UNIT – IV

FEEDERS & BUSBARS PROTECTION AND GROUNDING

Protection is provided to isolate the faulty busbar. The busbar zone, for the purpose of
protection, includes not only the busbars themselves but also the isolating switches, circuit
breakers and the associated connections. In the event of fault on any section of the busbar, all
the circuit equipments connected to that section must be tripped out to give complete
isolation.
The standard of construction for busbars has been very high, with the result that bus faults are
extremely rare. However, the possibility of damage and service interruption from even a rare
bus fault is so great that more attention is now given to this form of protection. Improved
relaying methods have been developed, reducing the possibility of incorrect operation. The
two most commonly used schemes for busbar protection are:
●​ Differential protection
●​ Fault bus protection

RADIAL FEEDER: The main characteristic of a radial system is that power can flow only
in one direction, from generator or supply end to the load. It has the disadvantage that
continuity of supply cannot be maintained at the receiving end in the event of fault. Time-
graded protection of a radial feeder can be achieved by using
(i) definite time relays and (ii) inverse time relays.

Using definite time relays. Fig. 23.4 shows the overcurrent protection of a radial feeder by
definite time relays. The time of operation of each relay is fixed and is independent of the
operating current. Thus relay D has an operating time of 0·5 second while for other relays,
time delay* is successively increased by 0·5 second. If a fault occurs in the section DE, it
will be cleared in 0·5 second by the relay and circuit breaker at D because all other relays
have higher operating time. In this way only section DE of the system will be isolated. If the
relay at D fails to trip, the relay at C will operate after a time delay of 0·5 second i.e. after 1
second from the occurrence of fault.
The disadvantage of this system is that if there are a number of feeders in series, the tripping
time for faults near the supply end becomes high (2 seconds in this case). However, in most
cases, it is necessary to limit the maximum tripping time to 2 seconds. This disadvantage can
be overcome to a reasonable extent by using inverse-time relays.
(i) Using inverse time relays. Fig. 23.5 shows overcurrent protection of a radial feeder using

inverse time relays in which operating time is inversely proportional to the operating current.
With this arrangement, the farther the circuit breaker from the generating station, the shorter
is its relay operating time. The three relays at A, B and C are assumed to have inverse-time
characteristics. A fault in section BC will give relay times which will allow breaker at B to
trip out before the breaker at A.

1.​ Parallel feeders. Where continuity of supply is particularly necessary, two parallel
feeders may be installed. If a fault occurs on one feeder, it can be disconnected from the
system and continuity of supply can be maintained from the other feeder. The parallel feeders
cannot* be protected by non-directional overcurrent relays only. It is necessary to use
directional relays also and to grade the time setting of relays for selective tripping’s.

Fig. 23.6 shows the system where two feeders are connected in parallel between the
generating station and the sub-station. The protection of this system requires that
(i)​ Each feeder has a non-directional overcurrent relay at the generator end. These relays
should have inverse-time characteristic.
(ii)​ Each feeder has a reverse power or directional relay at the sub-station end. These
relays should be instantaneous type and operate only when power flows in the reverse
direction i.e. in the direction of arrow at P and Q.
Suppose an earth fault occurs on feeder 1 as shown in Fig. 23.6. It is desired that only circuit
breakers at A and P should open to clear the fault whereas feeder 2 should remain intact to
maintain the continuity of supply. In fact, the above arrangement accomplishes this job. The
shown fault is fed via two routes, viz.
●​ Directly from feeder 1 via the relay A
●​ From feeder 2 via B, Q, sub-station and P
Therefore, power flow in relay Q will be in normal direction but is reversed in the relay P.
This causes the opening of circuit breaker at P. Also the relay A will operate while relay B
remains inoperative. It is because these relays have inverse-time characteristics and current
flowing in relay A is in excess of that flowing in relay B. In this way only the faulty feeder is
isolated.
2.​ Ring main system:
In this system, various power stations or sub-stations are interconnected by alternate
routes, thus forming a closed ring. In case of damage to any section of the ring, that section
may be disconnected for repairs, and power will be supplied from both ends of the ring,
thereby maintaining continuity of supply.

