CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE

MOTOR PROTECTION USING

SEL-710 MICROPROCESSOR BASED RELAY

A graduate project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

For the degree of Master of Science

in Electrical Engineering

By

Tanmay Kalra

December 2010
The graduate project of Tanmay Kalra is approved by:

Ali Amini, Ph.D. Date

Xiaojun Geng, Ph.D. Date

Bruno Osorno, Prof, Chair Date

California State University, Northridge

ii
 Dedication

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the people who have been incredible sources of

support and encouragement throughout this journey.

Thanks are due to the almighty, without whom nothing is possible.

My parents and brother have been there for me through the trials of living away from home, and

inspire me every day to be the best I can be. Thanks to Shikhir and Shruti, who were here to

guide me and support me through everything.

I owe a debt of gratitude to my advisor and mentor, Professor Bruno Osorno. He goes above and

beyond what is required of him and is a “guru” in the true sense of the term in Hindi. I am lucky

to have him to guide me through this process. I also thank Dr. Ali Amini and Dr. Xiaojun Geng

for being on my thesis committee and offering their expertise and invaluable suggestions for

improvement.

Finally, thanks to my supportive cohort at CSUN, my lab mates, my team-mate Ronak and others

I met on this wonderful journey.

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 Table of Contents

Signature Page…………………………………………………………………………………….i

i
Dedication......................................................................................................................................iii
Table of Contents............................................................................................................................iv
List of Figures.................................................................................................................................vi
ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................viii
Chapter 1: Introduction to different types of Motors.......................................................................1
1.1 Motor types:...........................................................................................................................1
1.2 AC Motors:............................................................................................................................2
1.2.1 Advantages:.....................................................................................................................2
1.2.2 Disadvantages:.................................................................................................................4
1.3 DC Motors..............................................................................................................................4
1.3.1 Advantages......................................................................................................................7
1.3.2 Disadvantages..................................................................................................................8
Chapter 2: Motor Protection............................................................................................................9
2.1 Introduction:...........................................................................................................................9
2.1.1 Short Circuit Protection of Stator Windings:..................................................................9
2.1.2 Stator-Overheating Protection:......................................................................................10
2.1.3 Rotor Overheating Protection:.......................................................................................13
2.1.4 Loss of Synchronism Protection:..................................................................................13
2.1.5 under voltage Protection:...............................................................................................14
2.1.6 Loss of excitation protection:........................................................................................14
2.1.7 Field ground fault protection:........................................................................................14
Chapter 3: Introduction to Relays..................................................................................................15
3.1 Relay and its classifications:................................................................................................15
3.2 Electromechanical Relay:....................................................................................................15

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 3.3 Static Relays.........................................................................................................................16
3.4 Microprocessor based relay:................................................................................................17
Chapter 4: Motor Protection Relay (SEL-710)..............................................................................20
4.1 Introduction:.........................................................................................................................20
4.2 Application:..........................................................................................................................20
4.3 Principle of Operation:.........................................................................................................21
4.4 Testing of relay SEL-710:....................................................................................................22
4.4.1 Procedure to test Motor Protection relay (SEL-710) using direct method:...................24
4.5 Device Metering and test results..........................................................................................36
Chapter 5: Conclusion...................................................................................................................45
References......................................................................................................................................46

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 List of Figures

Fig 1: Family tree of electrical motors

Fig 2: Anatomy of AC motor

Fig 3: Anatomy of DC motor

Fig 4: Diagram of stator windings of a 3 phase AC motor

Fig 5: Illustrating the need for overcurrent protection in each phase

Fig 6: Thermal Imaging thermography showing stator overheating of a motor

Fig 7: Electromechanical relay

Fig 8: Static relay using solid state devices

Fig 9: Working inside a microprocessor based relay

Fig 10: Standard ANSI definitions for microprocessor-based relay

Fig 11: Applications possible using SEL-710 relay

Fig 11a: Motor starting adaptation in an SEL-710 relay

Fig 12: Flowchart for the testing of relay SEL-710

Fig 12a: Back panel for SEL-710 relay

Fig 13: AC connections-across the line starting

Fig 14: Front panel for SEL-710 relay

Fig 15: AcSELerator Quickset window

Fig 16: Terminal Window

Fig 17: Setting Window

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Fig 18: Over Current setting window

Fig 19: Under current settings

Fig 20: Current Imbalance element

Fig 21: Under voltage element

Fig 22: Over voltage element

Fig 23: Metering of the motor using AcSELerator

Fig 24: Phase component observed in the AcSELerator

Fig 25: Instantaneous values observed in the AcSELerator

Fig 26: Min/Max metering values in AcSELerator

Fig 27: Under voltage trip observed on AcSELerator

Fig 28: Over voltage trip as seen on AcSELerator

Fig 29: Shows a figure of over frequency fault occurrence

Fig 30: Observing the under frequency fault occurrence

Fig 31: Phase imbalance fault

Fig 32: Real time testing

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 ABSTRACT

MOTOR PROTECTION USING

SEL-710 MICROPROCESOR BASED RELAY

By

Tanmay Kalra

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

This paper provides details about testing a microprocessor based relays. The Relay used for
testing is a microprocessor based multifunction motor protection Relay (SEL-710).This paper
explains tests that are carried on the relay when different fault occurs on a motor.
 
Chapter 1 explains various protection devices used in power system
Chapter 2 deals with basic functionality of microprocessor based relay and
Chapter 3 deals with the circuit required for testing the relay.
 
Response of the relay is indicated by respective LED’s. The ON / OFF status of the LED indicate
the fault in the line. If a fault exits in the line, the relay sends a signal to the circuit breaker which
opens the line and clears the fault. The line is then restored upon clearance of fault.

viii
ix
 Chapter 1: Introduction to different types of Motors

1.1 Motor types:

Industrial motors come in a variety of basic types. These variations are suitable for many
different applications. The usage of a specific type of motor depends on the application and the
performance that can be obtained from it. This chapter will give guidance about different types
of motors and there advantages and disadvantages. The two basic types of motors are as follows.

AC Motors
DC Motors

Figure 1: Family tree of Electrical Motor [1]

1.2 AC Motors:
The most common and simple industrial motor is the three phase AC induction motor,
sometimes known as the “squirrel cage” motor.

