Understand the protection objectives

Overview of types of protection

Understand TCC and different TCC
landmarks for different equipment
Understand Setting Guidelines
Understand Phase Coordination
Know Instrument Transformer Basics
Know Diff. Type of Protection

INSTRUMENT
TRANSFORMER
BASICS

EQUIPMENT TCC
LANDMARKS

SETTING GUIDELINES
(PHASE
PROTECTION)

PHASE
COORDINATION

SETTING GUIDELINES
(PHASE
PROTECTION)

GROUND
COORDINATION

COMBINED
COORDINATION

DIFF. TYPES OF
PROTECTIONS

DIFF. TYPES OF
COORDINATION

According to NEC-2011 110.10

The overcurrent protective devices, the total
impedance, the component short-circuit current
ratings, and other characteristics of the circuit to be
protected shall be selected and coordinated to permit
the circuit-protective devices used to clear a fault to do
so without extensive damage to the electrical
components of the circuit. This fault shall be assumed
to be either between two or more of the circuit
conductors or between any circuit conductor and the
grounding conductor or enclosing metal raceway.
Listed products applied in accordance with their listing
shall be considered to meet the requirements of this
section.

Personnel Safety Requirement

Equipment Protection

Service Continuity and Selective Fault

Isolation

Service Continuity and Selective Fault

Isolation

FAULT

Service Continuity and Selective Fault

Isolation

FAULT

Distance
High Impedance Differential
Current Differential
Under/Overfrequency
Under/Overvoltage
Over Temperature
Over Load
Overcurrent

Feeders
Cables
Transformer
Motors
Capacitors
Generators

Time

Current

Always indicate the reference voltage

Why
Logarithmic?

Because large
values of
current can be
accommodated
and
compressed
into a small
area of the plot
I2t can be
plotted as a
straight line

Plotting the TCC curve of a 100mm2 XLPE

cable.
I=143.32 x A /

I=143.32 x 100 /
I=143,320 /

Time

Damage Region
Operating Region

Current

Feeder (Cable)
Operating Region

Cable Ampacity-the rated continuous current carrying

capacity of a conductor at a referenced ambient
temperature and allowable temperature rise.

Damage Region (Thermal)

Intermediate Overload Curve-Conductor overcurrent

(emergency) operating limit that if exceeded will damage
the insulation of an insulated power conductor.(10s to
1hr)
Short Circuit Damage Curve-Ampere limit that if
exceeded will damage the bare aerial conductor or the
insulation of an insulated power conductor. (0.01 to 10
sec)

Intermediate Overload Curve

and Short Circuit Damage Curve

Where Isc is short circuit current (sym RMS)

A conductor size in mm2
t time in secs (0.01 to 10 seconds)
TF is short circuit current Temperature
rating
Ti is the continuous current Temperature
rating

XLPE

Source: BUFF BOOK-IEEE Std 242-2001, IEEE Recommended Practice

for Protection and Coordination of Industrial and Commercial Power
Systems, Section 9.4.2

Calculate and plot the TCC landmarks for 3-1/C, 250mm2, THWN
copper conductor.

Ampacity 375A
A 250mm2
Tf 150 deg C
Ti 75 deg C
105.45(250) 26,362
ISC

t
t

Ampacity

OL and SC
Curve

Full Load Amps

Through-Fault Damage Curve
Thermal Damage Curve
Mechanical Damage Curve

Inrush Point

Full Load
Current

Inrush
Point

Thermal
Damage
Curve

Mechanical
Damage
Curve

Inrush Point (for Breaker Protected XFR) 12xFLA @ 0.1 secs

Or
Inrush Point (for Fuse Protected XFR)- 25xFLA
@0.01 secs

IEEE C57.12.59-2001 defines thermal and

mechanical through-fault damage curves for drytype transformers, Tables 13 and 14.

