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    technical paper on electrical safety

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf
    49 views6 pages

    Earth Leakage Protection

    Uploaded by

    naveedfnd
    technical paper on electrical safety

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    of 6
    Earth Leakage Protection: Safety from Fire & Shock Hazards Roland deSouza, F.ILE.E.E.P . Naveed Jabbar, AMLE.E.EP In an earlier paper entitled “ Earthing for Safety of Personnel” presented at the 1991 IEEEP Multi-Topic Symposium in Karachi, one of the authors had discussed the various systems of earthing (TNS, TNCS, TT, IT) detailed in the IEE/UK “Wiring Regulations”, the shock hazards due to “indirect” and “direct” contact with electricity, and the concept of “earth-loop impedance”. This presentation addresses the principles and use of earth-leakage circuit breakers, and their application to protection of personnel against shock and fire hazards. A number of previous Papers on the subject have been read in electrical engineering forums (see References), but these efforts have still not brought about the widespread use of CDs in domestic, commercial and industrial installations in Pakistan. A proper awareness of the ensuring benefits and strict applications of codes and regulations has resulted in common employment of earth-leakage protective devices in the developed nations of North America and Europe, the “Tigers” of South Asia, and even countries like Sir Lanka and India, Available figures indicate that presently about 6000 RCDs are sold in Pakistan annually, with 85% being used in the north of the country. This may be due to the higher pre-ponderance of self-constructed single-unit residences among the educated middle and upper classes as compared to the great majority of developer-built multi-unit residences in Karachi. Danger of Electricity There are many popular misconceptions and old wives tales, even among engineers, about the effects of electricity and the role of conventional protection devices (circuit-breakers and fuses) in providing protection against these problems. First, it must be realised that the most common type of electrical fault is not a phase-to-phase short-circuit, or a phase-to-neutral short-circuit, but a phase-to-earth fault, Many of these are high-impedance or arcing fault, and thus have a very limited fault current, Second, more people are killed in fires attributed to electrical equipment and wiring than are killed as a result of electric shock. Some official figures for the United Kingdom indicate that between four and six times as many people die in fires caused by electrical installations as from electrocution. Kite: With most fires of electrical origin, earth-leakage currents of less than 1 amp (ie. "power less than 230W) can start a conflagration. Thus conventional mcbs & fuses, with rating of 6A or 10A or 16A cannot in most cases protect against earth-leakage currents, and consequently agaiit fires. Shock: With an average human TUR Seon body resistance of ' 2 teste | around 1000 ohms, | ros 2 the carth-leakage + Mawmowe | shock current 5 Steesctea | flowing would be aso 9) 0.23 amps. This ety sop figure is well pie below the trip 518% e010 00 STG ax two kos ratings of common Z ee MCBs and fuses: thus they could not Fig 1 Time Current Zones of Effect on Persons Protect sgzinst “direct contact” shocks, as the human body is adversely affected by currents in excess of 30mA. Fig 1 is based on IEC 479 and shows the effects of current and time on humans, Principles of Operation RCDs monitor the balance between the load current and return current, | Tot mt t it As shown in Figure 2 when an| sn $f geen ie ah] een carth leakage current is present, I, a & Iyare not equal and opposite and| 1, es the resultant magnetic flux in sap ae ae toroid/ current balance transformer | covet re cet ed induces a voltage in the fault] smi ets sensing winding. This voltage signal isolates the circuit through a cow eG remote or built-in tripping device. Fig 2 Principle of Operation Pakistan Electricity Regulations Clause 25 of the Electricity Regulations 1937 states that : "A licensee shall not connect with his works the apparatus onthe premises of any applicant for a supply unless he is reasonably satisfied thatthe connection will not atthe time of making the connection cause t leakage from that apparatus exceeding one five-thousandth part ofthe maximum