Electrical Distribution Design

John CHIN
Business Development
Malaysia

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric |

 Electric Distribution Design In Accordance
To International Standard And Protection
Coordination Scheme

John Chin
Business Development, Partner Project
 Principles

Basic design criteria

• Activity sector
• Power demand
• Power availability requirements
• Site configuration
• Safety requirements
• Environment
• Energy efficiency
• Standard compliance
Example Residential

Retail
Road tunnels

Office

Healthcare

Industry
 Basic design criteria
Power demand
– Maximum power consumed at a given time (kVA, MVA)
– Based on the sum of loads installed power
– Usage factors are applied (Ks, Ku, detailed later)
– Possibility of limited overload for a short duration

Power availability requirements

– Need of electricity supply for continuity of business or safety
issues
– Different categories of circuits depending on interruption
acceptability
Interruption acceptance

The aptitude of a circuit to accept a power interruption

Sheddable circuit: Long interruption:

Possible to shut down at any time for any Interruption time > 3 min
duration Loss of production - Ex: heating, Aircon…

Short interruption: No interruption:

Interruption time < 3 min Causing mortal danger or unacceptable
financial losses
Deterioration of production facilities/data
 Basic design criteria
Site configuration
– Architecture characteristic of buildings - Site extent, Number of workshops

Safety requirements
– Specific safety considerations (ex.: explosive atmosphere, …)
– Impact on installation configuration and equipment characteristics

Environment
– Specific environment conditions (lightning, high temperature, …)
– May request additional protection devices, heat management equipment, mechanical protection, …

Energy efficiency
– Reduction of power losses
– Reduce environmental impact
– Reduce Opex

Standard compliance
– Standards are relative to installation design, safety, equipment technology, Power Quality, performance testing, …
– Reference international standard: IEC 60364 “Electrical installation of buildings”
– Specific local regulations may apply.
The whole process summarized

Choice of Choice of Choice of

Schematic Detailed Techno Assessmen
fundamental diagram
architectur diagram
equipmen solution t
s e details t

Definitive
solution

Optimization
recommendatio
n
 Example

Engineering of an electrical installation

for an hospital
The challenges for an hospital
• To provide the highest level of
care at the lower cost

• To provide the performance of the

infrastructure at the lower cost
during the whole life cycle
Different sectors of operation
Operating theater
Intensive care
Scanners
Labs

Recovery rooms
Bedrooms
Restaurant

Administration
Communication
Data center
Utilities: HVAC, water
supply, elevators,
laundry, safety, … Building Infrastructure
 Power availability
Sector Criticality
requirements
No Short
interruption interruptio
Long
interruption
Sheddable

n
Medical sector
-Operating theater X
-Other treatment rooms X
Non medical
-Bedrooms X
-Recovery rooms X
-Restaurant X
Administration
-Office X
-Data center X
Utilities
-HVAC X
-Elevators X
-Laundry X
Result of design step 1
Schematic diagram
Site and installation configuration

•Extent
•Topology – layout
•Service reliability
•Flexibility
 Site and installation configuration
Extent
– Factor taking account of distance between the different points where electricity is consumed
– Large site may require:
• MV distribution circuits
• Several MV/LV substations
• Loop distribution

Topology – Layout
– Factor taking account of characteristics such as:
• Architecture of buildings
• Number of workshops

Service reliability
– Ability of a power system to supply electricity with a given level of confidence
– Depends on geographical, economical, technical factors

Flexibility
- Possibility of easily moving electricity delivery points
- Depends on the activity sectors. Eg:
- Office buildings => high flexibility Infrastructure=> low flexibility
Flexibility issue:
Centralized or distributed layout?
Centralized layout with point Distributed layout, with busbar
to point links (cables) trunking
Flexibility

Quick and easy to add, move or replace

Installation flexibility and layout

Less flexible More flexible through design, installation and

operation:
Centralized distribution
Decentralized distribution based on
based on cable
solution
busway
Centralized or decentralized:
How to choose?
Uniformity of load installation

Capability to evolve Localized loads Groups of medium Uniformly

High unit power loads power loads distributed
No capability to evolve
Design capability Centralized Decentralized
to evolve
Installation capability
to evolve
Centralized Decentralized
Operating flexibility

You can mix decentralized and centralized distribution

 Example of layout

•Large building
•Low flexibility
•High power density
•High power availability
requirements

•Distributed layout
•LV distribution loop
Power availability requirements

•Cause of interruptions
•Sensitivity to interruptions
•Load shedding
•Back-up supplies
•Transfer switch
 Cause of interruptions
• Utility supply interruption
– System overload, lightning strike, broken cable, short-circuit
on power line, …

• Internal failure (Tripping of protection relay)

