WELCOME

Power System Protection

ECE 456
Course Instructor : Prof. Tarlochan Singh Sidhu, Ph.D., P.Eng., C.Eng.

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Introduction & Philosophy of
Power System Protection

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Contents
1. Overview of Power system
2. Why protect?
3. Causes and types of faults
4. Factors influencing protection system design
5. Aspects of protection system
6. Zones of protection
7. Protection types and classes
8. Important consideration while applying protection
9. ANSI reference numbers

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Contents
1. Overview of Power system
2. Why protect?
3. Causes and types of faults
4. Factors influencing protection system design
5. Aspects of protection system
6. Zones of protection
7. Protection types and classes
8. Important consideration while applying protection
9. ANSI reference numbers

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Components of a power system

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Components of a power system

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Components of a power system

Generating power Phase A Phase B Phase C

120°
240°
360°

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Components of a power system

Exporting power

Transmission
System

Load

AC Generator

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu Step-Up Transformer Step-Down Transformer

 Components of a power system

Transmission System

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Components of a power system

Transmission & Distribution

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Components of a power system

Load

Transmission
Sub Station Voltage From
Power Company

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Components of a power system

Generation to Load

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Components of a power system

Distribution connection

Utility
Transformer Load Load
Center Center

Meter Meter
Transformer
From Utility
Service

Overhead Service Lateral Service

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Components of a power system

Domestic load

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Components of a power system

Substation SLD at
Generation

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Components of a power system

Substation SLD at load

centre

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Components of a power system

MV Indoor distribution

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Contents
1. Overview of Power system
2. Why protect?
3. Causes and types of faults
4. Factors influencing protection system design
5. Aspects of protection system
6. Zones of protection
7. Protection types and classes
8. Important consideration while applying protection
9. ANSI reference numbers

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Protection – Why Is It Needed ?

All Power Systems may experience faults at some time.

PROTECTION IS INSTALLED TO :
Detect fault occurrence and isolate the faulted equipment.

SO THAT :
‰ Damage to the faulted equipment is limited;
‰ Disruption of supplies to adjacent un-faulted equipment is
minimized.

PROTECTION IS EFFECTIVELY AN INSURANCE POLICY - AN

INVESTMENT AGAINST DAMAGE FROM FUTURE FAULTS.

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Protection – Why Is It Needed ?

Faults on power systems risk :

Severe damage to the faulted equipment :
‰ Excessive current may flow;
‰ Causes burning of conductors or equipment windings;
‰ Arcing - energy dissipation;
‰ Risk of explosions for oil - filled switchgear, or when in hazardous
environments.

Damage to adjacent plant :

‰ As the fault evolves, if not cleared quickly;
‰ Due to the voltage depression / loss of supply.
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Protection – Why Is It Needed ?

Faults on power systems risk :

Danger to staff or the public :
‰ Risk of shock from direct contact with the faulted equipment;
‰ Danger of potential (voltage) rises in exposed metalwork –
accessible to touch;
‰ Fumes released by burning insulation;
‰ Burns etc.

Disruption to adjacent plant :

‰ Prolonged voltage dips cause motors to stall;
‰ Loss of synchronism for synchronous generators / motors.
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Protection – Why Is It Needed ?

Summary :

Protection must :
‰ Detect faults and abnormal operating conditions;
‰ Isolate the faulted equipment.

‰ So as to :
‰ Limit damage caused by fault energy;
‰ Limit effect on rest of system.

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Contents
1. Overview of Power system
2. Why protect?
3. Causes and types of faults
4. Factors influencing protection system design
5. Aspects of protection system
6. Zones of protection
7. Protection types and classes
8. Important consideration while applying protection
9. ANSI reference numbers

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Power System Faults - Causes

‰ Lightning
‰ Wind
‰ Ice and Snow storm
‰ Flying objects
‰ Contamination of insulators
‰ Physical contact by animals
‰ Human errors
‰ Falling trees
‰ Insulation aging

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Power System Faults - Causes

Underground Cables

‰ Diggers
‰ Overloading
‰ Oil Leakage
‰ Ageing

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Power System Faults - Causes

Overhead Lines

‰ Lightning
‰ Kites
‰ Trees
‰ Moisture
‰ Salt
‰ Birds
‰ Broken Conductors

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Power System Faults - Causes

