SWITCHGEAR AND PROTECTION

CH HARI PRASAD
ASST. PROFESSOR
EEE DEPARTMENT
BAPATLA ENGINEERING COLLEGE
BAPATLA
INTRODUCTION

Switchgear and Protection:

 We all familiar with low voltage switches and re-wirable fuses in our
home. The switch is used to manually open and close the electrical
circuit in our home and electrical fuse is used to protect our household
electrical circuit from over current and short circuit faults. In same
way every electrical circuit including high voltage
electrical power system needs switching and protective devices. But in
high voltage and extra high voltage system, these switching and
protective scheme becomes complicated one for high fault current
interruption in safe and secure way. In addition to that from
commercial point of view every electrical power system needs
measuring, control and regulating arrangement. Collectively the whole
system is called Switchgear and Protection of power system. The
electrical switchgear have been developing in various forms.
 Switchgear protection plays a vital role in modern power
system network, right from generation through transmission to
distribution end. The current interruption device or switching
device is called circuit breaker in Switchgear protection
system. The circuit breaker can be operated manually as when
required and it is also operated during over current and short
circuit or any other faults in the system by sensing the
abnormality of system. The circuit breaker senses the faulty
condition of system through protection relay and this relay is
again actuated by faulty signal normally comes from
current transformer or voltage transformer
There are various voltage levels and hence various fault levels between the generating
stations and load centers. Therefore various types of switchgear assembly are required
depending upon different voltage levels of the system.
 Definition of
Switchgear:

A switchgear or electrical switchgear is a generic term which includes all the

switching devices associated with mainly power system protection. It also includes all
devices associated with control, metering and regulating of electrical power system.
Assembly of such devices in a logical manner forms a switchgear.

Fault:
Whenever current flows in the unwanted device or unwanted place we call it a Fault.Any undesired thing in the
system such as Overvoltage or under voltage condition.
(Or)

Over / Under frequency Condition we call it fault

TYPES OF FAULTS:

1. Single-Phase-Ground : 70–80%
2.Phase-Phase-Ground : 17–10%
3.Phase-Phase : 10–8%
4. Three-Phase : 3–2%
Fault current waveform:
CAUSES OF FAULTS
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF
FAULTS ?

1.Overload

2.Insulation breakdown because of aging or over voltages

3.External objects /Animals/Birds Mal operation of the Relays leading to system instability

4.Rains/Moisture/Snow fall/ other external calamities

Function of protective relaying :
The function of protective relaying is to cause the prompt removal from service of
any element of a power system when it suffers a short circuit, or when it starts to
operate in any abnormal manner that might cause damage or otherwise interfere
with the effective operation of the rest of the system. The relaying equipment is
aided in this task by circuit breakers that are capable of disconnecting the faulty
element when they are called upon to do so by the relaying equipment. Circuit
breakers are generally located so that each generator, transformer, bus,
transmission line, etc., can be completely disconnected from the rest of the
system. These circuit breakers must have sufficient capacity so that they can carry
momentarily the maximum short-circuit current that can flow through them, and
then interrupt this current; they must also withstand closing in on such a short
circuit and then interrupting it according to certain prescribed standards.
ZONES OF PROTECTION:
TYPES OF PROTECTION:
1.Primary(or )Main protection
2. Back up protection

1.Primary protection:
2. Back up protection
PROTECTION SYSTEM IN POWER
SYSTEM
 Let’s have a discussion on basic concept of protection
system in power system and coordination of
protection relays.
 In the picture the basic connection of protection relay has
been shown. It is quite simple. The secondary of current
transformer is connected to the current coil of relay. And
secondary of voltage transformer is connected to the voltage
coil of the relay. Whenever any fault occurs in the feeder
circuit, proportionate secondary current of the CT will flow
through the current coil of the relay due to which mmf of
that coil is increased. This increased mmf is sufficient to
mechanically close the normally open contact of the relay.
This relay contact actually closes and completes the DC trip
coil circuit and hence the trip coil is energized. The mmf of
the trip coil initiates the mechanical movement of the
tripping mechanism of the circuit breaker and ultimately the
circuit breaker is tripped to isolate the fault.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF PROTECTION
RELAY
 Reliability
The most important requisite of protective relay is reliability. They
remain inoperative for a long time before a fault occurs; but if a fault
occurs, the relays must respond instantly and correctly.
 Selectivity

The relay must be operated in only those conditions for which relays
are commissioned in the electrical power system. There may be some
typical condition during fault for which some relays should not be
operated or operated after some definite time delay hence protection
relay must be sufficiently capable to select appropriate condition for
which it would be operated.
 Sensitivity

