Types and Applications Of Overcurrent Relay (part 1)

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Februray 5, 2013

T ypes, applicat ions and connect ions of Overcurrent relay (on phot o: T ransmission lines
f rom Gillam t o Churchill)

Index
Types of protection:
1. Unit Type Protection
2. Non-unit schemes
1. Overcurrent protection
2. Earth f ault protection
Various types of Line Faults
Overcurrent Relay Purpose and Ratings
Primary requirement of Overcurrent protection

Purpose of overcurrent Protection

Overcurrent Relay Ratings
Dif f erence between Overcurrent and Overload protection
Types of Overcurrent Relay:
1. Instantaneous Overcurrent relay (Def ine Current)
2. Def inite Time Overcurrent Relays
3. Inverse Time Overcurrent Relays (IDMT Relay)
1. Normal Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay
2. Very Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay
3. Extremely Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay
4. Directional Overcurrent Relays
Application of Overcurrent Relay

Types of protection
Protection schemes can be divided into two major groupings:
1. Unit schemes
2. Non-unit schemes

1. Unit Type Protection

Unit type schemes protect a specif ic area of the system, i.e., a transf ormer,
transmission line, generator or bus bar.
The unit protection schemes is based on Kirchhof f s Current Law the sum of the
currents entering an area of the system must be zero.
Any deviation f rom this must indicate an abnormal current path. In these schemes, the
ef f ects of any disturbance or operating condition outside the area of interest are
totally ignored and the protection must be designed to be stable above the maximum
possible f ault current that could f low through the protected area.
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2. Non unit type protection

The non-unit schemes, while also intended to protect specif ic areas, have no fixed
boundaries. As well as protecting their own designated areas, the protective zones

can overlap into other areas. While this can be very benef icial f or backup purposes,
there can be a tendency f or too great an area to be isolated if a f ault is detected by
dif f erent non unit schemes.
The most simple of these schemes measures current and incorporates an inverse time
characteristic into the protection operation to allow protection nearer to the f ault to
operate f irst.
The non unit type protection system includes following schemes:
1. Time graded overcurrent protection
2. Current graded overcurrent protection
3. Distance or Impedance Protection
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2.1 Overcurrent protection

This is the simplest of the ways to protect a line and therefore widely used.
It owes its application f rom the f act that in the event of f ault the current would
increase to a value several times greater than maximum load current. It has a
limitation that it can be applied only to simple and non costly equipments.
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2.2 Earth fault protection

The general practice is to employ a set of two or three overcurrent relays and a
separate overcurrent relay f or single line to ground f ault. Separate earth f ault relay
provided makes earth fault protection faster and more sensitive.
Earth fault current is always less than phase fault current in magnitude.
Theref ore, relay connected f or earth f ault protection is dif f erent f rom those f or phase
to phase f ault protection.
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Various types of Line Faults

No

Type of Fault

Operation of Relay

Phase to Ground f ault (Earth

Earth Fault Relay

Fault)
2

Phase to Phase f ault Not with

Ground

Related Phase Overcurrent

relays

Double phase to Ground f ault

Related Phase Overcurrent

relays and Earth Fault relays

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Overcurrent Relay Purpose and Ratings

A relay that operates or picks up when its current exceeds a predetermined value
(setting value) is called Overcurrent Relay.
Overcurrent protection protects electrical power systems against excessive currents
which are caused by short circuits, ground f aults, etc. Overcurrent relays can be used
to protect practically any power system elements, i.e. transmission lines,
transf ormers, generators, or motors.
For f eeder protection, there would be more than one overcurrent relay to protect
dif f erent sections of the f eeder. These overcurrent relays need to coordinate with
each other such that the relay nearest f ault operates f irst.
Use time, current and a combination of both time and current are three ways to
discriminate adjacent overcurrent relays.
OverCurrent Relay gives protection against:
Overcurrent includes short-circuit protection, and short circuits can be:
1. Phase f aults
2. Earth f aults
3. Winding f aults
Short-circuit currents are generally several times (5 to 20) full load current. Hence f ast
f ault clearance is always desirable on short circuits.
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Primary requirement of Overcurrent protection

The protection should not operate f or starting currents, permissible overcurrent,
current surges. To achieve this, the time delay is provided (in case of inverse relays).
The protection should be co-ordinate with neighboring overcurrent protection.

Overcurrent relay is a basic element of overcurrent protection.

