Chapter Two

Relays Types And Characteristics

by Dr. Negasa Muleta

 TYPES OF RELAYS (Structure)

 Electromechanical relays:

 Solid state relays:

 Time delay relays:

 Thermal relays:

 Microprocessor Based Relays (MBPR)

 TYPES OF RELAYS
Electromagnetic Relays (EMRs)
◦EMRs consist of an input coil that's wound to accept a particular
voltage signal, plus a set of one or more contacts that rely on an
armature (or lever) activated by the energized coil to open or
close an electrical circuit
 TYPES OF RELAYS
Solid-State Relays (SSRs)
◦SSRs use semiconductor output instead of mechanical
contacts to switch the circuit.
◦The output device is optically-coupled by optocoupler to
LED light source inside the relay.
◦The opto-isolator isolates the input from the output.
◦The relay is turned on by energizing this LED, usually with
low-voltage DC power.
 TYPES OF RELAYS
Solid-State Relays (SSRs)
 Advantage of Solid State Relay (Static Relays)
 Higher reliability: Static relays have no moving parts, which means they are
less likely to fail or require maintenance compared to electromechanical
relays.
 Faster response time: Static relays have faster response times than
electromechanical relays, allowing for quicker operation in critical
applications.
 Improved accuracy: Static relays offer better accuracy and precision in
sensing and controlling electrical parameters.
 Reduced noise and vibration: Since static relays do not have moving parts,
they do not produce noise or vibration during operation.
 Lower power consumption: Static relays typically consume less power than
electromechanical relays, making them more energy-efficient.
 Compact size: Static relays are usually smaller and lighter than
electromechanical relays, making them easier to install and integrate into
existing systems.
 Enhanced flexibility: Static relays can be programmed and customized to
meet specific application requirements, offering greater flexibility in control
and monitoring functions.
 Limitations of Static Relays
 Limited functionality: Static relays are designed to perform specific
functions and have limited flexibility to adapt to changing requirements or
conditions.
 Lack of communication capabilities: Static relays do not have built-in
communication capabilities, which limits their ability to interact with other
devices or systems in a networked environment.
 Sensitivity to electromagnetic interference: Static relays are more
susceptible to electromagnetic interference compared to electromagnetic
relays, which can affect their performance and reliability.
 Limited monitoring and diagnostic capabilities: Static relays may not
provide detailed diagnostic information or monitoring capabilities, making
it difficult to troubleshoot problems or predict failures.
 Higher cost: Static relays can be more expensive than electromagnetic
relays due to their complex design and advanced technology.
 Limited fault detection: Static relays may not be able to detect all types of
faults or abnormalities, which can impact the overall reliability of the
system.
 TYPES OF RELAYS
Time delay relays
 Type of relay that has a built-in time delay function.
 Will not immediately activate when it is energized but will wait for a set
amount of time before doing so.
 Time delay relays are used in various applications such as motor control,
lighting control, and automated systems to prevent short cycling or
provide a time delay for specific operations.
 They can be configured to delay the on or off function, depending on the
requirements of the system.
 Time delay relays typically consist of a control circuit, a timing mechanism,
and one or more sets of relay contacts.
 TYPES OF RELAYS
Thermal relays:
 Used to provide electro mechanical protection to electric motors from
overloading and also drawing extreme input
 Provide huge protection from stable electrical damages throughout
electrical anomalies like over-voltages & phase failure.
 Once the system is in normal operating condition, then the spring will
remain straight.
 So when any fault takes place on the system, the coil heated, then the
bimetallic spring will be heated & bends.
 The strain of the spring will release to trip the contacts of the relay.
 So the relay contact will energize the trip circuit die to which the circuit
breaker contacts close.
 TYPES OF RELAYS

