Government polytechnic

Kullu
Power System
Presented by – Anish
Protection Presented to – Er. Sandeep Bhardwaj
Board roll no – 220714105005

An overview of equipment and techniques in electrical safety

Contents
• Introduction
• Overview
• Definition of power system protection
• Importance of protection equipment
• Key components in power system
• Types of equipment
• Protection schemes
• Standards and regulations
• Trends and innovations
• Conclusion
Introduction
This presentation provides insights
into power system protection, covering
types of equipment, protection
schemes, and their importance in
electrical safety.
 01

Overview
Definition of
power system
protection

Power system protection is

the combination of
equipment and procedures
designed to avoid damage
to electrical systems
during fault conditions by
quickly detecting and
isolating faults.
Importance of
protection
equipment
Protection equipment is vital as it
safeguards electrical infrastructure,
ensures system reliability, prevents
outages, and protects personnel from
electrical hazards.
Key components
in power systems
Key components include relays, circuit
breakers, fuses, and current
transformers, all working together to
monitor electrical flow and react to
abnormalities.
02

Types of
Equipment
Relays
Relays are devices that
detect abnormal
conditions in electrical
systems and initiate
actions to isolate the fault,
ensuring the safety and
stability of the power
system.
•
Types of relays
Differential relay- Differential relays are used for protecting electrical equipment by comparing the
current between two points. Any difference in current indicates a fault, prompting the relay to trip and
disconnect the circuit.
• Thermal relay- Thermal relays operate based on the heating effect of electric current. They are
primarily used for protecting motors from overload conditions by disconnecting the power supply
when excessive heat is detected.
• Attraction Type Electromagnetic Relay- These use electromagnetic force to manipulate contacts.
When de-energized, the contacts are either open (NO) or closed (NC). Coil energization causes an
iron armature to switch contacts
• Distance relay -Distance relays measure the impedance of a transmission line and trip the circuit
when the impedance falls below a predetermined value. They are widely used in power system
protection.
• Static relay- In electrical systems, a static relay is a type of relay, an electrically operated switch,
that has no moving parts. Static relays are contrasted with electromechanical relays, which use
moving parts to create a switching action.
Circuit
breakers
Circuit breakers automatically
interrupt electrical flow in the event of
overloads or short circuits, serving as
critical protection for equipment and
personnel.
 Types of circuit breakers
• AIR CIRCUIT BREAKERS- These types of breakers use pressurized air to function. When
the breaker trips, the contacts separate and create an arc. ACBs remove this arc, maintaining
a stable and secured current flow. An ACB breaker is ideal for industrial setups and protects
overloads and short circuits for electrical systems between 800 amps and 10K amps. They
are mainly used in low-voltage settings under 450V, such as small offices and houses
• GAS CIRCUIT BREAKERS- Gas circuit breakers (CB) mainly use sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
to interfere with arcs. As a high-density gas, the dielectric power surges as pressure rises.
This gas is used in breakers ranging from 15kV to 65kV. These gas breakers have become a
preferred choice to replace air-blast and oil circuit breakers.
• VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKERS- A vacuum circuit breaker uses a vacuum to interfere with
the flow of electric current in a system. When the contacts in a circuit breaker drift, an arc is
formed and needs to be put off to stop the current flow entirely. The VCBs are designed with
bottle vacuums that vaporize contact material to eliminate the arc. A single bottle of a VCB
can interfere with a voltage of 15kV.
• OIL CIRCUIT BREAKERS- Oil circuit breakers (OCB) use mineral oil as the quenching
medium to interfere with the arcs. The breaker contacts are submerged in the oil when the
circuit breaker is closed. In this case, the oil keeps the heat off and stops electric currents
from flowing between the contacts. When you open the breaker, the contacts are
Fuses
Fuses provide overcurrent protection
by melting under excessive current
flow, disconnecting the electrical
circuit and preventing damage to
connected devices.
 Types of Fuses
• Cartridge Fuse- A cylindrical fuse with metal caps on both ends, designed for low
and high-voltage applications. It protects electrical circuits from overcurrent and
short circuits.
• HRC (High Rupturing Capacity) Fuse- A fuse enclosed in a ceramic body filled
with sand. It handles high-voltage faults by absorbing the arc energy, preventing
further damage.
• Rewireable Fuse- A fuse consisting of a porcelain base and a removable carrier
with a replaceable fuse wire. The wire melts under overcurrent conditions,
interrupting the circuit.
• Drop-Out Fuse- A fuse used in distribution lines, where the fuse holder physically
drops when the fuse element melts, providing a visual indication of a fault.
• Expulsion Fuse- A medium-voltage fuse with a tube that expels gases when the
fuse operates. It is used in outdoor installations to protect against overcurrent.
• Striker Fuse- A fuse with a spring-loaded striker that activates a mechanical
switch or relay when the fuse blows, allowing remote fault signaling.
• Blade or Plug-In Fuse- A small, rectangular fuse with metal blades, commonly
used in automotive and low-voltage applications. It is easy to insert and replace.
Isolators
Isolator is a manually operated mechanical
switch that isolates the faulty section of
substation. It is used to separate faulty
section for repair from a healthy section in
order to avoid the occurrance of severe
faults.
 Types of isolators
• Single-Break Isolator:
An isolator with a single contact point per phase, used to disconnect a part of the
electrical circuit. It is commonly used in low and medium-voltage systems.
• Double-Break Isolator:
An isolator with two contact points per phase, providing better insulation and enhanced
safety. It is suitable for high-voltage applications.
• Pantograph Isolator:
A high-voltage isolator with a scissor-like mechanism, designed for smooth and efficient
operation. It is compact and used in substations with limited space.
Current Transformer
• Current transformers are used for
protection, measurement and control in
high-voltage electrical substations and
the electrical grid. Current transformers
may be installed inside switchgear or
in apparatus bushings, but very often
free-standing outdoor current
transformers are used.
Potential Transformer
• A potential transformer, also called a PT, is an
instrument transformer used in power systems
for voltage transformation. It converts higher
voltage values to lower voltage values for
measurement and protection purposes.
 03

