ZONES OF PROTECTION

NOORNABI SHAIKH
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, MUET, JAMSHORO

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ZONES OF PROTECTION

For the purpose of applying protection, the electric power system is divided into five major protection
zones:

 Generators
 Transformers
 Buses
 transmission and distribution lines
 Motors

▬ Each zone is defined by a closed, dashed line.

▬ Zone 1 contains a generator and connecting leads to a transformer.
▬ In some cases zone may contain more than one component, zone 3 contains generator – transformer
unit and connecting leads to a bus, zone 10 contains a transformer and a line.

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Characteristics of Protective Zones
 Zones are overlapped.
 CBs are located in the overlap regions.
 For a fault anywhere in a zone, all the CBs in that zone open to isolate the fault.
▬ Overlapping is made to avoid unprotected areas. Without overlap the small area between two possible
closed zones would not be located in any zone and so not be protected.
▬ CBs identify the boundaries of protective zones. Example: zone 5 in the figure is connected to zone 4
and 7. Therefore, a CB is located in the overlap region between zones 5 & 4 as well as between zones 5
& 7. if fault occurs in at P1 on the line in zone 5, then the two CBs in zone 5 should open. But if fault
occurs at P2 in the overlap region of zone 4 & 5, then all five CBs in zones 4 & 5 should open.

‫ ﭗ‬Problem with overlapping is larger

part of power system lost form
service. To minimize this, overlap
regions are kept as small as
possible.

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OVERLAPPING

Overlap is accomplished by two sets of instrument transformers and relays for each CB.

The CB in above figure shows 2 CTs, one for zone 1 and one for zone 2. overlap is achieved by the order
of the arrangement: first the equipment in the zone, second the breaker, and then the CT for that zone.

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Example
Draw the protective zones for the power system shown in the figure below. Which CBs should open for a
fault at P1? At P2

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SOLUTION

▬ For a fault at P1, located in zone 5, breakers

B24 & B42 should open.

▬ For a fault at P2, located in overlap region of

zone 4 & 5, breakers B21,B23, B24, and
B42 should open

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H.W/ C.W PROBLEM
Draw the protective zones for the power system shown in figure below. Which circuit breakers should
open for a fault at P1, P2, and P3?

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Primary & Back-up Protection

Power system is divided into various zones for its protection. Each zone has its own protection scheme.

 If fault occurs in a particular zone, protection relay for that zone detect and isolate the faulty element.
This is called primary protection. The primary relay is the first line of defense of power system.

 If primary relay fails to operate due to any reason, there is a back – up protective scheme to clear the
fault as a second line of defense.

► There are two reasons for applying back-up protection to the elements of a power system.

1. Backing – up the primary protection in the event of its failure.

2. To cover those parts of protected circuit which are not covered by the main protection by reason of
the location of the CT or PT.

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Causes of failure of the primary (main) protection scheme may be due to the failure of the various
elements of protection system are shown in the table.

Name of the Equipment % of Total Failures

Relays 44
Circuit breaker interrupters 14
AC wiring 12
Breaker trip mechanisms 8
CTs 7
DC wiring 5
PT 3
Breaker auxiliary switches 3
Breaker trip coils 3
DC supply 1

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As much as possible, back-up protection should be independent of the main protection, with as few
common components as possible.
In the transmission system only the tripping battery and the voltage transformer are common to both; each
has its own set of CTs, tripping relays and, in some cases, trip coils, with separate connecting leads and
separate fuses for the d.c. circuit.
In the distribution systems, the risks attending the use of common components are generally less serious,
but it is sensible to separate the current circuits. Often there are CTs provided for instrumentation and these
can be designed to supply in addition overcurrent back-up relays.
The term 'back-up protection' is not synonymous with 'standby protection'.
The 'standby protection’ is normally out-of service with the intention that it should be made operational
when the main protection has to be taken out of commission for maintenance or for investigation.
Standby protection is usually in the form of fixed equipment allocated to each set of main protection, or
there may be only one equipment selectable to any one of several circuits, or it may be transportable and
taken to any site where it is needed.

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It should be noted, that such standby protection is now rarely used, it is being more appropriate, in general,
to ensure that the risks in question are suitably covered by adequate back-up protection.

Back – up protection can be much simpler and often inherent in the main protection. A high degree of
reliability is desirable, but the consequences of a mal-operation or a failure to operate are in general less
serious than those of a like kind in transmission systems.

Fuses can often be used instead of circuit breakers and protective equipment. Metal-clad construction
reduces the risk of inter - phase faults.

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