Protective relays

Introduction to protective relays:

Purpose and use of relays:
The overall function of a protective relay is to detect a fault as quickly as possible
and isolate it. Although relays detect and isolate faults in many different ways, the
principles behind their
operation are similar. In general, a relay receives signals that represent a system
condition. When the condition changes beyond a desired value, the relay operates.
When a relay operates, it provides a signal that causes a switch, such as a circuit
breakertooperate. The operation of the switch isolates part of the system.
Figure 1 is a simplified illustration that shows a protective relay Transmission &
Distribution(T&D) system. The illustration represents one phase of a three-phase
T&D system, which includes a bus, a feeder, a circuit breaker, a protective relay,
and a current transformer.
In this circuit the current transformer step the feeder to proportionally lower
current that fed to the relay coil when fault occurs an increased current will pass
through the relay coil which will cause the relay contacts to close and send a trip
signal to the circuit breaker.

Bus

Circuit breaker Feeder Current transformer

Relay

Figure 1: protective relay one phase out of 3 phases

Figure 2 shows normal condition, the current is within the permissible limits.

Figure 2: System normal condition the relay will not operate.

Figure 3 shows that a fault occurred on the feederleads to current increasing

Fault

Relay Coil

.Figure 3: A fault occurred and current passing through the relay coil increases.
Figure 4: Shows that the relay coil cause the relay contact to close and send signal
to circuit breaker.

Relay contact closes

Figure4: Relay contact closes and trip signal was sent to the breaker.

Figure5: Shows that the circuit breaker is tripped and the faulty part is isolated.

Circuit breaker open

Figure5: Circuit breaker tripped and faulty part was isolated.

Relay elements:
The way that a relay operates depends on the main element or elements that it contains. In general, there

are six kinds of elements that a relay can use: a plunger, a clapper, an induction disc, an induction cup solid-

state circuitry, and Microprocessor relays.

Plunger element:
Figure 6 shows a relay that has a plunger element, The main parts of the relay are the solenoid coil, a

movable plunger that extend up into the coil , fixed contacts and moving contacts.

When the relay is in service current or voltage in the coil creates magnetic field. When the current or

voltage increases beyond a predetermined value the magnetic field is strong enough to attract the plunger

into the coil, closing the contacts.

Solenoid coil

Plunger

Fixed contact
Moving contact

Figure6: Plunger element relay

 Current increases

Contacts close

Figure7: Current increases then magnetic field is strong enough to close the contacts

Clapper element:
Figure 8 shows a relay that contains clapper element, this type may also called a hinged armature
element, it consists of electro magnet, a hinged plat or lever assembly, moving contacts and fixed
contacts.

When the relay is in service current or voltage in the electromagnet creates magnetic field. When the current or

voltage increases beyond a predetermined value the magnetic field is strong enough to attract the clapper into the

electromagnet, closing the contacts.

 Fixed contacts

Fixed contacts

Moving contacts

Moving contacts

Electromagnet
Fixed contacts

Figure8: A relay that contains clapper element

Closed contacts

Electromagnet
with strong
magnetic field

Figure9: Current increases then magnetic field is strong enough to close the contacts
Induction disc element:
Figure 10 shows a relay that has an induction disc element. The main parts of this induction disc
element are electromagnet (Not visible), a metallic disc, a permanent magnet called a damping
magnet, a moving contact and a fixed contact.

In induction disc element, a portion of the electromagnet in figure 10 is short circuited by metal rings
or coils. This is called shading, and the rings or coils are called shading rings or shading coils.

Fixed contact
Moving contact

Damping magnet

Metallic disc

Figure10: Induction disc type relay

The positions of the shading rings in relation to the electromagnet are shown more clearly in the
simplified illustration in figure 11, when the relay is in service, current or voltage in the coil of the
electromagnet creates a magnetic field in the frame of the electromagnet. The magnetic field cuts
through the disc. In simplified terms, it can be said that the magnetic field in the shaded part of the
electromagnet lags the magnetic field in the un-shaded part. This relationship produces a torque on
the disc. When current or voltage increases beyond a predetermined value, the torque becomes great
enough to cause the disc to rotate.

