ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

EXPERIMENT- 1

Aim: To design a digital differential relay using MatLab software

Theory : A differential relay is defined as the relay that operates when the phase
difference of two or more identical electrical quantities exceeds a predetermined
amount. The differential relay works on the principle of comparison between the phase
angle and magnitude of two or more similar electrical quantities. Comparing two
electrical quantities in a circuit using differential relays is simple in application and
positive in action.

For example, consider the comparison of the current entering a protected line and the
current leaving it. If the current enters the protected line is more than the current leaves
it, then the extra current must flow in the fault. The difference between the two electrical
quantities can operate a relay to isolate the circuit.

For the operation of the differential relay, it should have two or more electrical
quantities, and these quantities should have a phase displacement (normally
approximately 180). Any types of the relay can operate as a differential relay depends on
upon the way it is connected in a circuit. In other words, it doesn’t depend on the
construction of the relay it depends on the way it is connected to the circuit.

Differential protection provides unit protection. The protected zone is exactly known by
the location of current and potential transformers. The phase difference is achieved by
suitable connections of secondaries of CTs and PTs.

The differential protection principle is employed for the protection of generator,

generator-transformer units, transformers, feeders, large motors, and bus-bars. The
differential protection relay is mainly classified into four categories. These are

1. Current Differential Relay

2. Voltage Differential Relay

3. Biased or Percentage Differential Relay

4. Voltage Balance Differential Relay

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ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Current Differential Relay

A relay which senses and operates the phase difference between the current entering
into the electrical system and the current leaving the electrical system is called a current
differential relay. An arrangement of over current relay connected to operate as a
differential relay is shown in the figure below.

The dotted line represents the element of the system that is to be protected by the
differential relay. The system element might be a length of the circuit, a portion of the
bus or a winding of a generator or that of a transformer. A pair of current transformers
is fitted on the either ends of the section to be protected. The secondaries of current
transformers are connected in series with the help of the pilot wires in such a way that
they carry the induced current in the same direction. The operating coil of an over
current relay is connected across the current transformer secondary circuit shown in the
figure below.

When there is no fault current or there is an external fault, then the current in the
secondaries of the current transformers are equal, and the relay operating coil,
therefore, does not carry any current. When the short circuit developed anywhere
between the two current transformers, then the currents flow to the fault of both sides,
and the sum of the current transformer secondary current will flow through the
differential relay.

In other words, the differential relay current will be proportional to the phase difference
between the currents entering and leaving the protected element. If the differential
current exceeds the relay’s pick up value, then the relay will operate.

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