Interview Questions

“POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION”

Made By: Azeem Sajid

Electrical Engineer |HSE | Controls & Automation
linkedin.com/in/azeemsajid53

 azeemsajid53@gmail.com
Dated: 26-02-2023

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1) What is the Power plant or Power Station?
The generation, distribution, and transmission system together constitute a network called as
Power plant. The power plant uses the form of energy such as coal, diesel and converts it into
electrical energy. An example of the power system is a grid that supplies power to the other
system.

2) What do you mean by the zone of protection?

The protection is provided in the system to protect each and every element of the power system.
If any fault occurs in the system, then the relays associated with it trip all the circuit breaker so
that the faulty element gets removed from the power system. This Security provided to the
system is called the 'Zone of protection'.

3) What is the difference between the Transmission line and distribution line?
The main work of transmission line and distribution line is to transfer power from one place to
another but the difference between transmission and distribution line is based on the factors like
the type of phase, the distribution line because the wire for transmission line is thick and for
distribution line is thin, the transmission line requires three phase supply for carrying electricity
and distribution line requires single phase supply for carrying electricity.

4) What are the common sources of energy?

The common sources of energy are:

✓ Sun.

✓ Water.

✓ Waterhead.

✓ Fuel.

✓ Nuclear Energy.

5) Write down the classification of the transmission line?

Depending upon the voltage and length of the conductor the classification of the transmission
line is as follows:
1. A.C Transmission Line.

✓ Short transmission line.

✓ Medium transmission line.

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 o Pi model of a medium transmission line.

o T model of a medium transmission line.

✓ Long transmission line.

2. D.C Transmission Line.

6) What is a Relay?
The Relay is an automatic device that senses the abnormal condition of the electrical circuit and
closes its contact.

7) How many types of Protection relays are there based on the Characteristic?
On the basis of a characteristic, protection relays can be categorized as follows:

✓ Definite time relays.

✓ IDMT (Inverse time relays with definite minimum time).

✓ Instantaneous relays.

✓ IDMT with inst.

✓ Stepped Characteristic relays.

✓ Programmed Characteristic relays.

✓ Voltage Restraint overcurrent relays.

8) What is meant by Reset level of the Relay?

The value of current or voltage below which the relay opens it contact is called the reset level of
the relay.

9) What are the internal and external faults?

Internal faults are the faults that occur inside the zone and external faults are the faults that occur
outside the zone of protection.

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10) How many types of faults are there in 3 phase power system?
The faults that occur in the three-phase power system are as follows:

✓ Single line to ground (LG) fault

✓ Line to line (LL) fault

✓ Double line to ground (LLG) fault

✓ Three Phase short circuit (LLL) fault

✓ Three phase to ground (LLLG) fault.

11) What do you mean by reach and reach the point of the relay?
The reach point is the farthest point from the relay which is still inside the zone of protection and
reach is the distance between the reach point and relay.

12) Why does the adjacent zone of protection overlap?

Adjacent zone of protection overlaps because if we do not overlap then some portion of the
power system will be left out unprotected.

13) What is Electrical Grounding?

Electrical grounding or merely grounding is a safety measure used to prevent people accidentally
coming in contact with the hazardous electrical faults.

14) What is Electrical Earthing?

Electrical earthing is a process of transferring the immediate discharge of the electrical energy
directly to the earth by the help of low resistance wire.

15) How many types of electrical earthing are there?

Electrical earthing is of two types:

1. Neutral Earthing.

2. Equipment Earthing.

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16) What is the difference between Electrical earthing and Electrical
grounding?
The difference between electrical earthing and electrical grounding is that in grounding the
current carrying part is connected to the ground, whereas in earthing the non-current carrying
part is connected to the ground. Grounding does not have zero potential but earthing has zero
potential.

17) What is the importance of earthing?

Earthing is important because of the given below reasons:

1. Earthing protects the person from the short circuit current.

2. Earthing provides the easiest path of flow for short-circuit current at the time of
insulation failure.

3. Earthing protects the persons and apparatus from the high voltage surges and lightning
discharge.

18) What is meant by Sag?

'Sag' is the difference in level between the points of support and the lowest point on the
conductor.

19) What is Corona?

'Corona' is the phenomenon of violet glow, hissing noise, and production of ozone gas in an
overhead transmission line.

20) Draw the Single Line Diagram of the Power Station?

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21) How do you select the pickup value of the relay?
The pickup value of the relay should be more than the maximum load and it should allow the
normal load as well as the certain degree of overload to be supplied. The relay should be
sensitive enough to respond to the smallest fault, therefore, the pickup value should be less than
the smallest fault current.

22) What is the difference between a fuse and a breaker?

The difference between Fuse and a circuit breaker is that fuse works on the principle of the
thermal and electrical properties of the conducting materials, whereas the circuit breaker works
on the principle of electromagnetism and switching principle. We can use the fuses only once,
but circuit breakers can be used many more times, and the breaking capacity of the fuse is low as
compared with the circuit breaker.

23) What is the difference between the relay and the circuit breaker?
The difference between the relay and the circuit breaker is that relay is a switching device that
gives the signal to the circuit breaker in case of fault occurrence, whereas circuit breaker breaks
the circuit automatically when receives the signal.

24) What is the difference between resistance grounding system and resistance
earthing system?
In resistance grounding, one or more resistance is connected to the neutral of the system.
Resistance winding limits the fault current and protects the system from transient overvoltage’s.
The arcing ground risk is decreased by the resistance grounding and permits the ground fault
protection, whereas resistance earthing system is provided in electric equipment to protect the
equipment from the occurrence of the fault in the system.

25) What is Primary and Backup protection?

Primary protection also known as main protection is the first line of protection which provides
quick acting and clearing of the fault within the boundary of the elements it protects. In the
electrical installation, the primary protection is provided to each section. Whereas the backup
protection provides the backup to the primary or main protection whenever it fails in operation
and cut out for repair. For the proper functioning of the electrical system back up protection is
essential.

26) What is meant by Bus Bar Protection?

When the fault occurs on the bus bar, then the whole of the supply gets interrupted, and all the
feeders are disconnected in this case Busbar protection is provided to the system to eliminate the
occurrence of these faults. For removing the faults, the entire circuits connecting the faulty
section needs to be open.

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27) How many types of faults occur in a 3-phase power system?
Electrical faults are the deviation of voltage and current from normal values. There are two types
of faults that occur in a three-phase system.

1. Symmetrical faults.

2. Unsymmetrical faults.

28) What are the effects of Electrical Faults?

The effects of electrical faults are as follows:

1. Overcurrent flow- During fault occurrence high current flows in the system and which
leads to tripping of relays, damaging insulation and components of the equipment.

2. The danger to operating personnel- Fault can also affect the individual working there,
and severity of the fault depends upon the voltage and current at the point of fault.

3. Loss of equipment- Heavy current due to short circuit faults result in the burning of
equipment completely which leads to improper working of equipment or device.

4. Disturbed interconnected active circuits- During the occurrence of fault the active,
connected components of the system also get disturbed.

29) Give some examples of fault limiting devices?

Some examples of fault limiting devices are as follows:

1. Circuit Breaker- It is a device which works in normal condition and breaks when an
abnormal condition occurs.

2. Fuse- A fuse is a thin wire enclosed in a casing or glass which connects two metal parts.
It is used as a primary protection device.

