Over-current and Earth Fault Protection
Introduction
As the fault impedance is less than load impedance, the fault current is morethan load current. If a short circuit occurs the circuit impedance is reduced to alow value and therefore a fault is accompanied by large current.
Over-current protection is that protection in which the relay picks up whenthe magnitude of current exceeds the pickup level
.
T
he basic element in Over-current protection is an Over-current relay.
T
he Over-current relays are connected to the system, normally by means of C
T'
s.Over-current relaying has following types:
1.
H
igh speed Over-current protection.
2
.
D
efinite time Over-current protection.
3
.
Inverse minimum time Over-current protection.
4
.
D
irectional Over-current protection (of above types).
Over-current protection includes the protection from overloads.
T
his is mostwidely used protection. Overloading of a machine or equipment generally)means the machine is taking more current than its rated current.
H
ence withoverloading, there is an associated temperature rise.
T
he permissibletemperature rise has a limit based on insulation class and material problems.Over-current protection of overloads is generally provided by thermal relays.
Over-current protection includes short-circuit protection. Short circuits a bephase faults, earth faults or winding faults. Short-circuit currents are generallyseveral times (5 to
20
) full load current.
H
ence fast fault clearance is alwaysdesirable on short-circuits.
When a machine is protected by differential protection, the over-current isprovided in addition as a back-up and in some cases to protect the machinefrom sustained through fault.
Several protective devices are used for over-current protection theseinclude:
1.
F
uses
2
.
Circuit-breakers fitted with overloaded coils or tripped by over-currentrelays.
3
.
Series connected trip coils operating switching devices.
4
.
Over-current relays in conjunction with current transformers.
T
he primary requirements of over-current protection are:
y
T
he protection should not operate for starting currents, permissibleover-current, and current surges.
T
o achieve this, the time delay isprovided (in case of inverse relays). If time delay cannot bepermitted, high-set instantaneous relaying is used.
y
T
he protection should be coordinated with neighboring over-current protections so as to discriminate.
Applications of Over-current Protection
Over-current protection has a wide range of applications. It can be appliedwhere there is an abrupt difference between fault current within the protectedsection and that outside the protected section and these magnitudes are almostconstant.
T
he over-current protection is provided for the following:
M
otor Protection Over-current protection is the basic type of protection used against overloadsand short-circuits in stator windings of motors. Inverse time and instantaneousphase and ground over-current relays can be employed for motors above 1
200
H
.P.
F
or small/medium size motors where cost of C
T'
s and protective relays isnot economically justified, thermal relays and
HR
C fuses are employed, thermalrelays used for overload protection and
HR
C fuses for short-circuit protection.
T
ransformer Protection
T
ransformers are provided with over-current protection against faults, only,when the cost of differential relaying cannot be justified.
H
owever, over-currentrelays are provided in addition to differential relays to take care of throughfaults.
T
emperature indicators and alarms are always provided for largetransformers.
Small transformers below 5
00
kVA installed in distribution system are generallyprotected by drop-out fuses, as the cost of relays plus circuit-breakers is notgenerally justified Line Protection.
T
he lines (feeders) can be protected by
(1)
Instantaneous over-current relays.
(
2
)
Inverse time over-current relays.
(
3
)
D
irectional over-current relay.
Lines can be protected by impedance or carrier current protection also.
Protection of Utility Equipment
T
he furnaces, industrial installations commercial, industrial and domesticequipment are all provided with over-current protection.
R
elays used in Over-current Protection
T
he choice of relay for over-current protection depends upon the
T
ime / currentcharacteristic and other features desired.
T
he following relays are used.
1.
F
or instantaneous over-current protection. Attracted armature type,moving iron type,permanent magnet moving coil type and static.
2
.
F
or inverse time characteristic. Electromagnetic induction type,permanent magnetmoving coil type and static.
3
.
D
irectional over-current protection.
D
ouble actuating quantity inductionrelaywith directional feature.
4
.
Static over-current relays.5.
HR
C fuses, drop out fuses, etc. are used in low voltage medium voltageand high voltage distribution systems, generally up to 11 kV.
6
.
T
hermal relays are used widely for over-current protection.Not: Now
D
igital Numerical
R
elay you can used for all types
Characteristics of relay units for over current protection
T
here is a wide variety of relay-units.
T
hese are classified according to their type and characteristics.
T
he major characteristic includes:
1.
D
efinite characteristic
2
. Inverse characteristic
3
. Extremely Inverse
4
. Very Inverse
In definite characteristic, the time of operation is almost definite
i
.e.
I
0
* T = K
Where:
I = Current in relay coil
T = Relay lime
K
= Constant.
In inverse characteristic, time is inversely proportional to current
i
.e.
I
1
* T = K
In more inverse characteristic
I
n
* T = K
Where n can be between
2
to 8 the choice depends on discrimination desired.
Instantaneous relays are those which have no intentional time lag sod whichoperate in less than
0
.1 second, usually less than
0
.
0
8 second. As suck they arenot instantaneous in real sense.
T
he relays which are not instantaneous are called
T
ime
D
elay
R
elay
'
. Suchrelays are provided with delaying means such as drag magnet, dash poss.bellows, escape mechanisms, back-stop arrangement, etc.
T
he operating time of a relay for a particular setting and magnitude actuatingquantity can be known from the characteristics supplied by the
manufacturer.
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