MAXIMUM ELECTRICAL SAFETY
WITH SUPERINTEND®

Superintend® is the solution when highest possible electrical integrity is required.

Superintend® continuously monitors the entire electrical system recording all fault current fluctuations and fault current levels.

This is a new ON-LINE technique to monitor the condition of critical Electrical system. Some of the benefits Superintend ON-LINE Monitoring System offers are:
- Better fire and person safety
- Predictable insulation faults
- Improved Power Quality
- Increased electrical reliability
- Ensures liabilities when installing or maintaining Electrical system


FAULTS IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

A grounded electrical system should be continuously supervised to detect faults and generate alarms for the following:

  • insulation damage or degradation
  • wiring errors
  • neutral-to-ground faults
  • connection of defective devices
  • leakage currents insufficient to blow a fuse or trip a circuit breaker

BY CONTINUOUS SUPERINTEND® MONITORING ALSO INTERMITTED SYSTEM FAULTS ARE DETECTED.


POWER QUALITY PROBLEMS

What is ground fault current?

In a "clean" grounded Electrical System the returning current flows through the neutral conductor (N) or the phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) back to the zero point of the distribution transformer). As faults occur in the electrical system the neutral conductor has a partial or complete path to the grounding conductor (GND) and the conductive parts of the building (point A shown on figure).

Nonlinear loads and harmonics could generate high neutral currents ( from some amperes to hundreds of amperes). This returning current is divided between the neutral conductor (IN), grounding conductor and the conductive parts of a building (IG1) according to their impedance. The fault current consists of all the partial currents which return the zero point of the distribution transformer (IG1 + Id) via conductive paths other from the neutral or phase conductors of the network.

Generation of fault currents in a Electrical System

The fault current flowing in a grounding conductor generates potential differences between devices which are connected to the Electrical System (Example in the figure, units D1 and D2). This causes errors in interactive operations of these devices. The returning current in the conductive structures generates asymmetrical current loops and consequently stray magnetic fields. High ground currents are increasing fire hazards and personal safety hazards.


CONTINUOUS MONITORING
OF ELECTRICAL INSULATION

The leakage current of a new electrical device initially varies from few milliamperes to hundreds of milliamperes. Over time leakage current increases because the insulation begins to degrade.

By continuous monitoring of leakage current weakened insulation can be identified before the circuit breaker trips and production is shut down.

Measuring and tracking of leakage current can be easily done with advantageous Superintend Ground Fault Monitoring equipment.

All insulation ages over time. Degradation is accelerated by:

• Vibration
• High temperature
• Humidity
• Voltage spikes
• Pollution
• Starting peak
current and forces


HOW IT WORKS?
Ground Fault Monitoring System

With the Monitoring Unit current is measured and alarm threshold and time delay are set.

Only a small leakage current flows through the insulation impedance to ground when there is no fault in the electrical system. The leakage current is normally from a few milliamps to several hundred milliamps. Leakage current depends on the size of the electrical system.

If a fault appears, part of the current goes to the grounding conductor or the conductive parts of a building and the current leakage increases to a multiple value, forming a so called fault current.

How it works

Leakage current is measured by a sensitive sum current transformer. Phase and neutral conductors of electrical system go through the sum current transformer. If the electrical system has a separate grounding conductor it has to stay outside the sum current transformer. Sum current transformers measure instantaneous sum current. If there is a leakage to the ground, the sum current transformer detects current difference.