3. Relay- It is a condition based operating switch which opens its contact when an abnormal
condition occurs.

4. Lighting power protection devices- These are the devices that are used to protect the
system from surge voltages or lighting like- lightning arrestors and grounding devices.

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30) When are the directional relays used?
In ring main feeder system, single end fed system of parallel feeder’s directional relays are used.

31) What are the causes of electrical faults?

The causes of electrical faults are as follows:

1. The existing weather conditions like lightning strikes, heavy rains, heavy winds, salt
deposition on overhead lines and conductors etc. interrupts the powers supply and
damages the damages the electrical installations.

2. Malfunctioning, aging, insulation failure of cables and winding leads to failure of

equipment like generators, motor, transformer.

3. Electrical faults are also caused because of human errors such as selecting an improper
rating of equipment, switching the circuit while it is under servicing etc.

32) What is Skin Effect?

The tendency of an alternating electric current (A.C) to get distributed within a conductor such
that the current density becomes largest near the surface of the conductor, and decreases with
greater depth in the conductor, is called as "Skin Effect."

33) What is the bundle conductor?

A bundle conductor consists of two or more parallel sub conductors at a spacing of several
diameters.

34) What is the use of bundle conductors?

Bundle conductors are used to reducing the Corona and Skin effect.

35) What are the commonly used schemes for the bus zone protection?
The commonly used schemes for the protection are:

✓ Backup Protection.

✓ Differential overcurrent protection.

✓ Circulating current protection.

✓ Voltage overvoltage protection.

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 ✓ Frame leakage protection.

36) What are the internal and external faults?

Internal faults are the faults that occur within the zone of protection and external faults are the
faults that occur outside the zone of protection.

37) What are the advantages of a Three-Phase system over a Single-Phase

System?
The advantages of the three-phase transformer over a single-phase transformer are as follows:

1. In the three-phase system, the power delivered is constant whereas the power delivered in
the single-phase system is pulsating in nature.

2. The three-phase induction motors are self-starting and more efficient whereas the
single-phase motor is not self-starting and requires an auxiliary means for the start of
motor.

3. The output of the three-phase machine is higher than a single-phase machine for a given
size of a frame.

4. Three phase motors have higher power factor whereas the single phase motors have low
power factor.

38) What is Critical disruptive Voltage?

The minimum phase to a neutral voltage that is required for corona discharge to start is called the
Critical disruptive voltage. In this, the corona discharge means the current discharge in the air.
Critical Disruptive Voltage:
1. Vc = μ x ß x[r log (d/r)]

39) What is a Slack bus?

A slack bus also known as reference bus or swing bus balances the active and reactive power of
the system. The slack bus serves as angular reference for all the buses in the system.

40) How many methods use the load flow solution?

The method that uses the load flow analysis is as follows:

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 ✓ Gauss-Seidel method using Y bus.

✓ Newton- Raphson method (NR)

✓ Power flow through slack bus and line.

✓ Decouple load flow method.

✓ Fast Decouple load flow method.

41) What are the functions of protective relays?

To detect the fault and initiate the operation of the circuit breaker to isolate the defective element
from the rest of the system, thereby protecting the system from damages consequent to the fault.

42) Give the consequences of short circuit.

Whenever a short-circuit occurs, the current flowing through the coil increases to an enormous
value. If protective relays are present, a heavy current also flows through the relay coil, causing
it to operate by closing its contacts. The trip circuit is then closed, the circuit breaker opens and
the fault is isolated from the rest of the system. Also, a low voltage may be created which may
damage systems connected to the supply.

43) Define protected zone.

Are those which are directly protected by a protective system such as relays, fuses or
switchgears. If a fault occurring in a zone can be immediately detected and or isolated by a
protection scheme dedicated to that particular zone.

44) What are unit system and non-unit system?

A unit protective system is one in which only faults occurring within its protected zone are
isolated. Faults occurring elsewhere in the system have no influence on the operation of a unit
system. A non-unit system is a protective system which is activated even when the faults are
external to its protected zone.

45) What is primary protection?

Is the protection in which the fault occurring in a line will be cleared by its own relay and circuit
breaker. It serves as the first line of defence.

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46) What is back up protection?

Is the second line of defence, which operates if the primary protection fails to activate within a
definite time delay.

47) Name the different kinds of over current relays.

Induction types non-directional over current relay, Induction type directional over current relay
& current differential relay.

48) Define energizing quantity?

It refers to the current or voltage which is used to activate the relay into operation.

49) Define operating time of a relay?

It is defined as the time period extended from the occurrence of the fault through the relay
detecting the fault to the operation of the relay.

50) Define resetting time of a relay?

It is defined as the time taken by the relay from the instant of isolating the fault to the moment
when the fault is removed, and the relay can be reset.

51) What are over and under current relays?

Overcurrent relays are those that operate when the current in a line exceeds a predetermined
value. (eg: Induction type non-directional/directional overcurrent relay, differential overcurrent
relay) whereas undercurrent relays are those which operate whenever the current in a circuit/line
drops below a predetermined value. (eg: differential over-voltage relay)

52) Define the term pilot with reference to power line protection.

Pilot wires refers to the wires that connect the CT’s placed at the ends of a power transmission
line as part of its protection scheme. The resistance of the pilot wires is usually less than 500
ohms.

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53) Mention any two disadvantage of carrier current scheme for transmission
line only.

The program time (i.e., the time taken by the carrier to reach the other end-up to .1% mile); the
response time of band pass filter; capacitance phase-shift of the transmission line .

54) What are the features of directional relay?

High speed operation; high sensitivity; ability to operate at low voltages; adequate short-time
thermal ratio; burden must not be excessive.

55) What are the causes of over speed and how alternators are protected from
it? Sudden loss of all or major part of the load causes over-speeding in
alternators.

Modern alternators are provided with mechanical centrifugal devices mounted on their driving
shafts to trip the main valve of the prime mover when a dangerous over-speed occurs.

56) What are the main types of stator winding faults?

Fault between phase and ground; fault between phases and inter-turn fault involving turns of the
same phase winding.

57) Give the limitations of Merz Price protection.

Since neutral earthing resistances are often used to protect circuit from earth-fault currents, it
becomes impossible to protect the whole of a star-connected alternator. If an earth-fault occurs
near the neutral point, the voltage may be insufficient to operate the relay. Also, it is extremely
difficult to find two identical CT’s. In addition to this, there always an inherent phase difference
between the primary and the secondary quantities and a possibility of current through the relay
even when there is no fault.

58) What are the uses of Buchholz’s relay?

Buchholz relay is used to give an alarm in case of incipient (slow-developing) faults in the
transformer and to connect the transformer from the supply in the event of severe internal faults.
It is usually used in oil immersion transformers with a rating over 750KVA.

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60) What are the various faults that would affect an alternator?

Stator faults

1, Phase to phase faults

2, Phase to earth faults

3, Inter turn faults

(b)

1, Earth faults

2, Fault between turns

3, Loss of excitation due to fuel failure

1, Over speed

2, Loss of drive

3, Vacuum failure resulting in condenser pressure rise, resulting in shattering of the turbine low
pressure casing

1, Fault on lines

2, Fault on busbars

61) Why neutral resistor is added between neutral and earth of an alternator?