Figure2: Anatomy of an AC Motor [2]

1.2.1 Advantages:
Simple Design
Low Cost
Reliable Operation
Easily Found replacements
Variety of Mounting Styles
Many Different Environmental Enclosures

Simple Design:

2
The simple design of the AC motor—simply a series of three windings in the stator section with
a simple rotating section (rotor).The changing field caused by the 50 or 60 Hertz AC line voltage
causes the rotor to rotate around the axis of the motor.

The speed of the AC motor depends on three variables:

 There are a fixed number of windings sets (known as poles) built into the motor, which
determine the motor’s base speed.
 The frequency of the AC line Voltage. Variable speed drives change this frequency
which in turn changes the speed of the motor.
 The amount of torque loading on the motor, which causes slip.

Low Cost:

The AC motor has the advantage of being the lowest cost motor for applications requiring more
than about ½ Hp (325 watts) of power. This is due to the simple design of the motor. For this
reason, AC motors are overwhelmingly preferred for fixed speed applications in industrial
applications and for commercial and domestic applications where AC line power can be easily
attached. Over 90% of all motors are AC induction motors. They are found in air conditioners,
washers, dryers, industrial machinery, fans, blowers, vacuum cleaners and many, many other
applications.

Reliable Operation:

The simple design of the AC motor results in extremely reliable, low maintenance operation.
Unlike the DC motor, there are no brushes to replace. If run in the appropriate environment for
its enclosures, the AC motor may need new bearings after several years of operations. If the
application is well designed an AC motor can be expected to need new bearings after several
years of operation. If the application is well designed, an AC motor may not need new bearings
for more than a decade.

Easily Found Replacements:

The wide use of the AC motor has resulted in easily found replacements.

Variety of Mounting Styles [3]

AC Motors are available in many different mounting styles such as:
Foot Mount
C-Face
Large Flange
Vertical
Specialty

Many Different Environmental Enclosures:

3
Because of the wide range of environments in which people want to use motors, the AC motor
has been adapted by providing a wide range of enclosures:[4]

ODP-Open Drip Proof

TEFC-Totally Enclosed Fan Closed
TEAO-Totally Enclosed Air Over
TEBC- Totally Enclosed Blower Cooled
TENV- Totally Enclosed Non-Ventilated
TEWC-Totally Enclosed Water Cooled

1.2.2 Disadvantages:

Expensive speed control

Inability to operate at low speeds
Poor positioning control

Expensive speed control:

Speed control is expensive. The electronics required to handle an AC inverter drive are
considerably more expensive than those required to handle a DC Motor. However, if
performance requirements can be met – meaning that the required speed range is over 1/3 of base
speed –AC inverters and AC motors are usually more cost-effective than DC motors and DC
drives for applications larger than about 10 horsepower, because of cost savings on the AC
motor.

Inability to operate at low speeds:

Standard AC motors should not be operated at speeds less than about 1/3rd of base speed. This is
due to thermal considerations. A DC Motor should be considered for these applications.

Poor positioning control:

Positioning control is expensive and crude. Even a vector drive is crude when controlling a
standard AC motor. Servo Motors are more appropriate for these applications.

1.3 DC Motors

The direct current motor is one of the first machines devised to convert electrical power into
mechanical power. Permanent magnet direct current converts electrical energy into mechanical
energy through the interaction of two magnetic fields. One field is produced by a permanent
magnet assembly; the other field is produced by an electrical current flowing in the motor
windings. These two fields result in a torque which tends to rotate the rotor. As the rotor turns,
the current in the windings is commutated to produce a continuous torque output. The stationary

4
electromagnetic field of the motor can also be wire-wound like the armature (called a wound-
field motor) or can be made up of permanent magnets (called a permanent magnet motor).

Figure 3: Anatomy of a DC Motor [5]

In either style (wound –field or permanent magnet) the commutator, acts as half of a mechanical
switch and rotates with the armature as it turns. When electrical energy is passed through, the
brushes switch to adjacent bars on the commutator and this switching action transfers the
electrical energy to an adjacent winding on the armature which in turn perpetuates the torsional
motion of the armature.
Permanent Magnet motors are probably the most commonly used DC motors. DC motor operate
from a direct current power source. Movement of the magnetic field is achieved by switching
current between coils within the motor. This action is called “commutation”. Many DC motors
have built in commutation, meaning that as the motor rotates, mechanical brushes automatically
commutate coils on the rotor. A simple, permanent-magnet dc motor is an essential element in a
variety of products, such as toys, servo mechanisms, valve actuators, robots, and automotive
electronics. There are several typical advantages of a PM motor. When compared to AC or
wound field DC motors, PM motors are usually physically smaller in overall size and lighter for
a given power rating. Furthermore, since the motor’s field, created by the permanent magnet, is
constant, the relationship between torque and speed is very linear. A PM motor can provide
relatively high torque and it’s speed is extremely linear. A PM motor can provide relatively high
torque at low speeds and PM Field provides some inherent self-braking when power to the motor
is shutoff. There are several disadvantages though, most of them being high current during a stall
condition and during instantaneous reversal. These can damage some motors or be problematic
to control circuitry. Some magnet materials can be damaged when subjected to excessive heat
and some lose field strength if the motor is disassembled.

