Arc protection : SIPROTEC and Reyrolle arc protection solutions

Product Description

Arc protection : SIPROTEC and Reyrolle arc protectionsolutions

Arc fault protection is a technique employed for the fastclearance of arcing faults on busbars and within metal clad switchgear andassociated cable boxes. The arc is detected using an optical sensor & thesignal input to a protection device which also monitors the load current on thesystem. Conventional current based protection techniques are at timeschallenged by the nature of arcing faults, and can result in slow protectionclearance times. Slow protection clearance times increase the risk to nearbypersonnel and increase the degree of damage to plant and equipment. Byemploying an optical detection technique, arc fault protection results in fastclearance of arcing faults.

SIPROTEC and Reyrolle arc protection solutions

Optical arc detection for SIPROTEC 5

Electric arcs are among the most dreaded fault scenarios inpower supply engineering. They can be caused by a multitude of factors, such asaging of the insulation, environmental conditions as well as operating errors.Electric arcs can cause heavy damage to switchgear and present a serious hazardto operating personnel. The SIPROTEC 5 arc protection detects electric arcsthrough an optical sensor. Arcs are detected reliably and quickly as theydevelop, and the protective device can trip immediately and without delaytimes.

Arc protection offers:

• Immediate detection of arcs in air-insulated compartments of switchgears by optical sensors
• Instantaneous trip in arc fault situations limits damage to switchgear
• The arc protection system is suited for use at all voltage Levels

Exchangeable plug-inmodules

Detection of arcs is either purely optical, or optionallyusing an additional current criterion to avoid overfunctioning.

The arc protection module is part of the new SIPROTEC 5series of modular, flexible and intelligent bay devices and can be used in thefollowing device types:

• SIPROTEC 7SJ8
• SIPROTEC 7SA8
• SIPROTEC 7SD8
• SIPROTEC 7SL8
• SIPROTEC 7VK8
• SIPROTEC 7UT8
• SIPROTEC 7SK8
• SIPROTEC 7UM8
• SIPROTEC 7SS8

Application Area:

Within an air insulated switchgear the sensors are placed insuch a way that arcs in the busbar compartment, the circuit breaker compartmentand the cable connection department are reliably detected.

Up to 3 optical point or line sensors can be connected perplug-in module, which means a total of up to 15 sensors on modular SIPROTEC 5devices. Point sensors are available with connecting cable lengths between 3 mand 35 m. Line sensors detect arcs along the whole sensor length. They areavailable from 5 m to 40 m. Line sensors are connected through a supply line tothe arc protection module. The supply lines are available from 3 m to 10 m.

Benefits

• Reliable arc detection
• Extremely fast tripping time
• Minimization of thermal damage
• Higher personal safety
• Minimization of downtimes
• EMI safety thanks to purely optical sensors
• Quick and easy retrofitting