Generator Protection

Generator Protection

The extent and types of protection specified will

depend on the following factors :-

 Type of prime mover and generator construction

 MW and voltage ratings
 Mode of operation
 Method of connection to the power system
 Method of earthing
 Connection to the
Power System

1. Direct :

2. Via Transformer :
Typical Generator Installations

Generator Generator
Transformer Transformer
Station
Trans-
Earthing former
Transformer

Unit / Unit
Station Trans-
Transformer former
 Generator Protection
Requirements

 To detect faults on the generator

 To protection generator from the effects of abnormal
power system operating conditions
 To isolate generator from system faults not cleared
remotely

Action required depends upon the nature of the fault.

Usual to segregate protection functions into :

– Urgent
– Non-urgent
– Alarm
Generator Faults

Mixture of mechanical and electrical problems.

Faults include :-

 Insulation Failure
– Stator
– Rotor
 Excitation system failure
 Prime mover / governor failure
 Bearing Failure
 Excessive vibration
 Low steam pressure
etc.
System Conditions

 Short circuits
 Overloads
 Loss of load
 Unbalanced load
 Loss of synchronism
 Stator Earth Fault Protection

Fault caused by failure of stator winding insulation

Leads to burning of machine core

welding of laminations

Rebuilding of machine core can be a very expensive

process

Earth fault protection is therefore a principal feature of

any generator protection package

TYPE OF  METHOD  METHOD

PROTECTION OF OF
EARTHING CONNECTION
 Method of Earthing

 Machine stator windings are surrounded by a mass of

earthed metal

 Most probable result of stator winding insulation failure is

a phase-earth fault

 Desirable to earth neutral point of generator to prevent

dangerous transient overvoltages during arcing earth
faults

 Several methods of earthing are in use

 Damage resulting from a stator earth fault will depend

upon the earthing arrangement
 Method of Earthing

Solidly Earthed Machines :

 Fault current is high

 Rapid damage occurs
– burning of core iron
– welding of laminations
 Used on LV machines only
 Method of Earthing

Desirable to limit earth fault current :

 limits damage
 reduces possibility of developing into phase-phase
fault

Degree to which fault current is limited must take into

account :

 detection of earth faults as near as possible to the

neutral point
 ease of discrimination with system earth fault
protection (directly connected machines)
 Method of Earthing : Limitation of
Earth Fault Current

Earth faults on the power

F system are not seen by the
generator earth fault
protection.

Discrimination not required  can limit current to very low

value. Sometimes down to 5A
 Method of Earthing : Limitation of
Earth Fault Current

Limit To Generator Full Load Current

 Most popular.

 Used for ease of fault detection and discrimination.

 Residual connection of CTs can be used

 Can result in serious core damage.

 Stator Earth Fault Protection
Directly Connected Generators :

51N

Earthed Generator : Earth fault relay must be time delayed for

co-ordination with other earth fault protection on the power system.

50N 51N

Unearthed Generators : Other generators connected in parallel

will generally be unearthed.

Protection is restricted to faults on the generator, grading with power

system earth fault protection is not required. A high impedance
instantaneous relay can be used (Balanced Earth Fault protection).
 Percentage Winding Protected
11.5kV; 75,000KVA

xV

xV
ΙF 
250/1A IS R
For operation
ΙS(PRIMARY)  ΙF
R 33 xV

R
x.6600
  x.200
33
1
ΙS(SECONDARY)  x.200 x  0.8x
250
 For protection of 90% of winding; x = 1-0.9 = 0.1
Relay setting = 0.8 x 0.1 = 0.08A = 8% of 1A
 Stator Earth Fault Protection
Generators connected via step-up transformer (resistance
earthed) :

51N 50N

Instantaneous protection (50N) :

System earth faults ARE not seen by generator earth fault

protection  instantaneous relay may be used.

Set to 10% of resistor rating (avoids operation due to transient

surges passed through generator transformer interwinding
capacitance).

Advantage : Fast
 Stator Earth Fault Protection

Time delayed protection (51N) :

Time delay prevents operation on transient surges.

A more sensitive current setting may be used.

Set to 5% of resistor rating.

Advantage : Sensitive

On large machines considered worthwhile to use both

instantaneous and time delayed.
Restricted Earth fault Protection

RSTAB

64

Protects approx. 90 - 95% of generator winding.

