MOTOR PROTECTION

Thermal overload protection (49)

Overloads can result in stator temperature rises which exceed the thermal limit
of the
winding insulation. Due to the relatively large heat storage capacity of an
induction
motor, infrequent overloads of short duration may not damage the machine.
However,
sustained overloads of a few per cent may result in premature ageing and failure
of
insulation.
However, if a motor is considered to be a homogeneous body, developing heat
internally at a
constant rate and dissipating heat at a rate directly proportional to its
temperature rise, it can
be shown that the temperature at any instant is given by ;
T = Tmax (1-e-t/)
Where ;
Tmax = Final steady state temperature,
= Heating time constant.
This assumes a thermal equilibrium in the form :
Heat developed = Heat stored + Heat dissipated
Temperature rise is proportional to the current squared :
T = KIR
2 (1-e-t/)
Where ;
IR = That current, which when left to flow continuously, would produce a
temperature Tmax, in
the motor.
For an overload current 'I', the temperature is given by ;
T = KI2 (1-e-t/)
For a motor not to exceed the rated temperature, then the time 't' for which the
motor can
withstand the current 'I' can be shown to be given by;
t = loge [1/{1-(IR/I)2}]

An overload protection element should therefore satisfy the above relationship.

The value of
IR may be the full load motor current or a percentage of it, depending on the
motor design.
The P24x relay models the time-current thermal characteristic of a motor by
internally
generating a thermal replica of the machine. The positive or rms and negative
sequence components of
the load current are measured independently and are combined together to form
an
equivalent current, Ieq , which is supplied to this replica circuit. The heating
effect in the
thermal replica is produced by Ieq
2 and therefore takes into account the heating effect due to
both positive or rms and negative sequence components of current.
The equivalent current for operation of the overload protection is in accordance
with the
following expression;
Ieq = (I1
2 + KI2
2), Note This equation is used in software version A4.x (09) and before
or
Ieq = (IRMS
2 + KI2
2), Note This equation is used in software version B1.0 (20) and later
Where ;
IRMS = Root Mean Square current
I1 = Positive sequence current
I2 = Negative sequence current
K = A user settable constant proportional to the thermal capacity of the motor.
To protect the motor during all operating conditions, three independently
adjustable time
constants are employed in the overload curve:
Ith = Thermal current setting
T1 = Overload time constant applied when the current is between Ith & 2Ith.

T2 = Overload time constant applied for currents above 2Ith.

Tr = Cooling time constant applied when the motor is stopped.
The following equation is used to calculate the trip time for a given current. Note
that the
relay will trip at a value corresponding to 100% of its thermal state.
t = T loge (k2 - A2)/(k2 - 1)
where ;
T = T1 if Ith < Ieq <= 2Ith
T = T2 if Ieq > 2Ith
T = Tr if Ieq = 0 (CB open)
k = Ieq/Ith
A2 = initial state of the machine.
The constant K Coefficient is used to increase
the influence of negative sequence current
on the thermal replica. This factor should be set
equal to the ratio of negative phase
sequence, rotor resistance to positive sequence
resistance at rated speed. When an exact
setting cannot be calculated, a default setting of
3 should be used. This is a typical setting
and will suffice for the majority of applications.
Therefore set : K Coefficient = 3
The relay heating and cooling time constants are set in accordance with the
stator thermal
heating and cooling time constants. The relay heating time constant (Thermal
Const T1)
should be set equal to, or as close as possible to, the stator heating thermal time
constant,
which is obtainable from the motor manufacturer.
Thermal Const T2 is automatically applied above 2 Ith and is used to modify the
relay
thermal curve during starting for certain applications.
Cooling Const Tr is the cooling time constant. This setting is important for cyclic
operation

of the motor, since precise information of the thermal state of the motor is
required during
heating and cooling. It is set as a multiple of T1 and should be set to the nearest
value above
the motor cooling time constant.
Short circuit protection (50/51)
Faults between phases seldom occur because of the relatively large amount of
insulation
between phase windings. As the stator windings are completely enclosed in
earthed metal,
most faults will involve earth, which would then operate the earth fault
protection. However, a
fast operating overcurrent element is often employed to protect against phase
faults
occurring at the motor terminals; such as terminal flashovers.
The short circuit protection included within the P24x relays consists of an
adjustable current
threshold and a definite time setting.
In order to avoid tripping during start-up as a result of asymmetric CT saturation,
this
element as a minimum operating time of 100ms for currents in the range I> to
1.2I>.
The definite time characteristic is shown below in Figure 3.