In order to limit the flow of current through neutral and earth a resistor is introduced between
them.

62) What is the backup protection available for an alternator?

Overcurrent and earth fault protection is the backup protections.

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63) What are faults associated with an alternator?

External fault or through fault

Internal fault

1, Short circuit in transformer winding and connection 2, Incipient or slow developing faults

64) What are the main safety devices available with transformer?

Oil level gauge, sudden pressure delay, oil temperature indicator, winding temperature indicator.

65) What are the limitations of Buchholz relay?

Only fault below the oil level is detected.

Mercury switch setting should be very accurate, otherwise even for vibration, there can be a false
operation.

The relay is of slow operating type, which is unsatisfactory.

66) What are the problems arising in differential protection in power

transformer and how are they overcome?

Difference in lengths of pilot wires on either side of the relay. This is overcome by connecting
adjustable resistors to pilot wires to get equipotential points on the pilot wires.

Difference in CT ratio error difference at high values of short circuit currents that makes the
relay to operate even for external or through faults. This is overcome by introducing bias coil.

Tap changing alters the ratio of voltage and currents between HV and LV sides and the relay will
sense this and act. Bias coil will solve this.

Magnetizing inrush current appears wherever a transformer is energized on its primary side
producing harmonics. No current will be seen by the secondary. CTs as there is no load in the
circuit. This difference in current will actuate the differential relay. A harmonic restraining unit
is added to the relay which will block it when the transformer is energized.

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67) What is REF relay?

It is restricted earth fault relay. When the fault occurs very near to the neutral point of the
transformer, the voltage available to drive the earth circuit is very small, which may not be
sufficient to activate the relay, unless the relay is set for a very low current. Hence the zone of
protection in the winding of the transformer is restricted to cover only around 85%. Hence the
relay is called REF relay.

68) What is over fluxing protection in transformer?

If the turns ratio of the transformer is more than 1:1, there will be higher core loss and the
capability of the transformer to withstand this is limited to a few minutes only. This phenomenon
is called over fluxing.

69) Why is busbar protection needed?

Fault level at busbar is high.

The stability of the system is affected by the faults in the bus zone.

A fault in the bus bar causes interruption of supply to a large portion of the system network.

70) What are the merits of carrier current protection?

Fast operation, auto re-closing possible, easy discrimination of simultaneous faults.

71) What are the errors in CT?

Ratio error

Percentage ratio error = [(Nominal ratio – Actual ratio)/Actual ratio] x 100 The value of
transformation ratio is not equal to the turns ratio.

(b) Phase angle error:

Phase angle =180/π[(ImCos δ-I1Sin δ)/nIs]

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72) What is field suppression?

When a fault occurs in an alternator winding even though the generator circuit breaker is tripped,
the fault continues to fed because EMF is induced in the generator itself. Hence the field circuit
breaker is opened and stored energy in the field winding is discharged through another resistor.
This method is known as field suppression.

73) What are the causes of bus zone faults?

Failure of support insulator resulting in earth fault.

Flashover across support insulator during over voltage Heavily polluted insulator causing
flashover.

Earthquake, mechanical damage etc.

74) What are the problems in bus zone differential protection?

Large number of circuits, different current levels for different circuits for external faults.

Saturation of CT cores due to dc component and ac component in short circuit currents. The
saturation introduces ratio error.

Sectionalizing of the bus makes circuit complicated.

Setting of relays need a change with large load changes.

75) What is static relay?

It is a relay in which measurement or comparison of electrical quantities is made in a static

network which is designed to give an output signal when a threshold condition is passed which
operates a tripping device.

76) What is power swing?

During switching of lines or wrong synchronization surges of real and reactive power flowing in
transmission line causes severe oscillations in the voltage and current vectors. It is represented
by curves originating in load regions and traveling towards relay characteristics.

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77) What is a programmable relay?

A static relay may have one or more programmable units such as microprocessors or
microcomputers in its circuit.

78) What is CPMC?

It is combined protection, monitoring and control system incorporated in the static system.

79) What are the advantages of static relay over electromagnetic relay? o Low
power consumption as low as 1mW

✓ No moving contacts: hence associated problems of arcing, contact bounce, erosion,

replacement of contacts.

✓ No gravity effect on operation of static relays. Hence can be used in vessels ie, ships,
aircrafts etc.

✓ A single relay can perform several functions like over current, under voltage, single
phasing protection by incorporating respective functional blocks. This is not possible in
electromagnetic relays.

✓ Static relay is compact

o Superior operating characteristics and accuracy.

✓ Static relay can think, programmable operation is possible with static relay

✓ Effect of vibration is nil, hence can be used in earthquake-prone areas o Simplified

testing and servicing. Can convert even non-electrical quantities to electrical in
conjunction with transducers.

80) What is resistance switching?

It is the method of connecting a resistance in parallel with the contact space(arc). The resistance
reduces the restriking voltage frequency and it diverts part of the arc current. It assists the circuit
breaker in interrupting the magnetizing current and capacity current.

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81) What do you mean by current chopping?

When interrupting low inductive currents such as magnetizing currents of the transformer, shunt
reactor, the rapid deionization of the contact space and blast effect may cause the current to be
interrupted before the natural current zero. This phenomenon of interruption of the current before
its natural zero is called current chopping.

82) What are the methods of capacitive switching?

Opening of single capacitor bank

Closing of one capacitor bank against another

83) What is an arc?

Arc is a phenomenon occurring when the two contacts of a circuit breaker separate under heavy
load or fault or short circuit condition.

84) Give the two methods of arc interruption?

High resistance interruption: -the arc resistance is increased by elongating, and splitting the arc
so that the arc is fully extinguished.

Current zero method: -The arc is interrupted at current zero position that occurs100 times a
second in case of 50Hz power system frequency in ac.

85) What is restriking voltage?

It is the transient voltage appearing across the breaker contacts at the instant of arc being
extinguished.

86) What is meant by recovery voltage?

The power frequency rms voltage appearing across the breaker contacts after the arc is
extinguished and transient oscillations die out is called recovery voltage.

87)What is RRRV?

It is the rate of rise of restriking voltage, expressed in volts per microsecond. It is closely
associated with natural frequency of oscillation.
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88) What is circuit breaker?

It is a piece of equipment used to break a circuit automatically under fault conditions. It breaks a
circuit either manually or by remote control under normal conditions and under fault conditions.

89) Write the classification of circuit breakers based on the medium used for
arc extinction?

✓ Air break circuit breaker Oil circuit breaker

✓ Minimum oil circuit breaker Air blast circuit breaker

✓ SF6 circuit breaker

✓ Vacuum circuit breaker

90) What is the main problem of the circuit breaker?

When the contacts of the breaker are separated, an arc is struck between them. This arc delays
the current interruption process and also generates enormous heat which may cause damage to
the system or to the breaker itself. This is the main problem.

91) What are demerits of MOCB?

✓ Short contact life

✓ Frequent maintenance Possibility of explosion

✓ Larger arcing time for small currents Prone to restricts.

92) What are the advantages of oil as arc quenching medium?

It absorbs the arc energy to decompose the oil into gases, which have excellent cooling
properties

It acts as an insulator and permits smaller clearance between line conductors and earthed
components.

