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DefinitionsandTerminology

DefinitionsandTerminology
1.Allornothingrelay
A relay which is not designed to have any specified accuracy as to its operating
value.
2.Auxiliaryrelay.
An allornothing relay used to supplement the performance of another relay, by
modifyingcontactperformanceforexample,orbyintroducingtimedelays.
3.Backupprotection.
Aprotectivesystem intended to supplement the main protection in case the latter
shouldbeineffective,ortodealwithfaultsinthosepartsofthepowersystemthat
arenotreadilyincludedintheoperatingzonesofthemainprotection.
4.Biasedrelay.
A relay in which the characteristics are modified by the introduction of some
quantityotherthantheactuatingquantity,andwhichisusuallyinoppo
sitiontothe
actuatingquantity.
5.Burden.
Theloadingimposedbythecircuitsoftherelayontheenergizingpowersourceor
sources,expressedastheproductofvoltageandcurrent(voltamperes,orwattsif
D.C)for a given condition, which may be either at 'setting' or at rated currentor
voltage.
Theratedoutputofmeasuringtransformers,expressedinVA,isalwaysatrated
currentorvoltageanditisimportant,inassessingtheburdenimposedbyarelay,
toensurethatthevalueofburdenatratedcurrentisused.
6.Characteristicangle.
Thephaseangleatwhichtheperformanceoftherelayisdeclared.Itisusuallythe
angleatwhichmaximumsensitivityoccurs.
7.Characteristiccurve.
Thecurveshowingtheoperatingvalueofthecharacteristicquantitycorresponding
tovariousvaluesorcombinationsoftheenergizingquantities.
8.Characteristicquantity.
Aquantity,thevalueofwhichcharacterizestheoperationoftherelay,e.g.current
foranovercurrentrelay,voltageforavoltagerelay,phaseangleforadirectional
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relay,timeforanindependenttimedelayrelay,impedanceforanimpedancerelay.
9.Characteristicimpedanceratio(C.I.R.)
ThemaximumvalueoftheSystemImpedanceRatiouptowhichtherelay
performanceremainswithintheprescribedlimitsofaccuracy.

10.Checkprotectivesystem.
Anauxiliaryprotectivesystemintendedtopreventtrippingduetoinadvertent
operationofthemainprotectivesystem.
11.Conjunctivetest.
Atestonaprotectivesystemincludingallrelevantcomponentsandancillary
equipmentappropriatelyinterconnected.Thetestmaybeparametricorspecific.
a.Parametricconjunctivetest.
Atesttoascertaintherangeofvaluesthatmaybeassignedtoeachparameterwhen
consideredincombinationwithotherparameters,whilestillcomplyingwiththe
relevantperformancerequire
ments.
b.Specificconjunctivetest.
Atesttoprovetheperformanceforaparticularapplication,forwhichdefinitevalues
areassignedtoeachoftheparameters.
12.Dependenttimedelayrelay.
Atimedelayrelayinwhichthetimedelayvarieswiththevalueoftheenergizing
quantity.
13.Discrimination.
Thequalitywherebyaprotectivesystemdistinguishesbetweenthoseconditionsfor
whichitisintendedtooperateandthoseforwhichitshallnotoperate.
14.Dropout.
Arelaydropsoutwhenitmovesfromtheenergizedpositiontotheunenergized
position.
15.Dropout/pickratio.
Theratioofthelimitingvaluesofthecharacteristicquantityatwhichtherelay
resetsandoperates.Thisvalueissometimescalledthedifferentialoftherelay.
16.Earthfaultprotectivesystem.
Aprotectivesystemwhichisdesignedtorespondonlytofaultstoearth.
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17.Earthingtransformer.
Athreephasetransformerintendedessentiallytoprovideaneutralpointtoa
powersystemforthepurposeofEarthing.
18.Effectiverange
The range of values of the characteristic quantity or quantities, or of the energizing
quantitiestowhichtherelaywillrespondandsatisfytherequirementsconcerningit,
inparticularthoseconcerningpre
cision.