5
High-volume everyday items, such as hand drills and kitchen appliances, use a dc servomotor
known as a universal motor. These universal motors are series-would DC motors, where the
stationary and rotating coils are wires in series. Those motors can work well on both AC and DC
power. One of the drawbacks about series-wound DC motors is that if they are unloaded, the
only thing limiting their speed is the wind age and friction losses.
A brushless motor operates much in the same way as a traditional brush motor. However, as the
name implies there are no brushes. The mechanical switching function, implemented by the
brush and commutator combination in a brush-type motor, is replaced by electronic switching in
a brushless motor. In a typical brushless motor the electromagnetic field, created by permanent
magnets, is the rotating member of the motor and is called a rotor. The rotating magnetic field is
generated with a number of the electromagnets commutated with electronics switches in a right
order at right speed. In a brushless motor, the trick becomes to know when to switch the
electrical energy in the windings to perpetuate the rotating motion. This is typically
accomplished in a brushless-type motor by some feedback means designed to provide an
indication of the position of the magnet poles on the rotor relative to the windings. A Hall Effect
device is a commonly used means for providing this positional feedback. In some applications, a
brushless motor is often used when high reliability, long life and wear out are factors of
consideration. In applications where high speeds are required a brushless motor is considered a
better choice. A brushless motor’s commutation control can easily be separated and integrated
into other required electronics, thereby improving the effective power to weight and power to
volume ratio. A brushless motor package will usually cost more than a brush-type yet the cost
can often be made in other advantages. Brushless motor are seen nowadays in very many
computer application, they for example rotate normal PC fans, hard disks and disk drives.
Sometimes the rotation direction needs to be changed. In normal permanent magnet motors, this
rotation is changed by changing the polarity of operating power .This direction changing is
typically implemented using relay or a circuit called an H bridge. There are some typical
characteristics on “brush-type” DC motors.
When a DC motor is connected straight to a battery, it draws a large surge current when
connected up. The surge is caused because the motor, when it is turning, acts as a generator. The
generated voltage is directly proportional to the speed of the motor. The current through the
motor is controlled by the difference between the battery voltage and the motor’s generated
voltage. When the motor is first connected up to the battery there is no back EMF. So the current
is controlled only by the battery voltage, motor resistance and the battery leads. When a motor
speed controller is used, it varies the voltage fed to the motor. Initially, at zero speed, the
controller will feed no voltage to the motor, so no current flows. At the motor speed controller’s
output voltage increases, the motor will start to turn. At first the voltage fed the motor is small,
so the current is also small, and as the motor speed controller’s voltage rises, so too does the
motor’s back EMF. The result is that the initial current surge is removed, acceleration is smooth
and fully under control.
Motor speed control of DC motor is nothing new. The simplest method to control the rotation
speed of a DC motor is to control its driving voltage. The higher the voltage, the higher speed the
motor tries to reach. In many applications a simple voltage regulation would cause lots of power
loss on control circuit, so a pulse width modulation method is used in many DC motor
controlling applications. In the basic pulse width modulation method, the operating power to the
motors is turned on and off to modulate the current to the motor. The ratio of “on” time to “off”
time is what determines the speed of the motor. The reason is that a motor is mainly a large

6
inductor. It is not capable of passing high frequency energy, and hence will not perform well
using high frequencies. Reasonably low frequencies are required, and the PWM techniques will
work. Lower frequencies are generally better than higher frequencies, but PWM stops being
effective at too low a frequency. The idea that a lower frequency PWM works well simply
reflects that the “on” cycle needs to be pretty wide before the motor will draw any current. A
higher PWM frequency will work fine if you hang a large capacitor across the motor or short the
motor out on the “off” cycle. The reason for this is that short pulses will not allow much current
to flow before being cut off. Then the current that did flow is dissipated as an inductive kick-
probably as heat through the fly-back diodes. The capacitor integrates the pulse and provides a
longer, but lower, current flow through the motor after the driver is cut off. There is not inductive
kick either, since the current flow isn’t being cut off. Knowing the low pass roll-off frequency of
the motor helps to determine an optimum frequency for operating PWM.

1.3.1 Advantages
Easy to understand design
Easy to control speed
Easy to control torque
Simple, cheap drive design

Easy to understand design

The design of the brushed DC motor is quite simple. A permanent magnetic field is created in the
stator by either of two means:
Permanent Magnets
Electro-magnetic windings

If the field is created by permanent magnets, the motor is said to be a “permanent magnet DC
motor” (PMDC). If created by electromagnetic windings, the motor is often said to be a “Shunt
wound DC motor” (SWDC). Today, because of cost-effectiveness and reliability, the PMDC is
the motor of choice for applications involving fractional horsepower DC motors, as well as most
applications up to about three horsepower.
At five horsepower and greater, various forms of the shunt wound DC motor are most commonly
used. This is because the electromagnetic windings are most cost effective than permanent
magnets in this power range.
Opposing the stator field is the armature field, which is generated by a changing electromagnetic
flux coming from winding located on the rotor. The magnetic poles of the armature field will
attempt to line up with the opposite magnetic poles generated by the stator field. The section of
the rotor where the electricity enters the rotor windings is called the commutator. The electricity
is carried between the rotor and the stator by conductive graphite-copper brushes which contact
rings on stator.
The motor rotates toward the pole alignment point. Just as the motor would get to this point, the
brushes jump across a gap in the stator rings. Momentum carries the motor forward over this gap.
When the brushes get to the other side of the gap, they contact the stator ring again and the
polarity of the voltage is reversed in this side of ring. The motor begins accelerating again, this
time trying to get to the opposite set of poles. This continues as the motor rotates.

7
Easy to control speed [6]

Controlling the speed of a brushed DC motor is simple. The increase in armature voltage leads to
faster rotation of the motor. This relationship is linear to the motor’s maximum speed. The
maximum armature voltage which corresponds to a motor’s rated speed is available in certain
standard voltages, which roughly increase in conjunction with horsepower. Thus, the smallest
industrial motors are rated 90VDC and 180VDC. Larger units are rated at 250VDC and
sometimes higher. Specialty motors for use in mobile applications are rated 12, 24, or 48 VDC.
Other tiny motor may be rated 5VDC. Most industrial DC motors will operate reliably over a
speed range of about 20:1—down to about 5-7% of base speed. This is much better performance
than the comparable AC motor. This is partly due to the simplicity of control, but is also partly
due to the fact that most industrial DC motors are designed with variable speed operation in
mind, and have added heat dissipation features which allow lower operating speeds.

Easy to control torque

In a brushed DC motor, torque control is also simple, since output torque is proportional to
current. If you limit the current, you have just limited the torque which the motor can achieve.
This makes the motor ideal for delicate applications such as textile manufacturing.

Simple, Cheap drive design

The result of this design is that variable speed or variable torque electronics are easy to design
and manufacture. Varying the speed of a brushed DC motor requires little more than a large
enough potentiometer. In practice, these have been replaced for all but sub fractional horsepower
applications by the SCR and PWM drives, which offer relatively precisely control voltage and
current.

1.3.2 Disadvantages

Expensive to produce
Can’t reliably control at lowest speeds
Physically larger
High maintenance
Dust

8
 Chapter 2: Motor Protection

2.1 Introduction:

This chapter explains the different types of protections which are used for motors. The protection
used is similar for synchronous motors, induction motors, synchronous condensers, and the
motors of frequency converters. Normally the motor in unattended stations must be protected
against all harmful abnormal conditions. The protection of very small motors is similar as the
basic principles of protection are the same. The practice described here for large motors are at
least equal to those covered in the National Electricity Code and are generally more
comprehensive.

