Principle of Unrestricted earth fault relay:

The vector sum of three-line current is equal to zero under normal condition. If the fault occurs in
the generator, the relay reads the unbalance current in the system. Under normal conditions the
vector sum of the all current Īrs+ Īys + Ībs = 0. The earth fault relay is connected in such a way that
the residual current flows through the relay operating coil. Under normal condition, residual current
is zero so relay does not carry any current and is inoperative. However, in presence of earth fault
condition, the balance gets disturbed and the residual current IRs is no more zero. If this current is
more than the pickup value of the earth fault relay, the relay operates and opens the circuit breaker
through tripping of the trip circuit. In the scheme shown in the figure, the earth fault at any location
near or away from the location of C.T.s can cause the residual current. Hence the protected zone is
not definite. Such a scheme is hence called unrestricted earth fault protection. 3.2.4 Balanced Earth
Fault Protection The balanced earth fault protection scheme is mainly used for protection of small
generator where differential and self-balanced protection systems are not applicable. In a small 82
generator, the neutral end of the three phase windings is connected internally to a single terminal.
So the neutral end is not available, and protection against earth fault is provided by using the
balanced earth protection scheme. Such scheme does not provide protection against phase-to-phase
fault until and unless they develop into earth faults. Connection of Balanced Earth Fault Protection
Scheme In this scheme, the current transformers are mounted on each phase. Their secondary is
connected in parallel with that of CT mounted on a conductor joining the star point of the generator
to earth. A relay is connected across the secondaries of the CTs. The balanced protection schemes
provide protection against earth fault in the limited region between the neutral and line CTs (current
transformers). It provides protection against the stator winding of the earth fault in the stator and
does not operate in case of an external earth fault. This scheme is also called restricted earth fault
protection scheme. Such type of protection is provided in the large generator as an additional
protection scheme. Fig. 3.5 Balanced earth fault protection Working of Balanced Earth Fault
Protection Scheme When the generator is in a normal operating condition the sum of the currents
flow in the secondary of the current transformers is zero and the current flow into secondary to
neutral is also zero. Thus the relay remains de-energized. When the fault occurs in the protected
zone (left of the line) the fault current flow through the primary of current transformers and the
corresponding secondary current flow through the relay which trips the circuit [Link] the
fault develops external of the protective zone (right of the current transformer) the sum of the
currents at the terminal of the generator is exactly equal to the current in the neutral 83 connection.
Hence, no current flows through the relay operating coil. 3.2.6 100 % Earth Fault Protection •
Maximum protection achieved by other schemes is up to 85% to 90%. • 100% earth fault protection
to the stator of the generator. • It uses a coupling transformer and coded signal current. Fig.3.6
100% Earth fault protection • A coupling transformer is connected between the earth and the
earthing resistance R in neutral to ground circuit. • Primary of coupling transformer is excited by
coded signal current source. • This coded signal current has a frequency of 12.5Hz. • This current is
continuously injected into a generator stator winding through the secondary of the coupling
transformer. • Under normal condition – Signal current injected into stator flows through stray
capacitance of the generator and directly connected system. • During fault condition – Stay
capacitance is bypassed which increases the monitoring current. 84 – This current is measured and
corrective action is taken • This scheme gives protection of 15% to 20% of stator winding from
neutral side which is unprotected by Merz- Price protection. • The remaining portion is protected by
Merz-Price protection. • Thus overall 100% stator windings gets protected against earth faults. 3.2.7
Stator Interturn Protection • Merz price protection system gives protection against phase- phase
faults and earth faults. It does not give protection for interturn faults. • Interturn fault is short circuit
between the turns of the same phase winding. Fig.3.7 Stator inter turn fault protection • Thus the
current produced due to such fault is a local circuit current and it does not affect the currents
entering and leaving the winding at the two ends, where CT are located. Hence Merz Price
protection cannot give protection against interturn faults. • In single turn generator – No interturn
fault. • Multi turn generator- interturn fault exist. • Each winding is divided into two halves, due to
the heavy currents which they have to carry. 85 • This splitting of single phase winding into two is
advantageous in providing interturn fault protection to such hydroelectric generators. • The scheme
uses cross differential principle. • Each phase of the generator is doubly wound and split into two
phases S1 and S2. • The current transformers are connected in parallel paths of the each winding. •
The secondaries of the CT are cross connected. • Under Normal Condition – Current in two parallel
paths S1 and S2 are equal – Hence current in secondaries of CT are equal – Secondary current flows
round the loop and its same at all points. – Hence no current through the relay and relay is
inoperative. • Under fault condition – If short circuit is developed between the adjacent turns of S1
winding, then current thro S1 and S2 are no longer same. – Thus unequal currents will be induced in
the secondaries of the CT. – The difference of these currents flows through the relay. Hence relay
operated and CB made open. • This scheme is applied to Generator having Doubly wound armature.
