Technical Note

TOL3Dev trip time calculation

11 March 2005
Written by V.Lehesvuo
Checked by
Approved by
ABB Oy, Distribution Automation
1. THERMAL PROTECTION EQUATIONS
The documentation of the TOL3Dev function block presents an equation for calculating the
temperature rise above the ambient temperature
( )
(
(

|
.
|

\
|
A
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
.
|

\
|
A
|
|
.
|

\
|
= A

2 1
1 1 1
2 2
t t
u u u
t
n
n
t
n
n
e
I
I
p e
I
I
p
. (1)
This equation can be simplified
( )
(

|
.
|

\
|
+
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
A = A

2 1
1 1 1
2
t t
u u
t t
n
n
e p e p
I
I
, (2)
but the drawback is that it does not tell the whole truth, only the temperature rise at time t. The full
equation is
( )

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
(

|
.
|

\
|
+
|
.
|

\
|

(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
A + =

2 2 2
2 1
1 1 1
n
P
t t
n
P
n
n Amb
I
I
e p e p
I
I
I
I
t t
u u u
(3)
Where u = temperature at any the time t, starting from overload
u
Amb
= ambient temperature (in degrees Celsius)
Au
n
= temperature rise (setting)
I = current
I
n
= nominal current
I
p
= prior load current (long time current before overload)
p = weighting factor (setting)
t = time (in minutes) starting from the overload
t
1
= short time-constant (setting, in minutes)
t
2
= long time-constant (setting, in minutes)
Note that equation 3 does not take into account the Trip temperature setting at Basic Settings if set
not to 100%
2. CALCULATION OF THE OPERATION TIME
The operation time (t) is used at two nasty place in the equation 3, which makes it impossible to
analytically solve. I.e. no such equation exist that gives operation time t like it would be possible in any
single time-constant thermal model.
The solution can be found by using numeric mathematic.
Page 2 (2)

1) One solution is to use equation 1 and by cumulatively with a small time step calculate
temperature rise. This is the way how the relay has to do it: continuonsly the relay calculates how much
the temperature has been changes since the last calculation and sum up this new value to the old value.
The drawback in trip time calculation is obvious: a 60 second operation time calculated in 0,1 sec steps
requires 600 re-calculations.
2) An other way is to solve one t out from the equation and leave one t in. This kind of equations
are called recursive equations. To start, any value must be given to t. Recursive equation will then give
a new t which is (hopefully) closer to the real solution. With this new t the calculation is done again
and again so long time that the t does not change anymore. If this happens it is said that the solution
convergates closer and closer towards to the real solution. Many iterative calculations is needed.
3) Perhaps the best way is to use equation 3 and to start with arbitrary value (known as seed) in t.
First, the temperature is calculated with the 1
st
arbitrary value of t. At the moment of trip the
temperature should be the setting maximum temperature allowed. Next, we calculate new
t = old_t x (Max / calculated_value). This procedure must be repeated until the equation gives correct
value (=Max.temperature allowed). I.e. also this solution is iterative. The advantage is that it is simple
to understand and it convergates every time.
Example step by step:
1. t is assumed to be 30 seconds (a good average guess)
2. temperature u is calculated (equation 3)
3.
u
allowed temp Max
t t
. .
=
4. Repeat steps 2-3 until u=max.temp.allowed (or t does not change anymore)
Approximately 5 to 10 iterative calculation gives quite accurate operation time. The iterative process
can be accelerated by using for example secant-method (relative to well known Taylor method).
For rotating machines the operation time must be calculated separately for stator and rotor, because the
settings are not the same. The smallest operation time will (naturally) cause the tripping.
3. SIMPLIFIED EQUATIONS WHEN WEIGHTING FACTOR p=0 OR p=1
When the weighting factor p=1 only the short time-constant is used and the long time-constant does
not effect. When p=0 only the long time-constant is used. In these situations the trip time can be solved
as follows (does not take into account the 'Trip temperature' setting).

(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
A
|
|
.
|

\
|
A
=
2 2
2
1 ln
n
p
n
n
n
p
n Amb Max
I
I
I
I
I
I
t
u
u u u
t (4)
Where u
Max
= maximum temperature setting (in degrees Celsius)
ln = natural logarithm
Note that equation 4 does not take into account the Trip temperature setting at Basic Settings if set
not to 100%