MCAG 14/34, MFAC 14/34

Application Guide
High Stability Circulating Current Relay
Publication Reference:

- ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it
is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without liability and is
subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.

R6136D

MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

Application Guide

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
1.1
The MCAG14/34

3
4

1.1.1
1.1.2
1.1.3

5
6
7

Applying the MCAG14/34

Use of Metrosil nonlinear resistors - MCAG14/34
Applying the MFAC14/34

TYPICAL SETTING EXAMPLES

2.1
Restricted earth fault protection using MFAC14

12
12

2.1.1
2.1.2

Voltage setting
Current transformer requirements

12
13

2.2

Restricted earth fault protection using MCAG14

13

2.2.1
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.2.4

Stability voltage
Stabilising resistor
Current transformer requirements
Metrosil non-linear resistor requirements

13
14
14
15

2.3

Generator winding differential protection using MCAG34

16

2.3.1
2.3.2
2.3.3
2.3.4

Stability voltage
Stabilising resistor
Current transformer requirements
Metrosil non-linear resistor requirements

17
17
18
18

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Application Guide

MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

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MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

Application Guide

INTRODUCTION
The application of the MCAG14/34 and MFAC14/34 relays to the protection of machines, power
transformers and busbar installations is based on the high impedance differential principle, offering
stability for any type of fault occurring outside the protected zone and satisfactory operation for faults
within the zone
A high impedance relay is defined as a relay or relay circuit whose voltage setting is not less than the
calculated maximum voltage which can appear across its terminals under the assigned maximum
through fault current condition.
It can be seen from Figure 1, that during an external fault the through fault current should circulate
between the current transformer secondaries. The only current that can flow through the relay circuit
is that due to any difference in the current transformer outputs for the same primary current. Magnetic
saturation will reduce the output of a current transformer and the most extreme case for stability will be
if one current transformer is completely saturated and the other unaffected. This condition can be
approached in busbar installations due to the multiplicity of infeeds and extremely high fault level. It is
less likely with machines or power transformers due to the limitation of through fault level by the
protected units impedance, and the fact that the comparison is made between a limited number of
current transformers. Differences in current transformer remanent flux can, however, result in
asymmetric current transformer saturation with all applications.

P4690ENa

Figure 1: Principle of high impedance protection

Calculations based on the above extreme case for stability have become accepted in lieu of
conjunctive scheme testing as being a satisfactory basis for application. At one end the current
transformer can be considered fully saturated with its magnetising impedance ZMB short circuited while
the current transformer at the other end, being unaffected, delivers its full current output which will
then divide between the relay and the saturated current transformer. This division will be in the
inverse ratio of RRELAY CIRCUIT and RCTB 2 RL and obviously, if RRELAY CIRCUIT is high compared with

RCTB 2 RL , the relay will be prevented from undesirable operation, as most of the current will pass
through the saturated current transformer.
To achieve stability for external faults, the stability voltage for the protection Vs must be determined
in accordance with formula 1 for the MCAG and MFAC. The setting will be dependent upon the
maximum current transformer secondary current for an external fault f and also on the highest

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MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

Application Guide

loop resistance value between the current transformer common point and any of the current
transformers RCT 2 RL .

Vs f RCT 2 RL

________

Where RCT = current transformer secondary winding resistance

RL = maximum lead resistance from the current transformer to the common point
Note:

When high impedance differential protection is applied to motors or reactors, the external fault
current will be low. Therefore, the locked rotor current or starting current of the motor, or reactor
inrush current, should be used in place of the external fault current.

To ensure satisfactory operation of the relay under internal fault conditions the current transformer
kneepoint voltage should not be less than twice the relay voltage setting i.e. VK 2VS for the MCAG
and MFAC.
The kneepoint voltage of a current transformer marks the upper limit of the roughly linear portion of the
secondary winding excitation characteristic and is defined exactly in British practice as that point on
the excitation curve where a 10% increase in exciting voltage produces a 50% increase in exciting
current.
The current transformers should be of equal ratio, of similar magnetising characteristics and of low
reactance construction. In cases where low reactance current transformers are not available and high
reactance ones must be used. It is essential to use in the calculations for the voltage setting, the
reactance of the current transformer and express the current transformer impedance as a complex
number in the form RCT jX CT . It is also necessary to ensure that the exciting impedance of the
current transformer is large in comparison with its secondary ohmic impedance at the relay setting
voltage.

