PROTECTION AGAINST OVERVOLTAGES OF LOW VOLTAGE

ELECTRIC APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENTS A USERS' PRIORITY

PROTECIA LA SUPRATENSIUNI A APARATELOR I
ECHIPAMENTELOR ELECTRICE DE JOAS TENSIUNE
O PRIORITATE CARE SE IMPUNE PENTRU UTILIZATORI
Flavius Dan URIANU

Doru VTU

Flaviu Mihai FRIGUR-ILIASA

Universitatea "Politehnica" din Timioara

Facultatea de Electrotehnic, Catedra de Electroenergetic
Tel-Fax: +40 (0)256 403413, e-mail: surianu@et.utt.ro, e-mail: doru@et.utt.ro, e-mail: flaviu@et.utt.ro

Rezumat: Lucrarea are drept scop stimularea utilizatorilor de

energie electric din Romnia n vederea dezvoltrii unei politici
europene privind protecia instalaiilor, echipamentelor i aparatelor electrice de joas tensiune la supratensiuni. n acest sens, pe
lng o scurt analiz comparativ a sistemelor de protecie la
supratensiuni, la nivelul de joas tensiune, se prezint un concept
romnesc privind realizarea unor module de protecie la supratensiuni echipate cu varistoare ZnO, precum i ncercri experimentale originale, care demonstreaz calitatea i utilitatea acestor
module de protecie la supratensiuni

Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to stimulate the power

users in Romania to develop a European policy concerning the
protection against overvoltages of low voltage electric installations,
equipments and apparatus. In this respect, besides a short
comparative analysis of the protecting system, there have been
presented a Romanian concept concerning the realization of
protecting modules equipped with ZnO varistors and original
experiments which demonstrate their high quality and usefulness.

1. Introducere
Dezvoltarea i diversificarea receptoarelor i consumatorilor electrici la nivelul de joas tensiune i extinderea,
n consecin, a reelelor electrice de distribuie de joas
tensiune au impus, n ultimul timp, att intensificarea studiilor privind asigurarea calitii energiei electrice de ctre
furnizorii acesteia, ct i gsirea unor soluii tehnice moderne
de protecie a acestor echipamente fa de anumite perturbaii electromagetice care pot s apar pe cile de alimentare cu energie electric.
Avnd n vedere c protecia aparatelor i echipamentelor
de joas tensiune la supracureni este, practic, rezolvat, cercetrile sunt axate, n prezent, pe obinerea unor sisteme de
protecie la supratensiuni, care s rs-pund cerinelor de calitate tot mai severe impuse de anumii consumatori electrici
moderni, ca: tehnica de calcul, aparaturta electronic de msur
i control, aparatura electronic medical, aparatura audiovideo, consumatorii electrocasnici, electronica de putere etc.
Buna funcionare a unor astfel de echipamente, dar i preul
lor de cost, relativ ridicat, justific aceste cercetri.
Sistemele de protecie la supratensiuni care vizeaz direct
consumatorii electrici sunt destinate s funcioneze la joas
tensiune n instalaiile de distribuie a energiei electrice din
cldiri, avnd rolul de a completa proteciile la supratensiuni
existente n reelele de alimentare. Se obine astfel o coordonare i o selectivitate a proteciilor consumatorilor electrici.
Dei la nivel european i chiar mondial, exist, n prezent,
o politic clar privind protecia la supratensiuni a aparaturii i
echipamentelor de joas tensiune, n Romnia, datorit lipsei

