Generator

Protection

MANOJ BARSAIYAN
 Generator Scheme

(Non GCB scheme)

• In this scheme no switchgear is
provided between the generator
and generator transformer,
which are treated as a unit; a
unit transformer is tapped off
the interconnection for
supplying of power to auxiliary
plant

2
 Generator Scheme

Generator Circuit Breaker

(GCB) scheme
• In this scheme a generator
circuit breaker is provided
between the generator and
generator transformer; a unit
transformer is tapped off
before the GCB for supplying
of power to auxiliary plant

3
 Classification of Generator Protections
Protection against Electrical Faults
– Unit Protection (against Internal faults)‫‏‬
• Differential Protection (87G)
• Stator Earth Fault Protection (64S)
• Rotor Earth Fault protection (64R)
• Inter-turn Fault Protection (95G)
– Non-unit Protection (against Un-cleared
External Faults)‫‏‬
• Voltage Controlled / Restraint O/C Relays (51V)
• Impedance Backup Protection (21G)

4
Classification of Generator Protections
Protections against Abnormal Operating
Conditions
• Unbalanced Load Protection (NPS Current Relay)‫‏‬
(46G)
• Field Failure Protection (40G)
• Pole Slipping (Out of step) Protection (98G)
• Anti-motoring Protection (32)
• Over Excitation Protection (for GTs)‫(‏‬24 or 99GT)
• Under / Over Frequency Protection (81G)
• Over Voltage Protection (59G)
• Over Load Protection (51G)
• Dead Machine Energisation Protection (67)

5
 Generator Trip Logics
• Class-A Trip (Unit Shutdown)
– Results in Simultaneous tripping of Prime Mover and
Generator/ Field Breaker, and Unit Auxiliary
Transformer LV Breaker
– This is applied to those protections which operate
for severe electrical faults within the machine or
associated equipments (e.g. generator differential,
overall differential, stator E/F, GT/UAT REF, 2nd Rotor
earth fault, Backup impedance or over current
protection)
– Used only in emergencies where continuation in
service, for any length of time, is not permitted

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 Generator Trip Logics
• Class B Trip (Interlocked Tripping)
– This is applied to such of those protections for which
electrical isolation of the generator can be delayed
without any significant damage to the machine, in this
mode, the turbine is tripped immediately, but tripping of
GT/UAT/Field circuit breakers is interlocked through a
low forward power relay, thereby delaying electrical
isolation until the power output of the generator has
been substantially reduced, following turbine tripping
– This avoids over speeding of the Generator

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 Generator Trip Logics
• Class C trip (Electrical Isolation)
– The Turbine-Generator (TG) unit is isolated from the
grid by opening the transmission lines, and allowed
to continue service with station load
– This is applied to those protections, which operate
for conditions external to the Generators and its
associated equipments (e.g. Unbalanced load
protection, Bus bar protection, Impedance backup
stage-I etc.)
– This enables quick restoration by re-synchronizing
the machine with the systems

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Differential Relay

Generator
Winding

Current flow in relay secondary

circuit in healthy condition
Generator Differential
Generator Biased Differential
GT OVERALL DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTIION

50Z

GT

GENERATOR
Ig
87 GT
 Generator Earthing

• For HV generators, impedance is usually inserted

in the stator earthing connection to limit the
magnitude of earth fault current. There is a wide
variation in the earth fault current chosen,
common values being:
• rated current
• 200A-400A (low impedance earthing)
• 10A-20A (high impedance earthing)
• Low values of earth fault current may limit the
damage caused from a fault, but they
simultaneously make detection of a fault towards
the stator winding star point more difficult.
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 STATOR EARTH FAULT PROTECTION
Restricted Earth Fault Protection (REF)

covers normally 85-90 % of the stator winding.

A voltage relay connected to the open delta in generator
voltage transformer as the earth fault across in the stator
winding the voltage balance disturbs and operate the relay.

Earth Fault Protection through grounding.

A voltage relay connected across the grounding resistors,
The voltage will appear across the resistance and relay
shall operate.
A current relay connected to the CT provided in grounding
transformer secondary circuit. As there is an earth fault
there would be voltage across the resistance, which will
drive a current, and relay would operate.
EARTH FAULT PROTECTION

64
 100% Stator E/F protection

For large machines there is a requirement for

detection of earth fault occurring anywhere in
the stator winding

• Low frequency injection scheme.

• Third harmonic voltage scheme
 Low frequency injection scheme.

