Relays

Relays can be divided into six functional categories

1. Protective relays

2. Monitoring relays

3. Reclosing relays

4. Regulating relays

5. Auxiliary relays

6. Synchronizing (or synchronism check) relays.

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 Relays
1. Protective relays
 Detect defective lines, defective apparatus, or other
dangerous or intolerable conditions.

 Trip one or more circuit breaker, but may also be used

to sound an alarm.

 Not required to function during normal power system

operation

Relays
2. Monitoring (verification)relays
 Verify conditions on the power system or in the
protection system

 Include fault detectors, alarm units, channel monitoring

relays, synchronism verification, and network phasing

 Power system conditions that do not involve opening

circuit breakers during faults can be monitored by
verification relays

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 Relays
3. Reclosing relays

Establish a closing sequence for a circuit breaker following

tripping by protective relays.

Relays
4. Regulating relays

 Activated when an operating parameter deviates from

predetermined limits

 Regulating relays function through supplementary

equipment to restore the quantity to the prescribed
limits

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 Relays
5. Auxiliary relays

 Operate in response to the opening or closing of the

operating circuit to supplement another relay or device

 Include timers, contact-multiplier relays, sealing units,

isolating relays, lockout relays, closing relays, and trip
relays.

Relays
6. Synchronizing (or synchronism check) relays.

 Assure that proper conditions exist for interconnecting

two sections of a power system.

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 Protective Relays

Types of Protective Relays

Relays may be classified in several ways
Classification by Technology
1. Electromechanical relays

2. Solid state (static) relays "begin in 1970s “

3. Microprocessor (Digital) relays

4. Numerical relays

5. Artificial intelligence relays

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 Types of Protective Relays
Relays may be classified in several ways
Classification by time response

1. Instantaneous relay

2. Definite time relay

3. Inverse time lag relay

Types of Protective Relays

Instantaneous relay
 Operate as soon as a secure decision made.
 No intentional time delay is introduced to slow down the
relay response.

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 Types of Protective Relays
Instantaneous relay

Types of Protective Relays

Definite time relay :

 Time of operation is fixed

 Time is not function of the quantity causing operation.

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 Types of Protective Relays
Definite time relay :

Types of Protective Relays

Inverse time lag relay:
 Time operation is inversely proportional to the magnitude
of the quantity causing operation.

 The relay must separate the meaningful and significant

information with the necessary degree of certainty. The
relationship between the relay response time and its
degree of certainty is an inverse one.

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 Types of Protective Relays
Inverse time lag relay:

Types of Protective Relays

Relays may be classified in several ways
Conditional classification
Overcurrent
Under voltage
Overvoltage
Under frequency
Unbalancing
etc..

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 Types of Protective Relays
Relays may be classified in several ways
Functional classification
1. Magnitude Relays "Ex.: over current ,overvoltage relays“

2. Directional Relays "Ex.: Reverse power relays“

3. Ratio Relays

4. Differential Relays

5. Pilot Relays

Types of Protective Relays

1. Magnitude Relays
 Respond to the magnitude of a current or voltage.
 They may trip on low or high values.
 Example 1: Overcurrent relay (trips when the current it
senses is above its pickup setting),
 Example 2: Under-frequency relay (trips when the
frequency is below its setting).
A current magnitude relay may be combined with a
directional relay to make a directional overcurrent relay.

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 Types of Protective Relays
2. Directional relays :

 Respond to phase angle differences.

 Since phase angles must be measured with respect to
some reference, these relays require a polarizing quantity.

Types of Protective Relays

3. Differential relays :

 Respond to the difference between two quantities.

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 Terminologies
used in protective relaying

Terminologies
used in protective relaying
Relay time : Time between the instant of fault occurrence
and the instant of closure of relay contacts.

Breaker time : Time between the instant of C.B operates

and opens the contacts , to the instant of extinguishing the
arc completely.

Fault clearing time : Total time between the instant of

fault and the instant of final arc interruption in the C.B.

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 Terminologies
used in protective relaying
Pickup :Moving from OFF position to ON position

Pickup value : Minimum value of an actuating quantity at

which relay starts operate.

Dropout or reset : Relay come back to original position.

Moving from ON position to OFF position.