19.Effectivesetting
The'setting'ofaprotectivesystemincludingtheeffectsofcurrenttransformers.The
effectivesettingcanbeexpressedintermsofprimarycurrentorsecondarycurrent
fromthecurrenttransformersandissodesignatedasappropriate.

20.Electricalrelay
Adevicedesignedtoproducesuddenpredeterminedchangesinoneormore
electricalcircuitsaftertheappearanceofcertainconditionsintheelectricalcircuit
orcircuitscontrollingit.
NOTE:Theterm'relay'includesalltheancillaryequipmentcalibratedwiththe
device.

21.Energizingquantity.
Theelectricalquantity,eithercurrentorvoltage,whichaloneorincombination
withotherenergizingquantities,mustbeappliedtotherelaytocauseitto
function.

22.Independenttimedelayrelay.
Atimedelayrelayinwhichthetimedelayisindepen
dentoftheenergizing
quantity.

21.Instantaneousrelay.
Arelaywhichoperatesandresetswithnointentionaltimedelay.
NOTE:Allrelaysrequiresometimetooperateitispossible,withintheabove
definition,todiscusstheoperatingtimecharacteristicsofaninstantaneousrelay.
22.Inversetimedelayrelay.
Adependenttimedelayrelayhavinganoperatingtimewhichisaninverse
functionoftheelectricalcharacteristicquantity.

23.Inversetimedelayrelaywithdefiniteminimum(I.D.M . T.)
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Arelayinwhichthetimedelayvariesinverselywiththecharacteristicquantityup
toacertainvalue,afterwhichthetimedelaybecomessubstantiallyindependent.
24.Kneepointe.m.f.
Thatsinusoidale.m.f.appliedtothesecondaryterminalsofacurrenttransformer,
which,whenincreasedby10%,causestheexcitingcurrenttoincreaseby50%.
25.Mainprotection.
Theprotectivesystemwhichisnormallyexpectedtooperateinresponsetoafault
intheprotectedzone.

26.Measuringrelay.
Arelayintendedtooperatewithaspecifiedaccuracyatoneormorevaluesofits
characteristicquantity.
27.Notchingrelay.
Arelaywhichswitchesinresponsetoaspecificnumberofappliedimpulses.
28.Operatingtime.
Witharelaydeenergizedandinitsinitialcondition,thetimewhichelapses
betweentheapplicationofacharacteristicquantityandtheinstantwhentherelay
operates.
29.Operatingtimecharacteristic.
Thecurvedepictingtherelationshipbetweendifferentvaluesofthecharacteristic
quantityappliedtoarelayandthecorrespondingvaluesofoperatingtime.
30.Operatingvalue.
Thelimitingvalueofthecharacteristicquantityatwhichtherelayactually
operates.
31.Overshoottime.
Theextenttowhichtheconditionthatleadstofinaloperationisadvancedafterthe
removaloftheenergizingquantity,expressedastimeattherateofprogressofthe
saidconditionappropriatetothevalueoftheenergizingquantitythatwasinitially
applied.
32.Pickup.
Arelayissaidto'pickup'whenitchangesfromtheunenergizedpositiontothe
energizedposition.
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33.Pilotchannel.
Ameansofinterconnectionbetweenrelayingpointsforthepurposeofprotection.
34.Protectedzone.
Theportionofapowersystemprotectedbyagivenprotectivesystemorapartof
that protectivesystem.
35.Protectivegear.
Theapparatus,includingprotectiverelays,transformersandancillaryequipment,
foruseinaprotectivesystem.
36.Protectiverelay.
Arelaydesignedtoinitiatedisconnectionofapartofanelectricalinstallationorto
operateawarningsignal,inthecaseofafaultorotherabnormalconditioninthe
installation.Aprotectiverelaymayincludemorethanoneunitelectricalrelayand
accessories.
37.Protectivescheme.
Thecoordinatedarrangementsfortheprotectionofoneormoreelementsofa
powersystem.
Aprotectiveschememaycompriseseveralprotectivesystems.
38.Protectivesystem.
Acombinationofprotectivegeardesignedtosecure,underpredetermined
conditions,usuallyabnormal,thedisconnectionofanelementofapowersystem,
ortogiveanalarmsignal,orboth.
39.Rating.
Thenominalvalueofanenergizingquantitywhichappearsinthedesignationofa
relay.ThenominalvalueusuallycorrespondstotheCTandVTsecond
aryratings.
40.Resettingvalue.
Thelimitingvalueofthecharacteristicquantityatwhichtherelayreturnstoits
initialposition.
41.Residua/current.
Thealgebraicsum,inamultiphasesystem,ofallthelinecurrents.
42.Residua/voltage.
Thealgebraicsum,inamultiphasesystem,ofallthelinetoearthvoltages.
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43.Setting.
Thelimitingvalueofa'characteristic'or'energizing'quantityatwhichtherelayis
designedtooperateunderspecifiedconditions.
Suchvaluesareusuallymarkedontherelayandmaybeexpressedasdirectvalues,
percentagesofratedvalues,ormultiples.
44.Stability.
Thequalitywherebyaprotectivesystemremainsinoperativeunderallconditions
otherthanthoseforwhichitisspecificallydesignedtooperate.
45.Stabilitylimits.
TheR.M.S.valueofthesymmetricalcomponentofthethroughfaultcurrentupto
whichtheprotectivesystemremainsstable.

