REL 316*4 1MRB520050-Uen / Rev.

F ABB Switzerland Ltd

3.5.8. Inverse time overcurrent (Current-Inv)

A. Application
Overcurrent function with time delay inversely proportional to the
current and definite minimum tripping time (IDMT).

B. Features
· operating characteristics (see Fig. 3.5.8.1) according to
British Standard 142:
c = 0.02 : normal inverse
c=1 : very inverse and long time earth fault
c=2 : extremely inverse.
· insensitive to DC component
· insensitive to harmonics
· single or three-phase measurement
· detection of the highest phase value in the three-phase mode
· wider setting range than specified in B.S. 142.

C. Inputs and outputs

I. C.t./v.t. inputs:
· current

II. Binary inputs:

· Blocking

III. Binary outputs:

· pick-up
· tripping

IV. Measurements:
· current amplitude.

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D. Inverse time overcurrent settings - Current-Inv

Summary of parameters:
Text Unit Default Min. Max. Step

ParSet4..1 P1 (Select)
Trip 00000000
c-Setting 1.00 (Select)
k1-Setting s 013.5 0.01 200.0 0.01
I-Start IB 1.10 1.00 4.00 0.01
t-min s 00.00 0.0 10.0 0.1
NrOfPhases 1 1 3 2
CurrentInp CT/VT-Addr 0
IB-Setting IN 1.00 0.045 2.50 0.01
BlockInp BinaryAddr F
Trip SignalAddr ER
Start SignalAddr ER

Explanation of parameters:
ParSet 4..1
Parameter for determining in which set of parameters a par-
ticular function is active (see Section 5.11.).
Trip
defines the tripping channel activated by the tripping O/P of
the function (matrix tripping logic).
c-Setting
Setting for the exponential factor determining the shape of
the operating characteristic according to BS 142 or for se-
lecting the RXIDG characteristic.
k1-Setting
Constant determining the parallel shift of the characteristic
(time grading).
I-Start
Pick-up current at which the characteristic becomes effective.
t-min
Definite minimum tripping time.
NrOfPhases
defines the number of phases measured.

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CurrentInp
defines the c.t. input channel. All current I/P's may be
selected. In the case of three-phase measurement, the first
channel (R phase) of the group of three selected must be
specified.
IB-Setting
Base current for taking account of differences of rated current
IN.
BlockInp
defines the input for an external blocking signal.
F: - not used
T: - function always blocked
xx: - all binary inputs (or outputs of protection
functions).
Trip
Tripping signal.
Start
Pick-up signal.

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E. Setting instructions

Settings:
Base current IB-Setting
Characteristic enabling current I-Start
Type of characteristic c-Setting
Multiplier k1-Setting
The IDMT overcurrent function is used to protect transformers,
feeders and loads of the auxiliaries supply system against phase
and earth faults. The function responds largely only to the fun-
damental component of the fault current.

Base current “IB-Setting”

An IDMT relay does not have a fixed current setting above which
it operates and below which it does not, as does a definite time-
overcurrent relay. Instead, its operating characteristic is chosen
such that it is always above the load current. To this end, the
relay has a reference current IB that is set the same as the load
current of the protected unit IB1. The reference current IB
determines the relative position of the relay characteristic which
is enabled when the current exceeds the reference current by a
given amount (“I-Start”). By setting the reference current IB to
equal the load current of the protected unit IB1 instead of its rated
current, for
IB1 < IN of the protected unit: the protection is more sensitive
IB1 > IN of the protected unit: the protection permits maximum
utilisation of the thermal
capability of the protected unit.

Example:
Load current of protected unit IB1 = 800 A
C.t. rated current IN1 = 1000 A
IN2 = 5A
Relay rated current IN = 5A
Relay reference current “IB-Setting”:
IN2 5A
IB = IB1 = 800A = 4A
IN1 1000A

Setting:
IB 4 A
= = 0 .8
IN 5 A

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An alternative is to adjust the position of the IDMT characteristic

to match the rated load of the protected unit and set the
reference current to its rated current instead of its load current.

Enabling the characteristic ‘I-Start’

The IDMT characteristic is enabled when the current exceeds
the setting ‘I-Start’. A typical setting for ‘I-Start’ is 1.1 IB.

Choice of characteristic ‘c-Setting’

The constant ‘c-Setting’ determines the shape of the IDMT
characteristic.
The settings for the standard characteristics according to
B.S. 142 are:
“normal inverse” : c = 0.02
“very inverse” and “long time earth fault” : c = 1.00
“extremely inverse” : c = 2.00.

Fig. 3.5.8.1 Operating characteristic of the IDMT overcurrent

function
“c-Setting” can also be set to “RXIDG”, in which case the
function’s inverse characteristic corresponds to that of the relay
Type RXIDG:
t [s] = 5.8 – 1.35 In (I/IB)
The parameter “k1-Setting” has no influence in this case.

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Multiplier ‘k1-Setting’
The multiplier ‘k1-Setting’ enables the IDMT characteristic
chosen by the setting of parameter c to be shifted without
changing its shape. This is used for grading the operating times
of a series of IDMT relays along a line to achieve discrimination.
For example, in the case of the “very inverse” characteristic, the
constant c = 1 and the factor k1 £ 13.5. The operating time t is
given by the equation
k1
t=
I
-1
IB

Assuming a grading time of 0.5 s at 6 times the base current IB is

required, the factor k1 for each of the relays is given by
k1 = 5 t
This produces for operating times between 0.5 and 2.5 s the
following settings for k1:

t [s] k1 [s]
0.5 2.5
1 5
1.5 7.5
2 10
2.5 12.5

The characteristics according to BS 142 are set as follows:

“normal inverse” : k1 = 0.14 s
“very inverse” : k1 = 13.5 s
“extremely inverse” : k1 = 80 s
“long time earth fault” : k1 = 120 s.

Typical settings:
IB-Setting corresponding to load current of the pro-
tected unit
I-Start 1.1 IB
c-Setting according to desired characteristic for the
protected unit
k1-Setting according to the time grading calculation
t-min 0.00

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