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93) What are the hazards imposed by oil when it is used as an arc quenching
medium?

There is a risk of fire since it is inflammable. It may form an explosive mixture.

with arc, so oil is preferred as an arc quenching medium.

94) What are the advantages of MOCB over a bulk oil circuit breaker?

✓ It requires lesser quantity of oil.

✓ It requires smaller space.

✓ There is a reduced risk of fire.

✓ Maintenance problems are reduced.

95) What are the disadvantages of MOCB over a bulk oil circuit breaker?

✓ The degree of carbonization is increased due to smaller quantity of oil.

✓ There is difficulty of removing the gases from the contact space in time.

✓ The dielectric strength of the oil deteriorates rapidly due to high degree of carbonization.

96) What are the types of air blast circuit breaker?

Arial-blast type

Cross blast Radial-blast

97) What are the advantages of air blast circuit breaker over oil circuit
breaker?

✓ The risk of fire is diminished.

✓ The arcing time is very small due to rapid buildup of dielectric strength between contacts.

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 ✓ The arcing products are completely removed by the blast whereas oil deteriorates with
successive operations.

98) What are the demerits of using oil as an arc quenching medium?

✓ The air has relatively inferior arc quenching properties.

✓ The air blast circuit breakers are very sensitive to variations in the rate of rise of
restriking voltage.

✓ Maintenance is required for the compression plant which supplies the air blast.

99) What is meant by electro negativity of SF6 gas?

SF6 has high affinity for electrons. When a free electron comes and collides with a neutral gas
molecule, the electron is absorbed by the neutral gas molecule and negative ion is formed. This is
called as electro negativity of SF6 gas.

100) What are the characteristic of SF6 gas?

It has good dielectric strength and excellent arc quenching property. It is inert, non-toxic,
noninflammable, and heavy. At atmospheric pressure, its dielectric strength is 2.5 times that of
air. At three times atmospheric pressure, its dielectric strength is equal to that of the transformer
oil.

101) Write the classifications of test conducted on circuit breakers.

✓ Type test

✓ Routine test Reliability test

✓ Commissioning test

102) What are the indirect methods of circuit breaker testing?

• Unit test

➢ Synthetic testo Substitution testing

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 • Compensation testing

• Capacitance testing

103) What are the advantages of synthetic testing methods?

✓ The breaker can be tested for desired transient recovery voltage and RRRV.

✓ Both test current and test voltage can be independently varied. This gives flexibility to the
test

✓ The method is simple.

✓ With this method a breaker capacity (MVA) of five time of that of the capacity of the test
plant can be tested.

104) How does the over voltage surge affect the power system?

The over voltage of the power system leads to insulation breakdown of the equipment’s. It
causes the line insulation to flash over and may also damage the nearby transformer, generators
and the other equipment connected to the line.

105) What is pick up value?

It is the minimum current in the relay coil at which the relay starts to operate.

106) Define target.

It is the indicator used for showing the operation of the relay.

107) Define reach.

It is the distance up to which the relay will cover for protection.

108) Define blocking.

It means preventing the relay from tripping due to its own characteristics or due to additional
relays.

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109) Define a over current relay.

Relay which operates when the current in a line exceeds a predetermined value.

110) Define an undercurrent relay?

Relays which operate whenever the current in a circuit drops below a predetermined value.

111) Mention any 2 applications of differential relays.

Protection of generator and generator-transformer unit: protection of large motors and bus bars

112) Mention the various tests carried out in a circuit breaker at HV labs.
Short circuit tests, Synthetic tests& direct tests.

The circuit breaker is tested under actual conditions like those that occur in the network.

Special occasions like breaking of charging currents of long lines, very short line faults
,interruption of small inductive currents etc… can be tested by direct testing only.

113) State the disadvantages of field tests.

✓ The circuit breaker can be tested at only a given rated voltage and network capacity.

✓ The necessity to interrupt the normal services and to test only at light load conditions.

✓ Extra inconvenience and expenses in installation of controlling and measuring equipment in

the field.

114) Define composite testing of a circuit breaker.

In this method the breaker is first tested for its rated breaking capacity at a reduced voltage and
afterwards for rated voltage at a low current. This method does not give a proper estimate of the
breaker performance.

115) State the various types of earthing.

Solid earthing, resistance earthing , reactance earthing , voltage transformer earthing and zig-zag
transformer earthing.

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116) What are arcing grounds?

The presence of inductive and capacitive currents in the isolated neutral system leads to
formation of arcs called as arcing grounds.

117) What is arc suppression coil?

A method of reactance grounding used to suppress the arc due to arcing grounds.

118) State the significance of single line to ground fault.

In single line to ground fault all the sequence networks are connected in series. All the sequence
currents are equal, and the fault current magnitude is three times its sequence currents.

119) What are symmetrical components?

It is a mathematical tool to resolve unbalanced components into balanced components.

120) State the three sequence components.

Positive sequence components, negative sequence components and zero sequence components.

121) Define positive sequence component.

-has 3 vectors equal in magnitude and displaced from each other by an angle 120 degrees and
having the phase sequence as original vectors.

122) Define zero sequence component.

They have 3 vectors having equal magnitudes and displaced from each other by an angle zero
degrees.

123) State the significance of double line fault.

It has no zero-sequence component, and the positive and negative sequence networks are
connected in parallel.

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124) Define negative sequence component.

It has 3 vectors equal in magnitude and displaced from each other by an angle 120 degrees and
has the phase sequence in opposite to its original phasors.

125) State the different types of faults.

✓ Symmetrical faults and unsymmetrical faults and open conductor faults. 92. State the
various types of unsymmetrical faults.

✓ Line to ground, line to line and double line to ground faults.

126) Mention the withstanding current in our human body.

9mA

127) State the different types of circuit breakers.

Air, oil ,vacuum circuit breakers.

128) Define per unit value.

It is defined as the ratio of actual value to its base value. 96. Mention the inductance value of the
peterson’s coil.

L=1/3ωc2

129) Define single line diagram.

Representation of various power system components in a single line is defined as single line
diagram.

130) Differentiate between a fuse and a circuit breaker.

Fuse is a low current interrupting device. It is a copper or an aluminum wire. Circuit breaker is a
high current interrupting device and it act as a switch under normal operating conditions.

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131) How direct tests are conducted in circuit breakers?

✓ Using a short circuit generator as the source.

✓ Using the power utility system or network as the source.

132) What is dielectric test of a circuit breaker?

It consists of overvoltage withstand test of power frequency lightning and impulse voltages. Test
are done for both internal and external insulation with switch in both open and closed conditions.

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Protection Relays Interview Questions & Answers

1) What is protective relay?

It is an electrical device designed to initiate the isolation of a part of the electrical installation, or
to operate an alarm signal, in the event of abnormal condition or a fault. In simple words relay is
an electrical device that gives signal to isolation device (e.g.: Circuit Breaker) after sensing the
fault and helps to isolate the fault system from the healthy electrical system.

2) What are the different relays that employed for protection of apparatus
and transmission lines?

The relays that are usually employed for protection of transmission lines include:

✓ Over current relay

✓ Directional relay
✓ Distance relay
✓ Under Voltage relay
✓ Under-frequency relay
✓ Thermal relay
✓ Differential relay
✓ Phase sequence relays
✓ pilot relays

3) How is the electrical power system protection divided?

