Lecture 6th

Directional Over Current Relay

Course Teacher:
Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman
Course Code:
EE-523
Venue:
Computer Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering ,
NED University Karachi.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

6th Lecture’s Outline

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

6th Lecture’s Outline
 Principle of Directional Over Current Relay
 Implementation of Directional Over-Current Relay Using
Induction Disk
 Basic Principle of Directional OCR
 Establishing Direction For D-OCR
 Directional Phase Fault Protection
 Directional ground fault protection
 Directional OC Protection of a Three-phase Feeder

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Principle of Directional Over Current Relay

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional OCR
• A directional relay can be compared to a contact making wattmeter. A
wattmeter develops maximum positive torque when the current and voltage
supplied to the current coil and the pressure coil are in phase (P=VIcosΦ).
• If we define the maximum torque angle (MTA) as the angle between the voltage
and current at which the relay develops maximum torque, then a wattmeter can
be called a directional relay with MTA of zero degree.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional OCR Characteristics
• A maximum positive torque is produced when the current and voltage supplied
to the CCs and VCs are in phase. Hence, the angle between current and
voltage at which the relay develop maximum torque is defined as the
maximum torque angle (MTA).

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional OCR Characteristics
• If the angle (γ) between these two fluxes ФPC and ФCC is 90 degree, the relay
produces maximum torque. The vector diagram of these quantities for a
directional relay is shown in Fig.
• As the fault moves from the forward to the reverse direction, the current
undergoes a large change in its phase whereas the phase of the voltage does not
change substantially. Thus, voltage signal is the reference against which the
phase angle of the current is measured.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional OCR Characteristics
•Now, in a relay based on induction principle, the two fluxes responsible for
torque production, and ΦPC and ΦCC should be shifted in phase by 90° for them to
produce maximum torque. The torque becomes zero when the current phasor is +/-
90° away from the MTA position. This gives the direction of the current phasor for
maximum torque, the maximum torque angle τ, and the boundary between tripping
and restraining regions on the phasor diagram.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional OCR

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional OCR
•Since the pressure coil is highly inductive, the value of θPC is of the order of
70° to 80°. This gives MTA of 20° to 10°. However, θPC and hence τ can be
adjusted to any desired value if an external resistance or capacitance is introduced
into the pressure coil circuit.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Implementation of Directional Over-Current Relay
Using Induction Disk

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Implementation of Directional Over-current Relay
This type of relay operates when power in the circuit flows in a specified
direction.
Unlike a non-directional relay, a directional power relay is so designed that it
obtains its operating torque by the interaction of magnetic fields derived from both
voltage and current source of the circuit.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Implementation of Directional Over-current Relay
 The two electromagnetics coils are supplied from CT and PT.
 The lower current coil is provided with a number of tapings connected to the
plug bridge.
 The restraining torque is provided by a spiral spring.
The spindle of the disc carries a
moving contact which bridges the fixed
contact, after moving a certain distance
or a pre-set angle.
The relay trips if the operating torque is
greater than the restraining torque.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Implementation of Directional Over-current Relay
The flux Φ1 due to current in the potential coil will be nearly 90 lagging behind
the applied voltage V. However the flux Φ2 due to current coil will be nearly in
phase with the operating current I. The interaction of fluxes Φ1 and Φ2 with the
eddy currents induced in the disc produces a given torque, given by:

It is clear that the direction of driving torque on the disc depends upon the
direction of power flow in the circuit to which the relay is associated.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Implementation of Directional Over-current Relay
When the power flows in the normal direction, the driving torque and the
restraining torque (due to spring) help each other to turn away the moving contact
from the fixed contacts. Consequently the relay remains inoperative.
However, the reversal of current in the circuit reverses the direction of torque on
the disc.
When the reversed driving torque is large enough, the disc rotates in the reverse
direction and the moving contact closes the trip circuit. This causes the operation
of the circuit breaker which disconnects the faulty section.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Basic Principle of Directional OCR

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Basic Principle of Directional OCR
•Now that it has been determined that directional relays are needed, how is
the protection accomplished?
•A classical directional element responds to the phase shift between the relay
voltage and current.

V I

F2 F1

Relay

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Basic Principle of Directional OCR
•For faults on the protected line (forward faults), the current lags the voltage.
The angle between voltage and current corresponds to the angle of the fault-loop
impedance.
•For faults on the adjacent line (reverse faults), the voltage angle remains
almost unchanged and the current angle changes approximately 180 degrees. The
directional element uses this information to discriminate between forward and
reverse faults.

Reverse Fault (F2) Forward Fault (F1)

I
V

V I
Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman
Basic Principle of Directional OCR
•Observe that the voltage input signal acts as an angular reference. This
signal is referred to as the relay polarizing quantity.
•The current input signal contains information about the fault location and is
referred to as the relay operating quantity.

