UNIT- III

PROTECTION OF FEEDERS AND TRANSMISSION LINE

Syllabus:Protection of feeder( radial & ring main) using over current relays. Protection of transmission
line – 3 zone protection using distance relays. Carrier current protection, Bus bars Protection.

PROTECTION OF FEEDERS (or) LINES:

Introduction:
The probability of false occurring on the line is much more due to greater length and exposure to
atmospheric conditions. Differential protection scheme is ideal for transmission lines but it is much more
expensive to use. Two ends of a transmission may be several kilometres apart and to compare the two currents
the costly pilot-wire circuit is required.
The requirements of line protection are
 In the event of a short circuit, a circuit breaker closest to the fault should open all other circuit breakers
remaining in a closed position.
 The relay operating time should be as short as possible in order to preserve system stability without
unnecessary tripping of circuits.
The common methods of transmission line protection are
1. Time graded over current protection.
2. Differential Protection.
3. Distance protection.
4. Carrier current protection.

TIME GRADED OVERCURRENT PROTECTION

In this scheme of over current protection, time discrimination is incorporated i.e.., the time settings of relays
is so graded that in the event of fault the smallest possible part of the system is isolated.

CASE 1: RADIAL FEEDER

In the radial feeder, power can flow in one direction only from generator( or supply end ) to load. Time
graded protection of a radial feeder can be achieved by using

i)Definite time relay

ii) Inverse time relay
PROTECTION USING DEFINITE TIME RELAYS:
The time of operations of each relay is fixed and is independent of operating current. Fig shows over
current protection with a radial feeder by definite time relays.

The relay D has an operating time of 0.5 sec while for other relays time delay is increased by 0.5 sec.
When the fault occurs in the section DE, it will be cleared in 0.5 sec by the relay and circuit breaker at D
because all other relays have higher operating time. Thus the faulty section DE of the system only will be
isolated. If the relay at D fails to trip, the relay at C operate after a time delay of 0.5 sec i.e.., after 1 sec from
the occurrence of fault.
Disadvantages:
1. Continuity of the supply cannot be maintained at the receiving end in the event of fault.
2. If there are number of feeders in series, the tripping time for fault near the supply end becomes high.
The above disadvantage can be overcome by using inverse time relays to some extent.

USING INVERSE-TIME RELAY:

The time of operation of each relay is inversely proportional to the operating current.

Fig shows over current protection of radial feeder using inverse time relays.With the above arrangement the
farther the circuit breaker form the generating station, shorter is the relay operating time. The three relays at
A, B, C are assumed to have inverse time characteristics. If a fault in section BC will give relay times which
allow breaker at B to trip out before the breaker at A.
CASE 2 :PROTECTION OF PARALLEL FEEDER :
When 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 feeder 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 trippings.

Each feeder has a non-directional overcurrent relay at the generator end. These relays should have inverse-
time characteristic.Each feeder has a reverse power relay (or) directional relay at the sub-station end.These
relays should be instantaneous type and operate only when power flows in the reverse direction.
Note: Feeder has a non-directional relays at both ends, suppose a fault occurs on feeder 2, both feeders will be
isolated from the healthy system. To avoid mal- operation, non-directional relay at generator end and
directional relay at sub-station end will be placed.

Case 3: PROTECTION OF RING MAINS

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION :

Consider a system, where four sub-stations are interconnected and fed through one source. The relays
A and B are non-directional relays. The total protection scheme consists of six directional overcurrent relays
and two non-directional overcurrent relays.

The coordination can be achieved by opening the ring at A and considering the system as a radial feeder
connected to one source as shown in fig.(b)

The relays used are directional overcurrent relays with the relay near end A having minimum time of
operation.
Consider the system as a radial feeder, open the ring at B as shown in fig.(c)
Operation :
Consider a fault in the section GE as shown by long arrows.

