269

5.2.3.1

Time-current Coordination

Time that is controlled by current magnitude permits discriminating faults at one location from
another. There are three variables available to discriminate faults, the time dial setting (TDS),
the pickup current and the degree of curve inversness. Using the circuit shown in Figure 5.15, the
following procedure can be used to determine these three time overcurrent settings for the type
51relay at Bus S. This example assumes that the relay is to provide backup protection for the
fuse and hence must see the faults at the load under all conditions. Coordination is most difficult
when the source impedance is high compared to the line impedance and there is a large range of
possible source impedance values.

ZS2

Bus S
VS

Bus R
VR

IS

Es2

IR

52

ZS1

Es1

Fuse

Bus T
VT
Load

ZL1
Relay S

F1

Secondary Ohms
ZS1 1 = 3 80
ZS10 = 9 80
ZS2 1 = 1 80
ZS2 0 = 3 80

ZL2

F2b

F2

F3

CTR = 60:5
PTR = 34500:120

ZLoadMAX = 359 Wye

Primary Ohms
ZL1 1 = 4.667 45.6
ZL1 0 = 27.38 77.5
ZL2 1 = 4.667 45.6
ZL2 0 = 27.38 77.5

Figure 5.15. Single line diagram for fuse - TOC relay time coordination
Step 1.
Determine the maximum and minimum three phase, phase to phase and phase
to ground fault currents for the fault locations identified in Figure 5.15. The minimum fault current
is when source Es2 is not connected and the maximum fault current is when both Es1 and Es2
are connected. The results are presented in Table 5.3. Since the source impedance changes by
a factor of four depending upon whether source Es2 is connected or not, it is not surprising to see
the fault currents change by a factor of three to four as well. The data in Table 5.3 verifies that
there is little difference in fault current for the three fault locations when the source impedance is
high.
Table 5.3. Fault currents needed for coordination of system shown in Figure 5.15 for zero fault
resistance
Fault Type
3
-

Source Z

F1 Amps Sec.

F2 Amps Sec.

F3 Amps Sec.

Max

22.34

21.34

20.41

Min

89

75

64

Max

19.35

18.48

17.68

Min

77

65

55

270

-G

Max

13.40

12.36

11.46

Min

54

40

32

ZloadMAX = 359 primary = 13.3 secondary

Step 2.
Plot the currents for faults at F2 and F3 on a fuse time-current chart to determine
the minimum and maximum fuse operating times for faults at these locations. The currents listed
in Table 5.3 have been normalized in Table 5.4 so that relay and fuse operate times are based on
same multiples of pickup current Figure 5.16 and Figure 5.17 show the time current points for the
four fault scenarios.

Table 5.4. Currents listed in Table 5.3 converted to multiples of pickup current for the 60A fuse
Fault Type
3
-
-G