Reverse Fault (F2) Forward Fault (F1)

I
V
V
I

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Basic Principle of Directional OCR

V I

F2 F1

Relay

Reverse Fault (F2) Forward Fault (F1)

I
V

V I
Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman
Basic Principle of Directional OCR
•The addition of a directional element eliminates the restriction of applying
overcurrent protection only to radial lines. Directional overcurrent protection can
be applied to systems with several generation sources or looped systems.
•The arrows shown in the figure are used to represent the protection tripping
direction. Note that the relays are oriented towards the protected lines. This
orientation divides the system protection into two independent groups: the relays
“looking” to the right and those “looking” to the left. The directionality divides the
coordination process into two independent processes. A relay only needs to be
coordinated with the other relays in its group.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Establishing Direction For D-OCR

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Polarising Quantity and Relay Connection Angle
•The DIRECTION of Alternating Current may only be determined with
respect to a COMMON REFERENCE.
•In relaying terms, the REFERENCE is called the POLARISING
QUANTITY.
•The most convenient reference quantity is POLARISING VOLTAGE taken
from the Power System Voltages.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Polarising Quantity and Relay Connection Angle
Directional Decision by Phase Comparison (1)
 S1 = Reference Direction = Polarising Signal = VPOL
 S2 = Current Signal = I

•OPERATION when S2 is within ±90° of S1 :-

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Relay Connection Angle
Directional Decision by Phase Comparison (1)
 S1 = Reference Direction = Polarising Signal = VPOL
 S2 = Current Signal = I
•RESTRAINT when S2 lags S1 by between 90° and 270° :-

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Polarising Quantity and Relay Connection Angle
Applied Voltage : VA
Applied Current : IA

Question :
Is this connection suitable forDr.a Muhammad
typical power system ?
Mohsin Aman
Polarising Quantity and Relay Connection Angle
Polarising Voltage for ‘A’ Phase Overcurrent Relay
OPERATE SIGNAL = IA
POLARISING SIGNAL = VA, VB, VC, VA-B, VB-C, VC-A
Which voltage need to be used ?

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Polarising Quantity and Relay Connection Angle
If VA=190 degree.
Draw the 3 phase voltages vector diagram.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Polarising Quantity and Relay Connection Angle
Applied Voltage : VBC
Applied Current : IA

 System is at zero power factor

 Polarising voltage remains healthy
 Fault current falls in centre of characteristics
Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman
Relay Connection Angle
• The angle between the current applied to the relay and the voltage applied to
the relay at system unity power factor e.g. 90° (Quadrature) Connection : IA
and VBC

• The 90° connection is now used for all overcurrent relays.

• 30° and 60° connections were also used in the past, but no longer, as the 90°
connection gives better performance.
Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman
Relay Connection Angle
• Possible relay connections

Relay Current Coil Potential Coil

A IA VBC
B IB VCA
C IC VAB

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Relay Characteristic Angle (R.C.A.) for Electronic Relays
• The angle by which the current applied to the relay must be displaced from the
voltage applied to the relay to produce maximum operational sensitivity
• e.g. 45°

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90° Connection - 45° R.C.A.
• S
Relay Current Potential
Coil Coil
A IA VBC
B IB VCA
C IC VAB

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Directional Phase Fault Protection

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Directional phase fault protection
•Consider a directional relay for protection against all phase faults involving
phase a, i.e. a-b, a-b-g, a-c, a-c-g, a-b-c, and a-b-c-g faults.
•Let us consider a-b fault.
•It is logical to choose current I, to energize the current coil. However, the
choice of voltage to be applied to the pressure coil is not immediately apparent.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional phase fault protection
•Figures 2.24 explore the possibility of using voltage Vab for the pressure
coil of the directional relay catering to phase faults involving phase a.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional phase fault protection
•Figures 2.25 explore the possibility of using voltage Vca for the pressure
coil of the directional relay catering to phase faults involving phase a.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional phase fault protection
•Figure 2.26 shows that the voltage Vb, happens to be the correct choice.
Since the unity power factor (UPF) position of I leads Vbc by 90°.
•This connection is known as the 90 degree connection.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional phase fault protection
•From Figure 2.24, it can be seen that the voltage Vab tends to collapse
during a-b fault. Further, the angle between Vab and Ia, during fault is substantially
large.
•For the MTA angle shown, the relay does not develop positive torque
during forward fault. From these figures, it can be easily seen that both these
voltages are not suitable, as they do not meet the requirement set out in Section
2.9.3.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

The 30° and the 60° connections
•As already pointed out there are other possibilities for energizing the
voltage coils of directional relays. However, all the possible voltages may not
meet the requirement of no mal-operations. Hence, the choice has been narrowed
down to three.
•The other two possible voltages, for phase a directional relay, are Vac and
(Vac + Vbc). These are known as the 30° and the 60° connections because of the
angular relationship between the unity power factor (UPF) position of Ia & and
these voltages during the pre-fault condition.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

The 30° and the 60° connections
•Table 2.4 summarizes various combinations of voltages and currents to be
fed to directional phase fault relays catering to phase faults involving the three
phases, for the 90°, 30° and 60° connections.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional ground fault protection

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Directional ground fault protection
•The directional ground fault relay develops correct tripping tendency when
fed by the residual current Io and residual voltage Vo. This is shown in Figure
2.27.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional ground fault protection
•Requirements of directional ground fault relay are similar to directional
overcurrent i.e. need operating signal and polarising signal V
•Operating Signal obtained from residual connection of line CT's i.e. Iop =
3Io
•Polarising Signal The use of either phase-neutral or phase-phase voltage as
the reference becomes inappropriate for the comparison with residual current.
•Most appropriate polarising signal is the residual voltage (i.e. V a+ Vb+
Vc=3Vo).

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Directional ground fault protection
•dd

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How can we obtain Residual Voltage?
•May be obtained from ‘broken’ delta V.T. secondary.

•Notes :
1. VT primary must be earthed.
2. VT must be of the '5 limb' construction (or 3 x single phase units)
Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman
RCA for Directional ground fault protection
•Relay Characteristic Angle

•0 - Resistance earthed systems

•45 (I lags V) - Distribution systems (solidly earthed)
•60 (I lags V) - Transmission systems (solidly earthed)

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Directional OC Protection of a Three-phase Feeder

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Directional OC Protection of a Three-phase Feeder
•Figure 2.28 shows a three-phase feeder protected by directional relays
supervised by OC relays.

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman

Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman