Topic 1: Power System Protection

1.4: Prt 1
Overcurrent and Earth Fault Protection

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 Over-Current Protection
 Over-current protection is that protection in which the relay
picks up when the magnitude of current exceeds the pickup
level.
 The basic element in OC protection is an OC relay.
 The Over-current relays are connected to the system,
normally by means of CT's
 HRC fuses, drop out fuses, etc. are used in low voltage
medium voltage and high voltage distribution systems,
generally up to 11 kV.
 Thermal relays are used widely for over-current protection

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 Primary Requirements of OC Protection
 OC protection includes the protection from overloads which
is generally provided by thermal relays.
 OC protection includes short-circuit protection. SC currents
are generally several times (5 to 20) full load current. Hence
fast fault clearance is always desirable on short-circuits

 OC protection should not operate for starting currents,

permissible over-current, and current surges. To achieve this,
the time delay is provided (in case of inverse relays). If time
delay cannot be permitted, high-set instantaneous relaying is
used.
 The protection should be coordinated with neighboring over-
current protections so as to discriminate.

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 Applications of OC Protection
 Line Protection
The lines (feeders) can be protected by
1. Instantaneous over-current relays.
2. Definite time Over-current relays
3. Inverse time over-current relays.
4. Directional over-current relay.

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 Applications of OC Protection
 Transformer Protection
 Transformers are provided with OC protection against faults,
only, when the cost of differential relaying cannot be justified.
 OC relays are provided in addition to differential relays to take
care of through faults. Temperature indicators and alarms are
always provided for large transformers.
 Small transformers below 500 kVA installed in distribution
system are generally protected by fuses, as the cost of relays
plus circuit-breakers is not generally justified.

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 Applications of OC Protection
 Motor Protection
 OCprotection is the basic type of protection used against
overloads and short-circuits in stator windings of motors.
Inverse time and instantaneous phase and ground OC relays can
be employed for motors above 1200 H.P.
 For small/medium size motors where cost of CT's and
protective relays is not economically justified, thermal relays
and HRC fuses are employed, thermal relays used for overload
protection and HRC fuses for short-circuit protection.

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 Types of Overcurrent Relays
a. Instantaneous Overcurrent Relays.
These relays operate, or pick-up at a specific
value of current,
with no intentional time delay.The pick-up
setting is usually
adjustable by means of a dial, or by plug
settings.

b. Timed Overcurrent Relays.

Two types:
1. Definite Time Lag
2. IDMT Relay
(Inverse Definite Minimum Time)
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 Definite Time Lag - O/C Relay
 For the first option, the relays are graded using a definite time interval
of approximately 0.5 s. The relay R3 at the extremity of the network
is set to operate in the fastest possible time, whilst its upstream relay
R2 is set 0.5 s higher. Relay operating times increase sequentially at
0.5 s intervals on each section moving back towards the source as
shown
 The problem with this philosophy is, the closer the fault to the source
the higher the fault current, the slower the clearing time – exactly the
opposite to what we should be trying to achieve.

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 IDMT - O/C Relay
 On the other hand, inverse curves as shown operate faster at
higher fault currents and slower at the lower fault currents,
thereby offering us the features that we desire. This explains
why the IDMT philosophy has become standard practice
throughout many countries over the years.

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Time t
I2
This gives an inverse characteristic.
(the higher the current - the shorter
the rotating time)
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 OC IDMT Relay
Inverse Definite Minimum Time C/C

t DIFFERENT CURVES
AVAILABLE FROM
MANUFACTURERS
-Normal Inverse
-Very Inverse
-Extremely Inverse

Definite Minimum Time

DEFINITE MINIMUM Times PICK-UP CURRENT

PICK-UP CURRENT I

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 IDMT Relay
The relay characteristic is such that for very high fault currents the relay
will operate in it's definite minimum time of 0.2 seconds. For lower
values of fault current the operating time is longer.

For example, at a relay current of

16 Amps, the operating time is 0.4
seconds. The relay has a definite
minimum pick-up current of 4
Amps. This minimum pick-up
current must, of course, be greater
than the maximum load on the
feeder.

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 Overcurrent IDMT Relays
 The electro-mechanical version of
the IDMT relay has an induction
disc. The disc must rotate through
a definite sector before the
tripping contacts are closed.

Time Setting
Multiplier

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 13
Adjustments of OC IDMT Relay
a) The time multiplier setting:
This adjusts the operating time at a
given multiple of setting current,
by altering by means of the torsion
head, the distance that the disc has
to travel before contact is made.
This dial rotates the disc and its accompanying moving contact closer
to the fixed contact, thereby reducing the amount of distance to be
traveled by the moving contact, hence speeding up the tripping time of
the relay.

