BREAKER FAILURE RELAY (50BF)

SETTING GUIDELINES
BREAKER FAILURE RELAY (50BF)

A. REQUIREMENT:
The BFR should be set to operate only during the presence of the two (2) conditions, as follows:
1. Existence of a trip command from the relay which is capable of automatic reset without delay
after clearing of the fault.
2. Overcurrent pick-up from the BFR. BFR should not operate with current pickup.

B. Overcurrent Detector Setting

1. For a line, apply a resistive 3-phase or 1-line-to-ground fault at the remote bus. Monitor the
smaller fault current – 3PH or 1LG - flowing through the line. Set the breaker fail pick-up current
to this fault current or to the conductor line ampacity whichever is smaller.
2. Apply a 3-phase fault or 1-line-to-ground fault at the secondary bus of the transformer. Monitor
the smaller fault current – 3PH or 1LG - flowing through the transformer. Set the breaker fail
pick-up current to 90% of this fault current or to 150% of transformer full load current,
whichever is smaller.
3. If the breaker is being shared by two different lines or a line and a transformer with different
pick-up as determined in steps 1 and 2, set the pick-up current of both lines or line and
transformer with the lower current setting.

C. Time Setting
RE-TRIP TIMER (STAGE 1):
 A BFR re-trip function is to re-trip the failed breaker after a time of 100msec and shall be an
integral part of the BFR. The re-trip of the BFR shall be three (3) pole and should be wired to a
lockout relay.

FINAL TRIP (STAGE 2);

 The BFR final trip shall be set at a time of 150msec and shall isolate the faulted breaker by
tripping all the adjacent circuit breakers through lockout relay (86BF) and consequently block its
auto reclosing.
tbr  t res1  t set  t op2  t res2
Where: tbr - longest breaker opening time
tres1 resetting time of breaker failure relay
top2 - shortest operation time of remote relays
tres2 resetting of remote relay