Prepared by:

Muhd Halalluddin Bin Abdul Rahim

At the end of this topic, you will be able to:

1. Describe the purpose of protective relay
2. Identify the protection relay requirement
3. Sketch the basic schematic diagram for relay
protection circuit connection in 3- system
4. Identify the classification of protective relays
5. Determine the construction and operation of
thermal relay

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Definition:
A protective relays is a device that detects faults
and initiates the operation of the circuit breaker
to isolate the detective elements from the rest of
the system

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Purpose of P.R:

For high voltage circuits (say above 33 kV),

relays and circuit breakers are employed to
serve the desired function of automatic
protective gear.
The relays detect the fault and supply
information to the circuit breaker which
performs the function of circuit interruption

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The relays detect the abnormal conditions in

the electrical circuits by constantly measuring
the electrical quantities which are different
under normal and fault condition
The electrical quantities (voltage, current,
frequency and phase angle) may change under
fault conditions
Through the changes in one or more of these
quantities, the relay will signal fault presence,
type and location to the protective relays.
Having detected the fault, the relay operates to
close the trip circuit of the breaker and
disconnect from the faulty circuit
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Selectivity

Speed

Sensitivity

It is the ability of the protective system to select

correctly that part of the system in trouble and
disconnect faulty part without disturbing the rest of
the system
The relay system should disconnect the faulty section
as fast as fast as possible
It is ability of the relay system to operate with low
value of actuating quantity
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Reliability

Simplicity

Economy

It is ability of the relay system to operate under the pre determined conditions. Without reliability, protection
would be rendered largely ineffective and could even
become a liability
The relaying system should be simple so that it can be
easily maintained. Reliability is closely related to
simplicity. The simpler the protection scheme, the
greater will be it reliability
The most important factor in the choice of a particular
protection scheme is the economic aspects. Sometimes it
is economically unjustified to use an ideal scheme of
protection and a compromise method has to adopt. As a
rule, the protective gear should not cost more than 5% of
the total cost

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halalluddin@jke_psas

halalluddin@jke_psas

halalluddin@jke_psas

Thermal relays contain 3 bi-metal strips

together with a trip mechanism in a housing
made of insulating material.
The bimetal strips are heated by the motor
current, causing them to bend and activating
the trip mechanism after a certain travel which
depends on the current-setting of the relay.

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The bimetal strips may be heated

directly or indirectly.
In the first case, the current flows
directly through the bimetal, in the
second through an insulated heating
winding around the strip.
The insulation causes some delay of
the heat-flow so that the inertia of
indirectly heated thermal relays is
greater at higher currents than with
their directly heated counterparts.
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 Basic structure :

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 Consists
of
a
laminated
electromagnet M carrying a
coil C and a pivoted laminated
armature
Armature is balanced by a
counterweight and carries a
pair of spring contact fingers
at its free end
Under
normal
operating
conditions,
the
current
through the relay coil C is
such that counterweight holds
the armature in the position
shown
halalluddin@jke_psas

 However, when a short-circuit

occurs, the current through
the
relay
coil
increases
sufficiently and the relay
armature is attracted upwards.
The contacts on the relay
armature bridge a pair of
stationary contacts attached to
the relay frame
This completes the trip circuit
which results in the opening
of the circuit breaker and,
therefore, in the disconnection
of the faulty circuit
halalluddin@jke_psas

Introduction

This type of relay works on the induction principle

Initiates corrective measures when current in the
circuit exceeds the predetermined value.
The actuating source is a current in the circuit
supplied to the relay from a current transformer.
These relays are used on A.C circuits only and can
operate for fault current flow in either direction.

halalluddin@jke_psas

Basic Structure:
consists of a metallic (aluminium) disc which is
free to rotate in-between the poles of 2
electromagnets.
The upper electromagnet has a primary and a
secondary winding
The primary is connected to the secondary of a
C.T. in the line to be protected and is tapped at
intervals.
The tapping's are connected to a plug-setting
bridge by which the number of active turns on the
relay operating coil can be varied, thereby giving
the desired current setting.
The secondary winding is energized by induction
from primary and is connected in series with the
winding on the lower magnet. The controlling
torque is provided by a spiral spring.
The spindle of the disc carries a moving contact
which bridges two fixed contacts (connected to trip
circuit) when the disc rotates through a pre-set
angle.

