UNIT- 4 FEEDER & BUS BAR PROTECTION

Definition: Feeder protection is defined as the protection of the feeder from the fault so that the power
grids continue supply the energy. The feeder injects the electrical energy from the substation to the load
end. So it is essential to protect the feeder from the various type of fault. The main requirement of the
feeder protection is;

1. During the short circuit, the circuit breaker nearest to the fault should open and all other circuit
breakers remain in a closed position.
2. If the breaker nearest to the fault fails to open then, backup protection should be provided by the
adjacent circuit breaker.
3. The relay operating time should be small to maintain the system stability without necessary tripping
of a circuit.

Time Graded Protection

This is a scheme in which the time setting of relays is so consecutive that in the event of a fault, the
smallest possible part of the system is isolated. The applications of time graded are explained below.

1. Protection of Radial Feeders

The main characteristic of a radial system is that power flow only in one direction, i.e. from the generator
or the supply end to the load end. It has the drawback that continuity of supply cannot be controlled at the
load end in the occurrence of a fault.

In a radial system when the number of feeders is connected in series as shown in the figure. It is desired
that the smallest possible part of the system should be off. This is conveniently achieved by employing time
graded protection. The over current system should be adjusted in such a way that the longer the relay from
the generating station the lesser the time of operation.

When the fault occurs on the SS4, the relay OC5 should operate first and not any other i.e. the time require
to operate the relay OC4 must be less than the time required for relay OC3 and so on. This shows that the
time setting required for these relays must be properly graded. The minimum interval of time which can be
allowed for the two adjacent circuit breaker depends on its own clearance time, plus a small time for the
safety margin.

Dept. Of EEE, VVIT Page 1

With normal circuit breaker in use minimum, the discriminating time between adjustment breaker should
be about 0.4 seconds. The time settings for relay OC1, OC2, OC3, OC4, and OC5 will be 0.2 seconds, 1.5
seconds, 1.5 seconds, 1.0 seconds, 0.5 second and instantaneous respectively. Along with the grading
system, it is also essential that the time of operation for the severe fault should be less. This can be done by
using time limiting fuse in parallel with the trip coils.

2. Protection of Parallel Feeders

The parallel connection of the supply is mainly used for the continuity of the supply and for sharing the
load. When the fault occurs on the protective feeder, the protective device will select and isolate the
defective feeder while the other instantly assume the increased load.

One of the simplest methods for the protection of the relay is the time graded overload relay with inverse
time characteristic at the sending end and instantaneous reverse power or directional relays at the receiving
end as shown in the figure below.

When the heavy fault F occur on any one of the lines, then the power is fed into fault from the sending end
as well as from the receiving end of the line. The direction of power flow will be reversed through the relay
on D, which will be open.

The excess current is then restricted to B until its overload relay operates and trips the circuit breaker, thus
completely isolating the faulty feeder and supplying power through the healthy feeder. This method is only
satisfactory when the fault is heavy and reverse the power at D. Hence differential protection is also added
along with the overloaded protection at both the end of the line.

3. Protection of Ring Main System

The ring main is a system of interconnection between a series of the power station by a different route. In
the main ring system, the direction of power can be changed at will, particularly when the interconnection
is used.

The elementary diagram of such a system is shown in the figure below where G is the generating station,
and A, B, C, and D are substation. At the generating station, the power flow only in one direction and hence
no time lag overload relays is used. The time grade overload relay is placed at the end of the substation, and
it will trip only when overload flows away from the substation which they protect.

Dept. Of EEE, VVIT Page 2

Going round the ring in the direction GABCD the relay on the further side of each station are set with
decreasing time lags. At generating station 2 seconds at station A, B, C and 1.5 seconds, 1.0 second, 0.5
second and instantaneous respectively. Similarly going round the ring in the opposite direction the relay on
the outgoing sides would be set as follows.

If the fault occurs at point F, the power F is fed into the fault through two paths ABF and DCF. The relay to
operate is that between substation B and fault point F and substation C and fault point F. Thus the fault on
any section will cause the relay on that section to operate, and the healthy section will be operating
uninterruptedly.

Differential Protection of feeder

In differential protection scheme, the current entering at one end of the line and leaving from other end
of the line is compared. The pilot wires are used to connect the relays. Under normal working condition, the
two currents at both ends are equal and pilot wires do not carry any current, keeping relays inoperative.
Under fault conditions, the two currents at two ends are no longer same, this causes circulating current flow
through pilot wires. This causes relays to trip which operate the circuit breakers to isolate the faulty section.

The various schemes used with this method of protection are,

1. Merz-Price voltage balance system

2. Translay scheme

1. Merz-Price Voltage Balance System

The Figure shows Merz-Price voltage balance system used for the three phase feeders.

Dept. Of EEE, VVIT Page 3

Under normal condition, current entering the line at one end is equal to current leaving from the other end.

