TEEE304: Power System
Protection
Module 1b. Relay Operation
Principles
Relay Operation Principles 1
Learning Outcome
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Recognize the impact of abnormal condition
on voltages and currents
• Identify the different principles for relay
operation
Relay Operation Principles 2
Relay Operating Principles
• There are 8 relay operating principles:
Relay Operation Principles 3
Relay Operating Principles: Level Detection
Level detection is the simplest of all relay operating principles:
Characteristic of a level detector relay
• A pickup current must be set. Pickup current is the current value above
which the relay will operate
• For all currents above the pickup setting, the relay operates; otherwise no
action is taken.
• It is possible to arrange for opposite logic. E.g.: under-voltage relay. If the
fault current is I and the pickup value is Ip, then relay will operate either
if I >Ip, or ≤ Ip.
Relay Operation Principles 4
Relay Operating Principles: Magnitude Comparison
The magnitude comparison principle is based on the comparison of one or
more operating quantities with each other.
Example: For example, if there two identical parallel transmission line is as
shown:
Magnitude comparison relaying for two
parallel transmission lines
• If |IA |> |IB|+∈ , and Line B is not open, the relay will operate as there is
a fault in line A
• Similarly,
• If |IB|> |IA |+ ∈, and Line A is not open, the relay will operate as there is
a fault in line B
Relay Operation Principles 5
Relay Operating Principles: Differential Comparison
Differential comparison principle is used to measure the currents at
both ends of a protection zone and act if I1 – I2 ≥ ε.
Differential comparison principle applied to a generator winding
• Differential comparison is most sensitive and effective method. The relay
is capable of detecting very small fault currents. Its drawback is that it
requires currents from ends of a protection zone.
• Its application is restricted to power apparatus such as transformers,
generators, buses, capacitors, reactors, motors.
Relay Operation Principles 6
Relay Operating Principles: Phase Angle Comparison
• In this principle, the relay compares the relative phase angle
between two ac quantities - V and I. Normally, phase angle is
around ± 30º.
• However, during the fault, it becomes around ± 90º. Note that the
current may reverse its direction as shown in the upper phasor
diagram
Phase angle comparison for fault on a
transmission line
Relay Operation Principles 7
Relay Operating Principles: Distance Measurement
• A distance relay, as its name implies, has the ability to detect a fault
within a pre-set distance along a transmission line or power cable from
its location.
• Every power line has impedance or resistance and reactance per
kilometre related to its design and construction so its total impedance
will be a function of its length or distance.
• A distance relay therefore looks at current and voltage and compares
these two quantities on the basis of Ohm’s law as shown:
Distance relay
• Unlike differential protection, this relay principle compares the local
current with the local voltage.
• This is a measurement of the line impedance as seen from the relay
terminal.
Relay Operation Principles 8
Relay Operating Principles: Pilot Relaying
In pilot relaying:
• The relay action is based on information
obtained from remote location.
• Information is usually in the form of contact
status – either open or closed
• Information is sent over a communication
channel such as power line carrier, microwave,
telephone circuit or optical fiber .
Relay Operation Principles 9
Relay Operating Principles: Harmonic Content
Under harmonic content:
• In normal operation, V and I are sinusoidal
waveforms with fundamental frequency
• Abnormal conditions, such as transformer
saturation and transformer energization, can be
detected by sensing the harmonic content
through filters or by calculation in digital relays
Relay Operation Principles 10
Relay Operating Principles: Harmonic Content
Voltage waveforms
Voltage waveforms due to transformer core saturation
Transformer inrush
Transformer inrush (one phase)
Relay Operation Principles 11
Relay Operating Principles: Frequency Sensing
Under frequency sensing:
• Normal frequency is 50 or 60 Hz. Any deviation
indicates an abnormal condition
• Frequency can be measured by counting of zero
crossings in a unit of time
Relay Operation Principles 12
General Comments
General comments on relay principles:
• The input to the relay may be single quantity
or combination to calculate power, power
factor, impedance, directionality, etc
• Some relays are designed to respond to
mechanical devices such as fluid level
detectors, pressure or temperature sensors,
etc
Relay Operation Principles 13
Summary
In this lesson, you have learned that:
• A relay can be designed to respond to any observable
parameter or effect
• There are electromechanical, solid state, and digital relays
• There are eight relay operating principles:
✓ Level detection
✓ Magnitude comparison
✓ Differential comparison
✓ Phase angle comparison
✓ Distance measurement
✓ Pilot relaying
✓ Harmonic content
✓ Frequency sensing
Relay Operation Principles 14