1. Introduction
The development and diversification of low voltage
electric receivers and consumers and the consecutive
expansion of low voltage electric distribution networks have
recently imposed the intensification of studies concerning
suppliers' preoccupation for insuring high quality power
and finding modern technical solutions for protecting these
equipments against certain electromagnetic disturbances
which can appear in the power supply.
Taking into account the fact that the protection of low
voltage apparatus and equipments against overcurrents is
practically solved, researches are now directed towards
getting protecting systems against overvoltages which can
answer the more and more rigorous quality requirements
imposed by modern electric consumers such as : IT,
electronic apparatus for measurements and control,
medical electronic apparatus, home consumers, audiovideo apparatus power electronics, etc. The users' interest
in these equipments working efficiently, as well as their
relatively high cost price justify the researches.
The protecting systems against overvoltages which
envisage directly the electric consumers are meant to
work at low voltages in power supply installations in
buildings, having the role of completing the already
existing ones. This way co-ordination and selectivity of
protections have been realized.
Although all over the world there is a clear policy
concerning protection against overvoltages of low
voltage apparatus and equipments, in Romania, due to

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unor standarde care s impun prezena unor sisteme de protecie la supratensiuni la nivelul consumatorilor electrici,
aceast politic este, practic, inexistent, lipsind totodat i
cultura tehnic a utilizatorilor fa de necesitatea i oportunitatea folosirii acestor sisteme de protecie. Lucrarea i propune s prezinte cteva informaii utile, att agenilor economici, ct i altor persoane interesate, cu privire la utilizarea
sistemelor de protecie la supratensiuni la joas tensiune.
Sistemele de protecie la supratensiuni care se realizeaz la scar mondial, utilizeaz tot mai mult rezistene
variabile pe baz de oxizi metalici, cunoscute sub numele
de varistoare, deoarece ele prezint o serie de avantaje
fa de alte astfel de sisteme de protecie.

the lack of standards requiring the presence of such

protecting systems, this policy is practically absent,it
also implying the lack of users' technical culture in the
field. That is why this paper intends to present some
useful information for both economic agents and
common people who may be interested in the use of
such protecting systems.
The protecting systems against overvoltages produced
all over the world make more and more use of variable
resistors based on metal oxides known under the name of
varistors as they present a series of advantages when
compared with other similar protecting systems.

2. Analiz comparativ a sistemelor de protecie la

supratensiuni
Orice sistem de protecie la supratensiuni trebuie s
ndeplineasc urmtoarele cerine: s nu permit distrugerea
izolaiei echipamentului electric protejat; s evite ntreruperile accidentale n alimentarea cu energie electric, s
limiteze riscul de electrocutare datorit creterii potenialului
electric al anumitor pri ale echipamentului, s nu permit
apariia unor incendii din cauza amorsrii unor arcuri
electrice sau a supranclzirii echipamentului electric sau
a cilor sale de alimentare.
De la simplu, la complex, sistemele de protecie la
supratensiuni se grupeaz n: paratrznete, conductoare de
gard, conectarea neutrului reelelor electrice la pmnt
printr-un rezistor, protecii serie de tip filtre LC,
disjunctoare etc. i protecii paralel de tip eclatoare, diode
n avalan i varistoare.
Dintre acestea, proteciile paralel sunt cele care prezint
nalt eficien n protejarea instalaiilor i echipamentelor
electrice mpotriva supratensiunilor, indiferente de natura
acestora: atmosferice sau interne. Aceste protecii creeaz, n
principiu, o legtur tranzitorie de impedan foarte mic ntre
instalaia de protejat i pmnt, care este eficient pe o durat
relativ scurt de timp, dar suficient pentru ca supratensiunile
tranzitorii produse de descrcrile atmosferice directe sau
indirecte, respectiv cele cauzate de manevrele din reelele
electrice, s fie limitate la o valoare inferioar nivelului de
protecie pe care l asigur izolaia instalaiei respective.
Din categoria proteciilor paralel utilizate n domeniul
electroenergeticii fac parte: eclatoarele, descrctoarele cu
coarne, descrctoarele tubulare cu fibr, descrctoarele cu
gaze i descrctoarele cu rezisten variabil (DRV), care la
rndul lor, pot fi: cu carbur de siliciu (SiC), cu diode Zenner
cu seleniu sau cu siliciu, cu diode cu siliciu i ceramici semiconductoare cu oxid de zinc (ZnO) sau cu ali oxizi metalici.
O comparaie ntre proprietile acestor dispozitive de
protecie la supratensiuni este prezentat n Tabelul 1.
Datorit avantajelor pe care le prezint, cele mai utilizate
dispozitive de protecie sunt, n prezent, cele pe baz de ceramici cu ZnO, denumite varistoare ZnO. Folosite la nceput
n construcia DRV-urilor pentru nalt i medie tensiune,
ele au ctigat teren, n ultimul timp i n domeniul de joas
tensiune, n scopul realizrii echipamentelor de protecie la
supratensiuni pentru tehnica de calcul, aparatura electronic
medical, aparatele electrocasnice i cele de climatizare etc.