Protection
Schemes
Overcurren
t
protection
Overcurrent protection is
designed to protect electrical
circuits from excessive current
flow. This protection mechanism
prevents overheating and
potential fires by interrupting the
circuit when current exceeds
Distance
protection
Distance protection
measures the impedance
between the relay and the
fault location. This scheme
is especially useful for
high voltage transmission
lines, effectively isolating
faults while maintaining
service continuity.
Differential
protection
Differential protection detects
differences between currents
entering and exiting a section of the
electrical system. It's highly reliable
for transformers and generators,
providing fast disconnection for
faults while minimizing disruptions.
 04

Standards and
Regulations
IEEE
standards
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) establishes guidelines
for electrical standards, including those
related to protection practices, ensuring
safety, reliability, and efficiency in
electrical systems.
IEEE C37.233 is a guide for testing power system protection
schemes. It recommends a bottom-up approach:

• Test individual components (like relays, communication

devices, power supplies).
• Test integrated systems to ensure components work
together properly.

It helps ensure protection systems are reliable and function as

intended.
IEC
regulations
The International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) provides electrical
and electronic standards that promote
safety and efficiency in electrical
installations, playing a crucial role in
global compliance and systems
interoperability.
The IEC 60255 series is a set of international standards
that guide how protection relays (devices that detect
faults and protect electrical equipment) should be
designed and tested.

IEC 60255-1 sets the general rules – like how the devices
should handle temperature, vibration, and electrical
disturbances.

The IEC 60255-1xx standards go deeper, explaining how

specific protection functions should work (like overcurrent,
distance, or differential protection).
Local
compliance
requirements
Local jurisdictions have specific compliance
requirements for electrical systems, including
protection measures that must be followed to ensure
safety and reliability within the region’s power
systems.
Local compliance requirements for power
system protection in India include:
CEA Regulations (2010) – Set by the Central
Electricity Authority, covering safety, protection,
operation, and maintenance of electrical systems.
IS 732 – Code of practice for electrical wiring
installations.
IS 3043 – Code of practice for proper earthing of
electrical systems.
These ensure systems are safe, reliable, and meet
national safety standards.
05

Trends and
Innovations
Smart grid
technologies
Smart grid technologies enhance the
efficiency and reliability of power
distribution by utilizing digital
communication tools. They allow for
real-time monitoring and adaptive
protection schemes, improving outage
management and fault detection
capabilities.
Integration of IoT
in protection
systems
IoT integration in protection systems
boosts data analysis for proactive
maintenance and rapid fault
detection, enhancing overall system
resilience.
Future outlook on
protection equipment
The future of protection equipment is set
towards increased automation, advanced
analytics, and decision-making support.
Future technologies will likely focus on
enhancing system resilience, cybersecurity,
and environmental sustainability in electrical
protection.
Conclusions
Power system protection is crucial for ensuring
the reliability and safety of electrical systems.
The trends and innovations outlined pave the
way for improved protection strategies that
will evolve with technology, ensuring a safer
electrical infrastructure.
Thank you