Section
4 Supply and distribution
4.1 Systems of supply and distribution
4.1.1 The
following systems of generation and distribution are acceptable:
-
d.c., two-wire;
-
a.c., single-phase,
two-wire;
-
a.c., three-phase:
-
three-wire insulated;
-
three-wire
with neutral solidly earthed or earthed through an impedance;
-
four-wire
with neutral solidly earthed but without hull return.
4.1.2 For
oil supply ships intended for the carriage in bulk of oil and other
hazardous liquids having a flash point not exceeding 60°C (closed-cup
test) only the following systems of generation and distribution are
acceptable:
-
d.c., two-wire
insulated;
-
a.c., single-phase,
two-wire, insulated;
-
a.c., three-phase,
three-wire, insulated;
-
earthed systems,
a.c. or d.c., limited to areas outside any dangerous space or zone,
and arranged so that no current arising from an earth-fault in any
part of the system could pass through a dangerous space or zone. Earthed
intrinsically safe circuits are permitted to pass into and through
dangerous spaces and zones.
4.1.3 System voltages for both alternating current and direct current in general
are not to exceed:
- 35000 V for power distribution;
- 15 000 V for generation and propulsion
- 500 V for cooking and heating equipment permanently connected to fixed
wiring;
- 250 V for lighting, heaters in cabins and crew and embarked personnel rooms, and
other applications not mentioned above.
Voltages above these will be the subject of special
consideration.
4.1.4 The
arrangement of the main system of supply is to be such that a fire
or other casualty in a space containing any of the main sources of
electrical power will not render inoperable any of the other main
sources of electrical power, or any emergency supply system if fitted.
4.1.5 Main
switchboards, lighting distribution boards and any converting equipment
are to be so placed relative to their associated generator(s) so that,
as far as is practicable, the integrity of the main system(s) of supply
will be affected only by a fire or other casualty in one space. Switchboards
are to be located as close as practicable to their associated generators.
4.1.6 The
arrangement of the emergency system of supply, where fitted, is to
be such that a fire or other casualty in spaces containing the emergency
source of electrical power, associated converting equipment, if any,
the emergency switchboard and the emergency lighting switchboard,
will not cause loss of services required to maintain the propulsion
and safety of the ship.
4.1.7 Distribution
systems are to be so arranged that a fire in any one main fire zone
will not interfere with either the main or emergency distribution
systems and services in any other such zone.
4.2 Essential services
4.2.1 Mobility or Ship Type systems that are required to be duplicated are to be
served by individual circuits, separated in their switchboard or section board and
throughout their length as widely as is practicable without the use of common feeders,
protective devices, control circuits or controlgear assemblies, so that any single fault
will not cause the loss of both services.
4.2.2 Where Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 3, 4.2 Essential services 4.2.1 is applicable the main busbars of the switchboard, or
section boards, are to be capable of being split, by a multi-pole linked circuit
breaker, disconnector or switch-disconnector, into at least two independent sections,
each supplied by at least one generator, either directly or through a converter. The
Mobility and/or Ship Type systems are to be equally divided, as far as is practicable,
between the independent sections.
4.2.3 Where Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 3, 4.2 Essential services 4.2.2 is applicable provision is to be made to transfer to
a temporary circuit those Mobility and/or Ship Type systems which are not required to
be, and have not been, duplicated in the event of loss of their normal section of
switchboard or section-board.
4.2.4 A Risk Based Assessment (RA) is to be carried out in accordance with the
requirements of Vol 2, Pt 1, Ch 3, 18 Risk Assessment (RA). The RA is to verify the availability of
electrical power to Mobility and/or Ship Type systems (see
Vol 2, Pt 1, Ch 1, 3.1 Categories 3.1.5) in the event of a failure in the power
supply and distribution system. The RA is to address the different system operating
modes and configurations. The RA should include relevant mechanical failures which may
have significant effects on the electrical power and distribution system, i.e. prime
mover failures causing loss of electrical power supplies to Mobility and/or Ship Type
systems. An analysis carried out by applying the relevant generic failure modes listed
in IEC 60812:1985, Analysis techniques for system reliability - Procedure for failure
mode and effects analysis (FMEA) to the system and equipment identified in the
single line diagram of the electrical system (see
Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 1, 1.4 Documentation required for design review 1.4.4) would generally be acceptable.
