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Protection of Generator

Presentation · December 2023

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.14256.12807

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University of Mosul

College of Engineering

Electrical power Engineering

Protection of Generator

Prepared by:

Muhamed Nashwan Amjed

Supervision by

Dr. Ahmed Nasser

 1.

1. Introduction:[1]

A generator is the heart of an electrical power system, as it converts mechanical

energy into its electrical equivalent, which is further distributed at various

voltages. It therefore requires a ‘prime mover’ to develop this mechanical power

and this can take the form of steam, gas or water turbines or diesel engines.. Faults

of many kinds can occur within this system for which diverse forms of electrical

and mechanical protection are required. The amount of protection applied will be

governed by economic considerations .

The following problems require consideration from the point of view of applying

protection:

a. stator electrical faults

b. overload

c. overvoltage

d. unbalanced loading

e. overfluxing

f. inadvertent energisation

e. rotor electrical faults

f. loss of excitation
 2.

g. loss of synchronism

h. failure of prime mover

j. lubrication oil failure

l. over speeding

m. rotor distortion

n. difference in expansion between rotating and stationary parts

o. excessive vibration

p. core lamination faults.

2. Types of Relays that used in generator protection :

There are two types of relays used in protection system :

A ) Electromechanical Relays : in this type there are one or more coils with a

movable elements , and the operation of such relay is based upon the effects of

electric current like ( Electromagnetic attraction ,Electromagnetic induction ) .see

Fig(1).

Fig (1) Electromechanical Relays

 3.

B ) Static Relays : in this type, the relays have no any moving part and it's a

multifunction relay , see Fig (2),

Fig (2) Static Relays

[Link] of Generator Protection :[2],[3]

There are many different types of faults that synchronous generator may

experience and therefore, many different types of protection. All generator will not

have the same level of protection, however. As a general rule, the larger, more

expensive machines will have the greatest number of different protective system

simply because serious damage of these units is very costly.

All generators must have stator protection, and must units have several types of

protection, each of which guards against different types of problem. So that we

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shall classify the faults, the possible damage if no corrective action is taken and the

protective devices that are extensively applied, there are four types of faults :

1. Faults in the three –phase stator winding .

2. Faults in the rotor .

3. Faults in the prime mover.

4. Abnormal operation conditions.

3. 1. Stator Faults :[3],[4]

Stator winding faults: These types of faults occur due to the insulation breakdown

of the stator coils. Different types of stator windings faults are:

a) Phase to phase fault.

b) Phase to earth fault.

c) Inter turn fault.

d) Unbalance stator currents.

Phase to earth fault are limited by resistance of the neutral grounding resistor.

There are fewer chances for the occurrence of the phase to phase and inter turn

faults. The insulation between the two phases is at least twice as thick as the

insulation between one coil and the iron core, so phase to phase fault is less likely

to occur. Inter turn fault occurs due the incoming current surges with steep wave

front.
 5.

3.1.1. Phase to phase faults and phase to ground faults :[3],[4],[5].

1. Phase to phase faults : They may occur on the end portion of stator coils or in the

slots if the winding involves two coil sides in the same slot. In the latter case, the

fault will involve earth in a very short time. Phase fault current is not limited by

the method of earthing the neutral point. see Fig(3). With the differential

protection relaying(percentage differential relay protection), the CTs at both end of

the stator windings must be same. If there is any difference in the accuracy of the

CTs the mal-operation of the relay will occurs. To overcome this difficulty, biased

circulating current protection is used. In this protection system we can

automatically increase the relay setting in proportion to the fault current. By

suitable proportioning of the ratio of the relay restraining coil to the relay

operating coil any biased can be achieved.

Fig (3) differential protection

All three relays need to be weird to deenergize the field winding and the outgoing

a circuit breaker. Deenergizing the field cuts off the short-circuit current by

suppressing the internal generated voltage. Tripping the outgoing circuit breaker
 6.

cuts off the current fed from the grid. Finally the generator and turbine, etc, will

ensure shutdown of .

[Link] to earth fault : The neutral point of a generator is usually earthed to

facilitate protection of the stator winding and associated system. Earthing also

prevents damaging transient over voltages in the event of an arcing earth fault or

ferro resonance. For HV generators, impedance is usually inserted in the

stator earthing connection to limit the magnitude of earth fault current. There is a

wide variation in the earth fault current chosen, common values being:

2. 200A-400A (low impedance earthing)

3. 10A-20A (high impedance earthing)

The main methods of impedance-earthing a generator are shown in Fig(4) Low

values of earth fault current may limit the damage caused from a fault,

Fig (4) generator grounding

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There are many methods to protected the generator from the earth faults . With
resistance earthing (see Fig 5) tow earth-faults relays may be provided on the
secondary side of neutral CT. The first EF relay is set at 10 per cent and is
instantaneous type. The second EF relay is inverse definite minimum time (IDMT)
and is set at 5 per cent. (The relay pick-up when earth fault current is 5 per cent
of full load current of generator ). It is necessary to provide a time delay .