IEEE C57.109-1993 defines thermal and

mechanical through-fault damage curves for
liquid-immersed transformers, Tables 9-12.

Example
Plot the TCC landmarks for a 1000kVA, OA,
4160-480V, -YG, 5% impedance, substation
type transformer.

Full Load Amps

FLA = 1000kVA / ( 3 4.16kV) = 139A
Thermal Damage Curve

Time (sec) Current (A p.u) Curent (A)

1800
2
278
300
3
417
60
4.75
660
30
6.3
876
10
11.3
1571
2
25
3475

Mechanical Damage
Time (sec)
Current (A p.u) Curent (A)
=2551x(0.05)2 =6.4 =0.7/Zp.u =14
1946
4.08 =0.7/Zp.u =14

1946

2 =1/Zp.u =20

2780

Magnetizing Inrush Current

12 x FLA = 12 x 139A = 1668A @ 0.1 sec
25 x FLA = 25 x 139A = 3475A @ 0.01 sec

Motor FLA
The motor FLA is the rated continuous current
carrying capacity of a motor at a referenced
ambient temperature and allowable
temperature rise,

Motor Starting Curve

The motor starting curve represents the
machine accelerating characteristic for a
specific starting condition defined by the
motor, driven equipment, starter and power
source characteristics.

Motor Running Overload Thermal Limit Curve

(Typical of MV Motors)
The running overload curve represents the
stator thermal capability from rated full load
current back to the current drawn at
breakdown torque while the motor is running.
This curve should never be used to
approximate the continuous overload
capability of a motor. Operation up to and
beyond the limits of this overload curve will
reduce insulation life.

Motor Accelerating Thermal Limit Curve

(Typical of MV Motors)
The accelerating thermal limit curve represents
the rotor thermal capability during acceleration
from locked rotor up to the breakdown torque
for a specified terminal voltage. These curves
are typically not provided since they reside
above the locked rotor thermal limit curve.

Motor Safe Stall Point (Typical of LV Motors)

The safe stall point represents the maximum
time a motor can sustain a locked rotor
condition without damage at a specified
terminal voltage. NEMA MG-1 requires safe
stall times not less than 12 seconds for motors
less than 500HP and 1000V.

Motor Locked Rotor Thermal Limit Curve

(Typical of MV Motors)
The locked rotor thermal limit curve represents
the maximum time a motor can sustain a
locked rotor condition without damage for a
given set of terminal voltages.

Generator FLA
The FLA is the rated continuous current
carrying capacity of a generator at a referenced
ambient temperature and allowable
temperature rise

Generator Overload Curve

The overload curve is the rated continuous
output capability of a generator at a specified
frequency, voltage, power factor and cooling
basis temperature

Ampacity
The ampacity is the rated continuous current
carrying capacity of the equipment at a
referenced ambient temperature.

Short Circuit Withstand Capability

Panelboards, MCCs and switchboards are
tested to withstand their short circuit current
rating for 3 cycles per UL 67, UL 845 and UL
891.

Plot the TCC landmarks for a 400A, 208V, 3-

panelboard rated 30kA. Then set a circuit
breaker to protect the panelboard. 25kA is
available at the panelboard.

Ampacity
The ampacity is the rated continuous current
carrying capacity of the equipment at a
referenced ambient temperature

Short Circuit Current Thermal Limit Curve

MV switchgear and circuit breaker short circuit
thermal limit. The energy limit is defined by
the symmetrical short circuit rating at 2
seconds per ANSI C37.010

Protection
Curve

Time

Damage Region

Operating Region

Current

MV Motor Switchgear Feeder Unit

CT Size: 125-150% of FLA
51 pickup: 115-125% of FLA
51 Time dial: 2-10 sec above the knee of the
motor curve

LV Motor Power Circuit Breaker Feeder Unit

LTPU:125% FLA
Time dial:2-10 sec above the knee of the
motor curve
INST: 200% LRA