The overall system protection is divided into:

✓ Generator protection
✓ Transformer protection
✓ Busbar protection
✓ Transmission line protection and
✓ Feeder protection

4) How are relays connected in the power system?

The relays are connected to the power system through the current transformer (CT) or potential
transformer (PT).

27
5) What are different types of principles of operation of electro-mechanical
relays?

Electro-mechanical relays operate by two principles. Electro-magnetic attraction and

electro-magnetic induction. In electromagnetic attraction relay plunger is drawn to the solenoid
or an armature is attracted to the poles of the electromagnet. In case of electro-magnetic
induction, principle of operation is similar to induction motor. Torque is developed by
electromagnetic induction principle.

6) Action carried out by the relay and circuit breaker during fault condition.

After the relay sensing the fault condition, relay operates and close the trip coils. The effect of
this will be circuit breaker operate to open the contacts.

7) What is Relay Time?

Relay time is the interval between the occurrence of the fault and the closure of the relay
contacts is called relay time.

8) What is fault clearance time?

When the fault occurs, relay operates and close the trip coils and circuit breaker operates and
open the contacts subsequently and fault is cleared. Therefore fault clearance time is the sum of
relay operating time and circuit breaker operating time and clearing the fault

9) What is Reach?

Distance relay operates whenever the impedance seen (V/I) seen by the relay is less than the
specified set value. This impedance or corresponding distance is known as reach of the relay.
Reach is the limiting distance covered by the relay for protection of line. Faults beyond the
distance (reach of the relay) relay will not operate and should be covered by the other relay.

10) What are the fundamental elements of relay?

Basic fundamental elements of the relay are:

✓ Sensing element: It is the measuring element measures the actuating quantity. Actuating
quantity is change in current in case of over current relay.
✓ Comparing element: It compares the actuating quantity with the relay pre-setting of the
relay.

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✓ Control element: On pick up of the relay control element carryout the final switching
operations such as closing the circuit to operate the circuit breaker.

11) What are the good features of protective relaying?

Some of the good features for protective relaying are Reliability, Selectivity, Sensitivity,
Simplicity, Speed, and economy.

12) Some of the causes for relay failures?

Primary reason for relay failure to operate during faults are wrong settings, bad contacts and
open circuit in the relay coil.

13) Where does the Negative phase sequence relay is employed?

Negative sequence relay is employed for the protection of generators and motors against
unbalanced loading that may arise due to phase-to-phase faults.

14) What is the operation principle of the differential relay?

A differential relay operates when the phasor difference of two or more similar electrical
quantities exceeds a pre-determined amount.

15) Why distance protection is preferred as primary protection compared

to overcurrent protection for transmission lines?

Distance relay is superior to overcurrent protection for the protection of transmission lines.

Some of the reasons are faster protection, simpler coordination, simpler application, permanent
settings without the need for readjustment, less effect of the amount of generation and fault
levels, fault current magnitude, permits the high line loading.

16) Why biased differential protection is preferred over simple differential

protection?

Biased differential relay is preferred because its operation is not affected by the trouble arising
out of the difference in the CTs ratios for high values of external short circuit currents.

29
17) Where are Impedance relay, Reactance relay, and Mho relays
employed?

The Impedance relay is suitable for the phase faults relaying for the lines of moderate lengths
Reactance type relays are employed for the ground faults while Mho type of relays is best suited
for the long transmission lines and particularly where synchronizing power surge may occur.

18) What is the percentage differential relay?

It is a differential relay where the operating current required to trip can be expressed as a
percentage of load current.

19) What are the main functions of Differential Relays?

Differential Relays must have the following features:

✓ High-speed operation
✓ High sensitivity
✓ Adequate short circuit thermal rating
✓ Ability to operate with low values of voltage.
✓ The burden must not be excessive.
✓ There should be no voltage and current creep.

20) What is meant by “Relay Settings”?

Relay settings mean the actual value of the energizing or characteristic quantity at which the
relay is designed to operate under given conditions.

21) Define Plug Setting Multiplier?

Plug Setting Multiplier and is defined as the ratio of fault current in the relay coil to the pick-up
value.

22) Where is the directional relay used?

Directional relay is used when graded time overload protection is applied to ring mains and
interconnected networks.

23) For what type of fault does Buchholz relay is employed?

Buchholz relay provides protection only against transformer internal fault.

30
24) How definite time lag is achieved in attraction armature relays?

The instantaneous type of attraction armature can be made a definite time lag or inverse time lag
by using an oil dashpot, an air escapement chambers a clockwork mechanism or by placing a
fuse in parallel with it.

25) What are the functions of protective relays?

To detect the fault and initiate the operation of the circuit breaker to isolate
the defective element from the rest of the system, thereby protecting the system from damages
consequent to the fault.

26) Give the consequences of short circuit.

Whenever a short-circuit occurs, the current flowing through the coil increases to an enormous
value. If protective relays are present, a heavy current also flows through the relay coil, causing
it to operate by closing its contacts. The trip circuit is then closed , the circuit breaker opens and
the fault is isolated from the rest of the system. Also, a low voltage may be created which may
damage systems connected to the supply.

27) Define protected zone.

Are those which are directly protected by a protective system such as relays,
fuses or switchgears. If a fault occurring in a zone can be immediately detected and or isolated
by a protection scheme dedicated to that particular zone.

28) What are unit system and non-unit system?

A unit protective system is one in which only faults occurring within its
protected zone is isolated. Faults occurring elsewhere in the system have no influence on the
operation of a unit system. A non-unit system is a protective system which is activated even
when the faults are external to its protected zone.

29) What is primary protection?

Is the protection in which the fault occurring in a line will be cleared by its
own relay and circuit breaker. It serves as the first line of defence.

30) What is back up protection?

Is the second line of defence , which operates if the primary protection
fails to activate within a definite time delay.

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31) Name the different kinds of over current relays.
Induction type non-directional over current relay, Induction type directional over current relay &
current differential relay.

32) Define energizing quantity.

It refers to the current or voltage which is used to activate the relay into operation.

33) Define operating time of a relay.

It is defined as the time period extending from the occurrence of the fault through the relay
detecting the fault to the operation of the relay.

34) Define resetting time of a relay.

It is defined as the time taken by the relay from the instant of isolating the fault to the moment
when the fault is removed and the relay can be reset.

35) What are over and under current relays?

Overcurrent relays are those that operate when the current in a line exceeds a predetermined
value. (e.g., Induction types non-directional/directional overcurrent relay, differential overcurrent
relay) whereas undercurrent relays are those which operate whenever the current in a circuit/line
drops below a predetermined value. (e.g.: differential over-voltage relay)

36) Mention any two applications of differential relay.

Protection of generator & generator transformer unit; protection of large motors and busbars.

37) What is biased differential bus zone reduction?

The biased beam relay is designed to respond to the differential current in terms of its fractional
relation to the current flowing through the protected zone. It is essentially an over-current
balanced beam relay type with an additional restraining coil. The restraining coil produces a bias
force in the opposite direction to the operating force.

38) What is the need of relay coordination?