2. Comparative analysis of protecting systems against

overvoltages
Any protecting system must fulfill the following
requirements: not to allow the destruction of the isolation
of the protected electric equipment, to avoid accidental
interruptions in the power supply, to limit the risk of
electrocution due to the increase in the electric potential
of some parts of the equipment, not to allow the
apparition of fire because of the priming of some electric
arcs or the over-heating of the electric equipment or of its
power supply.
From simple to complex, the protecting systems against
overvoltages are grouped in lightning rods, protecting
conductors, LC series protections, automatic circuit breakers
and spark gap parallel protections, avalanche diodes and
varistors.
Among these, parallel protections are the ones which
prove high efficiency for protecting electric installations
and equipments against overvoltages, irrespective of their
atmospheric or internal nature. These protections, as a
rule, make a transitory connection of very low impedance
between the installation to be protected and earth , which
is effective for a relatively short period of time, but one
long enough for the transitory overvoltages produced by
the direct or indirect atmospheric discharges, respectively
the ones caused by the manoeuvres in the electric
networks to be limited by a value inferior to the level of
protection that the isolation of the installation provides.
The category of parallel protections used in power
systems include spark gaps, horn dischargers, tubular
fibre dischargers, gas dischargers and dischargers with
variable resistance (DRV), which, in their turn, may be
Silicon Carbon, (SiC), with Zenner selenium diode or
with silicon, with silicon diodes and semi-conductor
ceramics, with zinc oxides or with other metal oxides.
A comparison between the properties of these protecting
devices have been presented in Table 1.
Due to the advantages they present, the most frequently
used protecting devices are the ones made of ceramics and
ZnO, called ZnO varistors. First used in the realization
of DRV for high and medium voltage, they have recently
been used in the field of low voltage, too for realizing
the protecting equipments against overvoltages in IT,
electronic medical apparatus, electric home apparatus,
air-conditioning, etc.

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465

Table 1. Comparison between the properties of parallel protecting devices against overvoltages
Devices
Properties
Leakage current
Power absorption capacity
Un
Response time
Scale of capacities
Cost price
Complexity

Spark gap

DRV with SiC

Zenner diode with Si

ZnO Ceramics

zero

high

medium

low

high

low

low

High

slow (10-6 s)
1 10pF
low
reduced

medium (<10-8 s)
high
high
medium and high
voltage in power
circuits

medium (<10-8 s)
high
high

rapid (<10-9 s)
12 F 50 F
Medium
Medium

low voltage

low, medium and high voltage

Application fields

low and medium

voltage

Advantages

high capacity of
current passage

non-linear characteristic, high

non-linear characteristic,
capacity of power absorption,
reduced response time, small
much reduced response
losses in permanent regime
capacity, Fiabilitate

Safety

big losses in
long response time,
permanent service,
big losses in
reduced thermal
permanent regime
stability

Disadvantages

unipolar element, reduced

power absorption capacity,
high price

losses in permanent regime

increase in temperature

Tabelul 1. Comparaie ntre proprietile dispozitivelor paralel de protecie la supratensiuni

Dispozitiv
Proprieti
Curent de scurgere la Un
Capacitate de absorbie a
energiei
Timp de rspuns
Gama de capacitate
Pre de cost
Complexitate

