Fundamentals Of

Non-Directional
Overcurrent & Earth
Fault Protection

Overcurrent Protection: Purpose of Protection

X Detect abnormal conditions

X Isolate faulty part of the system
X Speed
Fast operation to minimise damage and danger
X Discrimination
Isolate only the faulty section
X Dependability / reliability
X Security / stability
X Cost of protection / against cost of potential
hazards

Overcurrent Protection Co-ordination

F1

F2

F3

X Co-ordinate protection so that relay nearest to

fault operates first
X Minimise system disruption due to the fault

Fuses

Overcurrent Protection Fuses

X Simple
X Can provide very fast fault clearance
<10ms for large current
X Limit fault energy
Arcing Time
Pre Arc Time
Prospective Fault Current

Total
Operating
Time

Overcurrent Protection Fuses - disadvantages

X Problematic co-ordination
Fuse A

Fuse B

IFA approx 2 x IFB

X Limited sensitivity to earth faults
X Single phasing
X Fixed characteristic
X Need replacing following fault clearance

Tripping Methods

Overcurrent Protection Direct Acting AC Trip

51

Trip Coil
IF

X AC series trip
common for electromechanical O/C relays

Overcurrent Protection Direct Acting AC Trip

IF '
+

51
-

Sensitive
Trip
Coil

IF

X Capacitor discharge trip

used with static relays where no secure DC
supply is available

Overcurrent Protection DC Shunt Trip

IF
IF '

51

DC
BATTERY

X Requires secure DC auxiliary

No trip if DC fails

SHUNT
TRIP COIL

Overcurrent Protection

Overcurrent Protection Principles

X Operating Speed
Instantaneous
Time delayed
X Discrimination
Current setting
Time setting
Current and time
X Cost
Generally cheapest form of protection relay

Overcurrent Protection Instantaneous Relays

50

IF2

50

IF1

X Current settings chosen so that relay closest to

fault operates
X Problem
Relies on there being a difference in fault
level between the two relay locations
Cannot discriminate if IF1 = IF2

Overcurrent Protection Definite (Independent)

Time Relays
TIME

TOP

IS
(Relay Current Setting)

Applied Current

Overcurrent Protection Definite (Independent)

Time Relays

51

51

0.9 sec

0.5 sec

X Operating time is independent of current

X Relay closest to fault has shortest operating time
X Problem
Longest operating time is at the source where
fault level is highest

Overcurrent Protection IDMT

TIME

IS
(Relay Current Setting)

Applied Current

X Inverse Definite Minimum Time characteristic

Overcurrent Protection Disc Type O/C Relays

X Current setting via plug bridge

X Time multiplier setting via disc
movement
X Single characteristic
X Consider 2 ph & EF or 3 ph
plus additional EF relay

Overcurrent Protection Static Relay

X Electronic, multi characteristic

X Fine settings, wide range
X Integral instantaneous elements

Overcurrent Protection Numerical Relay

I>1
I>2
Time

I>3
I>4
Current

X Multiple characteristics and stages

X Current settings in primary or secondary values
X Additional protection elements

Co-ordination

Overcurrent Protection Co-ordination Principle

R2

R1

IF1
T

IS2 IS1

Maximum
Fault
Level

X Relay closest to fault

must operate first
X Other relays must have
adequate additional
operating time to
prevent them operating
X Current setting chosen
to allow FLC
X Consider worst case
conditions, operating
modes and current
flows

Overcurrent Protection Co-ordination Example

E

Operating time (s)

10

E
D

C
B
0.1

0.01

Current (A)

FLB

FLC

FLD

Overcurrent Protection IEC Characteristics

1000

t =

0.14
(I0.02 -1)
X VI t = 13.5
(I2 -1)
X EI t =
80
(I2 -1)
X LTI t = 120
(I - 1)

100
Operating Time (s)

X SI

10
LTI
SI

1
VI
EI

0.1
1

10

100

Current (Multiples of Is)

Overcurrent Protection Operating Time Setting Terms Used

1000

Operating Time (s)

X Relay operating times can

be calculated using relay
characteristic charts
X Published characteristcs are
drawn against a multiple of
current setting or Plug
Setting Multiplier
X Therefore characteristics
can be used for any
application regardless of
actual relay current setting
X e.g at 10x setting (or PSM of
10) SI curve op time is 3s

100

10

0.1
1

100
10
Current (Multiples of Is)

Overcurrent Protection Current Setting

X Set just above full load current

allow 10% tolerance
X Allow relay to reset if fault is cleared by
downstream device
consider pickup/drop off ratio (reset ratio)
relay must fully reset with full load current
flowing
zPU/DO for static/numerical = 95%
zPU/DO for EM relay = 90%
X e.g for numerical relay, Is = 1.1 x IFL/0.95

