UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY, TARKWA

FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS, APRIL 2024

COURSE NO: EL 471
COURSE NAME: Power Systems Protection and Control
CLASS EL IV TIME: 3 hours

Name: __________________________________________ Index Number: _______________

Instruction: Attempt all questions in Section A and any two (2) questions in Section B.

SECTION A

This section comprises of 80 multiple-choice questions. All questions carry equal marks. Provide
your answers on the answer sheets by writing the alphabet corresponding to the correct answer in
each question.

1. A microprocessor is part of a digital relay architecture.

A. true B. false
C. uncertain D. partially false

2. To ensure the maximum return on the large investment in the equipment, which goes to make up
the power system and to keep the users satisfied with reliable service, the whole system must be
kept in operation continuously without major breakdowns.
A. true B. false
C. uncertain D. partially false

3. The protection of a power system detects __________ conditions, localise faults and promptly
removes the faulty equipment from service.
A. normal B. nominal
C. abnormal D. standard

4. One of the undesirable effects of short-circuit faults is that,

A. arcing faults do not vaporize equipment in the vicinity preventing possibly, fire and
explosion
B. power system components carrying abnormal currents get overheated, with subsequent
reduction in the life span of their insulation.
C. consequent balanced system operation causes overheating of generator rotors.
D. power flow is not severely restricted, or even not completely blocked, while the short circuit
lasts.

5. Faults should be instantly detected, and the faulty section isolated from the rest of the system in
the shortest possible time.
A. false B. true
C. uncertain D. partially false

6. Faults are detected __________ by means of relays, and the faulty section isolated by circuit
breakers connected at the boundaries of the section.
A. manually B. personally
C. automatically D. mechanically

7. Protection systems play a fundamental role in guaranteeing the integrity and safe operation of
any electrical energy system.
A. false B. true

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 C. uncertain D. partially false

8. The first protection systems were developed based on _______ devices employing movable parts.
A. semiconductor B. digital
C. microprocessor-based D. electromechanical

9. The usage of digital relays has permitted that many new techniques be developed and
implemented.
A. false B. true
C. uncertain D. partially false

10. Power systems and circuits are controlled by __________ which may or may not in corporate
some form of protection against overloads, faults, and earth-leakage.
A. insulators B. transformers
C. generators D. switchgears

11. The protection used in a network can be looked upon as a form of insurance in which a percentage
of the total capital cost (about 5 percent) is used to safeguard apparatus and ensure continued
operation when faults occur.
A. false B. partially false
C. uncertain D. true

12. For maintenance to be carried out on a plant, it must be isolated from the rest of the network and
hence switches must be __________.
A. provided on only one side B. provided on each side
C. redesigned appropriately D. redirected on one side

13. If switches are not required to open under working conditions, i.e. with fault or load current and
normal voltage, a cheaper form of switch known as __________ can be used.
A. an isolator B. an insulator
C. a relay D. an auto-recloser

14. The reduction of the insulation is not considered as a fault until it produces some effect on the
system i.e. until it results either in an excess current or in the reduction of the impedance between
the conductors, between the conductor and earth to a value below the lowest load impedance
normal to the circuit.
A. false B. partially false
C. uncertain D. true

15. Line to ground fault occurs most commonly in __________.

A. underground cables B. transmission lines
C. circuit breakers D. overhead lines

16. Circuit protection refers to a scheme for disconnecting sections or components of an electric
circuit in the event of a __________.
A. power flow B. disconnection
C. fault D. loading

17. The object of circuit protection is to reliably detect a fault when it happens and interrupt the
__________ to it, clearing the fault.
A. power flow B. voltage drop
C. current capacity D. communication link

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18. The simplest protective device that can detect an overcurrent and interrupt a circuit is the ______.
A. fuse B. isolator
C. current transformer D. voltage transformer

19. Fuses are used for radial feeders in __, generally for a lateral feeder where it connects to the main.
A. transmission systems B. generation systems
C. distribution systems D. relay systems

20. Circuit breakers differ from fuses in that they have __________ that can open or close the circuit.
A. solid contacts B. flexible contacts
C. fixed contacts D. movable contacts

21. The sensitivity of relays and fuses is characterised by a __________ curve that indicates the
combination of current and duration that will cause a trip.
A. impedance-time B. time-current
C. current-voltage D. power-impedance

22. To delimit the number of elements disconnected by the protective system during a fault, the
protective system is divided into __________ of zones.
A. a number B. two zones
C. ten zones D. six zones

23. Each protective zone has the primary responsibility to disconnect the element or elements in the
zone in the event of a fault. For this purpose, circuit breakers and relays are located at the _____.
A. boundaries of the zone B. front of the zone
C. back of the zone D. middle of the zone

24. For the relay be of small size and low-expense element, it must not be fed directly by the system
currents and voltages whose level is tremendously high.
A. false B. partially false
C. uncertain D. true

25. The total time that may elapse from the initiation of a fault to opening of the circuit breaker is
between __________ depending upon the type of relay and circuit breaker employed.
A. 130-200 ms B. 30-100 ms
C. 30-100 s D. 300-1000 ms