Machines

‰ Mechanical
Damage
‰ Unbalanced Load

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Types of Fault

a
b
Ø/E
c
e

a
b
Ø/Ø/E
c
e

a
b
Ø/Ø
c

a a
3Ø b b
c 3Ø/E c
e
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Types of Fault

Cross country fault

a a'
b b'
c
c'

e e

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Types of Fault

Open circuit + ø/e

a
b
c
Fault between adjacent
e parallel Lines

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Types of Fault

Changing fault in cable

b c

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Voltages And Currents During Faults

Fault

Fault Currents

5000
4000
3000
2000
Ia
1000
Amps

Ib
0
Ic
-1000
-2000 In

-3000
-4000
-5000
Time

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Voltages And Currents During Faults

Fault

Fault Voltages

600

400

200
Va
Volts

0 Vb
Vc
-200

-400

-600
Time

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Contents
1. Overview of Power system
2. Why protect?
3. Causes and types of faults
4. Factors influencing protection system design
5. Aspects of protection system
6. Zones of protection
7. Protection types and classes
8. Important consideration while applying protection
9. ANSI reference numbers

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Factors Influencing Protection System Design

‰ Types of fault and abnormal conditions to be

protected against

‰ Quantities available for measurement

‰ Types of protection available

‰ Speed

‰ Fault position discrimination

‰ Dependability / Reliability

‰ Security / Stability

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Factors Influencing Protection System Design

‰ Overlap of protections

‰ Phase discrimination / Selectivity

‰ Instrument transformers (CTs & VTs)

‰ Auxiliary supplies

‰ Back-up protection

‰ Cost

‰ Duplication of protection

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Contents
1. Overview of Power system
2. Why protect?
3. Causes and types of faults
4. Factors influencing protection system design
5. Aspects of protection system
6. Zones of protection
7. Protection types and classes
8. Important consideration while applying protection
9. ANSI reference numbers

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Aspects of Protection System

‰ Reliability

‰ Speed

‰ Discrimination (Zones, Phases)

‰ Simplicity

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Protection Aspects - Reliability

R1 R2 R3 R4
G1 G2
F

‰ Reliability
‰ Security
‰ Dependability

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Protection Aspects - Reliability

Security Dependability

AND OR

1 2 1 2

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Protection Aspects - Reliability

R1 R2 R3 R4
G1 G2
F

‰ Reliability
‰ Dependability
‰ Security

D S

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Protection Aspects - Reliability

‰ Dependability / Reliability
‰ Protection must operate when required to
‰ Failure to operate can be extremely
damaging and disruptive
‰ Faults are rare : Protection must operate
even after years of inactivity
‰ Improved by use of : Back-up protection
and duplicate protection
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Protection Aspects - Reliability

‰ Security / Stability

‰ Protection must not operate when not

required to, e.g. due to:

‰ Load switching

‰ Faults on other parts of the system

‰ Recoverable power swings

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Protection Aspects - Speed

Speed

Milliseconds Count

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Protection Aspects - Speed

‰ Speed

Fast operation :
‰ Minimizes damage and danger

Very fast operation :

‰ Minimizes system instability
‰ Discrimination and security can be costly to
achieve as it generally involves additional
signaling / communications equipment.

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Protection Aspects - Speed

Speed

Catastrophic
D Damage
a
m Steel
a Copper
g
e Cable

100 200 300 500

Time (ms)

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Contents
1. Overview of Power system
2. Why protect?
3. Causes and types of faults
4. Factors influencing protection system design
5. Aspects of protection system
6. Zones of protection
7. Protection types and classes
8. Important consideration while applying protection
9. ANSI reference numbers

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Fault Discrimination - Zones Of Protection

‰ Fault Position Discrimination

‰ Power system divided into PROTECTED

ZONES

‰ Must isolate only the faulty equipment or

section

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Fault Discrimination - Zones Of Protection

Busbar
Protection Busbar
Protection

G Trf G
Line
Protection
Generator Generator
Protection Protection

M
Motor
Protection

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Zones of Protection - Protection Overlap

‰ Overlap of Protections

‰ No blind spots

‰ Where possible use overlapping CTs

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Zones of Protection - Protection Overlap

BBP BBP
‘1’ ‘2’

H J

‘Z’

G LP LP K L
‘H’ ‘J’

LP LP
‘K’ ‘L’

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Fault Discrimination - Phases

‰ Phase Discrimination

‰ Correct indication of phases involved in the

fault

‰ Important for single phase tripping and auto-

reclosing applications

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Example 1 – Dependability / Security

R6
R3 R4
B6 R2
R1
B3 B5
R7 F
B1 B2 R5
B7
B4

‰ Directional relays provided as shown

‰ Breakers marked as shown
‰ Fault at F

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Example 1 – Dependability / Security

R6
R3 R4
B6 R2
R1
B3 B5
R7 F
B1 B2 R5
B7
B4

‰ Resulted in operation of R1, R2, and R5, which in turn tripped their
respective breakers
‰ Was there loss of dependability or security?

