SURGE PROTECTION DEVICE
Eng.Ahmed Osama Abdel-hak
1. Internal Lightning Protection System
7.1 Characterization of the lightning wave
There are 2 types of current wave are considered by the IEC standards:
1. 10/350 µs wave: to characterize the current
waves from a direct lightning stroke
2. 8/20 µs wave: to characterize the current
waves from an indirect lightning stroke
These two types of lightning current wave are used to define tests on SPDs
(IEC standard 61643-11) and equipment immunity to lightning currents.
The peak value of the current wave characterizes the intensity of the lightning
stroke.
The overvoltages created by lightning strokes are characterized by a 1.2/50 µs
voltage wave
This type of voltage wave is used to verify equipment’s withstand to overvoltages of
atmospheric origin (impulse voltage as per IEC 61000-4-5).
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7.2 Lightning Protection Zones
Lightning protection zone LPZ are used to define the lightning electromagnetic
environment. The zone boundaries of an LPZ are not necessarily physical boundaries
(e.g. walls, floor and ceiling). The zones are areas characterized according to threat of
direct lightning flashes and full or partial electromagnetic field. Protection measures
such as LPS, shielding wires, magnetic shields and SPD determine lightning
protection zones (LPZ).
LPZ 0A zone where the threat is due to the direct lightning flash and the full
lightning electromagnetic field. The internal systems may be subjected to full or
partial lightning surge current;
LPZ 0B zone protected against direct lightning flashes but where the threat is the
full lightning electromagnetic field. The internal systems may be subjected to
partial lightning surge currents;
LPZ 1 zone where the surge current is limited by current sharing and by isolating
interfaces and/or SPDs at the boundary. Spatial shielding may attenuate the
lightning electromagnetic field;
LPZ 2, ..., n zone where the surge current may be further limited by current
sharing and by isolating interfaces and/or additional SPDs at the boundary.
Additional spatial shielding may be used to further attenuate the lightning
electromagnetic field
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The general concept is that the equipment requiring protection should be located
in an LPZ whose electromagnetic characteristics are compatible with the
equipment stress withstand or immunity capability
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7.3 Surge Protection Devices (SPDs)
The Surge Protection Device (SPD) is a component of the electrical installation
protection system.
This device is connected in parallel on the power supply circuit of the loads that it
has to protect
SPD is designed to limit transient overvoltages of atmospheric origin and divert
current waves to earth, so as to limit the amplitude of this overvoltage to a value
that is not hazardous for the electrical installation and electric switchgear and
control gear.
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Phenomena of Operation
Surge protection device consists of metal oxide materials which acts as open circuit
for power frequency voltage and as a short circuit for high frequency voltage ( non
linear resistor )
Most common material used is the Zinc oxide ZnO
Also can used a spark gap instead of ZnO arrestors
Requirements from the SPDs
1. Remain inactive while the voltage is normal
2. Activate rapidly when the surge is detected
3. Be able to withstand the associated current
4. Derivate current to the earth termination
5. Reduce the surge to a non-hazardous level
6. Return to inactivity once the surge disappears.
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Types of the SPDs
Type 1 SPD
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.
***Type 1 SPD is characterized by a 10/350 µs current wave***
Type 2 SPD
The Type 2 SPD is 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.
***Type 2 SPD is characterized by an 8/20 µs current wave***
Type 3 SPD
These SPDs have a low discharge capacity. They must therefore mandatory be
installed as a supplement to Type 2 SPD and in the vicinity of sensitive loads.
***Type 3 SPD is characterized by a combination of voltage waves
(1.2/50 μs) and current waves (8/20 μs)***
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Characteristic of the SPDs
Uc: Maximum continuous operating voltage
This is the A.C. or D.C. voltage above which the SPD becomes active.
This value is chosen according to the rated voltage and the system earthing
arrangement.
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Up: Voltage protection level (at In)
This is the maximum voltage across the terminals of the SPD when it is active. This
voltage is reached when the current flowing in the SPD is equal to In. The voltage
protection level chosen must be below the overvoltage withstand capability of the
Loads Uw, In the event of lightning strokes, the voltage across the terminals of the
SPD generally remains less than Up
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Nominal Discharge Current (In)
This is the peak value of a current of 8/20 µs waveform that the SPD is capable of
discharging minimum 19 times
Impulse Current (Iimp)
This is the peak value of a current of 10/350 µs waveform that the SPD is capable
of discharging at least one time, is used for type 1 SPD
Maximum discharge current (Imax)
This is the peak value of a current of 8/20 µs waveform that the SPD is capable of
discharging once, is used for type 2 SPD
Short Circuit Withstand Capability(Isccr)
Match the Switchboard short circuit level as a minimum.