Overcurrent Protection Current Setting

X Current grading
ensure that if upstream relay has started
downstream relay has also started

R1

R2

IF1

Set upstream device current setting greater than

downstream relay
e.g. IsR1 = 1.1 x IsR2

Overcurrent Protection Grading Margin

X Operating time difference between two devices to
ensure that downstream device will clear fault
before upstream device trips
X Must include
breaker opening time
allowance for errors
relay overshoot time
safety margin
GRADING
MARGIN

Overcurrent Protection Grading Margin between relays

R1

R2

X Traditional
breaker op time
relay overshoot
allow. For errors
safety margin
Total
X Calculate using formula

0.1
0.05
0.15
0.1
0.4s

Overcurrent Protection Grading Margin between relays

X Formula
t = (2Er + Ect) t/100 + tcb + to + ts
z Er = relay timing error
z Ect = CT measurement error
z t = op time of downstream relay
z tcb = CB interupting time
z to = relay overshoot time
z ts = safety margin
X Op time of Downstream Relay t = 0.5s
0.375s margin for EM relay, oil CB
0.24s margin for static relay, vacuum CB

Overcurrent Protection Grading Margin relay with fuse

X Grading Margin = 0.4Tf + 0.15s over whole

characteristic
X Assume fuse minimum operating time = 0.01s
X Use EI or VI curve to grade with fuse
X Current setting of relay should be 3-4 x rating of
fuse to ensure co-ordination

Overcurrent Protection Grading Margin relay with upstream fuse

Tf
Tr
I FMAX

X 1.175Tr

Allowance for CT
and relay error

or
X Tf = 2Tr + 0.33s

0.1 +
CB

0.1
Safety margin

0.6Tf
Allowance for fuse
error (fast)

Overcurrent Protection Time Multiplier Setting

X Used to adjust the

operating time of an
inverse characteristic
X Not a time setting but
a multiplier
X Calculate TMS to give
desired operating time
in accordance with the
grading margin

Operating Time (s)

100

10

0.1
1

100
10
Current (Multiples of Is)

Overcurrent Protection
Time Multiplier Setting - Calculation

X Calculate relay operating time required, Treq

consider grading margin
fault level
X Calculate op time of inverse characteristic
with TMS = 1, T1
X TMS = Treq /T1

Overcurrent Protection Co-ordination - Procedure

X Calculate required operating current

X Calculate required grading margin
X Calculate required operating time
X Select characteristic
X Calculate required TMS
X Draw characteristic, check grading over whole
curve
Grading curves should be drawn to a common
voltage base to aid comparison

Overcurrent Protection Co-ordination Example

200/5

100/5
I
FMAX
= 1400 Amp

B
Is = 5 Amp

A
Is = 5 Amp; TMS = 0.05, SI

X Grade relay B with relay A

X Co-ordinate at max fault level seen by both
relays = 1400A
X Assume grading margin of 0.4s

Overcurrent Protection Co-ordination Example

200/5

100/5
I

FMAX
= 1400 Amp

B
Is = 5 Amp

A
Is = 5 Amp; TMS = 0.05, SI

X Relay B is set to 200A primary, 5A secondary

X Relay A set to 100A If (1400A) = PSM of 14
relay A OP time = t = 0.14 x TMS = 0.14 x 0.05 = 0.13
(I0.02 -1)
(140.02 -1)
X Relay B Op time = 0.13 + grading margin = 0.13 + 0.4 = 0.53s
X Relay A uses SI curve so relay B should also use SI curve

Overcurrent Protection Co-ordination Example

200/5

B
Is = 5 Amp

100/5

I FMAX
= 1400 Amp

Is = 5 Amp; TMS = 0.05, SI

X Relay B Op time = 0.13 + grading margin = 0.13 + 0.4 = 0.53s

X Relay A uses SI curve so relay B should also use SI curve
X Relay B set to 200A If (1400A) = PSM of 7
relay B OP time TMS = 1 = 0.14 x TMS =
0.14
= 3.52s
(I0.02 -1)
(70.02 -1)
X Required TMS = Required Op time = 0.53 = 0.15
Op time TMS=1
3.52
X Set relay B to 200A, TMS = 0.15, SI

Overcurrent Protection
LV Protection Co-ordination
11kV
MCGG

CB

350MVA

2 x 1.5MVA
11kV/433V
5.1%
CTZ61

ACB

CTZ61

(Open)

