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POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION

J .B. Ekanayake
PROTECTION IS
INSTALLED TO :
Detect fault occurrence and
isolate the faulted equipment.
How do you detect a
fault?
How do you minimise
the disruption to
adjacent loads?
What are the risks
associated with a fault?
Synchronous
Generator
33kV
T1
CB1(Auto Reclose)
CB2
Fuse
T3
11kV
CB4
CB3(Auto Reclose)
T2
Induction
Generator
FAULT
Fire in a 500 MVA transformer
Fault current contribution from
Synchronous generators
2
Fault current contribution from
Induction generators
Fault current contribution from
Power electronically connected
generators
Power electronically controlled generators
are now emerging.
If the power electronic converter is:
Thyristor based converters can contribute to 2 -
3 times rated current during a fault.
The fault current contribution of an IGBT based
converter is equal to full load current. Can
design with higher rating, but cost will go up.
Types of Fault
3
a
b
c
a
b
c
e
/E
/
a
b
c
//E
e
a
b
c
3/E
e
a
b
c
Generator
Transformer
CB
Relay
CT
VT
Relay is a logical device,
which detects the faults and
instructs CB operation.
A relay takes a decision
based on the measurements
received from current
transformer (CT) and voltage
transformer (VT).
CTs and VTs reduce primary
current and voltage to a low
level suitable to input to relay
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Zones of Protection
CB1 provides protection for respective lines and back-up
protection for down steam lines - Called Non-unit protection
Generators and transformers have their own protection - Called
unit protection
GENERATION ZONE
BUSBAR
ZONE
TRANSF-
ORMER
ZONE
BUSBAR
ZONE
FEEDER
ZONE
BUSBAR
ZONE
FEEDER
ZONE
OVERLAP
ZONE
CB1
Main types of protection
Over current
For distribution feeders and transmission and
sub-transmission circuits
Differential
For feeders, busbars, transformers, generators,
etc.
Distance
For distribution feeders and transmission and
sub-transmission circuits
Typical relays according to
IEEE/ANSI designation
50 Three-phase instantaneous
51 Three-phase time-delayed overcurrent (IDMT)
51V Three-phase voltage controlled time-delayed o/c
51N Earth fault time-delayed overcurrent
32 Reverse power
40 Loss of excitation
87 Phase differential
87N Earth fault deferential
27/59 Under or over voltage
81U/81O Under or over frequency
46 Negative phase sequence
67N Sensitive directional earth fault
64 Rotor field protection
Cost
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Large numbers of switching and distribution
points, transformers and feeders
Economics often overrides technical issues
Protection may be the minimum consistent
with statutory safety regulations
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Cost
TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
Emphasis is on technical considerations rather
than economics
Economics cannot be ignored but is of secondary
importance compared with the need for highly
reliable, fully discriminative high speed protection
Higher protection costs justifiable by high capital
cost of power system elements protected
Risk of security of supply should be reduced to
lowest practical levels