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Purpose of overcurrent Protection

These are the most important purposes of overcurrent relay:
Detect abnormal conditions
Isolate f aulty part of the system
Speed Fast operation to minimize damage and danger
Discrimination Isolate only the f aulty section
Dependability / reliability
Security / stability
Cost of protection / against cost of potential hazards
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Overcurrent Relay Ratings

In order f or an overcurrent protective device to operate properly, overcurrent
protective device ratings must be properly selected. These ratings include voltage,
ampere and interrupting rating.
If the interrupting rating is not properly selected, a serious hazard f or equipment and
personnel will exist.
Current limiting can be considered as another overcurrent protective device rating,
although not all overcurrent protective devices are required to have this characteristic
Voltage Rating: The voltage rating of the overcurrent protective device must be at
least equal to or greater than the circuit voltage. The overcurrent protective device
rating can be higher than the system voltage but never lower.
Ampere Rating: The ampere rating of a overcurrent protecting device normally should
not exceed the current carrying capacity of the conductors As a general rule, the
ampere rating of a overcurrent protecting device is selected at 125% of the
continuous load current.
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Difference between Overcurrent and Overload protection

Overcurrent protection protects against excessive currents or currents beyond the

acceptable current ratings, which are resulting f rom short circuits, ground f aults and
overload conditions.
While, the overload protection protects against the situation where overload current
causes overheating of the protected equipment.
The overcurrent protection is a bigger concept So that the overload protection can be
considered as a subset of overcurrent protection.
The overcurrent relay can be used as overload (thermal) protection when protects the
resistive loads, etc., however, f or motor loads, the overcurrent relay cannot serve as
overload protection Overload relays usually have a longer time setting than the
overcurrent relays.
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Types of Overcurrent Relay

These are the types of overcurrent relay:
1. Instantaneous Overcurrent (Define Current) Relay
2. Def ine Time Overcurrent Relay
3. Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay (IDMT Relay)
Moderately Inverse
Very Inverse Time
Extremely Inverse
Directional overcurrent Relay
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1. Instantaneous Overcurrent relay (Define Current)

Def inite current relay operate instantaneously when the current reaches a
predetermined value.

Operates in a def inite time when current

exceeds its Pick-up value.
Its operation criterion is only current
magnitude (without time delay).
Operating time is constant.
There is no intentional time delay.
Coordination of def inite-current relays is
based on the f act that the f ault current
varies with the position of the f ault
because of the dif f erence in the
impedance between the f ault and the
source

Inst ant aneous Overcurrent Relay Def init e Current

The relay located f urthest f rom the source operate f or a low current value
The operating currents are progressively increased f or the other relays when
moving towards the source.
It operates in 0.1s or less
Application: This type is applied to the outgoing f eeders.
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2. Definite Time Overcurrent Relays

In this type, two conditions must be satisf ied f or operation (tripping), current must
exceed the setting value and the f ault must be continuous at least a time equal to time
setting of the relay.

Modern relays may contain more than one stage of

protection each stage includes each own current
and time setting.
1. For Operation of Def inite Time Overcurrent
Relay operating time is constant
2. Its operation is independent of the magnitude
of current above the pick-up value.

Def init e t ime of overcurrent relay

3. It has pick-up and time dial settings, desired

time delay can be set with the help of an intentional time delay mechanism.
4. Easy to coordinate.
5. Constant tripping time independent of in f eed variation and f ault location.

Drawback of Relay:
1. The continuity in the supply cannot be maintained at the load end in the event of
f ault.
2. Time lag is provided which is not desirable in on short circuits.
3. It is dif f icult to co-ordinate and requires changes with the addition of load.
4. It is not suitable f or long distance transmission lines where rapid f ault clearance
is necessary f or stability.
5. Relay have dif f iculties in distinguishing between Fault currents at one point or
another when f ault impedances between these points are small, thus poor
discrimination.

Application:
Definite time overcurrent relay is used as:
1. Back up protection of distance relay of transmission line with time delay.
2. Back up protection to dif f erential relay of power transf ormer with time delay.
3. Main protection to outgoing f eeders and bus couplers with adjustable time delay
setting.
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3. Inverse Time Overcurrent Relays (IDMT Relay)

In this type of relays, operating time is inversely changed with current. So, high current
will operate overcurrent relay f aster than lower ones. There are standard inverse, very
inverse and extremely inverse types.
Discrimination by both Time and Current. The relay operation time is inversely
proportional to the fault current.
Inverse Time relays are also ref erred to as Inverse Def inite Minimum Time (IDMT)
relay.