The relays at locations CDE and FG will start moving. The relay, at E will operate first as this has minimum
operating time out of these relay; thereby after a time of 0.3 sec, the relays at C and D will reset as the fault
current ceases to flow through these relays. Out of relays F and G, G has smaller operating time and therefore
relay at G will operate first thereby isolating the feeder GE from the source.

DIFFERENTIAL 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”
When a fault occurs between the two ends, this condition no longer holds and the difference of incoming and
outgoing current 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.
1.Merz-Prize Voltage Balance System
2. Translay scheme

Merz-Prize Voltage Balance System :

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION :

Identical current transformers are place in

each phase at both ends of the line. The pair of
CTs in each line connected in series with a relay.
The pair of CT’s in each is connected in such a
way that ,the secondary voltages of CT’s are
equal and opposite i.e., they balance each other.

Fig. Protection of transmission line by Merz-price Voltage balance scheme

OPERATION :

Under normal operating conditions, current entering the line at one-end s equal to that leaving it at the
other end. Therefore, equal and opposite voltages are induced in the secondaries of the CT’s at the two end of
the line. The result is that no current flows through the relays.

Whenever a fault occurs at point F on the line. 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. Shows the connections of Merz-Prize voltage balance scheme for all the three phases of the line.
Disadvanges of Merz-Price Voltage balance Scheme:
1.If there is a break in a pilot-wire circuit, system will not work
2. It is very expensive due to greater length of pilot wires required
3.In case of long line, charging current due to pilot-wire capacitance effects may be
Sufficient to cause relay operation even under normal operating conditions.
4. The system cannot be used for voltages beyond 33kV because of constructional
difficulties in matching Current Transformers.

TRANSLAY RELAY :
This system is the modified form of voltage-balance system.

 The difference is that balance or opposition in between voltages induced in the secondary coils wound
on the relay magnets is considered not between the secondary voltages of the line current
transformers.
 Current transformers are used in this scheme only to a relay coil, they can be made of normal design
without any air gaps. This permits the scheme to be used for feeders of any voltage.

CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS :

 It consists of two identical double winding induction type relays fitted at either of the feeder to be
protected.
 The primary circuits ( 11, 11a) of these relays are supplied through a pair of current transformers.
 The secondary windings ( 12, 13 and 12a, 13a) of the two relays are connected in series by pilot
wires in such a way that voltages induced in the former opposes the other.
 The compensating devices ( 18, 18a) neutralise the effects of pilot-wire capacitance currents.

FIG :Translay scheme for single phase line.

OPERATION :
Under normal operating conditions, current at the two ends of the protected feeder is the same and the
primary windings ( 11,11a) of the relays carry the same current. The windings 11 and 11a induce equal e.m.f.
in the secondary windings 12,12a and 13,13a. As these windings are so connected that their induced voltages
are in opposition, no current will flow through the pilots or operating coils and hence no torque will be
exerted on the disc of either relay.

Whenever fault occurs on the protected feeder, current leaving the feeder will differ from the current
entering the feeder. Consequently, unequal voltages will be induced in the secondary windings of the relays
and current will circulate between the two windings, causing the torque to be exerted on the disc of each relay.
As the direction of secondary current will be opposite in the two relays, therefore, the torque in one relay will
tend to close the trip circuit while in the other relay.

PROTECTION OF 3-Φ FEEDER BY TRANSLAY SCHEME :

Operation :
Under normal operating conditions, the currents at its two ends are equal so that the secondary
currents in both sets of CT’s are equal. Consequently, the currents flowing in the relay primary windings (11
and 11a) 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).

Whenever fault occurs on the protected line, the line current at one end must carry greater current that
that at the other end. The result is that voltages induced in the secondary windings (12 and 12a) will be
different and the current will flow through the operating coils ( 13 and 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.
ADVANTAGES :

1.The system is economical as only two pilot wires are required for the protection of
a 3-phase line.
2.Current transformers of normal design can be used.
3.The pilot wire capacitance currents do not affect the operation of relays.

