Introduction to the Power System

Protection

Dr. Asif Hussain

Assistant Professor
Electrical Engineering Department
School of Engineering, UMT Lahore

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 Introduction
Electric power systems are subject to faults and failures that
result in unsafe conditions and can damage equipment if the
faulty conditions persist.
►disconnect the faulty equipment as fast as practicable without
interrupting.
Key Components
►Fuse
►Circuit breakers
►Relays
►Associated control circuits
 Introduction
Proactive Relays
►A key component of this system is the protective relay that
performs the monitoring of the system, the logic for identifying
faulty or intolerable conditions and making the decision as to
when to interrupt what circuits or initiate shut down procedure
s. We refer to these procedures as protective relaying. The objec
tive of protective relaying is to selectively and reliably isolate a
faulty power system component in the minimum possible time
so that (a) the exposure of the system to fault conditions will b
e minimized, (b) damage will be avoided and (c) safety hazard t
o persons in and around the faulty power systems will be mini
mized.
 Introduction
Proactive Relays
►The science, skill, and art of applying and setting relays and/or fu
ses to provide maximum sensitivity to faults and undesirable cond
itions, but to avoid their operation on all permissible or tolerable
conditions.
Issues with the objectives of the Proactive Relays
►Monitoring and identification of an intolerable condition for
which protection must be provided.
► Selection of protective action so that the minimum possible part
of the system will be affected.
►These issues form the core of protective relaying. Hardware,
methods, logic, philosophy, etc. employed for these two core
issues have evolved over the years.
 Introduction
The power system must be protected against two types of
phenomena:
►fast transients that normally last very short time but have the
potential of damaging the system, such as lightning transients.
►faulty conditions and subsequent disturbed conditions that may
persist in the system until action is taking to remove the cause of
the faulty/disturbed conditions.
The first type of phenomena is characterized with high transient voltages with
relatively short durations (microseconds, milliseconds) of relatively low energy
while the latter are characterized with high current and relatively longer
duration (tens of milliseconds and longer) and therefore high energy content. It
is important to note that the two types of phenomena are interrelated. For
example, a fast voltage transient (from lightning) may cause insulation
breakdown and therefore a permanent follow-up fault condition on the
system.
 Introduction
Layered Protection System
►The first layer, referred to as the overvoltage protection system,
provides for the protection of the system against the fast transient
s. The second layer, referred to as the relaying protection system,
provides for the protection of the system against faulty/disturbed
conditions.
 Introduction
Protection Zone Concept
►The relaying protection problem is very complex. To simplify the
problem, the overall protection problem is partitioned into smaller
problems with the use of the protection zone concept. A protectio
n zone is a small part of a power system (for example a single tran
smission line, a single generator, etc.). The design of a protection
system for one protection zone (zone protection) is a relatively si
mpler problem. Assuming that any part of a power system will bel
ong to one protection zone, then the overall power system is prote
cted.
 Introduction
Protection Zone Concept
 Introduction
The Power System
►Isolated Power System
◆ Protection is simple

►Interconnected Power System

◆ Complex protection
 Introduction
The Power System
►Isolated Power System
◆ Protection is simple
 Introduction
The Power System
►Interconnected Power System
◆ Complex protection
 Introduction
States of Operation of the Power System
 Introduction
A Protection System and its Attributes
 Introduction
Conceptual diagram of a relay
 Introduction
Attributes of the Protection System
►Sensitivity
◆ The smallest the fault current it can detect, the more sensitive it is.
►Selectivity
◆ Detectingthe fault and isolating the faulty equipment, the protection
system must be very selective.
►Speed
◆ The faulty equipment should be removed as fast as possible.
◆ Speed and accuracy has inverse relationship, because high speed
system has lesser amount of information.
►Reliability and dependability
◆ A protective system is of no use, if it is not reliable
 Introduction
System Transducers
►Current transformer (CT)
◆ The current transformer has two jobs.
– Step down the current to such level that it can easily be handled by the
relay.
– The standard secondary current ratings in practice are 5A and 1A.
– Secondly, it isolates the relay circuitry from the high voltage of EHV
system.

Types of CT
►Protective CT
►Measurement (metering) CT
 Introduction
System Transducers
►Current transformer (CT)
 Introduction
System Transducers
►Protective CT
vs measurement CT
 Introduction
Voltage Transformer
►Steps down the high voltage of the line to a level safe enough for
the relaying system.
 Introduction
Voltage Transformer
►Steps down the high voltage of the line to a level safe enough for
the relaying system.
 Introduction
Capacitive Voltage Transformer
►Steps down the high voltage of the line to a level safe enough for
the relaying system.
 Introduction
Internal and External Faults
Overview

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Switches

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Switches

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Switches

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Switches

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Switches

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Switches

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Switches

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Switches

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Switches

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Switches

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Fuses and Circuit Breakers

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Fuse
Fuse
Fuse
 Fuse
The basic purpose of the fuse is to protect and is composed
of an alloy which has a low melting point. A strip of this fus
e is placed in series with the circuit. The working principle is
that if the current is in excess then the strip would melt and b
reak the circuit. There are different variants of fuse boxes av
ailable with different types of circuit breaking. For instance,
in the case of slow blow fuses, a small overload is carried fo
r some period without the circuit been broken.
Other fuse boxes are designed to break the circuit rapidly. Th
e selection is based upon the kind of device and also the fluc
tuation level of the current.
 Fuse

The main components of a standard fuse unit consist of the f

ollowing items:
· Metal fuse element
· Set of contacts
· Support body
 Fuse

The major two categories of fuses include:

· Low Voltage Fuses
· High Voltage Fuses

In order to understand Low voltage fuses better, we can furth

er classify it further into:
· Semi Enclosed or Rewireable Type
· Totally enclosed or Cartridge Type
Rewireable Fuses
 Rewireable Fuses
This kind of fuse is most commonly used in the case of dom
estic wiring and small scale usage. Another name for this typ
e is the KIT-KAT type fuse. The main composition is of a po
rcelain base which holds the wires.
The fuse element is located inside a carrier that is also made
out of porcelain. It is possible for you to remove the fuse car
rier without any risk of electrical shock. Normally what happ
ens is that when the fuse blows, you can replace it without h
aving to change the complete thing.
The main metals or alloys used in making fuse wire include l
ead, tinned copper, aluminum or tin lead alloy.
 Rewireable Fuses
When there is an over surge that causes the fuse element to blow off,
you can replace it. A new fuse carrier is inserted in the base.
The main advantage of this type of fuse is that it is easy to install an
d also replace without risking any electrical injury. But there are cert
ain shortcomings associated with it too. For instance, with this fuse
you would have an element of unreliability. There is a level of lack
of discrimination and a small time lag, which may hinder its functio
nality.
With a slow speed of operation, you also get a low rupturing capacit
y. Other types have current limiting features, and this one does not.
All this being said it is still a valuable fuse device for small scale us
age.
Circuit Breakers
Circuit Breakers
Circuit Breakers
 Introduction
Trip Circuit of a Circuit Breaker
Circuit Breakers