The operation of a relay should be fast and selective, ie, it should isolate the fault in the shortest
possible time causing minimum disturbance to the system. Also, if a relay fails to operate, there
should be sufficiently quick backup protection so that the rest of the system is protected. By
coordinating relays, faults can always be isolated quickly without serious disturbance to the rest
of the system.

39) Mention the short comings of Merz Price scheme of protection applied to a
power transformer.
In a power transformer, currents in the primary and secondary are to be compared. As these two
32
currents are usually different, the use of identical transformers will give differential current, and
operate the relay under no-load condition. Also, there is usually a phase difference between the
primary and secondary currents of three phase transformers. Even CT’s of proper turn-ratio are
used, the differential current may flow through the relay under normal condition.

40) What are the various faults to which a turbo alternator is likely to be
subjected?
Failure of steam supply; failure of speed; overcurrent; over voltage; unbalanced loading; stator
winding fault .

41) What is an under frequency relay?

An under frequency relay is one which operates when the frequency of the system (usually an
alternator or transformer) falls below a certain value.

42) Define the term pilot with reference to power line protection.
Pilot wires refers to the wires that connect the CT’s placed at the ends of a power transmission
line as part of its protection scheme. The resistance of the pilot wires is usually less than 500
ohms.

43) Mention any two disadvantage of carrier current scheme for transmission
line only.
The program time (i.e., the time taken by the carrier to reach the other end-up to .1% mile); the
response time of band pass filter; capacitance phase-shift of the
transmission line .

44) What are the features of directional relay?

High speed operation; high sensitivity; ability to operate at low voltages; adequate short-time
thermal ratio; burden must not be excessive.

45) What are the causes of over speed and how alternators are protected from
it?
Sudden loss of all or major part of the load causes over-speeding in alternators. Modern
alternators are provided with mechanical centrifugal devices mounted on their driving shafts to
trip the main valve of the prime mover when a dangerous over-speed occurs.

46) What are the main types of stator winding faults?

Fault between phase and ground; fault between phases and inter-turn fault involving turns of the
same phase winding.

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47) Give the limitations of Merz Price protection.
Since neutral earthing resistances are often used to protect circuit from earth-fault currents, it
becomes impossible to protect the whole of a star-connected alternator. If an earth-fault occurs
near the neutral point, the voltage may be insufficient to operate the relay. Also, it is extremely
difficult to find two identical CT’s. In addition to this, there always an inherent phase difference
between the primary and the secondary quantities and a possibility of current through the relay
even when there is no fault.

48) What are the uses of Buchholz’s relay?

Buchholz relay is used to give an alarm in case of incipient( slow-developing) faults in the
transformer and to connect the transformer from the supply in the event of severe internal faults.
It is usually used in oil immersion transformers with a rating over 750KVA.

49) What are the various faults that would affect an alternator?
(a) Stator faults
1, Phase to phase faults
2, Phase to earth faults
3, Inter turn faults
(b)
1, Earth faults
2, Fault between turns
3, Loss of excitation due to fuel failure
(c) 1, Over speed
2, Loss of drive
3, Vacuum failure resulting in condenser pressure rise, resulting in
shattering of the turbine low pressure casing
(d) 1, Fault on lines
2, Fault on busbars

50) Why neutral resistor is added between neutral and earth of an alternator?
In order to limit the flow of current through neutral and earth a resistor is introduced between
them.

51) What is the backup protection available for an alternator?

Overcurrent and earth fault protection is the backup protections.

52) What are faults associated with an alternator?

(a) External fault or through fault
(b) Internal fault
1, Short circuit in transformer winding and connection
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2, Incipient or slow developing faults

53) What are the main safety devices available with transformer?
Oil level gauges, sudden pressure delay, oil temperature indicator, winding temperature indicator
.
54) What are the limitations of Buchholz relay?
(a) Only fault below the oil level are detected.
(b) Mercury switch setting should be very accurate, otherwise even for vibration, there can be a
false operation.
(c) The relay is of slow operating type, which is unsatisfactory.

55) What are the problems arising in differential protection in power

transformer and how are they overcome?
1. Difference in lengths of pilot wires on either side of the relay. This is overcome by connecting
adjustable resistors to pilot wires to get equipotential points on the pilot wires.
2. Difference in CT ratio error difference at high values of short circuit currents that makes the
relay to operate even for external or through faults. This is overcome by introducing bias coil.
3. Tap changing alters the ratio of voltage and currents between HV and LV sides and the relay
will sense this and act. Bias coil will solve this.
4. Magnetizing inrush current appears wherever a transformer is energized on its primary side
producing harmonics. No current will be seen by the secondary. CT’s as there is no load in the
circuit. This difference in current will actuate the differential relay. A harmonic restraining unit
is added to the relay which will block it when the transformer is energized.

56) What is REF relay?

It is restricted earth fault relay. When the fault occurs very near to the neutral point of the
transformer, the voltage available to drive the earth circuit is very small, which may not be
sufficient to activate the relay, unless the relay is set for a very low current. Hence the zone of
protection in the winding of the transformer is restricted to cover only around 85%. Hence the
relay is called REF relay.

57) What is over fluxing protection in transformer?

If the turns ratio of the transformer is more than 1:1, there will be higher core loss and the
capability of the transformer to withstand this is limited to a few minutes only. This phenomenon
is called over fluxing.

58) Why busbar protection is needed?

(a) Fault level at busbar is high
(b) The stability of the system is affected by the faults in the bus zone.
(c) A fault in the bus bar causes interruption of supply to a large portion of the
system network.

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59) What are the merits of carrier current protection?
Fast operation, auto re-closing possible, easy discrimination of simultaneous
faults .

60) What are the errors in CT?

(a) Ratio error
Percentage ratio error = [(Nominal ratio – Actual ratio)/Actual ratio] x 100
The value of transformation ratio is not equal to the turns ratio.
(b) Phase angle error:
Phase angle =180/ [(ImCos -I1Sin )/nIs]

61) What is field suppression?

When a fault occurs in an alternator winding even though the generator circuit breaker is tripped,
the fault continues to fed because EMF is induced in the generator itself. Hence the field circuit
breaker is opened and stored energy in the field winding is discharged through another resistor.
This method is known as field suppression.

62) What are the causes of bus zone faults?

Failure of support insulator resulting in earth fault.

Flashover across support insulator during over voltage.
Heavily polluted insulator causing flashover.
Earthquake, mechanical damage etc.

63) What are the problems in bus zone differential protection?

Large number of circuits, different current levels for different circuits for
external faults.
Saturation of CT cores due to dc component and ac component in short
circuit currents. The saturation introduces ratio error.
Sectionalizing of the bus makes circuit complicated.
Setting of relays need a change with large load changes.

64) What is static relay?

It is a relay in which measurement or comparison of electrical quantities is made in a static
network which is designed to give an output signal when a threshold condition is passed which
operates a tripping device.

36
65) What is power swing?
During switching of lines or wrong synchronization surges of real and reactive power flowing in
transmission line causes severe oscillations in the voltage and current vectors. It is represented
by curves originating in load regions and traveling towards relay characteristics.

66) What is a programmable relay?

A static relay may have one or more programmable units such as microprocessors or
microcomputers in its circuit.

67) What is CPMC?

It is combined protection, monitoring and control system incorporated in the static system.

