FAULT CASE STUDY

PROJECT : CADANCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, NOIDA

CONSULTANT : KANWAR KRISHEN & ASSOCIATES
CLIENT : ANTELEC LTD.

EVENT

Un-intended opening of Incomer Breaker of Main UPS Load Panel.

RELEASE
SETTINGS

Following release settings were found at site when attended by our

Engineer
Current Setting
(Multiple of In)

Current Setting
Available

Time
Setting

Time Setting
Available

Long Time

0.70

Ir -0.5 to 1.0 times In

0.10

0.2 to 30 sec.at 6 Ir

Short Time

10

2 to 10 times Ir

500 ms

20 ms to 600 ms

Release Type

Instantaneous

2 to 16 times In

N.A.

N.A.

Ground Fault

0.40

0.2 to 0.6 times In

400 ms

100 ms to 400 ms

BREAKER
:
ACCESSORIES
AND THEIR
STATUS

The Breaker is provided with following accessories and their status was
found to be as mentioned below :
i) Manual Reset Push Button : found in place and o.k.
ii) Trip Push Button : was found covered & sealed with wire.
iii) Breaker Control Switch : Operating knob was found removed.
iv) SR21 Release & Shunt Trip Release : found in place and o.k.

FAULT
:
ANALYSIS/
PROBABLE
CAUSES FOR
BREAKER

1. HARMONICS : As the computer load connected to the ACB is nonlinear in nature, it is possible that third harmonic current in neutral might
have increased up to a value high enough to operate the Earth Fault
Release thus opening the Breaker.
The currents in different phases & neutral were measured at site
and were found to be : `R Phase : 350Amps., `Y Phase : 310Amps.,
`B Phase : 315Amps., Neutral : 260Amps. The Breaker can trip
because of such a high current in neutral as compared to that in
phases.
2. UNBALANCING OF LOAD : As the load connected to the ACB is
mostly single phase, unbalancing of load is likely to occur because of
some of the load being switched off. Neutral current, on account of such
unbalancing, might have gone high enough resulting in opening of the
Breaker through Earth Fault Release.
Since Phase Currents, when measured at site were found to be
nearly equal, this possibility is ruled out.
3. LONG TIME, SHORT TIME OR INSTANTANEOUS FAULT : Opening
of Breaker can be a result of Long Time (Overload) or Short
Time/Instantaneous (Short Circuit) Fault in the system.
But we have to rule out this possibility because the connected load
was found to be much lesser than the Long Time Current Setting of
the Breaker. Also, if the Breaker were opened on Short
Time/Instantaneous Fault, it would have opened again upon reclosing, if done without clearing the fault, which was not the case.
Moreover, neither any Flag Indication was seen on SR21 Release
nor the Trip Light provided on panel was found glowing, favouring
this possibility to be ruled out.

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4. MOMENTRY EARTH FAULT : There are chances of Earth Fault,

actually occurring somewhere in the system because of contact of some
lizard or rat with the live Bus Bars. Such Faults are momentary only and
get cleared as soon as the animal dies and falls on ground. Such Earth
Faults can result in Breaker opening.
But chances of such Earth Faults are low since all the Bus Bars are
completed enclosed in separate bolted chambers and also
shrouded. This may happen only if some door has been left open,
allowing the animal to enter the Bus Bar Zone.
5. CONTINUOUS EARTH FAULT : The wildest possibility for Breaker
opening, is the occurrence of some permanent Earth Fault in the
distribution network. Such faults cause some damage in the system.
Upon examining at site, no damages were found at any place in the
whole network, so we have to over rule this possibility also.
6. CURRENT SURGE : Opening of Breaker might have resulted as a
consequence of some current surge in the system.
SR21 Release has in-built protection against surges, so this
possibility is also ruled out.
7. MECHANICAL FAILURE : Possibility can not be ruled out for mech.
failure of some component of Breaker thus causing its opening.
But the chances are remote as breaker is thoroughly tested by the
manufacturer, against vibrations and other external disturbances,
before supplying it to the user.
8. TRIPPING BY UN-AUTHORISED PERSONNEL : This may be
another reason for breaker opening.
But chances are again very few, as Trip Push Button provided on
Breaker was sealed and operating knob of Breaker Control Switch
was removed.
OUR
:
CONCLUSION

Whatever be the reason, once the Breaker opens through its Release on
account of any fault, whether Log Time, Short Time, Instantaneous or
Ground Fault, needs to be reset manually before re-closing. As intimated
by the operating staff at site, no resetting was done prior to re-closing of
Breaker, hence possibility of such opening can be negated.
However, we strongly feel that HARMONICS can be one major
reason for Breaker to open, apart from the one mentioned at Sl. No.
7 & 8 above.

