Generator Protection

Sreenatha Rao R.S.N.V

Manager - Training
 Generator Protection

The extent and types of protection specified will depend

on the following factors :-

 Type of prime mover and generator construction

 MW and voltage ratings
 Mode of operation
 Method of connection to the power system
 Method of earthing

2
 Connection to the Power System

1. Direct :

2. Via Transformer :

3
 Typical Generator Installations

Generator Generator
Transformer Transformer
Station
Trans-
Earthing former
Transformer

Unit / Unit
Station Trans-
Transformer former

1(b) 1(c)
4
 Generator Protection Requirements

 To detect faults on the generator

 To protection generator from the effects of abnormal
power system operating conditions
 To isolate generator from system faults not cleared
remotely

Action required depends upon the nature of the fault.

Usual to segregate protection functions into :

 Urgent
 Non-urgent
 Alarm

5
 Generator Faults

Mixture of mechanical and electrical problems.

Faults include :-

 Insulation Failure
 Stator
 Rotor
 Excitation system failure
 Prime mover / governor failure
 Bearing Failure
 Excessive vibration
 Low steam pressure
etc.

6
 System Conditions

 Short circuits
 Overloads
 Loss of load
 Unbalanced load
 Loss of synchronism

7
 Generator Protections to be Considered

 Earth faults on stator and generator connections

 Phase faults on stator and generator connections
 Interturn faults on stator
 Backup protection :- External Earth faults
External Phase faults
 Failure of prime mover
 Loss of field
 Unbalanced loading
 Rotor earth faults and interturn faults
 Overload
 Failure of speed governing system
 Sudden loss of load

8
 Stator Earth Fault Protection

Fault caused by failure of stator winding insulation

Leads to burning of machine core

welding of laminations

Rebuilding of machine core can be a very expensive process

Earth fault protection is therefore a principal feature of any

generator protection package

TYPE OF  METHOD  METHOD

PROTECTION OF OF
EARTHING CONNECTION

9
 Method of Earthing (1)

 Machine stator windings are surrounded by a mass of earthed metal

 Most probable result of stator winding insulation failure is a phase-earth fault

 Desirable to earth neutral point of generator to prevent dangerous transient

over voltages during arcing earth faults

 Several methods of earthing are in use

 Damage resulting from a stator earth fault will depend upon the earthing
arrangement

0 10
 Method of Earthing (2)

Solidly Earthed Machines :

 Fault current is high

 Rapid damage occurs

 burning of core iron
 welding of laminations

 Used on LV machines only

1 11
 Method of Earthing (3)

Desirable to limit earth fault current :

 limits damage
 reduces possibility of developing into phase-phase
fault

Degree to which fault current is limited must take into account :

 detection of earth faults as near as possible to the neutral point

 ease of discrimination with system earth fault protection (directly

connected machines)

2 12
 Method of Earthing : Limitation of Earth Fault Current (1)

Less than 5A :

Earth faults on the power system

are not seen by the generator
F earth fault protection.

Discrimination not required  can limit current to very low value.

20A :

Used on oil and gas platforms.

Limits power supply disturbance, but still enables grading of
up to 3 zones.

3 13
 Method of Earthing : Limitation of
Earth Fault Current (2)

100A :

As for 20A, but higher current allows better discrimination and sensitivity.

Generator Full Load Current (1200A max) :

Most popular. Used for ease of fault detection and discrimination.

Residual connection of CTs can be used, BUT can result in serious core
damage.

4 14
 Stator Earth Fault Protection and Protection Against
Earth Faults on Generator Connections
Depending on the Generator arrangement this can be provided by :-

 Time delayed overcurrent protection

 Time delayed earth fault protection
 Sensitive earth fault protection
 Neutral displacement voltage relay
 Neutral displacement voltage detection by overcurrent
relay
 High impedance restricted earth fault protection
 High impedance differential protection
 Biased differential protection
 Directional earth fault protection
 100% stator earth fault protection

5 15
 Overcurrent Protection (1)

 For small generators this may be the only protection applied.

 With solid earthing it will provide some protection against earth
faults.
 For a single generator, CTs must be connected to neutral end of
stator winding.

51

6 16
 Overcurrent Protection (2)

 For parallel generators, CTs can be located on line side.

51

7 17
 Stator Earth Fault Protection

Directly Connected Generators :

51N

Earthed Generator : Earth fault relay must be time delayed for

co-ordination with other earth fault protection on the power system.

50N 51N

Unearthed Generators : Other generators connected in parallel

will generally be unearthed.