When the disc rotates, the damping magnet (figure 10) produces a fixed drag on the disc. As a result,
the disc turns at a constant speed. As the disc rotates, it turns a shaft that holds the moving contact,
turning the shaft brings the moving contact around until it touches the fixed contact.
 Coil
Frame
Shading rings

Disc

Figure11: Simplified illustration for induction disc type relay

Induction cup element:

Figure 12 shows a relay that has induction cup element. This type cup element is sometimes
referred to as an induction cylinder.

Figure12: Induction cup element relay

The main parts of an induction cup element are illustrated in Figure 13. The illustration shows a
metallic cup or cylinder, electromagnets spaced around the cup, a moving contact, and a fixed
contact.

Moving contact
Fixed contact
Cup

Electromagnets

Figure13: A simplified illustration for induction cup element

Solid state circuitry:

The relay shown in Figure 14 is a solid-state relay, the main operating element of the relay
solid-state circuitry. In general, there are no moving parts in solid-state circuits. Instead, as shown in
Figure 15 the relay is made up of transistors, diodes, resistors and other electronic components, which
are arranged into circuits. When the relay is in service current or voltage going into the relay is
electronically processed through the circuits If the value of current or voltage going into the relay is
different from the desired value, the circuitry provide an output signal.
 Figure14: Solid state circuitry relay

Figure15: Solid-state circuitry components

 Overcurrent relay
Introduction:
One of the most common types of protective relays is the overcurrent relay. Overcurrent relays are
generally used in protecting distribution feeder. They are designed to operate when current becomes
higher than desirable. For example when fault occurs on a distribution feeder, current immediately
increases. Usually overcurrent will detect increase and operate. When the contact of an over current
relay clos, the relay provide a signal that typically causes circuit breaker to open, disconnecting the
faulted feeder from the system.
An over current relay can be designed to operate either instantaneously or with an intention time
delay.

Instantaneous overcurrent relay:

Figure 16 shows an instantaneous overcurrent relay that has a plunger element, in this relay current in
a coil (Not visible) creates magnetic field. When current increases above a certain value, the magnetic
field becomes strong enough to attract the plunger into the coil and close the contacts. With this type
of element the contact close instantaneously.

Plunger

Figure16: Instantaneous overcurrent relay with plunger element

The amount of current needed to left the plunger is called the pickup current, the value of the pickup
current can be changed by adjusting the position of the plunger. Turning the plunger in one direction
moves it up inside the. With the plunger inside the coil, the magnetic field around the coil has more
plunger surface to act upon. As a result, less current is needed to lift the plunger and close the
contacts see figure 17.
Turning the plunger in the other direction moves it down and out of the coil. With the plunger in this
position, the magnetic field around the oil has less plunger surface to act upon, consequently more
current is needed to lift the plunger and close the contacts, see figure 18.
 Move into the coil

Figure17: The plunger moved inside the coil which leads to decrease the pickup current

Move out of the coil

Figure18: The plunger element moved out of the coil which increase the pickup current
The instantaneous part of another overcurrent relay is shown in Figure 19. This is a
clapper element instead of a plunger element. With a clapper element, current in the electromagnet
creates a magnetic field.
When current increases above certain value, the magnetic field becomes strong enough to attract the
hinged plate towards the electromagnet. The contacts will close instantaneously.
The pick-up current of the clapper element can be varied by adjusting the position of a screw.
Turning the screw into the coil gives the screw solid metal core that strengthens the magnetic field.
With stronger magnetic field less current is needed to lift hinged plate and close the contacts. When
the screw is turned out of the coil, when the screw is turned out of the coil, the coil is left with an air
core which weakens the magnetic field. More current is needed to lift the hinged plate and close the
contacts.

Screw down for

Screw up for
lower current
higher current
setting
setting

Figure19: Clapper element instantaneous overcurrent relay.

0
Time delay overcurrent relay:
Many overcurrent relays have a time delay feature. An over current relay with time-delayed operation
is typically coordinated with other protective equipment, such as line fuses. When an overcurrent
condition causes the relay to operate, the relay's contacts will close only after a predetermined period
of time, this intentional delay allows other protective equipment to begin operation first. For
example, during the delay, a line fuse could open to disconnect the section of line where the fault
occurred. When a line fuse operates, it generally disconnects a smaller portion of the system than the
overcurrent relay would.