Fig. 23.7 shows the single line diagram of a typical ring main system consisting of one
generator G supplying four sub-stations S1, S2, S3 and S4. In this arrangement, power can
flow in both directions under fault conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to grade in both
directions round the ring and also to use directional relays. In order that only faulty section of
the ring is isolated under fault conditions, the types of relays and their time settings should be
as follows:
(i)​ The two lines leaving the generating station should be equipped with non- directional
overcurrent relays (relays at A and J in this case).
(ii)​At each sub-station, reverse power or directional relays should be placed in both
 incoming and outgoing lines (relays at B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I in this case).
(iii)​There should be proper relative time-setting of the relays. As an example, going
round the loop G S 1 S2 S3 S4 G ; the outgoing relays (viz at A , C, E, G and I) are
set with decreasing time limits e.g.
A = 2·5 sec, C = 2 sec, E = 1·5 sec G = 1 sec and I = 0·5 sec similarly, going round
the loop in the opposite direction (i.e. along G S4 S3 S2 S1 G), the outgoing relays (J, H, F, D
and B) are also set with a decreasing time limit e.g.
J = 2·5 sec, H = 2 sec, F = 1·5 sec, D = 1 sec, B = 0·5 sec.
Suppose a short circuit occurs at the point as shown in Fig. 23.7. In order to ensure
selectivity, it is desired that only circuit breakers at E and F should open to clear the fault
whereas other sections of the ring should be intact to maintain continuity of supply.
In fact, the above arrangement accomplishes this job. The power will be fed to the fault via
two routes viz (i) from G around S1 and S2 and (ii) from G around S4 and S3. It is clear that
relays at A, B, C and D as well as J, I, H and G will not trip. Therefore, only relays at E and F
will operate before any other relay operates because of their lower time-setting

DIFFERENTIAL PILOT-WIRE PROTECTION

The differential pilot-wire protection is based on the principle that under normal conditions,
the current entering one end of a line is equal to that leaving the other end. As soon as a fault
occurs between the two ends, this condition no longer holds and the difference of incoming
and outgoing currents is arranged to flow through a relay which operates the circuit breaker
to isolate the faulty line. There are several differential protection schemes in use for the lines.
However, only the following two schemes will be discussed:
*​ Merz-Price voltage balance system
*​ Translay scheme

1.​ MERZ-PRICE VOLTAGE BALANCE SYSTEM:

Fig. 23.8 shows the single line diagram of Merz-Price voltage balance
system for the protection of a 3-phase line. Identical current transformers are placed in each
phase at
both ends of the line. The pair of CTs in each line is connected in series with a relay in such a
way that under normal conditions, their secondary voltages are equal and in opposition i.e.
they balance each other.
Under healthy conditions, current entering the line at one-end is equal to that leaving it at the
other end. Therefore, equal and opposite voltages are induced in the secondaries of the CTs at
the two ends of the line. The result is that no current flows through the relays. Suppose a fault
occurs at point F on the line as shown in Fig. 23.8. This will cause a greater current to flow
through CT1 than through CT2. Consequently, their secondary voltages become unequal and
circulating current flows through the pilot wires and relays. The circuit breakers at both ends
of the line will trip out and the faulty line will be isolated

Fig. 23.9 shows the connections of Merz-Price voltage balance scheme for all the three
phases of the line.

Advantages
●​ This system can be used for ring mains as well as parallel feeders.
●​ This system provides instantaneous protection for ground faults. This decreases
the possibility of these faults involving other phases.
●​ This system provides instantaneous relaying which reduces the amount of damage to
over-head conductors resulting from arcing faults.
Disadvantages
●​ Accurate matching of current transformers is very essential.
●​ If there is a break in the pilot-wire circuit, the system will not operate.
●​ This system is very expensive owing to the greater length of pilot wires required.
●​ In case of long lines, charging current due to pilot-wire capacitance* effects may be
sufficient to cause relay operation even under normal conditions.
●​ This system cannot be used for line voltages beyond 33 kV because of constructional
difficulties in matching the current transformers.
2.​TRANSLAY SCHEME.
This system is similar to voltage balance system except that here balance or
opposition is between the voltages induced in the secondary windings wound on the relay
magnets and not between the secondary voltages of the line current transformers. This
permits to use current transformers of normal design and eliminates one of the most serious
limitations of original voltage balance system, namely; its limitation to the system operating
at voltages not exceeding 33 kV.

