GENERATOR PROTECTION

By

Subhash Thakur
PE-Elect
sthakur@ntpceoc.co.in

Generator Protection

Gen Stator Thermal Protection

Field Thermal Protection
Gen stator fault Protection
Gen rotor field Protection
Gen abnormal operating conditions
System backup Protection
Power transformer Protection

Generator Protection
Stator Thermal protection
Thermal protection for the generator stator core and windings
Generator overload

Winding Temperature
Over current

Failure of cooling systems

RTDs Thermocouple
Flow and pressure sensor

Localized hot spots caused by core lamination

insulation failures or by localized or rapidly developing
winding failures

Generator Core monitor

Generator Protection

Turbine-generator short time thermal capability for balanced three-phase loading

Generator Protection
Generator Field Thermal protection
Thermal Protection
Direct rotor Body temperature measurement
not possible
Core Monitor may detect overheating

Protection for field over excitation

IDMT/ Definite Time
Excitation limiters

Generator Protection

Generator field short time thermal capability

Generator Protection Requirement

Generator faults are considered to be serious since they

may cause severe and costly damage to insulation,
windings, and the core may also produce severe
mechanical torsional shock to shafts and couplings.
Fault current may continue to flow for many seconds even
after the generator is tripped, because of trapped flux
within the machine, thereby increasing the amount of fault
damage.
As a consequence, for faults in or near the generator that
produce high magnitudes of short-circuit currents, some
form of high-speed protection is normally used to trip and
shut down the machine as quickly as possible in order to
minimize damage.

Stator fault Protection

High Speed Differential protection

Will detect Phase to Phase Faults, Double phase

faults involving earth
Single phase to Earth will not be detected due to
limited earth fault current available.

Two types of high-speed differential relays

are commonly used for stator phase fault
detection:
High-impedance differential
Biased differential

High Impedance Differential Relay

Use two sets of identical dedicated CTs.
PS class CT with stringent parameters to be used
This scheme has higher sensitivity than the
percentage differential relay.
Through fault stability achieved by using
stabilising resistors in the relay circuit.

High Impedance Differential Relay

Stabilizing resistor calculation :
Vs = If (Rct+2Rl)
If - Maximum through fault current in the
system
(converted to sec side)
Rct- Secondary resistance of the CT
Rl lead resistance of the sec connection
(typ 8.73 ohms per km for 2.5 sq mm cu
cable)
Rs = Vs/Is (VA/Is*Is)
Typical setting 5- 10% of rated current.

Biased Type Diff Relay

Less stringent CT parameters. CTs can be shared with other
protections.
Through fault stability achieved through biasing.
CT mismatch (typ of the order of 1:5 ) can be accommodated.
More suitable for numerical integrated protection systems as the
CTs can be shared for many functions.

Modern numerical relays have flexible settings for

Id, b (point of slope change) and the slopes.

Biased Differential protection

Typical bias setting: 10% of rated current.

INTERTURN PROTECTION
Current based system
For generators with split neutrals with all six terminals
brought out on neutral side.
Delayed low-set o/c relay which senses the current in
the connection between the neutrals of the stator
windings
Voltage based system
Relay compares the neutral NGT sec voltage and
Genertaor terminal open delta voltage.
Balance during external E/F or normal condition
During inter turn fault open delta voltage will be
developed and NGT sec voltage will be zero, resulting in
a differential voltage which makes the relay operate.
Typical setting
Definite time type relays: minimum setting with 1 sec delay.

Inter turn protection

Split Phase Protection

Voltage Based
V
o
l

Generator Grounding Practices

It is common practice to ground all types of
generators through some form of external
impedance
limit the mechanical stresses and fault damage
in the machine,
to limit transient voltages during faults, and
to provide a means for detecting ground faults
within the machine.

Typical Grounding practices

Ungrounded
Solid Grounding
High-impedance grounding
Low-resistance grounding
Reactance grounding
Grounding-transformer grounding

Generator Grounding Practices

Ungrounded
Phase to ground fault current limited
Generators are not often operated ungrounded
as it may produce high transient over-voltages
during faults and makes the fault location
difficult to determine.
Solid Grounding
Solid grounding of a generator neutral is not
generally used since this practice may result in
high mechanical stresses and excessive fault
damage in the machine.