– Overload, isolation fault, cable disconnection, …

• Maintenance operation

• Safety contingency
Schneider Electric - Partner Academy – Bruno BELLIA – March 2015
Power availability requirements
Sensitivity to interruptions
– Aptitude of a circuit to accept a power interruption
– Classification:
• "Sheddable"
• Long interruption possible (> 3 min.)
• Short interruption possible (< 3 min.)
• No interruption acceptable

Load shedding
– Possible if no impact on business or safety
– Circuit disconnected in case of power contingency (generator supply, high rate
tariff, risk of overload, …)
Power availability requirements

Back-up supplies
– Generator with thermal engine (Genset)
– Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

Essential for high power availability

To be considered:
● Service reliability
● Power reliability requirements
● Safety aspects (eg: hospital, airport, …)
● Back-up time
 Back-up generators and UPS
Utility
supply

Emergency
supply

UPS connection with Q1 Q2

Genset Q3

Normal Emergency
loads loads

~ ~
= =

= =
~ ~

UPS UPS

Critical Critical
loads loads
The whole process summarized

Choice of Choice of Choice of

Schematic Detailed Techno Assessmen
fundamental diagram
architectur diagram
equipmen solution t
s e details t

Definitive
solution

Optimization
recommendatio
n
 In order to define...

• Layout
• Distribution type
(centralized / decentralized)
• Presence of back-up
generators
• Presence of UPS
• Configuration of LV circuits
• Architecture combinations
 Layout
Position of the main MV and LV equipment in the site or building
Power sources close to the power consumers (barycenter approach)

Reduce environment constraints

Heavy equipment close to walls and exits

Centralized or distributed layout?
Centralized layout with point Distributed layout, with busbar
to point links (cables) trunking
 LV configuration

LV main
distribution

LV power
distribution

LV terminal
distribution
 LV configuration
Radial single feeder configuration Two-pole configuration

Two-pole with two ½ MLVS Sheddable switchboard

 LV configuration
Double-ended configuration
Interconnected switchboards with automatic transfer Ring configuration
switch

Configuration combinations
The whole process summarized

Choice of Choice of Choice of

Schematic Detailed Techno Assessmen
fundamental diagram
architectur diagram
equipmen solution t
s e details t

Definitive
solution

Optimization
recommendatio
n
 Equipment

Major equipment in electrical installation

Focus on higher cost equipment:

MV switchboards
MV/LV substations – Transformers
Genset and UPS
LV switchboards
Busbar trunking
Power Factor Correction and Harmonic Filtering
 Selection of equipment

MV/LV equipment

Back-up supplies

Distribution
 Selection of equipment
Technology aspects
Utility requirements
Local availability
Local standards (IEC, NEMA)
Know-how of local contractors and panel-builders

Environment considerations
Temperature
Dust, chemical agents
Explosive atmosphere
Seismic conditions
 Secured power architectures
Examples
Small hospital
• Less than 200 beds
• 5 to 10 operating theatres G
• Single building
• Scheduled operations & day
emergency

=
Secured Power ~
• Less than 1250kVA
• Utility: N+1 MV incomers
• 1 LV Genset
• 1 UPS
Schneider Electric - Partner Academy – Bruno BELLIA – March 2015
 Secured power architectures
Examples

Medium & Large

2x
G
hospital
• More than 200 beds
• More than 10 operating
theatres.
• Single building
• Scheduled operations &
24h emergency =
~
Secured Power
• More than 1250 kVA

Schneider Electric - Partner Academy – Bruno BELLIA – March 2015

 Secured power architectures
Large hospital Examples Secured Power
• More than 500 beds • More than 2000kVA
• More than 10 operating theatres.
• Single or multi buildings
• Scheduled operations & 24h
emergency 2x
G 2x G

= 2x =
~ ~

Schneider Electric - Partner Academy – Bruno BELLIA – March 2015

 Safety aspects

•Risk of electric shock

•Risk of fire
•Protection of cables and equipment
 Risk of electric shock
Effects of AC or DC current on human body

Mechanical
Thermal effect
stimulation effects
 Risk of electric shock

Direct contact Indirect contact

 Risk of electric shock

The danger depends mainly on amplitude and duration of the current

flow

The amplitude will depend on:

Current path
Touch voltage
Frequency
Degree of skin moisture
Surface area of contact
Pressure
Temperature
 Risk of electric shock
Critical values of AC currents (15 to 100 Hz).