2.1.1 Short Circuit Protection of Stator Windings:

Overcurrent protection is the basic type that is used for short-circuit protection of stator
windings. The equipment for this type of protection ranges from fuses for motor voltages of 600
volts and lower, through direct-acting overcurrent tripping elements on circuit breakers, to
separate overcurrent relays and circuit breakers for voltages of 2200 volts and higher.

Figure 4: Diagram of Stator Windings of a 3 Phase AC Motor [7]

Protection should be provided against a fault in any ungrounded conductor between the
interrupting device and the motor, including its stator windings. Where fuses or direct acting
tripping devices are used, there must be one protective element in each ungrounded conductor.
Where relays and current transformers are used with so-called “a-c tripping” from the output of
the current transformers, a CT and relay are required for each ungrounded conductor. However,

9
if battery or capacitor tripping is provided, three current transformers with two phase relays and
one ground relay will suffice for a three phase circuit whether or not the source neutral is
grounded. The types of protection provided are both inverse-time and instantaneous phase and
ground overcurrent relays for automatic tripping. The inverse-time phase relays are generally
adjusted to pick up at somewhat less than about 4 times rated motor current [8], but to have
enough time delay so as not to operate during the motor-starting period. The instantaneous phase
relays are adjusted to pick up a little above the locked-rotor current. The inverse-time ground
relays are adjusted to pick up at no more than about 20% of rated current or about 10% of the
maximum available ground-fault current, whichever is smaller [9]. The instantaneous ground relay
pickup should be from about 2.5 to 10 times rated current and this relay may not be used if the
maximum available ground-fault current is less than about 4 times rated current, or if the pickup
has to be more than about 10 times rated current to avoid undesired tripping during motor
starting or external faults. If a CT, like a bushing CT, is used with all three phase conductors of
the motor circuit going through the opening in the core, a very sensitive instantaneous
overcurrent relay can be used that will operate for ground faults within about 10% of the
windings from the neutral end.

Percentage-differential relaying is provided for large motors. It is the practice of manufacturers

to recommend such protection for motors of the following ratings: (a) 2200 volts to 4999 volts,
inclusive, 1500 hp and higher; (b) 5000 volts and higher, 201 hp and higher [10]. The advantage of
percentage-differential relaying is that it will provide faster and more sensitive protection than
overcurrent relaying, but at the same time it will not operate on starting or other transient
overcurrent’s.

2.1.2 Stator-Overheating Protection:

All motors need protection against overheating resulting from overload, stalled rotor, or
unbalanced stator currents. For complete protection, three-phase motors should have an overload
element in each phase this is because an open circuit in the supply to the power transformer
feeding a motor will cause twice as much current to flow in one phase of the motor as in either of
the other two phases, as shown in figure 5.

10
 Figure 5: Illustrating the need for overcurrent protection in each phase [11]

Consequently, to be sure that there will be an overload element in the most heavily loaded phase
no matter which power-transformer phase in open-circuited, one should provide overload
elements in all three phases. In spite of the desirability of overload elements in all three phases,
motors rated about 1500 hp and below are generally provided with elements in only two phases,
on the assumption that the open-phase condition will be detected and corrected before any motor
can overheat. Single-phase motors require an overload element in only one of the two
conductors. According to the NEC motors rated less than 1500 hp are required to provide either
replica-type thermal-overload relays or long-time –overcurrent relays or direct-acting tripping
devices to disconnect a motor from its source of supply in the event of overload. Other things
being equal, the replica type will generally provide the best protection because the time-current
characteristics more nearly matches the heating characteristic of a motor over the full range of
overcurrent; also , it may take into account the heating effect of the load on the motor before the
overload condition occurred. The inverse-time-overcurrent relay will tend to ‘overprotect’ at low
currents and to “under protect” at high currents. However, the overcurrent relay is very easy to
adjust and test, and it has built in self-reset. For continuous-rated motors without service factor
or short-time overload ratings, the protective relays or devices should be adjusted to trip at not
more than about 115% of rated motor current. For motors with 115% service factor, tripping
should occur at not more than about 125% of rated motor current. For motors with special short-
time overload ratings, or with other service factors, the motor characteristic will determine the
required tripping characteristic, but the tripping current should not exceed about 140% of rated
motor current .[12]

11
 Figure 6: Thermal Imaging Thermography showing stator overheating of a motor [13]

The overload relays will also provide protection in the event of a phase to phase short circuit, and
in practice one set of such relays serves for both purposes wherever possible. A survey shows
that a large number of power companies use a single set of long time inverse-time-overcurrent
relays, adjusted to pick up at 125% to 150% of rated motor current[14], in used for combined
short-circuit and overload protection of non-essential auxiliary motors; they are supplemented by
instantaneous overcurrent relays adjusted as already described. Such inverse-time-overload
relays must withstand short-circuit currents without damage for as long as it takes to trip the
breaker. Also the minimum requirements as to the number of relays or devices for either function
must be fulfilled.

Motors rated higher than about 1500 hp are generally provided with resistance temperature
detectors embedded in the stator slots between the windings. If such temperature detectors are
provided, a single relay operating from these detectors is used instead of the replica-type or
inverse-time-overcurrent relays. Also, current-balance relays capable of operating on about 25%
or less unbalance between the phase currents should be supplied. If the motor does not have
resistance temperature detectors, but is provided with current-balance relays, a single replica-
type thermal overload relay may be substituted for the resistance-temperature-detector relay.

Specially cooled or ventilated motors may require other types of protective equipment than those
recommended here. For such motors the manufacturer’s recommendations should be obtained.

12
2.1.3 Rotor Overheating Protection:

We will discuss the rotor overheating protection for squirrel cage induction motor, wound rotor
induction motor, synchronous motors.

Squirrel Cage Induction Motors: The replica-type or the inverse-time-overcurrent relays

recommended for protection against stator overheating, will generally protect the rotor except
where high-inertia load is involved; such applications should be referred to the manufacturer for
recommendations. Where resistance-temperature-detector relaying is used, a single replica-type
or inverse-type-overcurrent relay should be added for rotor protection during starting.

