Electrical Installation A

│ Topic 4A │

Overcurrent protection

© VTC 2015 1
CONTENT
1. Introduction
2. Types of Overcurrent
3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
4.Overload Protective Devices
5. Fault Current
6. Determination of Short –circuit Current
7. Position of Overload Protective Device
8. Omission of Overload Protective Deivce

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9. Discrimination
10. Back-up Protection
11. IDMT Relay
12. Per Unit System

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1. Introduction
 Purpose of overcurrent protection
 For the prevention of electric shock
and fire hazards, and
 maintain the life of equipment and
systems
• Overcurrent
• Any current in excess of the rated
current of a circuit or the current
carrying capacity of a conductor

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2. Type of Overcurrent
(a) Overload Current (過載電流)
 The current exceeds the design current caused by
connecting excessive loads to the circuit
(Normally less than 3 time the design current)

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2. Type of Overcurrent

(b) Fault current (故障電流)

 Short circuit current (短路電流)
The current caused by a fault of negligible impedance
between live conductors having a difference in potential.

電 負
源 載

極低電阻的連接
6
2. Type of Overcurrent

 Earth Fault Current (接地故障電流)

The current caused by a fault of low or negligible
impedance between live conductors and exposed or
extraneous conductive parts under normal operating
conditions
金
屬
電 負 外
源 載 殼

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
Requirements:
 be operated automatically
 have adequate breaking capacity and making
capacity
 be suitably located
 be constructed so as to prevent danger from
overheating, arcing or the scattering of hot
particles when they come into operation and
to permit ready restoration of the supply
without danger
(操作時防止過熱、產生電弧或熱碎片散播而發
生危險，及容許在無危險情況下恢復供電。)

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
Types of Overcurrent Protective Devices
(a) Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)
(b) Moulded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB)
(c) High Breaking Capacity Fuses (HBC/HRC) and Semi-
enclose fuse
(d) Circuit breakers incorporating overcurrent release
in the form of integral tripping device, or external
overcurrent relays (e.g. ACB + IDMTL relay)
(e) Circuit breakers in conjunction with fuses
(f) Protection for neutral conductor

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
(a) Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB) 微型斷路器
 Acceptable standard: BSEN 60898 / IEC 60898
 Isolation, switching and overcurrent protection for final
circuits
 Two tripping mechanism:
 overload trip by thermal mechanism
 short-circuit trip by magnetic mechanism
 Nominal current rating: up to 100A
 Single/double/triple-pole arrangement
 Breaking capacity:
 MCB to BS3871: M1 to M9 (i.e. 1kA to 9kA)
 MCB to BSEN / IEC 60898: 1500 to 25000A
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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
MCB Construction

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)

(1) Actuator lever Used to manually trip and reset

the circuit breaker.
Also indicates the status of the circuit breaker.
(On or off/tripped).

(2) Actuator mechanism

Forces the contacts together or apart.

(3) Contacts - Allow current to flow when touching

and break the flow of current when moved
apart.

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)

(4) Terminals
(5) Bimetallic strip
(6) Calibration screw –
allows the manufacturer
to precisely adjust the trip
current of the device after
assembly.
(7) Solenoid
(8) Arc divider / extinguisher

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
MCB

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
Types of MCB
 MCB is also classified into the following different types
according to the instantaneous tripping current:
 MCB to BS 3871- Types 1,2, 3 and 4
 MCB to BSEN 60898 – Types B, C and D
(Note: MCB to BS3871 has been replaced by MCB to
BSEN 60898)

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
Type Tripping Applications
current
Type B 3-5 In Normal resistive loads, e.g. Low voltage
lighting
Type C 5-10 In Inductive load, e.g. Industrial application
motors
Type D 10-20 In Load with higher starting current, e.g.
Compressor Motor, X ray, welding M/C
etc.

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
(b) Moulded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCB)
模製外殼斷路器

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
Moulded Case Circuit Breakers

 Acceptable standard: BSEN 60947-2 , IEC 60947-2

 Similar construction to MCB
 Rated current rating: may up to 3kA
 Breaking capacity: may up to 100kA
 Adjustable trip settings and time-delays
 With add-on facilities such as shunt trips, under-
voltage trips and auxiliary contacts
 One to four poles arrangement

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
(c) High Breaking Capacity Fuses (HBC/HRC)
高斷流容量熔斷器

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
High Breaking Capacity Fuses (HBC/HRC)
 Acceptable standard: BS88, BS1361 and BS1362
 Available ratings:
 BS88: 2 to 1250A
 BS1361: 5 – 100A
 BS1362: 2 - 13A
 Breaking capacity:
 BS88: 80kA
 BS1361: 16.5 – 33kA
 BS1362: 6kA Cartridge Fuse to BS88

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
Semi-enclosed Fuse (BS3036) 半封閉式熔斷器
 Acceptable standard: BS 3036
 Made of tinned copper wire with nominal diameter proportional
to its rating.
 Subject to deterioration due to oxidation and scaling, resulting
in a reduction of its current carrying capacity
 Incorrect rated fuse element may be used for replacement by
unskilled person
 Low breaking capacity

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
Devices for Overcurrent Protection
Semi-enclosed Fuse 半封閉式熔斷器(BS3036)

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
Fuse

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
Advantages of MCB over fuse in circuit protection

 Shorter tripping times under moderate overcurrent

 Re-closing can be effected immediately after the fault
has been cleared.
 No stock of fuses are required.