Eclator

DRV cu SiC

Diod Zenner cu Si

Ceramici pe baz de ZnO

nul

ridicat

mediu

sczut

ridicat

sczut

sczut

ridicat

lent (10-6 s)
1-10 pF
sczut
redus

mediu (<10-8 s)
mare
ridicat
medie i nalt
tensiune, la circuite
de for

mediu (<10-8 s)
mare
ridicat

rapid (<10-9 s)
12 F 50 F
mediu
medie

joas tensiune

Joas, medie i nalt tensiune

Domenii de aplicare

joas i medie
tensiune

Avantaje

capacitate mare de
trecere a curentului

Dezavantaje

Timp mare de
rspuns; pierderi
mari n regim
permanent

fiabilitate

caracteristic foarte
caracteristic foarte neliniar;
neliniar;timp de rspuns
capacitate foarte mare de
redus;pierderi slabe n regim absorbie a energiei; timp de
permanent
rspuns foarte redus; fiabilitate

pierderi mari n
Element unipolar; capacitate
serviciu permanent;
Pierderile n regim permanent
redus de absorbie a
stabilitate termic
cresc cu temperatura
energiei; pre ridicat
redus

3. Un concept romnesc privind realizarea modulelor

de protecie echipate cu varistoare ZnO de joas
tensiune
Pentru protecia la supratensiuni a instalaiilor i echipamentelor electrice de joas tensiune, varistoarele ZnO
nu sunt utilizate singure, ci mpreun cu alte dispozitive
electronice, formnd, mpreun, un ansamblu cunoscut
sub numele de modul de protecie la supratensiuni.
n principiu, un astfel de modul de protecie cuprinde:
unul sau dou varistoare, cu rolul de a absorbi energia
electromagnetic a ocului de tensiune, pe care o transform rapid n cldur disipat, apoi, n mediul ambiant;
un descrctor cu gaz, avnd rolul de a deconecta
varistorul la funcionarea instalaiei protejate n regim
de serviciu i de a fixa valoarea tensiunii de amorsare a
varistorului n cazul apariiei supratensiunilor de durat;

3. A Romanian concept concerning the realization of

protecting modules equipped with low voltage ZnO
varistors
For protecting the low voltage electric installations
and equipments against overvoltages ZnO varistors are
not used alone but together with other electronic devices,
forming a unit known under the name of module of
protection against overvoltages.
As a rule, such a module includes:
one or two varistors having the role of absorbing the
electromagnetic power of the voltage shock that it
rapidly turns into heat that dissipates in the environment;
a gas discharger having the role of disconnecting the varistor when the protected installation is working in normal
regime and of fixing the value of the varistor priming
voltage when there appear long-term over-voltages;

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un bloc termobimetalic, care s deconecteze varistorul

n cazul creterii temperaturii dup aplicarea unui oc
de tensiune, evitnd astfel, ambalarea termic a acestuia;
siguran fuzibil pentru limitarea curenilor de
scurgere, evitnd distrugerea varistorului;
una sau dou lmpi de semnalizare a funcionrii
modulului de protecie.
Modulele de protecie la supratensiuni, la nivelul de
joas tensiune sunt realizate, la nivel mondial, n cinci
clase de protecie, astfel nct s se obin o coordonare a
nivelului de protecie a instalaiilor electrice ale unei cldiri:
Clasa A modul de protecie montat n exteriorul
cldirii, la captul liniei electrice de alimentare a acesteia;
Clasa B modul de protecie montat n interiorul
cldirii, la intrarea n tabloul electric general;
Clasa C modul de protecie montat dup contorul
principal de energie electric al cldirii;
Clasa D module de protecie montate n zona
prizelor, nainte de intrarea n consumatorii electrici;
Clasa E module de protecie montate n interiorul
echipamentelor i aparatelor electrice.
n figura 1. a, b sunt prezentate schemele electrice ale
modulelor, clasa B, respectiv C produse de firma DENADesarollos s.l., iar n figura 2 se prezint schema electric
a unui modul de protecie, clasa D utilizat pe exteriorul
prizelor de alimentare a consumatorilor electrocasnici,
realizat de firma DEHN&SOHNE Gmbh din Germania.

