Motor Protection

Current Demand

• 3-phase motor:
In = Pn x 1000 / (√3 x U x η x cos φ)
Motor Currents
 Motor Currents

The use of start-delta starter, static soft start unit or variable speed
drive allows to reduce the value of the starting current (Example: 4 In
instead of 7.5 In)
Standard Motors IEC
Motor Control systems
Motor Protection Functions
Overheat Effect on Motor Lifetime
 Overload Relays

• Depending on the application, the motor starting time can vary from
a few seconds (for no-load starting, low resistive torque, etc.) to
several tens of seconds (for a high resistive torque, high inertia of the
driven load, etc.). It is therefore necessary to fit relays appropriate to
the starting time.
 Overload Relays
The relay rating is to be chosen according to the nominal
motor current and the calculated starting time:
• Trip class 10 is adapted to normal duty motors
• Trip class 20 is recommended for heavy duty motors
• Trip class 30 is necessary for very long motor starting
Overload Relays
Motor starter configurations
Contractors
Protection Coordination
Basic protection scheme: circuit breaker+ contactor + thermal relay
Sizing and protection of
conductors
Methodology
 The cabling and its protection Conditions

• Carry the permanent full load current, and normal short-time

overcurrent
• Not cause voltage drops likely to result in an inferior performance of
certain loads, for example: an excessively long acceleration period
when starting a motor, etc
 The protective devices Conditions

• Protect the cabling and busbars for all levels of overcurrent, up to and
including short-circuit currents
• Ensure protection of persons against indirect contact hazards (fault
protection)
Current levels
 Maximum load current: IB

• Depend on the circuit of concerns. In final circuit level the total KVA of
load is calculated by (Ku) factor and (Ks) factor
• In upstream circuit level depend on normal load motor current
Maximum load current: IB
 Factor of maximum utilization (ku)

• In an industrial installation this factor may be estimated on an

average at 0.75 for motors.
 Diversity factor - Coincidence factor (ks)

• The determination of ks factors is the responsibility of the designer,

since it requires a detailed knowledge of the installation and the
conditions in which the individual circuits are to be exploited.
• For this reason, it is not possible to give precise values for general
application.
Rated Diversity Factor for distribution switchboards
Diversity factor according to circuit function
 Maximum permissible current: Iz

Current carrying capacity Iz is the maximum permissible that the

cabling for the circuit can carry indefinitely, without reducing its normal
life expectancy
 Overcurrent protection principles

• Acting to cut-off the current in a time shorter than that given by the
I2t characteristic of the circuit cabling
• But allowing the maximum load current IB to flow indefinitely
Circuit protection by Circuit Barker
Circuit protection by Fuse
 General rules

• Its nominal current or its setting current In is greater than the

maximum load current IB but less than the maximum permissible
current Iz for the circuit, i.e. IB y In y Iz corresponding to zone “a” in
Fig. G6
• Its tripping current I2 “conventional” setting is less than 1.45 Iz which
corresponds to zone “b” in Fig. G6
Current levels
• ISC: 3-phase short-circuit current
• ISCB: rated 3-ph. short-circuit breaking current of the circuit breaker
• Ir (or Irth)[1]: regulated “nominal” current level
Cables Methods of Installation
Cables Methods of Installation
Maximum operating temperature:
 Correcting Cable sizes

• I'Z = IZ . k1 . K2
• k1, k2 = corrections factors
Copper Cable Table
Aluminum Cable Table
Ambient Air Temperature Correction Factor
Multiple Circuits Correction Factor (Unburied)
Multiple Circuits Correction Factor (Buried)
Maximum voltage drop limit
 Maximum voltage drop limit
• These voltage-drop limits refer to normal steady-state operating
conditions and do not apply at times of motor starting
• When voltage drops exceed the values shown in Fig. G27, larger
cables (wires) must be used to correct the condition.
 Maximum voltage drop limit
• The value of 8 %, while permitted, can lead to problems for motor
loads; for example:
• In general, satisfactory motor performance requires a voltage within ±5 % of
its rated nominal value in steady-state operation
• Starting current of a motor can be 5 to 7 times its full-load value (or even
higher).
• If an 8 % voltage drop occurs at full-load current, then a drop of 40 % or more
will occur during start-up. In such conditions the motor will either:
• Stall
• accelerate very slowly
Voltage Drop Table