Surge Protection for Complex Critical Electronic Facilities

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Surge Protection for Complex Critical Electronic
Facilities

• by
• Edward F. Roberts, FAA, USA
• Ian Atkins, Conwal, USA
• Ben Wibisono, Conwal, USA

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Abstract

• The use of surge protective devices (SPDs) to
  protect the service entrance of an FAAs complex
  and critical facility has become commonplace.
• There are loopholes in the existing consensus SPD
  standards.
• FAA is developing a set of independent standards
  that define the performance of SPDs.

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FAA Experience

• SPD requirements have existed in the FAA
  standards for years.
• Procurement and installation of SPDs vary widely.
• No SPD performance standard exists in the USA
  (UL-1449 is a safety standard, IEEE Std
  C62.45-1992 provides guidance).
• Difficult to compare performance claims from SPD
  manufacturers based on consensus standards.

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Current FAA Power Protection Scheme

• Facility entrance surge protection
• Certain performance requirements are specified
• Definitive coordination scheme is not specified
• Branch and distribution panel surge protection
• MCOV gt facility entrance surge protection
• Equipment entrance protection
• MCOV gt branch or distribution panel surge
  protection

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New Era Power Protection Scheme
New standard is based on characteristic impedance
during surge events
Slope Impedances for Surge Protective Device
Categories
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New Era Power Protection Scheme

• Category C
• Has the flattest slope, lowest MCOV
• Will absorb the greatest energy levels from surge
  entering facility
• Category B
• Slope is greater than category C, MCOV is the
  same as or greater than category C
• Higher impedance
• Coordination is achieved through impedance
  characteristics and physical distance

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New Era Power Protection Scheme

• Category A
• Has the steepest slope, highest MCOV
• Coordination is achieved through impedance
  characteristics and physical distance

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FAA Solutions

• Develop test methodologies to assure compliance
  with the upcoming FAA SPD standard
• New FAA SPD standard will specify performance
  (this is beyond UL-1449 second edition and IEEE
  C62.41)
• Lifetime test by performing repetitive tests at
  specified intervals
• Calculated values will not be accepted

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Summary

• Existing consensus standards do not provide
  performance baseline
• Inadequate guidance in existing consensus
  standards for SPD coordination
• FAA is developing an SPD standard that will
  provide unified system of integrated surge
  protection for facilities
• Testing methodology will be specified to ensure
  performance and compliance

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