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overvoltage factor 10 to 15
protection levels
2 to 4 3 1
Un
Taken from Schneider Electric Technical booklet N151
Atmospheric overvoltage
This is caused by atmospheric discharge (from lightning), and may be generated : either directly, when lightning strikes the transformers feed line conductors, or indirectly, when lightning strikes the ground or metallic structures near the line, thus generating induced current and an increase in the ground potential.
2/5
Switching overvoltage
This is caused by maintenance work on the networks during which circuit-breakers or fuses interrupt inductive or capacitive loads.
In = 10 kA
Operating Uc = Voltage 15 kV
Ures = 75 kV
The overvoltage is limited by running off the current into the earth via the surge arrester. The surge arrester is permanently connected to the network, close to the transformers terminals. When an overvoltage wave is propagated over the network and becomes greater than the surge arresters limitation voltage, the resistance of the surge arrester becomes temporarily very weak, allowing the current to be run off to earth and hence limiting the voltage at the transformers terminals. It spontaneously recovers its insulation quality once the voltage has reached its normal value again.. This solution offers a genuine advantage in terms of network operation since it does not involve interrupting the supply.
Voltage Without a surge arrester
Time
3/5
To justify the use of a surge arrester, it is necessary to assess the risk of lightning striking using various parameters such as : the lightning impact level Nk, which is the number of days a year thunder has been detected in a given place, the type of network, the topology of the place. To define a surge arrester it is necessary to know the networks characteristics, and notably the neutral point connection conditioning the choice of constant operating voltage. The transformer manufacturer is usually unaware of the network parameters; furthermore, probability calculations differ according to the type of network and the country.
The main electrical sizing criteria are:
the maximum constant voltage Umcov, dependent on the rated voltage Un and neutral point connection, the rated current (e.g. 10 kA), the residual voltage at In (8/20 s wave), creepage distance.
Rated voltage transformer Un
No
Yes
Umax = 1.1 x Un
Grounded neutral
Uc = 1,5*Umax / 1,732
Uc = Umax
Uc = 1,4*Umax / 1,732
4/5
Implementation
If the distance between the surge arrester and the transformer to be protected is significant, the wave will be reflected at the terminals of this last one, whose impedance is high, causing stress well above the surge arresters level of protection. In this situation, the surge arrester no longer ensures its protective role. It is consequently imperative to : - install the surge arrester in the immediate vicinity of the transformer (less than 10 metres if possible), and even directly on this one. - connect the earth of the surge arrester directly to the mass of the transformer ; in this way the transformer will undergo the overvoltage limited by the surge arrester. Remember that the impedance of an earth cable is 1H/m, which means that if a lightning impulse of 1 kA/s with a rising front is run off to earth, the voltage drop is 1 kV/m.
5/5