 Cut off all poles in fault condition.

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3. Overcurrent Protective Devices
(f) Protection for neutral conductor
 Overcurrent detection of the NEUTRAL conductor is
NOT required for installation of a TT and TN systems if
 100% Neutral conductor is used; or
 protection already provided by protective device
for phase conductors of the circuit
 Note that no fuse, circuit breaker, isolator or switch,
other than a linked circuit breaker, linked isolator or
linked switch should be inserted in a neutral conductor
as LOSS OF NEUTRAL must be avoided to eliminate the
risk of raising the potential of the load star point to
dangerous level
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4. Overload protective devices
(a) Overload protective devices should be capable of breaking
any overload current flowing in the circuit conductors
before such a current could cause a temperature rise
detrimental to insulation, joints, terminations, or
surroundings of the conductors.
 Condition 1:
The current setting (In) of the devices should not be less
than the design current (Ib) of the circuit
The In should not exceed the as-installed current carrying
capacities (Iz) (CCC of a cable for continuous service under the particular
installation conditions concerned) of any of the conductors in the
circuit

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4. Overload protective devices
 Condition 2:
The current causing effective operation of the
devices (I2) should not exceed 1.45 times the as-
installed current carrying capacities of any of the
conductors in the circuit (Iz) .
I2  1.45 x IZ
 An Effective Overload Protection Device should Meet
Requirements of Both Conditions 1 & 2:
(i) Ib  In  Iz
(ii) I2  1.45 x IZ
(note: I1 = non-trip current=1.25 In)

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4. Overload protective devices
Example:
Determine whether a 15A MCB is suitable to be used as the
overload protective device of a 220V single phase circuit wired by
1.5 mm2 PVC 2/C cu. cable supplying a 3kW water heater using
surface wiring at an ambient temperature of 300C? Assuming that:
 As-installed CCC of the copper cable (Iz) = 20A
 The effective operation current of the MCB (I2) = 1.6 x In
Solution:
Ib = 3000W/220V = 13.7A; In = 15A; Iz = 20A
 Ib  In  Iz (Ref. to EIH Table 6.1, BS88 Fuse 1.6, BS1361 1.5)

1.45 x IZ = 1.45 x 20 = 29A; and I2 = 1.6 x In = 1.6 x 15 = 24A

 I2 < 1.45 x IZ
  The 15A MCB can provide overload protection for the
circuit

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4. Overload protective devices
(b). Fault Current Protected by Overload Protective
Device
 The protective device is assumed to be adequate if it
(1) satisfies conditions for overload protective
device. That is, we sizes cable and protective
device by using the principle
(i) Ib ≤ In ≤ Iz
(ii) I2 ≤ 1.45 Iz and
(2) Breaking capacity of protective device Icu ≥
Maximum prospective fault current, Isc
(iii) Icu ≥ Isc
 This is the most common way to protect a circuit,
since only ONE protective device is needed.
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4. Overload protective devices

(c) Overload protection for conductors in parallel

When the same protective device protects conductors in

parallel, (other than ring circuits), Iz in this case is the
sum of Iz of those conductors in parallel provided that
those conductors:
 are of the same construction, material, cross-sectional
area, and of approximately the same length.
 have no branch circuits throughout their length.
 are arranged so as to carry substantially equal current.

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5. Fault current protective device

(a) Fault current protective device should be capable of

breaking any fault current in the conductors of each circuit
before such current could cause danger due to thermal and
mechanical effects produced in conductors and connections.
(b) Should have adequate breaking capacity Icu (not less than
the prospective fault current Isc at the point where the
device is installed Icu ≥ Isc
(c) The devices should be able to interrupt all current caused
by a fault occurring at any point of the circuit in a time
(refer to next slide for detail) not exceeding that which
brings the cable conductors to their limiting final
temperature.

