Basics of Over Current Protection

REFERENCE
EXPERIMENT NO. 05 & 06
O/C RELAY & DIRECTIONAL RELAY

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 Over Current and Its Causes
In an electric power system, over current or
excess current is a situation where a larger
than intended electric current exists through a
conductor, leading to excessive generation of
heat, and the risk of fire or damage to equipment.

Possible causes for over current include short

circuits, excessive load, incorrect design, or a
ground fault.

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 Working Principle of Over Current Relay
In an over current relay, there would be essentially a current
coil.
When normal current flows through this coil, the magnetic
effect generated by the coil is not sufficient to move the
moving element of the relay, as in this condition the
restraining force is greater than deflecting force.
But when the current through the coil increased, the
magnetic effect increases, and after certain level of
current, the deflecting force generated by the magnetic
effect of the coil, crosses the restraining force, as a result,
the moving element starts moving to change the contact
position in the relay.

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 Over Current Protection

Over current relays are fed from Current Transformers.

Whenever the current through the relay exceeds the preset value, the
Relay operates and actuates the trip coil of the circuit breaker,
isolating the faulty section from the electrical system.
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 Types of Over Current Relays

Depending upon time of operation, Over current

relays are classified into 3 groups.
 Instantaneous over current relay.

 Definite time over current relay.

 Inverse time over current relay.

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 Instantaneous Over Current Relay
This relay is referred as instantaneous
over current relay, the relay operates
as soon as the current in the coil gets
higher than pre set value (Ip).

There is no intentional time delay set.

There is always an inherent time delay
of the order of a few milliseconds.

Attracted armature type relays shows

this characteristics.

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 Definite Time Over Current Relay

This relay is created by applying

intentional time delay after crossing
pick up value of the current. A
definite time over current relay can
be adjusted to issue a trip output at
definite amount of time after it picks
up. Thus, it has a time setting
adjustment and pick up adjustment.

Attracted armature type relays with

time element shows this
characteristics.

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 Inverse Time Over Current Relay
Inverse time is a natural
characteristics of any induction type
rotating devices. This means that, the
time of operation inversely varies
with input current.

This characteristics of
electromechanical induction disc
relay is very much suitable for the
over current protection.

In this type of relay, if the fault is

more severe, it would be cleared
more faster.
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 Classification of Inverse Time Relays
Inverse time over current relay
(IDMT) is again subdivided as:

> Normal (standard)

inverse,
> Very inverse time and
> Extremely inverse time
relay

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 Over Current Protection Schemes
(1). 3 Nos. of Over Current relays for Over current and Earth fault
Protection.

To Load

OC OC OC

 For phase to phase faults the relays in only the affected phases
operate. For single line to ground faults only the relay in the faulty
phase gets the fault current and operates.
 the desired sensitivity with earth fault relays cannot be obtained in as
much as the high current setting will have to be necessarily adopted
for the over current relay to avoid operation under maximum load
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 Over Current Protection Schemes
(2). 3 Nos. of Over Current relays + 1 No. E/F relay for Over current and
Earth fault Protection.

To Load

E/F OC OC OC

 For phase to phase faults the relays in only the affected phases operate.
 Under normal operating conditions and three phase fault conditions the
current in the 3-phase are equal and symmetrically displaced by 120 degree,
Hence the sum of these three currents is zero. No current flow through the
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earth fault relay. Only earth faults cause currents to flow through E/F relay
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 (3). 2 No O/C Relay + 1 No E/F Relay for Over Current
and Earth Fault Protection

The two over current relays in

R&B phases will respond to phase
faults. At least one relay will
operate for fault involving two
phase.

For fault involving ground

reliance is placed on earth fault E/F OC OC
relay.

This is an economical version of 3-

O/C and 1-E/F type of protection
as one over current relay is saved.
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 Directional Over Current and E/F Relays
 When fault currents can flow in more than one direction it is
desirable to determine which direction the fault current is
flowing and trip the appropriate devices accordingly to
contain a given fault.
 Directional Relay has a characteristics that it responds to over
current condition in the forward direction only. Relay will
not respond to reverse faults
 Compares the current in the line versus a known reference
(that will always be the same). This reference voltage or
current is known as polarizing voltage or polarizing current.

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 Characteristics of Directional Over Current
Relay
Forward direction MAX SENSITIVITY
OPERATE LINE
Reverse direction
RESTRAIN VA IA FOR MAX
45 SENSITIVITY
45
VBC
135

Characteristics of Directional
Relay (A-phase)

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 Polarizing Voltages Commonly Used
IA
VA

90
VBC

VC VB

Polarizing Voltage for A-phase

Phase Current Polarizing Voltage

A - phase IA VBC
B - phase IB VCA
C - phase IC VAB
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 Application of Directional Relays for
Protection of Parallel Feeders
Consider a fault on one feeder ‘AC’
I1 + I2
I1 fault

Source
51 A C 51
I2 Load

51 B D 51

Non directional Relays at ‘C’ and ‘D’ see the same fault current
(I2). As ‘C’ and ‘D’ have similar settings, both feeders will be
tripped. This isolates the load completely.
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 I1 + I2
I1

C
51 A I2 67 LOAD
fault

51 B D 67

The directional over current relay (67) at ‘D’ is looking

towards the direction of B. Since the flow of fault current is in
the reverse direction of relay at ‘D’ it does not operate due to
fault in line ‘AC’. The fault will be isolated by relays ‘A’ and
‘C’.The supply to the load will be fed though line ‘BD’.

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 Directional Relay for Ring Main Protection

Source

4’ 4

1.3
1.3

0.1 0.1
1 1’
0.9 0.9
3’ 3

0.5 0.5

2’
2
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  The arrows associated with relays indicate the direction of
flow that will cause the relay to operate. Non directional
relays are provided at supply point (where power can flow
only in one direction) and directional relays are provided at
intermediate substations around the ring where power flow
can be in either direction. One set of relays will be operative
according to the direction of fault current.
 The ring is graded first in a clock wise direction and then in
anti-clock wise direction. The relays looking in clock wise
direction are arranged to operate in 1-2-3-4 sequence and
relays looking in the anti-clockwise are arranged to operate
in sequence 1’-2’-3’-4’.

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 Application of Over Current Protection
Overcurrent & Earth fault Protection is used in almost all electrical
equipments such as:
 HT lines
 Transformers
 Generators
 Reactors
 Capacitor Banks
 Motors
 Neutral displacement relays in capacitor banks
 EHT lines (Directional overcurrent & E/F)
 Breaker failure Protection
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 THANK YOU!

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