Thus equal and opposite voltages are induced in the secondaries of C.T.s. at the two ends. Hence no
current flows through relays.

Under fault condition, two currents at the two ends are different. Thus the secondary voltages of the two
C.T.s also differ. This circulates a circulating current through the pilot wires and the relays. Thus the relays
trip the circuit breakers to isolate the faulty section.

The advantages of this method are,

1. Can be used for parallel as well as ring main system.

2. Provides instantaneous protection to the ground faults.

The limitations of this method are,

1. The C.T.s used must match accurately.
2. The pilot wires must be healthy without discontinuity.
3. Economically not suitable as the cost is high due to long pilot wires.
4. Due to long pilot wires, capacitive effects may affect the operation of the relays.

2. Translay Relay For Feeder

While the feeder is healthy, the line CTs at each end carries equal currents. Equal and opposite voltages are
induced in the secondary windings 12 and 12a and no current flows in the pilots. No magnetic flux is set up
in the bottom magnets 16 and 16a so the relays do not operate. Under heavy through-fault conditions there
may be a small circulating current due to line CT mismatch. A restraint torque is produced by bias loop 18,
which also stabilizes the relay against pilot capacitance currents. A fault fed from one end causes current to
circulate in the pilots and the relay at that end will operate to trip. A fault fed from both ends will cause a
current reversal in the remote CTs, making the circulating current additive so that both ends operate to trip.

Dept. Of EEE, VVIT Page 4

The advantages of this scheme are,
1. Only two pilot wires are required.
2. The cost is very low.
3. The current transformers with normal design can be employed.
4. The capacitive effects of pilot wire currents do not affect the operation of the relays.

Differential Protection of Bus bar:

The bus-bar is fed by a generator and supplies load to two lines. Secondaries of CT in the generator lead, in
line 1 & 2 are all connected in parallel. The protective relay is connected across this parallel connection.
When a fault occurs, the fault current upsets the balance and produces a differential current to operate a
relay.

Carrier Current Protection of Transmission Lines

Carrier current protection scheme is mainly used for the protection of the long transmission line. In the
carrier, current protection schemes, the phase angle of the current at the two phases of the line are
compared instead of the actual current. And then the phase angle of the line decides whether the fault is
internal and external. The main elements of the carrier channel are a transmitter, receiver, coupling
equipment, and line trap.

The carrier current receiver receives the carrier current from the transmitter at the distant end of the line.
The receiver converts the received carrier current into a DC voltage that can be used in a relay or other
circuit that performs any desired function. The voltage is zero when the carrier current, is not being
received.

Dept. Of EEE, VVIT Page 5

Line trap is inserted between the bus-bar and connection of coupling capacitor to the line. It is a parallel LC
network tuned to resonance at the high frequency. It hence presents high impedance to high frequency
carrier current, but a relative low impedance to power frequency (50Hz) current. The traps restrict the
carrier current to the unprotected section so as to avoid interference with or from the other adjacent carrier
current channels. It also avoids the loss of the carrier current signal to the adjoining power circuit.

The coupling capacitor connects the high-frequency equipment to one of the line conductors and
simultaneously separates the power equipment from the high power line voltage. The normal current will
be able to flow only through the line conductor, while the high current carrier current will circulate over the
line conductor fitted with the high-frequency traps, through the trap capacitor and the ground.

Methods of Carrier Current Protection

The different methods of current carrier protection and the basic form of the carrier current protection are

1. Directional Comparison protection

2. Phase Comparison Protection
These types are explained below in details

1. Directional Comparison Protection

The direction of power flow at the two ends of the protected sections is compared in the directional
comparison technique. During normal conditions or external faults, the power flows into the protected
section at one end and leaves at the other end. During internal faults, the direction of power flow is inwards
at both the ends.

The relay at both the end removes the fault from the bus. If the fault is in protection section the power flows
in the protective direction and for the external fault power will flow in the opposite direction. During the
fault, a simple signal through carrier pilot is transmitted from one end to the other. The pilot protection
relaying schemes used for the protection of transmission is mainly classified into two types. They are

 Carrier Blocking Protection Scheme – The carrier blocking protection scheme restricts the operation
of the relay. It blocks the fault before entering into the protected section of the system. It is one of
the most reliable protecting schemes because it protects the system equipment from damage.
 Carrier Permitting Blocking Scheme – The carrier, protective schemes allows the fault current to
enter into the protected section of the system.

2. Phase Comparison Carrier Protection

In phase comparison technique, the phase angle of the current entering at one end is compared with the
phase angle of the current leaving the other end of the protected section. During normal operating
conditions or in case of an external fault, the currents at both the ends of the protected line are in phase. In
case of an internal fault i.e. fault in the protected section, the currents at the two ends will be 180 o out of
phase.