Terminologies
used in protective relaying
Time delay : Time taken by delay to operate after it has
sensed the fault.

Current setting : Pick up value of current can be adjusted

to the required level in the relays which is called current
setting of the relay.

Pickup current = % current setting * rated secondary

current of C.T.

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 Terminologies
used in protective relaying
Plug setting multiplier (P.S.M) : Ratio of actual fault
current in the relay coil to the pickup current

P.S.M = fault current in relay coil / pickup value

Terminologies
used in protective relaying
Time/P.S.M curve : Relation between time and plug-
setting multiplier
Time-setting multiplier : relay is provided by a feature
with which its time of operation can be controlled , called
time setting multiplier

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 Electromechanical relays

Electromagnetic
attraction relays
Principle of operation :
A coil energizes an electromagnetic.
When operating current becomes large, the magnetic field
produced by an electromagnet is so high that it attracts the
armature or plunger, making contact with the trip circuit
contacts.

Various types of attraction type relays are :

1- Attracted armature relay
2-Solenoid and plunger type relay

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 Attracted armature type
relay
 Electromagnet carries a coil.
 Coil is energized by the operating quantity which is
proportional to the circuit voltage or current.
 The armature or a moving iron is subjected to the
magnetic force produced by the operating quantity.
 Force produced is proportional to the square of current.
(How??)
 The spring is used to produce restraining force.

Attracted armature type

relay
When the current through coil increases beyond the limit
under fault conditions.
armature gets attracted.
Due to this, it makes contact with contacts of a trip circuit,
which results in an opening of a circuit breaker

These relays can be used for a.c. as well as d.c. (Why??)

Minimum current at which the armature gets attracted to
close the trip circuit is called : pickup current

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 Attracted armature type
relay

Attracted armature type

relay
How to change the pick-up current?

Numbers of tappings are provided on the relay coil with

which its turns can be selected as per the requirements.

is used to adjust the set value of an operating quantity at

which relay should operate

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 Attracted armature type
relay
Current –time characteristic:
(Hyperbolic)

Solenoid and plunger type

relay

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 Solenoid and plunger type
relay

Solenoid and plunger type

relay
 Works on the principle of electromagnetic attraction

 It consists of a solenoid which is nothing but an

electromagnet.

 It also consists of movable iron plunger

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 Solenoid and plunger type
relay
 Under normal condition,
the spring holds the plunger in the position such that it
can't make contact with trip circuit contacts.

 Under fault conditions:

when current through relay coil increases, the solenoid
draws the plunger upwards .
Due to this, it makes contact the trip circuit contacts ,
which results in an opening of a circuit breaker.

Solenoid and plunger type

relay
 Under normal condition,
the spring holds the plunger in the position such that it
can't make contact with trip circuit contacts.

 Under fault conditions:

when current through relay coil increases, the solenoid
draws the plunger upwards .
Due to this, it makes contact the trip circuit contacts ,
which results in an opening of a circuit breaker.

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 Torque equation
 Operating force is proportional to the square of the flux
in the air gap.
 Neglecting the saturation effects , the force is
proportional to the square of the operating current.

 For D.C. operation : Electromagnetic force is constant

 Fe= K1 i2 & Fr = K2
Fe : electromagnetic force &Fr: Restraining force (by spring)
K1: constant of proportionality & K2: spring constant

Torque equation
 Fe = Fr
I = √(K2/ K1)
 This is the current at which relay operates in case of
d.c. operation

For A.C. operation :

Electromagnetic force is proportional to square of the
current but it is not constant

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 Torque equation
 Fe = Fr
I = √(K2/ K1)
 This is the current at which relay operates in case of
d.c. operation

Torque equation
For A.C. operation :
Electromagnetic force is proportional to square of the
current but it is not constant

 Fe= K1 i2 = K1 (Im sin ωt)2 = K1 Im2 ((1 - cos 2ωt )/2 )

It shows that the electromagnetic force consists of two

components:

a) Constant independent of time

b) Pulsating at double the frequency of applied voltage

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 Torque equation
To overcome this difficulty in a.c. operation :

Air gap flux producing the electromagnetic force is divided

into two fluxes acting simultaneously but differing in time
phase. This will result in electromagnetic force always
positive

Torque equation
Advantages of electromagnetic attracted relays :

1- Simple construction

2- Can be used for both a.c and d.c

3- Fast operation and fast reset.