Protection is restricted to faults on the generator, grading with power

system earth fault protection is not required. A high impedance instantaneous
relay can be used (Balanced Earth Fault protection).
8 18
 Percentage Winding Protected
11.5kV; 75,000KVA

xV

xV
ΙF 
250/1A IS R
For operation
Ι S(PRIMARY)  ΙF
R 33 xV

R
x.6600
  x.200
33
1
Ι S(SECONDARY)  x.200 x  0.8x
250
 For protection of 90% of winding; x = 1-0.9 = 0.1
Relay setting = 0.8 x 0.1 = 0.08A = 8% of 1A
9 19
 Stator Earth Fault Protection (1)
Generators connected via step-up transformer (resistance earthed) :

51N 50N

Instantaneous protection (50N) :

System earth faults ARE not seen by generator earth fault protection
 instantaneous relay may be used.

Set to 10% of resistor rating (avoids operation due to transient surges

passed through generator transformer inter winding capacitance).

Advantage : Fast

0 20
 Stator Earth Fault Protection (2)

Time delayed protection (51N) :

Time delay prevents operation on transient surges.

A more sensitive current setting may be used.

Set to 5% of resistor rating.

Advantage : Sensitive

On large machines considered worthwhile to use both

instantaneous and time delayed.

1 21
 Stator E/F Protection for Generator with High
Resistance Earthing via Distribution Transformer (1)

Generator Transformer / Resistor

Rating ~ 30 Secs.

Distribution Over voltage Relay

Transformer With 3rd Harmonic
Turns R 59
Rejection
Ration = N

* Set > 3RD harmonic current

* Or use relay with 3RD harmonic
51N
rejection
R’ = Effective Primary Resistance = N2.R
2 22
 Restricted Earthfault Protection

RSTAB
High Impedance Principle
64

Instantaneous Protection

Protects approx. 90 - 95% of generator winding.

All CT’s should be similar - Good quality
- Class ‘X’
3 23
 Restricted Earthfault Protection for Generators on 4 Wire L.V.
Systems (1)

Earthing at Generator Neutral

5 x CT’s required
RSTAB

64

4 24
 Restricted Earthfault Protection for Generators on 4 Wire L.V.
Systems (2)

Earthing at Busbars

RSTAB
64

4 x CT’s required

5 25
 Differential Protection (1)

 Provides high speed protection for all fault types

 May be : High impedance type
: Biased (low impedance) type
Good quality CT’s required
CT’s required in neutral end of winding

High Impedance Scheme

Stabilising
Resistors

Relay

6 26
 Differential Protection (2)

BIAS BIAS

OPERATE

Biased Differential Scheme

7 27
 Differential Protection (3)

INTERPOSING
C.T.

Overall Differential Scheme

8 28
 Stator Earth Fault Protection

100% Stator Earth Fault Protection :

Standard relays only cover 95% of winding.

Probability of fault occurring in end 5% is low.

On large machines 100% stator earth fault protection may be

required.

Two methods :

* Low Frequency Injection

* Third Harmonic Voltage Measurement

9 29
 100% Stator Earth Fault Protection
For Large Machines Only

Two methods :-
 Low frequency injection  Third harmonic voltage - various

Low Frequency Injection

Earthing
Trans- 59
former
 Complete protection during start-up if source is
independent of generator, e.g. derived from
Injection station battery.
Transformer  Independent of system V, f and load current.
 High cost due to injection equipment.
51 Alternative
Injection
Points
0 30
 Third Harmonic Neutral Voltage Scheme

Relies on >1%
generated 3rd
harmonic volts
59 27

59P
27 - 3rd harmonic under voltage relay.
59
59P - Terminal Voltage Check
Allows trip if circuit breaker is open
but terminal voltage present.
TRIP
59P 27 59 - Conventional neutral over voltage
protection.

27 OVERLAP

59 FUNDAMENTAL FREQ. ELEMENT

0 50 100
Earth Fault Position

1 31
 Stator Phase-Phase Fault Protection (1)

Phase-phase faults caused by :

 Insulation failure
 Flashover in terminal box

Majority of phase-phase faults begin as earth faults.

High fault current causes rapid damage

 fast protection required.

2 32
 Stator Phase-Phase Fault Protection (2)

Single Generator

Use time delayed over current.

CTs must be in neutral side to cover winding faults.

Small solidly earthed

51 machines
51 51 – over current also provides degree of earth fault protection

Over current is often only protection applied to small machines.

3 33
 Stator Phase-Phase Fault Protection (3)

Larger Machines, Parallel Operation

Require Differential Protection

Type types :

 High impedance - most common

 Biased (low impedance) - used for generator - generator
transformer sets

Class X CTs required.

