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Types and Applications Of Overcurrent Relay (1)

Types, applications and connections of Overcurrent relay (on photo: Transmission lines from Gillam to Churchill)

Index
Types of protection
Protection schemes can be divided into two major groupings:
1. Unit schemes
2. Non-unit schemes

1. Unit Type Protection

Unit type schemes protect a specific area of the system, i.e., a transformer, transmission line, generator or bus bar.
The unit protection schemes is based on Kirchhoffs Current Law the sum of the currents entering an area of the

system must be zero.

Any deviation from this must indicate an abnormal current path. In these schemes, the effects of any disturbance or
operating condition outside the area of interest are totally ignored and the protection must be designed to be stable
above the maximum possible fault current that could flow through the protected area.
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2. Non unit type protection

The non-unit schemes, while also intended to protect specific areas, have no fixed boundaries. As well as
protecting their own designated areas, the protective zones can overlap into other areas. While this can be very
beneficial for backup purposes, there can be a tendency for too great an area to be isolated if a fault is detected by
different non unit schemes.
The most simple of these schemes measures current and incorporates an inverse time characteristic into the
protection operation to allow protection nearer to the fault to operate first.
The non unit type protection system includes following schemes:
1. Time graded overcurrent protection
2. Current graded overcurrent protection
3. Distance or Impedance Protection
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2.1 Overcurrent protection

This is the simplest of the ways to protect a line and therefore widely used.
It owes its application from the fact that in the event of fault the current would increase to a value several times
greater than maximum load current. It has a limitation that it can be applied only to simple and non costly equipments.
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2.2 Earth fault protection

The general practice is to employ a set of two or three overcurrent relays and a separate overcurrent relay for single
line to ground fault. Separate earth fault relay provided makes earth fault protection faster and more sensitive.
Earth fault current is always less than phase fault current in magnitude.
Therefore, relay connected for earth fault protection is different from those for phase to phase fault protection.
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Various types of Line Faults

No

Type of Fault

Operation of Relay

Phase to Ground fault (Earth Fault)

Earth Fault Relay

Phase to Phase fault Not with Ground

Related Phase Overcurrent relays

Double phase to Ground fault

Related Phase Overcurrent relays and Earth Fault relays

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Overcurrent Relay Purpose and Ratings

A relay that operates or picks up when its current exceeds a predetermined value (setting value) is called
Overcurrent Relay.
Overcurrent protection protects electrical power systems against excessive currents which are caused by short
circuits, ground faults, etc. Overcurrent relays can be used to protect practically any power system elements, i.e.
transmission lines, transformers, generators, or motors.
For feeder protection, there would be more than one overcurrent relay to protect different sections of the feeder.
These overcurrent relays need to coordinate with each other such that the relay nearest fault operates first.
Use time, current and a combination of both time and current are three ways to discriminate adjacent overcurrent
relays.
OverCurrent Relay gives protection against:
Overcurrent includes short-circuit protection, and short circuits can be:
1. Phase faults
2. Earth faults
3. Winding faults
Short-circuit currents are generally several times (5 to 20) full load current. Hence fast fault clearance is always
desirable on short circuits.
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Primary requirement of Overcurrent protection

The protection should not operate for starting currents, permissible overcurrent, current surges. To achieve this, the
time delay is provided (in case of inverse relays).
The protection should be co-ordinate with neighboring overcurrent protection.
Overcurrent relay is a basic element of overcurrent protection.
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Purpose of overcurrent Protection

These are the most important purposes of overcurrent relay:
Detect abnormal conditions
Isolate faulty part of the system
Speed Fast operation to minimize damage and danger
Discrimination Isolate only the faulty section
Dependability / reliability
Security / stability
Cost of protection / against cost of potential hazards
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Overcurrent Relay Ratings