Wound-Rotor Induction Motors: General recommendations for this type of motor cannot be
given except that the rotor may not be protected by the stator –overheating protective equipment
that has been described. Each application should be referred to the manufacturer for
recommendations.

Synchronous Motors: Amortisseur-overheating protection during starting or loss of synchronism

should be provided for all “loaded-start” motors. Such protection is best provided by a time-
delay thermal overload relay connected in the field-discharge circuit.

Amortisseur [15]-overheating protection is not required for “unloaded-start” motors. An unloaded-

start motor is not likely to fail to start on the application of normal starting voltage. Also, loss-of-
synchronism protection that is provided either directly or indirectly will provide the necessary
protection. An exception to the foregoing is a condenser or a motor that has an oil-lift pump for
starting.

When stator-overheating protection is provided by current-balance-relaying equipment, the

Amortisseur is indirectly protected also against unbalanced phase currents.

Protection against field-winding overheating because of prolonged over-excitation should be

provided for synchronous motors or condensers with automatic voltage regulators without
automatic field-current-limiting features. A thermal overload relay with time delay or a relay that
responds to an increase in the field-winding resistance with increasing temperature may be used.
In an attending station, the relay would merely control an alarm.

2.1.4 Loss of Synchronism Protection:

All loaded-start synchronous motors should have protection against loss of synchronism,
generally arranged to remove the load and the excitation temporarily and to reapply them when
permissible. Otherwise, the motor is disconnected from its source.

13
For unloaded-start motors except the synchronous motor of a frequency converter, the
combination of under voltage protection, loss-of-excitation protection, and the d-c generator
overcurrent protection that is generally furnished will provide satisfactory loss-of-synchronism
protection. Should additional protection be required, it can be provided by an inverse time
overcurrent relay energized by the current in the running connection and arranged to trip the
main breaker.

2.1.5 under voltage Protection:

All ac motors should have protection against under voltage on at least one phase during both
starting and running. For polyphase motors larger than about 1500 hp, polyphase under voltage
protection is generally provided in all the phases.

2.1.6 Loss of excitation protection:

All unloaded-start synchronous motors that do not have loss of synchronism protection and do
not have automatic voltage regulators, should have loss of excitation protection in the form of a
low set , time delay undercurrent relay whose coil is in series with the field winding.

If a motor has loss-of-synchronism protection, amortisseur-over heating protection, and stator

overheating protection, this equipment’s indirectly provide loss of excitation protection.

2.1.7 Field ground fault protection:

This type of protection is used for motor rated above 1500 hp. normally field circuits are
operated ungrounded, a single ground fault increases the stress on the ground and the chances of
a second ground fault occurrence increases. If a second ground occurs, part of the field winding
is bypassed and the current through the remaining portion is increased causing a lot of stress on
the shaft of the motor.

The safest practice is to use protective relaying to trip the motors main circuit instantaneously
after the first fault occurs.

14
 Chapter 3: Introduction to Relays

3.1 Relay and its classifications:

IEEE defines relay as “an electrical device that is designed to respond to input conditions in a
prescribed manner and, after a pickup value is reached, it causes contact operation.” Relay can be
classified on various factors.

1. Number of operating quantities: single input relays, two input relays and multiple input
relays. Example: an overcurrent relay is a single quantity relay; a differential relay is a
two quantity relay.
2. Relays can be classified on the function they perform.
Example: Overcurrents relay; over/under voltage relay; distance relay; directional relay;
thermal relay; under power relay.
3. Relays can be classified on their time of operation.
Example: instantaneous relay; time-delay relay; inverse time current relay.
4. Relays can be classified by their construction features.
Example: attracted armature relays, induction disc type relays, induction cup type relays,
balanced beam type relays.
5. The most important classification used is based on their principle of operation. Relays
working on electromechanical principle are called electromechanical relays. Relays
which have static (electronic) components in them are called static relays and those
having microprocessor embedded in them are called microprocessor based relays.

3.2 Electromechanical Relay:

Electromechanical relays are switching devices used to control high power devices. In such
relays the switching mechanism that is part of an operating circuit, is activated by means of a
relay solenoid coil through which the switching current flows.

Figure 7: Electromechanical relay [16]

15
 Electromechanical type relays have one or more mechanical displacement electrical
contacts coupled to a mobile element of the magnetic circuit of an electromagnet. The
electromagnet is controlled by supplying power to its coil which drives the movement of
the mobile element of the magnetic circuit of an electromagnet. The electromagnet is
controlled by supplying power to its coil which drives the movement of the mobile
element and the closing or opening of the electrical contacts of the relay.

Advantages
 Simple design
 Economical

Disadvantages
 Bulky
 Less Reliable

3.3 Static Relays

Static relay generally refers to a relay wherein active semiconductor devices such as diodes,
transistors, I.C.s are employed for processing the electrical input signals so as to obtain the
desired relay characteristics. The operation of the final contact may be either a solid state device
or an electromechanical device.

16
 Figure 8: Static relay using Solid State devices [17]

Advantages:

 Low Burden
 No Moving Parts
 Fast response
 Precise characteristic
 Sensitivity
 Miniaturization
 Less maintenance
 Low resetting time
 Low overshoot
 Low transient over-reach
 High drop-off to pick-up ratio

Disadvantages:

 Vulnerability to voltage transients

 Variation of characteristic with temperature and age
 Price
 Overload capacity
 Reliability

3.4 Microprocessor based relay:

Low voltage and low current signals are brought into a low pass filter that removes frequency
content above about 1/3 of the sampling frequency. This signal is then sent to the A/D converter
which needs to sample faster than 2x per cycle of the highest frequency that it is to be monitored.
The AC signal is then sampled by the relay’s analog to digital converter at anywhere from 4 to
64 samples per power system cycle. In some relays, the entire sampled data is kept for
oscillographic records, but in the relay, only the fundamental component is needed for most
protection algorithms, unless a high speed algorithm is used that uses sub cycle data to monitor
for fast changing issues.

17
 Figure 9: Working inside a Microprocessor based relay [18]

The sampled data is then passed through a low pass filter that numerically removes the frequency
content that is above the fundamental frequency magnitude and angle. Next the microprocessor
passes the data into a set of protection algorithms, which are a set of logic equations which help
in monitoring for abnormal conditions that indicate a fault. If a fault condition is detected, output
contacts operate to trip the associated circuit breaker.