The operating time of an overcurrent relay

can be moved up (made slower) by
adjusting the time dial setting. The lowest
time dial setting (fastest operating time) is
generally 0.5 and the slowest is 10.
Operates when current exceeds its
pick-up value.
Operating time depends on the
magnitude of current.

Inverse Def init e Minimum T ime (IDMT )

It gives inverse time current

characteristics at lower values of f ault current and def inite time characteristics at
higher values
An inverse characteristic is obtained if the value of plug setting multiplier is below
10, f or values between 10 and 20 characteristics tend towards def inite time
characteristics.
Widely used f or the protection of distribution lines.
Based on the inverseness it has three different types:

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3.1. Normal Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay

The accuracy of the operating time may range f rom 5
to 7.5% of the nominal operating time as specif ied in
the relevant norms. The uncertainty of the operating
time and the necessary operating time may require a
grading margin of 0.4 to 0.5 seconds.
Its used when Fault Current is dependent on
generation of fault not f ault location.
Normal inverse time Overcurrent Relay is relatively
small change in time per unit of change of current.
Application:
Most f requently used in utility and industrial circuits.
especially applicable where the f ault magnitude is
mainly dependent on the system generating capacity
at the time of f ault.
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Inverse t ypes

3.2. Very Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay

Gives more inverse characteristics than that of IDMT.
Used where there is a reduction in f ault current, as the distance f rom source
increases.
Particularly ef f ective with ground f aults because of their steep characteristics.
Suitable if there is a substantial reduction of f ault current as the f ault distance
f rom the power source increases.
Very inverse overcurrent relays are particularly suitable if the short-circuit current
drops rapidly with the distance f rom the substation.
The grading margin may be reduced to a value in the range f rom 0.3 to 0.4
seconds when overcurrent relays with very inverse characteristics are used.
Used when Fault Current is dependent on f ault location.
Used when Fault Current independent of normal changes in generating capacity.
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3.3. Extremely Inverse Time Overcurrent Relay

It has more inverse characteristics than that of IDMT and very inverse
overcurrent relay.
Suitable f or the protection of machines against overheating.
The operating time of a time overcurrent relay with an extremely inverse timecurrent characteristic is approximately inversely proportional to the square of the
current
The use of extremely inverse overcurrent relays makes it possible to use a short
time delay in spite of high switching-in currents.
Used when Fault current is dependent on f ault location
Used when Fault current independent of normal changes in generating capacity.
Application:
Suitable f or protection of distribution f eeders with peak currents on switching in
(ref rigerators, pumps, water heaters and so on).
Particular suitable f or grading and coordinates with f uses and re closes
For the protection of alternators, transf ormers. Expensive cables, etc.
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3.4. Long Time Inverse Overcurrent Relay

The main application of long time overcurrent relays is as backup earth f ault
protection.

4. Directional Overcurrent Relays

When the power system is not radial (source on one side of the line), an overcurrent
relay may not be able to provide adequate protection. This type of relay operates in
on direction of current f low and blocks in the opposite direction.
Three conditions must be satisf ied f or its operation: current magnitude, time delay and
directionality. The directionality of current f low can be identif ied using voltage as a
ref erence of direction.
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Application of Overcurrent Relay

Motor Protection:
Used against overloads and short-circuits in stator windings of motor.
Inverse time and instantaneous overcurrent phase and ground
Overcurrent relays used f or motors above 1000 kW.
Transformer Protection:
Used only when the cost of overcurrent relays are not justif ied.
Extensively also at power-transf ormer locations f or external-f ault back-up
protection.
Line Protection:
On some sub transmission lines where the cost of distance relaying cannot be
justif ied.
primary ground-f ault protection on most transmission lines where distance relays
are used f or phase f aults.
For ground back-up protection on most lines having pilot relaying f or primary
protection.
Distribution Protection:

Overcurrent relaying is very well suited to distribution system protection f or the

f ollowing reasons:
It is basically simple and inexpensive.
Very of ten the relays do not need to be directional and hence no PT supply is
required.
It is possible to use a set of two O/C relays f or protection against inter-phase
f aults and a separate Overcurrent relay f or ground f aults.
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