4 34
 Stator Phase-Phase Fault Protection (4)

High Impedance Scheme

Stabilising
Resistors

Relay

5 35
 Stator Phase-Phase Fault Protection

 Previous methods require access to winding neutral

end

 Small machines :
 Star connection made inside machine
 Winding neutral ends are not brought out

 If high speed protection required, restricted earth fault

scheme should be used

6 36
 Stator Interturn Fault Protection (1)

 Longitudinal differential system does not detect interturn faults

 Interturn fault protection not commonly provided because :

 Fault rare
 Even if interturn fault occurs, will develop into earth fault

 Possible that serious damage can occur before fault is detected

7 37
 Stator Interturn Fault Protection (2)

Zero Sequence Voltage Method :

VA

VB

VC
VA VB VC VR
FAULT

3rd Harmonic Rejection Required

R
VR = VA + VB + VC

8 38
 Stator Interturn Fault Protection (3)
Transverse Differential Protection
(Double Wound Machines) :

Bias
Coils

Operate
Coils

9 39
 Prime Mover Failure (1)
Isolated Generators :

Machine slows down and stops. Other protection initiates shut down.

Parallel Sets :

System supplies power - generator operates as a motor.

Seriousness depends on type of drive.

Steam Turbine Sets :

Steam acts as a coolant.

Loss of steam causes overheating.
Turbulence in trapped steam causes distortion of turbine blades.
Motoring power 0.5% to 6% rated.
Condensing turbines, rate of heating slow. Loss of steam instantly recognised.

0 40
 Prime Mover Failure (2)

Diesel Driven Sets :

Prime mover failure due to mechanical fault.

Serious mechanical damage if allowed to persist.
Motoring power from 35% rated for stiff machine, to 5% rated for run in machine.

Gas Turbines :

Motoring power 100% rated for single shaft machine, 10% to 15% rated for
double shaft.

Hydro Sets :

Mechanical precautions taken if water level drops.

Low head types - erosion and cavitation of runner can occur.
Additional protection may be required.

1 41
 Prime Mover Failure (3)

Reverse Power Protection :

Reverse power measuring relays used where protection

required.

Single phase relay is sufficient as prime mover failure results

in balanced conditions.

Sensitive settings required - metering class CTs required for

accuracy.

2 42
 Reverse Power Protection (1)

Importing lagging VAR’s

-MVARLAG

Leading P.F.

Operate Restrain
-MW +MW
87.1

Operate Restrain

Lagging P.F.

+MVARLAG
Exporting lagging VAR’s

3 43
 Loss of Excitation (1)
EFFECTS

Single Generator :
 Loses output volts and therefore load.

Parallel Generators :
 Operate as induction motor (> synch speed)
 Flux provided by reactive stator current drawn from
system-leading pf
 Slip frequency current induced in rotor - abnormal
heating

Situation does not require immediate tripping,

however,
large machines have short thermal time constants - should be
unloaded in a few seconds.

4 44
 Loss of Excitation (2)
Simple Protection Scheme

Field Exciter
Winding
Shunt  Requires access to
Ie
field connections.
DC relay  Not suitable if
(setting < Ie min) generator operates
Aux Supply normally with low
excitation (large
T1
machines).
 Alternative scheme
monitors impedance
T2
at generator
0.2 - 1 sec
Overcomes Alarm or terminals.
Slip Frequency Trip
Effects
2 - 10 secs

5 45
 Loss of Excitation (3)

Alternative Scheme

XG XT XS
EG ES

On field failure ratio EG / ES decreases and rotor angle increases.

Machine starts to pole slip with decaying internal EMF.

6 46
 Loss of Excitation (4)

Impedance seen by relay follows locus shown below :

Load Impedance

R
Impedance Offset – Prevents
Locus operation
on pole slips

Diameter
Typically : Relay Characteristic
Offset 50-75%X’d
Diameter 50-100% XS Time Delayed
7 47
 Impedance Locus of Generator Operating Out of
Synchronism

+jX
EG/ES = 1.5
2.0

LOAD POINT
5.0
5
A

EG/ES = 1
G
0.2 0.5 0.7

-jX
9 49
 Rotor and Power Factor Angles
Relay Location
Xd
I

E V

IXd

 = Rotor Angle
V Ø = Power Factor Angle

 I
Ø
0 50
 Power Limit Impedance Diagram

jx

Z
VΙ.COS   C
Ø V2/C Ι C
COS  
R
V V2
V2
Z  COS 
C

1 51
 Loci of Constant Rotor Angle 

jx

=
Xd 120 90 30

2 52
 Relay Characteristic Req’d to Allow Generator
Operation with Rotor Angles up to ''
jx Constant Power

Offset R
0.75X’d
Limiting
Generation
Point
Diameter
Constant 

Relay
Characteristic

3 53
 Unbalanced Loading (1)

Effects
 Gives rise to negative phase sequence (NPS) currents - results
in contra-rotating magnetic field.