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Example 1 – Dependability / Security

R6
R3 R4
B6 R2
R1
B3 B5
R7 F
B1 B2 R5
B7
B4

‰ Resulted in operation of R1, R2, and R5, which in turn tripped their
respective breakers
‰ Was there loss of dependability or security?
‰ Yes, relay R5 lost its security for this fault

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Example 2 – Zone discrimination

R6
R3 R4
B6 R2
R1
B3 B5
R7
B1 B2 R5
B7
B4

‰ System as shown with relays and breakers marked

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Example 2 – Zone discrimination

R6
R3 R4
B6 R2
R1
B3 B5
R7
B1 B2 R5
B7
B4

‰ System as shown with relays and breakers marked

‰ A single fault has resulted in the operation of breakers B1, B2, B3
and B4.
‰ There was no loss of security or dependability
‰ Identify the location of the fault
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Example 2 – Zone discrimination

R6
R3 R4
B6 R2
R1
B3 B5
R7
B1 B2 R5
B7
B4

‰ Fault in the overlap zone at breaker B2 as shown

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Cost

‰ The cost of protection is equivalent to an insurance policy against

damage to plant, and loss of supply and customer goodwill.

‰ Acceptable cost is based on a balance of economics and technical

factors. Cost of protection should be balanced against the cost of

potential hazards.

‰ There is an economic limit on what can be spent.

‰ MINIMUM COST : Must ensure that all faulty equipment is

isolated by protection.

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Cost

‰ TOTAL COST should take account of :

‰ Relays, schemes and associated panels and panel wiring

‰ Setting studies

‰ Commissioning

‰ CTs and VTs

‰ Maintenance and repairs to relays

‰ Damage repair if protection fails to operate

‰ Lost revenue if protection operates unnecessarily

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Cost

‰ DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
‰ Large numbers of switching and distribution points,
transformers and feeders

‰ Economics often overrides technical issues

‰ Protection may be the minimum consistent with statutory safety

regulations

‰ Speed less important than on transmission systems

‰ Back-up protection can be simple and is often inherent in the

main protection

‰ Although important, the consequences of mal-operation or

failure to operate is less serious than for transmission systems
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Cost

‰ TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
‰ Emphasis is on technical considerations rather than economics
‰ Economics cannot be ignored but is of secondary importance
compared with the need for highly reliable, fully discriminative
high speed protection
‰ Higher protection costs justifiable by high capital cost of power
system elements protected
‰ Risk of security of supply should be reduced to lowest practical
levels
‰ High speed protection requires unit protection
‰ Duplicate protections used to improve reliability
‰ Single phase tripping and auto-reclose may be required to
maintain system stability
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Contents
1. Overview of Power system
2. Why protect?
3. Causes and types of faults
4. Factors influencing protection system design
5. Aspects of protection system
6. Zones of protection
7. Protection types and classes
8. Important consideration while applying protection
9. ANSI reference numbers

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Types of Protection

‰ Fuses
‰ For : LV Systems, Distribution Feeders and
Transformers, VTs, Auxiliary Supplies

‰ Direct Acting AC Trip

‰ For : LV Systems, Pole Mounted Reclosers

‰ Overcurrent and Earthfault

‰ Widely used in all Power Systems
‰ Non-Directional
‰ Voltage Dependant
‰ Directional
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Types of Protection

‰ Differential
‰ For : Feeders, Busbars, Transformers,
Generators, etc.
‰ High Impedance
‰ Restricted E/F
‰ Biased (or low-impedance)
‰ Pilot Wire
‰ Digital

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Types of Protection

‰ Distance
‰ For : Distribution Feeders and Transmission
and Sub-Transmission Circuits
‰ Also used as Back-up Protection for
Transformers and Generators

‰ Phase Comparison
‰ For : Transmission Lines

‰ Directional Comparison
‰ For : Transmission Lines

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Types of Protection

‰ Miscellaneous
‰ Under and Over Voltage
‰ Under and Over Frequency
‰ Special Relays for Generators, Transformers,
Motors, etc.

