Generator Protection
Switchgear & Protection
UNIT-IV
Prepared by: RAJESH MURARI
Associate Professor
1 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Objective
At the end of this unit student will know/ learn
about
How to protect the generator from various
faults like
Stator faults
Rotor faults and
Abnormal faults
Protected percentage of winding
2 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Introduction
Generator is the most important and costly equipment in a
power system.
As it is accompanied by prime mover, excitation system,
voltage regulator, cooling system etc., its protection
becomes more complex and elaborate.
It is subjected to more types of troubles than any other
equipment.
3 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Various Faults & Abnormal
Operating Conditions in Generator
Abnormal Operating
Electrical Faults
Conditions
Stator Three Rotor Field
Phase Winding Winding Mechanical Electrical
Short Circuit
to Ground
Phase Faults
Loss of Prime Unbalanced Loss of
Mover Loading Excitation
Inter-turn
Faults Over
Speeding
Short circuit
to ground
4 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Generator Protection
A modern generating set is generally provided with the following protective schemes
Stator Protection Rotor Protection Miscellaneous
Overvoltage
Protection
Percentage Field Ground
Differential Fault Over Speed
Protection Protection Protection
Protection
Inter-turn Loss of Against Motoring
Faults Excitation
Protection Protection Protection
Against Vibration
Stator Rotor
Overheating Overheating Protection
Protection protection Against Voltage
Regulator
Protection
Against Auxiliary
5 © Rajesh Murari
Failure
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
a. Percentage Differential Protection
The relay is set to operate , not at a definite current but at a certain
percentage of the through current.
Used for the protection of generators above 1 MW
Protects against winding faults, i.e. phase and phase to ground faults.
Also called as biased differential protection or longitudinal differential
protection.
Does not respond to external faults and overloads.
Provides complete protection against phase to phase faults.
Protects 80-85% of generator winding against ground faults. It does
not provide 100% protection, because it is influenced by the
magnitude of the earth fault current which depends upon the method
of neutral grounding.
To provide stability on external faults, bias coils are provided.
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
a. Percentage Differential Protection
External Fault
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
a. Percentage Differential Protection
Internal Fault
8 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
a. Percentage Differential Protection
To obtain the required amount of biasing a suitable ratio of the
restraining coil turns to operating coil turns is provided.
High speed percentage differential relays having variable ratio or
percentage slope characteristics are preferred.
The setting of the bias coil varies from 5% to 50% and that of the relay
coil (operating coil) from 10% to 100% of the full load current.
In case of stator faults, the tripping of the CB to isolate the faulty
generator is not sufficient to prevent further damage as the generator
will still continue to supply power to the fault until its field is
suppressed.
Therefore, this relay initiates an auxiliary relay which in turn trips the
main CB, trips the field CB, shuts down the prime mover, turns on
CO2 if provided and operated alarm.
9 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
a. Percentage Differential Protection
10 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
a. Percentage Differential Protection
11 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
a. Percentage Differential Protection
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
b. Protection against Stator Inter-turn Faults
Longitudinal percentage differential protection does not detect
stator inter-turn faults.
A transverse percentage differential protection is employed
Is used for generators having parallel windings separately brought
out to the terminals.
The coils of modern large steam turbine driven generators
usually have only one turn per phase per slot hence the do not
need inter-turn fault protection.
Hydro generators have parallel windings in each phase will
employ such protection. This scheme is known as split-phase
protection.
13 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
b. Protection against Stator Inter-turn Faults
Transverse percentage differential protection for multi-winding generators
14 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
b. Protection against Stator Inter-turn Faults
•Faster and more sensitive split phase protection of generator using
double primary CTs.
•A single CT having double primary is used.
•No bias is required because a common CT is employed so that
errors due to CT differences do not occur.
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
b. Protection against Stator Inter-turn Faults
Percentage differential protection does not detect stator inter-turn faults.
A traverse differential protection is employed for the protection of
generator against stator inter-turn faults.
This type protection is used for generators having parallel winding
separately brought out to the terminals.
Modern day steam turbine driven generators coils usually have only one
turn per phase per slot and hence they do not need inter-turn fault.
Hydro generators having parallel winding in each phase employ such
protection which provides back-up protection and detects inter-turn
faults.
This scheme is also known as split-phase protection.
16 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
b. Protection against Stator Inter-turn Faults
based on Zero Sequence Component
If generators do not have access to parallel windings, a method based on
zero-sequence voltage measurement can be employed.
Can also be applied for single winding generators having multi-
turn/phase/slot.
Zero sequence voltage does not exist during normal conditions.
If one or more turns of a phase are short circuited, the generated emf
contains zero sequence component.
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
1. Stator Protection
c. Stator Overheating Protection
Overheating is due to the failure of the
cooling system, overloading, or core
faults like short circuited laminations
and failure of core bolt insulation.
Detection:
[Link] inlet & outlet
temperatures of the cooling
medium which may hydrogen or
water.
[Link] temperature sensors in
the stator slots.
when temperature exceeds a certain Fixed
bridge
preset maximum, the relay sounds an resistors
alarm.
