System Protection

Here are some reasons why protection

equipment is essential in an electrical distribution
system:
(a) To disconnect and isolate faulty equipment in
order to maintain the power supply to the
remaining healthy circuits in the system
(b) To prevent damage to equipment from the
thermal and magnetic forces that occur during
short circuit and overload faults.
(c) To protect personnel from electric shock.

System Protection
The power system design includes protection
from all credible fault currents and over voltages
that may occur in normal and abnormal
operations.
A good protection starts with fast fault detection.
The voltage, current, and temperature
measurements generally detect faults in the
system.
Protective devices are built into main alternator
breakers to safeguard both the individual
alternator and the distribution system against
certain faults.

FUSE
A fuse is the most common type of protection
against an overcurrent fault.
The fuse provides protection by melting away a
thin metal link in the faulted circuit.
The metal link may be of silver, copper, or nickel,
silver being more common for long-term
performance stability.
HRC (high rupturing or breaking capacity up to
8OkA) cartridge type fuse links are normally used
A disadvantage of a fuse is its insensitivity to
small over currents.

 Fuses are fitted in circuits to facilitate protection

against short-circuits; protection against relatively
small overloads are provided where necessary by an
over-current relay.
Important points to note concerning fuses are as
follows:
(a) In the event of a fuse blowing, the cause of the
fault must be located and repaired before the fuse
link is replaced.
(b) The fuse link that is replaced must be of the
correct current rating, grade and type. Usually this
means that it is identical to the blown one.
(c) Replace all three fuses in a 3-phase supply even if
only one is found to be blown after a fault

Circuit breakers
The majority of marine circuit breakers are airbreak rather than oil-immersed or vacuum-break.
It derives its name from the fact that besides
completing a circuit, it has protection circuits that
perform at least 3 basic safety functions.
1. Sense the occurrence of an overcurrent
2. Measure the amount of overcurrent
3. Act by tripping the circuit breaker in a time
frame that is necessary to prevent damage to
itself and its associated circuits.

 A majority of circuit breakers used onboard

ships are air circuit breakers rather than oilimmersed or vacuum-break types which are
common ashore.
This means that the circuit-breaker contacts
separate in air.
Working of CB.!!!!

Moulded Case Circuit-Breakers

(MCCBs)
These are small, compact air circuit breakers
fitted in a moulded plastic case. They have a
lower current rating than ACBs (30-1500A) and
generally a lower breaking capacity.
MCCBs usually have an adjustable thermal
overload setting and an adjustable or fixed
magnetic overcurrent trip for short-circuit
protection built into the case. An under voltage
trip coil may also be included within the case.
MCCBs are claimed to be reliable, trouble free
and require negligible maintenance

Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs)

MCBs are very small air circuit breakers fitted in moulded plastic
cases. They have current ratings of 5-100A and generally thermal
overload and magnetic short-circuit protection. They have a very
limited breaking capacity (300A) and are commonly used in final
distribution boards (DBs) instead of fuses.
Advantages of MCB
They are set to a predetermined rating at the factory.
It is easy to check if the breaker has tripped or not.
The supply to the circuit is easily reinstated.
Disadvantages
They are costly
They have mechanical moving parts
Tripping heavy overloads causes distortion due to heat.
Regular tests are required to ensure their satisfactory operation

Regulation 45 Each separate circuit shall be protected

against short circuit and against overload,
The rating or appropriate setting of the
overload protective device for each circuit
shall be permanently indicated at the location
of the protective device.

Preference Trips
The overload trip has a time delay of up to 15
seconds after which the generator breaker is
opened and the power to the load is cut off.
Preference trips are &signed to disconnect nonessential circuits (e.g. breakers controlling air
conditioning, some fans, galley equipment etc.) in
the event or partial overload or partial failure of
the supply, with the aim of preventing operation
of the main breaker trip and loss of power on
essential services.