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ZCT and Nuissance Tripping for EFR Problem

11/05/2013 5:26 PM

Dear all masters, So happy I can find this discussion forum and if I see many nice discusion topics. In this occassion, I'd like ask a problem I found which make me in doubt until now. I hope any master in this forum can give suggestion. In my plant, I have a main switchboard which have outgoing feeder completed by EFR. This EFR (Vigirex, by Schneider) has ZCT connection with this feeder. Outgoing ACB feeder rated is 3200A, but I found that ZCT current operational rating is 630A. ZCT dimension is proportional connected to 3200A busbar (toroidal ZCT). After having started with motor load (chiller), the 1st chiller run well, but after having started 2nd chiller, EFR was working and tripped ACB. ACB capacity (3200A) is still enough for two chillers. I have setted the EFR with maximum setting 30A(maximum) and 4.5 second(max), but this nuissance tripping still happens. Is ZCT current operational (630A) enough for this ACB 3200A rating? Or ZCT rated operational current is the same as ACB (3200A)? Any suggestion for solving this problem? Many thanks..

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Guru
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#1

Re: ZCT and Nuissance Tripping for EFR Problem

11/06/2013 7:21 AM

Simple. Get a qualified Electrician to chase-down and eliminate the downstream earth fault that is causing the trip. Do it soon/this morning/immediately/right now/within the hour, as it is a safety issue - one loose earth connection somewhere, and someone could get zapped!

Once the fault has been removed, restore the trip settings to the "as commissioned" values.

Then put the equipment on a Planned Preventative Maintenance scheme for periodic re-testing.

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#2

Re: ZCT and Nuissance Tripping for EFR Problem

11/07/2013 11:06 AM

You said the ZCT is surrounding the busbars. You may like to verify: Whether the ZCT is of appropriate shape for the rectangular shaped busbars (circular shaped CT is not suitable). Refer vendor manual for the details.

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Raghunath
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#3

Re: ZCT and Nuissance Tripping for EFR Problem

11/07/2013 6:01 PM

Thanks for PWSlack and Wal for comments. We have done Megger test on the cable and switchboard. From testing report no problem (insulation value was still as standard). Downstream of main switchboard is connected to motor control ceter(MCC) which have 3200A rating also and have EFR connection also (MCC for this chiller loads). If we started 1st chiller, no tripping EFR on main switchboard and EFR on MCC incoming. But when 2nd chiller started EFR on mainswitchboard tripped and no tripping on EFR MCC (MCC supplied from mainswitcboard). As PwSlack said, I'm not sure that earth fault exist in the system because 1st chiller motor could be run, but this problem appear when 2nd chiller starting. An alternative, I released the EFR connection(by pass or protection only depend on ACB) on main switchboard feeder, but EFR on MCC was still in line. After doing that, no trip again and system could be running well. So thats why I thought there was problem with 2nd motor chiller starting (false trip). But I still mitigate it. Total capacity of 2 chiller's run is around 1000A. At that time I saw the ZCT (toroid) rating capacity is differrent with ACB rating. If this CT is CT per phase, I know its dangerous (because total load on MCC will around 3000A because any other load). But, this type is ZCT (zerro current CT) that in my mind, this ZCT only sense residual or zerro sequence current where not so big (will not reach big value). For information, our Vigirex fault rating up to 30A only with time delay max. 4.5 second.

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Guru
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: ZCT and Nuissance Tripping for EFR Problem

11/08/2013 3:50 AM

That's all very interesting, however, as long as the unit is still tripping, the earth fault remains regardless of any personal uncertainty. So tell the Electrician to go back, find it and eliminate it; the first thing to check is the second chiller. Do it this morning/now/within the hour - it is urgent on safety grounds.

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Mr.Toms (1); PWSlack (2); raghun (1)

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