 Thermal relays
 TYPES OF RELAYS
Microprocessor Based Relays (MBPR)
 Commonly used in power system monitoring and protection.
 They are also more resistant to external influences such as temperature and
vibrations, making them more reliable in harsh operating conditions.
 Include multiple protection functions, communication capabilities for
remote monitoring and control, event logging and fault diagnostics, and the
ability to be easily integrated into modern digital control systems.
 Used in industrial and utility electrical systems to protect against faults,
overloads, and other electrical disturbances that could potentially damage
equipment or cause safety hazards.
 TYPES OF RELAYS

Microprocessor Based Relays (MBPR)

 Advantages/Disadvantages
 Electromagnetic Relays (EMRs)
◦Simplicity
◦Not expensive
◦Mechanical Wear

 Solid-state Relays (SSRs)

◦No Mechanical movements
◦Faster than EMR
◦No sparking between contacts
 Microprocessor-based Relay
◦Much higher precision and more reliable and durable.
◦Improve the reliability and power quality of electrical power
systems before, during and after faults occur.
◦Capable of both digital and analog I/O.
◦Higher cost
Relay type with regarding to operation
 Earth Fault protection Relay
 Directional Relay
 Distance Relay
 Differential Relay
EARTH FAULT PROTECTION:
 When the fault current flows through the earth return path, the
fault is called Earth Fault.
Methods of earth fault protection
1. Residually connected Earth Fault Relay:
EARTH FAULT PROTECTION:

 EARTH FAULT PROTECTION:
2. Earth Fault Relay connected in
Neutral & Earth Circuit
 Relay is connected to secondary of
CT whose primary of the CT is
connected in neutral to earth
connection.
 In such protection, the fault current
finds the return path through the
neutral-to-earth connection.
 The magnitude of Earth Fault current
is dependent on type of earthling &
location of fault.
 Protection the zone of protection
cannot be accurately defined.
 The protected area is not restricted
to the equipment alone.
 The relay senses the Earth Fault
beyond the generator/transformer
winding.
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 EARTH FAULT PROTECTION:
3. Combined Earth Fault & phase fault protection:
 It is convenient to incorporate phase-fault relays & Earth Fault
relay in a combined phase-fault & Earth Fault protection.
 The increase in current of phase causes corresponding
increase in respective secondary currents of CT.
 The secondary currents flows through the respective relay
units.

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 EARTH FAULT PROTECTION:
4. Earth Fault Protection with core balance
C.T:
 A single ring shaped core of magnetic

material encircles the conductor of all
the 3-phases.
 A secondary coil is connected to a relay
unit.
 During no Earth Fault condition, the
components of fluxes due to the fields
of three conductors are balanced & the
secondary current is negligible.

 During Earth Fault, such a balance

disturbed & current is flowing through
the secondary.
 Core balance protection can be
conveniently Applicable for protection 19
 Directional type relay
 The direction relay operates for the specific
direction of the actuating quantity in the
circuit.
 The relay work on the direction of current
or power flow in the circuit
 These relays are used to protect the system
from faults such as reverse power flow,
motor overloads, and transformer faults.
 In the directional power relay the torque is
produced due to interaction of fluxes
produced from both PT and CT.
 The interaction of fluxes produces the disc
rotation then tripping of the ckt
 The relay has two windings one as a voltage
coil which is energized from PT. the lower
magnet carries the current coil which is
energized from CT
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Assignment 1:

 Explain briefly the operating principle of directional relay in power

system

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 Distance Protection
 Distance relays are double actuating quantity relays with one coil energized
by voltage & other coil energized by current.
 During a fault on a T’line the fault current increases & the voltage at fault
point reduces.
 based on the determination of the fault impedance from the measured
short-circuit voltage and current at the relay location
 Torque produced is such that when V/I reduces below a set value, the relay
operates.
 Each value of V/I measured from relay location corresponding to distance
between the relaying point (PT location)& the fault along the line.
 Hence such protection is called Impedance or Distance protection.
 The operating time of the relay automatically increases with an increase of
V/I ratio

