Tripping Characteristics

• HV Relay
• IEC standard
• ACB
• Electronic
•Fuse
• MCCB
• Thermal Magnetic •MCCB •HV Relay
• Electronic
• Fuse
• fixed •ACB
•MCB
• MCB
• Fixed
• Curve choice B/C/D
Tripping Characteristics

• HV Relay
• IEC standard
• ACB
• Electronic
•Fuse
• MCCB
• Thermal Magnetic •MCCB •HV Relay
• Electronic
• Fuse
• fixed •ACB
•MCB
• MCB
• Fixed
• Curve choice B/C/D
 Inverse time curves show that as the fault current magnitude increases, the circuit breaker trips faster.

ACB Protection Characteristic L-S-R

•L : Standard feeder protection
•S : Generator protection
•R : 5 selectable curves to IEC 60255-3 Standard inverse to extremely inverse
Time (s) Time (s)

Generators
cannot
sustain the
S L
same 40 secs
overload I0.02t
duration as 20 secs It
transformers
I2t

I3t

I4t I Current
I Current
120 % overload
Thermal Magnetic MCCBs Protection
Characteristics
Thermal Magnetic MCCB
Adjustable or Fixed in the
Thermal and Magnetic areas
SY1

Electronic Breakers

• Feature one method of fault detection and

interruption.
• Feature 3 levels of adjustment to interruption
points.
- Thermal
- Short time delayed instantaneous -
- Instantaneous.

• The overcurrent relay continuously monitors

current against the internally set mathematical
algorithm and the dial settings to determine
excessive current in set time parameters.

189
MCB Trip Characteristics

Miniature Circuit Breaker (DIN type)

Fixed in the Thermal and Magnetic areas.
Type B, C or D available.
 improve system reliability

The definitions of Cascading and Discrimination principles are quite clear.

Discrimination is the co-ordination of two or more devices to ensure the device

closest the fault will trip. This is called “Reliability of Supply”.

Cascading techniques allow more than one device to trip in the event of a fault
to ensure the level of fault current can be safely broken. This is called “Back-Up
Protection”.
 Discrimination – General Terms?

• “Grading Study” is a term used when we plot two or more curves (trip
characteristic) of protective devices in series to assess whether we are
achieving Discrimination.

Low Current takes longer time (Ir)

T

High Current takes short time (STD)

Extremely high current virtually

instantaneous (Im or INST)

I
 Why achieve Discrimination?
• Better system reliability

•Without Discrimination
•A •A

•With Discrimination

•B •C •D •B •C •D

•FAULT •FAULT
 Why achieve Discrimination?
• Easier fault finding and less down time

•Without Discrimination
•A
•A

•With Discrimination

•B •C •D
•B •C •D

•FAULT
•FAULT?
There are 3 methods used to determine
discrimination
1) Time current curves TCC
•Discrimination is achieved when the time current curves of the
upstream & downstream device do not overlap

2) Peak let through current curves

•Discrimination is achieved when the peak let through current of the
downstream device is less than the instantaneous setting of the upstream
device

3) Energy let through curves

•Discrimination is achieved when the let through energy of the downstream
devices is less than the energy required to unlatch the upstream device
Time/Current Curves

•Long time

•Short
time

•Instantaneous

•≤30mS - refer manufacturers data as per 2.5.7.2.3

*Excerpts of source material from publications such as Standards is required to study technical points completely and in full context. The direct copying of excerpts from standards
publications for educational purposes is protected under moral rights by the Copyright Act of 2000
 63A

How to read a grading study

28 36 54 72

*Excerpts of source material from publications such as Standards is required to study technical points completely and in full context. The direct copying of excerpts from standards
publications for educational purposes is protected under moral rights by the Copyright Act of 2000
 How to read a grading study

•200A

*Excerpts of source material from publications such as Standards is required to study technical points completely and in full context. The direct copying of excerpts from standards
publications for educational purposes is protected under moral rights by the Copyright Act of 2000
1) Time-Current Selectivity

•≤30mS - refer manufacturers data as per 2.5.7.2.3 (c) note 2

Time Current Curves
Full Discrimination can be achieved provided the time current curves do not overlap.
In practice, characteristic curves may overlap around the large short circuit region.
Partial Discrimination may occur when time current curve of down stream device overlaps the
time current curve of the upstream device beyond the selectivity value
2) Current Selectivity

1. Prospective Fault Current

kA

time
 Peak Let-Through Current Curves

• Peak let-through current characteristics of the protective devices

• 1) The peak let-through current of the downstream device is less than the Iinst setting
of the upstream device
• 2) The peak let-through current of the downstream breaker should not exceed 2 x
Magnetic setting of the upstream device or only Partial discrimination may occur.

•1) •2)
Iinst upstream Iinst upstream

•Ip •Ip
Peak let through current Peak let
downstream through
current
downstream
Fault
Fault
Current
Current
If If
 Energy Let Through Curves

1) Full Selectivity of the combination is achieved when the energy let

through by the downstream device is less than the energy required to
unlatch the upstream device

• 2) Partial Discrimination may occur when the energy let through by the
downstream device is greater than the pre-arcing energy required to
unlatch the upstream device

1) 2)
T.C.
Energy Energy
Let Let T.C.
Through Through
(A2sec) (A2sec)
I 2t2 P.A.
T.C.
I 2t1 T.C. I 2t P.A.

P.A.
P.A.
Current Current •P.A. - Pre Arcing
•T.C. - Total Clearing Time
Is
Is Is
Energy Let Through Curves

•Full selectivity possible

The energy let through by the downstream

device is less than the energy required to
unlatch the upstream device