Low-Voltage Switchgear enhances arc-flash protection.January 25, 2010 -
Promoting system reliability and arc flash protection, AKD-20 utilizes EntelliGuard® G low-voltage circuit breakers, available from 800-5,000 A with fault ratings up to 150 kAIC, and EntelliGuard TU Trip Unit. Optimized footprint can use 22, 30, or 38 in. section sizes when possible, and lack of ventilation openings protects operators from vented hot ionized gases. Also included, ZSI system lets multiple breakers protect their zones instantaneously while maintaining full selectivity.
(Archive News Story - Products mentioned in this Archive News Story may or may not be available from the manufacturer.)
Original Press release
GE Co., GE Consumer Products
Appliance Park
Louisville, KY, 40225
USA
GE's New AKD-20 Low-Voltage Switchgear with EntelliGuard® Breaker-Trip Unit Enhances Arc-Flash Protection without Sacrificing Selectivity
PLAINVILLE, CT - That new twinkle in the eyes of switchgear end-users, consultants and specifiers-people with major concerns or oversight of mission-critical electrical loads-may be elation over the new AKD-20 Low-Voltage Switchgear from GE Consumer & Industrial's Electrical Distribution business. It is GE's answer to the widely held assumption held by many oil, gas and commercial construction professionals that greater arc-flash protection comes at the expense of selectivity.
Utilizing the new EntelliGuard® G low voltage circuit breakers, available from 800A to 5000A with fault ratings up to 150kAIC, and the new EntelliGuard® TU Trip Unit, AKD-20 Low-Voltage Switchgear enhances system reliability and arc flash protection, while reducing the equipment's installation footprint.
'GE's ability to listen to customers and our commitment to innovation are at the heart of this breakthrough,' says Marty Trivette, product manager, GE Consumer & Industrial. 'Our AKD-20 Low-Voltage Switchgear optimizes arc-flash protection and selectivity. It's not one or the other. You get both.'
Arc-Flash Protection: One Size Does Not Fit All
The AKD-20 Low-Voltage Switchgear includes an optimized footprint that uses smaller section sizes when possible: 22', 30' or 38' widths. Since the breaker compartment doors have no ventilation openings, operators are protected from hot ionized gases vented by the breaker during an arc flash incident. AKD-20 Low-Voltage Switchgear integrates a superior bus system to offer different levels of protection, while insulated and isolated bus makes maintenance procedures touch friendly to reduce the risk of arc flash.
Optional safety shutters protect operators from accidental contact with live conductors when the breaker is withdrawn. Easy access to equipment compartments simplifies maintenance of the breaker cubicle and control circuit elements, as well as inspection of the bolted bus connections.
A true closed-door draw out construction is standard with all AKD-20 equipment. The breaker compartment doors remain stationary and closed while the breaker is racked out from the connect position, through test, to the disconnect position. Doors are secured with rugged one-quarter turn latches.
The EntelliGuard® Breaker-Trip Unit System can reduce the risk of the arc flash hazard with the optional Reduced Energy Let-through (RELT) mode, with positive feedback included as standard. RELT is an alternate, or lower, Instantaneous Pick Up setting that causes the circuit breaker to operate and clear faster in the event of an incident during live maintenance. The faster breaker response and shorter clearing time reduces the incident energy and the system protects at HRC1 or 2 for available fault currents as high as 100kA.
Utilizing the industry's most advanced Zone Selective Interlocking (ZSI) system-allowing multiple breakers to protect their zones instantaneously while maintaining full selectivity-the EntelliGuard® G Circuit Breaker with EntelliGuard® TU Trip Unit provides short time, ground fault and instantaneous selectivity by creating the curve shape that best suits system needs. An Extended Range Instantaneous algorithm provides instantaneous protection simultaneously across the entire bandwidth for improved selectivity to 100,000A. The EntelliGuard® TU trip unit can be used as a direct replacement for installed MicroVersaTrip® (MVT) and Power+® , trip units on four previous generations of North American stored energy circuit breakers-Power Break I® ,Power Break II, AKR and WavePro®.
Simple Maintenance
The EntelliGuard® TU Trip Unit offers optional power, energy and reactive power metering, harmonics and waveform capture along with flexible serial communications via Modbus RTU or Profibus. Integrating directly into GE's EnerVista® Power Management System, flexible programmable inputs are useful for load shedding, ground fault alarm and trip indication. Set up is simple with a large, easy-to-see, blacklit LCD screen with battery backup.
Along with delivering optimal ZSI and RELT, the AKD-20 low-voltage switchgear, delivers additional arc-flash protection options:
Remote racking device that allows the operator or electrician to move the breaker anywhere between the 'disconnect' and 'connect' positions from outside the arc flash boundary;
Optional infrared (IR) scanning windows facilitate the use of IR camera for thermally scanning cable terminations; and
An array of safety interlock and padlocking features are available to accommodate any type of lockout-tagout procedures.
The EntelliGuard® G circuit breaker and EntelliGuard® TU trip unit meets all applicable UL, ANSI, NEMA, IEC and CSA standards.
EnerVista®, EntelliGuard®, MicroVersaTrip® (MVT), Power+®, Power Break I®, ProTrip(TM) and WavePro® are registered trademarks of The General Electric Company.
GE Consumer & Industrial spans the globe as an industry leader in major appliance, lighting and integrated industrial equipment, systems and services. Providing solutions for commercial, industrial and residential use in more than 100 countries, GE Consumer & Industrial uses innovative technologies and "ecomagination," a GE initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that help customers and consumers meet pressing environmental challenges, to deliver comfort, convenience and electrical protection and control. General Electric (NYSE: GE) brings imagination to work, selling products under the Monogram®, Profile(TM), GE®, Hotpoint®, SmartWater(TM), Reveal® and Energy Smart(TM) consumer brands, and Entellisys® industrial brand. For more information, consumers may visit www.ge.com.
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