed operation of transfer switches.
Single-step load assumption
• Worst-case starting condition
• Possible generator failure
• Severe voltage and frequency dip
• Voltage may dip so low that control relays
could drop out.
Multiple-step load transfer
• May allow a reduced generator size
• Mitigates major voltage dips
• Allows more load without increasing
the generator size.
Delayed transfer applications
• High inertia loads
• Elevator drive motors
• Refrigeration compressors
• Sources that are not in phase.
 Applying transfer switches in
emergency power system design

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Design considerations
• The specifics of a facility’s electrical system
affects the transfer switch choice
• Available fault current, number of generators,
paralleling configuration, etc.
 Application considerations
• Location
– Available space
MAIN SERVICE – Minimize damage
ENTRANCE
– Separate from utility
ATS service equipment
– Qualified personnel
– Electrical point of
interconnection.
Application considerations
• Load analysis
– Critical loads
– Inductive loads
– Nonlinear loads
– Solid state loads
(VFD).
Application considerations
• Priority selection
– Automatic
– Nonautomatic
– Bypass-isolation
– Open or delayed transition
– Closed transition.
Application considerations
• 3-pole versus 4-pole
Equipment rating
• Current rating to support total load
• Withstand and closing rating (UL 1008)
– Any breaker
– Specific breaker
– Short time
– 3-cycle versus 30-cycle.
Switchgear considerations
• Number of generators
• Paralleling
configuration
• Proximity to ATS
• ATS controls.
Transfer switch timing application

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Sample load list
• 50-kW lighting load
• 30-ton air conditioning
• 40-hp air handling unit
• 40-hp air handling unit
• 100-hp fire pump
• 250-kW UPS
• 60-hp elevator.
Single-step load transfer
• Lighting load
• Air conditioning
• Air handling unit
• Air handling unit
• Fire pump
• UPS
• Elevator.
Two-step load transfer, alt 1
• Step 1: UPS

• Step 2:
– Lighting load
– Air conditioning
– Air handling unit
– Air handling unit
– Fire pump
– Elevator.
Two-step load transfer, alt 2
• Step 1:
– Lighting load
– Air conditioning
– Air handling unit
– Air handling unit
– Fire pump
– Elevator.

• Step 2: UPS
Three-step load transfer, alt 1
• Step 1: UPS
• Step 2:
– Lighting load
– Air conditioning
– Air handling unit
• Step 3:
– Air handling unit
– Fire pump
– Elevator.
Three-step load transfer, alt 2
• Step 1:
– Lighting load
– Air conditioning
– Air handling unit
• Step 2:
– Air handling unit
– Fire pump
– Elevator
• Step 3: UPS.
Timing comparison
With 6-pulse UPS
• Single step: 1,750 kW
• Two step, alt 1: 1,750 kW
• Two step, alt 2: 1,750 kW
• Three step, alt 1: 1,750 kW
• Three step, alt 2: 1,750 kW.
With 12-pulse UPS
• Single step: 1,750 kW
• Two step, alt 1: 1,250 kW
• Two step, alt 2: 1,250 kW
• Three step, alt 1: 800 kW
• Three step, alt 2: 800 kW.
Conclusions
• Unfiltered 6-pulse UPS systems can dictate the
size of the generator regardless of timing
• Sequential timing of transfer switches can permit
smaller generator sizes
• Dividing the load into more steps can reduce the
generator size.
Presenters:

Danna Jensen, PE, LEED AP BD+C,

ccrd partners,
Dallas, TX.

Ken Lovorn, PE,

Lovorn Engineering Associates,
Pittsburgh, PA.

Moderator: Jack Smith,

Consulting-Specifying Engineer and Pure Power,
CFE Media, LLC
Thanks to Today’s Webcast Sponsors:
Research and resources
• 2014 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Electrical
and Power Study
• Electrical systems webcast: Designing electrical
rooms
• Critical power webcast: Generators and
generator system design
• Critical power webcast: NFPA 110: Standard for
emergency and standby power systems
 Critical power:
Transfer switches and switchgear

Sponsored by: