Protection of Drive Frequency Converters Against Sudden Overvoltage
18 December 2016
How Is Protection Provided Against Surges Coming from the Ground?
6 February 2017
Spark Gap, EPZ series isolated spark impulse damping surge arresters, generally known as SPARK GAP ARRESTERS, have been developed to prevent the formation of unsafe potential changes between adjacent metallic structures or surfaces during lightning discharges. They are also of serious importance in bringing external lightning protection systems to equipotential. Spark Gap arresters are obtained with an internal voltage switching component that operates to ensure equipotential bonding when a predetermined spark-voltage is reached, thus ensuring that damage to equipment is prevented or unsafe conditions for personnel are eliminated.
EPZ has been developed for use in applications such as lightning protection grounding, as well as establishing conditions where, for example, a “clean” signal ground cannot be directly connected to a “dirty” power system ground. At the same time, their use is important in the petrochemical industry, as direct or nearby lightning discharges or ground faults of nearby power transmission lines can cause large potential gradients between these flanges.
It has found a wide area of application in the protection of oil and gas pipeline insulating flanges. EPZ is available in a hermetically sealed version for direct EXPROOF applications. Ex-Proof-ATEX approval certificate is also available for use in hazardous locations. Surge protection devices for Ex certified Data / signal lines are also available. These devices have been developed to meet the requirements of EN 50164-3 Lightning Protection Components (LPC) – Requirements for Isolating Spark Gaps and IEC 62561-3 Ex requirements. The EPZ 100 series of Iskra Zascite _Raycap LV Surge Arrester systems is an important product series used in this regard. Using these products with 100KA Discharge capacity will prevent explosion and damage to electrical devices.
