Types of Relay

Based on Characteristic the protection relay can be categorized as:

1. Definite time relays

2. Inverse time relays with definite minimum time (IDMT)
3. Instantaneous relays.
4. IDMT with inst.
5. Stepped characteristic.
6. Programmed switches.
7. Voltage restraint over current relay.

Based on of logic the protection relay can be categorized as-

1. Differential.
2. Unbalance.
3. Neutral displacement.
4. Directional.
5. Restricted earth fault.
6. Over fluxing.
7. Distance schemes.
8. Bus bar protection.
9. Reverse power relays.
10.Loss of excitation.
11.Negative phase sequence relays etc.

Based on actuating parameter the protection relay can be categorized as-

1. Current relays.
2. Voltage relays.
3. Frequency relays.
4. Power relays etc.
Based on application the protection relay can be categorized as-

1. Primary relay.
2. Backup relay.
Primary relay or primary protection relay is the first line of power system
protection whereas backup relay is operated only when primary relay fails to
be operated during a fault. Hence backup relay is slower in action than
primary relay. Any relay may fail to be operated due to any of the following
reasons,
1. The protective relay itself is defective.
2. DC Trip voltage supply to the relay is unavailable.
3. Trip lead from relay panel to the circuit breaker is disconnected.
4. The trip coil in the circuit breaker is disconnected or defective.
5. Current or voltage signals from Current Transformers (CTs) or Potential
Transformers (PTs) respectively is unavailable.
As because backup relay operates only when primary relay fails, backup
protection relay should not have anything common with primary protection
relay.
Some examples of Mechanical Relay are:

1. Thermal
 OT trip (Oil Temperature Trip)
 WT trip (Winding Temperature Trip)
 Bearing temp trip etc.
2. Float type
 Buchholz
 OSR
 PRV
 Water level Controls etc.
3. Pressure switches.
4. Mechanical interlocks.
5. Pole discrepancy relay.
List Different Protective Relays are used for Different Power
System Equipment Protection

Now let’s have a look on which different protective relays are used in
different power system equipment protection schemes.

Relays for Transmission & Distribution Lines Protection

SL Lines to be protected Relays to be used

400 KV Main-I: Non switched or Numerical Distance Scheme

1
Transmission Line Main-II: Non switched or Numerical Distance Scheme

Main-I : Non switched distance scheme (Fed from Bus PTs)

220 KV
2 Main-II: Switched distance scheme (Fed from line CVTs)
Transmission Line
With a changeover facility from bus PT to line CVT and vice-versa.

Main Protection : Switched distance scheme (fed from bus PT).

132 KV
3 Backup Protection: 3 Nos. directional IDMT O/L Relays and
Transmission Line
1 No. Directional IDMT E/L relay.

4 33 KV lines Non-directional IDMT 3 O/L and 1 E/L relays.

5 11 KV lines Non-directional IDMT 2 O/L and 1 E/L relays.

Relays for Transformer Protection

Voltage Ratio and
SL Capacity of Relays on HV Side Relays on LV Side Common Relays
Transformer

1 11/132 KV 3 nos Non-Directional –– Differential Relay or

Generator O/L Relay Overall differential Relay
Transformer 1 no Non-Directional E/L Overflux Relay
Relay Buchholz Relay
and/or standby E/F + REF OLTC Buchholz Relay
Relay PRV Relay
OT
Trip Relay
 WT Trip Relay

Differential Relay or
Overall differential Relay
13.8/220 KV 3 nos Non-Directional
Overflux Relay
15.75/220 KV O/L Relay
Buchholz Relay
18/400 KV 1 no Non-Directional E/L
2 –– OLTC Buchholz Relay
21/400 KV Relay
PRV Relay
Generator and/or standby E/F + REF
OT
Transformer Relay
Trip Relay
WT Trip Relay

Differential Relay
3 nos Non-Directional
Overflux Relay
O/L Relay
Buchholz Relay
220 /6.6KV 1 no Non-Directional E/L 3 nos Non-Directional O/L
3 OLTC Buchholz Relay
Station Transformer Relay Relay
PRV Relay
and/or standby E/F + REF
OT Trip Relay
Relay
WT Trip Relay

Differential Relay
Overflux Relay
Buchholz Relay
3 nos Non-Directional 3 nos Non-Directional O/L
4 Gen-volt/6.6KV UAT OLTC Buchholz Relay
O/L Relay Relay
PRV Relay
OT Trip Relay
WT Trip Relay

Buchholz Relay
OLTC Buchholz Relay
132/33/11KV upto 8 3 nos O/L Relay 2 nos O/L Relays
5 PRV Relay
MVA 1 no E/L Relay 1 no E/L Relay
OT Trip Relay
WT Trip Relay

Differential Relay
Buchholz Relay
132/33/11KV above 8 3 nos O/L Relay
3 nos O/L Relay OLTC Buchholz Relay
6 MVA & 1 no Directional E/L
1 no E/L Relay PRV Relay
below 31.5 MVA Relay
OT Trip Relay
WT Trip Relay
 Differential Relay
Overflux Relay
3 nos O/L Relay Buchholz Relay
132/33KV, 31.5 MVA 3 nos O/L Relay
7 1 no Directional E/L OLTC Buchholz Relay
& above 1 no E/L Relay
Relay PRV Relay
OT Trip Relay
WT Trip Relay

Differential Relay
Overflux Relay
220/33 KV, 31.5MVA
3 nos O/L Relay Buchholz Relay
& 3 nos O/L Relay
8 1 no Directional E/L OLTC Buchholz Relay
50MVA 220/132KV, 1 no Directional E/L Relay
Relay PRV Relay
100 MVA
OT Trip Relay
WT Trip Relay

3 nos Directional O/L

9 400/220KV 315MVA
Differential Relay
Relay
Overflux Relay
(with dir.highset)
3 nos Directional O/L Relay Buchholz Relay
1 no Directional E/L
(with dir.highset) OLTC Buchholz Relay
relay.
1 no Directional E/L relay. PRV Relay
Restricted E/F relay
Restricted E/F relay OT Trip Relay
3 nos Directional O/L
WT Trip Relay
Relay for
Over Load (Alarm) Relay
action

Points to be remembered in respect of protection of transformers

1. No Buchholz relay for transformers below 500 KVA capacity.
2. Transformers up to 1500 KVA shall have only Horn gap protection.
3. Transformers above 1500 KVA and upto 8000 KVA of 33/11KV ratio shall have one group control
breaker on HV side and individual LV breakers if there is more than one transformer.
4. Transformers above 8000 KVA shall have individual HV and LV circuit breakers.
5. The relays indicate above shall be provided on HV and LV.
6. LAs to be provided on HV and LV for transformers of all capacities and voltage class.
7. OLTC out of step protection is to be provided where master follower scheme is in operation.
8. Fans failure and pumps failure alarms to be connected.
9. Alarms for O.T., W.T., Buchholz (Main tank AND OLTC) should be connected.