LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED

GENERATOR PROTECTION
TYPICAL SCHEMES
L&T SOLUTIONS

R.SESHADRI
MPS Business Unit
Mysore Works
Generator Protection
Typical Schemes and L&T Solutions
1.0 With increasing complications in the power system, utility regulations , stress
on cost reduction and trend towards automation, Generator protection has
become a high focus area. State of the art , microcontroller based
protection schemes from L&T offer a range of solutions to customers to
address the basic protections and control requirements depending upon the size
and plant requirements.

2.0 Generators - size less than 300 KVA

Normally these generators are controlled by MCCBs, which offer O/C and
short circuit protections. It is advisable to have following protections in
addition to MCCB (Fig.1):

E/F protection (51N) : This will protect the generator from hazardous
leakages and ensure operator safety. Many SEBs have already made E/F
protection as mandatory. L&T Relay for this is MC12A.

MCCB MC12A
r

51 51
N

G
Fig. 1 Protection of
Generators less than 300 kVA

3.0 Generators - size 300 to 1 MVA

There are two major differences when compared with the small machines
considered in section 2.0.

a) IDMT Over current + E/F relay will be required addition to normal

MCCB or ACB releases since the generator may need shorter trip
times for faults in the range 100% to 400% level. L&T Relay MC61A
will be the ideal choice.

b) By virtue of larger power level, any faults inside the stator or fault
between the neutral of the machine and the breaker terminals can reach
very high intensity.
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Such internal faults must be cleared instantaneously. Normal IDMT over

current / E/F relays are not adequate to monitor this internal fault
condition. A separate relay scheme is required to monitor this internal
fault status - otherwise the machine can circulate very high fault currents
resulting in severe damage.

A high impedance differential relay scheme, with L&T relay SC14S (3

nos) is the best suited for this purpose (Fig.2). If the neutral is formed
inside the machine, the differential relay scheme will not be possible
in this case a Restricted E/F scheme , with same SC14S relay (1 No.) is
the solution. Care should be taken to provide adequate no. of CTs as
shown in the diagram.

c) Machines of this size are likely to have external controls for frequency
and excitation so that they can be run in parallel with other power
sources (other generators on the same bus or the local grid). This
necessitates voltage and frequency related protections as well. L&T
Relays UM30A is the best solution for this purpose. Alternately Relay
MV12A (4 Nos) can be used if frequency protection is built in the
engine.

MV12A /
UM30A
r
27/ 81
59

51 50N 51 51N

MC61A

G 87/ 3 x SC14S (Diff.)

87N 1 x SC14S (REF)

Fig. 2 Protection of
Generators 300 kVA 1 MVA
-3-

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4.0 Generators Size 1 MVA to 10 MVA

Being a medium sized generator, it will need more comprehensive protection
both for the stator side and the rotor side.

4.1 Stator side protections :

a) Voltage restrained Over Current Protection (50V / 51V) : Normal

IDMT O/C will not work here when a over current fault occurs, due to
higher current levels, there would be a drop in terminal voltage. For the
same fault impedance, the fault current will reduce (with respect to
terminal voltage) to a level below the pick up setting. Consequently
normal IDMT may not pick up. It is necessary to have a relay whose
pick up setting will automatically reduce in proportion to terminal
voltage. Hence the over current protection must be voltage restrained.
Two levels of Over current protection is required low set and highest
( for short circuit protection).

b) Thermal Overload (49) : This protection is a must it monitors the

thermal status of machine for currents between 105% to the low set O/C
level ( normally 150%).

c) Current Unbalance (46) : Generators are expected to feed unbalanced

loads whose level has to be monitored. If the unbalance exceeds 20%,
it may cause over heating of the windings. This heating will not be
detected by the thermal overload relay - since the phase currents will be
well within limits. A two level monitoring for unbalance is preferred
first level for alarm and the second level for trip.

d) Loss of excitation(40) : When excitation is lost in a running generator,

it will draw reactive power from the bus and get over heated. This
condition is detected from the stator side CT inputs by monitoring the
internal impedance level & position of the generator.

e) Reverse Power (32) : Generators of this size may operate in parallel

with other sources, which may cause reverse power flow at certain times
( during synchronization or when there is a PF change due to load / grid
fluctuation or when there is a prime mover failure). When reverse power
happens, the generator along with prime mover will undergo violent
mechanical shock hence reverse power protection is absolute must.

