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Types of protection: 1. Unit Type Protection 2. Non-unit schemes 1. Overcurrent protection 2. Earth fault protection Various types of Line Faults Overcurrent Relay Purpose and Ratings o Primary requirement of Overcurrent protection o Purpose of overcurrent Protection o Overcurrent Relay Ratings Difference between Overcurrent and Overload protection Types of Overcurrent Relay: 0. Instantaneous Overcurrent relay (Define Current) 1. Definite Time Overcurrent Relays 2. Inverse Time Overcurrent Relays (IDMT Relay) 1. Normal Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay 2. Very Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay 3. Extremely Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay 3. Directional Overcurrent Relays Application of Overcurrent Relay
Types of protection
Protection schemes can be divided into two major groupings: 1. Unit schemes 2. Non-unit schemes
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2.2 Earth fault protection The general practice is to employ a set of two or three overcurrent relays and a separate overcurrent relay for single line to ground fault. Separate earth fault relay provided makes earth fault protection faster and more sensitive. Earth fault current is always less than phase fault current in magnitude. Therefore, relay connected for earth fault protection is different from those for phase to phase fault protection. Go back to Index
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Detect abnormal conditions Isolate faulty part of the system Speed Fast operation to minimize damage and danger Discrimination Isolate only the faulty section Dependability / reliability Security / stability Cost of protection / against cost of potential hazards
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Ampere Rating: The ampere rating of a overcurrent protecting device normally should not exceed the current carrying capacity of the conductors As a general rule, the ampere rating of a overcurrent protecting device is selected at 125% of the continuous load current. Go back to Index
Definite current relay operate instantaneously when the current reaches a predetermined value.
Operates in a definite time when current exceeds its Pick-up value. Its operation criterion is only current magnitude (without time delay). Operating time is constant. There is no intentional time delay. Coordination of definite-current relays is based on the fact that the fault current varies with the position of the fault because of the difference in the impedance between the fault and the source The relay located furthest from the source operate for a low current value The operating currents are progressively increased for the other relays when moving towards the source. It operates in 0.1s or less
Modern relays may contain more than one stage of protection each stage includes each own current and time setting. 1. For Operation of Definite Time Overcurrent Relay operating time is constant 2. Its operation is independent of the magnitude of current above the pick-up value. 3. It has pick-up and time dial settings, desired time delay can be set with the help of an intentional time delay mechanism. 4. Easy to coordinate. 5. Constant tripping time independent of in feed variation and fault location. Drawback of Relay: 1. 2. 3. 4. The continuity in the supply cannot be maintained at the load end in the event of fault. Time lag is provided which is not desirable in on short circuits. It is difficult to co-ordinate and requires changes with the addition of load. It is not suitable for long distance transmission lines where rapid fault clearance is necessary for stability. 5. Relay have difficulties in distinguishing between Fault currents at one point or another when fault impedances between these points are small, thus poor discrimination. Application: Definite time overcurrent relay is used as: 1. Back up protection of distance relay of transmission line with time delay. 2. Back up protection to differential relay of power transformer with time delay. 3. Main protection to outgoing feeders and bus couplers with adjustable time delay setting. Go back to Index
In this type of relays, operating time is inversely changed with current. So, high current will operate overcurrent relay faster than lower ones. There are standard inverse, very inverse and extremely inverse types. Discrimination by both Time and Current. The relay operation time is inversely proportional to the fault current. Inverse Time relays are also referred to as Inverse Definite Minimum Time (IDMT) relay.
The operating time of an overcurrent relay can be moved up (made slower) by adjusting the time dial setting. The lowest time dial setting (fastest operating time) is generally 0.5 and the slowest is 10.
Operates when current exceeds its pick-up value. Operating time depends on the magnitude of current. It gives inverse time current characteristics at lower values of fault current and definite time characteristics at higher values An inverse characteristic is obtained if the value of plug setting multiplier is below 10, for values between 10 and 20 characteristics tend towards definite time characteristics. Widely used for the protection of distribution lines.
Inverse types
Go back to Index 3.1. Normal Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay The accuracy of the operating time may range from 5 to 7.5% of the nominal operating time as specified in the relevant norms. The uncertainty of the operating time and the necessary operating time may require a grading margin of 0.4 to 0.5 seconds. Its used when Fault Current is dependent on generation of fault not fault location. Normal inverse time Overcurrent Relay is relatively small change in time per unit of change of current. Application: Most frequently used in utility and industrial circuits. especially applicable where the fault magnitude is mainly dependent on the system generating capacity at the time of fault. Go back to Index
Gives more inverse characteristics than that of IDMT. Used where there is a reduction in fault current, as the distance from source increases. Particularly effective with ground faults because of their steep characteristics. Suitable if there is a substantial reduction of fault current as the fault distance from the power source increases. Very inverse overcurrent relays are particularly suitable if the short-circuit current drops rapidly with the distance from the substation. The grading margin may be reduced to a value in the range from 0.3 to 0.4 seconds when overcurrent relays with very inverse characteristics are used. Used when Fault Current is dependent on fault location. Used when Fault Current independent of normal changes in generating capacity.