 Stator Earth Fault Protection

100% Stator Earth Fault Protection :

Standard relays only cover 95% of winding.

Probability of fault occuring in end 5% is low.

On large machines 100% stator earth fault protection may

be required.

Two methods :
* Low Frequency Injection
* Third Harmonic Voltage Measurement
 100% Stator Earth Fault - Low
Frequency Injection
For Large Machines Only

 Injection Frequency 12.5 - 20Hz

Injection
Transformer  Provides protection during run up

 High cost due to injection equipment.

51 Alternative
Injection
Points
 100% Stator Earth Fault - 3rd
Harmonic Voltage

Earthing
Trans- 59
former
U/V

 Low Cost - Can be integrated into

multifunction relay
59
 Undervoltage measurement at neutral
O/V

 Overvoltage measurement at terminals

 No protection during run up - need to be

on load.

 3rd harmonic voltage maybe limited due

to design of machine
 Overcurrent Protection

 For small generators this may be the only protection

applied.
 With solid earthing it will provide some protection
against earth faults.
 For a single generator, CTs must be connected to
neutral end of stator winding.

51
 Overcurrent Protection

 For parallel generators, CTs can be located on line

side.

51
 Differential Protection

 Provides high speed protection for all fault types

 May be : High impedance type
: Biased (low impedance) type
CT’s required in neutral end of winding

Relay
Differential Protection - Biased

BIAS BIAS

OPERATE

Biased Differential Scheme

Differential Protection

INTERPOSING
C.T.

Overall Differential Scheme

 Stator Interturn Fault Protection

 Longitudinal differential system does not detect

interturn faults

 Interturn fault protection not commonly provided

because :
 Fault rare
 Even if interturn fault occurs, will develop into earth fault

 Possible that serious damage can occur before fault

is detected
 Stator Interturn Fault Protection

Zero Sequence Voltage Method :

VA

VB

VC
VA VB VC VR
FAULT

3rd Harmonic Rejection

Required

R
VR = VA + VB + VC
 Stator Interturn Fault Protection
Transverse Differential Protection
(Double Wound Machines) :

Bias
Coils

Operate
Coils
 Prime Mover Failure
Isolated Generators :
Machine slows down and stops. Other protection initiates shut down.

Parallel Sets :
System supplies power - generator operates as a motor.
Seriousness depends on type of drive.

Steam Turbine Sets :

Steam acts as a coolant.
Loss of steam causes overheating.
Turbulence in trapped steam causes distortion of turbine blades.
Motoring power 0.5% to 6% rated.
Condensing turbines, rate of heating slow. Loss of steam instantly
recognised.
 Prime Mover Failure

Diesel Driven Sets :

Prime mover failure due to mechanical fault.
Serious mechanical damage if allowed to persist.
Motoring power from 35% rated for stiff machine, to 5% rated for run
in machine.

Gas Turbines :
Motoring power 100% rated for single shaft machine, 10% to 15%
rated for double shaft.

Hydro Sets :
Mechanical precautions taken if water level drops.
Low head types - erosion and cavitation of runner can occur.
Additional protection may be required.
 Prime Mover Failure

Reverse Power Protection :

Reverse power measuring relays used where protection

required.

Single phase relay is sufficient as prime mover failure

results in balanced conditions.

Sensitive settings required - metering class CTs required

for accuracy.
 Loss of Excitation
Effects
Single Generator :
 Loses output volts and therefore load.
Parallel Generators :
 Operate as induction motor (> synch speed)
 Flux provided by reactive stator current drawn from
system-leading pf
 Slip frequency current induced in rotor - abnormal
heating
Situation does not require immediate tripping,
however,
large machines have short thermal time constants -
should be unloaded in a few seconds.
 Loss of Excitation

XG XT XS
EG ES

On field failure ratio EG / ES decreases and rotor angle

increases.

Machine starts to pole slip with decaying internal EMF.

Impedance Locus of Generator
Operating Out of Synchronism

+jX EG/ES = 1.5

2.0

LOAD POINT
5.0
5
A

EG/ES = 1
G
0.2 0.5 0.7

-jX
 Loss of Excitation

Impedance seen by relay follows locus shown below :

X

Load Impedance

R
Impedance Offset – Prevents
Locus operation
on pole slips

Diameter
Typically : Relay Characteristic
Offset 50-75%X’d
Diameter 50-100% XS Time Delayed
 Unbalanced Loading

 Gives rise to negative phase sequence (NPS) currents -

results in contra-rotating magnetic field.