1A Cardiac arrest

75 mA Irreversible cardiac fibrillation

30 mA Difficulty in breathing

10 mA Muscular contraction

0.5 mA perception
Risk for cables and equipment
Cables and equipment may be deteriorated because of
high temperature
– Incorrect sizing of cables
– Non respect of cable implementation rules
– Loose connections
– Mechanical overload of motors
– Harmonic resonance with capacitors
 Risk of fire
Probability of
insulation fault

Life-cycle

Main reasons for insulation faults

– mechanical deterioration of a cable
insulator
– Dust and humidity near terminals
– thermal ageing of insulators due to
temperature
– lightning surges
 Risk of fire

Illustration of resistive short-circuit

Example of carbonized connection

 Risk of fire

Process resulting in a fire:

 Risk of fire
Arc-fault Detection Devices (AFDD)

• Recommendation of IEC 60364-4-42: “Protection for Safety –

Protection against thermal effect”
• Use of AFDD complying with IEC 62606: “General requirements
for arc fault detection devices”
• Based on current signal processing

Typical arc waveform:

- Current
- Voltage
 Short-circuit currents
Definition
Prospective current resulting on a 3-phase, zero-impedance fault at a
considered point
Notation: ISC

Objective
Selection of cables (thermal withstand)
Selection of protection devices (breaking capability)
General rules Maximum ISC determines:

•Icu: breaking capacity of circuit-breakers (Icu ≥

max Isc)
•Icm: making capacity of the devices
•Thermal and electrodynamic withstands of ducts
and switchgear

minimum ISC determines:

•Trip unit setting and trip curve
selection for CB
•Trip curve for fuses
•People protection devices
 General rules
Short-circuit current at transformer terminals

MV/LV transformer
100  P
ISC =
U SC  U 20  3
Short-circuit current downstream
Example Isc
Zt
(m) (kA)
Upstream network
500 MVA Transformer
+ 13 18.3
MV/LV transformer MV Network

20 kV/410 V 5 m Cu cable
800 kVA – Usc = 6 % connection 13 17.7
3x240 mm2/ph
5m Isc = 18.3 kA
3 x 240 mm2/ph
Isc = 17.7 kA 5 m of
100 x 5 copper 14 16.6
5 m of 100 x 5 mm copper
bar 100 m Cu
cable
connection
35 6.7
Isc = 16.6 kA 1 x 95 mm2/ph

100 m cable connection

1 x 95 mm2/ph Short-circuit current decreases quickly:
Isc = 6.74 kA • with low cross-section cables
• over long distances
Selection of protective devices
Criteria

– Rated current
– Breaking capability
– Implementation of cascading*
– Check of discrimination**

* cascading: possibility to implement circuit components with reduced

short-circuit capability by using upstream current limiting circuit-breakers

** discrimination: achieved when only the protective device situated

immediately upstream of a fault will trip
 Current definitions

0 IB Ir IZ Ik i
IB : maximum load current
current corresponding to the load power demand
Ir : rated current of the protection device
maximum current permanently allowed by the protection device
Iz : maximum permissible current
maximum current that the cable can carry indefinitely without reducing the life
expectancy
Ik : short-circuit current
current resulting from a contact between two active conductors
 Selection of protective devices
Breaking capability
• Rated short-circuit breaking capacity (Icu ): maximum prospective downstream
short-circuit current to be interrupted without being damaged
• Current-limiting circuit-breaker prevents the passage of the maximum
prospective fault current

(Isc)

(prospective)
Selection of protective devices
Long Cable thermal limit
delay

Ir: overload tripping current setting (thermal or long-delay)

Im: short-circuit tripping current setting (magnetic or short-delay)

Ii: instantaneous short-circuit tripping current setting

Short
delay Icu: breaking capacity

Circuit-breaker tripping
curve
Selection of protective devices
Condition for discrimination
Ecodial Advance Calculation
Circuits & Components

By: Indiran Nadarajan

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 61

Circuits & Components 1 Source

2 Distribution

3
Feeder Circuits
4
LV-LV Transformer

5 UPS
Coupling
6
Loads
7

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 62

 Source
MV Source MV/LV transformer

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 63

 Source
Generator LV source

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 64

 Source
Capacitor bank

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 65

 Distribution
LV switchboard

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 66

 Distribution
Bus Trunking System (BTS) - Horizontal Distribution

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 67

 Distribution
Bus Trunking System (BTS) - Vertical Distribution

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 68

 Feeder Circuits

Protection Switch Protection-Conductor

Protection- Protection- Protection-Conductor-Wiring

Conductor- Conductor-
Switch Protection

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 69

 Load Circuits
Passive Load

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 70

 Load Circuits
Lighting Load

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 71

 Load Circuits
Motor Load

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 72

 Load Circuits
Power Socket Load

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 73

 Other circuit components

Protection (CIRCUIT Protection (FUSE)

BREAKER)

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 74

 Other circuit components

LV Cable

Confidential Property of Schneider Electric | Page 75