Overview Of Isolation

Methods
Isolation Methods Using Smart Decouplers
 Decouplers are products that:
 Selectively provide isolation or continuity between two
points in accordance with a set of rules
 May distinguish between ac and dc, a requirement for
many applications
 Rules may be based on voltage and/or current or
other parameters
Where Are Smart Decouplers Used?
 Power utility customers serving:
 Farms, residential
 The “corrosion industry” (gas/oil/chemical pipelines and
associated stations/equipment, refineries, etc.)
 Marinas
 Within a power utility:
 DC isolation and ac grounding of underground transmission
cable sheaths (pipe-type, lead jacketed, submarine)
 To keep dc current out of transformers
 To replace “arc gaps” when transmission cable sheaths are
single-point grounded to prevent circulating currents
Common Smart Decouplers Characteristics
 Type 1
 If Vac+Vdc <VThreshold , Open circuit to ac and dc,
 If Vac+Vdc >VThreshold , Short circuit to ac and dc
 Type 2
 If Vac+Vdc <VThreshold , Open circuit to dc, short circuit to ac.
 If Vac+Vdc >VThreshold , Short circuit to ac and dc
 Type 3
 If Vac+Vdc <VThreshold AND Iac < IThreshold, Open circuit to dc,
short circuit to ac.
 If Vac+Vdc >VThreshold OR Iac > IThreshold, Short circuit to ac
and dc.
Type 1 Decoupler:
Characteristics/Common Names
 Characteristics
 If Vac+Vdc <VThreshold , Open circuit to ac and dc,
 If Vac+Vdc >VThreshold , Short circuit to ac and dc
 Common names
 Neutral Isolators: VThreshold = 45 VPeak @60 Hz, Higher for
transients with high di/dt
 Over-Voltage Protectors: VThreshold = 2 to 3 VPeak typical
 Ring Gap Alternative
 DC Blocking Device
Type 1: Neutral Isolator
 VThreshold = 45 VPeak @ 60 Hz typical
 Used to minimizes on-farm voltage from voltage on a
power utility primary neutral
 Provides an open circuit between primary and
secondary neutrals in normal operation
 Reconnects primary and secondary neutrals in event
of a primary to secondary transformer fault or other
transient event (e.g. lightning)
 May have a fixed or variable VThreshold
Type 1: Neutral Isolator
 Typical installation
 Detailed presentation on
neutral isolators presented in
separate break-out sessions
Type 1: Over-Voltage Protector
 VThreshold = 2 to 3 VPeak typical
 Commonly used for over-voltage protection of insulated joints in
cathodically protected pipelines
 Insulated joints are used to separate pipeline into segments for
cathodic protection
 Used to prevent insulation failure and arcing that could cause an
explosion if a combustible gas present or short out the CP system
 Must be certified for use in hazardous locations for most
applications, Class I, Div. 1 or Div. 2
 Designed to limit voltage to very low levels (less than ≈ 5VPeak
for ac faults, < 150VPeak for lightning
Type 1
Over-Voltage Protection Applications
 OVP, Class I, Div. 2 Explosion proof enclosure required
 OVP2, Class I, Div. 2 Not explosion proof, sealed & non-arcing
 Used only where no ac voltage is present under normal
operating conditions
Type 1
Over-Voltage Protection Applications
 Protection of insulated joints in airport refueling
systems. Installed in below grade vaults.
Type 1 Ring Gap Alternative
 VThreshold 750V typical
 Iac Fault Rating: 30kA for 30 cycles typical
 Used to replace arcing type ring gaps when single-point
grounding underground transmission cable sheaths
 Used to limit sheath voltage rise at open point
 Single-point grounding is used to increase cable ampacity by
eliminating heating caused by circulating sheath currents if
sheath is grounded at both ends
 Unit may include built-in diagnostics
Type 1 Ring Gap Alternative

Arcing Type
Ring Gap Solid-State
Ring Gap
Alternative
Type 1 Ring Gap Alternative

