1200 MV CB and feeder protection

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Isaiah

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Baton Rouge
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Electrical Inspector
I have a 13.8kV feeder from a 1200A CB to a transformer 2500kVA XFMR. There are no CTs and no residual over current relay on the primary side or secondary side at 480V. The feeder is not large enough to carry 1200A at 13.8kV, maybe half the size. Can I set the LSIG on the CB so the cable is protected by the CB alone?


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240.6(C) says yes, as long as there is restricted access to the adjusting means as defined in that section.
 
240.6(C) says yes, as long as there is restricted access to the adjusting means as defined in that section.

Mayanees, let’s say the long time trip was set 4 x FLA (100A), ie 400A (NEC 450.3A) and the feeder was sized to carry 400A. Where would the instantaneous, short time and ground fault be set?


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Mayanees, let’s say the long time trip was set 4 x FLA (100A), ie 400A (NEC 450.3A) and the feeder was sized to carry 400A. Where would the instantaneous, short time and ground fault be set?


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The INST and ST would be set by looking up at the device that feeds it and adjusting accordingly. GF is adjusted in a similar manner. But also realize that 240.100 allows the cable to be protected at higher than ampacity, at which point you focus on the load and prevent overloading of the MV protective device by limiting the connected load. You still have to balance xfmr protection with cable overcurrent protection, but 240.100 gives some level of adjustability that's not available under 1000 Volts.
 
The INST and ST would be set by looking up at the device that feeds it and adjusting accordingly. GF is adjusted in a similar manner. But also realize that 240.100 allows the cable to be protected at higher than ampacity, at which point you focus on the load and prevent overloading of the MV protective device by limiting the connected load. You still have to balance xfmr protection with cable overcurrent protection, but 240.100 gives some level of adjustability that's not available under 1000 Volts.

Balancing XFMR and cable protection…you mean, against short circuit and ground fault right? I’d need the cable damage curves for that.


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Balancing XFMR and cable protection…you mean, against short circuit and ground fault right? I’d need the cable damage curves for that.


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Yes. Ideally you know the fault current and can make that type of definitive assessment.
 
Yes. Ideally you know the fault current and can make that type of definitive assessment.

I’d like to set the instantaneous trip at around 6 times FLA for inrush. But for the long time trip I want to set closer to FLA of around 100A at 13.8kV three phase on the primary—say around 150A. Does this make sense or is this too tight?


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I’d like to set the instantaneous trip at around 6 times FLA for inrush. But for the long time trip I want to set closer to FLA of around 100A at 13.8kV three phase on the primary—say around 150A. Does this make sense or is this too tight?


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It's probably okay, however, transformer inrush is theoretically higher. SKM plots it out at 12X as the standard inrush. I haven't experienced that in the field, but that's the precaution given.
As far as your ltpu of 100-150 amps, that just depends on how loaded the transformer is, and whether there's an ocpd on the secondary that you need to coordinate with.
 
It's probably okay, however, transformer inrush is theoretically higher. SKM plots it out at 12X as the standard inrush. I haven't experienced that in the field, but that's the precaution given.
As far as your ltpu of 100-150 amps, that just depends on how loaded the transformer is, and whether there's an ocpd on the secondary that you need to coordinate with.

Great feedback. The transformer is actually quite lightly loaded.
Does the 12x inrush rule apply even if the transformer is lightly loaded?
Yes there is an OCPD on the secondary at 480V which should offer some protection. I’m not an engineer and I’ve never used SKM. I’m just filling in for someone who is on vacation and trying to get some answers for management


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Great feedback. The transformer is actually quite lightly loaded.
Does the 12x inrush rule apply even if the transformer is lightly loaded?
Yes there is an OCPD on the secondary at 480V which should offer some protection. I’m not an engineer and I’ve never used SKM. I’m just filling in for someone who is on vacation and trying to get some answers for management


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Yes to the inrush question. In fact, there's folks who swear that inrush is only minimized when a transformer is fully loaded. But I measured the cumulative inrush on multiple 13.8 kV circuits on a prison campus with 6-8 transformers getting energized at once, and didn't see more than 2X. So I think the 12X is high, but that's what ANSI C57.109 standard defines it as. I'll be happy to plot your primary and secondary devices for you if you want to give me the info. ✌️ :cool:
 
Yes to the inrush question. In fact, there's folks who swear that inrush is only minimized when a transformer is fully loaded.
Current is not drawn by the load until the magnetic field of the transformer has been established. It is common to analyze transformers using equivalent circuits with 'open secondaries' rather than include any conductor or load impedances.
Magnetizing current and inrush current are technically not interchangeable terms, although they are treated as such for the majority of applications.
 
Yes to the inrush question. In fact, there's folks who swear that inrush is only minimized when a transformer is fully loaded. But I measured the cumulative inrush on multiple 13.8 kV circuits on a prison campus with 6-8 transformers getting energized at once, and didn't see more than 2X. So I think the 12X is high, but that's what ANSI C57.109 standard defines it as. I'll be happy to plot your primary and secondary devices for you if you want to give me the info. :cool:

I’m trying to gather the all info now. I’ve got some of it - I just don’t know the parameters on the MV CB
pls check your personal messages when you get a chance
many thanks
Isaiah


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