Overcurrent Protection

Presented by
Mohammad Zishan

3/14/2019 1
Introduction : Overcurrent its cause
and effects
Overcurrent :
• In an electrical power system overcurrent or excess current is a
situation where a larger than intended electric current exists
through a conductor, leading to excessive generation of heat, and
the risk of fire or damage to equipment.
Cause :
• Short Circuit
• Excessive Loading
• Incorrect Design
• Ground fault
Effects
• Equipment overloading and Equipment damage
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Overcurrent Relay
Overcurrent Relay :
• A protective relay which operates when the load current exceeds
a preset value, is called an Overcurrent relay.
• The value of the preset current above which relay operate is
know as pickup value.
• Overcurrent relay offer a cheapest and simplest form of
protection.
• These relays are used for the protection of distribution lines,
large motor , Power equipments and industrial system.

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 Working Principle

• In an over current relay , there would be essentially a current coil.

When normal current flows through this coil, the magnetic effect
generated by the coil is not sufficient to move the moving element of
the relay, as in this condition the restraining force is grater than
deflecting force.
• When the current through the coil increased, the magnetic effect
increases and after certain level of current the deflecting force
generated by the magnetic effect of the coil, crosses the restraining
force, as a result the moving element starts moving to change the
contact position in the relay.

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Overcurrent Protection

• Overcurrent Relay are fed from

Current transformer.

• Whenever the current through the

relay exceeds the preset value the
relay operate and actuates the trip coil
of the circuit breaker and isolate the
faulty network .

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Types of Overcurrent relay
Depending upon the operating time of the overcurrent relay

• Instantaneous Overcurrent Relay

• Definite time Overcurrent Relay

• Inverse time Overcurrent Relay

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Instantaneous Overcurrent Relay

• Instantaneous over current relay Time

operate as soon as the current in the (sec)

coil gets higher than the per set

value(Ip).
No Trip
Trip
• There is no internal time delay set.

• There is always an inherent time delay

in order of a few millisecond (ms). (A)Current
Ip

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Definite Time Over Current Relay

• Definite time over current relay is Time Sec

created by applying intentional time delay t
after crossing pick up value of the
current.
• A definite time over current relay can be
adjusted to issue a trip time after its picks t1
up.Thus , it has a time setting adjustment
and pick up adjustment.
I(A)
Ip

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Inverse Time Over Current Relay

• Inverse Time is a natural character of Time

any inductive type rotating device. This Sec
means that , the time of relay operation
inversely varies with input current . Inverse Time

• This characteristic of electromechanical

induction disc relay is very suitable for
over current protection.

• In this relay if the fault is more severe,

it would be cleared more faster.
I(A)

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Classification of Inverse Time Relay

Inverse time over current Relay

(IDMT) again classified in

• Standard or Normal inverse over

current relay

• Very Inverse time over current

relay

• Extremely Inverse time over

current relay

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Standard IDMT Relay

The current/time tripping

characteristics of IDMT relays
may need to be varied according
to the tripping time required and
the characteristics of other
protective device used in
network. For this purpose, IEC
60255 defines the number of
standard characteristics as
follows :
• Standard Inverse (SI)
• Very Inverse (VI)
• Extremely Inverse (EI)
• Definite Time (DT) 11
Application of Overcurrent Relay

Overcurrent relay are used for protection of electrical equipments

such as :

• Transformer
• Generator
• HT & LT breaker Failure Protection
• Motors
• HT Lines
• EHT Lines (Directional Overcurrent & E/F relay )
• Capacitor Bank
• Natural Displacement relay in capacitor banks

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 Thank You

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