Motor Protections :

Protection Considerations :

o Starting current
o Starting time
o Full load current
o Stall withstand time
o Thermal withstand
Protections :
o Thermal Overload [49]
o Phase Unbalance [46]
o Short Circuit [50/50]
o Earth Fault [50/51N]
o Differential [87]
o Loss of load [37]
o Stall or locked rotor [50S/51LR]
o Under Voltage [27]
o Excessive Long Start [48]
o Limitation of No of Starts

Stall or locked rotor [50S/51LR] :

(continue to provide torque when stalled)
Term “Stalling” is used to, or referred when motor exceeds the maximum torque
developing condition with no speed.(nothing but this will occur during running condition
with full of rated current and voltage is present at the armature.) It is the highest
possible torque that motor can develop.( It may also mean the torque load that causes the
output rotational speed of a device to become zero - i.e. to cause stalling)

Stalling is a condition at which a motor stops rotating even when there is sufficient voltage at
it’s terminals. This condition occurs when the torque required by the load is more than the
maximum torque (Breakdown torque) that can be generated by the motor. At this condition,
the motor drains the maximum current and the speed comes zero.
motor's torque capability varies with speed as illustrated by its torque vs speed. Figure 1

At this stalling, motor will be under huge heat developing conditions due to large
currents in armature, which possibly makes motor winding to short circuit. This torque is
sometimes called as Breakdown torque, where speed of motor decreases all over sudden
due to overload on motor shaft

Reasons for stalling of motors:

1. Electrical reason: Missing out of one phase (two phasing) or single phasing of input supply
2. Mechanical reason: Rotor jam, overload or load unable to move.

• Induction Motor Stalling

• Motor Stall Protection
• Motor Stall Fault
• Motor Stall Current
• Safe Stall Time Of Motor
• Motor Stall Torque Calculation
• Maximum Continuous Stall Torque
• Locked Rotor Protection Relay

 The rated stall time is the time the motor may operate with a locked rotor.

The Term “Locking” is operation of the motor under specific safe conditions, such that
motor is unable to rotate nor developing any torque. observed under testing of motor
losses, and for its efficiency parameters. Locked Rotor occurs any time.

Though zero speed is common in two terms, but motor is less possible to damage under
Locking Condition than Stalling Condition.

1. Stall condition : both Motor current and voltage in rotor are high.
2. Locked condition : Current is rated and Voltage is 10–15% of Rated quantity.

Locked rotor protection –

The range available for this element is 1 to 5 times of full load current. Time
delay is also available. We normally set at 2 times of FLC (Full Load
Current). The time delay will be more than the starting time of the motor.
“Starting time means the time require by the motor to reach its full speed.
Figure :1 stall protection (T vs N) figure: 2 (T&I vs Slip)

figure :3 motor starting conditions with time delay

protections

figure :4

For motors where the starting time is lower than the motor safe stall time, relay protection can
be easily made. Nevertheless, in situations, where motors are used to power high inertia loads,
the stall withstand time can be lower than the starting time.
A motor may fail to speed up for a number of different reasons:
- loss of a supply phase
- excessive load torque
- insufficient supply voltage
- mechanical issues
A huge current will be taken from the supply, and create high temperatures within the motor.
This situation gets even worse since the motor is not rotating, so it cannot be cooled down due
to rotation. Winding faults can quickly happen– either to the stator or rotor windings. This
depends on the motor thermal limitations

The protection method changes depending on whether the starting time is lower than or higher
than the safe stall time.

In both situations, starting may be detected by motor feeder switch closure (contactor or circuit
breaker). Optionally it can be detected if current rises above a starting current threshold value –
commonly 200% of motor nominal current
CASE 1: START TIME LOWER THAN SAFE STALL TIME:
1. Protection is accomplished by application of a definite time overcurrent.
2. Current setting is greater than full load current but is lower than the motor starting
current.
3. Relay time setting should be a slightly greater than the start time.
4. but lower than the allowed motor safe starting time.

Successful start protection relay setting: start time lower than stall time

START TIME GREATER OR EQUAL TO SAFE STALL TIME:

1. a definite time overcurrent option is not sufficient.

2. delay time is greater than the motor maximum allowed starting time.
3. If a start is detected by the protection relay through monitoring current and/or start
device closure, but the speed switch does not operate, the protection relay element
uses the safe stall time setting to trip the motor before damage happens.
A subsequent increase in motor current above the motor starting current threshold indicates
stall situation. If this condition continues for longer than the stall timer setting, tripping will
happen. An instantaneous overcurrent protection relay device gives protection.
The time delay adjustment depends on the used re-acceleration arrangement and the
features of particular motors.
LIMIT