In order for an overcurrent protective device to operate properly, overcurrent protective device ratings must be
properly selected. These ratings include voltage, ampere and interrupting rating.
If the interrupting rating is not properly selected, a serious hazard for equipment and personnel will exist.
Current limiting can be considered as another overcurrent protective device rating, although not all overcurrent
protective devices are required to have this characteristic
Voltage Rating: The voltage rating of the overcurrent protective device must be at least equal to or greater than the
circuit voltage. The overcurrent protective device rating can be higher than the system voltage but never lower.
Ampere Rating: The ampere rating of a overcurrent protecting device normally should not exceed the current
carrying capacity of the conductors As a general rule, the ampere rating of a overcurrent protecting device is selected
at 125% of the continuous load current.
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Difference between Overcurrent and Overload protection

Overcurrent protection protects against excessive currents or currents beyond the acceptable current ratings,
which are resulting from short circuits, ground faults and overload conditions.
While, the overload protection protects against the situation where overload current causes overheating of the
protected equipment.
The overcurrent protection is a bigger concept So that the overload protection can be considered as a subset of
overcurrent protection.
The overcurrent relay can be used as overload ( thermal) protection when protects the resistive loads, etc., however,
for motor loads, the overcurrent relay cannot serve as overload protection Overload relays usually have a longer time

setting than the overcurrent relays.

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Types of Overcurrent Relay

These are the types of overcurrent relay:
1. Instantaneous Overcurrent (Define Current) Relay
2. Define Time Overcurrent Relay
3. Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay (IDMT Relay)
Moderately Inverse
Very Inverse Time
Extremely Inverse
4. Directional overcurrent Relay
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1. Instantaneous Overcurrent relay (Define Current)

Definite current relay operate instantaneously when the current reaches a predetermined value.

Operates in a definite time when current exceeds its Pick-up

value.
Its operation criterion is only current magnitude ( without time
delay).
Operating time is constant.
There is no intentional time delay.
Coordination of definite-current relays is based on the fact
that the fault current varies with the position of the fault
because of the difference in the impedance between the fault
and the source

Instantaneous Overcurrent Relay - Definite Current

The relay located furthest from the source operate for a low current value
The operating currents are progressively increased for the other relays when moving towards the source.
It operates in 0.1s or less
Application: This type is applied to the outgoing feeders.
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2. Definite Time Overcurrent Relays

In this type, two conditions must be satisfied for operation (tripping), current must exceed the setting value and the
fault must be continuous at least a time equal to time setting of the relay.
Modern relays may contain more than one stage of protection each
stage includes each own current and time setting.
1. For Operation of Definite Time Overcurrent Relay operating time
is constant
2. Its operation is independent of the magnitude of current above
the pick-up value.
3. It has pick-up and time dial settings, desired time delay can be
set with the help of an intentional time delay mechanism.
4. Easy to coordinate.

Definite time of overcurrent relay

5. Constant tripping time independent of in feed variation and fault location.

Drawback of Relay:
1. The continuity in the supply cannot be maintained at the load end in the event of fault.
2. Time lag is provided which is not desirable in on short circuits.
3. It is difficult to co-ordinate and requires changes with the addition of load.
4. It is not suitable for long distance transmission lines where rapid fault clearance is necessary for stability.
5. Relay have difficulties in distinguishing between Fault currents at one point or another when fault impedances
between these points are small, thus poor discrimination.

Application:
Definite time overcurrent relay is used as:
1. Back up protection of distance relay of transmission line with time delay.
2. Back up protection to differential relay of power transformer with time delay.
3. Main protection to outgoing feeders and bus couplers with adjustable time delay setting.
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3. Inverse Time Overcurrent Relays (IDMT Relay)

In this type of relays, operating time is inversely changed with current. So, high current will operate overcurrent relay
faster than lower ones. There are standard inverse, very inverse and extremely inverse types.
Discrimination by both Time and Current. The relay operation time is inversely proportional to the fault
current.
Inverse Time relays are also referred to as Inverse Definite Minimum Time (IDMT) relay.

