Over Current Protection

Introduction to Over Current Protection

 The most obvious effect of shunt fault is sudden build up of

current therefore the magnitude of current is utilized as a
positive indication of existence of fault.
 Over current protection is the most widely used type of
protection.
 The over current protection which is dependent only on the
magnitude of the current , without taking any cognizance of its
phase angle is known as ‘non-directional over-current
protection’.
 The over current protection which is dependent on the
magnitude of the current as well as phase angle is known as
‘directional over-current protection’.
 Fuse

 A fuse is a short piece of metal, inserted (in series) in

the circuit, which melts when excessive current flows
(short-circuit or overload) through it and thus breaks the
circuit.
 The operation of fuse is inherently completely automatic
unlike a circuit breaker which requires an elaborate
equipment for automatic action.
 The inverse time-current characteristic of a fuse makes it
suitable for over-current protection.
 Thermal Relays

 Thermal relays, of bimetallic

type, work on principle of strain
generated due to unequal linear
expansion of two different
metals as a heat generated by
the passage of fault current.
 Thermal relays are used where
very quick operation is not
called for.
 The typical application of the
thermal relay is to provide
protection against prolonged
overloading of motors.
Over-Current Relay – Block Diagram
 Instantaneous OC Relay

 An instantaneous relay is one in

which no intentional time delay is
provided and the relay contacts are
closed immediately after current in
the relay exceeds the minimum
calibrated value.
 Although there will be a short time
interval between the instant of
pickup and the closing of relay
contacts, no intentional time delay
has been added.
 Operating time is less than 0.1 sec.
 Definite Time OC Relay

DTOC relay can be adjusted

to issue a trip output at a
definite (and adjustable)
amount of time, after it
picks up and therefore it
has time-setting adjustment
and a pickup adjustment.
 Inverse Time OC Relay

 The more severe the fault, the faster it is cleared to

avoid damage to the apparatus as per the inverse-time
characteristic of the relay.
 Inverse-time characteristic is naturally obtained from
electromechanical relays, however, it is now possible to
generate any imaginable time-current characteristic from
the Microprocessor-based relays.
Inverse Definite Minimum Time OC Relay

 top= 0.14 (TMS)

 (PSM)0.02 – 1
Characteristics of Inverse Time OC Relays

Very Inverse Time OC Relay Extremely Inverse TOC Relay

 Inverse-ness of this  Inverse-ness of this characteristic

characteristic is higher than is higher than that of the very-
that of the IDMT characteristic. inverse characteristic.
 top= 13.5(TMS)  top= 80.0(TMS)
(PSM) – 1 (PSM)2 - 1