Impedance is calculated using following equation:

di
v=Ri+ L (1)
dt

L=
∫ v −R∫ i (2)
i

X l =ωL (3)

18
 Internally microprocessor performs integration operation for calculation of impedances.
Microprocessor based relay then compares the computed value with a preset value and
thereby sends a signal to circuit breaker to act accordingly.
The standard operations that a microprocessor based motor protection relay has to do are
as follows:

Relay Function Function Description

11 Multifunction device
21 Impedance(21G implies ground impedance)
24 Volts/Hz
27 Under Voltage(27LL=line to line,27LN=line to ground)
32 Directional power element
46 Negative sequence current
40 Loss of Excitation(Generators)
50 Negative sequence voltage
51 Instantaneous overcurrent(N or G implies ground)
59 Inverse time overcurrent(N or G implies ground)
62 Timer
64 Ground Fault(64F=Field ground, 64G=Generator ground)
67 Directional Over Current(controls 50/51 element)
79 Auto-reclosure
81 Under/Over frequency
86 Lockout Relay/Trip circuit supervision
87 Current differential(87L= transmission line differential,
87T=Transformer differential, 87G=Generator
differential)
Figure 10: Standard ANSI definitions for microprocessor-based relay [19]

Advantages:

• More sensitive and scalable

• Communication Options
• Fault Oscillography and SER data
• Better targeting and annunciation
• More reliable; failure alarm also included
• Advanced protection features all in one box
• Economical both Financially and Physically

Disadvantages:

• Shift in Thought: Digital Logic v. Circuitry

• More Complex Logical Systems
• Longer Commissioning Procedures
• Additional Training Requirements

19
 Chapter 4: Motor Protection Relay (SEL-710)

4.1 Introduction:

Motor Protection relay are multifunction motor protection relay for protection of AC motors. The
multifunction relay used here as a reference is SEL-710 relay. SEL 710 relay is an all in one
relay featuring thermal overload protection, thermal start-up supervision, stall protection or time
overcurrent protection. It also features high-set overcurrent protection, low-set earth fault
protection, incorrect phase sequence and phase unbalance protection, loss-of-load protection and
supervision of multiple start-up. It has a whole set of measured fault parameters recorded in
memory at relay operation. This relays is categorized according to the performance as a
multifunction relay and operation as digital relay.

4.2 Application:

The motor protection relay type SEL-710 employs the latest microprocessor techniques to
provide protection of medium sized and large three phase motors in all types of ordinary
contactor controlled or circuit breaker controlled motor drives. The motor protection features
extensive data communication capabilities, a variety of I/O choices and programmable SELogic
control equations. The SEL-710 also provides many functions of a programmable logic
controller.

Figure 11: Applications possible using SEL-710 relay[20]

20
The SEL-710 provides the protection and starting opportunities for high-inertia starting
applications because the real-time calculation of changing motor slip and rotor resistance is used
to calculate motor thermal rise and maximize safe starting times. This results in additional start
times for slow-starting motors. If we are using a constant value for motor resistance throughout
the start sequence results in premature trip and reduced start opportunity.

Figure 11a: Motor starting adaptation in an SEL-710 relay [21]

4.3 Principle of Operation:

SEL-710 being a multifunction relay will have different principles for the different types of
protections it offers. We would be discussing each principle of operation individually.

• Short Circuit (50/51): The stage with definite time delay protects against phase short
circuit faults, which are responsible for overheating damages.
• Earth fault Overcurrent Protection (50G/51G): The earth fault current, which can appear
following a stator earth fault, can be detected by non-directional overcurrent protection
element using earth current measured from a sensitive current input. Each group and
related time delay can be programmed to provide maximum selectivity. Protection
element can be configured to make a trip or alarm.
• Loss of Load/Undercurrent (66): The current stage, along with a pick-up time delay, is
used to detect a loss of load due to a shaft failure or a pump running unprimed.
• Current Unbalance and Phase loss (46): Running motors at unbalance conditions results
in overheating, even at current values below the nominal. Principle of operation is based
on monitoring of the percentage of the current unbalance in the three subsequent phases.

21
 • Thermal Overload (49): The protection feature is based on mathematical model of motor
thermal image. The model utilizes heating constant time values. It is input to the relay by
means of T6xIB parameter, which describes the maximum period of time when actual
motor current value is allowed to reach a six fold increase of its nominal value. Cooling
constant time value is calculated on the basis of the heating constant.
• Start/Stall Protection (48/51LR): The relay monitors the starting sequence of the motor
and provides excessive start time protection/locked rotor protection. The detection of the
start-up is based on current criteria only. If Start-up phase is too long there is trip
command or alarm signal. If the starting of motor is finished, start protection is blocked.
During normal motor operation, an overcurrent threshold detects rotor stalling, and the
shorter time delay is used. The normal motor operation, after starting, is detected by
watching current stages.
• Locked Rotor during Starting (51S): During motor start-up, a locked rotor is detected
with the help of a speed switch signal, connected via the logic input. If during start-up
phase input is not shorted the shorter time delay setting is used as it recognizes the motor
is stopped.

4.4 Testing of relay SEL-710:

 Relay is required for the detection of fault and sending it to the circuit breaker. SEL-710
is used here for the protection of motor and also to detect faults.
 There are various types of faults that can occur in motors. Some of them being
overcurrent, undercurrent, over/under voltage, over/under frequency, phase imbalance,
VAR element, under power and motor starting protection.
 To test the relay SEL-710 all the types of faults were manually created and the relay’s
response was tested.
 Tests are conducted mainly in following way:
1) Direct Method
 The test is carried in direct method in order to test the relay directly, and since in real
time these relays are placed on the lines carrying current to the motor the testing is done
mainly by simulation.
 Flow chart & procedure to test SEL-710 using direct method will be explained below.

Connect Device to Computer using

cable”SEL-C234A”

22
 Apply Power to PC & Directional
Over current Relay Protection Relay

Set Parameters using software “SEL-

5030” to default Values

Press <Enter> to Check

Communication Link

Type ACC & enter default password

(587) to go to access level 1

Type 2AC & enter default password

(587) to go to access level 2

Type SET in order to change

parameters (V, I, time etc.)