An overcurrent relay with a time delay feature typically uses an induction disc element. An example is
shown in Figure 20.The electromagnet that drives the disc is located at the back of the relay. This
electromagnet is slightly different from the one for the induction disc element discussed earlier, but it
operates on the same principles. As shown m Figure 21, this electromagnet has three legs. Around the
center leg is the main coil, which provides the magnetic field. The magnetic field circulates through
the two outer legs.

Time Dial
Induction disc
behind nameplate

Figure 21: Time delay overcurrent relay with induction disc element

Taps
Main coil

Leg wrapped
With coil

Unwrapped
leg
Taps front view

Figure 22: Electromagnet of induction disc element.

One of the outer legs of the electromagnet is wrapped in a thin coil. This leg is the shaded leg. The
magnetic field in the shaded leg lags the magnetic field in the
un-shaded leg to produce the torque that causes the disc to rotate.

The main coil, around the center leg of the electromagnet, has taps extending from it. The taps are
connected to a tap block (shown in figure 22). The location of a tap plug on the front of the tap block
determines how many turns of the main coil current will flow through.

Pick-up current is adjusted by moving the tap plug. Moving the tap plug in one direction increases the
number of turns that current flows through, thereby strengthening the magnetic field. With a strong
magnetic field, less current is needed to overcome the tension of the restraining spring and turn the
disc. Moving the tap plug in the opposite direction reduces the number of turns that current flows
through, thereby weakening the magnetic field. With a weak Magnetic field, more current is needed
to overcome the spring tension and turn the disc.

In order for the disc to rotate, the torque must be great enough to overcome the tension of the
restraining spring (Figure23). The amount of current needed to overcome the spring is the pickup
current.

Restraining spring

Spring tension
adjustment wheel

Figure 23: Electromagnet of induction disc element.

Pick-up current can be fine-tuned by adjusting the tension of the restraining spring. When a spring
tension adjustment wheel Figure 23) is turned one direction, the spring tension is increased, so that a
slightly higher current is needed to overcome it. When the wheel is turned in the other direction, the
spring tension is reduced, so that a slightly lower current is needed.

The length of the time delay is adjusted by changing the starting position of the moving contact. For
example, when a time delay adjustment dial Figure 24 is turned in one direction, the moving contact is
moved closer to the fixed Contact, so that it has only a short distance to travel before it touches the
fixed contact. The result is a short time delay.
 Moving contact
Moving contact Fixed contact
Fixed contact

Figure 23: Electromagnet of induction disc element.

Figure24
 Directional overcurrent relays

Directional overcurrent relay usage:

Directional over current relays are generally used to protect substation bus and power transformers
from excessive current flow in an undesirable direction.

Typically, a directional overcurrent relay is two relays in one case: An overcurrent relay unit and a
directional relay unit. The directional unit responds to current flow in an undesirable direction. If it
detects current flowing in an undesirable direction, its contacts close, completing circuit to the
overcurrent unit.
The overcurrent unit cannot operate until the directional unit closes its contacts. After the directional
unit closes its contacts. After the directional unit closes its contacts, the overcurrent unit determines if
the current is higher than desirable, the overcurrent unit operates to cause circuit breaker to trip.349

Figure 24 is a simplified illustration that shows where a directional overcurrent relay might be used.
Included in the illustration are two source circuits, two power transformers, a bus, and two feeder
circuits. Normally, current flows from the source circuits, through the power transformers, to the bus,
and then out the feeder circuits.

If a fault occurs on one of the source circuits (Figure 25), current from the other source could back
feed from the bus to the fault the back feed current would be flowing in an undesirable direction.
back feed current could severely damage system equipment and create a safety hazard under the
conditions represented in Figure 26, the directional unit of a directional overcurrent relay would
detect current flowing in undesirable direction. In response, the directional unit would close its
contacts to complete a circuit to the overcurrent unit the overcurrent unit would then detect the over
current and trip breakers to isolate the fault and protect the transformer.