26. The voltage transformers and current transformers continuously measure the __________ of an
electrical system and are responsible to give feedback signals to the relays to enable them to
detect abnormal conditions.
A. impedance B. reactive power
C. voltage and current D. phase angle

27. Instrument transformers provide electrical insulation from power system voltages.
A. false B. partially false
C. true D. uncertain

28. The loading of an instrument transformer is commonly known as __________ and is expressed
in terms of VA rather than impedance.
A. impedance B. burden
C. lamp D. diode

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29. Loading introduces error in voltage transformer because of __________ in leakage reactance of
the windings.
A. voltage drops B. power loss
C. voltage ratios D. voltage transient

30. In CTs, the primary winding usually consists of __________ which is the power conductor itself.
A. a multi turns B. a few turns
C. several turns D. a single turn

31. The core of a CT is toroidal in shape through which is threaded the power conductor (primary),
and on which are wound a few turns of the primary.
A. false B. partially false
C. true D. uncertain

32. The CT converts primary currents in the kiloamp range to secondary currents in the __________
ampere range for convenience of measurement.
A. 0–5 B. 10-50
C. 1-100 D. 20-80

33. The function of the relay is to discriminate between normal operation and fault conditions.
A. false B. partially false
C. true D. uncertain

34. Ideally, the VT secondary is connected to a __________ with infinite impedance, such that the
entire VT secondary voltage is across the sensing device.
A. impedance-sensing-device B. power-sensing-device
C. current-sensing-device D. voltage-sensing-device

35. The normal current rating of CT secondaries is standardised at 5 A in the United States, whereas
__________ is standard in Europe and some other regions.
A. 100 A B. 1 mA
C. 1 A D. 1 kA

36. Relays are protective devices for electrical equipment against damage. Though fuses do the same
job, they can be used only up to __________ safely.
A. 33 kV B. 0.415 kV
C. 66 kV D. 3.3 kV

37. The induction type of relay operates under the action a force, produced by the __________ effect.
A. insulation B. induction
C. capacitive D. electrostatic

38. The relay that operates when the current through it has a specified phase difference with applied
voltage is known as __________.
A. directional relay B. differential relay
C. distance relay D. power relays

39. A differential relay may be defined as the relay which operates when algebraic __________ of
two or more electrical quantities (current or voltage) exceeds a predetermined value.
A. sum B. vector
C. difference D. phase

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40. In a current balance differential relay, it is difficult to obtain entirely identical current
transformers.
A. false B. partially false
C. true D. uncertain

41. In a current balance differential relay, sometimes, the capacitance of pilot wires causes difference
in the two currents.
A. uncertain B. partially false
C. true D. false

42. In a voltage balance differential relay, the system can be used on only ___ lengths of feeders/lines.
A. short B. long
C. medium D. several

43. The reset time of any relay is the time which elapses between the instant when the actuating
quantity becomes less than the reset value to the instant when the relay contact returns to its
normal position.
A. uncertain B. partially false
C. true D. false

44. The protection system comprises three elements, namely; Circuit breakers, instrument
transformers and relays.
A. uncertain B. partially false
C. true D. false

45. The power supply needed to trip the circuit breaker, or to provide the biasing signal in case of
electronic relays, must be provided by an independent battery source, which must be regularly
and thoroughly maintained.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

46. Redundancy in protection means that, in the event one breaker fails to actuate, another one will
actuate.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

47. The terms symmetrical and asymmetrical refer to fault currents that are symmetrical about the
horizontal axis (i.e., the regular a.c.) versus those with a d.c. component.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

48. Buchholz protection provides an alarm for a number of fault conditions including faulty joints.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

49. Inverse time-lag relay is a type of relay whose time of operation is inversely proportional to the
current flowing through it.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

50. Thermal relay operates due to the heating effect produced by the relay current.

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 A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

51. One of the considerations required in dealing with the application differential protection scheme
for transformers is that allowance should be made for tap changing by providing restraining coils
(bias).
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

52. An induction relay works only with alternating current.

A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

53. Back-up protection relaying works only when the primary relaying equipment fails.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

54. Current transformer performance is based on the ability to deliver a secondary output voltage that
accurately reproduces the primary voltage.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

55. Differential relays are not very sensitive in function hence making its use not versatile.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

56. The ability of a relay to detect all faults for the expected limiting system and fault conditions is
referred to as its dependability.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

57. Overload protection is not provided in alternators, as it will disconnect the alternator from the
system.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

58. Interturn faults in transformers occur due to winding flashovers caused by line surges.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

59. When a transformer is switched in at any point of the supply voltage wave, the peak values of the
core flux wave will depend on the residual flux as well as on the time of switching.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

60. Overheating protection is provided for transformers by placing a thermal-sensing element in the
transformer tank.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

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61. One of the considerations required to be dealt with in applying differential protection is that, the
current transformers should have ratings to match the rated currents of the transformer winding
to which they are applied.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