3.2.8 Generator Rotor Earth Fault Protection The rotor of an alternator is wound by field winding.
Any single earth fault occurring on the field winding or in the exciter circuit is not a big problem for
the machine. But if more than one earth fault occur, there may be a chance of short circuiting
between the faulty points on the winding. This short circuited portion of the winding may cause
unbalance magnetic field and subsequently mechanical damage may occur in the bearing of the
machine due to unbalanced rotation. 86 Fig. 3.8 Rotor earth fault protection Hence it is always
essential to detect the earth fault occurred on the rotor field winding circuit and to rectify it for
normal operation of the machine. There are various methods available for detecting rotor earth fault
of alternator or generator. But basic principle of all the methods is same and that is closing a relay
circuit through the earth fault path. AC Injection Method Here, one voltage sensitive relay is
connected at any point of the field and exciter circuit. Other terminal of the voltage sensitive relay is
connected to the ground by a capacitor and secondary of one auxiliary transformer. Here, if any
earth fault occurs in the field winding or in the exciter circuit, the relay circuit gets closed via
earthed path and hence secondary voltage of the auxiliary transformer will appear across the voltage
sensitive relay and the relay will be operated. The main disadvantage of this system is, there would
always be a chance of leakage current through the capacitors to the exciter and field circuit. This
may cause unbalancing in magnetic field and hence mechanical stresses in the machine bearings
Another disadvantage of this scheme is that as there is different source of voltage for operation of
the relay, thus the protection of rotor is inactive when there is a failure of supply in the AC circuit
of the scheme. DC Injection Method The drawback of leakage current of AC injection method can
be eliminated in DC Injection Method. Here, one terminal of DC voltage sensitive relay is
connected with positive terminal of the exciter and another terminal of the relay is connected with
the negative terminal of an external DC source. The external DC source is obtained by an auxiliary
transformer with bridge rectifier. Here the positive terminal of bridge rectifier is grounded. It is also
seen from the figure below that at the event of any field earth fault or exciter earth fault, the positive
potential of the external DC source will appear to the terminal of the relay which was connected to
the positive terminal of the exciter. In this way the rectifier output voltage appears across the
voltage relay and hence it is operated. 87 3.3 Induction Motor Protection • Abnormal Condition –
Over loading- draws more current- temp rise- winding damage – Rotor is locked – due to excessive
load- damage winding – Loss of supply voltage – unbalanced supply voltage – excessive heating –
under voltage – motor draws more current for same load, – over voltage , under frequency, – phase
sequence reversal of supply voltage – motor runs in other direction than the normal direction
( dangerous in case of cranes, elevators) – Single phasing – blowing of fuse in any phase
(Unbalanced current) Table 3.1 Induction motor protection for different abnormal conditions 3.3.1
Protection circuit for IM 88 A DOL starter (or Direct On Line starter or across the line starter) is a
method of starting of a 3 phase induction motor. In DOL Starter an induction motor is connected
directly across its 3-phase supply, and the DOL starter applies the full line voltage to the motor
terminals. Despite this direct connection, no harm is done to the motor. A DOL motor starter
contains protection devices, and in some cases, condition monitoring. A wiring diagram of a DOL
starter is shown below: Fig. 3.9 Protection Circuit for Induction motor Since the DOL starter
connects the motor directly to the main supply line, the motor draws a very high inrush current
compared to the full load current of the motor (up to 5-8 times higher). The value of this large
current decreases as the motor reaches its rated speed. A direct on line starter can only be used if the
high inrush current of the motor does not cause an excessive voltage drop in the supply circuit. If a
high voltage drop needs to be avoided, a star delta starter should be used instead. Direct on line
starters are commonly used to start small motors, especially 3 phase squirrel cage induction motors.
As we know, the equation for armature current in the motor. back emf (E) depends upon speed (N),
i.e. E is directly proportional to N. The value of At starting, the value of E is zero. So starting
current is very high. In a small rating motor, the rotor has more considerable axial length and small
diameter. So it gets accelerated fastly. Hence, speed increases and thus the value of armature current
decreases rapidly. Therefore, small rating motors smoothly run when it is connected directly to a 3-
phase supply. If we connect a large motor directly across 3-phase line, it would not run smoothly
and will be damaged, because it does not get accelerated as fast as a smaller motor since it has short
axial 89 length and larger diameter more massive rotor. However, for large rated motors, we can
use an oil immersed DOL starter. 3.3.2 Single Phasing Preventer • Single phasing is nothing but a
motor runs when one of the supply is disconnected due to open circuit or improper contact in switch
or other electrical equipment failure. • Single phase preventer is used to protect the induction motor
from single phasing fault. • Single phasing is a very dangerous fault - Which damages the motor
stator winding rapidly. • Normally, the motor runs with the three phase supply - which takes
balance current in each phase winding. • Consider one of the fuse has blown. But the motor still in a
rotating position which tries to rotates at the same speed. • At that same time, the absence phase
current will be shifted to the remaining live phases. Therefore, the current in the other phases
increases up to 3 times its normal value instantly. This is called a single phasing fault. • The single
phasing leads to an unbalanced current in the motor stator. The component which is present in this
unbalanced current called – negative sequence component. Three current transformer is placed in
each phase of the power supply. The output of the current transformer is given to the negative
sequence filter circuit and which senses the magnitude of unbalance. The filter circuit will be
connected to the control circuit. The control circuit sends the trip command to the circuit breaker if
the negative sequence current exceeds the preset value. If the failure of single-phase the unbalance
current flow in the motor and the current will be sensed by the negative sequence filter. 90 Fig. 3.10
Single phasing preventer 3.3.3 Ground Fault Protection • Ground fault protection is achieved
through Earth leakage circuit breaker(ELCB). • When the fault current or leakage current flows
through the earth return path then it forms earth fault. Fig. 3.11 Ground fault protection of IM •
ELCB can operate in 25ms when current exceeds the preset value. 91 • ELCB consists of a small
current transformer connected between a live and neutral wire. • The secondary winding of CT is
connected to relay circuit which can trip the CB. • Under normal condition – Current in line and
neutral are the same – Net current IL-IN through the core of CT is zero. – Hence no flux in core, no
emf. So breaker does not trip. • During fault condition – Net current through the core will no longer
remains zero. – Hence flux produced and emf induced in CT. Therefore relay is operated to trip the
CB.