1.1

The MCAG14/34
The MCAG14/34 is an electromechanical current calibrated relay with setting ranges of:
0.025 - 0.100A
0.050 - 0.200A
0.100 - 0.400A
0.200 - 0.800A
0.250 - 1.00A
0.500 - 2.00A
1.00

- 4.00A

The relay has a fixed burden of approximately 1VA at setting current and its impedance varies with the
setting current used. To comply with the definition for a high impedance relay, it is necessary, in most
applications, to utilise an externally mounted stabilising resistor in series with the relay coil.
The standard ratings of the stabilising resistors normally supplied with the relay are 470220and
47for 0.5A, 1A and 5A current transformer secondary respectively. In applications such as busbar
protection, where higher values of stabilising resistor are often required to obtain the desired relay
voltage setting, non-standard resistor values can be supplied. The standard resistors are wire wound,
continuously adjustable and have a continuous rating of 145W.

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MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

1.1.1

Application Guide

Applying the MCAG14/34

The recommended relay current setting for restricted earth fault protection is usually determined by the
minimum fault current available for operation of the relay and whenever possible it should not be
greater than 30% of the minimum fault level. For busbar protection, it is considered good practice by
some utilities to set the minimum primary operating current in excess of the rated load. Thus, if one of
the current transformers becomes open circuit the high impedance relay does not mal-operate. The
MVTP11/31 (busbar supervision relay) should give an alarm for open circuit conditions but will not stop
a mal-operation if the relay is set below rated load.
In the case of the high impedance relay, the operating current is adjustable in discrete steps. The
primary operating current op will be a function of the current transformer ratio, the relay operating

current r , the number of current transformers in parallel with a relay element n and the

magnetising current of each current transformer e at the stability voltage Vs . This relationship
can be expressed in three ways:
To determine the maximum current transformer magnetising current to achieve a specific primary
operating current with a particular relay operating current.

1x op

r
n CT ratio

To determine the maximum relay current setting to achieve a specific primary operating current with a
given current transformer magnetising current.

op
r
n e

CT ratio
To express the protection primary operating current for a particular relay operating current and with a
particular level of magnetising current.

op CT ratio x r n e
To achieve the required primary operating current with the current transformers that are used, a
current setting r must be selected for the high impedance relay, as detailed in the second

RST must be calculated in the following

manner, where the setting is a function of the relay ohmic impedance at setting Rr , the required
stability voltage setting Vs and the relay current setting r .
expression above. The setting of the stabilising resistor

RST

Note:

Vs
Rr
Ir

The MCAG14/34 is a fixed burden relay, therefore the ohmic impedance of the relay will vary with
setting. The ohmic impedance

Rr of the MCAG14/34 can be calculated using the relay VA

burden at current setting (B) and the relay current setting

r ; Rr

B
I 2r

The stabilising resistor supplied is continuously adjustable up to its maximum declared resistance. In
some applications, such as generator winding differential protection, the through fault current is low
which results in a low stability voltage setting. In many such cases, a negative stabilising resistor
value can be obtained from the above formula. This negative result indicates that the relay will be
more than stable without a stabilising resistor. When a stabilising resistor is not required, the setting

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MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

Application Guide

voltage

VSA can be calculated using the following formula and the current transformer kneepoint

voltage should be at least twice this value.

VSA

1.1.2

B
Ir

Use of Metrosil nonlinear resistors - MCAG14/34

When the maximum through fault current is limited by the protected circuit impedance, such as in the
case of generator differential and power transformer restricted earth fault protection, it is generally
found unnecessary to use non-linear voltage limiting resistors (metrosils). However, when the
maximum through fault current is high, such as in busbar protection, it is always advisable to use a
non-linear resistor (metrosil) across the relay circuit (relay and stabilising resistor).
Metrosils are used to limit the peak voltage developed by the current transformers under internal fault
conditions, to a value below the insulation level of the current transformers, relay and interconnecting
leads, which are normally able to withstand 3000V peak.
The following formulae should be used to estimate the peak transient voltage that could be produced
for an internal fault. The peak voltage produced during an internal fault will be a function of the current
transformer kneepoint voltage and the prospective voltage that would be produced for an internal fault
if current transformer saturation did not occur. This prospective voltage will be a function of maximum
internal fault secondary current, the current transformer ratio, the current transformer secondary
winding resistance, the current transformer lead resistance to the common point, the relay lead
resistance, the stabilising resistor value and the relay VA burden at relay operating current.