 Stator flux cuts rotor at twice synchronous speed.

 Induces double frequency current in field system and rotor

body.

 Resulting eddy currents cause severe over heating.

4 54
 Unbalanced Loading (2)
Protection
 Machines are assigned NPS current withstand values :

* Continuous NPS rating, I2R

* Short time NPS rating, I22t
 If possible level of system unbalance approaches
machine continuous withstand, protection is required.
 Use negative sequence over current relay.
 Relay should have inverse time characteristic to match
generator I22t withstand.

 Relay pick-up setting should be just below I2R rating.

 Can use an alarm setting of 70% to 100% to pick-up.
5 55
 Rotor Earth Fault Protection (1)

Field circuit is an isolated DC system.

 Insulation failure at a single point :
- No fault current, therefore no danger
- Increase change of second fault occurring
 Insulation failure at a second point :
- Shorts out part of field winding
- Heating (burning of conductor)
- Flux distortion causing violent vibration of rotor
 Desirable to detect presence of first earth fault and
give an alarm.

6 56
 Rotor Earth Fault Protection (2)

Potentiometer Method

Exciter

 Required sensitivity approximately 5% exciter voltage.

 No auxiliary supply required.
 “Blind spot” - require manually operated push button to vary tapping
point.

7 57
 Rotor Earth Fault Protection (3)

AC Injection Method

AC Auxiliary
Supply
R

Brushless Machines
 No access to rotor circuit
 Require special slip rings for measurement
 If slip rings not present, must use telemetering techniques
(expensive)
8 58
 Overload Protection (1)

high load current


heating of stator and rotor

insulation failure

Governor Setting

Should prevent serious overload automatically.

Generator may lost speed if required load not be met by other sources.
High reactive power flow can give high stator current - not affected by governor settings.

9 59
 Overload Protection (2)

Direct Temperature Measuring Devices

Resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), thermocouples etc.,

embedded in windings.
Provide alarm and/or trip via auxiliary relays.

Overcurrent Protection

Set just above maximum load current.

Intended for short circuit protection.

Thermal Replica Relays

Current operated. May have ambient temperature compensation.

0 60
 Generator Back-Up Protection (1)
Over current Protection
Typical use :
 Very or extremely inverse for LV machines
 Normal inverse for HV machines

Must consider generator voltage decrement characteristic for close-in faults.

With reliable AVR system, “conventional” over current relays may be used.
Otherwise, voltage controlled / restrained relays are required.

10 x
FL

with AVR

Full
Load
no AVR

Cycles
1 61
 Generator Back-Up Protection (2)

Over current Protection

Voltage Restrained

 Operating characteristic is continuously varied depending on

measured volts.
 Alternatively, use impedance relay.

Voltage Controlled

 Relay switches between fault characteristic and load characteristic

depending on measured volts.

F
2 62
 Voltage Controlled Overcurrent Protection

Overload
Characteristic
Is

Current Pick - up
t

Fault
Characteristic

Vs

I Voltage
3 63
 Voltage Restrained Overcurrent Protection

 More suited for indirect

connected generators

 Equivalent to impedance

Current Pick-up
devices I>

KI>

VS2 VS1
Voltage
4 64
 Impedance Relay

jx

RELAY
CHARACTERISTI
C
MZTU

Set to operate at 70% rated load impedance when voltage drops to zero,
current required to operate relay is 10% rated current. Built-in timer for
co-ordination purposes.

5 65
 Under & Over Frequency Conditions (1)

Over Frequency

 Results from generator over speed caused by sudden loss

of load.
 In isolated generators may be due to failure of speed
governing system.
 Over speed protection may be provided by mechanical
means.
 Desirable to have over frequency relay with more sensitive
settings.

6 66
 Under & Over Frequency Conditions (2)

Under Frequency

 Results from loss of synchronous speed due to excessive

overload.
 In isolated generators may be due to failure of speed
governing system.
 Under frequency condition gives rise to:
 Overfluxing of stator core at nominal volts
 Plant drives operating at lower speeds - can affect
generator output
 Mechanical resonant condition in turbines
 Desirable to supply an under frequency relay.
 Protection may be arranged to initiate load shedding as a first
step.