The operating time of an overcurrent relay can be moved up (made slower) by adjusting the time dial setting. The
lowest time dial setting (fastest operating time) is generally
0.5 and the slowest is 10.
Operates when current exceeds its pick-up value.
Operating time depends on the magnitude of current.
It gives inverse time current characteristics at lower
values of fault current and definite time characteristics
at higher values
An inverse characteristic is obtained if the value of plug
setting multiplier is below 10, for values between 10
and 20 characteristics tend towards definite time
characteristics.

Inverse Definite Minimum Time (IDMT)

Widely used for the protection of distribution lines.

Based on the inverseness it has three different types:
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3.1. Normal Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay

The accuracy of the operating time may range from 5 to 7.5% of the
nominal operating time as specified in the relevant norms. The
uncertainty of the operating time and the necessary operating time may
require a grading margin of 0.4 to 0.5 seconds.
Its used when Fault Current is dependent on generation of fault not
fault location.
Normal inverse time Overcurrent Relay is relatively small change in time
per unit of change of current.
Application:
Most frequently used in utility and industrial circuits. especially applicable
where the fault magnitude is mainly dependent on the system generating
capacity at the time of fault.
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Inverse types

3.2. Very Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay

Gives more inverse characteristics than that of IDMT.
Used where there is a reduction in fault current, as the distance from source increases.
Particularly effective with ground faults because of their steep characteristics.
Suitable if there is a substantial reduction of fault current as the fault distance from the power source
increases.

Very inverse overcurrent relays are particularly suitable if the short-circuit current drops rapidly with the
distance from the substation.
The grading margin may be reduced to a value in the range from 0.3 to 0.4 seconds when overcurrent relays
with very inverse characteristics are used.
Used when Fault Current is dependent on fault location.
Used when Fault Current independent of normal changes in generating capacity.
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3.3. Extremely Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay

It has more inverse characteristics than that of IDMT and very inverse overcurrent relay.
Suitable for the protection of machines against overheating.
The operating time of a time overcurrent relay with an extremely inverse time-current characteristic is
approximately inversely proportional to the square of the current
The use of extremely inverse overcurrent relays makes it possible to use a short time delay in spite of high
switching-in currents.
Used when Fault current is dependent on fault location
Used when Fault current independent of normal changes in generating capacity.
Application:
Suitable for protection of distribution feeders with peak currents on switching in (refrigerators, pumps, water
heaters and so on).
Particular suitable for grading and coordinates with fuses and re closes
For the protection of alternators, transformers. Expensive cables, etc.
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3.4. Long Time Inverse Overcurrent Relay

The main application of long time overcurrent relays is as backup earth fault protection.

4. Directional Overcurrent Relays

When the power system is not radial (source on one side of the line), an overcurrent relay may not be able to provide
adequate protection. This type of relay operates in on direction of current flow and blocks in the opposite direction.
Three conditions must be satisfied for its operation: current magnitude, time delay and directionality. The directionality
of current flow can be identified using voltage as a reference of direction.
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Application of Overcurrent Relay

Motor Protection:
Used against overloads and short-circuits in stator windings of motor.
Inverse time and instantaneous overcurrent phase and ground
Overcurrent relays used for motors above 1000 kW.
Transformer Protection:
Used only when the cost of overcurrent relays are not justified.
Extensively also at power-transformer locations for external-fault back-up protection.
Line Protection:
On some sub transmission lines where the cost of distance relaying cannot be justified.
primary ground-fault protection on most transmission lines where distance relays are used for phase faults.
For ground back-up protection on most lines having pilot relaying for primary protection.
Distribution Protection:
Overcurrent relaying is very well suited to distribution system protection for the following reasons:
It is basically simple and inexpensive.
Very often the relays do not need to be directional and hence no PT supply is required.
It is possible to use a set of two O/C relays for protection against inter-phase faults and a separate Overcurrent
relay for ground faults.
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