Over Current Protection

• Fault impedance is less then the load impedance, hence the fault
current is higher than the normal current.
• Overcurrent relays sense the fault current and also the overload
currents.
• Overcurrent protection is the protection where relay picks up when
the magnitude of current exceeds the pickup level.
• Basic element in overcurrent protection is overcurrent relay.
• Over load protection normally provides by Thermal relays.
• Overcurrent protection includes the protection from overloads and
short circuit protection as well which develops by phase faults
earth faults or winding fault.
• Short circuit current is 5 to 20 time of full load current/normal
current, hence fault clearance is desirable.
 Cont…
• Machine having differential protection is
protected by overcurrent protection as backup
protection to protect the equipment from
through fault.
• Some overcurrent protection devices used:
– Fuses
– Miniature circuit breaker
– Circuit breaker fitted by overload/overcurrent coils
– Series connected trip coils operating switching devices
– Overcurrent relay in conjunction with CTS
 Comparison between overcurrent &
overload
Basis For Comparison Short Circuit Overload

Meaning In the short-circuit the voltage at the
fault point decreases to zero and
current of irregular high value flow
through the faulty point of the
network.
The overload means that load greater
than the desired value have been
imposed on the system.

Voltage Zero The voltage becomes low, but cannot

be zero.

Current High Low as compared to short circuit.

Occur It occurs when the neutral and live It occurs when a large number of
wire touch each other. devices are joint in a single socket.
 Primary requirement for overcurrent
protection
• Should not operate for starting current,
permissible overcurrent and surge currents. To
achieve this time delay is provided. If time delay is
not permitted then high set instantaneous relays
are used.
• The protection should be coordinated with
neighboring over current protection so as to
discriminate.
 Applications
• Motor protection- Stator windings in motor
– Inverse time and instantaneous relays can be used for the motors higher then 1000 kw
rating.
– For small and medium size motors thermal relays For over load and Fuses for short
circuit current can be used.
• Transformer Protection
– Over current protection used in conjunction with differential protection to take care of
through fault.
– 500kva less rating transformer is protected by fuses.
• Line Protection
– Instantaneous overcurrent relay
– Inverse time overcurrent relay
– Directional overcurrent relay
• Protection of utility Equipment
– Furnances
– Industrial Installation
– Commercial, domestic and industrial equipments
 Relay used in overcurrent protection
• Instantaneous overcurrent protection
– Attracted armature relay, Moving iron type, PMMC
Static relay
• For inverse time characteristics
– Induction type, PMMC, STATIC
• Directional overcurrent relay
– Double actuating induction relay with directional
feature
– Static Overcurrent relay
– Thermal relay are used for overcurrent protection
 Characteristics of relay units in
overcurrent protection
• Definite
• Inverse
• Extremely inverse
• Very Inverse
• Inverse
 Cont…
• Definite
– I ^0 t=K
• Inverse
– It=K
• In more inverse characteristics
– I^ n t=k
 Types
• High speed overcurrent protection
• Definite time over current protection
• Inverse minimum type overcurrent protection
• Directional overcurrent protection
Connection scheme with three
overcurrent relay
Cont…
 Earth Fault Protection
• When fault current flows through earth return part,
then the fault is called Earth fault.
• Other fault which does not involve earth are called
phase fault.
• Earth faults are more frequent so its protection is
must.
• When separate earth fault protection is not must
then phase relay sense the earth fault currents. But
its has less sensitivity.
• Earth fault protection senses the earth fault
current.
 Connection of CT’s for earth Fault
Protection
• Residually connected earth fault relay
• Earth fault relay connected in neutral to earth
circuit.
• Combined earth fault & phase fault protection
• Earth fault protection with core balance
current transformers. (Zero sequence CT)
 Residually connected earth fault relay
• In absence of earth fault the vector sum of three line currents is zero. Hence the
vector summation of three secondary currents are also zero.
• I=Ia+Ib+Ic = residual current
• If residual current is above
the pickup then earth fault
relay operates.
* In this scheme the earth fault at
any location near or away from
the location of CTs can cause the
residual current flow
* hence the protection zone is not definite.
Such protection is called unrestricted
protection
• For selectivity directional earth fault
protection is necessary.
 Earth fault relay connected in neutral
to earth circuit
The magnitude of fault current depends on type of earthing ( Resistance, reactance, or solid)
and location of fault.
Protective zone is not accurately defined.
The protected area is not restricted.
In case of large generators, voltage transformer is connected between neutral & Earth and
the earth fault relay secondary is connected to Secondary of VT
 Combined earth fault & phase fault
protection
• In is convenient to incorporate phase fault relays and earth fault
relay in a combined phase fault and earth fault protection.
• The increase in current of phase causes corresponding increase
in respective secondary current.
• The secondary current flows
from respective relay units.
• Very often two only two
phase relays are provided,
instead of three, because in case
of phase faults current in any at least
two phases must increase.Hence
Two relay units are enough.
Earth fault protection with core balance
current transformer (Zero sequence CT)
* A single ring shaped core of magnetic material,
encircles the conductors of all three phases.
*A secondary coil is connected to relay coil.
The cross section of ring core is ample to avoid
saturation.
• During no fault condition , the components of
fluxes due to the field of three conductors are
balanced and the secondary current is negligible.
• During earth fault such a balance is disturbed and
current is inducted in the secondary.
• This protection can be used for low voltage and
medium voltage systems.
• Instantaneous relays are used with this protection.
Mathematical analysis
Frame Leakage Protection
Directional earth fault relay
Overcurrent Induction watthour meter
type relay
Directional induction watt hourmeter type
relay