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Application of Circuit Breakers in IT Networks

Application of Circuit Breakers in IT Networks (on photo LV switchboard by MaTech Magyar Technologiai Kft.)

Introduction
IT supplies are used to prevent that a ground fault leads to immediate disconnection of the affected circuit like in a
grounded system. Although a first ground fault results in a displacement of the potential of the entire supply, continued
operation is still temporarily possible.
Special ground fault monitoring equipment reports any ground faults and hence makes it possible to quickly rectify
the fault often without disruption to the operation of the plant.
The situation is similar in supplies with high impedance grounding.
If however a second ground fault occurs in another phase, there is a short-circuit that must be immediately cleared by
the short-circuit protective device. The voltage to be switched off varies depending on the locations of the short-circuits
(Figure 1).
This results in different voltage levels to be switched off by the short-circuit protective device and in the case of circuit
breakers to different required breaking capacities.

If, however, there is one ground fault on the supply side and the other on the load-side, a significantly higher breaking
capacity is required because of the increased voltage load.

If both short-circuits occur on the loadside of the circuit breaker, the breaking
work is shared between two contacts and
the required breaking capacity
corresponds to the normal 3-phase
values.

Figure 1 - Double ground faults on the load side of the circuit breakers do not cause increased

If the location of one short-circuit is on the

supply-side of the circuit breaker and the
second short-circuit on the load-side, then
one contact only of the circuit breaker has
to perform the total breaking work and
this at phase-to-phase voltage. In this
case, the significantly lower single pole
breaking capacity of the circuit
breaker at the phase-to-phase voltage is
critical. If the values cannot be obtained
from the device documents, an inquiry
stress.
should be made. If the short-circuit
current at the installation site exceeds the
single pole switching capacity of the circuit breaker, then a back-up fuse is required.
For three-pole short-circuits there is no difference between IT supplies and other supply types.
The ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity Icuand the service short-circuit breaking capacity Ics continue to
apply. Circuit breakers under IEC 60947-2 are suitable for use in IT supplies, if they are not marked with the symbol .
Testing is in accordance with Annex H.
Resource: Allen Bradley Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear

About Author //
Edvard Csanyi
Edvard - Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for
design of LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, buildings and
industry fascilities. Designing of LV/MV switchgears. Professional in AutoCAD programming
and web-design. Present on Google+

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