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It has more inverse characteristics than that of IDMT and very inverse overcurrent relay. Suitable for the protection of machines against overheating. The operating time of a time overcurrent relay with an extremely inverse time-current characteristic is approximately inversely proportional to the square of the current The use of extremely inverse overcurrent relays makes it possible to use a short time delay in spite of high switching-in currents. Used when Fault current is dependent on fault location Used when Fault current independent of normal changes in generating capacity.
Application:
Suitable for protection of distribution feeders with peak currents on switching in (refrigerators, pumps, water heaters and so on). Particular suitable for grading and coordinates with fuses and re closes For the protection of alternators, transformers. Expensive cables, etc.
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3.4. Long Time Inverse Overcurrent Relay The main application of long time overcurrent relays is as backup earth fault protection.
Used against overloads and short-circuits in stator windings of motor. Inverse time and instantaneous overcurrent phase and ground Overcurrent relays used for motors above 1000 kW.
Transformer Protection:
Used only when the cost of overcurrent relays are not justified. Extensively also at power-transformer locations for external-fault back-up protection.
Line Protection:
On some sub transmission lines where the cost of distance relaying cannot be justified. primary ground-fault protection on most transmission lines where distance relays are used for phase faults. For ground back-up protection on most lines having pilot relaying for primary protection.
Distribution Protection: Overcurrent relaying is very well suited to distribution system protection for the following reasons:
It is basically simple and inexpensive. Very often the relays do not need to be directional and hence no PT supply is required. It is possible to use a set of two O/C relays for protection against inter-phase faults and a separate Overcurrent relay for ground faults
3-phase faults the overcurrent relays in all the 3-phases act. Phase to phase faults the relays in only the affected phases operate. Single line to ground faults only the relay in the faulty phase gets the fault current and operates.
Even then with 3 overcurrent relays, the sensitivity desired and obtainable with earth leakage overcurrent relays cannot be obtained in as much as the high current setting will have to be necessarily adopted for the overcurrent relay to avoid operation under maximum load condition.
3 Nos O/C Relay for Over Current and Earth Fault Protection
Over current relays generally have 50% to 200% current setting while earth leakages over current relays have either 10% to 40% or 20% to 80% current settings. One important thing to be noted here is that the connection of the star points of both the C.T. secondarys and relay windings by a neutral conductor should be made. A scheme without the neutral conductor will be unable to ensure reliable relay operation in the event of single phase to earth faults because the secondary current in this case (without star-point interconnection) completes its circuit through relay and C.T. windings which present large impedance. This may lead to failure of protection and sharp decrease in reduction of secondary currents by CTs.It is not sufficient if the neutral of the CTs and neutral of the relays are separately earthed. A conductor should be run as stated earlier.
2. 3 No O/C Relay+ 1 No E/F Relay for Overcurrent and Earth Fault Protection
The scheme of connection for 3 Nos Over current Relay 1 No Earth Fault Relay is shown in figure below.
3 No O/C Relay+ 1 No E/F Relay for Overcurrent and Earth Fault Protection Under normal operating conditions the three phase fault conditions and current in the 3-phase are equal and symmetrically displaced by 12 Deg. Hence the sum of these three currents is zero. No current flow through the earth fault relay. In case of phase to phase faults (say a short between R and Y phases) the current flows from Rphase up to the point of fault and return back through Y phase. Thus only O/L relays in R and Y phases get the fault and operate. Only earth faults cause currents to flow through E/L relay. A note of caution is necessary here. Only either C.T secondary star point of relay winding star point should be earthed. Earthing of both will short circuit the E/L relay and make it inoperative for faults.
3. 2 No O/C Relay + 1 No E/F Relay for Over Current and Earth Fault Protection
The two over current relays in R and B phases will respond to phase faults. At least one relay will operate for fault involving two phase.
2 No O/C Relay + 1 No E/F Relay for Over Current and Earth Fault Protection
For fault involving ground reliance is placed on earth fault relay. This is an economical version of 3-O/L and 1-E/L type of protection as one overcurrent relay is saved. With the protection scheme as shown in Figure complete protection against phase and ground fault is afforded.
For Transmission Lines Line side For Transformers Transformer side For Bus bar Bus side
Generator protection scheme The above method has to be followed irrespective of polarity of CTs on primary side. For example, in line protection, if P1 is towards bus then S2s are to be shorted and if P2 is towards bus then S1s are to be shorted.
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Protection A) 2 No Over Current and one no Earth Fault IDMT relays 11 KV Feeders B) 2 No Instantaneous Overcurrent (highest) and one no Instantaneous Earth fault relay 8 MVA Capacity OR Two HV side: 33 KV Breaker (Individual or Group Control Transformer in a with 3 Over Current and One Earth Fault IDMT relays Substation (Irrespective of LV Side: Individual 11 KV Breakers with 3 Over Current capacity) and One Earth Fault IDMT relays 8 MVA Power Differential relays OR REF relays on LV side Transformer HV Side: HG fuse Only one PTR in a Sub LV Side: 11 KV Breaker with 3 Over Current and one Station (Less than 8 MVA) E/F IDMT relay