62. In using differential protection system for transformers, currents in the primary and the secondary
are different, and, therefore, the relay will operate due to the flow of differential currents in no
load condition also.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

63. In using differential protection system for transformers, there is always a phase difference in the
primary and secondary currents.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

64. The time graded overcurrents protections system uses relays with a definite ‘time delay’ so that,
in the case of a fault, the __________ possible section of the feeder is isolated.
A. longest B. smallest
C. largest D. lowest

65. In Translay protection system, the current transformers do not need any special specifications.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

66. The Induction-type relays are based upon the principle of operation of a single-phase DC motor.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

67. All the functions and characteristics available with electromechanical relays can be performed by
solid-state devices, either as discrete components or as integrated circuits.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

68. Solid-state relays use __________ components with limited capability to tolerate extremes of
temperature and humidity, overvoltages and overcurrents.
A. average-power B. low-power
C. high-power D. constant-power

69. Solid-state relays also require independent power supplies, since springs and driving torque from
the input quantities are not present.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

70. Plunger-type of relays will operate on DC as well as on AC currents.

A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

71. Relays may be constructed from electromechanical elements such as solenoids, hinged armatures,
induction discs, solid-state elements such as diodes, SCRs, transistors or magnetic or operational
amplifiers, or digital computers using analog-to-digital converters and microprocessors.

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 A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

72. A relay which responds to phase angle differences between two input quantities would detect a
fault condition.
A. true B. partially false
C. uncertain D. false

73. The main objective of __________ design is to ensure that the primary and secondary circuits are
efficiently coupled, so that the secondary current is in direct proportion to the primary current.
A. voltage transformer B. circuit breakers
C. fuses D. current transformer

74. Actually, ‘relays are used in conjunction with __________’.

A. voltage transformer B. circuit breakers
C. fuses D. current transformer

75. Relays ‘detect’ the fault and ‘direct’ the __________, to isolate the faulty part/equipment from
the system.
A. voltage transformer B. circuit breakers
C. fuses D. current transformer

76. Pick-up current is the __________ current in the relay coil at which the relay starts to operate.
A. maximum B. standard
C. minimum D. average

77. Plug-setting multiplier is the ratio of fault current in relay coil to the __________.
A. transient current B. average current
C. nominal current D. pick-up current

78. If the rated secondary current of a CT is 5 A and the current setting is 1.5, the pick-up value will
be __________.
A. 5 A B. 7.5 A
C. 6.5 A D. 75 kA

79. Suppose that a relay is connected to a 400/5 current transformer and set at 150%. With a primary
fault current of 2400 A, the plug-setting multiplier will be equal to:
A. 40 B. 4
C. 7.5 D. 5

80. The actual time of operation of a relay is calculated by multiplying the time setting multiplier
with the time obtained from the time/P.S.M. curve of the relay.
A. true B. false
C. partially false D. partially true

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SECTION B

Attempt any two (2) question in this section. All questions carry equal marks.

Question 1

(a) Explain, using an appropriate diagram, the concept of protective zones of a power system.
(7 marks)
(b) State THREE main tasks of instrument transformers. (3 marks)
(c) Sketch the block diagram of digital relay architecture. (4 marks)
(d) Discuss how time graded protection is provided in radial feeder systems. (6 marks)

Question 2

(a) Table 1 shows a comparison of electromagnetic and computerised relays. For each of the
characteristics, redraw the table and choose the appropriate answer. (6 marks)

Table 1 Comparison between Electromagnetic Relay and Computerised Relay

Characteristic Electromagnetic Computerised Relay
Relay Digital Relay Numerical Relay
Vibration Proof No or Yes No or Yes No or Yes
Deterioration due to
No or Yes No or Yes No or Yes
Operation
Self-monitoring No or Yes No or Yes No or Yes
Reliability High or Low High or Low High or Low
Relay Programming No or Yes No or Yes No or Yes
Relays Size Small or Bulky Large or Small Compact or Bulky

(b) Mention any EIGHT merits of the digital relays you know. (4 marks)
(c) One of the problems that arise in using differential protection system for transformers is that
currents in the primary and the secondary of the transformers are different, and, therefore, the relay
will operate due to the flow of differential currents in no load condition. As a protection engineer,
suggest a method you will recommend to address this problem. (8 marks)
(d) Distinguish between primary relay system and secondary relay system. (2 marks)

Question 3

(a) Give the description of the time-graded protection system used for ring main feeders and explain
the mode of operation. (8 marks)
(b) Describe with the aid of an appropriate diagram the Merz price system used for the protection of
three-phase transmission lines. (6 marks)
(c) An electromagnetic relay of attracted armature type has constants k1 = 0.6 and k2 = 10 find
whether the relay will operate or not when:
(i) A current of 2 A flows through the relay winding. (2 marks)
(ii) A current of 8 A flows through the relay winding. (2 marks)
(iii) Find the minimum current required to operate the relay. (2 marks)

S. Nunoo / J. C. Attachie

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