Bus

Source Power
Feeders
transformers
circuits

Figure25: Current flowing in normal condition

 Fault

Figure26: Current flowing in fault condition

Difference between the overcurrent unit and the directional unit are in the ways that their
electromagnets are connected and the different inputs that they receive. These differences are
illustrated in figure 27 the left part of the illustration represents an overcurrent unit with an induction
disc element, and the right part represents a directional unit with an induction disc element
Both units illustrated in Figure 27 have two upper coils and one lower coil. On the overcurrent unit,
the upper windings are connected with the lower pole. In the directional unit, the upper windings are
physically separate from the lower.

Figure 27: Difference between overcurrent and differential unit

The overcurrent unit has two terminal connections, which are typically connected with a current
transformer circuit. During operation, current flows through these terminals and the lower part of the
lower winding. Current is induced from the lower part of the lower winding into the upper part of the
lower winding and flows through the two upper windings.

The directional unit has two terminal connections. Tow inputs are needed, because the unit's
Upper and lower windings are not connected. The terminals for the lower winding are usually
connected with a voltage transformer circuit, and the terminals for the upper windings are
connected with a current transformer circuit. When the relay is in service, voltage in the lower
winding and current in the upper windings interact to produce a torque on the induction disc
When current flows in the desired direction, the torque on the induction disc is in a direction that
keeps the disc from turning. However, when current flows in an undesirable direction interaction of
the voltage and current causes the torque to change direction. As a result, the disc turns, and closes
the contacts.

Also you should note that there are types for 3-ph directional relays like 67S on 220 KV LRTs

PageNo.
7K1H2326-35
 Differential relay
In main parts of T&D systems fault can have severe consequences. For example a fault inside a power
transformer can quickly become a destructive force, a fault on a transmission bus knock out power to
a large portion of the system for a long time, in either of these situations time in which the fault on
cause severe and lasting damage is measured In fractions of second for this reason, it is extremely
important for relays to be able to quickly identify and isolate a fault. The type of relay that is typically
used to limit damage to transformer and transmission buses is the differential relay.

Differential relay operation

A differential relay compares the current going in to a transformer or bus with the current leaving the
transformer or bus. The relaying system is designed so that during normal system operation
the currents that the relay sees should be equal.
However, when a fault occurs on the protected device at least one of the currents changes, the
differential relay detects the difference and trips circuit breakers to isolate the fault.

Figure 27 is a simplified illustration of a differential relay system.

Circuit
breaker
Bus Circuit
breaker

Current
Transformer

Current
Transformer

Operating
coil
Differential
relay
Restraining
coils

Figure 27: A simplified illustration of a differential relay system

The illustration represents one phase of a three-phase system. Included are a source circuit, a bus, a
load circuit, a circuit breaker on each side of the bus, a current transformer on each side of the bus
and a differential relay.
The main components of the relay illustrated m Figure 27 include two coils that are in series with the
current transformers, and one coil in parallel with the current transformers. The two coils in series are
called restraining coils, because they work to keep the relay contacts open. Since the restraining coils
are in series with the current transformers, current normally flows through them. The coil in parallel
with the current transformers is called an operating coil, because it works to close the relay contacts.
Since the operating coil is in parallel with the current transformers, current does not normally flow
through it.
When conditions are normal (Figure 28), the current going to the bus is equal to the current leaving
the bus. The current in the relaying system flows through the current transformer circuits and through
the restraining coils. The current in the restraining coils keeps contacts in the relay open.

Current
to bus Current
from bus

Current through
current transformer
circuit

Figure28: Normal condition operation

When a fault occurs on the bus (Figure 29), current increases in the source circuit. As a result, current
in the source current transformer (CT) circuit also increases. When this happens, the current in the
source current transformer circuit is greater than the current in the load current-transformer circuit
the difference between the currents flows through the operating coil of the relay. This current flow
operates the relay and closes the relay contacts. When the contacts close, trip signal will be sent to
circuit breaker on each side of the bus, and fault will be isolated.

Source
circuit Load
circuit

Current Current in
in source Current difference
load CT
CT circuit through operating coil
circuit
Figure 29: Fault condition before tripping circuit breakers