Surge and Fire Protection

Arresters with SCI Technology for D.C. Circuits

www.dehn-international.com
 Surge Arresters with SCI Technology
for D.C. Circuits

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Surge and fire protection
for photovoltaic systems…
DEHN globally protects photovoltaic systems in the kilo-
watt to megawatt range against interruption and failure
caused by lightning currents and surges. These systems
require special protection especially on the d.c. side.
The direct current generated by the PV modules poses a
considerable challenge to the switching devices. During
switching operations, the characteristic of these PV current
sources can cause dangerous arcs in surge protective
devices which must be handled. The EN 50539-11 test
standard therefore requires to test the short-circuit current
rating ISCPV for surge protective devices used in PV systems.
The maximum d.c. short-circuit current of the PV system
must not exceed the typical ISCPV value of the arrester.

… thanks to arresters with

SCI technology from DEHN
DEHN is the only company that offers surge arresters with
the innovative Short Circuit Interruption (SCI) technology.
This patented technology provides maximum safety and
prevents fire. The specifically dimensioned fuse integrated in
the short-circuit path ensures safe disconnection of short-
circuit currents in case of overload at any time. Moreover,
the Y circuit of DEHN arresters has proven its worth over
many years. The interaction of the SCI technology and the
Y circuit ensures reliable surge protection – and thus
maximum operational reliability and fail-safe performance.

DEHN surge arresters with SCI technology

– Made in Gemany –

• saves additional backup fuses up to the ISCPV value

• fulfils customer needs and international standards
for surge protective devices
• provides excellent surge and fire protection
• offers permanent active protection

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 Requirements on arresters The function of fuses in PV systems with central inverters
is to protect against return currents. The maximum available
for use in PV systems current depends on the actual radiation. In certain operating
states which depend on the time of day these fuses only
depending on the time trip after some minutes. Therefore, surge protective devices
in generator junction boxes must be dimensioned for the
possible total current (operating current and return current)
and must be independently disconnected in case of overload
without arc formation.

Conclusion: ISCPV > Imax PV system

Possible total current Imax of the PV system = Tripping time depends

on the available
Operating current + return current I
IN return current
Generator
junction box 900 A 0.1 s
String 1
DC+
r isk o f ar c fo rmat io n

String 10

Operating
current Return
String 1 current
DC-

String 10

6.5 min

100 A
8

100 % 75 % 50 % 25 % 25 % 50 % 75 % 100 % PV fuse

125 A gPV
Available solar energy depending on the time of day

ISCPV: Short-circuit current rating of the SPD

4 Imax: Total current of the PV system
Selection of surge arresters
for use in PV systems

Roof-mounted and ground-mounted PV systems are String inverters are used for all PV systems ranging from
equipped with string or central inverters. Correctly small rooftop systems to large solar parks in the multi-
dimensioned surge protective devices (SPDs) combine surge megawatt range. Installation devices for protecting the d.c.
protection, personal protection and fire protection in a side against surges (at least type 2 arresters) are required
single device. for each MPP input. They are either connected upstream
of the inverters in generator junction boxes or are already
The following criteria are relevant for the selection of integrated in the string inverters. D.c. short-circuit currents
d.c. arresters: typically do not exceed 100 A.
• Place of installation and distance from terminal equipment
• SPD class: type 1 or type 2 Central inverters frequently with ratings of 1 MW are
• Earthing of live conductors mainly used in solar parks. The d.c. lines from the field are
• Maximum short-circuit current ISCPV routed in parallel to a common busbar. Several hundred
amperes of direct current accumulate here. Overvoltage
The short-circuit current is extremely important due to the pulses from the entire area are centrally collected on the
special characteristic of the d.c. voltage sources of the PV busbar. Correctly dimensioned surge protective devices
system. The following applies to the selection of an protect the input circuits from damage and increase the
arrester: The maximum d.c. short-circuit current of the PV service life and availability of the inverter.
system must not exceed the short-circuit current rating of The generator junction boxes used for these systems are
the arrester. interconnected in parallel via the central inverter. The return
currents must be safely discharged even if a surge arrester
The datasheet of surge protective devices specifies the ISCPV is overloaded. The resulting short-circuit current must not
value determined according to the EN 50539-11 standard. exceed the short-circuit current rating ISCPV of the arrester.
ISCPV is the short-circuit current rating for which the surge
protective device is dimensioned. This value must be greater DEHN has the optimal surge arresters for every
than the maximum short-circuit current of the PV system: application. The table on page 6 allows to select
a suitable arrester for d.c. circuits.
ISCPV > Imax PV system