‰ Control Relays
‰ Auto-Reclose, Tap Change Control, etc.

‰ Tripping and Auxiliary Relays

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Classes of Protection

Non-Unit, or Unrestricted Protection :

No specific point downstream up to which protection will

protect

‰ Will operate for faults on the protected equipment;

‰ May also operate for faults on downstream equipment,
which has its own protection;
‰ Need for discrimination with downstream protection,
usually by means of time grading.

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Classes of Protection

Unit, or Restricted Protection :

Has an accurately defined zone of protection

‰ An item of power system plant is protected as a

unit;
‰ Will not operate for out of zone faults, thus no
back-up protection for downstream faults.

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Contents
1. Overview of Power system
2. Why protect?
3. Causes and types of faults
4. Factors influencing protection system design
5. Aspects of protection system
6. Zones of protection
7. Protection types and classes
8. Important consideration while applying protection
9. ANSI reference numbers

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 Important Considerations When Applying
Protection

‰ Current and Voltage Transformers

‰ These are an essential part of the protection scheme to
reduce primary current and volts to a low level suitable to
input to relay.
‰ They must be suitably specified to meet the requirements of
the protective relays.
‰ Correct connection of CTs and VTs to the protection is
important. In particular for directional, distance, phase
comparison and differential protections.
‰ VTs may be electromagnetic or capacitor types.
‰ Busbar VTs : Special consideration needed when used for
line protection.
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Instrument Transformer Circuits

‰ Never open circuit a CT secondary circuit, so :

‰ Never fuse CT circuits;

‰ VTs must be fused or protected by MCB.

‰ Do wire test blocks in circuit (both VT and CT) to allow

commissioning and periodic injection testing of relays.

‰ Earth CT and VT circuits at one point only;

‰ Wire gauge > 2.5mm2 recommended for mechanical

strength.
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Auxiliary Supplies

‰ Required for : TRIPPING CIRCUIT BREAKERS

CLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKERS
PROTECTION and TRIP RELAYS
‰ AC AUXILIARY SUPPLIES are only used on LV and MV systems.
‰ DC AUXILIARY SUPPLIES are more secure than AC supplies.
‰ SEPARATELY FUSED SUPPLIES used for each protection.
‰ DUPLICATE BATTERIES are occasionally provided for extra security.
‰ MODERN PROTECTION RELAYS need a continuous auxiliary
supply.
‰ During un-operated (healthy) conditions, they draw a small
‘QUIESCENT’ load to keep relay circuits energized.
‰ During operation, they draw a larger current which increases due to
operation of output elements.
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Relay Outputs

‰ TRIP OUTPUT CONTACTS :

‰ Check that these are rated sufficiently to make and carry
the circuit breaker trip coil current. If not, a heavier duty
tripping relay will be needed.
‰ Use a circuit breaker normally open (52a) contact to
interrupt trip coil current. This extends the life of the
protection relay trip contacts.

‰ TYPE OF CONTACTS :
Make (M) / Normally Open (NO) Close when energised, typically
used for tripping.

Break (B) / Normally Closed (NC) Close when de-energised.

Changeover (C/O) Can be break before make

(BBM) or make before break
(MBB).
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu
 Contents
1. Overview of Power system
2. Why protect?
3. Causes and types of faults
4. Factors influencing protection system design
5. Aspects of protection system
6. Zones of protection
7. Protection types and classes
8. Important consideration while applying protection
9. ANSI reference numbers

© 2005. T.S. Sidhu

 ANSI Reference Numbers

2 Time Delay 59 Overvoltage

21 Distance 60 Voltage or Current Balance
25 Synchronising Check 64 Instantaneous Earth Fault
27 Undervoltage (High Impedance)
30 Annunciator 67 Directional Overcurrent
32 Directional Power 67N Directional Earthfault Alarm
37 Undercurrent or Under 79 Auto-Reclose
Power 81 Frequency
40 Field Failure 85 Signal Receive
46 Negative Sequence 86 Trip / Lock-Out
49 Thermal 87 Differential
50 Instantaneous Overcurrent
51 Time Delayed Overcurrent
51N Time Delayed Earthfault
52 Circuit Breaker
52a Auxiliary Switch - Normally
Open
52b Auxiliary Switch - Normally
Closed
© 2005. T.S. Sidhu