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Working Principle:
The driving torque on the aluminium disc is set
up due to the induction principle.
This torque is opposed by the restraining torque
provided by the spring.
Under normal operating conditions, restraining
torque is greater than the driving torque
produced by the relay coil current.
Therefore,
the aluminium disc remains
stationary. However, if the current in the
protected circuit exceeds the pre-set value, the
driving torque becomes greater than the
restraining torque.
Consequently, the disc rotates and the moving
contact bridges the fixed contacts when the disc
has rotated through a pre-set angle
The trip circuit operates the circuit breaker
which isolates the faulty section.
halalluddin@jke_psas

Introduction:

When a short-circuit occurs, the

system voltage falls to a low value
and there may be insufficient
torque developed in the relay to
cause its operation.
This difficulty is overcome in the
directional overcurrent relay
which is designed to be almost
independent of system voltage
and power factor.
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Basic Structure:

consists of 2 relay elements mounted:

i.
ii.

directional element
non directional element

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Directional element

It is essentially a directional power relay which

operates when power flows in a specific direction.

The potential coil of this element is connected

through a potential transformer (P.T.) to the system
voltage.

The current coil of the element is energized through a

C.T. by the circuit current.

This winding is carried over the upper magnet of the

non-directional element.

The trip contacts (1 and 2) of the directional element

are connected in series with the secondary circuit of
the overcurrent element.

Therefore, the latter element cannot start to operate

until its secondary circuit is completed.

In other words, the directional element must operate

first (i.e. contacts 1 and 2 should close) in order to
operate the overcurrent element

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Non - directional element

The spindle of the disc of this element

carries a moving contact which closes the
fixed contacts (trip circuit contacts) after the
operation of directional element.

It may be noted that plug-setting bridge is

also provided in the relay for current setting
but has been omitted in the figure for clarity
and simplicity.

The tapping's are provided on the upper

magnet of overcurrent element and are
connected to the bridge.

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Working Principle

Under normal operating conditions, power flows in

the normal direction in the circuit protected by the
relay.

Therefore, directional power relay (upper element)

does not operate, thereby keeping the overcurrent
element (lower element) un-energized.

However, when a short-circuit occurs, there is a

tendency for the current or power to flow in the
reverse direction.

Should this happen, the disc of the *upper element

rotates to bridge the fixed contacts 1 and 2.

This completes the circuit for overcurrent element.

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Working Principle

The disc of this element rotates and the moving

contact attached to it closes the trip circuit. This
operates the circuit breaker which isolates the
faulty section.

The two relay elements are so arranged that final

tripping of the current controlled by them is not
made till the following conditions are satisfied :

i.

current flows in a direction such as to operate the

directional element

ii.

current in the reverse direction exceeds the preset value

iii.

excessive current persists for a period

corresponding to the time setting of overcurrent
element.
halalluddin@jke_psas

Term

Definition

Pick-up Current

It is the minimum current in the

relay coil at which the relay starts
to operate

Current Setting

To adjust the pick-up current to

any required value

Plug-setting Multiplier

It is the ratio of fault current in

relay coil to the pick-up
current

Time-setting Multiplier

To adjust the time of operation of

relay

halalluddin@jke_psas

Term

Formula

Pick-up Current

Rated secondary current of CT

Current Setting

Current Setting

Plug-setting Multiplier

Fault current in relay coil

Pick - up current

Time-setting Multiplier

halalluddin@jke_psas

Example:
Suppose that a relay is connected to a 400/5 current
transformer and set at 150%. With a primary fault
current of 2400 A, calculate the plug setting multiplier
(PSM).

