Overcurrent Protection

Mg Min Lwin Thein

Ph.D. EP – 2
14th Batch
Electrical Power Engineering Department
4th March, 2020 Yangon Technological University
 Outline
2

ƒ Introduction
ƒ Co-ordination Procedure
ƒ Principles of Time/Current Grading
ƒ Standard IDMT Overcurrent Relays
ƒ Combined IDMT and High Set Instantaneous Overcurrent Relays
ƒ Very Inverse (VI) Overcurrent Relays
ƒ Extremely Inverse (EI) Overcurrent Relays
ƒ Independent (definite) Time Overcurrent Relays
ƒ Relay Current Setting
ƒ Relay Time Grading Margin
ƒ Recommended Grading Margins
ƒ Calculation of Phase Fault Overcurrent Relay Settings
ƒ Ring Mains
ƒ Conclusion
 Introduction
3

ƒ Protection against excess current was the earliest protection system to

evolve.

ƒ From the basic principle, the graded overcurrent system,

a discriminative fault protection, has been developed.

ƒ This should not be confused with ‘overload’ protection, which

normally makes use of relays that operate in a time related in some
degree to the thermal capability of the plant to be protected.

ƒ Overcurrent protection, on the other hand, is directed entirely to the

clearance of faults, although with the settings usually adopted some
measure of overload protection may be obtained.
 Co-ordination Procedure
4

ƒ Correct overcurrent relay application requires knowledge of the fault current that can
flow in each part of the network.
ƒ The data required for a relay setting study are:
• a one-line diagram of the power system involved, showing the type and rating
of the protection devices and their associated current transformers
• the impedances in ohms, per cent or per unit, of all power transformers, rotating
machine and feeder circuits
• the maximum and minimum values of short circuit currents that are expected to
flow through each protection device
• the maximum load current through protection devices
• the starting current requirements of motors and the starting and locked
rotor/stalling times of induction motors
• the transformer inrush, thermal withstand and damage characteristics
• decrement curves showing the rate of decay of the fault current supplied by the
generators
• performance curves of the current transformers
 Co-ordination Procedure
5

ƒ The relay settings are first determined to give the shortest operating times at
maximum fault levels and then checked to see if operation will also be satisfactory
at the minimum fault current expected.

ƒ It is usually more convenient to use a scale corresponding to the current expected at

the lowest voltage base, or to use the predominant voltage base. The alternatives are
a common MVA base or a separate current scale for each system voltage.
ƒ The basic rules for correct relay co-ordination can generally be stated as follows:
• whenever possible, use relays with the same operating characteristic in series
with each other
• make sure that the relay farthest from the source has current settings equal to or
less than the relays behind it, that is, that the primary current required to
operate the relay in front is always equal to or less than the primary current
required to operate the relay behind it
 Principles of Time/Current Grading
6

ƒ Among the various possible methods used to achieve correct relay co-
ordination are those using either time or overcurrent, or
a combination of both.

ƒ The common aim of all three methods is to give correct discrimination.

ƒ That is to say, each one must isolate only the faulty section of the
power system network, leaving the rest of the system undisturbed.
 Discrimination by Time
7

ƒ In this method, an appropriate time setting is given to each of the relays

controlling the circuit breakers in a power system to ensure that the
breaker nearest to the fault opens first.

ƒ The main disadvantage of this method of discrimination is that the

longest fault clearance time occurs for faults in the section closest to
the power source, where the fault level (MVA) is highest.
 Discrimination by Current
8

ƒ Discrimination by current relies on the fact that the fault current varies
with the position of the fault because of the difference in impedance
values between the source and the fault.
ƒ Hence, typically, the relays controlling the various circuit breakers are
set to operate at suitably tapered values of current such that only the
relay nearest to the fault trips its breaker.
 Discrimination by Current
9

ƒ There are two important practical points that affect this method of co-
ordination:
• it is not practical to distinguish between a fault at F1 and a fault at
F2, since the distance between these points may be only a few metres,
corresponding to a change in fault current of approximately 0.1%
• in practice, there would be variations in the source fault level,
typically from 250MVA to 130MVA. At this lower fault level the
fault current would not exceed 6800A, even for a cable fault close to
C. A relay set at 8800A would not protect any part of the cable
section concerned
ƒ A safety margin of 20% to allow for relay errors and a further 10% for
variations in the system impedance values, it is reasonable to choose a
relay setting of 1.3 x 2200A, that is, 2860A, for the relay at B.
 Discrimination by both Time and Current
10

ƒ In the case of discrimination by time alone, the disadvantage is due to the

fact that the more severe faults are cleared in the longest operating time.

ƒ On the other hand, discrimination by current can be applied only where

there is appreciable impedance between the two circuit breakers
concerned.

ƒ It is because of the limitations imposed by the independent use of either

time or current co-ordination that the inverse time overcurrent relay
characteristic has evolved.

