Set 11 – Negative sequence relay

From IEEE C37.2

You have to read the device names, and the device descriptions,
very carefully in order to get the correct meaning of them.

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SEL 400, Page 1.15

2
 Negative sequence current relay (46)

Remember Assignment 1, Question 2

A three phase 600 volt induction motor draws balanced load currents of 20
amps. A fault occurs in the motor which results in one change --- the phase C
current during the fault increases to 80 amps, although the phase angle remains
unchanged.

Look at the C37.2 definition of the 46 relay

- “when the polyphase currents are unbalanced” (Yes - we had an unbalance
of 20, 20 and 80 amps)
- “OR when the negative sequence currents exceed a preset value” (Yes - we
had a negative sequence currents of Ia2 = 20 ∟120º amps

There is a nice engineering surprise here!

A mathematical transformation ends up with a physical meaning!!

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 Negative sequence current relay (46)

Picture 1

Phase a – 20 amps
Phase b – 20 amps
Phase c – 80 amps

There should be 16 times the Ic2Rc heating in phase c as in

phase a and phase b (since the current is 4 to 1).

There is a “hot spot” in phase c

That is a very logical conclusion.

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 Negative sequence current relay (46)
Picture 2
There is a negative sequence current Ia2 = 20 ∟120º amps

Recall your three phase rotating machines course

Three phase currents 120 degrees apart in time flowing in three windings 120
degrees apart creates a Constant Amplitude Rotating Magnetic Field
(behaving identically to a rotating Bar Magnet)

But this rotating magnetic field is caused by negative sequence currents, it is

rotating in a direction opposite to the physical rotor.

Recalls the model for magnetic/iron materials

- it is made up of tiny magnetic dipoles
- when a magnetic field passes by and repeats, it rotates the dipoles once.
- each dipole goes through one complete hysteresis loop on the B – H curve.

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 Negative sequence current relay (46)
Picture 2 (continued)
- the area under one hysteresis loop represents core loss, and there are
thousands of them.
- and because the rotating magnetic field is going one way and the rotor iron
poles are going the opposite way, the alignment-realignment of the dipoles
happens 120 times each second (for a 60 Hz system)
- core loss is proportional to the frequency of the alignment-realignment of
the magnetic dipoles

Therefore we come to view the original unbalanced currents in the phase as

causing a significant core loss in the iron.

(rather than just an excess of copper losses in phase c, as per our original
picture)

Amazing – the mathematical transformation into Symmetrical Current

components , particularly negative sequence currents, causes the physical
meaning of core losses!!!

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 Negative sequence current relay (46)

There are two ways that the limit for negative sequence currents are specified.

First -- a simple specification of the maximum allowed level of negative sequence

current, expressed as a percent of rated phase current.

Source for this

specific table was
not recorded.

See next two slides

IEEE C50.13

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IEEE C50.13 Negative sequence current relay (46)

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IEEE C50.13 Negative sequence current relay (46)

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 Second manner of rating – as a pseudo energy quantity (46)

PLoss = I22 R

Energy loss = ∫ PLoss dt = ∫ I22 R dt

The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) knows the magnetic properties

of their generator and can calculate the energy loss due to negative sequence
currents.

Knowing how the heat is transferred away (by air or hydrogen) they can
determine what heating causes an unacceptable limit of temperature rise in the
stator and rotor conductor insulation

SO instead of giving the utility the limit of energy loss due to negative
sequence currents, the OEM tells the utility the effective value of:
∫ I22 dt
expressed as a “numerical value” of I2t

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 Second – as a pseudo energy quantity (46)

PLoss = I22 R
Energy loss = ∫ PLoss dt = ∫ I22 R dt
We can say this another way.
The OEM says we know the “equivalent value of resistance” of our iron core ---
but you do not need to know it.

We will use it, and we will just tell you/the customer what accumulation of the I2t
effect is likely to damage the core and associated conductor insulation.

The I2t effect is “understood” to be the integration of a possible time variation of

the RMS value of negative sequence current I2 over a specified period of time.

NOTE: The thermal time constant of the metal mass of a rotor could be seconds,
but more probably in minutes. Therefore the integral function is likely to be
expressed as a “summation” over rectangular areas with Δt itself being of the
order of a few seconds.

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 Negative sequence current relay (46)

Returning to Assignment 1
The original balanced currents were 20, 20, and 20 amps.

The fault caused an unbalance of 20, 20 and 80 amps

The resultant negative sequence current is Ia2 = 20 ∟120º amps

The negative sequence current is 100% of the original rated phase current.
That far exceeds the rating specified in the table below!!!

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 Negative sequence current relay (46)

SEL 400G, page 5.101

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There is a secondary effect mentioned in IEEE C50.13 and SEL 400G

First, IEEE C50.13

Continued next slide

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Here is a secondary effect mentioned in IEEE C50.13

Expressing
harmonics as an
“equivalent”
Negative Sequence
Current

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Here is the secondary effect described in the SEL 400G

SEL 400G,
Page 5.102

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Here is the secondary effect described in the SEL 400G

SEL 400G,
Page 5.103

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 Negative sequence voltage relay (47)

Currents cause heating.

Voltages, as such, will not cause heating.

HOWEVER negative sequence voltage relaying will protect

against:

1. Phase unbalance resulting from phase inversion.

2. An unbalanced voltage supply, say due to shorted turns in

one phase of the stator.

3. A distant line to ground fault which has not yet been

cleared

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