SPD: Surge protective device

MPP: Maximum power point
MPP input: Separate input electronics of an inverter 5
 For every application: SCI arresters from DEHN
String inverter (SIV) < 200 A
• PV direct currents of less than hundred amps
• In some cases with a generator junction box connected in series
• Short-circuit current rating ISCPV of the SPDs according to the maximum input current of the SIV
Central inverter (CIV) > 200 A
• PV direct currents of some hundred amps
• Parallel use of several multistring generator junction boxes
• Short-circuit current rating ISCPV of the SPDs according to the maximum input current of the CIV
CIV GJB SIV GJB
central inverter generator string inverter generator
junction box for junction box for
central inverter string inverter

NEW: DEHNcombo YPV SCI

Type 1 + Type 2

This compact type 1 and type 2 arrester is a cost-effec-

tive solution for roof-mounted and ground-mounted
PV systems. Four modules. For 600 V, 1000 V, 1500 V.

Type Part No.

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
DCB YPV SCI 600 FM 900 065
DCB YPV SCI 1000 FM 900 066
DCB YPV SCI 1500 FM 900 067 ISCPV = 1000 A

DEHNguard® M YPV SCI

Universal type 2 arrester for PV systems of any

size, configuration and operating voltage from
600 V to 1200 V.

Type Part No. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

DG M YPV SCI 600 FM 952 516
DG M YPV SCI 1000 FM 952 515
DG M YPV SCI 1200 FM 952 517 ISCPV = 1000 A

DEHNguard® S PV SCI

This single-pole surge protective device is ideally

suited for directly earthed PV circuits.

Type Part No.

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
DG S PV SCI 150 FM 952 556
DG S PV SCI 600 FM 952 555 ISCPV = 1000 A

DEHNguard® YPV SCI - compact

Type 2

Compact type 2 arrester designed for protecting the

d.c. side of string inverter systems against surges.

Type Part No.

– – ✔ ✔
DG YPV SCI 600 950 531
DG YPV SCI 1000 950 530
ISCPV = 200 A

DEHNguard® ME YPV SCI

Maximum performance, safety and availability for a

new generation of PV power plants with an opera-
ting voltage up to 1500 V. ✔ ✔ – –
Type Part No.
DG ME YPV SCI 1500 FM 952 525 ISCPV = 1000 A

DEHNguard® PCB

Base allows to directly integrate type 2 arresters on

printed circuit boards, e.g. inverters, monitoring systems.
– ✔ ✔ –
Type Part No. monitoring

DG PCB PV SCI 500 FM 952 751

DG PCB PV 500 FM 952 741

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SCI technology ensures
maximum safety and fire protection
SCI stands for Short Circuit Interruption and thus for
all DEHN surge arresters with a three-step d.c. switching
+
device.
-
Surge protective devices have an integrated disconnector
which isolates in case of overload. Insufficient results are
achieved by classical methods of activating the discon- * *
SPD

SPD

nector at the d.c. characteristic of PV sources of current.

Due to the formation of an internal arc, damaging of the
SPD can not be excluded. In order to prevent this, the Y circuit
disconnector is combined with a bypass path. In case of
SPD

overload the disconnector will be activated and any arc

will be quenched on the low-resistance bypass path. The
integrated fuse interrupts the flow of follow current and a
safe electrical isolation of the arrester is achieved. * SCI circuit
Proven, fault-resistant Y circuit of d.c. PV circuits
DEHN SCI arresters provide a safe protection also in
case of overload due to the combined disconnecting
and short-circuiting device and thus an effective
surge protection which meets the highest require-
ments with regard to personal and fire protection.

