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Application of Surge Protection Devices

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90 views5 pages

Application of Surge Protection Devices

Uploaded by

Atul Saikumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Application of Surge Protection Devices (SPD)

Table of Contents
1. Lightning Protection for Rooftop Solar PV Plants
2. What are lightning conductors & how do they work?
3. Lightning Protection System Design and Products
As we described in our previous blog, ‘Lightning Protection System Design and
Products’, Surge Protection Devices or SPD’s are an important part of any building’s
Internal Lightning Protection System (LPS). SPD’s are designed to protect sensitive
electronic & electrical equipment by limiting transient overvoltage and diverting surge
currents. SPD’s are the most efficient and commonly used type of overvoltage
protection for an facility or load below low voltage range.

Malfunctions or damage to electrical devices can occur when a surge voltage


exceeds that device’s dielectric strength. These kinds of surge voltages with very
high amplitudes in the kilovolt range, are usually transient, meaning that they range
from a few microseconds to several hundred microseconds. These short durations
with high amplitudes cause sudden voltage increases and whose effects can only be
protected against by surge protection devices. Surges such as these most likely
caused by lightning strikes (direct or indirect), switching operations and electrostatic
discharges.
Relevant Standards: UL 1449: Standard for Surge protection devices (SPD), IEC
62305: Lightning protection standard, IEC 61643: Low-voltage surge protective
devices

How do SPD’s Protect against Overvoltage:

SPD’s are designed to limit the surge voltage in terms of amplitude so that the
dielectric strength of the device is not exceeded and additionally to discharge the
surge currents associated with surge voltages to a distant ground. They perform
these activities while connected either in parallel to the equipment, between the
active conductors or between the active conductor and the protective conductor.
Whenever there is excess charge or surge in the system, the SPD behaves like a
switch and turns off (i.e. has low resistance) so that the surge current bypasses the
sensitive equipment and flows to the earthing system. Once the surge is over, the
SPD opens up and the equipment and system will work smoothly again.

Lightning Protection Zones:


The placement of SPD’s within an electrical system is determined using the
Lightning Protection Zones determined for the structure as defined in IEC 62305 Part
4. The external zones (LPZ 0a and LPZ 0b) can only house surge resistant
equipment while the internal zones can house sensitive equipment such as medical
equipment.

LPZ 0A: Unprotected zone outside of a building where direct lightning strikes are
possible.

LPZ 0B: Zone outside the building that is protected from direct lightning strikes, for
example, by an air terminal.

LPZ 1: Zone inside the building where high-energy surge voltages or surge currents
and strong electromagnetic fields are still to be expected.

LPZ 2,…., n: Zone inside a building where surge voltages or surge currents and
electromagnetic fields that have already been significantly weakened are to be
expected.

Types of SPD’s and their Application

As per IEC 62305, standard SPD’s are divided into the following categories:

1) Type 1:

The Type 1 SPD is recommended in the specific case of service-sector and


industrial buildings, protected by a lightning protection system or a meshed cage. It
protects electrical installations against direct lightning strokes. It can discharge the
back-current from lightning spreading from the earth conductor to the network
conductors. This means that they are installed where there is a change from Zone 0
to Zone 1 such as the entrance of an electrical line into a building.

2) Type 2:

Type 2 SPD’s are the main protection system for all low voltage electrical
installations. Installed in each electrical switchboard, it prevents the spread of
overvoltages in the electrical installations and protects the loads. This means that
they are installed in Zone 1 or higher.

3) Type 3:

These SPDs have a low discharge capacity. They must therefore mandatorily be
installed as a supplement to Type 2 SPD and in the vicinity of sensitive loads. This
means that they are installed in Zone 2 or higher.

Characteristics of SPD:

IEC 61643 Part 11, defines the characteristics and tests for SPD’s connected to
lower voltage distribution systems.

Uc: Maximum continuous operating voltage

The SPD becomes active above this A.C. or D.C. voltage. The rated voltage and the
system earthing arrangement helps determine this value.

Up: Voltage protection level (at In)

When the SPD is active, this is the maximum voltage across its terminals. when the
current flowing in the SPD is equal to In the voltage reached is Up. The voltage
protection level chosen must be below the overvoltage withstand capability of the
loads. In the event of lightning strikes, the voltage across the terminals of the SPD
generally remains less than Up.

In: Nominal discharge current


This is the peak value of a current of 8/20 μs waveform that the SPD is capable of
discharging 15 times.

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