a. b
Fig.1 Protecting modules of class B and C
Fig.1. Module de protecie clasele B i C

Se remarc creterea complexitii modului de protecie

odat cu apropierea de bornele elementului protejat.
n Romnia, utilizarea unor astfel de module de
protecie la supratensiuni n reelele de distribuie de joas
tensiune este oportun doar pentru modulele din clasele
A, B i C, dei din punct de vedere al preului, acestea nu
sunt accesibile dect pentru o mic parte din populaie.
Ct privete modulele de protecie, clasa D, care prezint
o schem electric aplicabil reelelor perfect simetrice i
echilibrate, folosirea lor n reelele noastre de joas
tensiune dezechilibrate, nesimetrice i care prezint, n
majoritatea cazurilor, o puternic deriv de nul, nu este
ntotdeauna, eficient. Aceast situaie a impus conceperea i
realizarea unui modul de protecie la supratensiuni care s
corespund cerinelor unei astfel de reele de distribuie,
i, totodat, s fie accesibil, ca pre, unui segment ct mai
larg de utilizatori. Primul modul romnesc de protecie la
supratensiuni conceput i realizat de autori i pus n
fabricaie de serie de firma S.C. PROTENERGO S.A. Timi-

a thermo-bimetal block having the role to disconnect

the varistor if the temperature increases after a voltage
shock, thus avoiding its thermal increase;
a fuse for limiting the leakage currents,thus avoiding
the destruction of the varistor.
one or two lamps indicating the working of the
protecting module.
The protecting modules of this type are produced
world wide in five protection classes, so that they can coordinate the level of installation protection in buildings as
following:
Class A protecting modules placed outside the
building, at the end of the supplying electric line;
Class B protecting modules placed inside the
building, at the entrance in the general switchboard;
Class C protecting modules placed after the main
electric meter of the building;
Class D protecting modules placed in the plug area,
before the entrance in the electric consumers;
Class E protecting modules placed inside the electric
apparatus and equipments.
In fig. 1 a, b there have been presented the electric
schemes of modules of class B, respectively C produced
by DENA Desarollos s. l. from Spain, and in fig.2 there
has been presented the electric scheme of modules of class D
used outside the supplying plugs of electric home consumers
produced by DEHN & SOHNE Gmbh from Germany.

.
Fig.2 Class D protecting module
Fig.2. Modul de protecie, clasa D.

There can be observed an increase in the complexity

of the protecting module while approaching the bus of the
protected element.
In Romania, the use of such protecting modules
against overvoltages in low voltage distribution networks
is convenient only for class A,B, and C, though, if we
take into account the cost, these are not affordable but for
a small part of the population. As to class D protecting
modules, which show an electric scheme which can be
applied to perfectly symmetrical and balanced networks,
their use in our low voltage unbalanced and nonsymmetrical networks which in most cases show a strong
neutral deviation is not always efficient. This situation
has imposed the idea of designing and realizing a
protecting module against overvoltages which should
answer the requirements of such a distribution network
and, at the same time be affordable to a number of people
as large as possible. The first Romanian protecting
module designed and produced by the authors and then

06-07.11.2003, Timioara, Romania

oara poart denumirea de cod MPS-01 i are o schem

electric cu trei varistoare ZnO care realizeaz proteciile:
faz-nul, faz-pmnt i nul-pmnt, conform figurii 3.