46.Startingrelay.
Aunitrelaywhichrespondstoabnormalconditionsandinitiatestheoperationof
otherelementsoftheprotectivesystem.
47.Systemimpedanceratio(S./.R.).
Theratioofthepowersystemsourceimpedancetotheimpedanceoftheprotected
zone.
48.Throughfaultcurrent.
Thecurrentflowingthroughaprotectedzonetoafaultbeyondthatzone.

49.Timedelay.
Adelayintentionallyintroducedintotheoperationofarelaysystem.
50.Timedelayrelay.
Arelayhavinganintentionaldelayingdevice.
51.Unitelectricalrelay.
Asinglerelaywhichcanbeusedaloneorincom
binationswithothers.

52.Unitprotection.
Aprotectionsystemwhichisdesignedtooperateonlyforabnormalconditions
withinaclearlydefinedzoneofthepowersystem.

53.Unrestrictedprotection.
Aprotectionsystemwhichhasnoclearlydefinedzoneofoperationandwhich
achievesselectiveoperationonlybytimegrading.
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FaultDefinitionsand:

ForthepurposeofthisInternationalStandard,thefollowingdefinitions,some
ofthembasedonIEC60050(191),IEC60050(212)and
IEC60050(604)apply:

1Fault
Anunplannedoccurrenceordefectinanitemwhichmayresultinoneormore
failuresoftheitemitselforofotherassociatedequipment
[IEC60402011
NOTEInelectricalequipment,afaultmayormaynotresultindamagetothe
insulationandfailureoftheequipment.

2Nondamagefault
Afaultwhichdoesnotinvolverepairorreplacementactionatthepointofthe
fault
NOTETypicalexamplesareselfextinguishingarcsinswitchingequipment
orgeneraloverheatingwithoutpapercarbonization.
[IEC60402091

3Damagefault
Afaultwhichinvolvesrepairorreplacementactionatthepointofthefault
[IEC6040208,modified]

4Incident
Aneventrelatedtoaninternalfaultwhichtemporarilyorpermanentlydisturbs
thenormaloperationofanequipment[IEV6040203,modified]
NOTETypicalexamplesaregasalarms,equipmenttrippingorequipment
leakage.

5Failure
Theterminationoftheabilityofanitemtoperformarequiredfunction[IEC
1910401]

NOTEIntheelectricalequipment,failurewillresultfromadamagefaultor
incidentnecessitatingoutage,repairorreplacementoftheequipment,suchas
internalbreakdown,ruptureoftank,fireorexplosion.

6Electricalfault
apartialordisruptivedischargethroughtheinsulation.