The relaying equipment must be sufficiently sensitive so that it can be

operated reliably when level of fault condition just crosses the
predefined limit.
 Speed
The protective relays must operate at the required speed.
There must be a correct coordination provided in various
power system protection relays in such a way that for fault
at one portion of the system should not disturb other
healthy portion. Fault current may flow through a part of
healthy portion since they are electrically connected but
relays associated with that healthy portion should not be
operated faster than the relays of faulty portion otherwise
undesired interruption of healthy system may occur. Again
if relay associated with faulty portion is not operated in
proper time due to any defect in it or other reason, then
only the next relay associated with the healthy portion of
the system must be operated to isolate the fault. Hence it
should neither be too slow which may result in damage to
the equipment nor should it be too fast which may result in
undesired operation.
ELECTRO MAGNETICON TYPE RELAYS

Hinged Attracted Armature Type relay

2.BALANCED BEAM TYPE
3.PLUNGER TYPE
ELECTRO MAGNETIC INDUCTION
RELAYS

1.Shaded Pole Induction Disc Relay

 The general arrangement of shaded-pole structure is
shown in Fig. below It consists of a pivoted aluminum
disc free to rotate in the air-gap of an electromagnet. One
half of each pole of the magnet is surrounded by a
copper band known as shading ring. The alternating flux
φs in the shaded portion of the poles will, owing to the
reaction of the current induced in the ring, lag behind the
flux φu in the unshaded portion by an angle α. These two
a.c. fluxes differing in phase will produce the necessary
torque to rotate the disc. As proved earlier, the driving
torque T is given by:
 ADVANTAGES:

• Robust & reliable

Construction • Used for over current
• Fluxes displaced in space protection
& time • Used for slow speed
• Eddy currents in disc relays
• Disc rotation α driving • Reset/pick up ratio >
toque 95%
• Brake magnet to avoid
over run
2.WATTMETRIC TYPE INDUCTION DISC RELAY
• This structure gets its name from the fact that it is used in watthour meters.

• The general arrangement of this type of relay is shown in Fig. It consists of a

pivoted aluminium disc arranged to rotate freely between the poles of two
electromagnets. The upper electromagnet carries two windings ; the pirmary and
the secondary. The primary winding carries the relay current I1 while the
secondary winding is connected to the winding of the lower magnet. The primary
current induces e.m.f. in the secondary and so circulates a current I2 in it. The
flux φ2 Induced in the lower magnet by the current in the secondary winding of
the upper magnet will lag behind φ1 by an angle α. The two fluxes φ1 and φ2
differing in phase by α will produce a driving torque on the disc proportional to
φ1φ2sin α.

• An important feature of this type of relay is that its operation can be controlled by
opening or closing the secondary winding circuit. If this circuit is opened, no flux
can be set by the lower magnet however great the value of current in the primary
winding may be and consequently no torque will be produced. Therefore, the
relay can be made inoperative by opening its secondary winding circuit.
 3.INDUCTION CUP STRUCTURE
aside shows the general arrangement of an induction cup
structure.
 It most closely resembles an induction motor, except that the
rotor iron is stationary, only the rotor conductor portion being
free to rotate. The moving element is a hollow cylindrical rotor
which turns on its axis. The rotating field is produced by two
pairs of coils wound on four poles as shown. The rotating field
induces currents in the cup to provide the necessary driving
torque. If φ 1 and φ2 represent the fluxes produced by the
respective pairs of poles, then torque produced is proportional
to φ1 φ2 sin α where α is the phase difference between the two
fluxes.
 A control spring and the back stop for closing of the contacts
carried on an arm are attached to the spindle of the cup to
prevent the continuous rotation.
 Induction cup structures are more efficient torque producers
than either the shaded-pole or the Watt-hour meter structures.
Therefore, this type of relay has very high speed and may have
an operating time less then 0·1 second.
 ADVANTAGES:
• Rotor is hollow cylinder (inverted cup)
• Two pairs of coils produce rotating field
• Cup has less inertia than disc
• Interaction of rotating flux with current
• Less magnetic leakage
• Torque per VA is 3 times than disc type
• Operating time 0.01 s
• High torque/inertia ratio
• Suitable for higher speeds of operation
• Used for distance & directional relays
TORQUE EQUATION OF INDUCTION
RELAY
 THERMAL RELAY
The coefficient of expansion is one of the basis properties of
any material. Two different metals always have different
degree of linear expansion. A bimetallic strip always bends
when it heated up, due to this inequality of linear expansion
of two different metals.

 
Working Principle of Thermal Relay

A thermal relay works depending upon the above

mentioned property of metals. The basic working principle of
thermal relay is that, when a bimetallic strip is heated up by a
heating coil carrying over current of the system, it bends and
makes normally open contacts.
CONSTRUCTION OF THERMAL RELAY
The construction of thermal relay is quite
simple. As shown in the figure above the
bimetallic strip has two metals – metal A
and metal B. Metal A has lower coefficient
of expansion and metal – B has higher
coefficient of expansion. One heating coil
is would on the bimetallic strip. When
over current flows through the heating
coil, it heats up the bimetallic strip.
 