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 Balanced Beam relay

Balanced Beam relay

Construction: a horizontal beam pivoted centrally with an
armature attached to both sides and a coil on each side.

Operation: The beam remains in the horizontal position till

operating force becomes more than the restraining force.

The net torque is given by :

T = K1I12 – K2I22 + Ks

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 Balanced Beam relay
Neglecting the spring effect, the net torque equals zero at
the verge of operation, i.e.

I1/I2 = = constant

This relay is fast and can be used to compare two currents.

If one of the coils is actuated by voltage and the other by
current then V/I = constant is used in impedance relay.

INDUCTION TYPE RELAYS

 Metallic disc is allowed to rotate between two
electromagnets

 Coils of the electromagnets are energized with the help

of alternating currents.

 The torque is produced due to the interaction of one

alternating flux with eddy currents induced in the rotor
by another alternating flux.

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 INDUCTION TYPE RELAYS
 Two fluxes have the same frequency but are displaced
in time and space

 Based on the construction, various type of induction

type relay are :
1-Shaded pole type
2- Watt hour meter type
3-Induction cup type

INDUCTION TYPE RELAYS

 Torque equation for induction type relays

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 INDUCTION TYPE RELAYS
 The alternating currents supplied
to two electromagnets.

 Alternating currents produce the two alternating fluxes

1 & 2 .

 Two alternating fluxes have same frequency but have a

phase shift of α "such that 2 leads 1 "
 Thus: 1 = 1m sinωt &
2 = 2m sin(ωt+α)

INDUCTION TYPE RELAYS

 Each of alternating fluxes will
cause induced e.m.f in the rotor.

 Induced voltages  the rate of change e of flux

 Due to the induced e.m.f , the eddy currents i1 & i2 are

circulated in the disc.

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 INDUCTION TYPE RELAYS
 Rotor have negligible self-inductance
and hence the rotor current are
in phase with the respective
induced e.m.f

 That : eddy currents  to the rate of change of flux.

So: the eddy currents (i1 and i2) produced in the disc are
i1  1m cosωt i2  2m cos(ωt+ α)
(Induced eddy currents lag behind the respective fluxes
by 90)

INDUCTION TYPE RELAYS

 Each of the rotor currents interacts with the flux
produced by the other coil produce a force.
F1   1 i 2 F2   2 i 1
 Direction of force can be obtained by Fleming left hand
rule.
 The two forces are in opposite direction with respect to
the other, and the net force is given by:
F  F2 – F1
 2 i 1 - 1 i 2

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 INDUCTION TYPE RELAYS
 Substitute by expressions of ø and i

 F  1m2m [ sin(ωt+ α) cosωt - sinωt cos(ωt+ α) ]

F 1m2m sin α
 Substitute the r.m.s values of the fluxes instead of
maximum values we get :
 F = K12 sin α
 Torque acting in the disc is same at every instant
T= K1 I1 I2 sin α

INDUCTION TYPE RELAYS

Notes :
1) Net force or torque acting on the disc is same at every
instant. Action is free from vibrations

2) If α = zero . Net force is zero and disc can't rotate

3) Torque is maximum when the phase difference is 90

4) There must exist a phase difference between the two

fluxes.

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 INDUCTION TYPE RELAYS
Notes :

5) The direction of the net force which decides the

direction of rotation of disc depends on which flux is
leading the other.

INDUCTION TYPE RELAYS

 How to produce phase displacement between the two
fluxes?

Different constructions

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 SHADED TYPE INDUCTION RELAY

SHADED TYPE INDUCTION RELAY

 An Almunium disc, which is free to rotate in an air gap

of an electromagnet.

 Part of pole face of each pole if shaded with the help of

copper band or ring, called: shading ring.

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 SHADED TYPE INDUCTION RELAY

Total flux ø produced due to the alternating current split

into two fluxes displaced in time and space due to the
shading ring.

