ABB AG - EPDS

Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch

UFES – active internal arc protection
Agenda

Arc fault
Protection concepts
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
 Principle
 Components
Differentiation of protection concepts
Portfolio
Benefit

Slide 2
Internal arc faults
Fault characteristics

An arc arises when at least part of the current passes through

a dielectric, usually air
Maximum peak power up to 40 MW
Arc plasma temperature up to five times the surface temperature
of the sun (20,000°C)
Light intensity more than 2,000 times that of normal office light
Energy kA2s

0.2 s: Steel fire

0.15 s: Copper fire

0.1 s: Cable fire

Time/ms
0 100 150 200 700 800 900 1000

Slide 3
Internal arc faults
Causes for arc formation

Human-related errors Technical causes Environmental causes

Work in a wrong cubicle Faults in equipment and false operation Corrosion

Operation of a wrong isolator
Forgetting to ground the working area
Forgetting to test the presence
of voltage in the working area
Installation errors
of equipment
Ageing of insulation and mechanical wear
Overvoltage, Overheating
Bad cable terminations and loose busbar
joints
Moisture, dirt
Foreign objects (e.g. tools) or small
animals in the switchgear

Slide 4
Internal arc faults
Impacts

Rapid temperature rise

(up to 20,000°C)

Release of Burning and

Rapid pressure rise material fragments vaporization of metal
and hot gases and insulation material

Heavy damages possible Heavy injuries of the

inside of the switchgear, personnel possible
for the integrated devices for switchgear systems
and for the building without internal arc
classification

Slide 5
Internal arc faults
Impacts

Circuit-breaker compartment Cable connection compartment Substation

Slide 6
Agenda

Arc fault
Protection concepts
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
 Principle
 Components
Differentiation of protection concepts
Portfolio
Benefit

Slide 7
Protection concepts
Medium Voltage Switchgear with passive protection

Passive arc protection with pressure relief duct

→ Relief into external areas

Passive arc protection with Top Chimney

→ Relief into switchgear room

Slide 8
Protection concepts
Active arc shutdown

Example: ABB REA System

Fast arc
Fast arc detection using light and current criteria detection
relay
Adjustable thresholds

Min. time to arc shutdown ~ 60…80 ms Detection

(REA time + switching time CB + arcing time CB) element

Slide 9
Protection concepts
Active arc extinction

Example: Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch

Fast arc detection using light and current criteria

Adjustable thresholds

Ultra-fast extinction using primary switching elements

Max. time for arc extinction ~ 4 ms after detection!

Detection
element

Primary Fast arc

switching detection
element relay

Short-circuit
earthing bar

Slide 10
Agenda

Arc fault
Protection concepts
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
 Principle
 Components
Differentiation of protection concepts
Portfolio
Benefit

Slide 11
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch
The basis for effective protection

3 UFES primary switching elements

– Ultra-fast initiation of a 3-phase short-circuit earthing after

detection of a fault by the electronic

– Elimination of the arc by resulting breakdown of the internal

arc voltage

UFES electronics

– Fast and reliable electronics devices for the detection

of arc faults or simply as interface to external arc detection
systems (e.g. ABB REA)
Primary switching Electronic detection and Electronic tripping
– Tripping of the UFES PSE elements type U1 tripping unit type QRU1 unit type QRU100

Slide 12
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch
Sequence of tripping operation

Slide 13
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch
Ultra-fast reaction time

Effective limitation of damage

Effective limitation of damage requires fastest intervention

i(t)
Extinction time of the Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch:
< 4 ms after fault detection

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

tTC + ≤ 4 ms

Time [ms]
Short-circuit current Ik
DC component
Arcing time with UFES
Final clearing by upstream circuit-breaker – 80 ms + time x
Reaching time for tripping criteria

Slide 14
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch
UFES electronic type QRU1

Features
– Electronic detection and tripping unit
– 9 optical inputs for light detection
– 3 current inputs for monitoring of the instantaneous current
value
– Up to 5 x 30 additional optical inputs with ABB arc guard type
TVOC-2
– Completely in fast analogue technology
– Fast fault localization by use of single lens sensors
– Self monitoring
Electronic detection and Lens sensor for optical ABB arc guard type
– Testing mode for functional check tripping unit type QRU1 detection TVOC-2
– Simple DIP-switch configuration

Slide 15
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch
UFES electronic type QRU100

Features
– Electronic tripping unit
– Ideal for extension of ABB arc protection system type REA
– 2 Optolink inputs for connection of the REA101 relay
– 2 high-speed inputs (HSI) for connection of external arc
detection systems
– Self monitoring including the Optolink connection to the
REA system
– Logical combination of the external detection units by use
of DIP-switches
– Testing mode for functional check Electronic tripping unit Combinable arc protection
type QRU100 by ABB UFES + REA
– Functions in combination with REA: optical detection with line
or lens sensors; overcurrent detection; selective protection;
CB failure protection

Slide 16
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch
Primary switching element

Primary switching element type U1

Epoxy insulator
– Vacuum interrupter and operating
system integrated in one compact unit
Fixed contact
– Fast and reliable micro gas generator operating mechanism
– Fast switching time of ~ 1.5 ms Ceramic insulator

– Easy handling
– Low-maintenance Moving contact pin
– Flexible installation Rupture joint

Piston
Cylinder

Moving contact system

Micro gas generator

Slide 17
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch
Switching principle

Service position Position after tripping

Vacuum Moving
interrupter direction

Drive Current flow

after tripping

Slide 18
Agenda

Arc fault
Protection concepts
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
 Principle
 Components
Differentiation of protection concepts
Portfolio
Benefit

Slide 19
Differentiation of protection concepts
Reduced arc energy

Comparison
Conventional protection device
– Fault detection by standard relay
– Clearing of the arc fault current by the upstream circuit-breaker

