Energy and Power / Low Voltage
The basics of selectivity (discrimination)
between circuit breakers
What is the selectivity?
On economical grounds and for the reason of reliability of the service, it is
not always ideal to interrupt the supply to the installation in the case of a
fault as fast as possible. That's why we have the selectivity between
protective devices.
The basics of selectivity (discrimination) between circuit breakers (photo credit: ABB)So what is the selectivity? The whole point of the selectivity is that the
protective device immediately upstream of the fault must respond at first
Only the faulty part of the installation should be isolated. All the other
switching and protective devices connected to the system should remain
operative
Selectivity reduces the duration of a fault and limits its possible
damaging effect only to a part of the installation. The service
interruption is reduced to a minimum
Let’s discuss now about two types of selectivity between circuit
breakers //
* Current selectivity
Current selectivity
In a distribution network, the ratings of the distribution circuit breakers will be
smaller and smaller as we go downstream from the transformer to the load.
Similarly, the settings of the s ases will be also lower
and lower. At the same time, the magnitude of the short circuit current which
may occur will be also progressively lower,
This results in a sort of natural selectivity depending on the magnitude of
the short circuit current.
The principle of current selectivity is applied
mostly for distribution feeders at the extremity
of the system, with appreciable reduction of the
short circuit current due to the long length of the
leads.The prospective short circuit current at the location of installation of the
circuit breaker must be known.
Two circuit breakers are mutually selective if the short circuit current flowing
through the downstream breaker is lower than the (adjustable) threshold of
tripping of the magnetic release of the unit connected upstream. This value is
considered as the limit of selectivity.
Whether two circuit breaker are really mutually selective is checked
by comparing the time-current characteristics of the breakers.
The tripping characteristics of the two breakers may not touch or
intersect each other up to the maximum value of the permissible
fault level.
There must be a definite spacing between the two characteristics,
depending on the permissible tolerance band of the releases of the breakers.
——-
Figure 1 — Time-current characteristics of two
current-selective circuit breakersAlthough the method of comparison of the time-current characteristics is
exact, it is also time consuming. The published tables of the manufacturers,
indicating the selectiveness of the circuit breakers among one another makes
the selection easier.
As far as overload is concemed, the thermally delayed bimetallic overload
releases of the circuit breakers with different rated currents are always
selective to one another. The tripping times of the different ratings of the
circuit breakers for the same overload currents are automatically different (as
for example the 100 A version and the 6.3 A version).
S
Time selectivity
If current selectivity can not be achieved, as for example between two quick
acting circuit breakers having practically the same reaction time, selectivity is
to be realised via the adjustable delay time of the breakers.
The time selectivity in the case of large circuit breakers for the protection of
installations is realised by delaying the magnetic tripping time by a few half
cycles. The total clearing time of the downstream circuit breaker must be
shorter than the minimum necessary duration of the command time of the
circuit breaker connected immediately upstream
In other words, for mutually selective circuit
breakers acting in time staggered sequence —
The delay time of the upstream circuit breaker
must be longer than the total clearing time of the
circuit breaker connected downstream.
The minimum delay time that can be realised between the time staggered
circuit breakers are 60 or 100ms. The tripping characteristic of the delayed
breaker is shifted upwards on the published time-current characteristic
diagram.I—>
Figure 2 — Time-current characteristics of two
time-selective circuit breakers
The time selectivity between circuit breakers reacting in a time staggered
sequence is achieved by not allowing the contacts or the magnetic
release to react directly with the short circuit current. A mechanically
delaying mechanism or an electronic circuit delays the action of the circuit
breaker.
For the upstream circuit breaker, one can no longer speak about a quick
acting, current limiting interruption. More than one half cycles of the actual
short circuit current flows through the delayed acting protective device and
also through the installation. This, obviously, is to be designed accordingly to
withstand this stress.
Go back to Selectivity Types
Reference // Basics of circuit breakers by Rockwell Automation