Arcing Type
Ring Gap Solid-State
Ring Gap
Alternative
Type 1: To Prevent DC Current From
Distribution Transformer Windings
 Stray DC current in transformers windings can
saturate the core, cause heating, and cause
harmonics that can affect a user’s electrical
equipment
 DC source may be:
 Ground return current from an HVDC system operating in
mono-polar mode
 From an impressed current cathodic protection system
Type 1: To Prevent DC Current From
Distribution Transformer Windings
 Solution: Install a DC Blocking
Device
 Rated for transformer primary
current
 VThreshold must be greater then
max. dc voltage expected
 For one recent application:
 VThreshold = 25VPeak
 Iac Cont. = 30A
 Iac Fault = 5kA @ 30 cycles
 ILightning = 30kA Peak
 Device presently being evaluated
Type 2 Decoupler:
Characteristics/Common Names
 Characteristics
 If Vac+Vdc <VThreshold , Open circuit to dc, short circuit to ac.
 If Vac+Vdc >VThreshold , Short circuit to ac and dc
 Common names
 Polarization Cell Replacement (PCR)
 Solid-State Decoupler (SSD)
 Galvanic Isolator (GI)
 The most widely used decoupler
Type 2: Where Used
 Primarily used in corrosion protection applications
 Used where ac continuity and/or ac grounding is
required while preventing the flow of dc current
 Many applications:
 Require certification for use in the grounding path of electrical
equipment (NEC Sec. 250)
 Require a hazardous location listing
Corrosion Protection Basics
 Typical impressed current CP system

Rectifier
Corrosion Protection Basics
 Most pipelines are well coated (insulated)
 When isolated from electrical grounding systems,
minimal dc current protects many miles of pipeline
 Pipelines with CP have electrical equipment (e.g. motor
operated valves, monitoring systems, etc.)
 Electrical equipment must be grounded per NEC
 Grounding system is bare copper
Rectifier
Corrosion Protection Basics-cont.
 If equipment is directed bonded to a grounding system:
 CP system tries to protect grounding system
 CP coverage area is reduced
 CP current demand is increased
 Required CP on pipeline is often not achievable
Corrosion Protection Basics-cont.
Old Solution When Cathodically
Protected Pipelines Were Grounded
 Install more and larger rectifiers and anode beds
 To brute force required CP levels
 With significantly increased dc current
 High dc current can contribute to dc current/voltage on
users secondary systems (e.g. add to stray voltage)
 High dc current can cause corrosion issues for power
utility
 Install an insulated joint on each side of
equipment to be grounded
Problems Caused By DC Current In A
Grounding System
 Corrosion occurs where dc current flows from metal into
an electrolyte (e.g. earth)
 All metals have a corrosion rate per unit of dc current
 Example: Steel corrodes at a rate of 20#/A/yr
 DC current on a utility grounding system may find a
lower resistance path back to the rectifier by exiting to
earth and returning via the pipeline (e.g. at guy anchors)
 Metal corrosion occurs at current exit points
Stray Current Corrosion Example
Modern Method For Grounding A
Cathodically Protected Pipelines
 Ground through certified decouplers
 Complies with NEC
 No affect on pipeline CP levels
 Most common products used:
 PCR (Polarization Cell Replacement
 Solid-State Decoupler (SSD)
 Typical Ratings:
 Vthreshold = 2V to 3V
 AC fault current: 2kA to 15kA @ 30 cycles
 Lightning: 75kA to 100kA
Type 2:
Typical Applications
 Grounding electrical equipment integral to a CP
system (e.g. motor operated valves, etc.)
 DC isolate regulator and metering stations from
power utility grounding system
 Grounding pipelines to mitigate induced ac
voltage to safe levels
 Provide over-voltage protection from lightning and
ac faults where ac voltage is present
Type 2:
Motor Operated Valve Application
 Motor grounded
through a decoupler
 Provides ac grounding
and dc isolation
Decoupler
 Complies with NEC
 No insulated joints
required
 Pipeline CP levels are
unaffected
Type 2:
Fuel Storage Tank Application
 Tank bottom
cathodically protected
 Tank has electrical Decoupler
equipment
Decoupler
 Requires ac grounding
with dc isolation from
station ground to
achieve required CP
levels
Type 2:
Lead Jacketed Power Cable Application
 Cable jacket;
 Must be cathodically
protected
 Must be ac grounded coupler
without affecting CP
levels
 High fault current ratings
required

Decoupler
Type 2:
DC Isolation of Pipeline Stations:
Metering and Regulator Stations
 The user and utility grounding systems are
normally bonded together
 Pipeline CP systems can usually protect their
pipeline even when bonded to their station
grounding system, but not when also bonded to
the power utility grounding system
 Users find it highly desirable to dc isolate stations
from the power utility grounding system
Type 2:
Station DC Isolation: Option A
 Installation identical to that of a neutral isolator
 AC continuity between grounding systems retained
Type 2:
Station DC Isolation: Option B
 Installation on secondary side of transformer
 AC continuity between grounding systems retained