 The strip bends, the No contact is closed which
ultimately energizes the trip coil of a circuit breaker.
 The heating effect is not instantaneous. As per
Joule’s law of heating, the amount of heat generated,
 where I is the over current flowing through the heating
coil of thermal relay.
 R is the electrical resistance of the heating coil. t is the
time for which the current I flows through the heating
coil. Hence from the above equation it is clear that, heat
generator by the coil is directly proportional to the time
during which the over current flows through the coil.
Hence there is a prolonged time delay in the operation of
thermal relay.
 That is why this type of relay is generally used where over
load is allowed to flow for a predetermined amount of time
before it trips. If overload or over current falls down to normal
value before this predetermined time, the relay will not be
operated to trip the protected equipment.
 A typical application of thermal relay is overload protection of
electric motor
 Due to the heat generated by the coil, both of the metals are
expanded. But expansion of metal B is more than expansion of
metal A. Due to this dissimilar expansion the bimetallic strip
will bend towards metal A as shown in the figure below.
 The strip bends, the No contact is closed which
ultimately energizes the trip coil of a circuit breaker.
 The heating effect is not instantaneous. As per
Joule’s law of heating, the amount of heat generated,
 where I is the over current flowing through the heating
coil of thermal relay.
 R is the electrical resistance of the heating coil. t is the
time for which the current I flows through the heating
coil. Hence from the above
 equation it is clear that, heat generator by the coil is
directly proportional to the time during which the over
current flows through the coil. Hence there is a
prolonged time delay in the operation of thermal relay.
 That is why this type of relay is generally used where
over load is allowed to flow for a predetermined amount
of time before it trips. If overload or over current falls
down to normal value before this predetermined time,
the relay will not be operated to trip the protected
equipment.
 A typical application of thermal relay is overload
protection of electric motor.
BUCHHOLZ RELAY
CONSTRUCTION OF BUCHHOLZ RELAY
 Buchholz relay in transformer is an oil container housed the connecting
pipe from main tank to conservator tank. It has mainly two elements. The
upper element consists of a float. The float is attached to a hinge in such a
way that it can move up and down depending upon the oil level in the
Buchholz relay Container. One mercury switch is fixed on the float. The
alignment of mercury switch hence depends upon the position of the float.

 The lower element consists of a baffle plate and mercury switch. This plate is fitted
on a hinge just in front of the inlet (main tank side) of Buchholz relay in
transformer in such a way that when oil enters in the relay from that inlet in high
pressure the alignment of the baffle plate along with the mercury switch attached to
it, will change.

 Inaddition to these main elements a Buchholz relay has gas release pockets on
top. The electrical leads from both mercury switches are taken out through a
molded terminal block.
BUCHHOLZ RELAY PRINCIPLE
 The Buchholz relay working principle of is very
simple. Buchholz relay function is based on very simple
mechanical phenomenon. It is mechanically actuated.
Whenever there will be a minor internal fault in the
transformer such as an insulation faults between turns,
break down of core of transformer, core heating, the
transformer insulating oil will be decomposed in different
hydrocarbon gases, CO2 and CO. The gases produced due
to decomposition of transformer insulating oil will
accumulate in the upper part the Buchholz container
which causes fall of oil level in it.
 Fall of oil level means lowering the position of float and
thereby tilting the mercury switch. The contacts of this
mercury switch are closed and an alarm circuit
energized. Sometime due to oil leakage on the main tank
air bubbles may be accumulated in the upper part the
Buchholz container which may also cause fall of oil
level in it and alarm circuit will be energized. By
collecting the accumulated gases from the gas release
pockets on the top of the relay and by analyzing them
one can predict the type of fault in the transformer.
 More severe types of faults, such as short circuit between
phases or to earth and faults in the tap changing
equipment, are accompanied by a surge of oil which
strikes the baffle plate and causes the mercury switch of
the lower element to close. This switch energized the trip
circuit of the circuit breakers associated with the
transformer and immediately isolate the faulty
transformer from the rest of the electrical power system
by inter tripping the circuit breakers associated with both
LV and HV sides of the transformer. This is how
Buchholz relay functions.
 Buchholz Relay Operation – Certain Precaution
 The Buchholz relay operation may be actuated without
any fault in the transformer. For instance, when oil is
added to a transformer, air may get in together with oil,
accumulated under the relay cover and thus cause a false
Buchholz relay operation.
 That is why mechanical lock is provided in that relay so
that one can lock the movement of mercury switches
when oil is topping up in the transformer. This
mechanical locking also helps to prevent unnecessary
movement of breakable glass bulb of mercury switches
during transportation of the Buchholz relays.

 The lower float may also falsely operate if the oil

velocity in the connection pipe through, not due to
internal fault, is sufficient to trip over the float. This can
occurs in the event of external short circuit when over
currents flowing through the winding cause overheated
the copper and the oil and cause the oil to expand.