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Sensitive Earth Fault Protection

Sensitive Earth Fault Protection is used to detect phase to ground faults, which can be difficult to detect as the ground fault current varies widely and may be negligible. It is commonly used with high resistance grounding of alternators and transformers to limit ground fault current. The protection works by measuring residual current across the three phases using a Core Balance Current Transformer or three CTs in parallel. During normal operation, the residual current will be zero as currents balance across the phases. The protection settings must be chosen carefully to avoid nuisance tripping from unbalanced loads or motor starting, while still detecting very small ground faults at the end of a line.

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Wilson Pavão
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261 views

Sensitive Earth Fault Protection

Sensitive Earth Fault Protection is used to detect phase to ground faults, which can be difficult to detect as the ground fault current varies widely and may be negligible. It is commonly used with high resistance grounding of alternators and transformers to limit ground fault current. The protection works by measuring residual current across the three phases using a Core Balance Current Transformer or three CTs in parallel. During normal operation, the residual current will be zero as currents balance across the phases. The protection settings must be chosen carefully to avoid nuisance tripping from unbalanced loads or motor starting, while still detecting very small ground faults at the end of a line.

Uploaded by

Wilson Pavão
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sensitive Earth Fault Protection

Sensitive Earth fault Protection scheme is used for the detection of earth fault. Protection
against phase to ground faults can be a difficult problem since ground fault currents vary
within a large range, becoming almost negligible in some situations. The ground fault
current magnitude depends on the power system grounding which can vary from solidly
grounded to ungrounded neutral. The sensitive earth fault protection is usually used in
alternators and transformers with high resistance grounding. High resistance grounding
restricts the earth fault current to a very less value and permits the operation of
equipment.

As we know that, the earth fault current magnitude is given by,

IF = 3VLN/ (Z0 + Z1 + Z2 + 3ZE)

Where Z0 = Zero sequence impedance

Z1 = Positive sequence impedance

Z2 = Negative sequence impedance

ZE = Impedance of earth fault

ZE represents the impedance of the ground return circuit including the fault arc, the
grounding circuit, and the intentional neutral impedance, if present. If we consider a solidly
grounded system, then ZE = 0 and if Z0 = Z1= Z2 then earth fault current will be given as
shown below.

IF = VLN/ Z1

The Sensitive Earth Fault protection scheme works by measuring the residual current
across the three phases in a system. Measurement of three phase residual current is
done either by using Core Balance Current Transformer (CBCT) or three CTs connected
in parallel. In the ideal condition, the residual current will be zero as all the currents flow
through the three phases. Here Residual current means current flowing through neutral
or zero sequence current.
As we know that

IN = 3I0= IR + IY +IB

But during normal operation,

IR + IY+IB = 0 therefore, no residual current will flow.

The most important part in SEF or Sensitive Earth Fault Protection is to make proper
setting of the Relay. The protection setting should take into consideration that the three
CTs do not have identical characteristics and will perform differently for heavy phase-to-
phase faults or for initial asymmetrical motor starting currents. This can produce false
residual currents. The setting should also be above the line maximum unbalance current.

The above conditions must be satisfied to avoid nuisance tripping. In addition, the ground
fault protection must be sensitive to minimum ground fault current at the end of the line.
Sensitive earth Fault protection scheme is very sensitive to detection of earth fault in the
sense that its setting can be as low as 0.2%.

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