Source Z

F1 p.u. Amps

F2 p.u. Amps

F3 p.u. Amps

Max

4.47

4.27

4.08

Min

17.8

15

12.8

Max

3.87

3.69

3.54

Min

15.4

13

11

Max

2.68

2.47

2.29

Min

10.8

6.4

1000

100
Time Seconds
10
Extreme
inverse curve

T2
1.0
60A
Fuse

T1

Maximum
melting time

0.1
Minimum
melting time

0.01

0.1

1.0

10

IF2min

100

Multiples of
Pickup Current

IF2max

Figure 5.16. Fuse minimum and maximum operate times for a fault a F2

271

1000

100
Time Seconds
10
Extreme
inverse curve

T4
1.0
60A
Fuse

T3

Maximum
melting time

0.1
Minimum
melting time

0.01

0.1

1.0

10

IF3min

100

Multiples of
Pickup Current

IF3max

Figure 5.17. Fuse minimum and maximum operate times for a fault a F3
Step 3.
Since the Type 51 relay at Bus S must see the entire length of the line based
upon our assumption that the relay is to provide backup protection for the fuse, the relay pickup
current must be set more sensitive (below) the minimum fault current for a fault at F3. For this
example, the minimum pick is 2.29 p.u. or 137A.
Step 4. Select a relay with a time-current curve that parallels the fuse time-current
characteristics in the region below IF3max.
Step 5 Set the relay operate time to be above the fuse operate time plus the fixed CTI
(Coordination Time Interval) for maximum faults at F2 using the TDS.
Only when the line impedance is significant when compared to the source impedance is
discrimination possible. Since, for this example, the minimum currents at F1 and F2 are nearly
the same, little time difference is available to discriminate faults on the upstream side of Bus R
from faults to be cleared by the fuse. For the relay at Bus S, faults at F2 are indistinguishable
from those at F2b. The penalty for the coordinated backup protection is slow operations the
entire length of the Bus S to Bus R line. The constraint of the minimum current fuse operate time
limits the maximum relay operate time to 2.7 seconds at F2, hence requires a TDS setting of 3.
(See Appendix 11.3 Figure 11.4)
If the dynamic range of the source impedance is comparative small (less than perhaps two to
one) and the line impedance is significant as compared to the source impedance, faults can be
more easily discriminated. Hence, a type 50 relay could be used to protect the first 80% of the
line between Bus S and Bus R with instantaneous operation and let the type 51 relay protect the
last 20% and provide backup protection for the fuse.

5.2.3.1.1 Minimum TOC Pickup Settings

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The protection objective is the set the relay pickup as sensitive as possible so to operate as
fast as possible with out violating coordination principles. Pickup settings of the most downstream
fuse or relay are set in accordance with sections 5.2.2.1 and 5.2.2.2 with the aid of a load flow
and fault study programs. The maximum and minimum fault currents are determined for each
pickup setting protected by a relay or fuse from fault studies or traditional loading. In the absence
of better information, the lesser of line rating or transformer rating can be used. The pickup relay
value can be set by computing maximum relay fault current divided by the CTR times the
minimum downstream fault current fuse or relay as was described in step three above.
For electromechanical relays, the relay had tap settings that acted as a secondary current
transformer. These electromechanical relays restrict tap values to a discrete set while
microprocessor relays allow fractional tap values.
The pickup value must be set sufficiently sensitive to see faults at the end of the protected line
and yet not pick up for load. This is not always possible for systems with weak sources. In such
cases, load encroachment blocking becomes necessary. (See section 5.2.6.4)
Consider the time-current coordination of the system shown in Figure 5.13. Relay 5 requires
only an instantaneous element set according to section 5.2.2 because there are no downstream
devices to coordinate with. The minimum pickup is Relay 4 is also set according to section 5.2.2
with the difference being that Load 4 must now be considered.

5.2.3.1.2 TDS Setting

Time dials are set to create the necessary coordination time interval, CTI, to guarantee that
the relay sees past the start of the next protected line segment but does not operate faster than
the primary protection of the next line segment. Factors that influence an acceptable CTI are the
maximum breaker fault clearing time, the relay disk over-travels (caused by inertia in
electromechanical relays), and a safety margin to account for instrumentation errors, loads, and
breaker-failure operate times. Typically the CTI of 0.3 seconds is used although this may vary
from 0.2 to 0.5 seconds. This should be used unless there is justification otherwise.

5.2.3.1.3 Inverse Settings

Degrees of inversness can also aid in discriminating faults by time. In general, use relays with
similar inverse characteristics for easier coordination. Flatter inverse curves (weakly inverse,
moderately inverse) are appropriate for the following conditions:
1.
2.

No coordination is required or the relay is the farthest downstream.

The line is short or there is little current difference for faults close to the relay and faults
at the ends of the line.

3.

Instantaneous operations provide good coverage.

Relays with Inverse characteristics provide faster clearing times than relays with vary or
extreme inverse characteristics when the minimum fault current is significantly greater than the
maximum load current. Relays with the later two characteristics are used when:
1.

The fault current is much greater when the fault is closer to the relay compared to when
the fault is at the far end. This is the case when the line impedance is large compared to
the source impedance.

2.

When the short-term load is high or load encroachment is a potential problem.

3.

When coordinating relays with downstream fuses and reclosers.