Earthfault protection (50N/51N/67N/32N/64N)

One of the most common faults to occur on a motor is a stator winding fault. This
is usually
the result of prolonged or cyclic overheating, which causes the insulation to
deteriorate.
Since the windings are surrounded by an earthed metal case, stator faults
usually manifest
themselves as earthfaults. The type of earthfault protection and CT arrangement
adopted will
depend on the amount of earth fault current available during a fault. The
magnitude of
current is dependent upon the system earthing arrangements.
The P24x earth fault element is equipped with two independent stages, which
are selectable
as either forward, reverse or non-directional. The first stage may be selected as
either IDMT
or DT and the second stage is DT only.
The inverse time delayed characteristics listed above, comply with the following
formula :
t = T x { [ K / ((I/Is) ( - 1)) ] + L}
where ;
t = operation time
K = constant
I = measured current
Is = current threshold setting
= constant
L = ANSI/IEEE constant (zero for IEC curves)
T = Time multiplier Setting or Time Dial Setting
Inverse-Time

Characteristics
Standard Inverse
Very Inverse
Extremely Inverse

0.02
1.0
2.0

0.14
13.5
80.0

Negative sequence protection (46)

Negative phase sequence current is generated from an unbalanced current

condition, such
as unbalanced loading, loss of one phase or single phase faults.
The value of resistance is generally much less than the leakage reactance.
Therefore,
neglecting the resistance term, the motor negative phase sequence impedance
at normal
running speed can be approximated to the positive phase sequence impedance
at standstill.
At normal running speed;
normal load current
starting current
negative sequence impedance
positive sequence impedance
For example, if a motor has a starting current of six times the full load value, the
negative
sequence impedance would be about 1/6 the positive sequence impedance.
This element should be set in excess of the anticipated negative phase sequence
current
resulting from asymmetric CT saturation during starting, but less than the
negative phase
sequence current resulting from loss of one phase during starting.
A typical setting for the negative sequence overcurrent element is 30% of the
anticipated
negative sequence current resulting from loss of one phase during starting. For a
motor with
a starting current to load current ratio of 6 to 1.
Therefore set :
I2>2 Current Set = 1/6 normal starting current or full load current
The setting for the alarm time delay is application dependent.
Start / stall protection (48/51LR/50S/14)
When a motor is started, it will draw a value of current in excess of full load
rating for a set
period of time, namely the starting time. It is normal practice to assume a
constant starting

current for the whole of the starting time.

The starting current will vary depending upon the type and method of starting
utilized. If the
motor is started direct-on-line (DOL), the current could easily reach 6 times full
load current.
However, when star/delta starting is utilized, the starting current will be 3 less
than when
DOL starting.
A motor may fail to accelerate for a number of reasons. For example, loss of one
supply
phase, mechanical failure, insufficient supply voltage, etc. As stated previously,
failure of a
machine to accelerate will result in excessive current being drawn by the motor.
This current
will generate extremely high temperatures within the machine. Coupled with the
fact that the
motor is without the added cooling normally provided by rotation, irreparable
damage will
result very quickly.
The stall current threshold (Stall Setting) should be set greater than full load
current, but
less than motor stall current (which is usually equal to starting current). Its
corresponding
timer (Stall Time) should be set less than the motor hot stall withstand time. The
Stall
Detection needs to be set to Enabled for this function to operate.
As the rotor resistance of an induction motor is proportional to slip, it will
decrease during
acceleration. When the motor is stationary, the rotating field in the air gap, set
up by currents
flowing in the stator winding will cut the rotor. This field will be traveling at
synchronous
speed relative to the rotor and will induce a voltage at system frequency, thus
generating
circulating currents in the rotor bars. At this frequency, the reactance of the rotor
will cause

the current to flow in the outer section of the rotor conductors; commonly known
as the 'skin
effect'. Since the current is occupying a smaller section of the rotor, the apparent
impedance
presented to it is increased, therefore the I 2R heating is greatly increased. As the
motor
accelerates during starting the slip begins to decrease and the current is able to
occupy
more of the rotor conductor. The apparent impedance therefore reduces along
with the
heating effect. The motor is therefore able to tolerate starting current for the
starting time, but
not locked rotor current.
Undervoltage protection function (27)
Undervoltage conditions may occur on a power system as a result of increased
loading, fault
conditions or incorrect regulation. Transient voltage dips may allow successful
motor reacceleration.
However, sustained undervoltage conditions will result in motor stalling. Time
delayed undervoltage protection is therefore commonly applied.
The undervoltage protection included within the P24x relays consists of two
independent
phase to phase measuring stages.
Two stages are included to provide both alarm and trip stages, where required.
The voltage threshold setting for the undervoltage protection should be set at
some value
below the voltage excursions which may be expected under normal system
operating
conditions.