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EARTH FAULT PROTECTION
By
R Makesh Kandan
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 TOPICS TO BE COVERED

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 GENERAL BASIS

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 RESIDUALLY CONNECTED RELAY
 CORE BALANCE
 SBEF
 REF
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High Impedance REF
Low Impedance REF
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Makesh Kandan.P
GO THROUGH SOME BASIS

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Short Circuit:

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As per IEC 60909,Accidental or Intentional Conductive path b/w two or more conductive parts
forcing the electric potential differences b/w these conductive parts to be equal or close to zero.
Types:
Symm. & Unsymm. Faults
Bolted Fault - Conductor Solidly Connected,
Fault Impedance equal to zero.
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Ground Faults - Phase get direct contact with earth
- Phase get direct contact to metallic part i.e. Grounded.
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Arcing Faults - b/w two close conductor but are not in direct contact.

Makesh Kandan.P
EARTH FAULT – ORIGIN & CONSEQUENCES

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ORIGIN:

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 Reduced Insulation
 Physical Damage to Insulation
 Excessive Transient or Steady State Voltage Stresses on Insulation
 Moisture, Atmospheric Contamination, Mechanical Stresses etc.

CONSEQUENCE:
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 Shutdown if there is proper shutdown, if proper protection system is there.
 Destroy the equipment due to the arc blast or fire.
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 Burning of Electrical Shock to the Personnel.

Makesh Kandan.P
EARTH FAULT CURRENT FLOW

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AF
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Makesh Kandan. P
 EARTH FAULT – DETECTION METHOD

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RESIDUALLY CONNECTION METHOD

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 The sum (IR+IY+IB) is called Residual Current.
 In absence of earth-fault, Residual Current is Zero (i.e. IR+IY+IB=0).
 During earth fault the conditions is disturbed &
(IR+IY+IB) is no more zero.
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 Commonly used method.
 Instantaneous Trip is not used.
 Less Selectivity.
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 Unrestricted Earth Fault Protection.
Makesh Kandan. P
EARTH FAULT – DETECTION METHOD

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CORE BALANCE SCHEME (ZSCT)

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 Based on Flux Summation.
 Better Sensitivity
 Use Only One Transformer.
 Setting down to 10% of circuit current rating.
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Makesh Kandan.P
EARTH FAULT – DETECTION METHOD

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GROUND RETURN

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 Mostly used in solidly grounded 480V, 3 phase 3 wire or 3 phase 4 wire.
 CT Placed in Neutral to Ground Connection.
 Known as Standby Earth Fault (SBEF).
 Last Line of Defense.
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 1st Stage Trips LV Incomer & 2nd Stage Trips Upstream.
 Unrestricted Earth Fault Protection.
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Makesh Kandan.P
EARTH FAULT – DETECTION METHOD

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RESTRICTED EARTH FAULT (REF) PROTECTION

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 Biased Differential Protection is less sensitive for single phase to earth faults close to earth
points.
 Unit Earth Fault Protection.
 Usually Applied for Start Winding of Transformer.
 Two Types
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High Impedance REF Protection.
Low Impedance RFE Protection.
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Makesh Kandan.P