OUR RECOM- :
MENDATIONS

1. Harmonics analysis for the distribution system is strongly

recommended.
2. Get the Breaker tested by Service Engineer of the manufacturer.
3. Examine, down the line switchgear for the possibility of
occurrence of Earth Fault.

A.P. Singhal
Chief Executive - Operations

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TECHNICAL INPUTS FOR

FAULT CASE STUDY & ANALYSIS
PROJECT : CADANCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, NOIDA
CONSULTANT : KANWAR KRISHEN & ASSOCIATES
CLIENT : ANTELEC LTD.

EVENT

Un-intended opening of Incomer Breaker of Main UPS Load Panel.

HARMONICS AND THEIR
IMPACT ON DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

A Non-linear load, such as an UPS or a Personal Computer, when connected to a sinusoidal

voltage, draws a non-sinusoidal current.
Any non-sinusoidal wave can be mathematically resolved into a series of pure sinusoidal waves
having different amplitudes and frequencies. The first component whose frequency is same as
that of the original wave is called as FUNDAMENTAL and the remaining components whose
frequencies are integral multiple of the fundamental frequency are known as HARMONICS.
nd

rd

th

th

The ORDER OF A HARMONIC (2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) can be defined as the ratio of its frequency

with that of the fundamental. For example, if the fundamental frequency is 50 Hz, then a harmonic
nd
having frequency of 100 Hz i.e. two times the fundamental frequency is said to be a 2 order
nd
harmonic or simply a 2 harmonic.
All the harmonic currents which exist in a 3-Phase network, have a particular phase sequence
(+ve, -ve or zero) associated with them. The table given below shows phase sequences of some
harmonics :
Harmonics
Phase Sequence

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

+ve

-ve

zero

+ve

-ve

zero

+ve

-ve

zero

Harmonic currents with +VE SEQUENCE are those currents which are displaced from each other
by 120 in phase and have the same phase sequence as the original wave, as shown in Fig. 1(c).
While harmonic currents with -VE SEQUENCE are displaced from each other by 120 but have
the phase sequence opposite to that of the original wave, as shown in Fig. 1(d). Unlike the +ve &
-ve sequence harmonic currents, ZERO SEQUENCE harmonic currents have zero phase
displacement from each other, as shown in Fig. 1(e).
Under balanced load conditions without harmonics, fundamental components of phase currents
which have positive sequence cancel each other in neutral and resultant neutral current is zero.
Please refer Fig. 1(a) & (b).
However, in a 3-Phase, 4-Wire system with single phase non-linear loads, the TRIPLEN
HARMONICS (odd numbered multiples of third harmonics i.e. 3rd, 9th, 15th) having zero sequence
do not cancel, rather they add together in neutral conductor thus raising the neutral current.
Please refer Fig. 1(e).
In systems with substantial amount of non linear single phase loads, the neutral current may rise
to a dangerously high level. Neutral Current may go as high as 2.7 times the Phase Current
depending upon the amount and nature of non- linear loads present in the system.

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NEUTRAL CURRENT IN A BALANCED/UNBALANCED 3-PHASE, 4-WIRE SYSTEM

A balanced system is one, in which load is distributed equally on all the three phases. In such a
system, magnitude of currents in `R, `Y & `B phases are equal and also their vectors are
displaced equally by 120 in phase, as shown in Fig 2(a).
In a 3-Phase, 4-Wire system, Neutral Conductor provides a return path for phase currents. Under
balanced load condition, when all the currents flowing in `R, `Y & `B phases meet in neutral
conductor they, being equal in magnitude and 120 out of phase, cancel out each other.
Therefore, resultant current in neutral is zero. As can be seen in Fig. 2(b), sum of IR & IY is equal
& opposite to IB thus resultant current in neutral is zero.
The above fact can be verified by calculation as follows:
Let us take current in `R phase IR as reference current and assuming clockwise phase sequence,
then :
IR = I + j 0
IY = I ( - 0.5 j 0.866)
IB = I ( - 0.5 + j 0.866)
IN = IR + IY + IB = (I + j 0) + I ( - 0.5 - j 0.866) + I ( - 0.5 + j 0.866) = 0
Under unbalanced load condition, magnitude of currents in `R, `Y & `B phases are not equal
though their vectors may be displaced equally by 120, as shown in Fig. 2(c).
We can write the above equation for such a system as follows :
IR = Ir + j 0
IY = Iy ( - 0.5 j 0.866)
IB = Ib ( - 0.5 + j 0.866)
IN = IR + IY + IB = (Ir + j 0) + Iy ( - 0.5 - j 0.866) + Ib ( - 0.5 + j 0.866)
= (Ir - 0.5Iy 0.5Ib) + j 0.866 (Ib Iy) 0
It can be seen from the later set of equations that under unbalanced load condition in a 3-Phase,
4-Wire system there is always some current flowing in neutral which is equal to the vector sum of
the three phase currents. Please refer Fig. 2(d) for phasor representation.
CO-ORDINATION OF EARTH FAULT RELAY IN 3 PHASE, 4 WIRE SYSTEM
From the above description it is clear that, in a 3-Phase, 4-Wire system Neutral Conductor may
be carrying some current on account of harmonics or unbalanced load conditions. This neutral
current, if at any point of time attains a value higher than the Earth Fault setting of Breaker
Release, may cause opening of the Breaker, if only 3 nos. residually connected line CTs are used
to feed the Earth Fault Release as shown in Fig. 3(a). This is because of the fact that neutral
current is seen by the release as earth fault current.
However, if we use a 4th CT in neutral along with 3 CTs in phases, Breaker shall never get
opened through Earth Fault Release on account of high neutral current, whether it is because of
harmonics or unbalanced load condition, as neutral currents coming from two different sets of
CTs gets cancelled out, as shown in Fig. 3(b).

