Protection of

Transmission lines
Protection of Transmission Line/feeders
The probability of fault occurrence on overhead lines is more due to their
large length and their exposure to atmosphere. The main requirements
of line protection are:
● In the event of Short Circuit, the CB nearest to the fault should open
and all other CB should remain closed.
● If the breaker nearest to the fault fails to open, back up protection
should be provided by the adjacent circuit breaker.
Methods for feeder protection
● Over current protection
○ Time graded system
○ Current graded system
● Distance protection
● Pilot-wire protection
Non-Directional Time graded system
● The arrows marked on both sides indicate relays operate for fault on either side

● For a fault beyond C, the circuit breaker at C operates first with a relay time of
0.3sec. Meanwhile, relay at A & B start operating but after fault is cleared at 0.3s,
they are reset. For a fault between B & C, relay at B operates so unnecessary
tripping is avoided.
● If relay at B fails to operate, relay at A provides back-up protection.
Current graded system
● Current graded systems normally employ high set over current
relays. They operate at pre-determined setting without a time lag.
Time current grading
● In case where power can flow to the fault from both directions, the circuit breakers
on both the sides should trip, so as to disconnect the faulty line.
● Such a case occurs in parallel feeders, ring mains, T-feeders, interconnected line.
● Here the directional relays can operate for fault current flowing in a particular
direction. It is achieved with inverse time over current relays.
Protection of parallel feeders
● Direction of current near load reverses in event
of a fault, so we place directional relay at load
end.
● First directional relay near load end will
operate and then non-directional relay at
source end to isolate faulty feeder.
Protection of ring mains
● We connect directional relay at load end and non-directional relay at source end.

● For time setting of different relay, we will first open the ring at point A
Protection of ring mains
● Then we open ring at B & set tie for different relays.

● If we combine both we get

Unit Protection Scheme
● Protection systems that respond only to fault conditions occurring within a clearly
defined zone. This type of protection system is known as unit protection. Certain
types of unit protection are known by specific names,
E.g. Restricted Earth Fault and Differential Protection.
Non-unit Protection Scheme
● The non-unit schemes, while also intended to protect specific areas,
have no fixed boundaries. As well as protecting their own designated
areas, the protective zones can overlap into other areas.
● While this can be very beneficial for backup purposes, there can be
a tendency for too great an area to be isolated if a fault is detected
by different non unit schemes.
Non-unit Protection Scheme
The non unit type protection system includes following schemes:

● Time graded over-current protection

● Current graded over-current protection
● Distance or Impedance Protection
Distance protection
𝑉
● A distance relay measures at relay location which gives the
𝐼
measure of distance between the relay & fault location. The
impedance of fault loop is proportional to distance between relay
location & fault point. For a given setting, the distance relay picks up
when impedance measured by it is less than set value.
 3-zone distance protection

Any type of distance relay (Impedance relay, reactance relay, mho relay) can
be used for protection but circuit conditions must be kept in mind while
choosing.
Pilot relaying scheme
● In these schemes, some electrical quantity at the two ends of transmission line are
compared and hence they require some sort of inter connecting channel over
which information can be transmitted from one end to another
● Such an interconnecting channel is called a pilot.
 Translay Scheme

● This scheme is a balanced voltage scheme with the addition of a

directional feature.
● Under normal conditions or external faults, no current circulates
through pilot wires and hence through the lower magnets of the
relay. In those conditions no operating torque is produced.
● In case of internal faults, current flows through pilot wires and
hence through the lower electromagnets of the relay. So relay
torque is produced by interaction of two fluxes.
● The current through lower electromagnet may be relatively small
& so this scheme is suitable for fairly long pilots having loop
resistance up to 1000𝛺
● If the current at two ends of the line is unequal then the induction
disc relay operates and disconnect the faulty line at both ends.
Carrier Current Protection
● On long lines carrier pilot relaying is cheaper & more reliable than pilot wire
relaying (2 wires are used to carry information from one end of protected element
to other), even though the terminal equipment is more expensive & more
complicated than that required for use with pilot relays.
Protection of
Alternators
 Field-ground fault protection
● As the field circuit is operated ungrounded, a single
ground fault does not affect the operation of generator or
cause any damage.
● However, a single rotor to earth fault increases stress to
ground in field and thus can cause insulation. Thus,
probability of occurrence of second ground fault is
increased.
● In case a second ground fault a part of field winding is
bypassed, thereby increasing current through the
remaining part of field winding. This causes an unbalance
in air gap fluxes, thus creating an in balance in the force
on opposite sides of rotor. This causes vibrations.
Field-ground fault protection
● A relay with resistance to limit the
current is connected in the circuit. A
fault at any point in the field winding
will pass a current through the relay.
This will cause operation of earth-fault
relay. This relay will send a signal to
alarm circuit. Because first ground
fault will not causes any damage.
Alarm call is sufficient.
 Stator protection
● In case of external faults, current in
both CTs are same current & hence
OC carries no current & relay does not
operate but in case of internal faults
OC carries currents & hence relay
operates.
● Due to difference in magnetizing
currents, relay can operate so
restraining coils are used to present
maloperation.
 Inter-turn faults
● Inter-turn fault mean fault between two
winding of same phase
● Differential protection cannot be applied as
current at both ends of winding will be
same
● The method used is split-phase relaying.
● During inter-turn fault, current in both
winding will not be same so there is
current in relay winding & thus relay
operates.
 Stator winding protection
● Differential relay will not operate for over
loads in the system unbalanced loading in
alternator & stator inter turn fault.