ƒ With this characteristic, the time of operation is inversely proportional

to the fault current level and the actual characteristic is a function of
both ‘time’ and 'current' settings.
 Discrimination by both Time and Current
11

Relay Characteristics for Different Settings

 Standard IDMT Overcurrent Relays
12

ƒ IEC 60255 defines a Definitions of Standard Relay Characteristics

number of standard
characteristics as follows:

• Standard Inverse (SI)

• Very Inverse (VI)

North American IDMT Definitions of
Standard Relay Characteristics
• Extremely Inverse (EI)

• Definite Time (DT)

 Standard IDMT Overcurrent Relays
13

IEC 60255 IDMT Relay Characteristics: TMS=1.0 North American IDMT Relay Characteristics: TD=7
 Combined IDMT and High Set Instantaneous Overcurrent Relays
14

ƒ A high-set instantaneous element Characteristics of Combined IDMT and

can be used where the source High-set Instantaneous Overcurrent Relays
impedance is small in comparison
with the protected circuit
impedance.
ƒ This makes a reduction in the
tripping time at high fault levels
possible.
ƒ It also improves the overall system
grading by allowing the
'discriminating curves' behind the
high set instantaneous elements to
be lowered.
ƒ One of the advantages of the high
set instantaneous elements is to
reduce the operating time of the
circuit protection by the shaded
area below the 'discriminating
curves'.
 Transient Overreach
15

ƒ The reach of a relay is that part of the system protected by the relay if a
fault occurs.
ƒ A relay that operates for a fault that lies beyond the intended zone of
protection is said to overreach.
ƒ The initial current due to a d.c. offset in the current wave may be
greater than the relay pick-up value and cause it to operate.
ƒ This may occur even though the steady state r.m.s. value of the fault
current for a fault at a point beyond the required reach point may be less
than the relay setting.
 Very Inverse (VI) Overcurrent Relays
16

Comparison of SI and VI Relay ƒ Very inverse overcurrent relays are

Characteristics particularly suitable if there is a
substantial reduction of fault
current as the distance from the
power source increases, i.e. there is a
substantial increase in fault
impedance.
ƒ The VI operating characteristic is such
that the operating time is
approximately doubled for reduction
in current from 7 to 4 times the relay
current setting.
ƒ This permits the use of the same time
multiplier setting for several relays in
series.
 Extremely Inverse (EI) Overcurrent Relays
17

Comparison of Relay and Fuse ƒ The operation time is approximately

Characteristics inversely proportional to the square of
the applied current.
ƒ This makes it suitable for the
protection of distribution feeder
circuits.
ƒ The long time operating characteristic
of the extremely inverse relay at
normal peak load values of current
also makes this relay particularly
suitable for grading with fuses.
ƒ Another application of this relay is in
conjunction with auto-reclosers in
low voltage distribution circuits.
 Independent (Definite) Time Overcurrent Relays
18

ƒ Overcurrent relays are Comparison of Definite Time and Standard

IDMT Relay
normally also provided with
elements having independent
or definite time character-
istics.
ƒ These characteristics provide
a ready means of co-
ordinating several relays in
series in situations in which
the system fault current varies
very widely due to changes
in source impedance, as
there is no change in time
with the variation of fault
current.
 Relay Current Setting
19

ƒ The reach of a relay is that part of the system protected by the relay if a
fault occurs.
ƒ An overcurrent relay has a minimum operating current, known as the
current setting of the relay.
ƒ The current setting must be chosen so that the relay does not operate
for the maximum load current in the circuit being protected, but does
operate for a current equal or greater to the minimum expected fault
current.
ƒ Although by using a current setting that is only just above the maximum
load current in the circuit a certain degree of protection against overloads
as well as faults may be provided, the main function of overcurrent
protection is to isolate primary system faults and not to provide
overload protection.
 Relay Current Setting
20

ƒ In general, the current setting will be selected to be above the maximum

short time rated current of the circuit involved.
ƒ Since all relays have hysteresis in their current settings, the setting must
be sufficiently high to allow the relay to reset when the rated current of
the circuit is being carried.
ƒ The amount of hysteresis in the current setting is denoted by the pick-
up/drop-off ratio of a relay – the value for a modern relay is typically
0.95. Thus, a relay minimum current setting of at least 1.05 times the
short-time rated current of the circuit is likely to be required.
 Relay Time Grading Margin
21

ƒ The time interval that must be allowed between the operation of two
adjacent relays to achieve correct discrimination between them is called
the grading margin.
ƒ If a grading margin is not provided, or is insufficient, more than one
relay will operate for a fault, leading to difficulties in determining the
location of the fault and unnecessary loss of supply to some consumers.
ƒ The grading margin depends on a number of factors:
1. the fault current interrupting time of the circuit breaker
2. relay timing errors
3. the overshoot time of the relay
4. CT errors
5. final margin on completion of operation
 Recommended Grading Margins
22

