The Power of Reliability
Designing and Protecting Power Distribution Systems
Design Objective
What are the Main objectives in designing
Power Distribution Systems
Reliability and Cost Effectiveness
Design Objective
Top 2 Most Common Reliability Criteria
Power Continuity
Minimizing Downtime and Outages
Safety
Personnel
Equipment
ROI
Reliability
Remember
85+% of all Electrical issues begin
As
Phase to Ground Faults
What is Arc Flash?
NFPA 70E says an arc flash
hazard is:
A dangerous condition
associated with the release
of energy caused by an
electric arc
A hazard beyond shock and electrocution.
Arc Flash Hazard
Electrical Arcing is caused by:
Human Error
Loose Connections
Insulation Failure
Poorly Maintained Equipment
Voltage Spikes
Delayed Short Circuit Interruption
Animals
Reliability Design Objective
Power Continuity and Safety
Solutions to Mitigate the Impact of an
Arc Flash Hazard
Arc Flash Protection and Mitigation by Design
Objective
Reduce the Amount of Incident Energy
Incident Energy
The amount of energy
impressed on a surface, a
certain distance from the
source, generated during an
arc event.
Incident energy is measured in
calories/cm2 or Joules/cm2.
(Ref: NFPA 70E 2003 ROC, IEEE 1584)
Arc Flash Protection and Mitigation for
Phase to Ground Arc Flash Hazards
Phase to Phase Arc Flash Hazards
Arc Flash Protection and Mitigation by Design
High Resistance Grounding
Phase to ground faults are most likely and
HRG Systems limits the fault current so
that no arc flash hazard exists
NFPA70E - “HRG is a technique available to
reduce the Arc Flash Hazard of the System”
Arc Flash Mitigation
For phase to phase faults where arcing is
initiated fast detection and tripping will
reduce the arc energy and thus reduce the
hazard risk category
Reduce the Time of
Detection and Isolation
One of the Key’s to Mitigation
Falcon – AFMD Relay
I-GARD Falcon Arc Flash Relay Detects, Initiates
and Isolates providing Mitigation in 1
millisecond
Reduction of Arc Flash energy by fast detection
and tripping of Main Breaker
Minimizing total clearing time
Reliability
Ensures fastest possible reaction time with out
nuisance tripping
Use shunt trip of circuit breaker to isolate
Combines Optical light sensing and over-current
protection to achieve this
Falcon – Master Main Unit
Falcon – AFMD Relay
Main Master Unit
Either 20 light only sensor inputs or 16 light sensor
inputs plus combination of Slave Units
20 Light Sensor Inputs 1 – 16 plus L1 – L4 or
16 Light Sensor Inputs 1 – 16
Light Sensitivity Threshold Dial is located on front of the Master Unit
L1 –L4 Interconnect Slave Units
Total of 4 Communication Channels to interconnect
either Arc Light or Current CR Slave Units
D1 – D4
RJ45 Communication cable used to interconnect
either Arc or Current CR Slave Units to Main Master
Transmits alarms, self diagnostics, communication and
provides power
Falcon – AFMD Relay
Main Master Unit
Photoelectric cable used to transmit light and or
over current detection from Slave Units to Main
Master Unit < 100m
L1 – L4
Input Voltage
85 – 264V AC
80 – 350VDC
Output Voltage – 12VDC
4- Isolated Solid State outputs, 1msec, trip sequence
6- isolated relay out put contacts, 8 – 10msec
Continuous Self test diagnostics
Alarm Messages displayed on the Front of Main Unit
Falcon – AFMD Relay
Configurable tripping sequence including
delay functions for selectivity and back up
protection – Flexibility
Arc Light Slave Unit
Total of 6 Modules per Communication Channel can
be interconnected via RJ45 and photoelectric Cable
<100m
10 Light Sensor Inputs per Slave Unit 0 – 9
Optical fibre cable connects light sensor directly to
Arc Slave Unit
Light Sensitivity Threshold Dial located on front of
the Arc Slave Unit
Falcon – AFMD Components
Light sensor installed directly in the line-up
Expandable to 256 optical sensor inputs
Over Current Slave CR Unit:
1A, 2A or 5A, sec CT
Sensitivity Threshold Dial located on front of the
CR Slave Unit
RJ45 and photoelectric cable used to interconnect
Current CR Slave Unit to Main Master <100m
Each Arc or CR Slave Unit will have a
designated address that enables the Main
Master Unit to identify actual location within
the system
Falcon – AFMD Components
Application suitable for LV Switchboards, LV
switchgear, Metal-clad and Metal enclosed
Switchgear
Falcon Arc - AFMD Unit
10 light receivers/unit
Threshold level of light
receiver can set by
potentiometer 30 – 50k lx
Tripping can be tested from
TEST-button
Indication LED flashes green
when functioning is normal
LED is turned red when light
is detected
Flashing red indicates no
longer light detection
Falcon Current – AFMD Unit
Can be used for single or 3
phase applications
Current measurement can
be from 1A, 2A or 5A
current transformers
Threshold Current level
can set from 50… 500% of
nominal current
Tripping can be tested
from TEST-button
Indication led flashes
green when functioning is
normal
led is turned red when Burden < .223VA
over current is detected
flashing red indicates no
longer over current
Light Sensor
Light Sensor
Falcon Main Unit
Slave Arc Light Sensor Module
Current CR Module
FALCON – AFMD Relay
Reduce the time = Reduces the damage
= Reduces Hazard cal/cm2
= Reduces Hazard Risk
Summary
NFPA70E addresses worker safety and work practices
OSHA is citing NFPA70E
NFPA70E will be referenced in work injury litigation
Requirements for compliance:
Perform Arc Flash Hazard Analysis
Label electrical equipment designating the required
PPE
Train workers and update work practice procedures
Deploy products, solutions, and methods to limit
arc flash hazards whenever possible – “HRG”
Reduce PPE requirements by ARC Flash Protection
Falcon Arc Flash Detection/Mitigation Relay
Thank You
