Application Scenarios
At a North American steel mill, an arc flash incident in a 13.8 kV motor control center caused severe damage and a week-long production halt. To prevent recurrence, engineers installed ABB’s Arc Guard System™ featuring the MT-91-ARCFPA module with fiber-optic sensors routed through all MV compartments. During a subsequent insulation failure, the ABB MT-91-ARCFPA detected the arc within 2.8 ms and signaled the feeder relay to trip—containing the event to a single cubicle with no injuries or fire. The system paid for itself in avoided downtime alone.
Technical Principles and Innovative Values
Innovation Point 1: Fiber-Optic Arc Sensing
Unlike electrical or thermal methods, the ABB MT-91-ARCFPA uses passive fiber-optic cables that detect intense light from an arc flash. These sensors are immune to EMI, require no power in the field, and cover complex geometries inside switchgear.
Innovation Point 2: Ultra-Fast Trip Coordination
The ABB MT-91-ARCFPA doesn’t act alone—it sends a high-priority trip signal to a master protection relay, which then initiates breaker opening. This coordinated approach ensures selectivity while minimizing arc duration.
Innovation Point 3: Modular Scalability
A single ABB MT-91-ARCFPA can monitor up to six zones. For larger installations, multiple modules daisy-chain to protect entire substations—from incomers to motor feeders.
Innovation Point 4: Integration with Digital Substations
When paired with ABB’s IEDs (Intelligent Electronic Devices), the MT-91-ARCFPA supports event logging, remote diagnostics, and integration into ABB Ability™ for predictive arc risk analytics.
Application Cases and Industry Value
In an Australian underground mine, the ABB MT-91-ARCFPA was deployed across 12 mobile substations powering longwall shearers. Space constraints and explosive dust demanded compact, reliable arc protection. The fiber-optic sensors fit into tight cable trays, and the MT-91-ARCFPA’s rugged housing withstood constant vibration. Over three years, two arc events were safely contained—preventing potential fatalities in confined spaces.
At a European data center campus, uptime is non-negotiable. The facility integrated the ABB MT-91-ARCFPA into its 20 kV distribution switchgear. During a busbar contamination event, the system cleared the fault before pressure buildup could rupture the enclosure—avoiding a Tier IV outage and saving an estimated $ 2.1M in SLA penalties.
Related Product Combination Solutions
ABB REF615 / REF620: Feeder protection relays—receive trip signals from MT-91-ARCFPA for breaker control.
ABB REL670: Line differential relay—supports arc protection logic in transmission applications.
Fiber-Optic Arc Sensors (e.g., ABB ARCFSENS): Field detection elements—connect directly to MT-91-ARCFPA inputs.
ABB Arc Guard System™ Master Unit: Central coordinator for multi-module installations.
TK801 Terminal Blocks: Secure wiring interface for MT-91-ARCFPA power and output signals.
ABB Ability™ Electrical Distribution Monitoring: Cloud platform—ingests arc event logs for root-cause analysis.
MV Switchgear (e.g., UniGear ZS1): Factory-integrated arc protection—pre-wired with MT-91-ARCFPA and sensors.
Installation, Maintenance, and Full-Cycle Support
Installing the ABB MT-91-ARCFPA requires DIN-rail mounting near the protection relay and routing fiber-optic cables from each monitored compartment. Ensure fibers are not bent beyond minimum radius (typically >30 mm) and use ABB-approved connectors to avoid signal loss. The trip output must be hardwired to the relay’s external trip input with shielded cable.
Maintenance is minimal—no calibration needed—but annual inspection of fiber integrity and lens cleanliness is recommended. The module features LED indicators for power, sensor status, and trip activation. In case of replacement, configuration is plug-and-play; no software setup is required.
Our global engineering team provides arc flash hazard studies, sensor layout design, and coordination testing with existing protection schemes. With over 50.000 Arc Guard System™ installations worldwide, ABB ensures your MT-91-ARCFPA delivers life-saving reliability for decades.
Contact us for a comprehensive arc protection solution—including risk assessment, system design, and commissioning—for your switchgear modernization or new-build project.
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