Grading: Relay to Relay

ƒ The total interval required to cover circuit breaker interrupting time, relay timing error,
overshoot and CT errors, depends on the operating speed of the circuit breakers and
the relay performance.
ƒ At one time 0.5s was a normal grading margin.
ƒ With faster modern circuit breakers and a lower relay overshoot time, 0.4s is
reasonable, while under the best conditions even lower intervals may be practical.
ƒ It should be noted that use of a fixed grading margin is only appropriate at high fault
levels that lead to short relay operating times.
ƒ At lower fault current levels, with longer operating times, the permitted error specified
in IEC 60255 (7.5% of operating time) may exceed the fixed grading margin, resulting
in the possibility that the relay fails to grade correctly while remaining within
specification.
 Recommended Grading Margins
23

Grading: Relay to Relay

ƒ A practical solution for determining the Typical Relay Timing Errors –

optimum grading margin is to assume Standard IDMT Relays
that the relay nearer to the fault has a
maximum possible timing error of
+2E, where E is the basic timing error.
ƒ To this total effective error for the relay,
a further 10% should be added for the
overall current transformer error.
 Recommended Grading Margins
24

Grading: Fuse to Fuse

ƒ The operating time of a fuse is a function of both the prearcing and

arcing time of the fusing element, which follows an I2t law.

ƒ So, to achieve proper co-ordination between two fuses in series, it is

necessary to ensure that the total I2t taken by the smaller fuse is not
greater than the pre-arcing I2t value of the larger fuse.

ƒ It has been established by tests that satisfactory grading between the two
fuses will generally be achieved if the current rating ratio between them
is greater than two.
 Recommended Grading Margins
25

Grading: Fuse to Relay

ƒ For grading inverse time relays with fuses, the basic approach is to ensure whenever
possible that the relay backs up the fuse and not vice versa.
ƒ If the fuse is upstream of the relay, it is very difficult to maintain correct discrimination
at high values of fault current because of the fast operation of the fuse.
ƒ The relay characteristic best suited for this co-ordination with fuses is normally the
extremely inverse (EI) characteristic as it follows a similar I2t characteristic.
ƒ To ensure satisfactory coordination between relay and fuse, the primary current setting
of the relay should be approximately three times the current rating of the fuse.
ƒ The grading margin for proper coordination, when expressed as a fixed quantity, should
be less than 0.4s or, when expressed as a variable quantity, should have a minimum
value of:
 Calculation of Phase Fault Overcurrent Relay Settings
26

ƒ The correct co-ordination of Typical Relay Data Table

overcurrent relays in a power
system requires the calculation of
the estimated relay settings in terms
of both current and time.
ƒ The resultant settings are then
traditionally plotted in suitable
log/log format to show pictorially
that a suitable grading margin
ƒ Earth faults are considered separately from
exists between the relays at adjacent
phase faults and require separate plots.
substations.
ƒ After relay settings have been finalised
ƒ Plotting is usually done using
they are entered into a table such as that
suitable software although it can
shown in Table, populating the last three
be done by hand.
columns.
ƒ This also assists in record keeping during
commissioning of the relays at site.
 Ring Mains
27

ƒ A particularly common arrangement within distribution networks is the Ring Main.

ƒ The primary reason for its use is to maintain supplies to consumers in case of fault
conditions occurring on the interconnecting feeders.
ƒ Current may flow in either direction through the various relay locations, and therefore
directional overcurrent relays are applied.
ƒ In the case of a ring main fed at one point only, the settings of the relays at the supply
end and at the mid-point substation are identical.
ƒ They can therefore be made non-directional, if, in the latter case, the relays are located
on the same feeder, that is, one at each end of the feeder.
ƒ It is interesting to note that when the number of feeders round the ring is an even
number, the two relays with the same operating time are at the same substation.
ƒ They will therefore have to be directional.
ƒ When the number of feeders is an odd number, the two relays with the same
operating time are at different substations and therefore do not need to be
directional.
ƒ It may also be noted that, at intermediate substations, whenever the operating time of
the relays at each substation are different, the difference between their operating times
is never less than the grading margin, so the relay with the longer operating time can be
non-directional.
 Grading of Ring Mains
28

ƒ With two sources of supply, two solutions Grading of Ring Mains

are possible.
ƒ The first is to open the ring at one of the
supply points, whichever is more
convenient, by means of a suitable high
set instantaneous overcurrent relay.
ƒ The ring is then graded as in the case of a
single infeed.
ƒ The second method is to treat the section
of the ring between the two supply points
as a continuous bus separate from the ring
and to protect it with a unit protection
system, and then proceed to grade the ring
as in the case of a single infeed.
 Conclusion
29

9 Introduction
9 Co-ordination Procedure
9 Principles of Time/Current Grading
9 Standard IDMT Overcurrent Relays
9 Combined IDMT and High Set Instantaneous Overcurrent Relays
9 Very Inverse (VI) Overcurrent Relays
9 Extremely Inverse (EI) Overcurrent Relays
9 Independent (definite) Time Overcurrent Relays
9 Relay Current Setting
9 Relay Time Grading Margin
9 Recommended Grading Margins
9 Calculation of Phase Fault Overcurrent Relay Settings
9 Ring Mains
 Reference
30

¾ Network Protection & Automation Guide

Protective Relays, Measurement & Control
Grid
Alstom
2011
 Thank indeed
for your kind attentions
 Q&A

minlwinthein@gmail.com