Fig. 3 The electric scheme of the Romanian protecting module

MPS-01
Fig.3. Schema electric a modulului romnesc de protecie MPS-01

Schema electric, realizat printr-un cablaj imprimat

pe o plac de sticlotextolit cuprinde: varistoarele, V1, V2,
V3 de tip V250K20, produse de ISKRA Varistor
Ljubljana, siguranele fuzibile, F1, F2, F3, concepute s
acioneze la un curent cu valoare de vrf de cca 8 kA,
care protejeaz ambalarea termic a varistoarelor i evit
scuirtcircuitele faz-nul sau faz-pmnt, o lamp de
neon, care semnalizeaz prezena tensiunii pe modul i un
rezistor R care limiteaz tensiunea pe lampa de neon.
Concepia schemei electrice elimin, practic, posibilitatea
ambalrii termice a varistoarelor prin faptul c, indiferent
de calea de acces a undei de supratensiune, varistoarele
lucreaz n paralel. Aceasta face posibil renunarea, att
la blocul termobimetalic, ct i la descrctorul cu gaz,
micornd preul de cost al modulului.
Acest modul de protecie poate funciona i ca modul,
clasa E, ncorporat la intrarea n instalaia electric protejat,
dar i ca modul, clasa D, ca parte component a unui ansamblu de tip priz (n sau pe perete) sau de tip prelungitor
multipriz. Un ansamblu de tip Bloc multipriz protejat la
supratensiuni BMS 01, echipat cu modul de protecie
MPS 01 i realizat i comercializat de firma S.C. PROTENERGO S.A. Timioara este prezentat n fig. 4.
Produsul BMS 01 poate fi utilizat pn la puteri de
2500 W i este destinat proteciei la supratensiuni a
urmtoarelor tipuri de consumatori: tehnic de calcul,
instalaii de climatizare, aparate radio-video-TV, tehnic
electronic medical, aparatur electrocasnic (frigidere,
cuptoare cu microunde, instalaii de nclzire de apartament
etc.), aparatur de msur i control, etc.
4. ncercri experimentale privind funcionarea
ansamblului de protecie la supratensiuni BMS 01
Produsul BMS 01 a fost amologat conform standardului de firm SF 16/2001 i a fost ncercat n Laboratorul de nalt Tensiune al Facultii de Electrotehnic i
Electroenergetic din Timioara i n Laboratorul de Gnie
Electrique de la Universitatea Paul Sabatier din Toulouse Frana, unde a primit i Certificatul de Conformitate n Compatibilitate Electromagnetic pentru produsele electrocasnice.
ncercrile din Laboratorul de Gnie Electroque au
vizat, pe lng testele de rezisten mecanic ale carcasei
i legturilor electrice i probe standard privind rspunsul

467

produced on a large scale by S.C. PROTENERGO S.A.

Timisoara has been called with code numbers MPS-01
and has an electric scheme with three ZnO varistors
which realize phase-neutral, phase-earth and neutral-earth
protection, as shown in fig. 3.
The electric scheme realized on a printed-plate on a
glass silk texture includes V250K20 type varistors produced
by ISKRA Varistor Ljubljana, V1, V2, V3, fuses F1, F2, F3
conceived to work at a peak current of about 8 kA which
prevent varistors from over-heating and avoid phase-neutral
or phase-earth short circuits, a neon lamp which signals
the presence of voltage on the module and a resistor R
which limits voltage on the neon lamp.The design of the
electric scheme practically eliminates the possibility of the
overheating of varistors through the fact that irrespective
of the way of access of the overvoltage wave, varistors
work in parallel. This makes possible giving up both the
thermo-bimetal block and the gas discharger, reducing the
cost price of the module.

Fig. 4 Multi-plug block protected against overvoltages BMS01

Fig. 4. Bloc multipriz protejat la supratenmsiuni BMS 01.