Station
Type 2:
AC Voltage Mitigation
 New pipelines are increasingly forced into power
line corridors
 New power lines are increasingly forced into
pipeline corridors
Type 2:
AC Voltage Mitigation
 Pipelines in power line corridors pick up induced
ac voltage (From few volts to >100V)
 Exposed pipeline voltage to earth must be ≤15V
for safety (NACE SPO177-2007)
 Often <<15V to prevent ac corrosion on buried pipelines
 AC voltage typically mitigated by bonding pipe to
an isolated grounding system at intervals
 Grounding loads voltage source, voltage is reduced
 Current shunted to ground: From few amps to >100A
Type 2:
AC Voltage Mitigation

Transmission Line

Pipeline
Decoupler
Grounding Conductor
(For AC mitigation only)
Type 2:
Typical Decouplers For AC Voltage Mitigation
Type 2:
Typical Decouplers For AC Voltage Mitigation
Type 2:
Galvanic Corrosion Prevention
 Galvanic Corrosion-Four essential elements required
 An anode
 A cathode
 A conducting environment for ionic movement (electrolyte)
 An electrical connection between the anode and cathode for the
flow of electron current.
 The anode is consumed. The cathode is protected.
 A galvanic isolator is commonly used to break the dc
electrical connection to prevent corrosion while
complying with a required ac connection (usually an
electrical code requirement)
Type 2:
A Typical Galvanic Corrosion Cell
 A boat connected to ac shore power in a marina
Type 2: To Prevent Galvanic
Corrosion In Boats
 Install a galvanic isolator (GI) in series with the shore
cord grounding conductor
 Certified GIs meet ABYC A-28 Code grounding requirement
 Galvanic corrosion of boat metals eliminated
 VThreshold 1 VPeak typical
A Caution Regarding Marinas
 Absolutely never swim in a fresh water marina that provides ac
power to boats!
 Until recently, galvanic isolators for boats were allowed by the
applicable standard to fail “open circuit”
 With a failed open GI, in the event of a fault the current return path
is through the water which causes a voltage gradient that can
paralyze a swimmer in the water
 Numerous drowning deaths occurred in marinas before it was
realized that this was the cause
 Current GIs must meet the NEC requirements (safety grounding
assured even if the GI fails)
Type 3 Decouplers
Typical Applications
 Characteristics
 If Vac+Vdc <VThreshold AND Iac < IThreshold, Open circuit to dc,
short circuit to ac.
 If Vac+Vdc >VThreshold OR Iac > IThreshold, Short circuit to ac
and dc.
 AC grounding/DC isolation of pipe-type
transmission cables
 Blocking DC in large power transformers
 In above applications, a steady-state ac current
limit may be reached before the voltage limit
Type 3:
Pipe-Type Transmission Cable Application
 Cable pipe must be cathodically protected
 Cable pipe must be ac grounded without affecting CP
levels
 VThreshold typically 12.5VPeak or 20VPeak
 Primarily to keep stray dc current from accessing the cable pipe,
such as from dc rail systems
 IThreshold typically 30A, 60A, or 90A rms
 AC fault current ratings: Up tp 54kA rms @ 30 cycles
 Lightning current ratings: 50kA, 75kA
Type 3:
Pipe-Type Transmission Cable Application
Type 3:
Blocking DC In Large Power Transformers
 DC Source: Ground return current from HVDC system
 HVDC system: 2000MW @ +/-500kV India Power Grid
 VThreshold = 650VPeak Primary, 700VPeak Back-up
 IThreshold = 150Arms
 Fault current rating: 40kA @10 cycles, 1 sec. delay, followed by
40kA @10 cycles, 50 Hz
 Lightning current rating: 75kA (8 x 20 µsec)
Type 3 Decoupler
Blocking DC In Large Power Transformers
 AC transformers in a DC to AC converter station
Type 3:
Blocking DC In Large Power Transformers
Typical Work Practices
Typical Work Practices
Summary
 Decouplers:
 Can address a wide range of problems
 Most are used in cathodically protected systems
 Most applications require a “fail-safe” design (i.e.,
fail “shorted” and still meet all current ratings)
 Can accommodate virtually any current and
voltage rating required