The application of Translay scheme for a single phase line has already been discussed in Art.
21.20. This can be extended to 3-phase system by applying one relay at each end of each
phase of the 3-phase line. However, it is possible to make further simplification by
combining currents derived from all phases in a single relay at each end, using the principle
of summation transformer (See Fig. 23.10). A summation transformer is a device that
reproduces the polyphase line currents as a single-phase quantity. The three lines CTs are
connected to the tapped primary of summation transformer. Each line CT energizes a
different number of turns (from line to neutral) with a resulting single phase output. The use
of summation transformer permits two advantages viz (i) primary windings 1 and 2 can be
used for phase faults whereas winding 3 can be used for earth fault (ii) the number of pilot
wires required is only two.
SCHEMATIC ARRANGEMENT:
The Translay scheme for the protection of a 3-phase line is shown in Fig. 23.11. The
relays used in the scheme are essentially overcurrent induction type relays. Each relay has

two electromagnetic elements. The upper element carries a winding (11 or 11 a) which is
energised as a summation transformer from the secondaries of the line CTs connected in the
phases of the line to be protected. The upper element also carries a secondary winding (12 or
12 a) which is connected is series with the operating winding (13 or 13 a) on the lower
magnet. The secondary windings 12, 12 a and operating windings 13, 13 a are connected in
series in such a way that voltages induced in them oppose each other. Note that relay discs
and tripping circuits have been omitted in the diagram for clarity.
This drawback is overcome in the Beard-Hunter system. In this system, each pilot- wire is
surrounded by an insulated metallic sheath with a break half-way along its length. Half the
pilot charging current thus comes from the sending end and half from the receiving end.
Therefore, voltage applied to the relay at the sending end is balanced by an equal voltage at
the receiving end.

OPERATION:

When the feeder is sound, the currents at its two ends are equal so that the secondary
currents in both sets of CTs are equal. Consequently, the currents flowing in the relay primary
wind-ing 11 and 11 a will be equal and they will induce equal voltages in the secondary
windings 12 and 12a. Since these windings are connected in opposition, no current flows in
them or in the operating windings 13 and 13a. In the event of a fault on the protected line, the
line current at one end must carry a greater current than that at the other end. The result is
that voltages induced in the secondary windings 12 and 12 a will be different and the current
will flow through the operating coils 13, 13a and the pilot circuit. Under these conditions,
both upper and lower elements of each relay are energised and a forward torque acts on the
each relay disc. The operation of the relays will open the circuit breakers at both ends of the
line.
❖​ Suppose a fault F occurs between phases R and Y and is fed from both sides as shown
in Fig. 23.11. This will energise only section 1 of primary windings 11 and 11a and
induce voltages in the secondary windings 12 and 12a. As these voltages are now
 additive*, therefore, current will circulate through operating coils 13, 13a and the
pilot circuit. This will cause the relay contacts to close and open the circuit breakers at
both ends. A fault between phases Y and B energises section 2 of primary windings 11
and 11a whereas that between R and B will energise the sections 1 and 2.
❖​ Now imagine that an earth fault occurs on phase R. This will energise sections 1, 2
and 3 of the primary windings 11 and 11a. Again if fault is fed from both ends, the
voltages induced in the secondary windings 12 and 12a are additive and cause a
current to flow through the operating coils 13, 13a. The relays, therefore, operate to
open the circuit breakers at both ends of the line. In the event of earth fault on phase Y
, sections 2 and 3 of primary winding 11 and 11a will be energised and cause the
relays to operate. An earth fault on phase B will energise only section 3 of relay
primary windings 11 and 11a.

Advantages
❖​ The system is economical as only two pilot wires
are required for the protection of a 3-phase line.
❖​ Current transformers of normal design can be used.
❖​ Pilot wire capacitance currents do not affect the operation of relays.
❖​ Because the fault is being fed from both sides.