LV Motor MCP Starter Feeder Unit

OL Pickup: 125% of FLA (Nameplate!) SF>1.15
:115% of FLA (Nameplate!)SF=1.0
OL Time Dial: fixed (class 20)
MCCB Size:125-160% of FLA(NEC/PEC Table!)
MCCB Pickup: 200% of LRA

LV Motor Fused Starter Feeder Unit

OL Pickup: 125% of FLA (Nameplate!) SF>1.15
:115% of FLA (Nameplate!)SF=1.0
OL Time Dial: fixed (class 20)
Fuse Size: 175% of FLA (NEC 430.52)

Always check for MAXIMUM SETTINGS from PEC Table 4.30.4.2

MV Transformer Switchgear Feeder Unit

CT Size: 200% of FLA
51 pickup: 110-140% of FLA
51 Time dial: 1 sec from let through current
50 pickup: 200% of let-through current or
inrush current

For MV, Always check for MAXIMUM SETTINGS FROM PEC Table 4.50.1.3

MV Transformer Fused Switch Feeder Unit

MV Capacitor Switchgear Feeder Unit

CT Size: 150% of I capacitor
51 pickup: 130-155% of I capacitor
51 Time dial: TD 1 for E-M relay
50 pickup: 200-450% of I capacitor
Note: Conductor Ampacity
-not less than 135% of I capacitor

LV Cables
NEC 240.4 Protection of Conductors
conductors shall be protected against
overcurrent in accordance with their ampacities
(B) Devices Rated 800 A or Less the next
higher standard device rating shall be
permitted
(C) Devices Rated over 800 A the
ampacity of the conductors shall be the
device rating

MV Feeders & Branch Circuits (Over 600V)

NEC 240.101 (A) Rating or Setting of
Overcurrent Protective Devices
Fuse rating 3 times conductor ampacity
Relay setting 6 times conductor ampacity

MV Motor Conductors (Over 600V)

NEC 430.224 Size of Conductors
Conductors ampacity shall be greater than the
overload setting.

Calculate and plot the TCC landmarks for 3-1/C, 500MCM, THWN
copper conductors installed in 2-1/2 conduit on a 480V distribution
system. Then set a LV MCCB to protect the cable. The feeder breaker is
a GE SG Spectra Series MCCB with a MVT Plus trip unit equipped with LSI
adjustable functions. The maximum available through fault current is
21.5kA.

Ampacity from NEC table 310.16 the

ampacity = 380 A

Intermediate Overload Curve from Tables 3

and 4 Time (sec.) Current (%)Current (A)
10
2197
380 x 21.71 = 8,348
100
702
380 x 7.02 = 2,667
1,000
245
380 x 2.45 = 931
10,000
132
380 x 1.32 = 501
18,000
125
380 x 1.25 = 475

Short Circuit Damage Curve - Damage points

calculated from equation (2)
where,
A = 500,000 cmils
I = short circuit current RMS amps
t = time of short circuit 0.01 to 10 seconds
T1 = 75oC (Table 2)
T2 = 150oC (Table 2)

Time (sec.)
10.00
1.00
0.10
0.01

Current (A)
8,371
26,471
83,709
264,711

Is the amount of time allowed between a

primary device and its upstream backup.
Backup Device

Primary Device
FAULT

Type of Zones of Zones of Protection

Type 1: Protection devices service direct
connected loads

Type 2: Contains lowest level bus main and tie

protective devices

Type 3: Contains Bus feeder protective device

OC Protection Study Procedure Consist of the

following steps:
Step 1: Break the Power System into Zones of
Protection

Step 2: Set the Protective Devices Serving All

Directly Connected Loads
(all Zone Type 1)
Step 3: Set the Lowest Level Bus Main and Tie
Protective Devices (all Zone Type 2)

Step 4: Set the Bus Feeder Protective Device

Step 5: Repeat Steps 3 and 4 Until Finished