It is currently Sun May 28, 2023 4:47 pm



Post new topic Reply to topic
Author Message
ekstra   ara
 Post subject: Arc Flash Calculations with 12 and/or 24-pulse Transformers
PostPosted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:22 pm 
Sparks Level

Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:28 pm
Posts: 64
Location: Louisville KY
Does anyone have any guidance on arc flash calculations with 12 and 24-pulse transformers? The 24-pulse transformers in question have standard primary single 3-phase winding which is isolated froma quantity of 4 individual 3-phase windings which are wound such that the electrical outputs are phase-shifted 15 degrees apart from each other. The 12-pulse unit is similar but has a 30 degree phase shift.

All of the arc flash calculations, as I understand them, are based upon a "conventional" transformers. I am unsure if the phase-shift transformers make any difference at all in arc flash calculations. These units have the provided impedence of 5.7% and are used primarily in the oil industry.

These units feed a variable-speed drive, which in turn feeds a step-up transformer that feeds a very deep motor in an oil well, thus a second question follows: Has anyone calculated arcflash on the output side of a VFD, and if so, how did you go about it?

A client is looking for guidance. I teach a basic arc-flash calculation class to give basic understanding of the process (based upon IEEE methods), but this one is a little strange. Just not sure if the phase-shift transformer makes any difference in considering arc flash.


Top
 Profile Send private message  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:21 am 
Plasma Level
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2010 9:08 am
Posts: 2173
Location: North Carolina
The transformer design doesn't matter. When you look at arc flash incident energy, obviously one area of concern is inside the transformer housing itself if it's a dry type, or at/around the bushings if it's a sealed design (generally oil filled). In this case, you look at two places. First, you look at the available fault currents, X/R ratio, and so forth on the primary side. Generally this is not the major issue and would only be separate anyways if you have two separate air termination cabinets like what is common on a substation-style transformer with ducts on the front and rear.

Second, you look at the available bolted fault current on the secondary side. You already know the impedance so getting to a bolted fault current is pretty easy, and so would the X/R ratio. These give you the necessary values in order to calculate incident energy. Granted there are several taps on the secondary winding but since arc flash incident energy is normally calculated as a worst case, you can safely ignore all the intermediate taps and focus on the overall secondary coil.

In terms of a drive, this is slightly more complicated. There is some material published on DC but not a lot. There is a new second in Annex D of 70E for 2012 that gives a simplified DC arc flash calculation which is close enough. This gives you available fault current on the DC bus, assuming you've got a traditional (converter/inverter) design and not a cycloconverter/matrix design where there is no DC bus.

On the output side, you need to look at available fault current from the drive. One consideration that drives this is that the semiconductors themselves which are supplying power at any given time are particularly sensitive to heat. This means that they are fused with very high speed fuses (trip in 1/4 cycle or less) with the exception of Siemens. So although it is certainly possible to exceed the maximum output of the drive, for all intents and purposes you can look at this situation by simply modelling the maximum output current of the drive itself plus the protection which is configured in the drive. During operation you've got to remember that at any given time up to 2 IGBT's can be switched on at any given time and there are places in the timing where it is even possible to have a short circuit across the drive internally.

Siemens is not putting semiconductor fuses in all of their drives. This may be an issue. Six drive installations in Australia have reported that when a drive module fails, it literally explodes and throws shrapnel around. The design has not changed. The following presentation still advertises a lack of fuses and is from a company which is now part of Caterpillar. I would have to take a hard look at exactly how much total energy is stored in the DC bus capacitor or inductor if I bought a Siemens SiBAS traction drive or similar due to this potential issue.

See this presentation, page 71:
http://www.wmea.net/Technical%20Papers/AC%20IGBT%20Drive%20System%20for%20Draglines%20-%20Nov%2006.pdf


Top
 Profile Send private message  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 6:55 am 
Sparks Level

Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:28 pm
Posts: 64
Location: Louisville KY
Wow! Thanks so much for your over and above thorough response! I really appreciate your response to my question. This helps tremendously, especially your comments on the vfd. Much appreciated!


Top
 Profile Send private message  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
cron
© 2022 Arcflash Forum / Brainfiller, Inc. | P.O. Box 12024 | Scottsdale, AZ 85267 USA | 800-874-8883