SHADED TYPE INDUCTION RELAY

 Due to the alternating flux, e.m.f gets induced in the
shading ring
 This e.m.f drives the currents which cause the flux to
exist in shaded portion
 This flux lags behind the flux in the unshaded portion
by angle α

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 SHADED TYPE INDUCTION RELAY
 s : Flux in shaded portion
 u : Flux in unshaded portion
 Es : E.M.F induced in the disc due to s
 Eu: E.M.F induced in the disc due to u
 Is : Induced current due to Es
 Iu : Induced rrent due to Eu

 Eu lag behind u by 90 while Es lag behind s by 90

 Iu lags Eu by small angle β

while Is lags Es by small angle β
This angle is generally neglected and Is and Iu are

SHADED TYPE INDUCTION RELAY

 Eu lag behind u by 90 while Es lag behind s by 90

 Iu lags Eu by small angle β

while Is lags Es by small angle β

 This angle is generally neglected and Is and Iu are

assumed in phase with Es and Eu respectively.

 As said before: T α su sin α

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 SHADED TYPE INDUCTION RELAY
 But fluxes is proportional to the current I in the relay
coil
T α I2 sinα

 Since sin α is constant and depends on the design then

T = K1 I2

SHADED TYPE INDUCTION RELAY

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 WATTHOUR METER INDUTION
TYPE RELAYS
 Construction is similar to the watthour meter.

 Relay has double winding structure

WATTHOUR METER INDUTION

TYPE RELAYS
 Two magnets ,
One E shaped magnet
and other U shaped magnet.
 The disc is free to rotate in
between these two magnets.
 Upper E shaped magnet
carries both primary winding which is relay coil and the
secondary winding.
 The primary carries the relay current I1 which produces
the flux ø1

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 WATTHOUR METER INDUTION
TYPE RELAYS
 The e.m.f gets induced in
the secondary due to this flux.
 This drives current I2
through secondary
 Due to this current I2,
flux ø2 gets produced in
the lower magnet.
 This flux lags behind the main flux ø1 by an angle α .

WATTHOUR METER INDUTION

TYPE RELAYS

 Due to the interaction of these two fluxes, the torque

is exerted on the disc and disc rotates
 Assuming that the entire flux ø1 enters the disc from
upper magnet and entire flux ø2 enters the disc from
lower magnet

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 WATTHOUR METER INDUTION
TYPE RELAYS

 We can write : T α 12 sin α

WATTHOUR METER INDUTION

TYPE RELAYS
NOTES:
 Same as said before in attracted type relay,

Tapping can be provided on the primary. With the help of

this suitable number of primary turns can be selected and
hence current setting can be adjusted.

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 WATTHOUR METER INDUTION
TYPE RELAYS
NOTES:
 Important feature of that type of relays that:
Operation can be controlled by opening or closing of the
secondary winding.
If it is opened , no current can flow through secondary
hence flux 2can't be produced and hence no torque can
be produced .
Thus relay can be made inoperative opening the
secondary winding.

NON DIRECTIONAL OVER

CURRENT INDUCTION RELAY
 Torque is produced due to induction principle.
 The torque is opposed by restraining force produced by
spiral springs.
 Under normal conditions,
the restraining force is more than driving force hence disc
remains stationary
 Under fault conditions,
 when current becomes high, the disc rotates through
the preset angle and makes contact with the fixed
contacts of trip circuit.
 The trip circuit opens the circuit breaker

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 NON DIRECTIONAL OVER
CURRENT INDUCTION RELAY

NON DIRECTIONAL OVER

CURRENT INDUCTION RELAY
 Primary winding is connected to the secondary of C.T.
on the line to be protected. This winding is tapped at
intervals. The tappings are connected to plug setting
bridge.
 The secondary winding on the central limb of upper
magnet is connected in series with winding on the
lower magnet.
 This winding is energized by the induction from
primary.

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 NON DIRECTIONAL OVER
CURRENT INDUCTION RELAY
 By this arrangement of secondary winding, the leakage
fluxes of upper and lower magnets are sufficiently
displaced in space and time to produce a rotational
torque on the Al disc.
 Control torque is provided by the spiral spring.
 If current exceeds its preset value ,disc rotates and
moving contacts on spindle make connection with trip
circuit terminals
 Angle through which the disc rotates is between 0 to 360 .The
travel of the moving contacts can be adjusted by adjusting angle
of rotation of disc. This give the relay any desired time setting

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