Dept. Of EEE, VVIT Page 6

This system compares the phase relation between the current enter into the pilot zone and the current
leaving the protected zone. The current magnitudes are not compared. It provided only main or primary
protection and backup protection must be provided also. The circuit diagram of the phase comparison
carrier protection scheme is shown in the above figure.

The transmission line CTs feeds a network that transforms the CTs output current into a single phase
sinusoidal output voltage. This voltage is applied to the carrier current transmitter and the comparer. The
output of the carrier current receiver is also applied to the comparer. The comparer regulates the working of
an auxiliary relay for tripping the transmission line circuit breaker.

Advantage of Carrier Current Protection

The following are the advantage of the carrier current protection schemes. These advantages are

1. It has a fast and simultaneous operation of circuit breakers at both the ends.
2. It has a fast, clearing process and prevents shock to the system.
3. No separate wires are required for signalling because the power lines themselves carry the power as
well as communication signalling.
4. It’s simultaneously tripping of circuit breakers at both the end of the line in one to three cycles.
5. This system is best suited for fast relaying also with modern fast circuit breakers.

3 - Zone distance relay using impedance relay

The long transmission lines are with intermediate substations. In each substation the distance relays are
provided for line protection. The settings of these relays are set with respect of impedance (radius of
characteristic circle) and operating time.
The distance relay in each sub-station has generally three step characteristic with respective setting of
Z and t for each step. The three step characteristics of distance relay of each sub-station is achieved by
providing three sets of relays in each sub-station for protection of each line.

Step Characteristic
This figure explains a time distance characteristic of a 3-step distance scheme in substation A for one
direction. These are three sets of relays for protection of each line. Each relays provides characteristic for
one zone. The combined effect the distance scheme in substation A provides.
Dept. Of EEE, VVIT Page 7
  Primary protection of first zone AB with minimum time setting. Normally 85% of first zone is
covered to take care of errors such as fault resistance.
 Remote back-up for the second zone BC with time setting ... and remove Back-up for the 3rd Zone
CD with time setting...
First zone. The first zone setting is 85 to 90%of line length and with highest speed of protection so
that these relays operate at the earliest and will never operate for the fault in 2nd and 3rd zones. Also the
margin of 15 to 10% takes care of fault resistance seen by the relay measurement as additional time
impedance.
Under reach. Suppose line impedance is ZL and arc resistance relay measures (ZL + Rf ) instead of
measuring only ZL . Thereby the relay will see the fault as beyond its characteristic circle and will not
operate even though it should have operated. This is called under reach Define.
Second Zone. The second zone relay at A provides protection for measuring 15 to 10% of line section
AB. The relay is set to reach beyond the length AB and twenty to fifty per cent of the next line section BC.
For achieving time co-ordination, the second zone relay at substation 1 is set with time t2 with a time delay
of 0.2 to 0.5 seconds between the first zone t1 and second zone t2. The primary protection for section BC is
provided by first zone relay at substation B.
Third Zone. The third zone relay at A provides Back-up protection for section AB, BC and CD. The
primary protection for line section CD is provided by first zone relay at substation C.
Third zone protection at sub-station A is delayed by 0.4 to one second from first zone and 0.2 to 0.5
seconds from second zone.

Co-ordination Characteristic of Distance Relays in Three Station

Fig. illustrates the time distance characteristic setting of distance relays at station A, B, C for one
direction. Similar relays are provided for other direction.

1. Relays at Substation A
3 step distance characteristic of relay at sub-station A having following feature:
 First zone. Primary protection to 85 to 90% on line AB (First zone) with time t A1 to operate
breaker RA.
Dept. Of EEE, VVIT Page 8
  Second zone cover remaining 15 to 10% of section AB and about 20 to 50% of section BC with
time t A2.
 Third zone covering remaining 80 to 50% of section BC and further 20% of section CD.

2. Relays at sub-station B
This has 3 step characteristic just like that of sub-station A,
 First zone protects 85 to 100% of section BC as primary protection with time t B1 and, second zone
covering remaining 15 to 10% of BC with higher time. Third zone covering remaining protection of
line BC and further 20% of line CB.
 Relay at station B provides primary protection to Section BC and remote Back-up to DC, DE.

3. Relay at Sub-station C.
This provides primary protection to 85 to 90% of section CD as first zone protection with minimum
time t C1. This is primary protection at sub-station C to operate breaker RC.

Over-current and Earth Fault Protection

This scheme is employed for 11 kv and 33 kv systems as main protection and is used as back up protection
for transformers and transmission lines in EHV system. This scheme employs two IDMT type over-current
relays connected in two phases through CTs, as shown in fig. In case of over-current these relays trip the
circuit breaker because of phase to phase fault. Under healthy conditions the sum of all the three currents of
CTs is zero and the earth fault relay remains, inoperative. As soon as phase to earth fault occurs
unbalancing in currents causes the earth fault relay to operate, which in turn trips the circuit breaker.

Dept. Of EEE, VVIT Page 9