Generator Grounding Practices

High Impedance Grounding
High resistance grounding

The high-resistance grounding method utilizes a resistor

connected across the secondary of the distribution transformer
to limit the maximum ground fault current.
For a single-phase-to-ground fault at the machine terminals, the
primary fault current will be limited to a value in the range of
about 3 A to 25 A.

Ground fault neutralizer grounding

The ground fault neutralizer grounding method utilizes a

secondary tunable reactor to limit the maximum ground fault
current.

Low resistance grounding

In this method, a resistor is connected directly between the

generator neutral and ground.
For a single-phase-to-ground fault at its terminals the primary
fault current will be limited to a value in the range of about 200
A up to 150% of rated full-load current.
Resistor cost and size usually preclude the use of resistors.

Stator Earth Fault Protection

E/F current is typically limited to 5-10Ato minimizes the damage to laminations.
First earth fault is less critical but needs clearance as

It m a y de velop into a ph to p h fault .

Seco nd fa ult will res ult in ve ry h igh cu rren t.

Two types of coverage:

100 % w inding
95 % w inding

95 % Stator Earth Fault

Any fault involving earth results shift of
Neutral voltage.
This shift can be detected by measuring the
Voltage across Grounding Resistor Or from the
generator terminal Open Delta voltage.
Typical coverage 95% Of Stator Winding.
Typical Setting:

5% with 1 Sec TD

100 % Stator E/F Protection

Third Harmonic Principle
Relay responds to the reduction of the 3 rd
Harmonic Component
For a Stator Phase-to-ground fault at or near
the Generator Neutral, there will be an
increase in third Harmonic Voltage at The
Generator Terminals, which Will Cause Relay
Operation.

100% SEF based on third harmonics

measurements

100% SEF based on third harmonics

measurements
Disadvantages
Due to design variations, certain
generating units may not produce
sufficient third harmonic voltages.
This method does not protect the
machine during stand still conditions.

100% stator earth fault protection

(Low freq. injection principle)
Detects the ground
faults
by injecting a low
frequency
signal (say 20 hz) at the
neutral earthing
transformer
and monitor the earth
current in the winding.

SEF USING INJECTION PRINCIPLE

TYPICAL CONNECTION
Earthing transformer

Low ohmic

Bandpass
(8 at 20 Hz)

20-Hz-Generator
(appr. 25 V)

a
DC or AC

RL
b

Blocking
400A
5A

Relay
U
a
Neutral
transformer

Typical settings for 500 MW unit

Trip : 1 KOhm / 1 sec
Alarm : 10 Kohm /10 sec

Rotor Earth Fault Protection

Effects
First rotor E/F does not cause immediate damage
Second E/F results in short circuit of rotor winding.
Causes magnetic unbalance/mechanical forces
Measure

Low frequency injection method

Modern rotor earth fault protection relay operates on the

principle of low frequency injection into the field winding
via capacitors.
Corresponding current or resistance during E/F is sensed

Typical setting for a 500 mw Generator

Alarm 25 k ohm time = 10 sec
Trip
5 k ohm time = 1 sec

Rotor E/F Using Low frequency injection method

Rotor E/F Using Low frequency injection method

Negative sequence protection

Causes of negative squence current
one pole open in line
Unbalanced loads
Unbalanced system faults
Induces double frequency rotor current in the rotor surface
thereby leading to high and dangerous temperatures in a short
span of time.

Negative sequence protection relays shall be set to the NPS

withstand capability of the machine which is given by
k = i22x t
Typical for 500 mw
Permissible neg seq current = 5 8 % of stator current
permissive i22x t = 5 10
settings adopted for ntpc
i2 =
= 7.5 %
2

Negative sequence protection

Loss of field protection

Loss of field protection

Acts as an induction generator
Induced eddy currents in the field winding, rotor body,
wedges and retaining rings
MW flow in to the system/ MVAR flows in to the machine.
The apparent imp moves in to the forth quadrant of x-y
plane
Method of detection:
Impedance measurement with Under Voltage
Some relays are set in the admittance plane matching
with the capability curve of the machine.