This protecting module can work both as an E class

module imbedded at the entrance in the protected electric
installation and a D class one as a component part of a plug
type unit (inside or outside the wall) or of a multi-plug
lengthener. A unit called 'Multi-plug Block Protected against
Overvoltages BMS01' equipped with MPS01 protecting
module produced and marketed by firm S.C. PROTENERGO S.A. Timisoara has been presented in fig. 4.
Product BMS01 can be used up to 2,500 W.
4. Experiments concerning the way the protecting unit
against overvoltages works
BMS01 has been homologated according to SF 16/2001
firm standard and has been tested in the High Voltage
Laboratory of the Electrical Engineering and Power System
Faculty from Timisoara and in Laboratoire de Gnie
Electrique of the University 'Paul Sabatier' of Toulouse France, where it has got the Certificate of Conformity in
Electromagnetic Compatibility for electric home apparatus.
The tests in the laboratory of "Gnie Electrique"
endorsed both tests of mechanic resistance of the carcass
and the electric bonds as well as standards concerning the

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la semnal treapt de tensiune i curent cu unda standard

de 8/20s, avnd tensiunea de vrf de 4 kV. n figura 5 se
prezint rspunsul blocului multipriz, BMS 01 la semnalul
treapt standard.

response at the voltage step and current signal with 8/20

s standard waves having a peak voltage of 4 kV. Figure
5 shows the response of multi-plug block BMS01 at the
step signal.

Fig 5 Response of BMS01 to 8/20 s standard waves.

Fig. 5. Rspunsul blocului BMS 01 la unda standard de 8/20 s.

Avnd n vedere c n locuine exist numeroi

consumatori electrocasnici (frigidere, maini de splat,
aspiratoare, etc.) care, la funcionarea normal, prin deconectri inductive, produc unde cltoare de supratensiuni
care parcurg reeaua electric de distribuie din respectivele locuine, o preocupare a autorilor a fost aceea de
a determina modul de comportare a blocului BMS 01 la
trenuri de astfel de unde cltoare. Pentru aceasta s-a
conceput montajul din figura 6, n care, o bobin de
inducie, tip auto, alimentat, n primar, la tensiunea de
220 Vca de la reeaua de distribuie urban, produce n
secundar un tren de unde de supratensiune de cca 1,35 kV,
care se descarc pe bujiile B1 i B2 sub forma unor
descrcri electrice intermitente, cu frecvena de 50 Hz.
Dac ntreruptorul I este deschis, aplicnd montajului
tensiunea reelei de alimentare, se observ descrcri
electrice pe ambele bujii. Dac se nchide ntreruptorul I,
aplicndu-se blocul BMS 01 pe bujia B2, se constat c
descrcarea electric apare numai pe bujia B1. Oscilografiind fenomenele se observ n oscilogramele din fig.7 c
trenul de unde cltoare este tiat de prezena blocului
BMS 01 la o treime din valoarea de vrf iniial, efectele
trenului de unde nemifiind simit de consumatorul protejat.
Rezult c, utiliznd un bloc multipriz BMS 01 pentru
alimentarea consumatorilor casnici generatori de perturbaii
inductive de tensiune, reeaua electric a locuinei este
protejat de efectele nocive ale undelor cltoare de supratensiuni (obosirea prematur a condensatoarelor din
componena aparaturii electronice i a lmpilor economice
pentru iluminat, mbtrnirea precoce a izolaiilor etc.).

Taking into account that in the buildings there are

many home consumers which at regular work, through
inductive disconnections produce overvoltage 'wandering
waves' which travel through the distribution network, the
authors' preoccupation was that of determining the
behaviour of BMS block when meeting such 'wandering
waves'. That is why the assembling in fig. 6 has been
conceived, where a car sparking-coil supplied, in primary,
at 220V from the urban mains, produces, in secondary, a
train of overvoltage waves of about 1.35 kV, which
discharge on sparking plugs B1 and B2 as intermittent
electric discharges of 50 Hz.
If switch 1 is off, applying the voltage of the
supplying network to the assembling we can see electric
discharges on both sparking plugs. If switch I is on,
applying block BMS01 to sparking plug B2, we can see
that the electric discharge appears on sparking plug 1
only. The diagrams of the phenomena, supplied by a
digital oscilloscope, presented in fig. 7 show that the train
of wandering waves is cut by the presence of block
BMS01 at a third of the initial peak value, its effect not
being felt any longer by the protected consumer. It is
obvious that, using a multi-plug block BMS01 for
supplying the electric home consumers which generate
voltage inductive disturbances, the electric network of the
building is protected against the nocuous effects of the
overvoltage wandering waves (the premature fatigue of
the condenser of the component of the electronic apparatus
and of the 'economic' electric bulbs, the precocious aging
of isolations, etc.)

