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TypesandApplicationsOfOvercurrentRelay(1)
Index
Types of protection:
1. Unit Type Protection
2. Non-unit schemes
1. Overcurrent protection
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Typesofprotection
1.UnitTypeProtection
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.
Go back to Index
2.Nonunittypeprotection
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
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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.
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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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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VarioustypesofLineFaults
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No
Type of Fault
Operation of Relay
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OvercurrentRelayPurposeandRatings
A relay that operates or picks up when its current exceeds a predetermined value (setting value) is called
Relay.
Overcurrent
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.
several times (5 to 20) full load current. Hence fast fault clearance is always
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PrimaryrequirementofOvercurrentprotection
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.
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PurposeofovercurrentProtection
OvercurrentRelayRatings
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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DifferencebetweenOvercurrentandOverloadprotection
Overcurrent protection protects against excessive currents or currents beyond
resulting from short circuits, ground faults and overload conditions.
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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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TypesofOvercurrentRelay
1.InstantaneousOvercurrentrelay(DefineCurrent)
Definite current relay operate instantaneously when the current reaches a predetermined value.
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2.DefiniteTimeOvercurrentRelays
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.
5. Constant tripping time independent of in feed variation and fault location.
Drawback of Relay:
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
TypesandApplicationsOfOvercurrentRelay(part1)|EEP
The continuity in the supply cannot be maintained at the load end in the event of fault.
Time lag is provided which is not desirable in on short circuits.
It is difficult to co-ordinate and requires changes with the addition of load.
It is not suitable for long distance transmission lines where rapid fault clearance is necessary for stability.
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:
3.InverseTimeOvercurrentRelays(IDMTRelay)
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.
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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.
Widely used for the protection of distribution lines.
Inverse types
Go back to Index
Normal inverse time Overcurrent Relay is relatively small change in time per unit of change of current.
Application:
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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.
Go back to Index
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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The main application of long time overcurrent relays is as backup earth fault protection.
4.DirectionalOvercurrentRelays
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.
Go back to Index
ApplicationofOvercurrentRelay
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.
Go back to Index
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AboutAuthor//
Jignesh Parmar
jiguparmar - Jignesh Parmar has completed M.Tech (Power System Control)
,B.E(Electrical). He is member of Institution of Engineers (MIE),India. Membership
No:M-1473586.He has more than 13 years experience in Transmission -DistributionElectrical Energy theft detection-Electrical Maintenance-Electrical Projects (PlanningDesigning-Technical Review-coordination -Execution). He is Presently associate with one
of the leading business group as a Deputy Manager at Ahmedabad,India. He has published
numbers of Technical Articles in "Electrical Mirror", "Electrical India", "Lighting India",
"Industrial Electrix"(Australian Power Publications) Magazines. He is Freelancer Programmer of Advance Excel
and design useful Excel base Electrical Programs as per IS, NEC, IEC,IEEE codes. He is Technical Blogger and
Familiar with English, Hindi, Gujarati, French languages. He wants to Share his experience & Knowledge and help
technical enthusiasts to find suitable solutions and updating themselves on various Engineering Topics.
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