Basics on Over Current & Earth Fault Protection
This Presentation Includes-
Applications of O/C & E/F protection
Connection diagrams of O/C & E/F relays
Time-Current characteristic curves
Choice of IDMT & DTOC relays
Example of O/C & E/F coordination (case study)
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Over Current & Earth Fault Protection:
Application of Over Current & Earth Fault Protection:
Over current (O/C) protection is used to protect an electrical system or
equipment from over current faults like overloading or short circuit current.
Earth fault (E/F) relays are used to protect an electrical system or equipment
from short circuit between phase(s) to earth. Earth fault relays are also called
residual over current or neutral over current protection.
O/C & E/F relays are used for over current and earth fault protection.
Pros and cons of O/C & E/F protection:
Simple
Uses current to determine magnitude of fault
May employ definite time or inverse time curves
May be slow or kept slow (time grading)
Inexpensive
May use various polarizing voltages or ground current for directionality
Communication aided schemes makes more selective
Connection Diagram of O/C & E/F Relay
3 O/C + 1 E/F 2 O/C + 1 E/F
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Classification of Over Current Relays
1. Instantaneous Over current Relays (50)
2. Definite Time Over current Relays (51)
3. Inverse Time Over current Relays (51)
4. Directional Over current Relays (67)
Definite Time O/C Inverse Definite Time O/C
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Instantaneous Over current Relays (IOC)
Operation of IOC relay is time independent. When fault occurs it
immediately trips / isolates the circuit. It can be effectively
applied to distribution feeder circuits.
Definite Time Over current Relays (DT)
DT relays operates when the fault current exceeds the current pick-up value and
the tripping delay is exceeds. Two conditions is needed to be satisfied for operation
(tripping)-
[Link] current must exceed the setting value.
[Link] must be continuous at least a time equal to time setting of the relay.
Inverse Time Over current Relays
In inverse time over current relays, operating time is inversely
changed with current, i.e. high current will operate the relay
faster than lower current values.
Generally four types of time-over current curves are used-
[Link] inverse
[Link] inverse, and
[Link] inverse
[Link]-time inverse
IEC Standard Inverse Curve Formula
Over Current Coordination
Over Current Coordination
The overshoot time is defined as the difference between the operating time of a relay at a
specified value of input current and the maximum duration of input current, which when
suddenly reduced below the relay operating level, is insufficient to cause relay operation.
Definite Time Overcurrent
CTI
• Relay closest to fault operates first
• Relays closer to source operate
slower
t • Time between operating for same
current is called CTI (Clearing Time
Interval)
CTI
50 50
+2 +2
Distribution
Substation
TOC Coordination
• Relay closest to fault operates first
• Relays closer to source operate
slower
t • Time between operating for same
current is called CTI
CTI
Distribution
Substation
Over-Current Coordination Work-Out
Maximum
Load
=300 A
50/75 MVA 400/1
33 kV
132 kV 132/33 kV
Line Capacity 600 A
%Z = 12
Maximum
Y Load
=200 A
800/1 400/1 1600/1 400/1
Maximum
Load
=400 A
400/1
Find the O/C coordination of the network
Considerations:
[Link] Discrimination will be at least 300 ms
2. IEC SI, DT & IOC curves shall be used where necessary