NGRM

Variable-speed drives and pulsing ground-fault location

Variable-frequency drive and built-in ground-fault protection

Adjustable-speed drives often include a ground-fault protection function. However, in most cases the protection is not compatible with high-resistance-grounded (HRG) systems. The protection is often not adjustable to a value below the neutral-grounding-resistor (NGR) let-through current rating.

When this is the case, and ground-fault detection is a requirement of the system design, a supplemental ground-fault-protection device, typically a residual-current monitor, must be used.

Current transformer location for variable-frequency drive ground-fault protection

AC/DC ground-fault protection for VFD’s

Variable-speed drives include semiconductor components such as diodes and IGBT’s, and have a dc-bus section. A ground fault in any of these elements is a dc ground fault.  VFD’s are sometimes operated at very low speeds, and therefore a low output frequency, which will also be the fundamental frequency of a ground fault.  

Typical residual-current-type ground-fault monitors cannot detect a low-frequency or DC ground fault—they are insensitive frequencies below 20 or 30 Hz. A system with VFD’s should include ground-fault detectors capable of low-frequency and DC fault detection. Specialized residual current relays using specialized current transformers are available to perform this function.

The effect of harmonics from VFD’s on ground-fault protection

Variable-speed drives use semiconductor components to rectify and invert voltage and current. To create an AC output, the internal DC voltage is rapidly switched. This results in high-frequency voltage components which drive current through distributed system capacitance to ground—current that is not the result of a ground fault.  

Simple broad-band-sensitive ground-fault detectors are fooled by these high-frequency signals and can falsely indicate non-existent ground faults if not set to a high value. This is easily avoided by using residual-current monitors that employ low- or band-pass filters that ignore the high-frequency noise.

What is a Pulsing Ground-Fault Location System?

In a low-voltage (typically 600 V or less) high-resistance-grounded (HRG) electrical power system, ground-fault current is limited to a low-enough level that the system need not be immediately tripped.

When configured as a pulsing system, the ground fault is located with the use of a hand-held clip-on ammeter.  When applied upstream of the fault, the ammeter displays fault current.  When not upstream of the fault, the meter can display leakage current.  To differentiate between these readings, the pulsing circuit is enabled and “pulses” the ground-fault current, which is easily distinguished from charging current when observing the ammeter.

Bender can supply components such as the NGRM700 Neutral-Grounding-Resistor Monitor, which has a pulse-control function, and can supply a complete HRG system complete with pulsing control and ammeter.

Products

Neutral Grounding Resistance (NGR) Monitoring

LINETRAXX® NGRM700

The advanced Neutral Grounding Resistor Monitor for sophisticated applications

Measuring and monitoring relays

RC48C
RC48C

Ground-fault/ground-continuity monitor

Neutral Grounding Resistance (NGR) Monitoring

LINETRAXX® NGRM700

The advanced Neutral Grounding Resistor Monitor for sophisticated applications

Details

Measuring and monitoring relays

RC48C
RC48C

Ground-fault/ground-continuity monitor

Details
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