• In this scheme a sub harmonic voltage is applied

via an injection transformer connected in series
with the neutral earthing resistance.
• A relay which monitors the sub harmonic current is
arranged to operate when current increases due to
an earth fault on the stator winding.
• cost of the implementation tends to be high due to
the cost of the injection equipment.
 THIRD HARMONIC VOLTAGE SCHEME

• This scheme utilizes the third harmonic voltage produced by

non linearity within the generator.
• Under healthy conditions, this voltage causes the circulation
of third harmonic capacitive charging currents resulting in
third harmonic voltage appearing between the neutral of the
generator and ground.
• When fault occurs close to the neutral of the generator, the
third harmonic voltage between the neutral and ground will
reduce to near zero-value.
 Operate Blind zone Operate zone
zone

UPPER THRESHOLD SETTING OF RELAY

B
PRE-FAULT REFERENCE LEVEL

LOWER THRESHOLD SETTING OF RELAY

A

x Y
O
0 50 100
EARTH FAULT POSITION (% stator
winding –measured from neutral)
• Thus the location of fault anywhere from
x to y represents a blind zone.
• The relay operates if the magnitude of
the third harmonic voltage is
a) Less than OA/or
b) more than OB
The problem of blind-zone is overcome
by providing two protection system
operating simultaneously
1) The one system monitors the fundamental
component of the neutral voltage.
2) Monitors the third harmonic voltage of
neutral
 THIRD HARMONIC ELEMENT

FUNDAMENT FREQUENCY ELEMENT

0 50 100
EARTH FAULT POSITION (% stator
winding –measured from neutral)
 OVER CURRENT PROTECTION

• It is usual to provide over current relays of the

IDMT‫‏‬pattern‫‏‬to‫‏‬generators,‫‏‬as‫‏‬a‫‏‬general‫‘‏‬back-
up’’‫‏‬feature.‫‏‬These‫‏‬relays‫‏‬are‫‏‬in‫‏‬no‫‏‬way‫‏‬related‫‏‬to‫‏‬
the thermal characteristics of the generator and
are intended to operate only under fault
conditions.
 OVER VOLTAGE PROTECTION

Over voltage may be caused by the following

contingencies:
• Defective operation of the AVR
• Operation under manual control with the
AVR out of service
• Sudden loss of load (due to line tripping)
may cause the over-speed of TG set.
 GENERATOR BACK UP IMPEDANCE PROTECTION

• For all line faults generators are the main feeding elements which are
to be protected against persistent fault. (left uncleared by outgoing
feeder protection scheme.)

• Hence generator backup protection is designed.

• It is having two stage operation

•
STAGE-1 time delay of 1.7 seconds.
Trip main and middle breaker.

STAGE 2(2 sec)

It gives generator trip command . Normally when the first stage
timer operates and opens the generator breakers, the trip cause
should cease to exists. Second stage comes in to service if trip cause
persists. This is only possible if fault lies b/w generator and breaker.
 Stator Inter-turn protection

• Interturn faults in a generator with a single winding can be

detected by observing the zero-sequence voltage across the
machine terminals
• In case of large generators stator windings are sometimes
duplicated owing' to the very high currents which they have
to carry. The CTs, are connected on the circulating current
principle. As long as there is no turn to turn fault both the
currents will be equal and no resultant current will flow
through relay. If a turn-to-turn fault develops, then the stator
currents will no longer be equal and a current proportional to
the difference in two currents will flow through the relay R.
INTER TURN FAULT PROTECTION
INTER TURN FAULT PROTECTION
 UNBALANCED LOAD /NPS

• A three phase balanced load ( i.e, generator

stator ) produces a reaction field which rotates
synchronously with rotor field system. Any
unbalanced condition can be resolved into
positive, negative & zero phase sequence
condition
• The positive sequence components are similar
to balanced load.
• Zero phase sequence reaction produces no
armature reaction no reaction field.
 UNBALANCED LOAD /NPS

• The negative sequence components are similar

to positive sequence system except that the
resulting reaction field (armature reaction) rotates
counter clockwise to D.C field(rotor).
• Voltage inducing in the rotor at double frequency.
• Eddy currents are very large and cause severe
heating in the rotor, alternate electromagnetic
torque unsatisfactory vibration in stator core.
 NEGATIVE PHASE SEQUENCE PROTECTION

Using this approximation it is possible to express the heating by the law:

I2 2 t = K
Where I2 = Negative sequence component
( per unit of MCR)
t = Time (seconds) t
K = Constant proportional to the
thermal capacity of the
generator rotor.

I
 LOSS OF EXCITATION

• Loss of excitation results in a generator losing

synchronism and running above synchronous
speed. It will operate as an induction generator.

• The main flux is produced by the wattless stator

current drawn from the system
• The generator is not designed as an
induction generator-

(a) Abnormal heating of the rotor

(b) Overloading of the stator winding

• Operation as an induction generator

brings no immediate danger to a set.
• The active power delivered as induction
generator will be slightly less than the pre-
fault load because of the speed regulation
characteristic of the governor

• The rotor currents are proportional to this

power output and heating is proportional
to the square of the rotor current.
 CAUSES OF LOSS OF EXCITATION

• 1.Open circuit in the field.