V p 2 2 V K V f V K
V f f RCT 2 RL RST Rr
Where

V p = peak voltage developed by the CT under internal fault conditions

VK = current transformer knee-point voltage

V f = maximum voltage that would be produced if CT saturation did not occur

I f = maximum internal secondary fault current
Rct = current transformer secondary winding resistance
RL = maximum lead burden from current transformer to relay

RST = relay stabilising resistor

Rr = Relay ohmic impedance at setting
When the value given by the formulae is greater than 3000V peak, non-linear resistors (metrosils)
should be applied. These non-linear resistors (metrosils) are effectively connected across the relay
circuit, or phase to neutral of the ac buswires, and serve the purpose of shunting the secondary
current output of the current transformer from the relay in order to prevent very high secondary
voltages.
These non-linear resistors (metrosils) are externally mounted and take the form of annular discs, of
152mm diameter and approximately 10mm thickness. Their operating characteristics follow the
expression:

V = C 0 .25
Where V = instantaneous voltage applied to the non-linear resistor (metrosil)

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MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

Application Guide

C = constant of the nonlinear resistor (metrosi)

I = instantaneous current through the non-linear resistor (metrosil)

With a sinusoidal voltage applied across the metrosil, the RMS current would be approximately 0.52x
the peak current. This current value can be calculated as follows;

Vsrms x 2 4

rms 0.52

Where Vs rms = rms value of the sinusoidal voltage applied across the metrosil
This is due to the fact that the current waveform through the nonlinear resistor (metrosil) is not
sinusoidal but appreciably distorted. For satisfactory application of a non-linear resistor (metrosil), its
characteristic should be such that it complies with the following requirements:
At the relay voltage setting, the nonlinear resistor (metrosil) current should be as low as possible, but
no greater than approximately 30mA rms for 1A current transformers and approximately 100mA rms
for 5A current transformers.
At the maximum secondary current, the non-linear resistor (metrosil) should limit the voltage to 1500V
rms or 2120V peak for 0.25 second. At higher relay voltage settings, it is not always possible to limit
the fault voltage to 1500V rms, so higher fault voltages may have to be tolerated.

1.1.3

Applying the MFAC14/34

As the MFAC14/34 is a voltage calibrated relay with setting ranges of 25-175V in 25V steps, 25-325V
in 50V steps and 15-185V in 5V steps, it is inherently a high impedance relay requiring no external
resistors. Due to the relay circuit impedance always being relatively high, significant voltages can be
produced across the current transformers and secondary wiring during an internal fault. To limit the
voltage to a value below the insulation level of the current transformers, relay and interconnecting
leads, a non-linear resistor (metrosil) is always required and should always be used by connecting in
parallel with the relay. Refer to metrosil publication for selection chart).
The operating current is virtually fixed at around 20mA, but there is some slight variation with relay
voltage setting as a result of variation in the current drawn by the non-linear resistor (metrosil). The
operating current, including the nonlinear resistor (metrosil) current, for the various voltage settings is
stated to the right:
The relay effective current setting can be calculated in the same manner as described for the
MCAG14/34. For busbar protection, it is considered good practice by some utilities to set the
minimum primary operating current in excess of the rated load. Thus, if one of the current
transformers becomes open circuit the MFAC14/34 does not mal-operate. The MVTP11/31 (busbar
supervision relay) should give an alarm for open circuit conditions but will not stop a mal-operation if
the relay is set below rated load. Thus, if the resultant value of op is too low, it may be increased by
the addition of a shunt resistor (RSH) to give a current of:

SH

VS
RSH

The increased primary operating current with the shunt resistor connected is:

op CT ratio x r n e I SH
Setting range: 25-175V

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Setting Voltage

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

Ir (mA)

19

19

20

23

27

36

53

MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

Application Guide

Setting range: 25-325V

Setting Voltage

25

75

125

175

225

275

325

Ir (mA)

19

19

20

22

24

31

44

Figures 2 to 8 show how high impedance relays can be applied in a number of different situations.