Modern relays permit implementing unique curves that follow no standards for applications
where none of the standard curves provide the desired protection. However, doing so repeatedly
without good justification can complicate relay coordination efforts in the future.

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5.2.3.2

Time-current Coordination Example

Consider the system illustrated in Figure 5.18 where the task is to coordinate a single time
overcurrent relay with the fuse F1 that has characteristics similar to those shown in Figure 4.6 or
Appendix 11.4. The calculations for this example are included on the Text CD as 51-Fuse.mcd.
One must first determine the load and fault currents at the boundary conditions. For this
example, the maximum relay current is three-phase fault at Bus S and the minimum relay current
is a phase fault current at Bus T. The results of the fault current calculations are shown in Table
5.5.
The maximum per phase load current at Bus R is 50A, a 65E fuses is selected since that is
the conventional size fuse greater than 125% of the maximum load current. The fault current at
Bus R and Bus T determine the basis for the coordination time needed for the phase and ground
relay units. For a fault at Bus R, the maximum fault current occurs for a three phase-to-phase
fault. Since the relay must be set sufficiently to see faults at Bus T which, for this example, is 9
secondary amps. According to the requirements set by Chapter 5.2.2.1, the relay pickup current
can be set as low 1.5 time the maximum load current or 3.125 secondary amps. Doing so makes
the minimum fault current 2.88 multiples of the relay current and 216 primary amps for the fuse.
From the fuse time current graph shown in Appendix 11.4, the fuse melt time is 8 seconds. Thus,
to coordinate relay ground fault times with the fuse requires that the relay wait the 8 second fuse
operate time. The CTI can be ignored for this case as there is no breaker-operate time to
consider. Hence for the extremely inverse curve, the TDS must be set above 10.
The second point of the relay coordination, the relay can operate+ no faster that the fuse for
three-phase faults at F2. The fuse current for is case is 3,340 primary amps and, according to
the maximum melt time, is 0.04 seconds. 3340 amps primary is 44.5 multiples of the pickup
current that was set to 3.125 secondary amps in the preceding paragraph. According to the
extremely inverse time-current curve shown in Figure 11.4, the TDS could be set as low as 1.0.
However, the constrain placed by the ground fault current at Bus T, the relay operate time for
three-phase faults at Bus R is limited to 0.4 seconds.

ZS2

Bus R
50A
VR

Bus S
VS

Bus T
VT

Load

IS

Es2

Fuse

IR

50A

52

ZS1

Load

ZL1

Es1

Relay S

F1

ZL2

F2b

Secondary Ohms
ZS1 1 = 1
ZS10 = 3
ZS2 1 = 1
ZS2 0 = 3

80
80
80
80

F2

CTR = 120:5
PTR = 34500:120

F3

Primaryary Ohms
ZL1 1 = 14.98
ZL1 0 = 82.14
ZL2 1 = 3.270
ZL2 0 = 5.930

45.6
77.5
45.6
77.5

Figure 5.18. Single line diagram for time coordination Example

Table 5.5. Relay currents in multiples of secondary full-load amps (5A) for the system shown in
Figure 5.18 with no load
Fault Type

Source Z

F1 sec. amps

F2 sec. amps

F3 sec. amps

274

3
-
-G

Max

139

41

24

Min

69

32

21

Max

119

36

20

Min

60

28

18

Max

83

18

10

Min

42

15

The relay ground elements must be coordinated with the fuse as well. The coordination
problems become significant when the ground fault current is on the same order of magnitude as
the load current. Such is the case with this example where the phase current for a ground fault at
Bus 3 is only 135A as compared to the load maximum current at Bus 1 of 100A. For a Bus 3
ground fault, the maximum fuse operate time is 2.5 seconds while for Bus 2 ground faults, the
fuse operate time is still only 1.3 seconds. Even though the relay can be set to operate much
faster, it must wait at least 1.6 seconds before clearing faults at Bus 2 on the source side of F1 in
order to maintain the coordination. The problem is caused by fuse insensitivity to zero sequence
currents. Solutions to this problem are presented in section 5.2.6. Aforementioned shortcomings
of fuses not withstanding, in the correct application they can provide reliable and cost effective
protection.