68) What are the advantages of static relay over electromagnetic relay?
o Low power consumption as low as 1mW
o No moving contacts; hence associated problems of arcing, contact bounce,
erosion, replacement of contacts.
o No gravity effect on operation of static relays. Hence can be used in
vessels ie, ships, aircrafts etc.
o A single relay can perform several functions like over current, under
voltage, single phasing protection by incorporating respective functional
blocks. This is not possible in electromagnetic relays.
o Static relay are compact.
o Superior operating characteristics and accuracy
o Static relay can think, programmable operation is possible with static
relay.
o Effect of vibration is nil, hence can be used in earthquake-prone areas
o Simplified testing and servicing. Can convert even non-electrical
quantities to electrical in conjunction with transducers.

67) What is resistance switching?

It is the method of connecting a resistance in parallel with the contact space(arc). The resistance
reduces the restriking voltage frequency, and it diverts part of the arc current. It assists the circuit
breaker in interrupting the magnetizing current and capacity current.

68) What do you mean by current chopping?

When interrupting low inductive currents such as magnetizing currents of the transformer, shunt
reactor, the rapid deionization of the contact space and blast effect may cause the current to be
interrupted before the natural current zero. This phenomenon of interruption of the current before
its natural zero is called current chopping.

37
69) What are the methods of capacitive switching?
• Opening of single capacitor bank
• Closing of one capacitor bank against another

70) What is an arc?

Arc is a phenomenon occurring when the two contacts of a circuit breaker separate under heavy
load or fault or short circuit condition.

71) Give the two methods of arc interruption?

1) High resistance interruption:-the arc resistance is increased by elongating, and splitting the arc
so that the arc is fully extinguished.
2)Current zero method:-The arc is interrupted at current zero position that occurs100 times a
second in case of 50Hz power system frequency in ac.

72) What is restriking voltage?

It is the transient voltage appearing across the breaker contacts at the instant of arc being
extinguished.

73) What is meant by recovery voltage?

The power frequency rms voltage appearing across the breaker contacts after the arc is
extinguished and transient oscillations die out is called recovery voltage.

74) What is RRRV?

It is the rate of rise of restriking voltage, expressed in volts per microsecond. It is closely
associated with natural frequency of oscillation.

75) What is circuit breaker?

It is a piece of equipment used to break a circuit automatically under fault
conditions. It breaks a circuit either manually or by remote control under normal
conditions and under fault conditions.

76) Write the classification of circuit breakers based on the medium used for
arc extinction?
Air break circuit breaker
Oil circuit breaker
Minimum oil circuit breaker
Air blast circuit breaker
SF6 circuit breaker
Vacuum circuit breaker

38
77) What is the main problem of the circuit breaker?
When the contacts of the breaker are separated, an arc is struck between them. This arc delays
the current interruption process and also generates enormous heat which may cause damage to
the system or to the breaker itself. This is the main problem.

78) What are demerits of MOCB?

Short contact life
Frequent maintenance
Possibility of explosion
Larger arcing time for small currents
Prone to restricts

79) What are the advantages of oil as arc quenching medium?

• It absorbs the arc energy to decompose the oil into gases, which have
excellent cooling properties
• It acts as an insulator and permits smaller clearance between line conductors
and earthed components.

80) What are the hazards imposed by oil when it is used as an arc quenching
medium?
There is a risk of fire since it is inflammable. It may form an explosive mixture
with arc. So oil is preferred as an arc quenching medium.

81) What are the advantages of MOCB over a bulk oil circuit breaker?
• It requires lesser quantity of oil
• It requires smaller space
• There is a reduced risk of fire
• Maintenance problem are reduced

82) What are the disadvantages of MOCB over a bulk oil circuit breaker?
o The degree of carbonization is increased due to smaller quantity of oil
o There is difficulty of removing the gases from the contact space in time
o The dielectric strength of the oil deteriorates rapidly due to high degree of
carbonization.

83) What are the types of air blast circuit breaker?

Arial-blast type
Cross blast
Radial-blast

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84) What are the advantages of air blast circuit breaker over oil circuit
breaker?
o The risk of fire is diminished
o The arcing time is very small due to rapid buildup of dielectric strength
between contacts
o The arcing products are completely removed by the blast whereas oil
deteriorates with successive operations

85) What are the demerits of using oil as an arc quenching medium?
• The air has relatively inferior arc quenching properties
• The air blast circuit breakers are very sensitive to variations in the rate of rise of restriking
voltage.
• Maintenance is required for the compression plant which supplies the air blast

86) What is meant by electro negativity of SF6 gas?

SF6 has high affinity for electrons. When a free electron comes and collides witha neutral gas
molecule, the electron is absorbed by the neutral gas molecule and negative ion is formed. This
is called as electro negativity of SF6 gas.

87) What are the characteristic of SF6 gas?

It has good dielectric strength and excellent arc quenching property. It is inert, non-toxic,
noninflammable, and heavy. At atmospheric pressure, its dielectric strength is 2.5 times that of
air. At three times atmospheric pressure, its dielectric strength is equal to that of the transformer
oil.

88) Write the classifications of test conducted on circuit breakers.

Type test
Routine test
Reliability test
Commissioning test

89) What are the indirect methods of circuit breaker testing?

o Unit test
o Synthetic test
o Substitution testing
o Compensation testing
o Capacitance testing

90) What are the advantages of synthetic testing methods?

• The breaker can be tested for desired transient recovery voltage and RRRV.
40
• Both test current and test voltage can be independently varied. This gives flexibility to the test
• The method is simple
• With this method a breaker capacity (MVA) of five time of that of the capacity of the test plant
can be tested.

91) How does the over voltage surge affect the power system?
The over voltage of the power system leads to insulation breakdown of the equipment’s. It
causes the line insulation to flash over and may also damage the nearby transformer, generators
and the other equipment connected to the line.

92) What is pick up value?

It is the minimum current in the relay coil at which the relay starts to operate.

93) Define target.

It is the indicator used for showing the operation of the relay.

94) Define reach.

It is the distance up to which the relay will cover for protection.

95) Define blocking.

It means preventing the relay from tripping due to its own characteristics or due to additional
relays.

96) Mention any 2 applications of differential relays.

Protection of generator and generator-transformer unit: protection of large motors and bus bars

97) Mention the various tests carried out in a circuit breaker at HV labs.

Short circuit tests, Synthetic tests& direct tests.

98) Mention the advantages of field tests.

The circuit breaker is tested under actual conditions like those that occur in the network.
Special occasions like breaking of charging currents of long lines ,very short line faults
,interruption of small inductive currents etc… can be tested by direct testing only.

99) State the disadvantages of field tests.

The circuit breaker can be tested at only a given rated voltage and network capacity.
The necessity to interrupt the normal services and to test only at light load conditions.
Extra inconvenience and expenses in installation of controlling and measuring equipment in the

41
field.

100) Define composite testing of a circuit breaker.

In this method the breaker is first tested for its rated breaking capacity at a reduced voltage and
afterwards for rated voltage at a low current. This method does not give a proper estimate of the
breaker performance.

101) State the various types of earthing.

Solid earthing, resistance earthing , reactance earthing , voltage transformer earthing and zig-zag
transformer earthing.