 Stator flux cuts rotor at twice synchronous speed.

 Induces double frequency current in field system and

rotor body.

 Resulting eddy currents cause severe over heating.

 Use negative sequence overcurrent relay.

 Relay should have inverse time characteristic to
match generator I22t withstand.
 Unbalanced Loading

 Machines are assigned NPS current withstand values :

* Continuous NPS rating, I2R
* Short time NPS rating, I22t

 If possible level of system unbalance approaches machine

continuous withstand, protection is required.
 Unbalanced Loading

Machine NPS Withstand Values

TYPE OF ROTOR I2R I22t = K
MACHINE COOLING (PU CMR)

Typical Conventional 0.40 60

Salient Pole Air
Cylindrical Conventional 0.20 20
Rotor Hydrogen
0.5 PSI
Cylindrical Conventional 0.15 15
Rotor Hydrogen
15 PSI
Cylindrical Conventional 0.15 12
Rotor Hydrogen
30 PSI
Cylindrical Direct 0.10 3
Rotor Hydrogen
40 - 60 PSI
 Rotor Earth Fault Protection

Field circuit is an isolated DC system.

 Insulation failure at a single point :
- No fault current, therefore no danger
- Increase chance of second fault occurring
 Insulation failure at a second point :
- Shorts out part of field winding
- Heating (burning of conductor)
- Flux distortion causing violent vibration of rotor
 Desirable to detect presence of first earth fault and
give an alarm.
 Rotor Earth Fault Protection

Potentiometer Method

Exciter

 Required sensitivity approximately 5% exciter voltage.

 No auxiliary supply required.
 “Blind spot” - require manually operated push button to
vary tapping point.
 Rotor Earth Fault Protection

AC Injection Method

AC Auxiliary
Supply
R

Brushless Machines
 No access to rotor circuit
 Require special slip rings for measurement
 If slip rings not present, must use telemetering techniques
(expensive)
 Overload Protection

high load current


heating of stator and rotor

insulation failure

Governor Setting
Should prevent serious overload automatically.
Generator may lose speed if required load can not be met
by other sources.
 Overload Protection

Direct Temperature Measuring Devices

Resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), thermocouples
etc., embedded in windings.
Provide alarm and/or trip via auxiliary relays.

Thermal Replica Relays

Current operated. May have ambient temperature

compensation.
 Generator Back-Up Protection
Overcurrent Protection
Typical use :
 Very or extremely inverse for LV machines
 Normal inverse for HV machines

Must consider generator voltage decrement characteristic for close-in faults.

With reliable AVR system, “conventional” overcurrent relays may be used.
Otherwise, voltage controlled / restrained relays are required.

10 x
FL

with AVR

Full
Load
no AVR

Cycles
 Generator Back-Up Protection

Overcurrent Protection

Voltage Restrained

 Operating characteristic is continuously varied

depending on measured volts.
 Alternatively, use impedance relay.

Voltage Controlled
 Relay switches between fault characteristic and load
characteristic depending on measured volts.

F
 10

O/L CHARAC

1.0
FAULT CHARAC
LARGEST
OUTGOING 6.6kV
t
FEEDER
sec 5MVA
115% XS

0.1 GENERATOR
DECREMENT 500/5
CURVE 200/5

0.01
100 240 600 1000 3000 10,000 AMPS
 Impedance Relay

jx

RELAY
CHARACTERISTIC

Set to operate at 70% rated load impedance when voltage

drops to zero, current required to operate relay is 10% rated
current. Built-in timer for co-ordination purposes.
 Under & Over Frequency
Conditions

Over Frequency

 Results from generator over speed caused by sudden

loss of load.
 In isolated generators may be due to failure of speed
governing system.
 Over speed protection may be provided by mechanical
means.
 Desirable to have over frequency relay with more
sensitive settings.
Under & Over Frequency
Conditions
Under Frequency
 Results from loss of synchronous speed due to
excessive overload.
 In isolated generators may be due to failure of
speed governing system.
 Under frequency condition gives rise to:
– Overfluxing of stator core at nominal volts
– Plant drives operating at lower speeds - can affect
generator output
– Mechanical resonant condition in turbines
 Desirable to supply an under frequency relay.
 Protection may be arranged to initiate load
shedding as a first step.
 Under & Over Voltage
Conditions