2.A short circuit in the field.
3.Accidental tripping of FB.
4.AVR control fails.
5.Loss of field to the main exciter
6.Loss of A.C supply to the excitation system.

• Under voltage is experienced by unit auxiliaries due to

heavy MVAR flow from the system. This is sensed by
voltage monitoring relay.

• When field failure accompanied by U/V it is treated class A

tripping, field fails without a serious voltage drop is treated
as class B tripping.
 FIELD FAILURE PROTECTION

• Generator runs as induction generator

• heavy reactive loading of stator
• slip freq induced currents in rotor

Methods of detecting Field failure :

• Under current relay in field circuit

• Reactive power monitoring
• Impedance relay
• The relay operates when the field current drops
below a preset value. The relay must have a
setting below the minimum exciting current, which
may be 8% of that corresponding to the MCR of
the machine.
 Rotor Earth Fault Protection
• The field circuit of a generator has no intentional earthing

• A single earth fault occurring in the field system poses no

immediate threat

• Presence of the first ground increases the risk of a second

earth fault developing due to increased insulation stresses
between the field system and earth

• The resulting double earth fault will cause part of the field
winding short circuited there by producing an unbalance in
the magnetic field and consequent vibrations and
mechanical damage

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 ROTOR EARTH FAULT PROTECTION

Three methods are available to detect this type of fault:

a) Potentiometer method
b) A.C. Injection method
c) D.C. Injection method
 Rotor Earth Fault Protection
• Potentiometer method
• A center taped resistor is connected
across the main field winding
• The center tap is connected to earth
through a voltage relay
• An earth fault on the field winding
will produce voltage in the relay,
maximum voltage occurring for end
faults
• A blind spot exists at the tapping
point, to avoid this, the tapping point
is varied with a push button or
switch, and is tested periodically to
detect blind zone
• Setting is 5% of field voltage

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 Rotor Earth Fault Protection
D.C. injection method
• This method requires access to the field system and
cannot be applied to brushless excitation system
• The positive pole of the field system is biased through a
transformer/ Rectifier unit and a sensitive relay element
is connected between the biasing source and ground
• An earth fault in the field system drives current through
the relay element causing operation
• The relay is time delayed to ensure transient free
operation and is usually connected for alarm
• The biasing voltage enables continuous monitoring of
the field system and hence relay detects earth faults
even during stand still condition of the generator

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 Rotor Earth Fault Protection
D.C. injection method

• For large generators it is customary to provide a 2nd Rotor earth

fault protection to detect occurrence of a subsequent earth fault
after the first earth fault is detected
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 Rotor Earth Fault Protection
D.C. injection method

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 Rotor Earth Fault Protection
D.C. injection method
• Protection is brought in service, in steps, after the incidence
of the first rotor ground, using a 4 position selector switch
• Relay includes a potentiometer and a sensitive relay element,
DC mA connected between its variable point “F”, and ground
• Occurrence of the first earth fault, potentiometer Branch null
is obtained in the “Balance” position using a DC mA by
adjusting the variable point “F”, on the potentiometer
• Subsequently the relay element “64 R2” is brought into circuit
in “Test” position while still keeping the tripping
disconnected
• Finally, after ensuring stability of the 2nd rotor earth fault
protection the protection is brought into service by restoring
its trip circuit

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 Rotor Earth Fault Protection
A.C. injection method
Low frequency injection method
– Modern rotor earth fault protection injection relay operates on
the principle of low frequency injection into the field winding
via capacitors
– Corresponding current or resistance during E/F is sensed
Typical setting (500 MW)
Alarm 80 kohm time = 10 sec
Trip 5 kohm time = 1 sec
• Actual values of setting shall be decided at site during
commissioning to ascertain the healthy value of the
particular m/c
 Rotor Earth Fault Protection
STATIC EXCITATION SYSTEM ROTOR EARTH FAULT SCHEME

R 64 R
UPS
240V RELAY
AC +

-
F
AVR B
+

5 K Ohm trip (500 MW GEN) Carbon Rotor winding

80 K ohm alarm brushes

45 K ohms alarm(200MW GEN)

10 K ohm Trip

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Field Ground Detection for Brushless
Machines LED Communications

48
 Field Ground Detection for Brushless
Machines LED Communications

• The relay's transmitter is mounted on the generator field

diode wheel.
• Its source of power is the ac brushless exciter system.
Two leads are connected to the diode bridge circuit of
the rotating rectifier to provide this power.
• Ground detection is obtained by connecting one lead of
the transmitter to the negative bus of the field rectifier
and the ground lead to the rotor shaft.
• Sensing current is determined by the field ground
resistance and the location of a fault with respect to the
positive and negative bus.

