REC 316*4 1MRB520044-Uen / Rev.

F ABB Power Automation Ltd

3.5. Protection functions

3.5.1. Definite time over and undercurrent (Current-DT)

A. Application
General purpose current function (over and under) for
• phase fault protection
• back-up protection

or for monitoring a current minimum.

B. Features
• insensitive to DC component
• insensitive to harmonics
• single or three-phase measurement
• maximum respectively minimum value detection in the three-
phase mode
• detection of inrush currents.

C. Inputs and outputs

I. C.t./v.t. inputs:
• Current

II. Binary inputs:

• Blocking

III. Binary outputs:

• pick-up
• tripping

IV. Measurements:
• current amplitude.

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ABB Power Automation Ltd REC 316*4 1MRB520044-Uen / Rev. F

D. Definite time current function settings - Current-DT

Summary of parameters:
Text Unit Default Min. Max. Step

ParSet 4..1 P1 (Select)

Trip 00000000
Delay s 01.00 0.02 60.00 0.01
I-Setting IN 02.00 0.02 20.00 0.01
MaxMin MAX (1ph) (Select)
NrOfPhases 001 1 3 2
CurrentInp CT/VT-Addr 0
BlockInp BinaryAddr F
Trip SignalAddr ER
Start SignalAddr ER

Explanation of parameters:
ParSet 4..1
Parameter for determining in which set of parameters a par-
ticular function is active (see Section 5.11.).
Trip
defines the tripping channel activated by the tripping O/P of
the function (matrix tripping logic).
Delay
Time between the function picking up and tripping.
I-Setting
Pick-up current setting.
Forbidden settings:
• > 1.6 IN when supplied from metering cores
• < 0.2 IN when supplied from protection cores.
MaxMin
defines operation as overcurrent or undercurrent or with
inrush blocking. Settings:
• MIN (3ph): Undercurrent.
Three-phase functions detect the highest
phase current.
Not permitted for single-phase functions.
• MIN (1ph): Undercurrent.
Three-phase functions detect the lowest
phase current.

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REC 316*4 1MRB520044-Uen / Rev. F ABB Power Automation Ltd

• MAX (3ph): Overcurrent.

Three-phase functions detect the lowest
phase current.
Not permitted for single-phase functions.
• MAX (1ph): Overcurrent.
Three-phase functions detect the highest
phase current.
• MAX-Inrush: Blocks during inrush currents if one phase
exceeds setting.
NrOfPhases
defines whether single or three-phase measurement.
CurrentInp
defines the c.t. input channel. All current I/P's may be
selected. In the case of three-phase measurement, the first
channel (R phase) of the group of three selected must be
specified.
BlockInp
I/P for blocking the function.
F: - not blocked
T: - blocked
xx: - all binary I/P's (or O/P's of protection functions).
Trip
Tripping signal.
Start
Pick-up signal.

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ABB Power Automation Ltd REC 316*4 1MRB520044-Uen / Rev. F

E. Setting instructions

Settings:
Setting I-Setting
Delay Delay
Over or undercurrent MaxMin
Number of phases NrOfPhases

Setting I-Setting
The current setting ‘I-Setting’ must be sufficiently high on the one
hand to avoid any risk of false tripping or false signals under
normal load conditions, but should be low enough on the other to
detect the lowest fault current that can occur. The margin which
has to be allowed between the maximum short-time load current
and the setting must take account of:
• the tolerance on the current setting
• the reset ratio.
The maximum short-time load current has to be determined ac-
cording to the power system conditions and must take switching
operations and load surges into account.

I-Setting

IN

Delay

0 t HEST 905 010 FL

Fig. 3.5.1.1 Operating characteristic of the definite time over-

current function

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Compensating any difference between the rated currents of c.t.

IN1 and protected unit IGN is recommended. This is achieved with
the aid of the reference value of the A/D channel or by correcting
the overcurrent setting.
For example, for IGN = 800 A and IN1 = 1000 A, the setting for a
pick-up current of 1.5 IGN = 1200 A would have to be

IGN 800 A
1 .5 = 1 .5 = 1. 2
IN1 1000 A

CurrentInp
An interposing c.t. in the input is essential for current settings
lower than < 0.2 IN.

Delay
The delay is used to achieve discrimination of the overcurrent
function. It is set according to the grading table for all the over-
current units on the power system. The zone of protection of our
overcurrent function extends to the location of the next down-
stream overcurrent relay.
Should the downstream relay fail to clear a fault, the overcurrent
function trips slightly later as a back-up protection.

Setting MaxMin
This parameter enables the following operating modes to be
selected:
• MIN (3ph): Pick-up when the highest phase current also
falls below the setting. This setting is not per-
mitted for single-phase measurement.
• MIN (1ph): Pick-up when the lowest phase current falls
below the setting.
• MAX (3ph): Pick-up when the lowest phase current also
exceeds the setting. This setting is not permit-
ted for single-phase measurement.
• MAX (1ph): Pick-up when the highest phase current ex-
ceeds the setting.
• MAX-Inrush: Blocking of inrush currents when a phase
current exceeds the setting.

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ABB Power Automation Ltd REC 316*4 1MRB520044-Uen / Rev. F

Operation of the inrush blocking feature (parameter MaxMin

set to ‘MAX-Inrush’)
The inrush detector picks up and blocks operation of the function
when the amplitude of the fundamental component of the current
exceeds the setting of the current function.
The inrush detector is based on the evaluation of the second
harmonic component of the current I2h in relation to the funda-
mental frequency component I1h (evaluation of the amplitudes).
The output of the function is disabled when the ratio I2h/I1h ex-
ceeds 10 % and enabled again when it falls below 8 %.
There is no setting for the peak value of I2h/I1h.
The function can operate with inrush blocking in both the single
and three-phase mode (parameter 'NrOfPhase').
In the three-phase mode, the phase used for evaluation is the
one with the highest amplitude at rated frequency (pick-up and
inrush detection).