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 Distance Protection
 Impedance or reactance of the circuit between the relay & the fault is
proportional to the distance between them provided the relay
actuating quantities (V & I) are properly chosen.
 Principle types of distance relays are …
 Impedance relay
 reactance relay
 admittance or mho relay
 ohm relay
 offset mho relay
 Relay which measures the plain impedance (Z) are called impedance
relays.
 Relays which measures impedance but respond to faults on one
direction only are called directional impedance relay.
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Assignment 2:

 Explain briefly the Operating principle of Distance relay in power

system

26
 Types of relay with its standard name
 21- Distance relay  63=Gas pressure relay
 25 =synchronizing-check  64= Ground protective relay
device  67 =AC directional over
 27= Under voltage relay current relay
69=Permissive control device
 40- Loss of Field Relay

 74 =Alarm relay
 43= Manual transfer or
 79= Reclosing relay
selector device
 81=Under frequency Relay
 46- Negative Sequence relay  86= Locking-out relay
 50 =Instantaneous over  87=Differential protective relay
current relay  27G=Third harmonic
 51 =Time over current relay supervision Relay
 52 =AC circuit breaker  59G=Generator Ground Relay
 57 =Grounding device  27G=Third harmonic
 59 =Overvoltage relay59G- supervision Relay

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 Differential Protection
 A differential relay responds to a vector difference between two
or more similar electrical quantities.
 In general, differential relay should have at least two actuating
quantities. i1- i2, v1-v2
 The two actuating quantities should be similar.
 Since, the relay responds to the vector difference between two
quantities (i.e. I1-I2), which includes magnitude &/or phase angle
difference.

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 Differential relays
 A differential relay operates when the phasor difference of two or
more similar electrical quantities exceeds a predetermined value.
 Thus a current differential relay operates on the result of comparison
between the phase angle and magnitudes of the currents entering and
leaving the system to be protected.
 Under normal condition, the two currents are equal in phase and
magnitude hence relay is inoperative. (I1-I2 = 0)
 But under fault condition, the difference between current entering
and current leaving flows through the operating coil.
 If this difference current exceeds a preset value, then the relay
operates and open the circuit breaker.
(I1-I2≠ 0)
 It involves a direct comparison of the magnitude and phase of the
protected equipment or section.
 Differential Protection
There is two operating characteristics of the differential relay
- Operating characteristics
- Restraining characteristics.
• The operating characteristics are (basically concerned on the internal
faults)
1. Current setting
– This setting determines its sensitivity on internal faults. The normal
range of current setting varies from 10 to 100 percent of rated
current.

2. Operating time
– This depends on the type of relay and the magnitude of fault current.
– This time varies from 25 to 500 ms at two times the current setting
depending on the type of relay.
 Differential Protection
Restraining Characteristics of Differential Relay
 The following restraining characteristics are used depending on
requirements
Differential Protection types

o Percentage or bias differential relay

o Voltage balance differential relay

o Current differential relay

 Differential Protection
Percentage Differential Relay
• This type of relay has bias windings to provide stability on
external faults.
– The percent bias provided varies from 5 to 50 percent
depending on application and requirements.
– Operating current settings provided in these relays
normally vary from 10 to 100 percent.
– An inherent time delay is sometimes provided to overcome
unwanted operation on magnetizing inrush currents.
 Differential Protection

 Differential Protection
Voltage balance differential
relay
 The voltage balance differential
relay uses the air core CTs in
which the voltages induces
regarding current.
 When the fault occurs in the
protection zone, the current in
the CTs become unbalance
because of which the voltage in
the secondary of the CTs
disturbs.
 The current starts flowing
through the operating coil.
 Differential Protection
Current differential relay
 Most of the differential relays are current differential type
 Consider an over current relay connected in the circuit so as to
operate as the current differential relay.
 Two current transformers are used having same ratio are
connected on either side of the section to be protected.