7 67
 Under & Over Voltage Conditions (1)

Protection

 Under & over voltage protection usually provided as part of

excitation system.
 For most applications an additional high set over voltage
relay is sufficient.
 Time delayed under and over voltage protection may be
provided.

8 68
 Under & Over Voltage Conditions (2)

Over Voltage

 Results from generator over speed caused by sudden loss of load.

 May be due to failure of the voltage regulator.

 An over voltage condition :

 Causes overfluxing at nominal frequency

 Endangers integrity of insulation

Under Voltage

 No danger to generator. May cause stalling of motors.

 Prolonged under voltage indicates abnormal conditions.

9 69
 Other Protection Considerations

0 70
 Pole Slipping Protection

 Simplified diagram of a generator

 Rotor  Stator

 X


 EG 
 ES
ZG9356

1 71
 Pole Slipping Detection

E E = 2.8 (max) X
G S

R
E E = 1.2
G S
E E =1
G S

E E = 0.8
G S

E E = 0.19 (min)
G S

MIS9357

2 72
 Pole Slipping Protection

 Also referred to as Out of Step protection

 Techniques depends
 on machine/system requirements
 Utility practices
 May be required to detect the first pole slip
 Could be time delayed to detect pole slips resulting in
instability

3 73
7 77
 Overfluxing

Often applied to :-
 Generator transformers
 Grid transformers

Flux Ø  V / f

Caused by either :-
 Increase in voltage
 Reduction in frequency
 Combination of both
Usually only a problem :-
 during run-up or shut down
 can be caused by loss of load / load shedding

9 79
 Transformer Magnetising
Characteristic

Twice
Normal
Flux

Normal
Flux

Normal
No
Load No Load Current
Current at Twice Normal
Flux

0 80
 Magnetising Current with
Transformer Overfluxed

ZG0780C

1 81
 Overfluxing

Effects of overfluxing :-
 Increase in magnetising current
 Increase in winding temperature
 Increase in noise and vibration
 Overheating of laminations and metal parts
(caused by stray flux)

Protective relay responds to V/f ratio

Co-ordinate with plant withstand characteristics

Typical generator application

Stage 1 - lower A.V.R.
Stage 2 - Trip field

2 82
 Over-Fluxing Relay

Ex
G

VT

AVR R
L

3 83
 Low Forward Power Interlocking

 Urgent Trip
 Trip Directly to Circuit Breaker and Initiate shut down
 Risk of overspeed
 Examples :-
 Generator Differential
 stator ground fault
 negative phase sequence.

4 84
 Low Forward Power Interlocking

 Non-Urgent Trip
 Trip governor
 Use low forward power interlocking to determine when main Circuit Breaker is
tripped
 Reduced risk of overspeed, and consequential damage to the machine
 Examples :-
 Over voltage
 Over load
 Loss of synchronism
 Field failure

5 85
 Unintentional Energisation at Standstill
Scheme

Typical Approach
50

27 & Trip
tPU
&
tDO
VTS

 Overcurrent element detects breaker

flashover or starting current (as motor)
 Three phase undervoltage detection
 VTS function checks no VT anomalies
MiCOM-P340-86

6 86
 VT Fuse Failure Protection

Typical Voltage Balance scheme (60)

 Used for blocking purposes and for alarms
 Line voltage comparison done independently
 Fast Operating time
 May provide three outputs
– Comparison VT fuse failure
– Protection VT fuse failure
– Protection block

ZG7965D

7 87
 Synchronising Relays

Often applied to :-
 Synchronising of Generators
 Transmission line auto-reclose schemes

Synchronising of Generators
 Check voltage magnitudes
 Check slip frequency
 Check phase angle difference

Synchroscope
 Speed of rotation depends on slip frequency
 If frequencies matched, phase angle displacement indicated
 Does not indicate voltage magnitude

8 88
 Voltage Checking & Comparators

 Voltage comparators often used in Transmission line auto-

reclose schemes :-

- Live Line / Dead Bus

- Dead Line / Live Bus

- Dead Line / Dead Bus

 Voltage monitors :-

- Under voltage monitor (e.g. Transmission Line)

- Differential voltage monitor (e.g. Generator)

9 89
 Auto-Synchronising Relays

Applied to Synchronising of Generators to control the

machine

Controls :-
 Filed current to adjust voltage magnitude
 Governor to adjust slip frequency
 Governor to correct constant phase displacement

0 90
 Typical Schemes

1 91
 Tripping Modes

Class A HV breaker , Field breaker, Turbine

For faults in the generator zone

Class B Turbine Trip

HV Breaker & Field Breaker interlocked
with low forward power relay

Class C HV breaker

2 92