supply demanded on the applicant's premises ‘Thus a domestic consumer in Pakistan with a 2 kW (10 amp) supply from WAPDA/KESC could not have a leakage current in excess of 2 mA without his supply being legally disconnected. This value is unrealistic, For instance, British and European standards covering safety generally include limiting values of leakage current for various common appliances, as shown in Fig.2 . In a typical house, the total normal leakage would be in excess of 2mA. a a BSMS6Chusel62 | TAS ash ‘S08 TBS EN ainsi mA mA ma mA 0. os 7 07 10 o v | 0-75 arO7s per RW rae inpuc or te appliance, whichever the greater with |s maximum of SA w “as v T Fig 3 Earth Leakage Limits ‘Types of earth-leakage protection devices ‘The standards governing earth-leakage protection devices are IEC 1008, EN 61008, + DIN VDE 0664. IEC has now adopted the term RCD (Residual current devices) in place of earth leakage detectors. Residual current devices currently available can be broadly classified into two categories: Relays: Devices that detect the earth leakage current and produce a signal for isolation of a remote power circuit. Cireuit Breakers: Devices that provide both detection and isolation of faulty circuit against earth leakage, overload & short circuit. ‘These can be further sub-divided on the basis of installation details and additional features as below: RCDs RELAYS CIRCUIT BREAKERS Relays with built-in Relays with _Earth-leakage protection __Barth leakage toroids (add-on blocks) separate oroids —gnly (RCCBs, ELCBs)_* Overload /SC protect (RCBO's) Ratings of RCDs: ‘Commonly available sizes of RCCB & ELCBs and RCBOs are Poles Rating ‘Trips ‘Approx. Cost Relays | without ingle & _fupto 200A [S0mA to 5A — |Rs. 14,000 -35,000 separate toroids free phase ladjustable | Addon Blocks [2,34 lwith mcbs upto _[30.0r300mA Rs. 4,000 - 7,000 1008 [Circuit RCCBS ITord pale ]16,25,40,63,80,100,]10 30,100,300, [RS 2,500- 4,000 IBicakers | ELCBs 125,160,224 |500,1000mA |. RCBOs lop 6,10,16,20,25,32,40|30 or 300mA Rs. 3,000 - 6,000 Sensitivities ‘The commonly available trip ratings and their fields of applications are given below Trip Rating Fields of Applications Toma Tsed in special applications where additional protection against contact is essential due to the nature of the installation. 30mA “Tripping current designated by the IEE Wiring Regulations to provide additional protection against direct contact shock i.e. socket outside the equipotential zone, TT ‘Systems, Carvan installation, etc. ToOmA Tailable Tor use against indirect conlact shock or where protection is provided to ‘guard against fie hazard etc rather than to provide adsitional protection to personnel, ‘and where the earthing requirements need supplementing by RCD Protection. y — Pulsating d.c. components may be present (occasioned by rectifiers, choppers, phase- angle control devices in common domestic, commercial and industrial appliances and equipment) in earth-leakage current, and a standard RCD may not respond, ‘Thus special sensitivity to d.c components needs to be built in, and such RCDs are marked [->CA] Special Applications Increased shock risks in particular situations generally warrant the use of additional measures for protection. Wiring and safety regulations in developed countries mandate that 30mA RCDs are employed in situations involving 1) Wetness, e.g., water, humidity, perspiration 2) Absence of, or minimal, clothing, e. swimming pools, saunas, working in hot weather. 3) Presence of earthed metal, e.g., restrictive conductive locations, tanks/shells/ vessels, plant rooms. 4) Arduous conditions, e.g., construction sites, trailing cables. Teiness | Absence of, or | Presence of | Arduous minimal clothing} earthed metal | conditions| ay Q 3 4) swimming Pool fot Air Saunas Tonsinuction Sites ricultural & Horticultural Premises esiricuive Conductive Locations aravans & Motor Caravans ravan. a applies & Street Furniture Fig 6 Increased Shock Risk Applications In Pakistan, very few swimming pools (i.c., electric pumps, underwater lights, nearby lights/sockets) are fed though 30mA RCDs: this must change. Almost no building construction sites have their temporary lighting and power distribution system fed through a 30mA RCD. Commercial and industrial kitchens need RCD protection to safeguard workers, School/college and medical laboratories, electric work/test benches, portable tools (

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