Change the value of pickup current or

voltage or both to desired value (0.2-5000
amps) & voltage from (100-30000 volts) &
save the settings

Apply 48V dc from power supply to Control circuit

terminals (A01, A02) on rear panel of relay

23
 Apply voltage from power supply going to (E01, E02,
E03 and neutral connected at E04) and current going
from power supply on to ports Z01, Z03 and Z05 and
outputs from Z02, Z04 and Z06

Observe trip signal indicated by relay on its front

panel and also the metering section which tells the
value of fault recorded and type of fault.

Figure 12: Flowchart for the testing of relay SEL-710

4.4.1 Procedure to test Motor Protection relay (SEL-710) using direct method:

Step 1: Software installation

 SEL -5030 CD in inserted into drive of PC and it is automatically loaded.

 SEL-5030 is called PC terminal simulation software.

 Open “SEL-acSELerator” software.

AcSELerator Quickset.lnk

Step 2: Relay Connections

 Motor Protection Relay (SEL-710) is connected to pc using serial communication cable

i.e. SEL-C234A.

 Apply 120 volts from power supply to Control circuit on terminals A01 & A02 (+/H -/H).

24
 Connect Phase A, Phase B and Phase C on Z01, Z03 and Z05 and in parallel across to
E01, E02, and E03. The output for the phase currents is taken from Z02, Z04 and Z06.

 To explain the back panel connections a back panel diagram is shown below.

Voltage Input
from the PT

Figure 12a: Back panel for SEL-710 relay. [22]

25
 Figure 13: AC connections –Across the line starting [23]

Step 3: Test Procedure

 Relay”SEL-710” is powered from a 120V outlet & PC is powered ON. This is indicated
by illumination of LED.

 Click the communication pull down menu, and click on “parameters”, enter the default
settings as shown below :

Description Default Value

BITS PER SECOND 9600

DATA BITS 8
PARITY NONE
STOP BITS 1
FLOW CONTROL NONE

26
 Green light indicating
relay is enabled

Figure 14: Front Panel of SEL-710 relay [24]

Communications

Terminal

Figure 15: AcSelrator Quickset window

27
 Go to TERMINAL button press<Enter> and verify that SEL-710 returns an equals
to (=) prompt.

 Type ACC<Enter> and enter the default password as 587.

 Type 2AC<Enter> and enter the default password as 587.

Level 1 access Level 2 access

Enter Password: 587 Enter Password: 587

Figure 16: Terminal Window

 There is another method of accessing the parameters of the relay and is less complicated
and more user friendly.

28
 We can read the settings directly We can sent the settings to
from the relay using this button the relay by using this button

Main
parameter
box

CT ratio setting and Full

load current setting

PT ratio setting and Nominal

line voltage setting

Figure 17: Setting Window

29
 This is the main window where we can make changes in the settings of the relay
according to the requirements. There are 3 groups and each group can take different
settings. For complex PLC operated networks all 3 groups are kept active and according
to faults and the change in the flow of power the groups are selected.
 The main window as shown in the figure displays settings for the CT and PT ratio
selection. Also depending on the CT ratio we can select the full load current settings and
the nominal line voltage settings. If a mistake is made in writing the full load current or
nominal voltage depending on the CT ratio a red box indicating an error will appear and
the setting cannot be imported to the relay until that error is corrected.
 Settings are also provided for the type of PT ratio depending on its connections we can
select a Wye or Delta type of transformer.
 If two motors are being connected then the CT ratio for each input and full load amperes
of both motors will have to be specified individually.

30
 Phase overcurrent Alarm
Pickup

Current settings=OFF
Overcurrent

Element
Phase overcurrent trip
setting (i.e=1.37*1.6=2.192)

Phase Overcurrent trip delay

Overcurrent
Current
Settings
settings=instantaneous trip

Figure 18: Overcurrent setting window

 In the phase overcurrent settings we set the value of the trip which is calculated upon the
motor starting current and the full load amperes. We can also keep a time delay as the
motor has high starting current during the start. The SEL-710 is adaptive to startup and so
it doesn’t need the time delay. We have not considered Neutral, residual and negative
sequence overcurrent.
 The alarm trip can be switched on which gives us an alarm saying the current is
exceeding the set values.
 There is a delay for the alarm which can also be set depending on the factors and the type
of motor.

31
 Under Current element
settings window

Under Current Trip Pickup

setting (i.e. = (0.8*1.6=1.28)

Under Current delay

settings

Current value is=5 sec

Under Current alarm=OFF

Load Loss Protection

delay=0 sec

Figure 19: Under Current Settings

 The values of undercurrent are depending on two major values the full load amperes and
the no load amperes. The value of undercurrent has to be set at more than the no load
current value and lesser than the full load current value.
 A minimum of 0.4 seconds of delay is required to be set if the undercurrent element is
being used.
 The alarm values can be set from 10% of the full load value to 100% of the full load
value.

32
 Current Imbalance element
setting selection icon

Current Imbalance trip

settings

Current settings=33%

Imbalance trip delay

Current settings=2 sec

Current Imbalance alarm

trip settings

Current Settings=25%

Figure 20: Current Imbalance Element

 Current Imbalance element comes into play when the one of the phase of motor is down.
Due to this there is an imbalance and it causes a lot of stress on the motor. This also leads
to heating of the motor and can cause insulation problems.
 In the current settings I have kept the alarm settings on 25% and trip settings on 33%.

33
 Under Voltage element
setting selection tab

Under voltage Trip pickup

setting (i.e. =0.9*220=198v)

Under voltage trip delay

setting

Current setting=5 sec

Under voltage alarm pickup

and delay setting

Figure 21: Undervoltage Element

 Under voltage will cause the motor to slow down and the current would increase causing
the heating effect in motor to take place. The current increase will also sometimes cause
the over current relay to trip.
 The over voltage settings are kept in such a way that the voltage doesn’t fall too much.
Too much fall in the voltage would lead to a sudden rise in temperature which could lead
to motor burning itself.

34
 Over voltage trip pickup
Current Pickup=1.1*220=242volts

Over voltage trip delay

Current Pickup=2 sec

Over voltage alarm pickup

Current Pickup=262 volts
No time delay is selected

Over Voltage element

selection tab

Figure 22: Over voltage element

 The overvoltage fault is due to bus voltage and does occur when the load is decreasing
suddenly.
 To protect the motor against such types of faults the trip settings have been set in such a
way that no more than the maximum level the motor can handle is supplied to the motor.