Trip characteristics of loss of field protection

Trip characteristics of loss of field

protection

Trip characteristics of loss of field protection

Generator Capability Curve

RELAY LINE

Out of step protection

Machine runs out of synchronism with the network

Cyclic variation of rotor angle
Current increases.
Results in the winding stress
It may also damage the auxiliaries of the affected unit

Method of detection
Variations in impedance measured at Gen Terminal
Distinguish between the recoverable swing and the
irrecoverable swing
blinders and a supervisory mho element,
Trips the machine when imp is inside the mho and
cross the blinders with the specified time.
Minimum impedance (multiple zone) + counting no
of swings

Out of step protection settings

Typical Over Fluxing Withstand

Capability

Accidental back energisation

Cause
Flash over of the generator breaker
Incorrect closing of the generator breaker
Effects

Cause operation as an induction motor

Damage machine and turbine
The rapid heating iron paths near the rotor surface due to
stator induced current.

Over current + CB auxiliary contacts

checks for the current when the gen breaker contacts are
open
set below the rated current(90%)

o/c and u/v measurements

Setting - o/c 1.2 times & u/v

70%

Accidental Back Energisation

Reverse /Low forward power Protection

Low forward and reverse power

inter lock
To allow entrapped steam in the turbine to be
utilized to avoid damage of the turbine blade.
To protect the machine from motoring action
Trip under class B after a short time delay in
case the turbine is already tripped ( typ set at
2 sec)
Trip under class A, after a long time delay if
turbine is not tripped (typically set at 10 -30
sec)
Power setting typ 0.5 % of rated power

O/V & U/F protection

Typical settings of a 3 stage o/v relay is as follows
Alarm 110 % 2 sec
Trip
120 % 1 sec

140 % instantaneous
Abnormal Frequency protection
Typical setting:
U/F
Alarm - 48.5hz 5 sec
Trip - 47.4 hz 2 sec

51 hz

O/F
1 sec

Backup impedance protection

For uncleared system fault
The backup protection is time delayed to coordinate
with the zone 3 setting of lines
Detected by
over current
impedance
Impedance type preferred as the line is provided
with distance relays
Setting should be made to cover the GT imp and
the longest line impedance.
Setting should take care of the infeed from other
generators connected to the same bus also.
Time setting 1.5 2 sec

Over view of type of fault Vs protection

FAULT/
ABNML

EFFECT

PROTECTION

Thermal
Over heating of stator wdg /
over loading insulation failure

Thermo couples/
Over current relays

External
fault

Over load/negative phase

sequence relay, Backup
Impedance/ Earth Fault

Unbalanced loading stress

Stator faults Winding burn out

Shorting of of core
lamination

Differential protection
100% E/F prot/95% E/F
Inter turn protection

Rotor fault

Damage to shaft/bearing

Two stage rotor E/F

protection

Motoring

Damage to turbine blades

LFPR/Rev power Inter lock

O/V,O/F,U.F

Insulation failure,Heating of
core failure of blades

O/V relay Volt/Hz relay

U/F relay

Loss of field

Induction gen operation

Absorb MVAR from
system/damage to rotor wdg

Loss of field

COMMONLY USED GEN/GEN TRFR RELAYS

PROTECTI
ON

ALSTOM/AREVA

ABB

HIGH IMP
DIFF

CAG 34
MICOM P343

RADHA
REG 216

BIASED
DIFF

MBCH
MICOM
P 633

RADSB
RET 316

7 UT

POWER
RELAYS

RXPE

PPX

7 UM SERIES

Directional power relays

LOSS OF
FIELD

YCGF

RAGPC(DI
R O/C+U/V)

7UM SERIES

Impedance /

100% E/F

PVMM
MICOM P343
PG871

GIX

7UE22

REG 216

7UM SERIES

95% E/F

VDG

BACK UP
IMP

YCG15
MICOM SERIES

RAKZB
REG

SIEMENS

7UM SERIES

REMARK

In case of duplicated diff,

one low imp & one high
imp preferred
For trfr biased relay
preferred

admittance

7UM SERIES

Low frequency
injection type preferred
over 3 rd harmonic
principle
Open delta of gen sec VT