A.P. Singhal
Chief Executive - Operations

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REPORT ON SITE VISIT

OF OUR ENGINEER
To : Mr. Navin Krishen
M/s Kanwar Krishen & Associates

From : Mr. A.P. Singhal

Tricolite Electrical Industries Pvt. Ltd

Our Engineer Mr. Sanjay Gupta visited site on 01.04.03. Following actions were taken by him
after a joint discussion with Mr. Ashwani Rao, Mr. Gera & Mr. Gazendra Sharma of M/s Cadance
Design Systems, Mr. Shyam Arora of M/s Antelec Ltd. and Mr. Lakhan Pal of M/s L&T.
1. Setting of SR21 Releases in Incomer Breaker of Main UPS Load Panel and Battery UPS Load
Panel-2 set at maximum values available, as shown in table below :
Current Setting
(Multiple of In)

Current Setting
Available

Time
Setting

Time Setting
Available

Long Time

1.0

Ir -0.5 to 1.0 times In

30 sec.

0.2 to 30 sec.at 6 Ir

Short Time

10

2 to 10 times Ir

600 ms

20 ms to 600 ms

Release Type

Instantaneous

(sw.off)

2 to 16 times In

N.A.

N.A.

Ground Fault

0.60

0.2 to 0.6 times In

(sw.off)

100 ms to 400 ms

2. Setting of SR21 Release in Incomer Breaker of UPS Supply Panel set at following values:
Release Type
Long Time

Current Setting
(Multiple of In)

Current Setting
Available

Time
Setting

Time Setting
Available

1.0

Ir -0.5 to 1.0 times In

12 sec.

0.2 to 30 sec.at 6 Ir

Short Time

2 to 10 times Ir

400 ms

20 ms to 600 ms

Instantaneous

12

2 to 16 times In

N.A.

N.A.

Ground Fault

0.40

0.2 to 0.6 times In

400 ms

100 ms to 400 ms

3. Flag Indicators of SR21 Releases in Incomer Breaker of UPS Supply Panel, AC Panel and
Battery UPS Load Panel 2 were reset by M/s L&T. Now there is no intermittent flag indication
on the releases. All the SR21 Releases were physically checked and found O.K.
4. Down the line UPS Switchboards were checked for traces of arc/carbon. No such traces were
found in any Panel.
5. The present Current and Time settings of rest of the releases at site were noted and are being
enclosed for your perusal & further necessary action as Annexure `A.

A.P. Singhal
Chief Executive - Operations

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SETTINGS OF SR-21 RELEASES IN DIFFERENT PANELS

LONG TIME
NAME OF
PANEL

FDR NO.

ACB
RATING

20A, 20B AC
PLANT

SHORT TIME

EARTH FAULT

CURRENT
SETTING
(In)

TIME
SETTING
(m.Sec)

CURRENT
SETTING
(Ir)

TIME
SETTING
(m.Sec)

INS.

CURRENT
SETTING
(Ir)

TIME
SETTING
(m.Sec)

1250A

1.00

30

200

10

0.20

400

25A, 25B,
ROTARY
UPS

1250A

0.70

10

500

0.40

400

24A, 24B
CAPACITOR

1250A

1.00

30

60

0.35

100

MCC PANEL,
629A

1A, 1B, & 1C

1250A

1.00

60

0.30

100

UPS SUPPLY
PANEL

2A, 2B

1250A

1.00

12

400

12

0.40

400

MAIN UPS
LOAD

1A, 1B

1250A

1.00

30

10

600

0.60

1A, 1B

1250A

1.00

30

10

600

0.50

MAIN L.T.
PANEL

PANEL

BATTERY
UPS LOAD
PANEL - 2

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