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
2. Rotor Protection
a. Field Ground Protection
The arcing at the fault causes local
heating which slowly distorts the rotor
producing eccentricity and vibration.
In this scheme DC voltage is
impressed between the field circuit
and earth through a polarized moving
iron relay.
It is necessary to trip the machine
when a single field earth fault occurs.
Usually an alarm is sounded.
Then immediate steps are taken to
transfer the load, and shut the
generator as quickly as possible.
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
2. Rotor Protection
b. Loss of Excitation
When the excitation of a generator is lost, it
X Z- Locus for loss
speeds up slightly and operates as an induction of Synchronism
generator.
Field failure may be caused by failure of
excitation or mal-operation of a faulty field
breaker.
Due to watt-less current drawn by the machine
-R R
overheat the stator.
A quick acting AVR will run the generator as an
induction generator for several minutes Z- Locus for loss
without harm. of Excitation
-X
A protective scheme employing offset-mho or Relay
directional relay having the characteristics as Characteristics
shown is recommended for large generators.
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
2. Rotor Protection
c. Protection against rotor overheating because of
unbalanced three-phase stator currents.
Negative sequence component of unbalanced stator currents cause
double frequency current to be induced in the rotor iron.
If this component becomes high severe overheating of the rotor may be
caused.
Unbalancing condition may arise due to the following reasons:
a) When fault occurs in the stator winding
b) An unbalanced external fault
c) Open circuiting of a phase
d) Failure of one contact of the CB.
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
3. Miscellaneous
a. Overvoltage Protection
b. Overspeed Protection
c. Protection against Motoring
d. Protection against Vibration & Distortion of rotor
e. Protection against Voltage Regulator Failure
f. Bearing Overheating Protection
g. Protection against Auxiliary Failure
h. Protection against Pole Slipping
i. Field Suppression
j. Backup Protection
22 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Direct connected generator protection
If the generation and transmission/distribution voltages are the
same (as in case of captive power plants), the generator may be
connected directly to the load line.
Direct connected generators are usually of small ratings (of order
of tens of MW)
The protective schemes consists of the following:
a. Biased differential protection
b. Negative phase sequence
c. Standby earth-fault protection
d. Backup over-current and earth-fault protection
e. Rotor earth fault protection
f. Field failure protection
g. Reverse protection in case of engine driven and back pressure sets
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Direct connected generator protection
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Types of protection for generators and ratings
Recommended Protection for
Generato Type of Types of
Fault Current Exciter Circuit
r Rating Drive Protection
Setting and Neutral
Steam 1. 20% full load
1. Time graded earth current. 1. Neutral isolating
Turbine,
Fault 2. 125% full load switch.
Steam
Below 1MVA 2. Time graded over- current. [Link] switch in the
Engine or 3. 10-20% of its
current exciter field
Diesel normal power
3. Reverse Power circuit
Engine rating.
25 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Types of protection for generators and ratings
Recommended Protection for
Generato Type of Types of
Fault Current Exciter Circuit
r Rating Drive Protection Setting and Neutral
1. Balance Earth Fault
or Differential (Merz- 1. Neutral isolating
Steam Price) 1. 10-22% of full switch or
Turbine 2. Reverse Power only load current [Link] neutral
for back pressure breaker
turbines
1MVA –
5MVA
1. Protection against
1. Balance Earth Fault 1. 10-22% of full
field failure
or Differential (Merz- load current
Hydraulic [Link] isolating
Price) 2. 10% of normal
Turbine switch or
2. Overvoltage voltage
Automatic neutral
breaker
26 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Types of protection for generators and ratings
Recommended Protection for
Generator Type of Types of
Fault Current Exciter Circuit
Rating Drive Protection
Setting and Neutral
1. Time graded Earth
1. 20% or 10-25% of
Fault or Differential
full load current. 1. Field earth fault
(Merz-Price)
Steam 2. 10-25% negative for protecting
2. Phase unbalance
Turbine phase sequence 90% of winding.
3. Reverse Power only
only. (20MVA+)
for back pressure
3. 10-25% FL current
Above turbines
5MVA
1. Protection
1. Time graded Earth 1. 20% or 10-25% of
against field
Fault or Differential full load current.
Hydraulic failure
(Merz-price) 2. 10% of normal
Turbine [Link] earth fault
2. Overvoltage voltage
for protecting
90% of winding.
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
% Winding Unprotected
When neutral is solidly grounded, it is possible to protect complete
alternator or transformer winding against phase to ground fault.
However, neutral is earthed through resistance to limit earth-fault
current.
With resistance earthing, it is not possible to protect complete winding
from earth-fault and the % of winding protected depends on the value of
neutral earthing resistor and the relay setting.
While selecting the value of resistor and earth fault relay setting, the
following aspects should be kept in mind:
The current rating of resistor, resistance value, relay setting etc.
should be selected carefully.
Setting should be such that the protection should not operate for
earth fault on EHV side.
