b'Partner News Autumn 2021 21EnterpriseLocating earth faults in live power systems with EDS For 75 years Bender has been a pioneerelectrical safety, ensuring a reliable andShould EDS fit in every final circuit of electrical safety and continues to setoperational power system. panel board?the standard for innovation by creatingIt can, or you can simply utilise EDS on the intelligent solutions to reduce risk and makeTypical examples of safety-criticalmost critical equipment.electricity safe.installations with IT power systems are oil and gas platforms, industrialIs EDS portable?An Insulation Monitoring Device (IMD) isplant, manufacturing, ships, substationYes, Bender offer a hand held, portable a requirement within IT power systemsswitching and rail networks. Surely you canEDS fault location kit that is ideal for the according to BS7671:2018. However,understand the severity of downtime infinal pinpointing of an earth fault without insulation fault location (EDS) is only athese environments means a large loss ofneeding to disconnect. recommendation and is often overlookedrevenue.during system design. EDS is the moneyCan I connect EDS to an existing BMS saver, heres why: How does EDS reduce the loss of revenue? monitor panel annunciator?EDS finds developing earth faults withoutYes, with an understanding of your What is EDS and how does it work? disconnecting the electrical installation.application Bender can provide an option EDS is used in combination with an IMDWith just an IMD, you still need to isolatefor this.for the localisation of insulation faults incircuits to determine where the earth fault unearthed power supplies (IT systems).is. This is time consuming and expensive.For more information, pleaseAn EDS system comprises of an insulationcontact Bender on:fault evaluator connected to a currentThe labour cost of finding earth faults inindustrialsales@bender-uk.comtransformer (CT) located around the desiredcritical locations is high due to man power,or call +44 (0) 1229 480123cables/equipment to be monitored. downtime required and accessibility.How it works: Localised fault location allows isolation 1.An insulation fault is detected by theof power to fix and repair faults without IMD, which communicates with the EDSdisruption, allowing the remainder of the IT to switch to find a faultsystem to remain completely operational, 2.The IMD sends a pre-determined testreducing the cost of fault finding and current pulse via the live conductorsrectification.across the power system3.The test current signal is detected byKnowing when and where earth faults are the measuring current transformers ondeveloping gives you time to react from an the circuit and evaluated by the EDSoperational perspective so you can plan insulation fault evaluators your downtime, purchase new equipment 4.The fault location is determined byto replace ageing assets, or schedule the EDS communicating which CT hasmaintenance before a failure occurs.detected the lowest insulation fault valueWeak points in the electrical infrastructure (Rf) can be identified, trends monitored, and 5.Fault information is communicated locallywhen required, action can be taken where via the device, Modbus, e-mail, SMS ornecessary.any other communication methodTypical questions answered:IT power systems and EDS Can EDS fit into an existing installation?The reason IT power systems are utilisedYes, Bender supply split core CTs, in demanding industry sectors is to reducerectangular, circular, and flexible CTs which fire risk, increase resilience and improvegenerally makes retrofit neat and simple.'