ELE4201 – Power Systems Protection &
Coordination
Study Unit 1: Introduction to Power Systems Protection
Learning Outcomes of Study Unit 1es
Upon completion of this study unit, you should be able to
1.1 Define basic power system protection terms, and terminologies,
1.2 Explain protection principles and components,
1.3 Enlist the various elements of a protection system.
1.4 Analyze and comment on technical research papers related to power systems protection
1.0 Basic terminologies
Protection engineering is concerned with the design and operation of
protection schemes.
Research papers include, but not limited to:
DOI: 10.1049/cp.2016.0119 , DOI: 10.1049/cp.2010.0289, DOI:
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ELE4201 – Power Systems Protection &
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10.1049/cp.2010.0282 , DOI: 10.1109/TDCLA.2006.311561,
DOI: 10.1109/ICEE.2008.4553897, DOI: 10.1049/cp.2010.0359. Use this
website to access and download the research papers: [Link]
1.1 Construction of a Power System: Primary system
Secondary systems in a Power system include:
⚫ Protection
⚫ Auto control for voltage, frequency, reactive power compensation, power
flow, network configuration and stability
⚫ Metering for billing, operational control and statistical data
⚫ Local manual control (plant status, voltage level reactive power support,
network configuration)
⚫ Remote manual control via communications links (Supervisory Control and
Data Acquisition (or SCADA))
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⚫ Plant condition monitoring and alarming (temperature, malfunction,
maintenance need, operating duty)
⚫ Communications infrastructure
⚫ Instrument transformers - current and voltage transformers
Protection against abnormalities in a power system
Short-circuit faults (3Ф, 2Ф, Ф-g, 2Ф-g) Ф=phase, g=ground.
■ Open-circuit faults (open conductor)
■ Complex faults (inter-circuit, broken conductor, cross-country etc.)
■ Inter-turn faults in windings Abnormalities:
■ Real power deficit - underfrequency
■ Power swings
■ Overload and excessive operating temperature
■ Power frequency overvoltage or undervoltage
■ Under-excitation of synchronous machines
■ Over-fluxing of power transformers
■ Asynchronous operation of synchronous machines
■ Over-frequency
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■ Mechanical defects i.e. leaking oil, tap changer mechanism faults.
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Faults in windings
Typical Causes of Short-Circuit Faults
⚫ Insulation breakdown due to inherent weakness lightning
⚫ Birds and animals bridging insulators
⚫ Dig-ups for underground cables
⚫ Support (poles, pylons) collapsing
⚫ Conductors breaking
⚫ Vehicle impact
⚫ Wind borne debris
⚫ Incorrect operation by personnel
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Effects of Short- Circuit Type Faults
■ Large or very large currents can flow through parts of the network - thousands
or tens of thousands of Amps can be involved
■ These large currents can only be allowed to flow for a very short time otherwise
equipment and generators would be damaged, most likely terminally - allowable
short-circuit current flow duration could range from as short as 10 milliseconds
up to say 3 seconds.
■ Arcs, sparking and the heating effect of short-circuit currents can start fires
involving non-electrical assets / property
■ Very large mechanical forces can be caused by short -circuit currents which
have potential to break or damage equipment
■ Electric current can "escape" from the network conductors and flow through
paths where they could create a hazard to people or livestock and cause damage
to non-electrical assets/property.
Performance Requirements of Protection System
⚫ Discriminate between load (normal) and fault (abnormal) conditions
⚫ Not be confused by non-damaging transient conditions
⚫ Be selective - coordinate with other protection systems
⚫ Fast enough to prevent damage and hazards - but not too fast
⚫ Have no "blind spots" i.e. unprotected zones
⚫ High degree of reliability and availability
⚫ Secure against incorrect operation (security)
⚫ Should not restrict rating of primary plant and equipment
⚫ Should be affordable
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1.2 Basic Protection Scheme Components
Basic arrangement of a protection scheme
1.3 Elements of a Protection System
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Transducers
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Relays
Circuit breakers
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DC Supply
References and further reading materials and
1. Protection Technology Manuals from Siemens (Industrial periodical
manual: [Link]
Automation-for-Medium-Voltage/Catalog_SIPROTEC_5_Protection.pdf)
2. Protective Relaying by Blackburn and Domin, 4th edition, 2014, CRC
press.
3. Practical Power System Protection by Mark Brown, Ramesh Balakrishnan,
L. G. Hewitson. Newans, Elsevier, 2005.
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