06-07.11.2003, Timioara, Romania

469

Fig. 6 Assembling for studying the behaviour of BMS01 block at a train of overvoltage wandering waves.
Fig.6. Montaj pentru studiul comportrii blocului BMS 01 la tren de unde cltoare de supratensiune.

a)

b)

Fig. 7 Diagrams of a train of overvoltage wandering waves applied to electric home consumer:
a) without protection against overvoltages; b) with protection against overvoltages
Fig.7. Oscilograme ale unui tren de unde cltoare de joas tensiune aplicate unui consumator electrocasnic:
a) fr protecie la supratensiuni; b) cu protecie la supratensiuni

470

5. Concluzii
Asigurarea unei bune funcionri a consumatorilor
impune ca i la nivelul de joas tensiune s se adopte msuri
de protecie la supratensiuni. O astfel de practic, devenit
cotidian n Europa, ptrunde timid i n Romnia, unde
ncep s apar firme productoare de sisteme de protecie la
supratensiuni care utilizeaz varistoare ZnO. Primul produs
romnesc de acest fel, realizat la Timioara, demonstreaz
prin testele la care a fost supus c corespunde standardelor
europene n domeniu. Conceput pentru specificul reelei
electrice romneti de distribuie, acest produs rspunde
optim raportului pre/calitate fiind accesibil unui mare numr
de utilizatori. Experimentele la care a fost supus produsul
BMS 01 arat oportunitatea utilizrii sale, att pentru protecia la supratensiuni a instalaiilor electronice industriale,
ct i a reelei electrice de distribuie din locuine.

th

The 5 International Power Systems Conference

5. Conclusions
A good working of consumers requires protecting
measures to be adopted at low voltages, too. Such
requirements, fairly common in Europe, have timidly
entered Romania. There have appeared firms who
produce protecting systems against overvoltages using
ZnO varistors. The first Romanian product of this kind,
realized in Timisoara, has demonstrated through the tests
it was submitted to that it meets the European standards
in the field. Designed for the specificity of the Romanian
electric distribution network, this product responds in the
best way to the ratio price/ quality, being affordable to a
large number of users. The experiments have demonstrated
how opportune the use of BMS01 is for protecting against
overvoltages both industrial electronic installations and
the electric distribution networks of the buildings.

Bibliografie (References)
1. urianu F.D., Frigur F., Vtu D.: On connecting in parallel ZnO varistor used a low voltage, Bul. t. al Univ. Politehnica
Timioara, seria Energetica, Proceedings of the Fourth Inter-national Power Szstems Conference, Timioara, 8-9 Nov. 2001, p.407-410
2. Frigur-Iliasa F.M.: Stabilitatea termic a varistoarelor pe baz de ZnO. Aplicaii la joas tensiune, Ed. Orizonturi Universitare,
Timioara, 2002
3. * * * INGESCO Products Catalogue, Dena Desarolles S.L. Spania, 2001
4. * * * Metal Oxoide, Catalog ISCRA Varistor, Lubjljiana, Slovenia, 2001
5. * * * Overvoltage Protection - Main Catalogue, DEHN & SOHNE Gmbh, Germania, 2000
6. * * * MURATRON S.A.: Catalogue 2000, Franta, 2000
5. * * * SF16/2001 / S.C. PROTENERGO S.A.: Fia tehnic produsului BMS-01, Timioara, 2001