April 25, 2005—The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has begun work on a new standard for surge voltage protection in ac rotating machinery, the organization says. It also began revisions to existing standards for surge protection in power plants, motor control centers in nuclear power plants and pad-mounted transformers.
The IEEE began to develop IEEE PC62.21.1(TM), “Recommended Practice for the Application of Surge Voltage Protective Equipment on AC Rotating Machinery Rated 1000 V or Greater and Less than 30 kV, Generators and Single-Turn Coil Motors”. This new standard will provide guidance in selecting and applying surge protective devices to protect or extend the life of rotating generators, both with and without generator circuit breakers, as well of single-turn coil motors.
The revision will accommodate a number of end-use changes, such as the trend toward increasing transformer size from 2.5 MVA to 5 MVA. This standard covers connectors, bushings and terminal arrangements for radial or loop-feed systems in these transformers, which are most often found in step-down service from an underground primary cable supply.
The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized standards-setting body, develops consensus standards through an open process that brings diverse parts of an industry together. For information on IEEE-SA see the Web site.
