P&B Engineering

MR902 - Motor Protection Stabilizing

Resistors
Application Note

51 51n

27 59 81

IR
87 IY
IB

64
32 40 46 51VB Y R

E/F

Residual / Holmgreen
RStab Connection

Publication No. MR902 01/96B

25/03/2004 1 MR902 01/96B

 Technical note No MR902

Guide to the Application of Stabilizing Resistors to P&B Electronic Motor Protection Relays

In many applications the measurement of Earth Fault Current is achieved by the residual connection of
three line CT's, (Holmgreen connection), as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

IR

IY
IB

B Y R

E/F

Residual / Holmgreen
RStab Connection

If an unbalanced (Earth Fault) current exists in the CT primary, the three CT secondary currents will not
sum to zero. This current difference must return to the star point of the CT's via the earth fault element.
However, an unbalance may be erroneously measured if:

a) An unbalanced load is applied to the CT secondary. For example, by using 2 phase elements only,
or an ammeter or additional protection element in one or two phases.

b) Inaccuracies during CT manufacture result in seemingly identical CT's producing slightly different
secondary currents for a given primary current under certain circumstances.

Spurious operation due to CT inaccuracies can usually be prevented through the use of a stabilizing
resistor. This prevents operation by limiting the current through the Earth Fault element during a
"pseudo-unbalance" condition. However, under true fault conditions, the CT's produce sufficient
voltage, and hence current, to operate the element.

The value of this resistor is important as it depends upon both the CT characteristics, and, the value of
the earth fault current setting.

25/03/2004 2 MR902 01/96B

It may be determined as

1 V knee
R loop = × [1]
2 Iset

Where; R loop = R stab + 2 R l + R ct + R r + R a

Rstab = Stabilizing resistor

Rl = Loop lead resistance
Rct = CT resistance
Rr = Relay burden resistance
Ra = Additional resistance due to connections etc.

When the CT knee point is unknown it is usually estimated from:

Vkn ≈ VA ×ALF [2]
IN
Where;
VA = CT rated burden
ALF = Accuracy Limit Factor
In = CT rated secondary current

Peak Voltages

Under fault conditions the peak voltage, ignoring CT saturation,. may be given by;
If
Vp = R stab + 2 R l + R ct + R r + R a [3]
n
Where;
n = CT Ratio

A number of formulae exist for determining the peak voltage including saturation, however, the
following given by P.Mathews [1955], is generally used.

V pk = 2 2V kn (V p − V kn ) [4]

This must be below approximately 3KV and additional measures must be taken to ensure this.

For further details please refer to MR901

Resistor Rating.

It should be noted that the rating of the resistor must be sufficient;

a) To allow the pickup of earth fault current on a permanent basis.

b) To allow for the maximum fault level current until the circuit breaker trips.

25/03/2004 3 MR902 01/96B

Example

A P&B motor protection relay has 100/1A, 5P10 2.5VA CT's, and an earth fault setting of 20%.

From [2];
Vkn ≈ 2.5 × 10 = 25 Volts
1

From [1];
25
R loop = = 62. 5Ω
2 × 0. 2 A
Typically the CT resistance, relay and load resistance may be 3.5Ω, giving a stabilizing resistor of ;

59Ω

If the fault level is 13.1kA, then from [3];

13100
Vp = × ( 62.5) = 8187.5Volts
100

From [4] assuming Vkn ≈ 25V;

V pk = 2 2 × 25 8187. 5 − 25 = 1. 28kV

which is acceptable.

To determine the rating of the resistor, calculations must be made for a) & b)

a) at pickup I ≈ 0.2A

∴ Power = I2R = 0.22 × 59 = 2.36 Watts

b) at fault level Vpk = 1.28kV

∴ Power = V2 / R = 12802 / 59 ≈ 28000 Watts

This is the peak value of power, the RMS figure is lower than half of this. If the total time from
Earth Fault initiation to clearance = 3.1 seconds (3 seconds delay on relay and 100ms for circuit
breaker), a resistor of 59 Ω able to dissipate 14KW for 3.1 seconds would be required.
By consultation with the resistor manufacturer a suitable resistor may be obtained.
A 60 ohm 180W wire wound resistor which can dissipate 1.5KW for 10S with a cooling time of
20 minutes between successive overcurrents may provide a suitable solution.

25/03/2004 4 MR902 01/96B

Neither of the previous methods form an ideal solution for determining the resistor rating, method (a)
produces a rather low value which may not allow for the significant thermal shock / fusing effect, whilst
methods (b) produces a overrated value much larger than probably required. Past experience has shown
that a resistor rating mid-way between these two extremes usually provides a suitable solution for the
majority of cases.

To Stabilize or Not to Stabilize?

In practice a resistor is often not fitted, with no adverse effects, the determination as to whether or not it
is required is quite difficult as the following example, (based upon the previous application), will
illustrate.

The actual measured CT characteristics (magnetization curves) for the previous example are shown in
Figure 2. It is noted that the yellow phase CT is quite significantly different from the red and blue phase
CT's. However, this CT is still an acceptable class 5P10.

The full load current of the machine is 98A, with a starting time at 6 × FLC of 10 seconds. However, the
machine manufacturer has indicated that an initial starting transient of 10.5 × FLC may occur for 250ms.

In this case the CT secondary current is;

1
98 × 10.5 × = 10. 29 A For 250ms
100

Since the total loop impedance is 3.5 Ω

CT secondary voltage = 10.29 × 3.5 = 36V

From the curves, the maximum spill current which is approximately the difference in magnetizing
currents for the 3 CT's is;

IR = 0.18A
IY = 0.15A Max Difference = 0.095A
IB = 0.085A

This figure us approximately 50% of the setting and may be acceptable.

In practice however, it was found on site that the starting transient was approximately 12 times FLC. In
this case the CT secondary voltage is 41.2V, and from Figure 2, the maximum difference is
approximately 0.225A, and should the relay be set for instantaneous operation, the earth fault element
will operate.

Although uncommon, the occurrence of this characteristic during the starting time (6 x FLC) can occur.

The principle is identical and the subsequent fitting of a stabilizing resistor is the most common solution.

25/03/2004 5 MR902 01/96B