DISTANCE PROTECTION

Both time-graded and pilot wire system are not suitable for the protection of very long High Voltage
transmission lines.

 The time-graded system gives long time delay in fault clearance at the generating station end.

 The pilot wire system becomes too expensive due to greater length of
pilot wires required.

Since the fault currents depend upon the generating capacity and system configuration, the distance relays are
preferred to the over current relays.

The action of distance relay depends upon the distance ( or impedance) between the point where the relay is
installed and the point fault. This system provides discrimination protection without employing pilot wires.
If the impedance seen by the relay is less than its setting the relay operates.
The condition to operate distance relay is Z< Z specified

Consider a system consisting of lines in series such that power can flow only from left to right. The relays at
A,B and C are set to operate for impedance less than Z1, Z2 and Z3 respectively.
Suppose a fault occurs between sub-stations B and C, the fault impedance at power station and sub-station A
and B will be Z1+Z and Z respectively. It is clear for the portion shown, only relay at B will operate.

Similarly, if a fault occurs within section AB, then only relay at A will operate. In this manner, instantaneous
protection can be obtained for all conditions of operation.

In practice, it is not possible to obtain instantaneous protection for complete length of the line due to
inaccuracies in the relay elements and instrument transformers.

This difficult is overcome by using ‘three-zone’ distance protection shown.

THREE-ZONE DISTANCE PROTECTION

In this scheme,the protected area is divided into three zones.

For relay at A, three zones are Z1a , Z2a, Z3a.

FIG : 3 Zone bus protection

Z1a corresponds to approximately 80% length of AB and is high speed zone.

No intentional time lag is provided for this zone. The first zone is extended upto 80% not 100% length of the
line as the relay impedance measurement will not be very accurate towards the end of the line especially when
the current is offset.

Second zone Z2a for relay at A covers remaining 20% length of the line AB and 20% of the adjoining line. In
case of a fault in this section relay at A will operate when the time elapsed corresponds to the ordinate Z 2a.
The main idea of second zone is to provide protection for the remaining 20% section of the line. The
operating time of the second zone is normally about 0.2 to 0.5 second.

The third zone unit at A provide backup protection for faults in the line CD, i.e., if there is a fault in the line
CE and if for some reason the relay at C fails to operate then relay at A will provide back up protection. The
delay time for the third zone is usually 0.4 to 1.0 sec.
FIG : Impedance characteristics of 3 zone protection

The impedance relays are non-directional relays and therefore need a directional relay with them. The
characteristic of the impedance relays with a directional unit for 3-zone protection is shown in fig (a).
CARRIER CURRENT PROTECTION SCHEME :

Pilot wire protection is usually limited to circuits of length 10 miles or so. For longer overhead lines
the power line itself may be used as the channel between terminal equipments.

The primary consideration of Carrier current protection scheme is the coupling of the protective gear to the
power line.
 Coupling is done through a series L, C wide-band filter tuned to carrier frequency i.e., it allows only
carrier frequency to pass through it and offers a very high impedance to power frequency.
 Coupling between line and earth causes additional power loss at high frequencies normally used and is
undesirable if the channel is to be used for other than protection.
 It is preferable to connect equipments between two phases
 A parallel L,C filter provides a path to earth for power frequency currents, thus maintaining the
connection point to the high frequency equipment at earth potential.

 Above fig. represents a phase blocking system schematic arrangement of the equipment required at
both ends of the transmission line.
 Each end of the transmission line consists of a network which transforms CT output currents into a
single- phase sinusoidal output voltage, carrier current transmitter and a receiver, carrier-current
blocking network, comparer and a tripping relay.

 The transmitter generates high frequency output voltage when a positive voltage (positive half of
sinusoidal voltage) is applied to the control circuit of the transmitter.

 The high frequency output is applied between one phase and the ground. Each receiver receives high
frequency currents from its local transmitter as well a, currents from the transmitter at the other end
and converting it into a d.c. voltage, which is applied to the comparer circuit.