P4691ENa

Figure 2: Phase and earth fault differential protection for generators, motors or reactors

P4692ENa

Figure 3: Restricted earth fault protection for a 3 phase, 3 wire system-applicable to star
connected generators or power transformer windings

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MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

Application Guide

P4693ENa

Figure 4: Balanced or restricted earth fault protection for delta winding of a power transformer
with supply system earthed

P4694ENa

Figure 5: Restricted earth fault protection for 3 phase, 4 wire system-applicable to star
connected generators or power transformer windings with neutral earthed at
switchgear

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Application Guide

MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

P4695ENa

Figure 6: Restricted earth fault protection for 3 phase 4 wire system applicable to star
connected generators or power transformer windings earthed directly at the star
point

P4696ENa

Figure 7: Phase and earth fault differential protection for an auto-transformer with CTs at the
neutral star point

10

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MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

Application Guide

P4697ENa

Figure 8: Busbar protection - simple single zone phase and earth fault scheme

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Application Guide

TYPICAL SETTING EXAMPLES

2.1

Restricted earth fault protection using MFAC14

The correct application of the MFAC14 high impedance relay can best be illustrated by taking the case
of the 11000/415V 1000kVA power transformer shown in Figure 9, for which restricted earth fault
protection is required on the L.V. winding.
It is assumed that the relay effective setting for a solidly earthed power transformer is approximately
30% of full load current.

2.1.1

Voltage setting
The power transformer full load current.

1000 x 103
3 x 415

1391A
Maximum through fault level (ignoring source impedance).

100MVA
x 1391
5%

27820 A
Required relay stability voltage (assuming one CT saturated).

f RCT 2 RL
27820 x

5
0.3 0.08
1500

35.2V
The next highest setting should be selected on the MFAC14, this being 50V.

P4698ENa

Figure 9: Restricted earth fault protection on a power transformer L.V. winding

12

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MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

2.1.2

Application Guide

Current transformer requirements

The minimum current transformer kneepoint voltage.

VK 2Vs

2 x 50
100V
The exciting current to be drawn by the current transformers at the relay voltage setting, Vs will be:

s r
n

Where s relay effective setting

30
5
x 1391 x
100
1500

1.4 A
r relay setting

1A
n number of current transformers in parallel with the relay

4
1.4 0.02
4
0.345 A

e at 50V

As previously stated metrosils are always required with an MFAC. The metrosil type is chosen in
accordance with the maximum secondary current of 27820 x 5/1500 = 93A.
Therefore the metrosil reference is 600A/S2/P with a constant (C) of 620/740. (Please refer to
Metrosil publication for selection chart).

2.2

Restricted earth fault protection using MCAG14

The correct application of the MCAG14 high impedance relay can best be illustrated by taking the
case of the 11000/415V 1000kVA power transformer shown in Figure 9, for which restricted earth fault
protection is required on the L.V. winding.

2.2.1

Stability voltage
The power transformer full load current.

1000 x 103
3 x 415

1391A
Maximum through fault level (ignoring source impedance).

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MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

Application Guide

100MVA
x 1391
5%

27820 A
Required relay stability voltage (assuming one CT saturated).

f RCT 2 RL
27820 x

5
0.3 0.08
1500

35.2V
2.2.2

Stabilising resistor
Assuming that the relay effective setting for a solidly earthed power transformer is approximately 30%
of full load current, we can therefore, choose a relay current setting of 20% of 5A i.e. 1A. On this basis
the required value of stabilising resistor is:

RST

VS B

r 2r
35.2 1
2
1
1

34.2
5A rated MCAG14 relays are supplied with stabilising resistors that are continuously adjustable
between 0 and 47Therefore, a stabilising resistance of 34.2can be set using the standard
resistor.

2.2.3

Current transformer requirements

The minimum current transformer kneepoint voltage.

VK 2Vs

2 x 35.2
70.4V
The exciting current to be drawn by the current transformers at the relay stability voltage, Vs , will be:

s r
n

Where s relay effective setting

5
30
x 1391 x
1500
100

1.4 A
r relay setting

1A

14

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MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

Application Guide

n number of current transformers in parallel with the relay

4
1.4 1
4
0.1A

e at 35.2V

2.2.4

Metrosil non-linear resistor requirements

If the peak voltage appearing across the relay circuit under maximum internal fault conditions exceeds
3000V peak then a suitable non-linear resistor (metrosil), externally mounted, should be connected
across the relay and stabilising resistor, in order to protect the insulation of the current transformers,
relay and interconnecting leads. In the present case the peak voltage can be estimated by the
formula:

V p 2 2 VK V f VK
Where VK = 70.4V (In practice this should be the actual current transformer kneepoint voltage,
obtained from the current transformer magnetisation curve).