Fast-acting protection relay with supplementary equipment

– Fast fault detection by special protection relay
– Clearing of the arc fault current by the upstream circuit-breaker

Ultra Fast Earthing Switch type UFES

– Fast fault detection by UFES electronic or REA system
– Ultra-fast extinction of an internal arc by switching of the UFES primary switching element type U1
– Final clearing of the fault current by the upstream circuit-breaker

Slide 20
Differentiation of protection concepts
Reduced arc energy

WLiBo [kVAs]*
1. Conventional protection device
– Dramatic consequences possible
– Fire/Explosion hazard, heavy injuries of personnel
(depending on switchgear design)

2. Fast protection relay

– Limited consequences for equipment and personnel 1
(depending on switchgear design) Steel fire

3. Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES

– Drastic reduction of thermal damage
Copper fire
– Drastically reduced pressure rise
2
– No consequences to be expected! Cable fire
3

1 10 100 1000
Time [ms]

Slide 21 * Constant arc voltage & fault current for the complete fault time Uarc · Ik · t = Warc (linear function)
Differentiation of protection concepts
Reduced pressure rise in the SWG

Exemplary pressure curve, with and without

1.6
UFES, in a compartment of an air insulated
1.4 medium voltage switchgear, for an internal
arc fault current of 130 kA (peak) / 50 kA (rms)
1.2
Overpressure [bar]

1.0 Pressure rise without UFES

0.8
Pressure rise with UFES
0.6
tTC Reaching time for tripping criteria
0.4

0.2

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

tTC + ≤ 4 ms Time [ms]

Slide 22
Differentiation of protection concepts
Internal arc test with and without UFES

Without active UFES protection With active UFES protection With active UFES protection

Busbar compartment after internal arc Busbar compartment after internal arc Point of fault initiation in the busbar
impact (50 kA / 100 ms) impact compartment

Slide 23
Differentiation of protection concepts
Reduced pressure rise in the SWG room

Simulation * Present simulation is

for illustration use only!
– Object: metal-clad switchgear, 800 panel width It does not substitute
– Fault: 3-phase, 40 kArms a pressure calculation
based on the real
– Fault location: cable connection compartment environmental facts!
– Free available room volume: 50 m³, 100 m³, 200 m³
– Pressure relief flap (room): 1 m²

Installation room without UFES Installation room with UFES

Pressure difference ∆pex [mbar]

Type of wall Permissible room pressure [mbar / m²] 30
50 m3
3

25
Brick wall 3–10 100 m3
20 2

Reinforced brick wall 30 15

200 m3

50 m3
Precast concrete 50 10 1

5 200 m3
Cast-in-place concrete >70
0 0
0 20 40 60 80 0 5 10 15 20 25
Concrete room cells 130 Arcing time t [ms] Arcing time t [ms]

Slide 24
Agenda

Arc fault
Protection concepts
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
 Principle
 Components
Differentiation of protection concepts
Portfolio
Benefit

Slide 25
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
Applicable for highest requirements

UFES primary switching element

Maximum rated voltage:
Ur = 40.5 kV → Ik = 40 kA (3s)

Maximum rated short-time withstand current for medium

voltage:
Ik = 50 kA (3s), 63 kA (1s) → Ur = 17.5 kV

Maximum rated short-time withstand current for low voltage:

Ik = 100 kA (0.5s) → Ur = 1.4 kV

Slide 26
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
Available as… loose components

UFES-Kit-1 as OEM product, consisting of UFES-Kit-100 as OEM product, consisting of

+ + + +

Electronic detection and 1 set (3 off) tripping 3 primary switching Electronic tripping unit 1 set (3 off) tripping 3 primary switching
tripping unit type QRU1 cables (10 m) with special elements (PSE) type QRU100 cables (10 m) with special elements (PSE)
plug for PSE plug for PSE

Slide 27
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
Available as… ABB Service retrofit solution

Service-Box Draw-out technology

(Illustration:
Side-mounted)

Slide 28
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
Available for… ABB switchgear (AIS)

UFES in UniGear – Top-Box installation UFES in UniGear – installation in cable compartment

Slide 29
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
Available for… ABB dry type transformer

ABB RESIBLOC with UFES protection

Slide 30
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
Certified protection

VdS Schadenverhütung DNV – GL

The registered trademark “VdS” is a well-known quality seal One of the worldwide leading companies, offering technical
for products and services, which has its origin in the umbrella services for the testing and certifying of components for
organization of the German insurance industry maritime application

Certification available since Feb 2015 Approval for offshore and marine application of UFES – available
since Nov 2011

Slide 31
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
Certified protection

UL – Underwriters Laboratories
The UL certification mark, as one of the most known quality
symbols for products, represents proven conformity with
the technical standards and legal safety regulations in the US
and Canada

UL “Recognized Component” certification available since

January 2016

Slide 32
Agenda

Arc fault
Protection concepts
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
 Principle
 Components
Differentiation of protection concepts
Portfolio
Benefit

Slide 33
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
Minimizing of the hazardous impacts of an internal arc fault

Major effects:

– Rapid temperature and pressure rise

Secondary effects:

– Strong optical and acoustic load for persons

– Release of hot toxic gases

Slide 34
Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch type UFES
Unbeatable advantages

Greatly increased operator safety

for personnel working at the switchgear or in the direct vicinity

Drastic reduction of downtimes

by lowering the impacts of an internal arc fault to an insignificant
minimum
Means → Greatly increased system and process availability

Drastic reduction of repair costs

by avoidance of heavy damages inside of the switchgear,
of the equipment and of the direct environment

Reduction of pressure relief measures

by application of active arc protection concepts

Slide 35