7UM 516

Minimum impedance

PROTECTI
ON

ALSTOM

ABB

SIEMENS

Remarks

OVER
FLUXING

GTTM

RATUB
RALK

7RW

IDMT

POLE
SLIPPING

ZTO+YTG
M15

RXZF+RXPE

7UM 516

IMPEDANCE
IMP+ DIR O/C
IMP+NO OF POWER
SWINGS

ACC.
BACK
ENERG

CTIG

RAGUA

7UM SERIES

O/C +CB AUX

CONTACT
CURRENT
ELEMENT+U/V

INTER
TURN

VDG
MICOM

REG

7UM SERIES

comp of open delta 0n

gen term+ngt sec
voltage

NEG PH
SEQ

CTN

RARIB

7UM SERIES

MEASUREMENT OF I2

REF

CAG/FAG

RADHD

7UM SERIES

HIGH IMP PREFFERED

ROTOR
E/F

VDG
MICOM
SERIES

REG SERIES

7UR 22
7 UM SERIES

Type of fault

Protection

Channel

Short circuit

87 G1
87G2
87 GT

1
2
1 OR 2

Stator Earth Fault

64G1
64G2

1
2

Inter turn

95G

1 OR 2

unbalance

46G

1 OR 2

Over load

51G

Alarm

Loss of excitation

40G1
40G2

1
2

Out of step

98G

1 OR 2

Motoring

32 G1/2 / 37 G1/G2

1/2

O/V,O/F
U/F

59/99
81G1/81G1

1 /2
1/2

System back up

21G

1&2

Accidental energisation

50GDM

1 &2

Rotor E/F

64F

1 OR 2

Recommendat
ion

>100 MW

Generator Transformer Protection

Differential
biased differential

20 % bias setting (to cover tap range and

ct mismatch if any)
time: instantaneous
Back up earth fault
Definite time or IDMT relay
30 % with 2 sec time delay
To be coordinated with distance prot zone 3

UT PROTECTION
Differential
Biased differential used
biased setting 20%
Back up over current
2-3 times the full load current
Delay of 1 sec to take care of any large motor
starting case
Restricted E/F
High impedance
Set to 5%-10% in high impedance earthing
Backup E/F
Set to 30% rated current with delay of 1 sec

Other Protections
Overall Differential Protection (87GT)
- Covers generator, GT & UT
GT overhang differential Protection
(87HV)
- Protects GT HV wdg & overhang
portion between GT bushing
and switchyard.

Typical Gen Prot SLD

Typical Generator
protection
scheme

NON GCB SCHEME

GCB SCHEME

TRIP LOGIC OF GENERATOR PROTECTION

Two independent channels with independent CT/VT inputs/ DC
supply/ Trip relays
Class A Trip (Urgent Trips)
All electrical trip
Issues instantaneous Trip to
Turbine , Excitation, Generator EHV CBs,UT LV CBs
In GCB Scheme Class A1 and A2
Class A1 Issues instantaneous Trip to
Turbine , Excitation, Generator EHV CBs,GCB, UT LV CBs
Class A2 Issues instantaneous Trip to
Turbine , Excitation, GCB
Class-B Trip (Non-urgent Trips)
Turbine Trips, GT and UT OTI/WTI trips
Issues delayed Trip to (After Low Forward Power timer)
In Non-GCB scheme-Excitation, Generator CBs,UT LV CBs
In GCB scheme, only GCB and field are tripped, UT remains
charged through GT.
Class C Trip
Trips HV CB only.

RELAY GROUPING

ADDITIONAL control/protection interlocks realized through GRP

Numerical integrated generator protection

systems
Many functions in the same relay
Takes multiple CT/VT inputs.
Minimum of 2 nos to be used.
All the prot functions are to be divided in to 2 groups .
Built in DR(fast scan)/SOE functions
Self supervision
Communicable
Has programmable logic gates which simplifies the auxiliary
circuits.
COMMON RELAYS ARE
REG series OF ABB
7UM SERIES OF SIEMENS
MICOM SERIES OF AREVA.

GENERATOR DISTURBANCE RECORDER

Record the graphic form of instantaneous
values of power system variables
Fast scan (1-5 khz) and slow scan (5/10 hz)
features
Sufficient analogue/digital inputs.
Triggering from digital inputs and
threshold/rate of change of analogue values.
Adequate memory
Good frequency response
Individual acquisition units and commom
evaluation unit for a station

Thank You
For
Your Time