ACB
1
1
2
3
4
F

Relay 1
Relay 2
Relay 3
Relay 4
Fuse

MCCB
27MVA

Fuse
Load

K
20MVA

Overcurrent Protection
LV Protection Co-ordination
1000S
100S

TX damage

10S
Very
inverse

1.0S
0.1S
0.01S
0. 1kA

10kA

1000kA

Overcurrent Protection
LV Protection Co-ordination
11kV
KCGG 142

CB

350MVA

2 x 1.5MVA
11kV/433V
5.1%
KCEG 142

ACB

(Open)

ACB
1
1
2
3
4
F

Relay 1
Relay 2
Relay 3
Relay 4
Fuse

MCCB
27MVA

Fuse
Load

K
20MVA

Overcurrent Protection
LV Protection Co-ordination
1000S
Long time
inverse

100S

TX damage

10S
1.0S
0.1S
0.01S
0. 1kA

10kA

1000kA

Overcurrent Protection
Blocked OC Schemes
Graded
protection
R3
R2
IF2

R1

Block t >
I > Start

IF1
M

(Transient backfeed ?)

Blocked
protection

Delta/Star Transformers

Overcurrent Protection
Transformer Protection - 2-1-1 Fault Current

X A phase-phase fault on
one side of transformer
produces 2-1-1
distribution on other
side
X Use an overcurrent
element in each phase
(cover the 2x phase)
X 2 & EF relays can be
used provided fault
current > 4x setting

Turns Ratio
= 3 :1

Iline
Idelta

0.866 If3

Overcurrent Protection
Transformer Protection - 2-1-1 Fault Current

Turns Ratio
= 3 :1

X Istar = E-/2Xt = 3 E-n/2Xt

X Istar = 0.866 E-n/Xt
X Istar = 0.866 If3
X Idelta = Istar/3 = If3 /2

Iline
Idelta

0.866 If3

X Iline = If3

Overcurrent Protection
Transformer Protection - 2-1-1 Fault Current

51

51

HV

LV

X Grade HV relay
with respect to 21-1 for - fault
X Not only at max
fault level
86.6%If3

If3

Use of High Sets

Overcurrent Protection
Instantaneous Protection
X Fast clearance of faults
ensure good operation factor, If >> Is (5 x ?)
X Current setting must be co-ordinated to prevent
overtripping
X Used to provide fast tripping on HV side of
transformers
X Used on feeders with Auto Reclose, prevents
transient faults becoming permanent
AR ensures healthy feeders are re-energised
X Consider operation due to DC offset - transient
overreach

Overcurrent Protection
Instantaneous OC on Transformer Feeders

HV2

HV1

LV

TIME

HV2
HV1
LV

IF(LV)

IF(HV)

1.3IF(LV)

CURRENT

X Set HV inst 130% IfLV

X Stable for inrush
X No operation for LV
fault
X Fast operation for HV
fault
X Reduces op times
required of upstream
relays

Earthfault Protection

Overcurrent Protection
Earth Fault Protection

X Earth fault current may be limited

X Sensitivity and speed requirements may not be
met by overcurrent relays
Use dedicated EF protection relays
X Connect to measure residual (zero sequence)
current
Can be set to values less than full load current
X Co-ordinate as for OC elements
May not be possible to provide co-ordination
with fuses

Overcurrent Protection
Earth Fault Relay Connection - 3 Wire System

E/F

OC

OC

OC

X Combined with OC relays

E/F

OC

OC

X Economise using 2x OC
relays

Overcurrent Protection
Earth Fault Relay Connection - 4 Wire System

E/F

OC

OC

OC

X EF relay setting must be

greater than normal neutral
current

E/F

OC

OC

OC

X Independent of neutral
current but must use 3
OC relays for phase to
neutral faults

Overcurrent Protection
Earth Fault Relays Current Setting

X Solid earth
30% Ifull load
adequate

X Resistance earth
setting w.r.t earth fault
level
special considerations
for impedance
earthing - directional?

Overcurrent Protection
Sensitive Earth Fault Relays
A
B
C

X Settings down to
0.2% possible
E/F
X Isolated/high
impedance earth networks
X For low settings cannot use residual connection, use
dedicated CT
X Advisable to use core balance CT
X CT ratio related to earth fault current not line current
X Relays tuned to system frequency to reject 3rd
harmonic

Overcurrent Protection
Core Balance CT Connections

OPERATION

NO OPERATION

X Need to take care with core

balance CT and armoured
cables
X Sheath acts as earth return
path
X Must account for earth
current path in connections
- insulate cable gland

CABLE GLAND
CABLE
BOX

E/F

CABLE GLAND/SHEATH
EARTH CONNECTION