4.3 Isolation and switching
4.3.2 Isolation
and switching is to be by means of a circuit breaker or switch arranged
to open and close simultaneously all insulated poles. Where a switch
is used as the means of isolation and switching, it is to be capable
of:
-
switching off
the circuit on load;
-
withstanding,
without damage, the overcurrents which may arise during overloads
and short circuit. In addition, these requirements do not preclude
the provision of single pole control switches in final sub-circuits,
for example light switches. For circuit breakers, see
Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 3, 5.3 Circuit-breakers and Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 4, 4.5 Circuit-breakers.
4.3.3 Provision
is to be made, in accordance with one of the following, to prevent
any circuit being inadvertently energised:
-
the circuit breaker
or switch can be withdrawn, or locked in the open position;
-
the operating
handle of the circuit breaker or switch can be removed;
-
the circuit fuses,
where fitted, can be readily removed and retained by authorised personnel.
4.3.5 The
switching device required by Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 3, 4.3 Isolation and switching 4.3.4 is
to be situated within or adjacent to the section board, distribution
board or item of equipment. Where necessary, interlocking arrangements
are to be provided to prevent circuits being inadvertently energised.
4.3.6 A notice
is to be fixed to any section board, distribution board or item of
equipment to which Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 3, 4.3 Isolation and switching 4.3.4 applies
warning personnel before gaining access to live parts of the need
to open the appropriate circuit breakers or switches, unless an interlocking
arrangement is provided so that all circuits concerned are isolated
before access is gained.
4.3.7 Where
high voltage equipment is contained in a room, or protected area,
which also forms its enclosure, the access door(s) is (are) to be
so interlocked that it (they) cannot be opened until the high voltage
supply(ies) to the equipment is (are) switched off. Provision is also
to be made to enable the equipment and its cable(s) to be earthed
down and any stored energy dissipated, sufficient to ensure personnel
safety.
4.3.9 High voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies that use liquids or gasses other than
ambient air as an insulating medium are to be installed in spaces that are adequately
protected according to the following requirements:
- The space is to be provided with ventilation to ensure that gasses cannot accumulate
unnoticed.
- Leakages of liquid are to be properly collected and contained.
- An alarm is to be initiated at a manned control station to indicate when the
insulating medium has reduced to an abnormally low level. Interlocks are to be
provided to ensure that the switchgear or controlgear cannot be closed when this
alarm is active. The interlocks are to ensure that services essential for the
propulsion and safety of the ship are not disconnected in the event of this alarm
being activated.
4.4 Insulated distribution systems
4.4.1 A device(s)
is (are) to be installed for every insulated distribution system,
whether primary or secondary, for power, heating and lighting circuits,
to continuously monitor the insulation level to earth and to operate
an alarm in the engine control room, or equivalent attended position,
in the event of an abnormally low level of insulation resistance.
4.4.2 Where
any insulated lower voltage system is supplied through transformers
from a high voltage system, adequate precautions are to be taken to
prevent the low voltage system being charged by capacitive leakage
from the high voltage system.
4.4.3 Where
filters are fitted, for example to reduce EMC susceptibility, these
are not to cause distribution systems to be unintentionally connected
to earth.
4.5 Earthed distribution systems
4.5.1 No fuse,
non-linked switch or non-linked circuitbreaker is to be inserted in
an earthed conductor. Any switch or circuit-breaker fitted is to operate
simultaneously in the earthed conductor and the insulated conductors.