Switching phases:
Switching stages:
If the disconnector is activated (1) PV follow currents
1. 2. 3.
change over to the bypass current path of the arrester. Original state Response of the Active Safe electrical
Arising arcs will be directly quenched (2). The fuse which is disconnection device arc extinction isolation
integrated in the bypass interrupts the d.c. current flow (3).

This operating principle of DEHN SCI arresters ensures

surge protection combined with maximum disconnection
safety in case of overload.

SCI SCI SCI SCI

SPD: Surge protective device Switching phases of the d.c. switching device (SCI)

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 Comprehensive protection DEHN offers a complete product range which protects from
damage due to lightning and overvoltages. The Red/Line
of photovoltaic systems products protect the a.c. and d.c. side of the inverter. The
Yellow/Line surge protective devices protect the data flow.
Also in the field of earthing and external lightning protec-
tion, DEHN products provide sophisticated solutions.

DEHNventil® M ... 255 FM

Type Part No.
The wave breaker function of this type 1 DV M TNC 255 FM 951 305
spark-gap-based combined arrester com-
DV M TNS 255 FM 951 405
bines maximum lightning current carry-
ing capability and maximum coordination DV M TT 255 FM 951 315
with inverters on the a.c. side.

BLITZDUCTOR® XTU Type Part No.

The actiVsense® technology automati- BXTU ML4 BD 0-180 920 349

cally detects the operating voltage and base part BXT BAS 920 300
allows universal use for 4 to 20 mA,
RS 485 and telecommunication.

HVI®Conductor Type Part No.

Since the special coating of the HVI®Con- HVI Conductor III

®
819 022
ductor prevents lightning-induced creep-
age discharges, down conductors can be
routed next to electrical installations.

UNI earthing clamp Type Part No.

A stainless steel intermediate element pre- UNI earthing clamp 540 250
vents contact corrosion, thus creating reliab-
le connections of different conductor materi-
als for many years.

Protective gloves Type Part No.

The arc-fault-resistant protective gloves APG 10 785 798

tested to IEC 61482-1-1 and IEC 61482-1-2 other sizes available
provide excellent wearing comfort during
installation and maintenance.

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DEHN arresters with SCI technology
protect photovoltaic systems all over the world

On all continents and under very different climatic condi- As a leading manufacturer of lightning and surge protection
tions, DEHN SCI arresters protect PV systems in the gigawatt for PV systems, we have been setting trends in this industry
range from interruption and failure caused by lightning for more than two decades. The DEHN sales team in the
current and surges. DEHN arresters with SCI technology are German headquarters and 17 international subsidiaries and
internationally approved. They withstand extreme climatic offices as well as our partner network support PV projects
conditions and can thus be used in any climate zone. on site – in more than 70 countries worldwide.

Examples of PV systems protected by DEHN SCI arresters

representing some hundred thousand systems worldwide:

• 10 MWp solar power • Systems with inverters from

plant from Gehrlicher ABB Ltd, Zurich, Switzerland
Solar in Helmering,
Germany • Systems with inverters
from SMA Solar
• 2,5 MWp PV solar power Technology AG,
plant from Meridionale Niestetal, Germany
Impianti in Palermo, Italy
• Systems with inverters
• 3 MWp PV solar power from Power One,
plant in Yongam, Korea Terranuova Bracciolini,
Italy
• 20 MWp Dongtai
PV solar power plant, • Systems with inverters
Dongtai City, Jiangsu from Solectria
Province, China Renewables LCC,
Lawrence,
Massachusetts, USA
 Surge Protection DEHN + SÖHNE Hans-Dehn-Str. 1 Tel. +49 9181 906-0
Lightning Protection GmbH + Co.KG. Postfach 1640 Fax +49 9181 906-1100
Safety Equipment 92306 Neumarkt [email protected]
DEHN protects. Germany www.dehn.de

Protection of photovoltaic systems

DEHN, DEHN logo, actiVsense, BLITZDUCTOR, DEHNguard, DEHNventil, HVI, Red/Line are protected by German Trademark, by
Community Trademark (EU) and/or are registered trademarks in other countries. We accept no liability for technical modifications,
misprints and errors. Illustrations are not binding.

DS215/E/0913 © Copyright 2013 DEHN + SÖHNE