Application of Directional Overcurrent
and Earthfault Protection
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Directional Protection
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Need for Directional Control
Generally required if current can flow in both directions
through a relay location
e.g. Parallel feeder circuits
Ring Main Circuits
0.9 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.9
Relays operate for current flow in direction indicated.
(Typical operating times shown).
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Ring Main Circuit
With ring closed :
Both load and fault current may flow in either
direction along feeder circuits.
Thus, directional relays are required.
Note: Directional relays look into the feeder.
Need to establish principle for relay.
51 67 67 67
Load Load
51 67 67 67
Load
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Ring Main Circuit
Procedure :
1. Open ring at A
Grade : A' - E' - D' - C' - B'
2. Open ring at A'
Grade : A - B - C - D - E
Typical operating times shown.
Note : Relays B, C, D’, E’ may be non-directional.
A B' B C' C
1.7
0.1 1.3 0.5 0.9
0.9 D'
0.5 D
A' E E'
1.7
0.1 1.3
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Ring System with Two Sources
Discrimination between all relays is not possible due to different
requirements under different ring operating conditions.
For F1 :- B’ must operate before A’
For F2 :- B’ must operate after A’
} Not
Compatible
B
F1
A B' B C' C
A'
F2 D D'
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Ring System with Two Sources
Option 1
Trip least important source instantaneously then treat as normal ring
main.
Option 2
Fit pilot wire protection to circuit A - B and consider as common source
busbar.
B
A 50
Option 1 Option 1 Option 1
PW PW
Option 2 Option 2
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Parallel Feeders
Non-Directional Relays :-
‘F’
51 A 51 C Load
51 B 51 D
“Conventional Grading” :- A&B
Grade ‘A’ with ‘C’
and Grade ‘B’ with ‘D’ C&D
Relays ‘A’ and ‘B’ have the same setting.
Fault level
at ‘F’
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Parallel Feeders
Consider fault on one feeder :-
I1 + I2
I1
51 A I2 C 51 LOAD
51 B D 51
Relays ‘C’ and ‘D’ see the same fault current (I2).
As ‘C’ and ‘D’ have similar settings both feeders
will be tipped.
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Parallel Feeders
Solution:- Directional Control at ‘C’ and ‘D’
I1 + I2
I1
C
51 A I2 67 LOAD
51 B D 67
Relay ‘D’ does not operate due to current flow in
the reverse direction.
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Parallel Feeders
Setting philosophy for directional relays
E
51 A C 67 Load
51
51 B D 67
Load current always flows in ‘non-operate’ direction.
Any current flow in ‘operate’ direction is indicative of
a fault condition.
Thus Relays ‘C’ and ‘D’ may be set :-
- Sensitive (typically 50% load)
- Fast operating time (i.e. TMS=0.1)
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Parallel Feeders
Usually, relays are set :-
- 50% full load current (note thermal rating)
- Minimum T.M.S. (0.1)
Grading procedure :-
1. Grade ‘A’ (and ‘B’) with ‘E’ assuming one
feeder in service.
2. Grade ‘A’ with ‘D’ (and ‘B’ with ‘C’) assuming
both feeders in service.
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Parallel Feeders - Application Note
Grade B with C at If1 If2
P Q
Grade B with D at If2
(in practice) B D
Load
A C
Grade A with B at If Load If1:One Feeder
B D If2:Two Feeders
- but check that
sufficient margin
exists for bus fault at A
B
Q when relay A sees D
C
M = Margin
total fault current If2,
If2
but relay B sees only If2/2 M
If2/2. M M
If2/2 If1If2 If
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Establishing Direction
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Establishing Direction:- Polarising Quantity
The DIRECTION of Alternating Current may only be
determined with respect to a COMMON
REFERENCE.
In relaying terms, the REFERENCE is called the
POLARISING QUANTITY.
The most convenient reference quantity is
POLARISING VOLTAGE taken from the Power
System Voltages.
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Directional Decision by Phase Comparison (1)
S1 = Reference Direction = Polarising Signal = VPOL
S2 = Current Signal = I
OPERATION when S2 is within ±90° of S1 :-
S1
S2 S2
S2
S2 S2
S2 S2
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Directional Decision by Phase Comparison (2)
RESTRAINT when S2 lags S1 by between 90° and 270° :-
S1
S2 S2
S2 S2
S2 S2
S2
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Polarising Voltage for ‘A’ Phase Overcurrent Relay
OPERATE SIGNAL = IA
POLARISING SIGNAL :- Which voltage to use ?
Selectable from
VA
VB
VC
VA-B
VB-C
VC-A
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Directional Relay
Applied Voltage : VA
Applied Current : IA
VA
IA
Operate
IAF
VAF
Restrain
Question :
- is this connection suitable for a typical power system ?