Fig (5) earth protection

3.1.2. Inter turn fault on the same phase : [5],[6]

Inter turn faults are rare, for this type of fault the input and output currents on the

faulted phase are the same. The differential relay does not operate. To detect the

inter turn fault on the same phase, one has to use spilt-phase winding in the stator.

Each phase has two windings connected in parallel. The total phase current pass

through these two winding and if the turns on one of the windings becomes

shorted the current will different in one winding .

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And by using over current relay or by using anther differential relay to detect the

inter turn fault .see Fig(6)

Fig (6) Inter turn protection

3.1.3. Unbalanced stator currents : [4],[7].

The stator currents could be a set of unbalance currents, due either to load

unbalance or because the circuit breaker is not closing or opening one of the poles.

The stator currents now have plenty of negative sequence component, thus

producing a field rotating in the opposite direction to that of the field structure.

The field and damper winding will have double the normal power frequency

components of eddy currents, thereby causing the rotor to overheat. This does not

immediately trip the alternator, since it has enough thermal capacity to withstand

this current for some time. A generator is assigned a continuous negative sequence
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rating. For turbo-generators this rating is low; standard values of 10% and 15% of

the generator continuous rating have been adopted The negative sequence current

withstand capability in seconds is :

…(1)

Where : I2R = negative sequence component(per unit)

T = time (seconds)

K = constant proportional to the thermal capacity of the generator rotor

see Fig (7) negative sequence relay .

Fig (7) negative sequence relay

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Example (1) :

For a 1000-MVA, 13.2-KV, three phase turbo alternator let K = 10 Sec. Find the
operation time of negative sequence relay .

solution :

I full load = = 43738.6567 Amp.

Let use CT ratio = 50 000/5 Amp.

Let the anticipated minimum value of the negative sequence current be 15% of the
full-load current. Therefore

I2 line side = I full load × 0.15

I2 line side = 50 000 × 0.15 = 7500 Amp.

= 0.75 Amp

the operating time is T = 18 second . see Fig (8) a stator faults

Fig (8) stator faults

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3.2 Rotor Faults : [4],[6].

The rotor of the modern turbo alternator is invariably aground-rotor type having a
field winding. The field winding can experience

a) A short-circuit between the field winding and the rotor core, resulting in a
ground fault, or

b) A loss of field excitation causing the machine to run as an induction generator.

3.2.1. Ground Faults : [4],[1].

If the field winding is not grounded, a fault is virtually no fault. The field excitation

remains the same as prior to fault, and the operation of the turbo alternators is

unaffected. Another subsequent ground fault on the field winding will be short

circuited, thereby producing unbalanced air gap fluxes in the machine. These

unbalanced fluxes may cause rotor vibration that may quickly damage the

machine; also, unbalanced rotor winding and rotor body temperatures caused by

uneven rotor winding currents may cause similar damaging vibrations.

Two methods are available to detect this type of fault The first method is suitable

for generators that incorporate brushes in the main generator field winding.

The second method requires at least a slip-ring connection to the field circuit:

a. potentiometer method.

b. a.c. injection method .

see Fig. (9).

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Nonlinear Field winding of

Resistance Alternator

Exciter Fault point " c "

R1

C
R2

0.15 mA DC to detect Alternator

Field winding ground faults

Fig. (9) Rotor ground fault

_ Point ( c ), called the null point, is at mid-point potential of field winding when
exciter voltage is 100% .

_ Nonlinear resistance varies this null-point to ensure rotor ground fault detection,
anywhere on the field winding .

Field winding. The connection between R1 and R2 is grounded through a bipolar

moving-coil type relay set to around ( 0.15 mA ) .

3.2.2. Loss of excitation : [8],[2].

When the excitation failure ( that mean If = 0 ) and , because the generator
delivering power( S ) in MVA :

Sg = Pg + JQg …. (2)

but at failure the excitation field , we have

Sg = Pg – JQg …. (3)
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The alternator has a prime-mover mechanical input, whereas the field excitation is
lost. This result in the following :

1. The generator runs as an induction generator with greater than synchronous

speed.