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
% Winding Unprotected
Earth faults are not likely to occur near
the neutral point due to less voltage
with respect to earth.
It is a usual practice to protect about
80 to 85% of generator winding
against earth fault.
The remaining 15-20% winding from
neutral side left protected by the
differential protection.
In additional to differential protection,
a separate earth-fault protection is
provided to take care of the complete
winding against earth fault.
29 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
% Differential Protection with
Restricted Earth Fault Relay
During earth fault If in the
alternator winding, the current,
If flows through a part of the
generator winding and neutral to
ground circuit.
The corresponding secondary
current Is flows through
operating coil and restricted
earth fault coil of the differential
protection.
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
% Differential Protection with
Restricted Earth Fault Relay
If the earth fault occur at the point f of
alternator winding Vaf is available to drive
the earth fault current If through the neutral
to ground circuit.
If point is nearer to terminal a the forcing
voltage Vaf will be relatively less. Hence If
will reduce.
It is not practicable to keep the relay setting
too sensitive to If of small magnitude. If so
the relay may operate for other through
faults due inaccuracies of CT’s.
Hence practice is to protect about 85% of
the winding against phase to earth faults and
to leave remaining to differential protection.
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
% Winding Unprotected
The resistance R limits the earth fault current. If R is too small (solid
earthing) earth fault currents are too large. Hence such a method is not
used for large machines.
Solid earthing is limited to machines upto 3.3kV
Medium resistance earthing is commonly used on generator-transformer
units. Fault current is limited to about 200A for a 60MW unit.
In high resistance earthing maximum fault current is of the order of 10A.
Is used for distribution transformers and generator-transformer units.
With higher neutral resistance, the earth fault current id reduced, hence
lesser percentage of winding is protected by the restricted earth fault
protection. R I o 100
% of winding unprotected
V
R ohmic value of impedance
I o minimum operating current in primary of CT
V line to neutral voltage
32 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Tutorial - 4
1. An 11kV 100MVA generator is grounded through a resistance of 6Ω. The
CTs have a ratio 1000/5. the relay is set to operate when there is an out of
balance current of 1A. What percentage of the generator winding will be
protected by the percentage differential scheme?
2. A 11kV, 100MVA generator is provided with differential scheme of
protection. The percentage of generator winding to be protected against
phase to ground fault is 80%. The relay is set to operate when there is 15%
out of balance current. Determine the value of the resistance to be placed
in the neutral to ground connection.
3. An 11kV, 120MVA, star connected alternator has reactance of 1.5 Ω per
phase and a negligible resistance. If is protected by a merz-price balance
current system which operates when out of balance current exceeds 10%
of the full load current. If the neutral point is earthed through a resistance
of 4Ω, find the proportion of windings is protected against earth fault.
33 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Tutorial - 4
4. An 11kV, 30MVA star connected generator has reactance 5Ω per phase
and negligible resistance. Merz-price protection is used for protection
of winding. The neutral grounding resistance is 9Ω. If only 15% of the
winding is to remain unprotected, find the setting of the relay.
5. A 50MVA, 3-phase, 33kV(L-L) synchronous generator is protected by
an ordinary current balance protection scheme using 2000/5A C.T. The
neutral grounding resistor being 7.5Ω and minimum value of pick up
current of the relay being 0.5A, calculate what percentage of the
winding of each phase remains unprotected.
6. A 11kV, 3 phase alternator has full load rated current of 200A.
Reactance of armature winding is 15%. The differential protection
system is set to operate on earth fault current of more than 200A. Find
the neutral earthing resistance, which gives earth fault protection to
90% of stator winding.
34 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Assignment - IV
1. What are the abnormal conditions in a large synchronous generator against
which protection is necessary.
2. Explain with neat diagram of the merz-price protection for alternator.
3. Draw neatly the differential protection scheme of an alternator. Discuss its
limitations and suggest remedies to overcome them.
4. Describe how protection is provided in large turbo generator against earth
fault in the rotor.
5. Explain how the inclusion of a resistance in the neutral earthing circuit of an
alternator affects the performance of the differential protection of the three
phase alternator.
6. Explain briefly with schematic diagram of the protective gear for alternators
connected on a grid for the following condition? A) fault between phases or
between one phase and earth. B) fault between turns or one of the phase
windings.
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EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection
Assignment - IV
7. Enumerate the relaying schemes which are employed for the protection of
modern alternator.
8. Discuss the protection employed against the loss of excitation of an
alternator.
9. Is there any backup protection employed for the protection of an
alternator? If yes, discuss the scheme which is used for this purpose.
10. Show in detail, the protection arrangement of an alternator with, a)
differential protection, b) backup over-current protection against through
faults, and c) standby earth fault protection in neutral connection.
11. Discuss the unbalanced loading and overload protection in alternators.
Overload protection is not necessary for alternators. Justify yourself.
12. What is restricted earth faults and inter-turn faults is generators? Explain
the protection schemes employed for these faults.
36 © Rajesh Murari
EEE_SGP_Unit_4: Generator Protection