Why Protective Device Coordination Is Essential for a Secure and Reliable Power System

1. Why Protective Device Coordination Is Essential for a Secure and Reliable Power System To keep electrical power systems functioning optimally, it's crucial to address their susceptibility to electrical faults. One approach is to determine the adjustable settings of circuit breakers and relay circuits. In residential settings, electricians usually select circuit breakers or fuses by applying a safety factor to the expected maximum load current on the circuit. However, commercial and industrial settings require more detailed and thorough studies called protective device coordination. These studies prevent electrical hazards, ensure equipment and personnel safety, and are essential both before and during the operation of the power system. Protective device coordination studies involveanalyzing short circuits and arc flash hazards. They estimate electrical fault currents and compare them to protective devices' ratings to ensure they can withstand or break the fault currents while operating electrical circuits. Additionally, they assist in selecting the proper conductors, transformers, motors, and generators. Understanding the importance of protection coordination Protective device coordination identifies the best settings for fuses, circuit breakers, protective relays, and other devices. It ensures the safer generation and breaking of a circuit within integrated power systems in case of unsafe electrical conditions, such as short circuits or an overload. Through protection coordination, you can overcome challenges like frequent unnecessary shutdowns, tripping and delayed protection devices, and electrical fires. Some situations will also require protection coordination, like when an electrocution occurs, and you’re unsure about having adequate protection systems. It’s also recommended when a single failure triggers a chain reaction of more failures, and your protection system is not designed per OSHA, NFPA, NEC, or ISO standards. Conclusion Protection coordination ensures the utmost safety of your personnel and equipment by preventing electrical fires and faults. It’s highly recommended when interconnecting conventional generators, renewable energy resources, and DERs with the main grid.

2. However, you don’t have to do it on your own because there are engineering consultants who can help you with this. Perform an industrial safety audit now. Choose Elegrow Technology to help with protective device coordination. Their engineering consultants have extensive experience in conducting root cause analyses and industrial safety audits, making them effective at protection coordination. Contact Elegrow Technology to know how they conduct their studies and assessments.