Protection of a Three-phase

Feeder

Lecture 5 EPE 621

The three-phase system is subject to phase faults as well as ground
faults. For providing complete protection to a three-phase feeder, three
relays connected to three CTs as shown in Figure below. As can be seen
from Table 1, all the 11 numbers of shunt faults are catered for by the
three relays.
The relays at bus A will be coordinated with those at bus B using the
procedure illustrated in previous topic.
Fault current for a single line to ground fault, depends upon the system
grounding as well as the tower footing resistance. Therefore, it may
happen that the fault current for a single line to ground fault, may be less
than the load current. In such cases, it will not be possible to cater to such
faults if we use the scheme shown in figure below.
Lecture 5 EPE 621
Figure 1: OC protection of a three-phase
Lecture 5 EPE 621
feeder
 Relays which will operate
Two-phase fault +
Three-phase fault
Fault one ground fault
relays of Figure 1
relay of Figure 2
a-g Ra Ra, Rg
b-g Rb Rg
c-g Rc Rc, Rg
а-Ь Ra, Rb Ra
b-c Rb, Rc Rc
c-a Re, Rc Rc , Ra
a-b-g Ra,Rb Ra, Rg
b-c-g Rb, Rc Rc, Rg
c-a-g Ra, Rc Ra, Rc, Rg
a-b-c Ra, Rb,Rc Ra, Rc
a-b-c-g Ra Rb, Rc Ra, Rc

Table 1 Protection of a three-phase feeder

Lecture 5 EPE 621
Figure 2: 2-Ф Fault and one ground fault relay for
OC protection of 3-Ф feeder
Lecture 5 EPE 621
If we connect an OC relay in the residual current path as shown in
Figure 2, it will be blind to the load current (which is balanced
three-phase current) and see only the ground fault currents.
The current in this path will be zero or near zero during normal
balanced load conditions as well as during a three-phase fault.
Thus, the setting of this relay, which is in the residual current path,
can be made independent of load current and can indeed be much
smaller than the load current. Further, as illustrated in Figure, it is
not necessary to use all the three relays - for detection and
protection against phase faults. We can get rid of any one phase
fault relay without affecting the performance of the scheme. In
Figure 2, the relay in the phase b has been removed.
Lecture 5 EPE 621
 Directional Over-current Relay
Figure 3 shows a double-end-fed power system. The zones to be
generated by the relays are also shown. Suppose we have only over-
current relays at our disposal.
Let us focus on OC relays at bus C. Note that OC relays operate on the
magnitude of fault current and cannot sense the direction of the fault.
Consider fault Fa, As per the desired zones, only CBs 4 and 5 should
trip. However, it can be easily seen that if plain OC relays are used, CBs
3, 4, 5, and 6 will all trip as the fault will be seen by OC relays at these
locations. Thus, the desired zones are not generated. The desired relay
response is shown in Table 2 with respect to faults Fa and Fb.
Lecture 5 EPE 621
 Figure 3: Need for directional protection

Table 2: Response of OC relaysLecture

to generate
5 EPE 621 desired zone of protection
Directional OC Protection of a Three-phase Feeder

Lecture 5 EPE 621

 Drawbacks of Over-current Relays
The reach and operating time of the over-current relay
depend upon the magnitude of fault current. The fault current
that would result in case of a fault at a particular location
depends upon:

1. The type of fault, i.e. whether it is a ground fault or a phase

fault
2. The source impedance as shown in Figure on next slide.

Lecture 5 EPE 621

Fault current and reach is a function of fault type and source
impedance
Lecture 5 EPE 621
Since neither the type of fault nor the source impedance is predictable,
the reach of the over-current relay keeps on changing depending upon
the source conditions and the type of fault. Thus, even though the relays
are set with great care, since their reach is subject to variations, they are
likely to suffer from loss of selectivity.
Such a loss of selectivity can be tolerated to some extent in the low-
voltage distribution systems, where the only objective to be met is the
continuity of supply to the consumer. However in EHV interconnected
system (grid), loss of selectivity can lead to danger to the stability of
the power system, in addition to large disruptions to loads. Therefore,
over-current relays cannot be relied upon as a primary means of
protection in EHV systems.

Lecture 5 EPE 621