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5. Fault current protective device

(d) The operating time of

the device should
comply with the
following formula:

k2 S2
t
I2
I tk S
2 2 2

where
k is cable factor (value of k may refer to the next slide)
t is the duration in seconds,
S is the nominal cross-sectional area of conductor in mm2
I is the value of fault current in amperes

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5. Fault current protective device

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6. Determination of short-circuit current
 It is important to determine the maximum prospective
short-circuit current at various location of the wiring
installation, and hence to select fault current
protection devices with suitable breaking capacities.
 Methods
(a) by calculation
(b) by measurement
(c) by taking the reference information from COP

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current
(a) By Calculation
(i) Maximum Prospective Fault Current
 3-phase : calculation based on symmetrical fault impedance
generally
 1-phase : calculation based on line-neutral impedance at 20oC
generally
 Breaking capacity of overcurrent protection devices should
exceed the max. prospective fault current
 breaking capacity > max Isc
(ii) Minimum Prospective Fault Current
 Calculation based on line-neutral impedance values generally
 Significant in calculation regarding fault disconnection time
and withstanding capacity of cables.
 k2S2 > I2t (熱容忍量 >通泄能量)

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current
(a) Location of Max and Min short-circuit current

Max. short-circuit current Min. short-circuit current

(at the fuse) (at the device)
(at the supply side) (at the load side)

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current

(i) Calculation of maximum prospective short circuit current

 3-phase symmetrical fault

Vp
I sc 
Zp
Vp
Zp 
I sc

 1-phase circuit

Vp
I sc 
Z p  Zn
Vp
Z p  Zn 
I sc

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current
6(a)(i) Calculation of max prospective short circuit current
 The max. prospective 3-ph symmetrical short-circuit at the LV
source of supply provided by local electricity suppliers is 40kA
 All Main Incoming Circuit Breaker (MICB) should therefore have
a breaking capacity not less than 40kA
 Fault current protective devices with smaller breaking
capacities are generally acceptable if they are backed up by
BS88 Part 2 and 6 fuses. (Table 9(2) & (3) of COP)
 The further away from the source of supply, the smaller the
maximum prospective short circuit current.
(Maximum prospective short circuit current is for estimation the
breaking capacity of the protective device)

breaking capacity > max. prospective short circuit current

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current

6(i) Calculation of maximum prospective short circuit current

e.g. In H.K. LV system, Fault current

 40kA
VP
For symetrical short circuit, I 
Zp
VP 220
ZP    5.5m
IP 40000

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current
6(a)(ii) Calculation of min. prospective short circuit
current ,Iq
 3-phase symmetrical
Fault

Vp
I 
Z p  Z1

 3-phase Line to Line

Fault (Phase to Phase
Short Circuit)

VL
I 
2( Z p  Z1 )

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current
6(a)(ii) Calculation of min. prospective short circuit current

 3-phase 4-wire circuit

(Line to Neutral fault)
 1-phase circuit
 (Line to Neutral fault)

Vp
I 
Z p  Z1  Z n1  Z n

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current

(a) (iii) Use of Adiabatic equation

 To check whether the circuit conductor can withstand the
minimum prospective fault current within allowable time
without damage
 Basic equation to satisfy
 k2S2 > I2t (熱容忍量 >通泄能量)
where
 k - a constant associated with the type of conductor +
insulation
 S - csa of conductor (mm2)
 I - minimum prospective fault current
 t - disconnection time
 I2t - let-through energy (通泄能量)

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current

(a)(iii) Example 1:

 Example: The following single phase circuit is protected by

63A BS88 fuse, the prospective short circuit current at the fuse is
known to be 3 kA. A connected load, with circuit distance 87m
from the fuse, is to be supplied by using 16mm2 1/C PVC copper
cable. Please check whether the fuse can provide short circuit
protection for the cable.

Source Installation side

Z 63A Z1
Source fuse
1.68 Ω / km Load
voltage Up

Zn Z2

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current

Example 1(cont)

 At fuse position, it is given that the 1-Ф prospective short circuit

current is 3 kA,

 i.e. Isc = Up / (Z + Zn)

 Z + Zn = 220 / 3000 = 0.073 Ω

 The total impedance from the fuse to the remote load end,
 Z1 + Z2 = 2 x 87m x 1.68 Ω/km = 0.292 Ω

 So, the minimum short circuit current at the load end,

 I = Up / (Z + Zn+ Z1 + Z2)
 = 220 / (0.073 + 0.292)
 = 603 A
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Example 1 (cont)

 Whether k2S2 > I2t ??

 From t-I characteristic of BS88 fuse, t = 0.2 s when
I = 603 A
 PVC copper cable is used  k = 115
 S = 16 mm2
 k2S2 = 1152 x 162 = 3,385,600 A2S
 I2t = 6032 x 0.2 = 72,722 A2S
 k2S2 > I2t  O.K

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current

(a)(iii) Example 2:

 A circuit is supplied by a 10mm2 PVC copper cable.

The prospective fault current of the circuit is 1kA, find
(a) the max. time permitted for the fault current to
exist before damage to the cable insulation
(b) the max. rating of the fault current protective
device when (i) BS88 HRC Fuse (ii) BS EN 60898
Type C MCB is used
(Assuming the k factor of the cable is 115)

48
6. Determination of Short-circuit Current

Example 2: (cont.)

