Abbreviations for electrical distribution

[adam4521]

For distribution design, UK electrical engineers typically use PB (panelboard), DB (distribution board) and LV or HV for switchboards.

1. Can we rationalise the selection of electrical panel abbreviations? Suggest DB, PB, LVSB and HVSB for the four main types of distribution equipment.
2. Other distribution equipment:
   BB busbar
   BBTO busbar tap-off.
   PFC power factor correction equipment
   PFILT passive power quality filter
   AFILT active power quality filter
   ISOTXMR isolating transformer
   PCONV power converter (electronic voltage conversion, including inverters, rectifiers and dc-dc converters)
   ELISO isolator (cf ELSW for switch, already in BDNS. NB an isolator is distinct from a switch in that it is not necessarily specified to interrupt load current).
   ATSW automatic transfer switch
   FUSESW fuse-switch
   RCCB residual current circuit breaker (regional variation, GFCI)
   Note: there are many variations of circuit breaker in use to add description and for historic reasons, ACB, VCB, RCD, RCBO, MCB, etc. We could consolidate on the current abbreviation 'CB' or add the different types...
3. Circuits and hence cables are often named after the 'source' switchboard. However, the 'source' may become ambiguous if there are ring circuits or multiple sources in a design and the cable is a bus or can transmit power in opposite directions. How to resolve how we identify circuits/cables?
4. Can we support regional variations for electrical engineering, since the words vary markedly and so the abbreviations are not portable?

[pisuke]

Thank you @adam4521 for your thoughts.
It would be great to have some time together in one of our next weekly meeting to progress this together, as it introduces a good number of changes to the previous abbreviations which were inspired by the electrical design practice in UK.
About point 3, we support the suffix to augment the label name with additional information, so the 'source' switchboard could be included this way.
About point 4, it would be good to come up with a plan for this. We could add a column about a locale for specific abbreviations.

[jgunstone]

hi there -

we did a review of the most common components for electrical distribution with the Head of Electrical Engineering at Max Fordham, and then compared it against the suggestions from @adam4521 above and what is already in the BDNS database

MXF suggestion	adam4521	in BDNS	description	notes
MSP			main switch panel	No main switch panel in BDNS but main panel/board and mains switchboard. (Are either of these close enough)
DB		DB	distribution board
PB			panel board	BDNS has: distribution panel for itc equipment (ITPB) only
ISO	ELISO		isolator (disconnector)	isolator (cf ELSW for switch, already in BDNS. NB an isolator is distinct from a switch in that it is not necessarily specified to interrupt load current).
BB			busbar	No Busbar in BDNS
RBB			rising busbar	No Busbar in BDNS
BBTO			busbar tapoff	No Busbar in BDNS
TX		TXMR	transformer
UPS		UPS	uninterruptible power supply
PFC		PFC	power factory correction
SPD			surge protection device	Not in BDNS
IVT	PCONV		invertor	adam4521 suggests PCONV for power conversion. At MXF we would specify in more detail.
PVP		PVP	photovoltaic	PVP in BDNS is for photovoltaic panel
GEN		GEN	generator	In BDNS,  GEN for electricity generator, DG for diesel electricity generator, CSG clean steam generator
ATS	ATSW	ATS	automatic transfer switch
AHF	AFILT	AHF	active harmonic filter
	FUSESW	DSCTF	fuse-switch	DSCTF is electric protective device - disconnect fuse in BDNS
	PFILT		passive power quality filter	Not in BDNS
	ISOTXMR		isolating transformer	Not in BDNS
RCCB	RCCB		residual current circuit breaker (regional variation, GFCI)	CB circuit breaker in BDNS
MCB			Miniature Circuit Breaker
RCBO			Residual Current Breaker with Over-Current
RCD			residual current device

TXMR rather than TX for transformer irked the MXF electrical team - "extra letters for no good reason" being the feedback.

otherwise there was either:

• good agreement between MXF requests and what is already in BDNS
• nothing in BDNS that satisfies the MXF request (so hopefully it is a simple addition ? )

so to summarise, as a minimum MXF would require the following to be added to be able to successfully use it on active projects:

MXF suggestion	description
MSP	main switch panel
PB	panel board
ISO	isolator (disconnector)
BB	busbar
RBB	rising busbar
BBTO	busbar tapoff
SPD	surge protection device
IVT	invertor
RCCB	residual current circuit breaker (regional variation, GFCI)
MCB	Miniature Circuit Breaker
RCBO	Residual Current Breaker with Over-Current
RCD	residual current device

(None of which already exist in the database)

whilst not all the abbreviations match with @adam4521 - if the above additions where added the only remaining suggestions from @adam4521 that aren't covered are PFILT, ISOTXMR.

[RitaLav]

Add different types of power converters individually

[jgunstone]

following todays meeting with @pisuke and @RitaLav it is suggested that the following are added:

suggestion	description
MSP	main switch panel
PB	panel board
EISO	electrical isolator (disconnector)
BB	busbar
RBB	rising busbar
BBTO	busbar tapoff
SPD	surge protection device
IVT	invertor
REC	rectifier
DCDC	dc-dc converter
RCCB	residual current circuit breaker (regional variation, GFCI)
MCB	Miniature Circuit Breaker
RCBO	Residual Current Breaker with Over-Current
RCD	residual current device
PHF	passive harmonic filter
EISOTX	isolation transformer

Notes:

• ISO -> EISO denoting electrical and avoiding confusion with the ISO standards body
• REC and DCDC added, picking up @adam4521 's suggestions for power conversion devices. therefore PCONV not required.
• PHF added (matching AHF already in BDNS). this means PFILT not required.
• ignoring FUSESW for now as DSCTF already in BDNS ???
• added EISOTX for isolation transformer (ISOTXMR is too long, (2 - 6 chars))

this should pick up the requirements from Max Fordham and the comments from @adam4521
I'll wait til next week for comments and then make a pull request

[RitaLav]

Is RBB needed in addition to BB (could 'rising' be added in metadata)?

No other comments

[jgunstone]

the reason it is currently separate is because when specifying you need a different / distinct product for the rising busbar

i.e.
RBB (rising busbar)
e.g.
https://www.se.com/uk/en/product-range/6760-canalis-ksr/?parent-subcategory-id=1310#overview

vs
BB (busbar)
e.g.
https://www.se.com/uk/en/product-range/1752-canalis-kn/?parent-subcategory-id=1310

having separate abbreviations therefore makes the drawing clearer.

[RitaLav]

Addressed in #166