Differential relay :- A two-winding relay that operates when the difference between the currents /

Voltage in the two windings reaches a predetermined value is called differential relays.

There are three fundamental systems of differential or balanced protection:

I.current differential relay

II.voltage differential relay

III.Biased beam relay or percentage differential relay .

Uses:

 Transformer Protection.
 Generator Protection.
 Bus-bar Protection.
 Motor Protection.

A differential relay is defined as the relay that operates when the phase difference of two or more
identical electrical quantities exceeds a predetermined amount. The differential relay works on the
principle of comparison between the phase angle and magnitude of two or more similar electrical
quantities

A differential relay is defined as the relay that operates when the phase difference of two or more identical
electrical quantities exceeds a predetermined amount. The differential relay works on the principle of
comparison between the phase angle and magnitude of two or more similar electrical quantities.
Comparing two electrical quantities in a circuit using differential relays is simple in application and positive
in action.

For example, consider the comparison of the current entering a protected line and the current leaving it. If
the current enters the protected line is more than the current leaves it, then the extra current must flow in
the fault. The difference between the two electrical quantities can operate a relay to isolate the circuit.

For the operation of the differential relay, it should have two or more electrical quantities, and these
quantities should have a phase displacement (normally approximately 180). Any types of the relay can
operate as a differential relay depends on upon the way it is connected in a circuit. In other words, it doesn’t
depend on the construction of the relay it depends on the way it is connected to the circuit.

Differential protection provides unit protection. The protected zone is exactly known by the location of
current and potential transformers. The phase difference is achieved by suitable connections of secondaries
of CTs and PTs.

The differential protection principle is employed for the protection of generator, generator-transformer
units, transformers, feeders, large motors, and bus-bars. The differential protection relay is mainly
classified into four categories. These are

1.Current Differential Relay

2.Voltage Differential Relay

3.Biased or Percentage Differential Relay

4.Voltage Balance Differential Relay

Current Differential Relay

A relay which senses and operates the phase difference between the current entering into the electrical
system and the current leaving the electrical system is called a current differential relay. An arrangement of
overcurrent relay connected to operate as a differential relay is shown in the figure below.
The dotted line represents the element of the system that is to be protected by the differential relay. The
system element might be a length of the circuit, a portion of the bus or a winding of a generator or that of a
transformer. A pair of current transformers is fitted on the either ends of the section to be protected. The
secondaries of current transformers are connected in series with the help of the pilot wires in such a way
that they carry the induced current in the same direction. The operating coil of an overcurrent relay is
connected across the current transformer secondary circuit shown in the figure below.

When there is no fault current or there is an external fault, then the current in the secondaries of the
current transformers are equal, and the relay operating coil, therefore, does not carry any current. When
the short circuit developed anywhere between the two current transformers, then the currents flow to the
fault of both sides, and the sum of the current transformer secondary current will flow through the
differential relay.

In other words, the differential relay current will be proportional to the phase difference between the
currents entering and leaving the protected element. If the differential current exceeds the relay’s pick up
value, then the relay will operate.

Biased or Percentage Differential Coil

This is the most used form of differential relay. Their arrangement is same as that of the current differential
relay; the only difference is that this system consists an additional restraining coil connected in the pilot
wires as shown in the figure below and current flows in both CTs flows through it.

The operating coil is connected to the midpoint of the restraining coil. The reasons for this modification in
circulating current differential relay is to overcome the difficulty arising out of differences in current
transformers ratio for high values of short circuit current.

Induction Type Biased Differential Relay

This relay consists of a pivoted disc free to rotate in the air gaps of two electromagnets. The portion of each
pole of the electromagnet magnet is fitted with a copper shading ring. The ring can be moved further in, or
out of the pole. The disc experiences two torques one due to operating element and other due to restraining
element.

If the shading rings were in the position on each element, then the resulting torque experienced by the disc
would be zero. But if the shading rings of restraining element were moved further into the iron core, the
torque exerted by the restraining element will exceed than that of the operating element.

Voltage Balance Differential Relay

The current differential relay is not suitable for the protection of the feeders. For the protections of the
feeders, the voltage balance differential relays are used. In this arrangement, the two similar current
transformers are connected at either end of the system element under protection using pilot wires.

The relays are connected in series with the pilot wires, one at each end. The relative polarity of the current
transformers is such that there is no current through the relay under normal operating conditions and
under fault conditions. The CTs used in such protections should be such that they should induce voltages in
the secondary linearly with respect to the current. Since the magnitude of the fault current is very large, so
that the voltage should be a linear function of such large currents, the CTs should be aired cored.
When the fault occurs in the protected zone, the currents in the two primaries will differ from one another,
and so voltage induced in the secondaries of the CTs will differ and circulating current will flow through the
operating coils of the relays. Thus the trip circuit will be closed, and the circuit breaker will be open.

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Muhammad Imran, studied at BSc Mathematics and Computer Science

Answered Oct 21, 2016
What is Differential Relay?

Differential relay is the most important and widely used for the protection of
Transformers,Generator-Transformer unit, Bus Bars, Feeders and heavy Motors etc in
electrical power system the ANSI code of Differential relay is87.
As the name shows Differential mean it works on the principle of comparison between two
quantities, which checks every time the phase difference between incoming quantity and
outgoing quantity if difference between these two quantities exceeds the phase difference of
relay pick up level then the Differential relay will operate to protect the unit and Differential
relay isolate the unit from the faulty zone.