35
4.5 Device Metering and test results

 The following is the window which is observed for reading the motor data which is
changing at 9600 bits /second.
 In the metering section we can observe the Input currents which are coming into the
motor, the input voltages the active, reactive and total power, power factor and
frequency.
 It also indicates the relay is enabled and the motor is running with no faults.

36
 Figure 23: Metering of the motor using acSELerator

 Here after the metering section we can go to the Phase component section and we can
observe the currents and voltages and their phase shifts. This is a feature which has been
given to observe the unbalanced faults that occur through a graphical interface.

37
Figure 24: Phase Components observed in the acSELerator

38
 Figure 25: Instantaneous values observed in acSELerator

 The instantaneous metering value section would give us the instantaneous value of the
current, average current magnitude, Motor load, Negative sequence current, current
imbalance, differential phase current value, voltage magnitude, average phase voltage
value, real power, reactive power, apparent power, Power factor and frequency.

39
 Figure 26: Min/Max metering values in acSELerator

 The Min/Max metering values section would record all the current and voltage values
that have occurred as the min or maximum for that section.
 It also records the maximum and minimum of Power, reactive power, apparent power and
frequency.

40
 This is the observation during an undervoltage fault that occurs and as we can see the
value of voltage is quite lower than the set Vnominal value. The OUT103 light indicates
the circuit needs to be tripped. The front panel shows TRIP indication and also the type
of fault that has occurred.

Figure 27: Under voltage trip observed on acSELerator

41
 Figure 28: Over voltage Trip as seen on acSELerator

 This is the observation during an over voltage fault that occurs and as we can see the
value of voltage is quite higher than the set Vnominal value. The OUT103 light indicates
the circuit needs to be tripped. The front panel shows TRIP indication and also the type
of fault that has occurred.

42
 For faults analysis we can observe the fault occurrence in the relay and the trip signal and
the trip in the relay which occurs. To observe these files we need to go to TOOLS in the
acSELerator software and select EVENTS and select GET EVENT FILES. We can get
the files in two formats the RAW files which has more data storage capacity for detailed
analysis and the CEV files which give us the over view of the fault. These files would
show us the detailed observation just at the occurrence of the fault and the operation of
the relay in response to it.

Figure 29: Shows a figure of over frequency fault occurrence.

43
 Figure 30: Observing the under frequency fault occurrence

 We can observe in the figure that during an under frequency fault occurrence the
relay would trip within 5 cycles of fault detection and as a time delay was set the
delay in fault detection is because of that.
 We can observe all three currents and their values and see the distortion in it. The
positive values are much higher than the negative values.

44
 Figure 31: Phase Imbalance fault

 Phase imbalance fault occurrence happens when one or more phases is not
supplying proper amount of current which leads to strain on the motor and causes
heating.
 As we can see in the above figure phase C is faulty and the value of it is
fluctuating which leads to a fault occurrence and makes the relay trip.

45
 Chapter 5: Conclusion

The testing of fault on SEL-710 microprocessor based relay concludes that when the relay is
tested on all major faults, a satisfactory tripping to protect the motor is potentially obtained.
Several functions such as faster operation, multiple protections and setting selection makes SEL-
710 relay significantly different from electromagnetic and the static relays.

Test was conducted in following method as explained in the paper:

1. Direct Method.

This method helps to understand the functionality and response of relay under fault conditions.
Response of relay is determined by the indication of respective LED’s.

Further testing can be carried on SEL-710 for various faults such as VAR fault, Double motor
differential current fault, under power fault etc. Unlike in the paper where fault is generated to
test the relay, industrial testing of relays is done using a multi amp test kit which has all the fault
generation parameters and only the connections need to be done to test the relay and observe the
results. In real time, testing is done by by-passing relays and real time data is computed with the
help of Communication Processor(Remote Terminal Unit) which collects the data from lines,
passes it to a computer from which signals are given to PLC or building Automation
system which then passes on the signals to the relays (like SEL-710,SEL-701, etc.) which are
present as backup relays.

Figure 32: Real time testing

46
 References
1. http://www.oee.rncan-nrcan.gc.ca/industrial/equipment/motors-ref/page-02.cfm
2. http://www.beechservices.com/Images/servomotor4.gif
3. http://www.oddparts.com/acsi/motortut.htm
4. http://www.oddparts.com/acsi/motortut.htm
5. http://www.kalenelectric.com/dcmotorinside.html
6. http://www.oddparts.com/acsi/motortut.htm
7. http://www.oee.rncan-nrcan.gc.ca/industrial/equipment/motors-ref/page-04.cfm
8. http://www.gedigitalenergy.com/multilin/notes/artsci/art10.pdf, page202
9. http://www.gedigitalenergy.com/multilin/notes/artsci/art10.pdf, page 202
10. http://www.gedigitalenergy.com/multilin/notes/artsci/art10.pdf, page 202
11. http://www.gedigitalenergy.com/multilin/notes/artsci/art10.pdf, page 203
12. http://www.gedigitalenergy.com/multilin/notes/artsci/art10.pdf, page 204
13. http://www.goinfrared.com/media/articles/overheating_motors.asp
14. http://www.gedigitalenergy.com/multilin/notes/artsci/art10.pdf, page 204
15. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/amortisseur_winding
16. http://www.diycalculator.com/imgs/hrrb-02.gif
17. http://www.electro-tech-online.com/general-electronics-chat/36293-circuit-control-
hp-laserjet-fuser.html
18. http://www.pacw.org/no-
cache/issue/winter_2009_issue/testing_philosophy/testing_philosophy.html
19. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_protective_relay
20. http://www.pdftop.com/view/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zZWxpbmMuY29tL1dvcmtBcmVh
L0Rvd25sb2FkQXNzZXQuYXNweD9pZD0yODkw
21. http://www.pdftop.com/view/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zZWxpbmMuY29tL1dvcmtBcmVh
L0Rvd25sb2FkQXNzZXQuYXNweD9pZD0yODkw
22. SEL motor protection relay flyer, page 4
23. SEL motor protection relay manual, page 26
24. SEL motor protection relay flyer, page 4

47