f) Under power (37) : It may not be economical to run generators below a

certain load level. This protection will monitor the forward power
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delivered by the machine and give alarm when the level goes below a
set point.

g) Under / Over Voltage (27 / 59 ) : This will protect the machine from
abnormal voltage levels, particularly during synchronization and load
throw off conditions.

h) Under / Over frequency (81) : This will protect the machine from
abnormal frequency levels, particularly during synchronization and load
throw off conditions. This will also help in load shedding schemes for
the generator.

i) Breaker Failure Protection : This protection detects the failure of

breaker to open after receipt of trip signal. Another trip contact is
generated under breaker fail conditions , with which more drastic
measures (like engine stoppage, opening of bus coupler etc) can be
taken.

Multifunction relay IM3GV from L&T, as a single unit protects the

generator for all above listed faults (a) to (h) giving at the same time
the benefit of small panel space, simple wiring and user friendly
operation.

j) Stator Earth fault (64S): L&T relay MC12A will do this job.

k) Differential Protection (87G) : This protection is very important

since the machines of this size have to be protected for severe damages
that may occur due to internal faults. Considering the large power levels,
it is necessary to have a percentage biased, low impedance differential
relay L&Ts relay MD32G is the ideal solution. MD32G has
following advantages :
- it provides percentage biased differential protection with dual
slope characteristics
- it has a built in REF protection element (87N), which will monitor
the generator for internal earth faults.
- It has a built in O/C protection, as a back up

l) PT Fuse Failure Protection : This relay will detect any blowing of PT

secondary fuse and give a contact which can be used to block the
under voltage trip. L&T relay PTF03, with less than 7 ms response, will
be ideal for this purpose.

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4.2 Rotor side protections : Generators of this size, will need rotor side
protections listed below :

a) Rotor Excitation Under Current : This is a DC under current relay

( UBC/A/37), which will monitor the excitation current.

b) Rotor Excitation U/V(80) : This is a DC under voltage relay (UBC

/80), which will monitor rotor voltage.

c)) Diode failure Relay : Brushless excitation systems will have rotor
mounted diodes, which can become short or open during operation.
Diode Failure relay (RHS) will monitor the condition of these diodes ,
for both open circuit and short, and give alarm.

d) Rotor Earth Fault(64R) : Relay UBO/CR will monitor the rotor

winding status for the Earth fault.

Please see Fig 3 for the scheme with relays as above.

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5.0 Generators above 10 MVA

For large generators above 10 MVA size, the philosophy of main protection
and back up protection has to be followed. In addition to the protections listed
in Section 4.0, following extra protections are to be considered:

a) 100% Earth Fault Protection : This will help in sensing earth faults
close to neutral.

b) Inadvertent Breaker Closure : This will avoid closing of generator to

bus during coasting to stop, or when stand still or before synchronism.

c) Under Impedance : This will be required as a back up protection for

the whole system including the generator transformer and the associated
transmission line. If the distance relay fails to pick for some reason, this
under impedance function will pick up and save the generator.

d) Over Excitation : This will protect the generator from Over fluxing
conditions.

Please see Fig. 4 for the SLD.

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6.0 Generator connected in parallel to grid : Whenever generators are
running parallel to grid, a comprehensive Auto Synchronising & Grid
Islanding Scheme will be required. This scheme will help in synchronizing the
generator to the bus and opening the incomer breaker of the plant whenever
there is a severe grid disturbance, thus protecting the generator from ill effects
of disturbed grid. L&T Relays SPM21, UFD34 , MW33 and MRP11 are ideal
for this scheme. Please see Fig. 5.

7.0 Generators connected in parallel on a common bus : Whenever

more than one generator is operating in parallel , it is necessary to see that the
plant load is equally shared by the generators in parallel. If there is unequal
sharing, there would severe hunting amongst the generators and eventually this
will lead to cascaded tripping of all generators, causing a total black out. L&T
relays RRS (two relays per generator) provide the most effective, online load
sharing system for generators in parallel. Please see Fig 6 for a representative
scheme of load sharing for three generators.

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8.0 Summary : The sections above describe the actual requirements and various
options available from L&T towards protection and management of generators
of various sizes. For generators above 1 MVA size, it is also recommended to
have complete data acquisition & control through PC. L&T supplies MSCOM
software for this purpose. The relays like IM3GV, MG30, MD32T,UM30A
can all communicate to a PC and provide all management data.

A comprehensive scheme as shown below will be the most desirable one.

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