EED POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION UET TAXILA

Table of Contents:

1. Problem Statement………………………………………………………………………...2
2. Aims & Objectives…………………………………………………………………………..2
3. Literature Review…………………………………………………………………………..2
4. Theoretical Studies………………………………………………………………………...2
4.1. Earth Fault………………………………………………………………………………...3
4.2. Purpose of Earthing…………………………………………………………………...3
4.3. Advantages of Earthing……………………………………………………………....3
5. Working…………………………………………………………………………………………3
6. Duration…………………………………………………………………………………………4
7. Budget……………………………………………………………………………………………5
8. References………………………………………………………………………………………5

Differential Earth Fault Protection Page 1

EED POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION UET TAXILA

1. Problem Statement
In the electrical systems their always exists the possibility of having shutdowns due to over
currents or short circuit faults produced by operation mistakes, ambient conditions or lack of
maintenance. Earth faults among these are most common. Earth faults in electrical circuits leads
to unnecessary power loss. So a protection circuit is required to be designed to detect the earth
leakage fault and alert the user about the fault or shut down the supply until the fault is cleared.

2. Aims & Objective

The purpose of this project is to develop a system that senses the earth fault in single-phasing
system and alerts the user about it or sometimes in case of severe fault break down the supply
until the fault is cleared.

3. Literature Review
[1] In a paper named “A Novel Solution to Restricted Earth Fault Low Impedance Relay
Maloperation.”In this paper, various methods of providing restricted earth fault protection are
discussed. The proper operation of high and low impedance Restricted Earth Fault (REF)
protection for various applications has been discussed. The maloperation of a relay due to
improper placement of CTs has been identified and a simple/unique solution has been proposed
in this work with a case study. Moreover, it is found that the proper placement of CT in high
impedance method will provide the same result with reduced CT. This methodology has been
successfully implemented in 2000 KVA transformer.

[2] Krstivojevic et.al presented a “new algorithm for avoiding maloperation of transformer
restricted earth fault protection caused by the transformer magnetizing inrush current and current
transformer saturation.” This paper presents a new transformer restricted earth fault relay
algorithm that can prevent false relay tripping and provide proper action during the energization
of a faulty transformer. Owing to current transformer (CT) saturation caused by a decaying direct
current component in the magnetizing inrush current, the restricted earth fault (REF) protection
of a power transformer could maloperate during magnetizing inrush. The performance of the
proposed algorithm is tested and verified using a large number of transformer energization trials
and fault cases.

4. Theoretical Studies:
4.1 Earth Fault

[3] An earth fault is an inadvertent contact between an energized conductor and ground or
equipment frame. The return path of the fault current is through the grounding system and any
personnel or equipment that becomes part of that system. Ground faults are frequently the result
of insulation breakdown. As as example, in the toaster circuit below, the black or hot wire is

Differential Earth Fault Protection Page 2

EED POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION UET TAXILA

shorted to the metal casing of the toaster. When the circuit closes, all or part of the current is
channeled through the toaster frame and then the green ground wire.

Figure 1: Earth Fault

4.2 Purpose of Earthing

Earthing is an important component of electrical systems because of the following reasons:

 It keeps people safe by preventing electric shocks

 It prevents damage to electrical appliances and devices by preventing excessive current
from running through the circuit
 It prevents the risk of fire that could otherwise be caused by current leakage

4.3 Advantages of Earthing:

[4] From a technical perspective, earthing has some excellent advantages, resulting it in
becoming a mainstream practice in the electrical industry.

 The electrical system is related to the potential of the general earth mass and cannot reach
a different potential. The potential of the earth is zero volts and is known as the neutral of
the electricity supply. This helps in keeping the balance.
 Another advantage is that metal can be used in electrical installations without having to
worry about conductivity. Though metal is a good conductor of electricity, proper
earthing ensures that metal parts not meant to be used for current transfer can be included
in the system. This is done by providing a separate path for this faulty current, enabling
its immediate detection and stoppage.
 In cases of surges in the voltage, high voltages can pass through the electricity circuit.
These kinds of overload can lead to damaging of devices and danger to human life. When
earthing is installed with the electrical installations, the current is routed through a
different path and does not affect the electrical system.

Differential Earth Fault Protection Page 3

EED POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION UET TAXILA

 An electrical circuit has to be connected together with a lot of attention to the kind of
reactions each transformer may have in response to any action on the part of any other
transformer. The earth is an ever-present conductive surface and helps configure these
relationships between different electrical sources and makes them easier to handle.

5. Working:
The protection system consists of two electrically isolated current sensors for sensing the amount
of current flowing through the circuit. One of the current sensors is connected to phase line of the
supply and the other is connected to neutral line. A microcontroller based control system
continuously monitors the amount of current passing through both phase and neutral lines of the
power supply circuit. In ideal conditions the amount of current passing through the phase and
neutral should be same. In case of earth fault, the amount of current entering into the circuit will
not be equal to the current leaving the circuit. In such situations the microcontroller-based
system alerts the user about this in the form audible alerts. However, in situations when the fault
is severe the protection system will keep the supply off until the fault is cleared.

Figure 2: Block Diagram of Earth Fault Protection Scheme

6. Duration
With all efforts from all the respective members the project is expected to get completed within a
tenure of five weeks.

Differential Earth Fault Protection Page 4

EED POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION UET TAXILA

7. Budget
This project will be simple, efficient in operation and would be completed in cost of
approximately 2000 Rs.

8. References
[1] Babu, KN Dinesh, et al. "A Novel Solution to Restricted Earth Fault Low Impedance Relay
Maloperation." International Journal of Electrical, Computer, Energetic, Electronic and
Communication Engineering 9.8 (2015).

[2] Krstivojevic, Jelisaveta, and Milenko Djuric. "A new algorithm for avoiding maloperation of
transformer restricted earth fault protection caused by the transformer magnetizing inrush current
and current transformer saturation." Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering & Computer
Sciences 24.6(2016):5025-5042.

[3] https://www.tutorialspoint.com/electrical_safety/electrical_safety_earth_fault_protection.htm

[4] http://www.plainhelp.com/purpose-earthing-electrical-installation/

Differential Earth Fault Protection Page 5