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Posted: 2019-12-12 06:39 AM
I am confused between the different ways selectivity is defined.
Could you please clarify what is the difference between Full Selectivity, Total Selectivity, and Enhanced Selectivity ?
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Posted: 2019-12-18 07:54 AM
Hello,
Thanks for this relevant question. I understand it can be confusing indeed.
Selectivity (or discrimination) is achieved by overcurrent and earth fault protective devices if a fault condition, occurring at any point in the installation, is cleared by the protective device located immediately upstream of the fault, while all other protective devices remain unaffected.
This is the main objective : minimize the part of installation switched off in case of fault such as overload, Line to Line short-circuit or Line to Earth fault. The concern is to convert this general requirement in criteria for circuit-breakers selection.
Selectivity is achieved when the maximum short-circuit current at a point of installation (Isc_max) is below selectivity limit (Is) of the circuit breakers supplying this point of installation. That’s where Total / Full / Enhanced selectivity concepts come in the game… IEC 60364-5-53: 535 2019 is now providing some guidance.
If we consider two circuit-breakers, the following situations are possible:
Example: ComPact NSX100F (36kA 400V) TMD 100A & iC60N (10kA 40V) C 32A Selectivity limit Is = 1kA
In a given electrical installation two cases are then possible:
Example: ComPact NSX100F (36kA 400V) Micrologic 2.2 100A & iC60N (10kA 40V) C 32A: Total selectivity
Example: ComPact NSX100F (36kA 400V) Micrologic 100A & iC60N (10kA 40V) C 32A “20/20”
To wrap up :
Selectivity in a given installation according to circuit-breakers selectivity performance without back-up
Selectivity characteristics of two circuit-breakers | Short-circuit current | Selectivity consequence for the electrical installation |
Partial (up to Is) | Is<= Isc max <= Icu or Icn | Partial up to Is |
Isc max < Is<= Icu or Icn | Full | |
Total |
Isc max <= Is= Icu or Icn |
Total |
Selectivity in a given installation according to circuit-breakers selectivity performance when back-up is used:
Selectivity characteristics of two Circuit-breakers | Short-circuit current | Selectivity consequence for the electrical installation |
Partial (up to Is) | Is < Icu < Isc max | Partial (up to Is) |
Total | Is = Icu < Isc max | Partial (up to Icu) |
Enhanced | Icu < Isc max <= Is | Enhanced selectivity (up to Is_enhanced) |
From a designer perspective, when selectivity in an electrical installation is expected I recommend to specify the following : Either “Total Selectivity is required and back-up is forbidden” or “Total selectivity is required, if back-up is applied, enhanced selectivity up to maximum short-circuit current shall be checked.
Mathieu Guillot
Schneider Electric
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Posted: 2019-12-18 07:59 AM
Sorry a "cell jam" makes my first table confusing. Read as follow:
Selectivity in a given installation according to circuit-breakers selectivity performance without back-up (cascading)
Selectivity characteristics of two Circuit-breakers | Short-circuit current | Selectivity consequence for the electrical installation |
Partial (up to Is) | Is<= Isc max <= Icu or Icn | Partial up to Is |
Partial (up to Is) | Isc max < Is<= Icu or Icn | Full |
Total |
Isc max <= Is= Icu or Icn |
Total |
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Posted: 2019-12-18 07:54 AM
Hello,
Thanks for this relevant question. I understand it can be confusing indeed.
Selectivity (or discrimination) is achieved by overcurrent and earth fault protective devices if a fault condition, occurring at any point in the installation, is cleared by the protective device located immediately upstream of the fault, while all other protective devices remain unaffected.
This is the main objective : minimize the part of installation switched off in case of fault such as overload, Line to Line short-circuit or Line to Earth fault. The concern is to convert this general requirement in criteria for circuit-breakers selection.
Selectivity is achieved when the maximum short-circuit current at a point of installation (Isc_max) is below selectivity limit (Is) of the circuit breakers supplying this point of installation. That’s where Total / Full / Enhanced selectivity concepts come in the game… IEC 60364-5-53: 535 2019 is now providing some guidance.
If we consider two circuit-breakers, the following situations are possible:
Example: ComPact NSX100F (36kA 400V) TMD 100A & iC60N (10kA 40V) C 32A Selectivity limit Is = 1kA
In a given electrical installation two cases are then possible:
Example: ComPact NSX100F (36kA 400V) Micrologic 2.2 100A & iC60N (10kA 40V) C 32A: Total selectivity
Example: ComPact NSX100F (36kA 400V) Micrologic 100A & iC60N (10kA 40V) C 32A “20/20”
To wrap up :
Selectivity in a given installation according to circuit-breakers selectivity performance without back-up
Selectivity characteristics of two circuit-breakers | Short-circuit current | Selectivity consequence for the electrical installation |
Partial (up to Is) | Is<= Isc max <= Icu or Icn | Partial up to Is |
Isc max < Is<= Icu or Icn | Full | |
Total |
Isc max <= Is= Icu or Icn |
Total |
Selectivity in a given installation according to circuit-breakers selectivity performance when back-up is used:
Selectivity characteristics of two Circuit-breakers | Short-circuit current | Selectivity consequence for the electrical installation |
Partial (up to Is) | Is < Icu < Isc max | Partial (up to Is) |
Total | Is = Icu < Isc max | Partial (up to Icu) |
Enhanced | Icu < Isc max <= Is | Enhanced selectivity (up to Is_enhanced) |
From a designer perspective, when selectivity in an electrical installation is expected I recommend to specify the following : Either “Total Selectivity is required and back-up is forbidden” or “Total selectivity is required, if back-up is applied, enhanced selectivity up to maximum short-circuit current shall be checked.
Mathieu Guillot
Schneider Electric
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Posted: 2019-12-18 07:59 AM
Sorry a "cell jam" makes my first table confusing. Read as follow:
Selectivity in a given installation according to circuit-breakers selectivity performance without back-up (cascading)
Selectivity characteristics of two Circuit-breakers | Short-circuit current | Selectivity consequence for the electrical installation |
Partial (up to Is) | Is<= Isc max <= Icu or Icn | Partial up to Is |
Partial (up to Is) | Isc max < Is<= Icu or Icn | Full |
Total |
Isc max <= Is= Icu or Icn |
Total |
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Posted: 2019-12-24 11:14 PM
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Posted: 2019-12-24 11:14 PM
nice too meet you all sir
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Posted: 2019-12-30 10:35 PM . Last Modified: 2019-12-30 10:36 PM
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Posted: 2019-12-30 10:35 PM . Last Modified: 2019-12-30 10:36 PM
Thanks a lot for all your guys sharing, it helpful
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