(a) the max. time permitted for the fault current to

exist before damage to the cable insulation
t = k2 S2 / I2 = 1152 x 102 /10002 = 1.32sec
(b)(i) From the time/current characteristics for fuses to
BS88, the max. rating of the protective fuse is 125A
(ii) From the time/current characteristics for the Type
C MCB to BS EN 60898, the max. rating of the MCB
is 100A

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current
Example 3 (cont.)

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current
Example 3 (cont.)

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6. Determination of short-circuit current

(b) By measurement

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current
6. (b) By Measurement

Testing of the Loop Impedance

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6. Determination of short-circuit current
(c) Approximate Prospective Fault Current from
COP

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6. Determination of Short-circuit Current
(c) By CoP
Choice of breaking capacity of protective device

55
7. Position of Overload Protective Device
At or along the conductor where there is a reduction of CCC
Iz such due to the change:
 csa of conductor,
 method of installation, cable type,
 in environmental condition

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7. Position of Fault Current Protective Device

Should be placed where a reduction occurs in the

value of current-carrying capacity of the conductors of
the installation
(a) It may also be placed at a point on the load side of a
reduction of CCC of a conductor provided that the
conductors are:
 not exceed 3m in length, and
 be erected that the risks of fault current, fire, and
danger to persons are reduced to a minimum; or
(b) where another protective device on the supply side of
that position protects the load side conductors against
fault current.
(In general the relaxation applies to switchboard or
rising mains)

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8. Omission of Overload Protective Device

(a). Overload protective is provided by another device

at the supply side

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8. Omission of Overload Protective Device

(b). Overload current is unlikely to flow

(c). Unexpected lost of supply is more dangerous than

overloading of circuit. e.g. circuits for safety services,
lifting magnets. (Overload indication should be
provided for such circuits)

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8. Omission of Overload Protective Device
For cases of “d” to “f” overcurrent protective devices are
not required

(d). CT secondary circuit should not be

broken

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8. Omission of Overload Protective Device

(e) Conductor between a transformer and its control panel

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8. Omission of Overload Protective Device

(g) Voltage supply conductor to

protection relay

62
9. Discrimination (區分性)
 In the occurrence of a fault in
the circuit, only the
protective device directly
before the fault will operate
and that other branch circuits
of the same or higher level
will not be affected.
OPENS
 Analysis usually divided in 2
cases: NOT AFFECTED

 Overload UNNECESSARY
POWER LOSS Fault
 Short-circuit

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Safe Time Margin(Grading Margin)

 Allow safe time margin between two relays operating curves.

 The safe time margin is time including error of relay and CT,
operating time of circuit breaker.
 Safe time margin=grading margin=0.4s

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9. Discrimination (區分性)

(a) Discrimination between fuses

At overload range:
 compare the time-current characteristics of the two fuses

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9. Discrimination (區分性)

(a) Discrimination between fuses (cont’d)

 At short-circuit range
Achieved if the pre-arcing I2t
of the major (upstream) fuse
is in excess of the total
operating I2t of the minor
(downstream) fuse
 In general, discrimination can
be achieved if the ratio of the
major to minor fuses is 1.6:1 or
2:1 in some worst case e.g.
lower stream is 100A, upper
stream at least 160A.

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9. Discrimination (區分性)

(b) Discrimination between MCBs

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9. Discrimination (區分性)

(c) Short-circuit discrimination between CBs

Amperemetric Selectivity
 the trip current setting of
the major breaker must be
set so that it is higher than
the maximum prospective
short-circuit current for the
minor breaker
 suitable for upstream and
downstream having very
different prospective fault
currents

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9. Discrimination (區分性)
(c) Short-circuit discrimination between CBs
(cont’d)
Chronometric selectivity
 by delaying the action of
the short time release of
the major breaker to allow
the minor breaker to
interrupt the short-circuit
current during the short
delay time.
 Suitable for upstream and
downstream having very
close prospective fault
currents

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9. Discrimination (區分性)

 Short-circuit  Short-circuit
discrimination between CB discrimination between
and sub-ordinate fuses fuses and sub-ordinate CB

70
10. Back-up protection
 A protective device with lower breaking capacity is permitted
provided the major protective device (on the supply side) has
the necessary interrupting capacity. The characteristics of
the devices should be coordinated so that the energy let-
through of these devices will not cause damage to the load
side device and the conductors protected by these devices
 Table 9(2) of COP shows the minimum breaking capacities for
general guidance.

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10. Backup Protection
Same device for providing overload and fault
current protection
Overload protective device and overcurrent
protective device may be the same device or
separate devices provided that the device can
satisfy both the requirements of overload
protective devices and fault current protective
devices.

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10. Back-up protection

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