It has become difficult for the electric equipment to handle the voltage fluctuations that happen due to technological advancement and sensitive components used in its manufacturing. Electric equipment stops functioning or malfunctions due to power surge occurrences. Performing daily operations rely on the proper functioning of this electric and electronic equipment. Surges are everyday events that are not detected or sensed before they happen without any warning sign.
What We Cover in Detail in This Session Is the Effect of Surges on the Electric Devices and the Ways With Which We Can Prevent Damages:
1. Dependence on the Power Quality:
Adequate and quality power can have a significant influence on the reliability of connected devices and appliances. The growing dependency on the electric power supply has become more important today and has become a primary concern. So, naturally, it is paramount that the transmission and distribution system meets the performance standard and criteria that will ensure power quality remains uninterrupted and reliable. Apart from these, the power quality depends on proper protection technology i.e. surge protection device connected in the facility.
2. Voltage Transients:
Haven’t people noticed the strange flickering lights or the frequent tripping off of the breakers and fuses? Ever thought of why and how this occurs? This is primarily due to the voltage fluctuations in the electric network or the grid. If you have incorporated specific and multiple safety installations, these occurrences won’t create any real issues for the structure and the appliances inside. Power outages or even brief interruptions are unintended and are not uncommon. Their events can never be ruled out as they happen without any warning sign causing damages to life and property.
The Causes of Voltage Transients Are Numerous:
- Lighting Strikes: Direct lighting is the downpour of a high bolt of energy that is unbearable and above every appliance’s minimum threshold voltage level.
- Power Overload: Unbearable current passing within the electric network.
- Short Circuits: Happens when the current paves its path through an unintended course causing electric shocks and fires.
- Unwanted voltage ingress through transmission lines, communication lines or data lines which are indirect lighting effects.
Possibility of Surges/ Voltage Fluctuations Affecting the Normal Functioning of Electrical Devices:
Our homes have electric devices designed to work at a low voltage which works on the grid delivering 230 volts. The manufacturer of each electric device has set limits on the maximum operating voltage above which the appliance can get damaged or malfunction. To operate correctly and to serve purpose till prescribed lifetime, they need to enable only the entry of threshold voltage within them and earth the excess voltage if it occurs. Due to these fault occurrences, devices malfunction or their lives shortened, and leads, wires, cables, etc can get damaged. Technological advancements have made certain appliances more sensitive to such voltage fluctuations due to their micro components, coils, etc.
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What Protection Measures Can Be Implemented Against These Potential Damages?
- There is a vital requirement of appropriate wiring and cabling utilizing Flame Retardant Low Smoke cables for the entire facility and appliances.
- Proper lighting risk analysis of the area should be done. Then a structural lightning protection system must be adopted, including the usage of Air terminal network, with the down conductor, bonding techniques, maintenance-free earthing termination system as per the international standards/IEC 62305 & National Building Code (NBC 2016).
- The structure can be sufficiently protected with proper system designing, i.e., structural protection, selection of surge protection devices is equally essential for the internal safety of electric and electronic devices.
- Choose maintenance-free earthing for proper dissipation of fault current, which is the latest technology installed after determining and working on Soil measurement and enhancement, Fault current calculation and Earthing grid designing using the most acceptable software – CDEGS tool.