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7Partialdischarge
Adischargewhichonlypartiallybridgestheinsulationbetweenconductors.It
mayoccurinsidetheinsulationoradjacenttoaconductor
[IEC2120134,modified]

NOTE1Coronaisaformofpartialdischargethatoccursingaseousmedia
aroundconductorswhichareremotefromsolidorliquidinsulation.Thisterm
isnottobeusedasageneraltermforallformsofpartialdischarges.

NOTE2Xwaxisasolidmaterialwhichisformedfrommineralinsulating
oilasaresultofelectricaldischargesandwhichconsistsofpolymerized
fragmentsofthemoleculesoftheoriginalliquid
[IEV2120724,modified].
Comparableproductsmaybeformedfromotherliquidsundersimilar
conditions.

NOTE3Sparkingoflowenergy,forexamplebecauseofmetalsorfloating
potentials,issometimesdescribedas
Partialdischargebutshouldratherbeconsideredasadischargeoflowenergy.

8Discharge(disruptive).
Thepassageofanarcfollowingthebreakdownoftheinsulation
[IEC6040338,modified]

NOTE1Dischargesareoftendescribedasarcing,breakdownorshortcircuits.
Themorespecificfollowingtermsarealsoused:
sparkover(dischargethroughtheoil)
puncture(dischargethroughthesolidinsulation)
Flashover(dischargeatthesurfaceofthesolidinsulation)
tracking(theprogressivedegradationofthesurfaceofsolidinsulation
bylocal
Dischargestoformconductingorpartiallyconductingpaths)
sparkingdischargeswhich,intheconventionsofphysics,arelocal
Dielectricbreakdownsofhighionizationdensityorsmallarcs.

NOTE2Dependingontheamountofenergycontainedinthedischarge,it
willbedescribedasadischargeofloworhighenergy,basedontheextentof
damageobservedontheequipment.

9Thermalfault
Excessivetemperatureriseintheinsulation
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NOTETypicalcausesare
Insufficientcooling,
Excessivecurrentscirculatinginadjacentmetalparts(asaresultofbad
Contacts,eddycurrents,straylossesorleakageflux),
Excessivecurrentscirculatingthroughtheinsulation(asaresultofhigh
Dielectriclosses),leadingtoathermalrunaway,
overheatingofinternalwindingorbushingconnectionlead.

10Typicalvaluesofgasconcentrations.
gasconcentrationsnormallyfoundintheequipmentinservicewhichhaveno
symptomsoffailure,andwhichareoverpassedbyonlyanarbitrarypercentage
ofhighergascontents,forexample10%.

NOTE1Typicalvalueswilldifferindifferenttypesofequipmentandin
differentnetworks,dependingonoperatingpractices(loadlevels,climate,etc.).

NOTE2Typicalvalues,inmanycountriesandbymanyusers,arequotedas
"normalvalues",butthistermhasnotbeenusedheretoavoidpossible
misinterpretations.

LIST OF DEVICE NUMBERS

2Timedelaystartingorclosingrelay.
3Checkingorinterlockingrelay
21Distancerelay
25Synchronizingorsynchronismcheckrelay
27Undervoltagerelay
30Annunciatorrelay
32Directionalpowerrelay
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37Undercurrentorunderpowerrelay
40Fieldfailurerelay
46Reversephaseorphasebalancecurrentrelay
49Machineortransformerthermalrelay
50Instantaneousovercurrentorrateofriserelay
51A.c.timeovercurrentrelay
52A.c.circuitbreaker
52aCircuitbreakerauxiliaryswitchnormallyopen
52bCircuitbreakerauxiliaryswitchnormallyclosed
55Powerfactorrelay
56Field_applicationrelay
59Overvoltagerelay
60Voltageorcurrentbalancerelay
64Earthfaultprotectiverelay
67A.c.directionalovercurrentrelay
68Blockingrelay
74Alarmrelay
76D.c.overcurrentrelay
78Phaseanglemeasuringoroutofstepprotectiverelay
79A.c.reclosingrelay
81Frequencyrelay
83Automaticselectivecontrolortransferrelay
85Carrierorpilotwirereceiverelay
86Lockingoutrelay
87Differentialprotectiverelay
94auxiliarytrippingrelay

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