Power System Protection

MODULE TITLE POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION

Nominal Duration One module

Module Code EB112

Module Purpose This module is designed to enable students tIdentify the

major plant groups, how they are arranged and controlled
in the system and the types of faults to which they are
prone.
Review the principles involved, and the equipment
required, for the detection and measurement of the fault
quantities.
Apply these principles to a variety of schemes to maximise
system integrity and minimise system damage and
consumer disruption.

Relationship to
Competency Standards This module contains the knowledge and skills identified
and agreed by all States and Territories. It has been
developed on the basis that these will be reflected in the
competency standards.

Pre-requisites EA155 Fault Calculations

Summary of Content Identify the types of likely faults for overhead lines, strung
buses, insulated buses, transformers and voltage control
equipment considering various plant configurations.

The principle of operation of over-current, earth fault,

differential and impedance/admittance measuring
protection.

Define selectivity, discrimination (time and current),

stability, sensitivity, reliability, security, primary protection,
duplicate protection, back-up protection and protection
zones

Components used including current/voltage transformers,

summation and multi-tapped CT's and interposing
transformer.

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Power System Protection

Relays including all-or-nothing relays, induction disc relays

"balanced beam" (and derivative) relays, induction
cup/directional relays, biased relays and solid
state/micro-processor based relays.

Communication systems including hardwired (dedicated

and telephone), power line carriers (PLC's), micro-wave
and fibre optics.

Protection schemes applied to lines, buses, transformers

and other major plant items.

Delivery A large part of this module would be delivered in a

classroom situation. Demonstration of the principles is
highly desirable. Access to the relevant Australian
Standards is essential.

Conditions Without access to notes or other material

Assessment Method There must be some descriptive questions requiring a

written answer. Some multiple choice questions may be
included for the following Learning Outcomes.

Learning Outcomes On completion of this module the learner will be able to:

Learning outcome 1 Classify power system plant and rate it based on its
thermal classification. Detail standard plant layouts
and bus structures.

Assessment criteria 1.1 Identify insulation systems methods of rating and

types of faults for:
• Overhead lines
• Strung buses
• Insulated buses
• Transformers
• Voltage control equipment.

1.2 Identify plant layouts and system structures.

• Double circuit feeders
• Tied buses
• Double switching
• Breaker and a half system
• Transformer ended feeders

Conditions Access to reference material and student notes. Access to

standard system drawings.

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 Power System Protection

Learning Outcome 2 Identify the requirements of a good protection scheme

and identify the terminology used.

Assessment criteria 2.1 Outline the principle of operation of the following

basic protection types:

Over-current protection
• Earth fault protection
• Differential protection
• Impedance/admittance measuring protection.

2.2 State the meaning of the following terms:

• Selectivity
• Discrimination (time and current
• Stability
• Sensitivity
• Reliability
• Two protections & two CBs
• Back-up protection - remote and local
• Protection zones

Conditions Access to student notes and relevant circuit diagrams of

protection schemes.

Learning Outcome 3 Identify the components of protection schemes.

Assessment criteria 3.1 Identify the sensing devices used and the australian
Standards applicable.
• Current transformers
• Voltage transformers
• Summation current transformers
• Interposing transformers
• Multi tapped CT's

3.2 Identify and set the relay types in current/common

use.
• All-or-nothing relays
• Induction disc relays
• 'Balanced beam' (and derivative) relays
• Induction cup/directional relays
• Biased relays
• Solid state/micro-processor based relays.

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Power System Protection

3.3 Outline the communication systems in current use.

Identify the advantages and disadvantages and the
need for isolation and/or inter-facing.
• Hard wired (dedicated and telephone)
• Power line carriers (PLCs)
• Micro-wave
• Fibre-optic

Conditions Access to student notes and relevant circuit diagrams of

protection schemes.

Learning Outcome 4 Identify the types of protection applied to buses and

transformers.

Assessment criteria 4.1 Detail the operation of the following protection

applied to buses:
• Bus overload
• Bus differential (bus protection) high and low
impedance
• Earth leakage
• Structure leakage
• Combined schemes
• Protection overlap

4.2 Detail the protection applied to transformers

• Biased differential
• Buchholz
• Hot winding
• Hot oil

Conditions Assess to student notes and circuit diagrams of relevant

bus protection schemes and typical layouts.

Learning Outcome 5 Identify the protection applied to single radial

lines/feeders.

Assessment criteria Detail, given the name, the operation of the particular
protection applied to radial feeders:
• Overcurrent (overload and short circuit)
• Earth leakage
• Earth leakage starting relays
• Auto-reclose/sectionalising
• Over-voltage protection (surge diverters)
• Distance

Conditions Access to students notes and circuit diagrams of relevant

parallel line and feeder protection schemes and typical
layouts.

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 Power System Protection

Learning Outcome 6 Identify the protection applied to transmission lines or

parallel lines/feeders.

Assessment criteria Detail, given the name, the operation of the protection
applied to long transmission lines, parallel lines and parallel
feeders. Overcurrent (and earth leakage)
• Pilot wire
• Directional and directional overcurrent
• Phase comparison, current comparison, current
differential
• Distance protection (impedance and admittance
with or without offset).

Conditions Access to student notes and circuit diagrams of relevant

parallel line and feeder protection schemes and typical
layouts.

Suggested Learning
Resources While no text covers all facets of the module, plant
manuals, manufacturers' data and suppliers' handbooks are
a valuable source of information.

There are two texts which do give broad coverage:

Weedy, B.M., Electric Power Systems, 3ed. Wiley.

Freeman, P. Electric Power Transmission and Distribution

3ed., Harrap.

Also applicable are:

GEC., The Protective Relay Applications Guide.

Wellman, F.E., The Protective Gear Handbook. 2ed.

Pitman.

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