This has the effect of moving the inverse curve down the axis as
shown below.
 OC IDMT Relay
This gives the relay a very wide
range of setting characteristics, and Normal Inverse
allows the relay setting to be C/C
coordinated with other protection
devices, such as fuses, on adjacent
power system elements

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 Adjustments of OC IDMT Relay 15

a) The current pick-up or plug setting: This adjusts the setting current by
means of a plug bridge, which varies the effective turns on the upper
electromagnet.
Current
Tap Setting
50%-200%

Current
Plug Setting

This setting determines the level of current at which the relay will
start or pick-up
OC IDMT Relays Current
Tap Setting
50%-200%

Plug Bridge

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 17

Effect of Settings and Coordination Curves

Plug setting effect Time Multiplier

on curve
setting effect on curve
 OC IDMT Relay

Magneto-motive-force: mmf = N.I

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 OC IDMT Relay
This curve shows the relay will operate in 3 seconds at 10
times the plug setting (with the time multiplier =1)

3.0
t  TMS
log PSM

3.0
t TMS 1
log PSM

If
PSM 
I pickup

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 Different Curves
 The most common type used is:
 NORMAL INVERSE CURVE.
 Characteristic shows a 3 second operation at
10  the current plug setting
i.e. if the plug bridge is set at 1 A and when 10 A
flows through, the relay will close its contacts after
3 seconds - sometimes called a 3/10 relay

 Other characteristic curves are also available:

 Very Inverse
 Extremely Inverse
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Relay characteristics to IEC 60255

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IFC Relay (VI characteristics)

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 Example
Calculate:
 Plug setting (PS)
 Time multiplier setting (TMS)
for an IDMTL relay on the
following network so that it
will trip in 2.4 seconds.

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 Answer
 Fault Current = 1000 A
 CT Ratio = 100/5
If
 Hence current into relay = CTR =1000  5 /100 = 50A

 Choose plug setting (PS) of 5 A (100%) PS=1.0

 Therefore current into relay as a multiple of plug setting
If 50
PSM    10 times PSM=10
Ipickup 5
 Referring to curves on the next page, read off Time Multiplier
setting where 10 times and 2.4 seconds cross …namely 0.8.
TSM=0.8
Relay settings = Plug Setting PS = 5 A (PS = 100%)
= Time S ettingMultiplier (TSM = 0.8) 24
IDMT Relay

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 IDMT Settings
 This technique is fine if the required setting falls
exactly on the TM curve.
 If not….
 Go to the multiple of plug setting current and read
off the seconds value corresponding to the 1.0
Time Multiplier curve. Then divide the desired
time setting by this figure. This will give the exact
Time Multiplier setting:
 Seconds figure at 10 times = 3 (TSM=1)
 Desired Setting = 2.4
 Therefore Time Setting Multiplier = 2.4/3 = 0.8
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IDMT Relay

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 IDMT Relay
 Alternatively, if the current plug setting is chosen as 125% (6.25 A),
the PSM of the relay will be PSM=50/6.25=8 . The graph shows that
8 times plug setting to operate in 2.4 seconds, the time multiplier
should be about 0.7.
 This technique is fine if the required setting falls exactly on the TM
curve. However, if the desired setting falls between the curves, it is
not easy to estimate the intermediate setting accurately as the scales
of the graph are log/log. The following procedure is therefore
recommended:
 Go to the multiple of plug setting current and read the seconds value
corresponding to the 1.0 TM curve. Then divide the desired time
setting by this figure. This will give the exact time multiplier setting:
Seconds value at 10 times =3 (at 8 times =3.4)
Desired time (setting) = 2.4
TSM=2.4/3.0=0.8 or 2.4/3.4 =0.7 in the second case

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 Pickup Calculation - Electromechanical Relays
The relay should pick-up for current values
above the motor FLC ( ~ 600 A).
For the IFC53, the available ampere-tap
(AT) settings are 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 1, 1.2,
1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, & 4.
For this type of relay, the primary IFC 53 RELAY
pickup current was calculated as: Very Inverse

IPickup = IFL/CTR =600/(800/5) =3.75

Set IPickup = 4 A (secondary)
IPickup = 4  CTR (primary)
= 4 (800/5)
= 640 A > IFL

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Pickup Calculation - EM Relays

TD

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 British Standard 142 and IEC 255 Inverse Curves

 C/C 
t  TMS  
Ir 1  Normal 0.02 00.14
where:  Very 1.00 13.50
 t = operating time in secs.  Extreme 2.00 80.00
 TMS = time multiplier setting  Long Time 1.00 120.00
 Ir= (I/Is)
• I=measured current
• Is= relay setting current
  &  are constants
for curve selection

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IEC Standard Inverse Time Characteristic
Relay characteristics to IEC 60255

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 IEC Standard Inverse Time Characteristic
Relay characteristics to IEC 60255

0.014
t  TMS  0.02
M 1
Standard Inverse C/C 33
 IEEE Standard Inverse Time Characteristic
Pickup Time of an Inverse -Time Overcurrent Relay, for M > 1

 tp: is the trip time in equation in seconds

 A 
t p   p  B   TDS  TDS: is the time dial setting
 Ir 1   Ir : is the Iinput/Ipickup
 (Ipickup is the relay current set point)
 A, B, p : are constants to provide
selected curve characteristics

C/C A B p
Moderately Inverse 0.0515 0.1140 0.020
Very Inverse 19.61 0.491 2.000
Extremely Inverse 28.20 0.1217 2.00
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IEEE Standard Inverse Time Characteristic

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 Methods of CT and Relay Connections in
OC Protection of 3-Phase Circuits
OC protection can be achieved by means of three OC relays or
by two OC relays
1 Two OC relays with two CT's for
phase to phase fault protection.

2 Three OC relays with three CT's for

phase to phase fault protection.

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 Methods of CT and Relay Connections in
OC Protection of 3-Phase Circuits

3 Three OC relays with three CT's for

phase to phase fault protection and
phase to earth fault.

EF setting less than phase fault

setting

4 Two OC relays for phase to phase

protection
One EF relays for phase to earth
fault protection

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