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 Field Ground Detection for Brushless
Machines LED Communications

• The transmitter Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

emit light for normal conditions.
• The receiver's infrared detectors sense the light
signal from the LED across the air gap.
• Upon detection of a fault, the LED's are turned
off. Loss of LED light to the receiver will actuate
the ground relay and initiate a trip or alarm

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 LOW FORWARD POWER PROTECTION

VT Healthy
T 2 sec &
Low forwarded
Power detected
< 0.5% of rated power To
T GG
& o

TTR-A G
G
TTR-B
ESV/IV
>
closed
Trip
relay A relay reset

•Delayed tripping of generator after 2 seconds of power <0.5% of rated

power to evaluate the mechanical of steam entrapped in the turbine
and eliminate the chance of over speeding of turbine.
 Anti Motoring/Reverse Power Protection
Anti-motoring Protection (32G)‫‏‬
1. Steam Turbine Generators
• Cooling effect lost leading to heating/softening/
distortion of blades
• Motoring power : 1-3% for condensing type
turbines but higher for Back pressure turbines
• Reverse power relay with high sensitivity (0.5%
rated power) used
2. Hydro Generators
• Heating of blade not serious due to low speed but
cavitation may occur on loss of water
• Motoring Power small (about 2%)
• Requires sensitive setting on the Reverse power
relay (0.5%)
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 Anti Motoring/Reverse Power Protection
Anti-motoring Protection (32G)‫‏‬
3. Gas Turbine Generator.
 Motoring power high (10-15% or higher).

 Reverse power relay with coarser settings (say

3%) can be used.

4. Diesel Generators.
 Sizable loss of energy due to high motoring
power (10-25%)‫‏‬
 Unburnt fuel in the midst of combustion may
cause fire or explosion.
 Relay with coarser setting (say 3%) can be used.

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• This protection acts under the following conditions of
operation.
1.Turbine tripped and reverse power detected for 2
seconds.
2.Turbine stop valves closed and reverse power detected
2 seconds.
3.Reverse power detected for 50 seconds.
• In steam turbine under normal operation there is a continuous
flow of steam through the machine. Any losses due to
turbulence will be converted into heat, which will be
continuously carried away by the steam.
• If the flow of steam ceases(control valve
close due to any protection, generator fails to
trip on low forward power) while set
continues to run at full speed, the turbulence
losses in the trapped steam may then build
up a high temperature condition in low
pressure stages, leading to softening and
distortion of blades.
 Under/ Over Frequency Protection
A. Under Frequency Protection (81)
– Results due to over loading of Generator beyond
corrective limits of governor

B. Over Frequency Relay (81)

– Primarily used as backup to Mechanical over speed
protection

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 Pole Slipping Protection
Pole Slipping Protection (78)‫‏‬

• CAUSES
– System Faults (delayed cleared fault)
– Power swings
– Weak Field conditions
• EFFECT
– Causes rotor oscillations with cyclic variations in voltage,
current and active / reactive power
– Torque reversal cause torsional stresses on the shaft &
stator end windings
– Cyclic voltage variations with possible rise in frequency
may affect consumer's rotating plants (loss of
synchronism for Synchronous Motors and stalling of
Induction Motors)
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 Basics of Out of Step Protection

The pickup area is restricted to the shaded area,

defined by the inner region of the MHO circle,
the region to the right of the blinder A and
the region to the left of blinder B.
 Basics of Out of Step Protection

• For operation of the blinder scheme :

• The positive sequence impedance must originate
outside either blinder A or B,
• It should swing through the pickup area and
progress to the opposite blinder from where the
swing had originated.
• The swing time should be greater than the time
delay setting When this scenario happens, the
tripping circuit is complete. The contact will
remain closed for the amount of time set by the
seal-in timer delay.
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 Generator Protection

60
04/05/2011
Areva Generator Protection- P343
87 G Generator differential
5051 Overcurrent protection
51V/21 Voltage dependent/ backup Impedance
67N Stator earth fault
27
81O
59N Neutral displacement
59 67N Sensitive directional E/F
81U
27TN 100% Stator E/F
24 27/59 Under & over voltage
87G 81081U Under & overfrequency
32 Sensitive power (1 ph)
40 Field Failure
50 51V
78 Pole Slipping
4 7
51 21
0 8
50N 4 32 32 L/R/O Directional Power
67N 51N 46 9 L/R/O 46 Negative Phase Sequence
27/50 Dead Machine
59N 27TN 38/26 RTD Themal Protection (Optional)
32 49 Thermal protection
24 Over fluxing
 Class B PROTECTIONS

• Protections that initiate turbine trip::

– Liquid in terminal box
– High cold gas temp.
– High exciter hot air temp.
– High seal oil temperature from cooler
– Stator Water conductivity high
– Stator Water Flow Low
• GCB and FB open on low forward power.
THANK
YOU