CHAPTER 3 OVERCURRENT AND EARTH FAULT RELAYS

The design techniques used to provide relays for the protection of electric power systems has progressed from electromechanical to solid state in a relatively short period. The several steps in this progression were as follows: Electromechanical: All analog measurements, comparisons, tripping, and so forth. Solid state: Analog or operational amplifiers, solid-state operate element, tyristor, or contact output. Hybrid: Analog, with microprocessor logic, timing, and such, contact output. Numerical: Analog/digital and microprocessor, contact output. All types are in service, but the microprocessor designs are widely offered today. Many electromechanical relays are still providing good protection around the world. The basic protection characteristics are essentially the same for both electromechanical and solidstate relays. Thus, a review of these for the electromechanical relays provides a background for the modern units. 3.1 Attracted-armature Relays

The hinged armature and plunger-type relays are the simplest and rely on the attraction of an armature or plunger due to an electromagnetic, which may be energized by ac or dc. As the armature gap closes the magnetic pull increases, usually at a rate, which exceeds the increasing restraint exerted by the contact springs.

Figure 3.1: (a) Hinged Armature Relay;(b) Plunger-type Relay 3.2 Induction-disc Relay

A copper or aluminium disc is mounted on a spindle and free to rotate between the jewelled bearings. Torque is produced on the disc by interaction between alternating magnetic fluxes. The flux produced by one electromagnet reacts with the eddy currents produced by the flux of another electromagnetic.

= 2=
1

sin t 2 sin( t + )
1

Eddy current, I

d dt

Force, f

I*

I1
1

I2
2

I2 f1
1 2

f2 I1

Figure 3.2: Principle of Operation of Induction Relay. The resultant instantaneous torque is given by: Tinst (f1 f2) ( 1I2 - 2I1) [ 1(d 2/dt) 1 2sin

2(d

1/dt)]

A steady torque is proportional to the product of the RMS fluxes multiply by the sine of the angle of phase displacement in the direction leading pole to lagging pole. Basically, the requirements are: A minimum of two fluxes cutting the disc normally. The fluxes to be displaced in space from each other The fluxes must be displaced in time phase (Torque sin ) Actual magnet configuration and means of providing phase displacement are details of individual manufacturers design and are practically of two types. 3.2.1 Shaded Pole Type The flux displacement is produced by a solid copper ring around part of the magnet pole, which acts as short-circuited turns that produce a flux lagging that in the unshaded pole.

ES IS
S A

= Flux in shaded pole = Volts in shading ring = Current in shading ring = Flux produced by IS = Flux in unshaded pole

Figure 3.3: Shaded Pole Type 3.2.2 Wattmetric Type = E magnet main flux = Volts in E magnet secondary winding = Current in U magnet = E magnet leakage flux = U magnet leakage flux

ES IS
le u

Figure 3.4 Wattmetric Type In the wattmetric type, the main magnet is E shaped, the lower magnet is U shaped. The center limb of the main magnet carries the main operating winding and also another winding which acts as a secondary winding of a transformer since it is linked by the flux from the operating winding. The secondary winding is connected to a winding on the lower magnet, which is arranged to produce a flux lagging the main magnet flux. The fluxes at the two poles gain a phase displacement because at one pole the leakage flux is

in the same direction as the lower magnet flux and at the other pole the leakage flux is in the opposite direction. 3.3 Current Setting Adjustment

The relay is fed from a CT and the sensitivity may be varied by the plug arrangement shown in Figure 3.3 and 3.4. Taps on the coil are used to adjust current settings. It is normal to provide a 1 to 4 range of adjustment in seven steps. The taps are selected by the insertion of a single pin plug in the appropriate position on a plug bridge. The tappings are marked as percentage or operating current. In the case of 1A relays the tappings would be marked on the Overcurrent relay: % A 50, 0.5, 75, 0.75, 100, 1.0, 125, 1.25, 150, 1.50, 175, 1.75, 200 2.0

On the Earth Fault relay: % A 3.4 10, 0.10, 15, 0.15, 20, 0.20, 25, 0.25, 30, 0.30, 35, 0.35, 40 0.40

Time Control

In order to apply the relay in a graded system it is necessary to be able to modify the time scale of the time/current characteristic. This can be achieved by control the amount of disc movement, since the operating time is proportional to such movement at any given current value. While movement of the relay disc is restricted by a helical spring, so the time to contact closure can be varied by moving the start position of the disc relative to its operated position by twisting the time setting multiplier (TSM) knob which fastened to one end of the spring. The TSM knob usually has a range of settings engraved eg in the range of 0 1.3.

Figure 3.5: Time/current Characteristics of Overcurrent Relays

The operating characteristic shown in Figure 3.6 is the Standard Inverse Overcurrent and Earth Fault relays. To enable a single characteristic curve to be used for all relay sensitivities (plug settings) a quantity known as the current (or plug) setting multiplier (PSM) is used as the abscissa instead of current magnitude. The time multiplier (TSM) controls the time operation by changing the angle through which the disc moves to close the contacts.

Figure 3.6: Typical limits of accuracy set by IEC 255 [BS:142 (1983)] at unity time multiplier. One of the characteristics of this type of relay is that at high currents of 20 x PSM and over, the relay should operate in a definite minimum time of 2.2 s with a TSM set at 1.0. If the TSM is set to 0.1 then the definite minimum time is reduced to 0.22s. i.e. one tenth of nominal value. Example: Determine the time of operation of a 1A, 3s overcurrent relay having a plug setting of 125% and a time multiplier of 0.6. The supplying CT is rated 400:1 and the fault current is 4000A.

Solution: The relay coil current = 4000/400 *1 = 10A The relay setting current = 125%*1 = 1.25A The relay fault current as a multiple of plug setting (PSM) = 10/1.25 = 8 Refer to the relay curve, the operating is 3.3s for a time multiplier setting of 1.0. The actual operating time = 0.6 * 3.3 = 2.0s 3.5 Tripping Contact

Often the spindle mounted contacts will close circuit through an auxiliary relay, which will have several pairs of more substantial conacts. This reduces the duty on the spindle contact since the tripping circuit will be closed through the auxiliary relay contacts, and the moving contacts can be made very light so as to provide the minimum of mass to the disc/spindle system so helping response of the system. 3.6 Operation Indicator

In some relays this is mechanically operated in which case a flag is latched in the unoperated position. When the disc reaches its operated position, a projection on the spindle moves the latch so that the flag becomes exposed usually showing a red face. Resetting is done by hand. Where an auxiliary relay is incorporated with the relay it is usual for the operation indicator to be part of the auxiliary relay, which exposes a red flag when it operates. The auxiliary relay is the preferred means for the tripping and indicating operating. 3.7 Brake Magnet

The disc moves in the air gap of a fixed permanent magnet, which has a braking effect proportional to the speed of the disc. This provides a control for calibrating the relay. 3.8 Relay Connection 3 Overcurrent and 1 Earth Fault Relays

Figure 3.7

2 Overcurrent and 1 Earth Fault Relays

Figure 3.8

Figure 3.9: Schematic Wiring Diagram For CDG-31 Relay

Figure 3.10: Terminals at The Back of CDG-31 Relay