PROTECTION

What is Protection & Control in Power System ?

How do Protective Relays operate ?

Protective Zones ?
Normal Scenario
System under Operation within permissible range

Calls for
corrective
action.
Abnormal Scenario

System traversing beyond permissible range

 NORMAL OPERATION
No failure of equipment
No mistakes of personnel
No acts of God

System capable of meeting the Supply Demand requirement

alongwith certain variations in the supply / load.

Unfortunately, none of the above can be true during all times.

PREVENTION OF ELECTRICAL FAILURES

D -Insulation
E
S
-Lighting Arrestors
I -Overhead Ground wires with low footing resistance
G
N
-Minimize likelihood of failures owing to animals, birds, dust,
water etc

O
& -Good Operation & Maintenance practices
M
 MITIGATION OF EFFECT OF FAILURES

-Limit the magnitude of short circuit current

D - avoiding large concentration of generation
E
S - using current limiting impedances
I
G
-Equipment to withstand mechanical and heating stresses owing to faults
N -Ground fault neutralizers ( Peterson coils)
-Spare transmission capacity

-Disconnecting faulty element

P
R - Protective relaying assisted by CBs, fuses etc and providing additional
services of Disturbance recording, locating of fault, auto restoration etc.

O
T
H Continuously track and avoid system collapse
E
R
- Automatic Voltage Regulators, etc
S
PROTECTIVE RELAYING
Objective : Minimize damage. Improve service

Detect the faulty element in the integrated power system

Quickly remove the fault element from the remaining healthy system
With support from Circuit breaking devices viz. CB

Thereby avoid damage and maintain security or reliability of supply

in the healthy system.
 PROTECTIVE RELAYING
Sensitivity
Selectivity
Speed
Reliable

If the protective relaying equipment is not reliable then the allied mitigation
functions are rendered ineffective. Inadequate response of Voltage inputs,
Current inputs and Switchgear Operation may jeopardize the relay functions.
HOW DO PROTECTIVE RELAYS OPERATE ?
Occurrence of fault causes certain distinctive changes in the current, voltage
and power waveforms:

1. Magnitude.
2. Frequency.
3. Phase angle.
4. Duration.
5. Rate of change.
6. Direction or order of change.
7. Harmonics or wave shape.

Such changes cab be captured and compare them with a set of pre-determined
settings.
PROTECTIVE ZONES
S
Fault

Load A Load B

Source of power is one : CB at one end only

S

S
Fault

Load A Load B

Source of power at both ends : CB at both ends

Every relay generates its own protective zone, normally called the protective
Zone.

A fault within the protective zone initiates operation of the relay and fault
is internal ;

A fault outside the protective zone is external or through faults

Possibility of failures in the input equipment / non availability of inputs
Relay failure, station battery, signal output, trip circuit, breaker etc could
Lead to eventual failure in clearing the fault.

Situation calls of backup

Local back-up : Common features to be duplicated viz. battery etc

Remote back-up signal : However timing should be adequately ensured
Else it would trip even before the primary protection operates
Protective zone should overlap to ensure that the entire
system is fully protected.
Other Functions which work on the same domain of Protective Functions

Control & Monitoring functions

Control & Monitoring of various equipment in the Substation
Suitable measurements and status indications
Suitable interlock provisions
Automatic controls viz. Synchronization of elements

Metering Functions

Active Power, Reactive Power, Current, Voltage, Frequency, Time period

etc

Demand for remote control capabilities and remote access of information

to enhance decision making capabilities at a higher lever.