V f f RCT 2 RL RST Rr
27820 x

5
x 0.3 0.08 34.2 1
1500

92.7 x 35.58
3298V

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Application Guide

Therefore substituting these values for VK and V f into the main formula, it can be seen that the peak
voltage developed by the current transformer is:

V p 2 2 VK V f VK

2 2 x 70.4 x 3298 70.4

1348V
This value is well below the maximum of 3000V peak and therefore no metrosils are required with the
relay. f on the other hand, the peak voltage VP given by the formula had been greater than 3000V
peak, a non-linear resistor (metrosil) would have to be connected across the relay and the stabilising
resistor. The recommended non-linear resistor type would have to be chosen in accordance with the
maximum secondary current at the relay.

2.3

Generator winding differential protection using MCAG34

For the vast majority of MCAG14/34 applications (restricted earth fault protection and busbar
protection), the aforementioned formulae may be followed without any additional consideration. For
MCAG34 generator winding differential applications, which are less common applications, some
caution may be necessary in using these formulae alone.
The relatively low level of current that is delivered by a generator to an external fault means that
stability of high impedance generator differential protection can easily be achieved with a relatively low
protection stability voltage. In many applications, there is no need to utilise stabilising resistors in
series with the high impedance relay (indicated by negative stabilising resistor value); the impedance
of the relay elements alone will offer more than adequate stability. Where the protection is over stable,
literal application of the published CT kneepoint voltage formula by a CT designer would result in the
provision of CT`s with extremely low kneepoint voltage, which could result in lack of protection scheme
sensitivity and slow relay operation for an internal fault.
The correct application of the MCAG34 when applied as generator winding differential protection is
illustrated in Figure 10 which shows a typical application of the MCAG34 relay where the use of the
procedure detailed in example 2 would lead to an extremely low kneepoint voltage requirement. This
can be avoided by calculation of the kneepoint voltage using the actual value for VSA (setting voltage)
rather than the value of VS required for stability in the event of an external fault.

16

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MCAG14/34, MFAC 14/34

Application Guide

I r = 0.1A
I f = 7.98A
P4699ENa

Figure 10: Generator winding differential protection

2.3.1

Stability voltage
The required relay stability voltage (assuming one CT saturated).

f RCT 2 RL
7.98 0.3 0.02

2.55V
Using the standard formula, this would lead to a CT VK requirement of 2 x 2.55 = 5.1V.

2.3.2

Stabilising resistor

RST

VS B

r 2r
2.55
1

0.1 0.12

74.5
The negative result indicates that the relay is more than stable without any stabilising resistor. With
the relay alone, the actual voltage setting can be calculated as follows:

VSA

B
r
1
0.1

10V
Consequently, if the formulae had been literally applied, a CT with a VK of 5.1V would not have been
sufficient to provide correct operation of the relay under fault conditions.

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Application Guide

2.3.3

Current transformer requirements

The minimum current transformer kneepoint voltage.

VK 2Vs

2 x 10
20V
The exciting current to be drawn by the current transformers at the relay stability voltage, VS , will be
determined by the maximum tolerable protection primary operating current and is defined by:

op CT ratio x r n e
2.3.4

Metrosil non-linear resistor requirements

If the peak voltage appearing across the relay circuit under maximum internal fault conditions exceeds
3000V peak then a suitable non-linear resistor (metrosil), externally mounted, should be connected
across the relay and stabilising resistor, in order to protect the insulation of the current transformers,
relay and interconnecting leads.
In this case however the peak voltage will be substantially less than 3000V and so metrosils are not
required.

18

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PXXX
Product Description

Alstom Grid
- ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved.
Information contained in this document is
indicative only. No representation or warranty
is given or should be relied on that it is
complete or correct or will apply to any
particular project. This will depend on the
technical and commercial circumstances. It is
provided without liability and is subject to
change without notice. Reproduction, use or
disclosure to third parties, without express
written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Alstom Grid Worldwide Contact Centre
www.alstom.com/grid/contactcentre/
Tel: +44 (0) 1785 250 070

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