2. The generator was delivering reactive power to the grid to the extent of Qg. This
reactive power is now absorbed by the generator to produce the mutual flux. This
results in the alternator delivering -JQg .

The values of R and X, as function of active and reactive power, are

…. (4) …. (5)

The post fault value of X changes from positive and negative, whereas the post
fault value of R is unaltered. This is not strictly true, since the friction winding and
copper losses in the stator winding tend to increase.

The conversion of the generator to an induction generator takes several seconds.

Similarly, the losses in friction, windage and stator winding increase, resulting in
the locus of impedance viewed from the machine terminals coming closer to the
R-axis ( increased P results in decreased R ). This locus as a function of time . see
Fig(10) .

The loss-of-excitation relay ( LOE ) should not be malfunction on a stable power

swing after clearing a three phase fault
LOE2
LOE1

Fig. (10) Loss of excitation

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3.3. Prime- mover fault :[2].

Loss of prime-mover input : A turbo alternator whose excitation is intact runs as a

synchronous motor when there is a failure of prime-mover input ( prime-mover

input is the active power, minus the losses, delivered to the grid ). The generator,

instead of delivering any active power, runs as a synchronous motor and draws

very small active power to overcome the friction and windage losses of the

combined generator and prime mover.

The prime mover dose have small steam / water drops which now churn,

damaging the turbine blades. Hence a relay is required. They is a sample reverse

power relay adjusted to about 3% to 5% of the rated nameplate power ( in

megawatts ) of the machine .

3.4. Abnormal condition operation :[1],[2],[4],[5],[6].

3.4.1. Over voltage and Over excitation protection :

Modern Excitation Systems include over excitation limiting and protection, but it

may take several seconds to limit over excitation occurs when the V/Hz ratio

exceeds 105% at FL and 110% at no load V/Hz relays set at 110% with a 5 – 10 sec

delay generator overvoltage can occur without exceeding V/Hz relay setting due to

large over speed on hydro generator. Overvoltage relay may be used

 .
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3.4.2. Overloading and Overheating protection :

All generators are subjected to overload and, hence, overheating. Therefore an

overload relay is required to give an alarm for suitable corrective action such as

load dropping , etc to be taken. The relay is not necessarily wired to trip the circuit

breaker. The generator are equipped with embedded resistance sensors in a bridge

circuit. When the temperature exceeds 120oC , the bridge becomes unbalanced,

and the relay across this unbalance gives an alarm .

3.4.3. Over speed protection :

When a load on the generator is dropped the increase. The whole dynamics of

speed depends on prime-mover input, the machine inertia constant and the action

of the speed governing. In any case, we need an over speed device for speed

control and an alarm which could be either of the following :

1. Over frequency relay, the frequency being directly proportional to speed.

2. A permanent magnet tachogenerator mounted on the shaft. The generator

voltage is now directly proportional to speed.

[Link] power protection :

Prevents generator from motoring on loss of prime mover From a system

standpoint, motoring is defined as the flow of real power into the generator acting

as a motor.
 .
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With current in the field winding, the generator will remain in synchronism with

the system and act as a synchronous motor. If the field breaker is opened, the

generator will act as an induction motor. A power relay set to look into the

machine is therefore used on most units. The sensitivity and setting of the relay is

dependent upon the type of prime mover involved.

3.4.5. Out-of-step condition :

High peak currents and off-frequency operation can occur when a generator

losses synchronism Causes winding stress, high rotor iron currents, pulsating

torques and mechanical resonances Conventional relaying approach – analyzing

variations in apparent impedance as viewed at generator terminals Variation in

impedance can be detected by impedance relaying and generator separated before

the completion of one slip cycle see Fig (11).

Fig (11) Out-of-step condition

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4. ANSI/IEEE device identification : [5].

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5. References :

1. " Network Protection & Automation Guide", chapter 17, 2002.

2. C Russell mason, " The Art & Science of protective relaying " ,chapter 10.

3. Ramandeep Kaur Aujla , "Theory and applications of protective relays", 2008.

4. Sunil S. Rao. " Switchgear protection and power systems " , chapter 33, 2010.

5. Edward Sville , " GENERATOR CONTROL AND PROTECTION " .

6. P. M. Anderson , " Power system protection " , chapter 18, 1999.

7. GE power management , " Generator Protection with a New Static Negative-

Sequence Relay ", 2008.

8. Juan M. Gers , " Generator Protection Setting Criteria " ,

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