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The Relation between the Lightning Strikes and the SPDs
50% of the lightning current discharged by the building protection system rises
back into the earthing networks of the electrical installation, the
potential rise of the frames very frequently exceeds the insulation withstand
capability of the conductors in the various networks (LV, telecommunications, video
cable, etc.) Moreover, the flow of current through the down-conductors generates
induced overvoltages in the electrical installation which also can generate current .
So, there is a relation between the lightning current which can be represented in LPL,
and the characteristics of the SPD which is used in the system
For the current capability design of lightning current SPDs, it is assumed that 50% of
this current flows into the external LPS/earthing system and 50% through the service
lines within the structure.
Should the service line consist solely of a three-phase power supply (4 lines, 3 phases
and neutral) then the following design currents could be expected:
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The Selection of the SPDs in the MDB
Type 1 SPD
Type 2 SPD
The maximum discharge current Imax is defined according to the estimated
exposure level relative to the building’s location.
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The Location of the SPDs:
For SPD installed at the incoming end of the installation, the IEC 60364
installation , standards lay down minimum values for the following 2
characteristics:
1. Nominal discharge current In = 5 kA (8/20) µs;
2. Voltage protection level Up (at In) < 2.5 kV ( or below the Uw of the equipment)
The number of additional SPDs to be installed is determined by:
1. The size of the site and the difficulty of installing bonding conductors. On large
sites, it is essential to install a SPD at the incoming end of each sub distribution
enclosure.
2. The distance separating sensitive loads to be protected from the incomingend
protection device. When the loads are located more than 10 meters away
from the incoming-end protection device, it is necessary to provide for additional
fine protection as close as possible to sensitive loads. The phenomena of wave
reflection is increasing from 10 meters
Type 1: when the building is fitted with a lightning protection system, it absorbs a
very large quantity of energy;
Type 2: absorbs residual overvoltages;
Type 3: provides «fine» protection if necessary for the most sensitive equipment
located very close to the loads.
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External Short Circuit Protection Device (SCPD)
SPDs must be protected by a protective device such as circuit breaker or fuse or by an
internal disconnector, to protect the SPD from:
1. The end of life due to due to Ageing
In the case of natural end of life due to ageing, protection is of the thermal type.
SPD with varistors must have an internal disconnector which disables the SPD.
Note: End of life through thermal runaway does not concern SPD with gas
discharge tube or encapsulated spark gap.
2. A fault due to the distribution system (neutral/phase switchover, neutral
disconnection), can be protected by the SCPD
3. Gradual deterioration of the vairastor, can be protected by the SCPD
Characteristics of the SCPD
1. Lightning current withstand
The lightning current withstand is an essential characteristic of the SPD’s external
Short Circuit Protection Device.
The external SCPD must not trip upon 15 successive impulse currents at In.
2. Short-circuit current withstand
The breaking capacity is determined by the installation rules (IEC 60364
standard):, The external SCPD should have a breaking capacity equal to or greater
than the prospective short-circuit current Isc at the installation point (in accordance
with the IEC 60364 standard).
The external SCPD should be coordinated with the SPD, and tested and
guaranteed by the SPD manufacturer in accordance with the recommendations of
the IEC 61643-11 standard. It should also be installed in accordance with the
manufacturer’s recommendations
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An external disconnecting device must be coordinated with a surge protective
device in order to achieve:
1. continuity of service
2. do not trip due to surge current
3. do not increase voltage protection level
4. effective protection against all types of overcurrent
5. overload due to SPD aging
6. short circuit of low intensity (impedant) due to temporary overvoltages
7. short circuit of high intensity due to SPD degradation
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Schneider Coordination Table
LSP Website
Y-axis: describe the short circuit level of the panel board, where the SPD in installed
X-axis: describe the rating of the SPD
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Installation mode for the external SCPD
1. Series Configuration
The SCPD is described as «in series» ,when the protection is performed by the
general protection device of the network to be protected
(for example, connection circuit breaker upstream of an installation)
2. Parallel Configuration
The SCPD is described as «in parallel» when the protection is
performed specifically by a protection device associated with the SPD.
The disconnecting circuit breaker may or may not be integrated into the SPD.
Summary of external SCPDs characteristics
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Connection of the SPD inside the Panel board
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