● After the operating of CB the fault was not

isolated from alternator in this case the
differential relay will excite some auxiliary
relays in the alternator such that the
excitation will be removed from the rotor
winding and then steam supply will be
disconnected from the rotor body.
Stator winding protection
● % winding unprotected

● If Zw neglected

Where P=%winding was not protected by differential relay.

IP = Out of balance current carried by alternator stator winding.
Rn = Neutral resistance.
● Differential relay will not protect complete winding for the grounded faults. Whereas it will protect
100% winding for ungrounded fault.
Protection of
transformer
Differential protection
● It is used for protection of large power transformers of rating 5MVA or above. It is applied
for protection against internal short circuits.
● The figure shown shows schematic diagram of percentage differential protection for a 𝑌 − Δ
transformer.
 Buchholz relay
● The Buchholz relay protects the
transformer from internal faults. It is the
gas actuated relay. The Buchholz relay is
placed between the main tank and the
conservator. Such type of relay is used in
the transformer having the rating higher
than 500KVA. It is not used in small
transformer because of economic
consideration.
 Buchholz relay
● When the fault occurs inside the transformer, the
temperature of the oil increases. The oil evaporates in the
form of the gas. The generation of the gas depends on the
magnitude of the fault occurs inside the transformer. The
internal failure occurs in the transformer either because of
the insulation breakdown between the winding or the winding
have the weak initial contact.
● The fault induces the arc which increases the temperature of
the gas. The oil becomes evaporated and moves upwards.
The Buchholz relay detects the failure and gives the alarm to
the personnel. The transformer is disconnected from the
main supply for maintenance.
Harmonic Restraint Differential Relay
● Biased differential relay mal operates during inrush current at it will
be 6 to 10 times Ifl and remains in 5 cycles.
● This can be overcome by using IDMT relay having a minimum delay
of 6 & 8 cycles.
● But, the probability of insulation failure just after switching on is quite
high and hence should be detected immediately
Harmonic Restraint Differential Relay
 One current transformer (CT) is mounted over a 3-phase 3-core cable with its
Q1 sheath and armour removed from the portion covered by the CT. An ammeter
placed in the CT secondary would measure

(a) the positive-sequence current. (b) the negative-sequence current.

(c) the zero-sequence current. (d) three times the zero-sequence current.
 Purpose of backup protection is
Q2
(a) to increase the speed.

(b) to increase a reach.

(c) to leave no blind spot.

(d) to guard against failure of primary.

Q3 Buchholz relay is

(a) located in the conservator tank.

(b) located in the transformer tank itself.

(c) connected in the pipe connecting main tank of transformer and

conservator.

(d) installed in the circuit breaker.

 In an overcurrent protection the setting of the earth fault relay is
Q4
(a) more than the phase fault relay.

(b) equal to the phase fault relay.

(c) less than the phase fault relay.

(d) the two settings are unrelated to each other.

 IDMT relays are used to protect the power transformers against
Q5
(a) external short circuits. (b) overloads.

(c) internal short circuits. (d) both (a) and (b).

 The distribution system shown in the figure is to be protected by
Q6 overcurrent system of protection. For proper fault discrimination, directional
overcurrent relays will be required at locations

(a) 1 and 4.

(b) 2 and 3

(c) 1,4 and 5

(d) 2,3 and 5

 In distance protection, the relay measures
Q7
(a) negative sequence impedance of the line from relay up to the fault point.

(b) positive sequence impedance of the line from relay up to the fault point.

(c) self impedance of the line from relay up to the fault point.

(d) zero sequence impedance of the line from relay up to the fault point.