102) What are arcing grounds?

The presence of inductive and capacitive currents in the isolated neutral system leads to
formation of arcs called as arcing grounds.

103) What is arc suppression coil?

A method of reactance grounding used to suppress the arc due to arcing grounds.

104) State the significance of single line to ground fault.

In single line to ground fault all the sequence networks are connected in series. All the sequence
currents are equal and the fault current magnitude is three times its sequence currents.

105) What are symmetrical components?

It is a mathematical tool to resolve unbalanced components into balanced components.

106) State the three sequence components.

Positive sequence components, negative sequence components and zero sequence components.

107) Define positive sequence component.

It has 3 vectors equal in magnitude and displaced from each other by an angle 120 degrees and
having the phase sequence as original vectors.

108) Define zero sequence component.

They has 3 vectors having equal magnitudes and displaced from each other by an angle zero
degrees.

109) State the significance of double line fault.

It has no zero sequence component and the positive and negative sequence networks are
connected in parallel.

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110) Define negative sequence component.
It has 3 vectors equal in magnitude and displaced from each other by an angle 120 degrees and
has the phase sequence in opposite to its original phasors.

111) State the different types of faults.

Symmetrical faults and unsymmetrical faults and open conductor faults.

112) State the various types of unsymmetrical faults.

Line to ground ,line to line and double line to ground faults

113) Mention the withstanding current in our human body.

9mA

114) State the different types of circuit breakers.

Air ,oil, vacuum circuit breakers.

115) Define per unit value.

It is defined as the ratio of actual value to its base value.

116) Mention the inductance value of the peterson’s coil.

L=1/3wc2

117) Define single line diagram.

Representation of various power system components in a single line is defined as single line
diagram.

118) Differentiate between a fuse and a circuit breaker.

Fuse is a low current interrupting device. It is a copper or an aluminum wire. Circuit breaker is a
high current interrupting device and it act as a switch under normal operating conditions.

119) How direct tests are conducted in circuit breakers?

Using a short circuit generator as the source.
Using the power utility system or network as the source.

120) What is dielectric test of a circuit breaker?

It consists of overvoltage withstand test of power frequency lightning and impulse voltages.
Tests are done for both internal and external insulation with switch in both open and closed
conditions.

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121) Mention some of the applications of Directional Over-Current relays?
1. Double end fed power system
2. Single end fed system of parallel feeders
3. Ring main feeder system

122) Explain differential protection?

Differential protection is based on the fact that any fault within an electrical equipment would
cause the current entering it, to be different from that leaving it. Thus, we can compare the two
currents either in magnitude or in phase or both and issue a trip output if the difference exceeds a
pre- determined set value.

123) What are the different types of faults in a transformer?

The internal faults include phase faults, ground faults, inter-turn faults, tap-changer failure, and
leakage oil from tank. The external faults include system phase faults, system ground faults,
overloads and over fluxing.

124) What is inrush current?

The initial value of flux is zero when the transformer is energized. The, the flux reaches a peak
value in half a cycle. Since power transformers operate near the knee of the saturation curve, a
flux demand drives the transformer core deep into saturation, causing it to draw a very large
magnetizing current with a peaky non-sinusoidal waveform. The magnetizing current is,
therefore, very high, of the order of 8 to 30 times the full-load current. This current is known as
inrush current.

125) what is Buchholz relay and the significance of it into the transformer?
Buchholz relay is a device which is used for the protection of transformer from its internal faults,
it is a gas-based relay. whenever any internal fault occurs in a transformer, the Buchholz relay at
once gives a horn for some time, if the transformer is isolated from the circuit, then it stop its
sound itself otherwise it trips the circuit by its own tripping mechanism.

126) What is the difference between megger test equipment and contact
resistance meter test instruments?
Megger test equipment used to measure cable electric resistance, conductor continuity, phase
identification.
Contact resistance meter test instruments used to measure low resistance like relays, contactors.

44
127) What is different between resistance grounding system and resistance
earthing system?
In resistance grounding system the neutral point of the load is connected to the ground to carry
the residual current in case of unbalanced conditions. Resistance earthing system is done in an
electric equipment in order to protect the equipment in occurrence of fault in the system.

128) What is meant by knee point voltage?

Knee point voltage is the voltage at which a CT gets saturated. It is one of the important factors
taken into consideration for selecting a current transformer.

129) What is reverse power relay?

Reverse Power flow relay are used to stop the flow of power from grid to station generator when
the generating units are off.

130) When voltage increases then current also increases then what is the need
of over voltage relay and over current relay? Can we measure over voltage
and over current by measuring current only?
No. We can't sense the over voltage by just measuring the current only because the current
increases not only for over voltages but also for under voltage (As most of the loads are
non-linear in nature). So, the over voltage protection & over current protection are completely
different. Over voltage relay meant for sensing over voltages & protect the system from
insulation break down and firing. Over current relay meant for sensing any internal short circuit,
overload condition, earth fault thereby reducing the system failure & risk of fire. So, for a better
protection of the system. It should have both over voltage & over current relay.

131) Where are the lighting arrestors placed in distribution lines?

Near distribution transformers and outgoing feeders of 11kv and incoming feeder of 33kv and
near power transformers in sub-stations.

132) What is the difference between surge arrestor and lightning arrestor?
Lightning arrestor is installed outside, and the effect of lightning is grounded, whereas surge
arrestor installed inside panels comprising of resistors which consumes the energy and nullify the
effect of surge.

133) In three pin plugs why earth pin diameter is higher than other two pin?
Because Current flow in the conductor is inversely proportional to the conductor diameter. So, if
any short circuits occur in the system first high currents bypassed in the Earthling terminal.
(R=Pl/a area of the conductor increases resistance value decreases).

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Transmission Lines Protection Questions Answers

1) What is meant by Tine Graded Protection?

Time Graded protection is a scheme of over current protection, in which the discrimination is
incorporated i.e., the time setting of the relays is so graded that in the event of the fault, the
smallest part of the system is disconnected.

2) What are the main elements of current carrier protection?

The main elements of the carrier current protection are: Transmitter, Receiver, Coupling
equipment and Line trap.

3) Why Merz-Price Protection is not suitable beyond 33kV?

Difficulties are experienced in balancing the secondaries of the CTs and this is why Merz-Price
protection is not employed beyond 33kV.

4) What types of relays are suitable for the protection of radial feeders?

Induction type IDMT relays are more suitable for protection of the radial feeders because the
time current characteristics are similar in shape and in no case they cross each other at any time.

5) What is the purpose of Line trap and Coupling capacitors in carrier

channels?

Line trap is an LC network inserted between the busbar and connection of coupling capacitors to
the line and tuned to resonance at the high frequency and are used to confine the carrier currents
to the protected section so as to avoid interference with or from adjacent carrier current channel.

Coupling capacitors is used to connect the high frequency (carrier) equipment to one of the line
conductors and simultaneously serves to isolate the carrier equipment from high power line
voltage.

6) What is Unit Protection?

Unit system of protection is one in which the protection responds to the faults in the protected
zone alone and it does not respond to through faults (faults beyond the protected zone). No unit
systems does not have zone boundary.

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7) What is the minimum time interval set for two adjacent circuit breakers to
operate in radial feeders?

It will be usually around 0.4 sec

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