Overcurrent Protection for Electric Utility Systems
In Overcurrent Protection for Electric Utility Systems, you'll learn ...
- An approach for determining the appropriate settings for protection devices in typical environments, such as urban vs. rural service areas
- How to calculate fault current for the four possible types of fault
- Guidance on determining the location, type and size of sectionalizing devices for electric distribution systems
- Guidelines for overcurrent protection of substations, overhead lines and underground lines
Overview
This course reviews the basics of overcurrent protection for electric distribution systems. The course discusses sectionalizing philosophy, how to calculate fault currents, the types and operation of different protective devices, and other considerations for designing an effective protective scheme.
Within the arena of sectionalizing, there are many aspects of the subject that are established, quantifiable, and part of national standards. Included in this body of information are specific time-current characteristics of fuses and relays, the methods of calculations for available short-circuit current, and the standard damage points for distribution transformers. There are also many aspects of sectionalizing that are more subjective, debatable, and influenced by experience. These include “fuse save” versus “fuse blow,” coordination margins, and transformer protection practices. This reflects the idea that system protection is partly science and partly art.
This course is suitable for engineers who are interested in learning more about the science and, to some extent, the art of sectionalizing.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Explain coordination philosophies that enhance electric-distribution-system reliability.
- Identify the types of faults that occur on distribution systems.
- Distinguish the four possible fault types.
- Calculate fault currents.
- Determine per-unit values.
- Explain the operation of oil circuit reclosers.
- Describe the benefits of an automatic sectionalizer.
- Compare the benefits and drawbacks of using fused cutouts.
- Apply different types of sectionalizing equipment to distribution-system protection.
- Design a simple protective scheme for a distribution system.
Certificate of Completion
You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 35 questions. PDH credits are not awarded until the course is completed and quiz is passed.
| This course is applicable to professional engineers in: | ||
| Alabama (P.E.) | Alaska (P.E.) | Arkansas (P.E.) |
| Delaware (P.E.) | District of Columbia (P.E.) | Florida (P.E. Area of Practice) |
| Georgia (P.E.) | Idaho (P.E.) | Illinois (P.E.) |
| Illinois (S.E.) | Indiana (P.E.) | Iowa (P.E.) |
| Kansas (P.E.) | Kentucky (P.E.) | Louisiana (P.E.) |
| Maine (P.E.) | Maryland (P.E.) | Michigan (P.E.) |
| Minnesota (P.E.) | Mississippi (P.E.) | Missouri (P.E.) |
| Montana (P.E.) | Nebraska (P.E.) | Nevada (P.E.) |
| New Hampshire (P.E.) | New Jersey (P.E.) | New Mexico (P.E.) |
| New York (P.E.) | North Carolina (P.E.) | North Dakota (P.E.) |
| Ohio (P.E. Self-Paced) | Oklahoma (P.E.) | Oregon (P.E.) |
| Pennsylvania (P.E.) | South Carolina (P.E.) | South Dakota (P.E.) |
| Tennessee (P.E.) | Texas (P.E.) | Utah (P.E.) |
| Vermont (P.E.) | Virginia (P.E.) | West Virginia (P.E.) |
| Wisconsin (P.E.) | Wyoming (P.E.) | |

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