Answer = 4
halalluddin@jke_psas

Answer:
Pick-up value = Rated secondary current of CT x
Current setting
= 5 x 1.5
= 7.5 A

halalluddin@jke_psas

Answer:

= 2400

5
400

. . =

= 30 A

30
( )
7.5

=4
halalluddin@jke_psas

Exercise:

Determine the time of operation of a

5-ampere, 3-second overcurrent
relay having a current setting of
125% and a time setting multiplier
of 06 connected to supply circuit
through
a
400/5
current
transformer when the circuit carries
a fault current of 4000 A. Use the
curve shown in Figure 1

Answer: 2.1 seconds

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Write your answer here :

halalluddin@jke_psas

Definition:
A relay that operates when the phasor difference of two or more
similar electrical quantities exceeds a pre-determined value
Current differential relay is one that compares the current entering
a section of the system with the current leaving the section.
Under normal operating conditions, the two currents are equal but
as soon as a fault occurs, this condition no longer applies.
The difference between the incoming and outgoing currents is
arranged to flow through the operating coil of the relay. If this
differential current is equal to or greater than the pickup value, the
relay will operate and open the circuit breaker to isolate the faulty
section.
halalluddin@jke_psas

halalluddin@jke_psas

Current Balance:

halalluddin@jke_psas

Current Balance:

Under normal operating conditions, suppose the alternator

winding carries a normal current of1000 A.
Then the currents in the two secondary's of CTs are equal.
These currents will merely circulate between the two CTs and
no current will flow through the differential relay.
Therefore, the relay remains inoperative.
If a ground fault occurs on the alternator winding, the two
secondary currents will not be equal and the current flows
through the operating coil of the relay, causing the relay to
operate. The amount of current flow through the relay will
depend upon the way the fault is being fed

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Voltage Balance:

halalluddin@jke_psas

Voltage Balance:

In this scheme of protection, two similar current

transformers are connected at either end of the
element to be protected
The secondary's of current transformers are
connected in series with a relay in such a way that
under normal conditions, their induced EMFs are in
opposition.
Under healthy conditions, equal currents (I1 = I2) flow
in both primary windings.
halalluddin@jke_psas

Voltage Balance:
Therefore,
the secondary voltages of the two
transformers are balanced against each other and no
current will flow through the relay operating coil.
When a fault occurs in the protected zone, the currents
in the two primaries will differ from one another (i.e. I1
I2) and their secondary voltages will no longer be in
balance.
This voltage difference will cause a current to flow
through the operating coil of the relay which closes the
trip circuit.
halalluddin@jke_psas

Definition:
A relay which designed to response by electronic,
magnetic or other components without mechanical
motion.
Two types of static relay:
I. Static relay with output contacts
II. Static relay without output contacts

halalluddin@jke_psas

Advantages of using static relay:

Low burden on current and voltage transformers,

since the operating power is.
Absence of mechanical inertia and bouncing contacts,
high resistance to shock and vibration.
Very fast operation and long life.
Low maintenance owing to the absence of moving
parts and bearing friction.

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In an impedance relay, the torque produced

by a current element is opposed by the
torque produced by a voltage element.

The relay will operate when the ratio

is

less than a predetermined value.

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The voltage element of the

relay is excited through a
potential
transformer
(P.T.)
from the line to be protected
The current element of the
relay is excited from a current
transformer (C.T.) in series with
the line.
The portion AB of the line is the
protected zone. Under normal
operating conditions, the
impedance of the protected
zone is ZL.

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The relay is so designed that it closes

its contacts whenever impedance of
the protected section falls below the
pre-determined value
Suppose a fault occurs at point F1 in
the protected zone.
The impedance Z (=V /I ) between the
point where the relay is installed and
the point of fault will be less than ZL
and hence the relay operates.
Should the fault occur beyond the
protected zone (say point F2), the
impedance Z will be greater than ZL
and the relay does not operate.

halalluddin@jke_psas

Thanks For Your Attention

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

What is protective relay? Explain its function in an electrical

system.
Discuss the fundamental requirements of protective relaying.
Describe briefly some important types of electromagnetic attraction
relays.
Derive the equation for torque developed in an induction relay.
Write a brief note on relay timing.
Define and explain the following terms as applied to protective
relaying :
i. Pick-up value
ii. Current setting
iii.Plug-setting multiplier
iv.Time-setting multiplier
halalluddin@jke_psas

7. Describe the various steps for calculating the actual relay

operating time.
8. Explain with the help of diagram the construction and
working of :
- Non-directional induction type overcurrent relay
- Induction type directional power relay
10. Describe the construction and principle of operation of an
induction type directional overcurrent relay.
11. Explain the working principle of distance relays.
12. Write a detailed note on differential relays.

halalluddin@jke_psas