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Polarising Voltage
Applied Voltage : VBC
Applied Current : IA
VA
IA
IAF
MAXIMUM SENSITIVITY LINE
VBC
IVBC
X Polarising voltage remains
ØVBC healthy
X Fault current in centre of
ZERO SENSITIVITY characteristic
LINE
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Relay Connection Angle
The angle between the current applied to the relay and the
voltage applied to the relay at system unity power factor
e.g. 90° (Quadrature) Connection : IA and VBC
IA
VA
90°
VBC
VC VB
The 90° connection is now used for all overcurrent relays.
30° and 60° connections were also used in the past, but no
longer, as the 90° connection gives better performance.
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Relay Characteristic Angle (R.C.A.)
for Electronic Relays
The angle by which the current applied to the relay must
be displaced from the voltage applied to the relay to
produce maximum operational sensitivity
e.g. 45°
OPERATE
IA FOR MAXIMUM OPERATE
VA
RESTRAIN SENSITIVITY
RCA
45°
VBC
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
90° Connection - 45° R.C.A.
MAX SENSITIVITY
OPERATE LINE
IA
VA VA IA FOR MAX
RESTRAIN SENSITIVITY
45°
90° 45°
VBC VBC
135°
VC VB
RELAY CURRENT VOLTAGE
A IA VBC
B IB VCA
C IC VAB
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
90° Connection - 30° R.C.A.
OPERATE
MAX
SENSITIVITY
IA RESTRAIN
LINE
VA VA IA FOR MAX
30° SENSITIVITY
90° 30°
VBC VBC
150°
VC VB
RELAY CURRENT VOLTAGE
A IA VBC
B IB VCA
C IC VAB
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Selection of R.C.A. (1)
Overcurrent Relays
90° connection 30° RCA (lead)
Plain feeder, zero sequence source behind relay
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Selection of R.C.A. (2)
90° connection 45° RCA (lead)
Plain or Transformer Feeder :- Zero Sequence Source in Front of
Relay
Transformer Feeder :- Delta/Star Transformer in Front of Relay
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Directional Earthfault Protection
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Directional Earth Fault
Requirements are similar to directional overcurrent
i.e. need operating signal
and polarising signal
Operating Signal
obtained from residual connection of line CT's
i.e. Iop = 3Io
Polarising Signal
The use of either phase-neutral or phase-phase
voltage as the reference becomes inappropriate for
the comparison with residual current.
Most appropriate polarising signal is the residual
voltage.
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Residual Voltage
May be obtained from ‘broken’ delta V.T. secondary.
A
B
C
VA-G VB-G VC-G
VRES = VA-G + VB-G + VC-G = 3V0
VRES
Notes :
1. VT primary must be earthed.
2. VT must be of the '5 limb' construction (or 3 x single
phase units)
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Directional Earth Fault Relays
Relay Characteristic Angle
0 - Resistance earthed systems
45 (I lags V) - Distribution systems (solidly earthed)
60 (I lags V) - Transmission systems (solidly earthed)
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Residual Voltage
Solidly Earthed System E S R F
ZS ZL
A-G
VA
VA
VC VB VC VB VC VB
VA VRES
VA VRES
VB VB VB
VC VC VC
Residual Voltage at R (relaying point) is dependant upon ZS / ZL ratio.
Z S0
VRES= x 3E
2Z S1 + Z S0 + 2Z L1 + ZL0
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Residual Voltage
Resistance Earthed System
E S R F
ZS ZL
N
ZE
A-G
G
VA-G
S S V S
A-G
R G.F R G.F
G.F
VC-G VB-G VC-G VB-G VC-G VB-G
VRES VRES VRES
VB-G VB-G VB-G
VA-G VA-G
VC-G VC-G VC-G
Z S0 + 3Z E
VRES= x 3E
2Z S1 + Z S0 + 2Z L1 + ZL0 + 3Z E
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Directional Earth Fault Relays
Relay Characteristic Angle
0 - Resistance earthed systems
45 (I lags V) - Distribution systems (solidly earthed)
60 (I lags V) - Tranmission systems (solidly earthed)
Zero sequence network :-
ZS0 I0 ZL0
3R V0
V0 = ( - ) I0 (ZS0 + 3R)
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Current Polarising
A solidly earthed, high fault level (low source impedance)
system may result in a small value of residual voltage at the
relaying point. If residual voltage is too low to provide a reliable
polarising signal then a current polarising signal may be used as
an alternative.
The current polarising signal may be derived from a CT located
in a suitable system neutral to earth connection.
e.g.
OP
POL
DEF Relay
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Directional Control
Static Relay (METI + MCGG)
Characteristic Selectable M.T.A. Selectable
51 I
67 I
Overcurrent Unit Directional Unit
(Static) (Static)
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
Numerical Relay Directional Characteristic
Characteristic angle Øc Zone of
Øc = -180° --- 0° --- + 180° forward start
in 1° steps forward operation
+Is
Øc - 90° Øc Øc + 90°
-Is
Polarising
thresholds
Reverse start
Vp > 0.6V
Vop > 0.6 to 80V
in 0.2V steps
for example
Application of Directional Overcurrent and Earthfault Protection - January 2004