These requirements do not preclude the provision (for test purposes)
of an isolating link to be used only when the other conductors are
isolated.
4.5.2 For
high voltage systems, where the earthed neutral system of generation
and primary distribution is used, earthing is to be through an impedance
in order to limit the total earth fault current to a magnitude which
does not exceed that of the three phase short-circuit current for
which the generators are designed.
4.5.3 Generator
neutrals may be connected in common, provided that the third harmonic
content of the voltage waveform of each generator does not exceed
five per cent.
4.5.4 Where
a switchboard is split into sections operated independently or where
there are separate switchboards, neutral earthing is to be provided
for each section or for each switchboard. Means are to be provided
to ensure that the earth connection is not removed when generators
are isolated.
4.5.5 A means
of isolation is to be fitted in the earthing connection of each generator
so that generators can be completely isolated for maintenance.
4.5.6 All
earthing impedances are to be connected to the hull. The connections
to the hull are to be so arranged that any circulating currents in
the earth connections do not interfere with radio, radar, communication
and control equipment circuits.
4.5.7 Where
the ELS notation is to be assigned, earthed systems are
not permitted unless they are isolated from the main generation and
distribution system, e.g. through transformers and/or motor generator
sets. See also
Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 1, 3.2 General requirements 3.2.3.
4.6 Diversity factor
4.6.1 Circuits
supplying two or more final sub-circuits are to be rated in accordance
with the total connected load subject, where justified, to the application
of a diversity factor. Where spare ways are provided on a section
or distribution board, an allowance for future increase of load is
to be added to the total connected load before application of any
diversity factor.
4.6.2 A diversity
factor may be applied to the calculation for size of cable and rating
of switchgear and fusegear, taking into account the duty cycle of
the connected loads and the frequency and duration of any motor starting
loads.
4.7 Lighting circuits
4.8 Motor circuits
4.9 Motor control
4.9.2 Means
to prevent undesired restarting after a stoppage due to low volts
or complete loss of volts are to be provided. This does not apply
to motors where a dangerous condition might result from the failure
to restart automatically, e.g. steering gear motor.
4.9.3 Means
for automatic disconnection of the supply in the event of excess current
due to mechanical overloading of the motor are to be provided, see
also
Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 4, 4.11 Motor circuits
4.9.4 Motor
controlgear is to be suitable for the starting current and for the
full load rated current of the motor.
4.10 Harmonic distortion measurement
4.10.2 Means are to be provided to continuously monitor the levels of harmonic distortion
experienced on the main busbars and to operate an alarm in the engine control room,
or equivalent attended position, in the event that the harmonic distortion exceeds
the acceptable limits, see also
Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 1, 4.2 Alarm systems for machinery
4.10.3 Where the engine room is provided with automation systems to continuously monitor the
levels of harmonic distortion experienced on the main busbar(s), this reading is to
be logged electronically; otherwise it is to be measured annually and after any
modification to the ship electrical distribution system or associated consumers, and
is to be recorded in the engine log book for future inspection by the Surveyor.
4.11 Harmonic filtering
4.11.1 The requirements in this Section apply to systems provided with harmonic filters.
They apply in particular to, but are not limited to, electrical propulsion systems
and are in addition to the requirements for harmonic filters in Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 4, 4.13 Harmonic filters
4.11.3 The service life of the harmonic filter is to be declared, and details are to be
included in the harmonic calculation report.
4.11.4 The temperature rating of the harmonic filter is to allow for the increased heating
effect of the harmonic distortion.
4.11.6 The modes of operation of the electrical distribution system for which harmonic
distortion levels at the main switchboard busbars are maintained within the
acceptable limits during normal operation are to be defined by the system
integrator.
4.11.7 Harmonic distortion calculations are to include levels of harmonic distortion
expected in normal operation and in the event of a failure of a harmonic filter or
the failure of any combination of harmonic filters. See also
Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 12, 1.2 Trials
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