Protection
 Under & over voltage protection usually provided as
part of excitation system.
 For most applications an additional high set over
voltage relay is sufficient.
 Time delayed under and over voltage protection may
be provided.
 Under & Over Voltage
Conditions
Over Voltage
 Results from generator over speed caused by sudden
loss of load.
 May be due to failure of the voltage regulator.
 An over voltage condition :
– Causes overfluxing at nominal frequency
– Endangers integrity of insulation

Under Voltage
 No danger to generator. May cause stalling of motors.
 Prolonged under voltage indicates abnormal
conditions.
Typical Schemes
 Protection Package for Diesel Generator

32 Reverse Power
64R Rotor Earth Fault
87 64S Stator Earth Fault
G
51V Voltage Dependent Overcurrent
87G Generator Differential

64 Protection P343
R

32 51
V

64
R
Overall Protection of Directly Connected
Generator Installation

Stator Earth Fault 64S

Rotor Earth Fault 64R

Differential Protection 87
51V
Voltage Controlled O/C

46 Negative Phase Sequence

32 Reverse Power
40 Field Failure
81 Under / Over Frequency

27/59 Under / Over Voltage

Overall Protection of Generator
Installation
Generator
Feeder Protn.
Overcurrent
Voltage Restraint 51 V

Restricted
E/F

Buchholz
Winding Temp.

Reverse
Power
32
Field Failure 40

Generator Differential 87
Rotor E/F Prime Mover Protection
64R
Negative Phase Sequence 46

Overall
Gen/Trans Diffl
Protn. Stator E/F 64S
Overall Protection of Generator
Installation

Generator Feeder
Protection
O/C Circuit Breaker Fail

Busbar Protection

Restricted
E/F

Buchholz Winding
Temperature
O/C + E/F
Buchholz O/C V.T.s
Transformer
Overfluxing

Standby Permissive
E/F (Low Power)
Interlock
Restricted Pole Slipping
E/F Field Failure

Generator Differential

Unit Transformer Low Steam Pressure, Loss of Vacuum

Differential Protn.
Rotor E/F Loss of Lubricating Oil
Loss of Boiler Water
Governor Failure
Overall Generator
Vibration, Rotor Distortion
Transformer
Differential Protn. Negative Phase Sequence

Stator E/F
Protection
Embedded Generation
 Embedded Generation

USED TO PROVIDE:

 Emergency Power Upon Loss Of Main Supply

 Operate In Parallel To Reduce Site Demand

 Excess Generation May Be Exported Or Sold

 ENGINEERING
RECOMMENDATION G59

Relates To The Connection Of Privately Owned

Generators & Generating Systems To Regional
Electricity Companies

 COVERS:

• Safety Aspects
• Legal Requirements
• Operation
• Protection
 Co-generation/Embedded
Machines

AR? PES
syste
m

Islanded load
fed unearthed

MiCOM-P340-61
 Islanded Operation Must Be
Avoided To Ensure:

 Unearthed Operation Of Main Supply Network

 Automatic Reclosure Of CB Will Not Result In

Connecting Unsynchronised Supplies

 Staff Cannot Attempt Unsynchronised Manual Closure

Of An Open CB

 Faults On Electricity Supply Companies Network

Being Undetected Due To Low Fault Supplying
Capability Of Embedded Generator

 Voltage & Frequency Supplied To Customers Remains

Within Statutory Limits
 PROTECTION

 Under/Over Voltage & Under/Over Frequency

Keep Voltage & Frequency Within Statutory Limits

 Directional Power / Overcurrent

Used When Generator Does Not Export Power During

Normal Operation
 PROTECTION

 Loss Of Mains

Used Where Generating Capacity Is Closely Matched

To Load Or Where Normal Operation Requires The
Export Of Power

 Two Types Are Used:

–Rate Of Change Of Frequency

 Sensitive
 Possible Nuisence Tripping

–Voltage Vector Shift

 Requires Higher Change In load
 More Stable
 PROTECTION

 ADDITIONAL PROTECTION

 NEUTRAL VOLTAGE DISPLACEMENT

 OVERCURRENT

 EARTHFAULT