 The output of the converting network is also applied to the comparer circuit. The comparator controls
the operation of the tripping relay, which in turn controls the operation of the circuit breakers at each
end of the line.

 The blocking network forms a resonant circuit, which offer negligible impedance to power-frequency
currents, but offers very high impedance to carrier-currents.
 The schematic arrangement of the comparer is shown in Fig., it consists of a vacuum tube having
operating grid fed from local converting network and a restraining grid fed from carrier current
receiver.
 When a positive potential is applied to the grid of the tube, the tube conducts and if during the next
half of the cycle if the restraining voltage is not received from the other end of the line the tube
conducts and energizes an auxiliary relay which trips the circuit breaker.
  When fault occur at points outside the protective zone, the output voltages of 3-phase to single phase
converting networks with ends A and B are 180° out of phase and as the transmitter currents are
transmitted only during the positive halves of the output voltage so the transmitted currents are
displaced in time equal to half of the time period.
 Thus there is always a carrier current. When there is a fault within the protective zone both ends A and
B feed the fault current, so there no longer occurs a phase difference of 180° in the converting network
output voltages of ends A and B.
 This results in carrier currents to be in phase and there will be no signal from either of the station
every half cycle. This system of protection essentially compares the phase of the carrier current and
there is no tripping whenever the carrier currentsare displaced in time.
LINE TRAPS :

Line traps are provided at the overhead line termination in series with the phases used for signalling. The line
traps are tuned to power frequency, whereas they offer high impedance to carrier frequency, thereby they
avoid the interference between the carrier signals of the adjacent line section and provide continuity for the
power circuit.
These are mounted on the top of the coupling capacitor stacks. The connection from the relay equipment
mounted indoors to the outdoor coupling apparatus is via a coaxial cable or low-loss screened twin cable.

PROTECTION OF BUS BARS

Introduction :

Bus-bars in the generating stations and sub-stations form important link between the incoming and outgoing
circuits.

 Whenever fault occurs on a bus-bar, considerable damage and disruption of supply will occur unless
some form of quick-acting automatic protection is provided to isolate the faulty bar.
  The bus bar zone includes not only the bus bars themselves but also the isolating switches, Circuit
Breakers and associated connections.

In the event of fault on any section of bus-bar, all the circuit equipments connected to that section must be
tripped out to give complete isolation.

The most commonly used methods for the protection of bus-bars are :
I. Differential protection
II. Fault bus protection
i )Differential Protection of Bus-bar :

Fig. Shows line diagram of current differential scheme for a station bus-bar.
Construction:
The bus-bar is fed by a generator and supplies load to two lines. The secondaries of current transformers in
the generator lead, in line 1 and line 2 are all connected in parallel. The protection relay is connected across
these parallel connections. All CT’s must be of the same ratio in the scheme regardless of the capacitances of
the various circuits.

Operation:

Under normal load conditions( or external fault conditions), the sum of currents entering the bus is
equal to those leaving the bus and no current flows through the relay.

Whenever fault occurs within the protected zone, the currents entering the bus will no longer be equal
to those leaving it. The difference of these currents will flow through the relay and cause the opening of
generator Circuit Breaker and each of the line Circuit Breakers.
ii) Fault Bus Protection :
It is possible to design a station so that the faults that develop are mostly earth-faults.
 This can be achieved by providing earthed metal barrier (known as fault bus) surrounding each conductor
throughout its entire length in the bus structure. With this arrangement, every fault that might occur must
involve a connection between a conductor and an earthed metal part. By directing the flow of earth-fault
current, it is possible to detect the faults and determine their location. This type of protection is known as
fault bus protection.
Fig.show the schematic arrangement of fault bus protection.

The metal supporting structure or fault bus is earthed through a current transformer. A relay is connected
across the secondary of this CT. Under normal operating conditions, there is no current flow from fault bus to
ground and the relay remains inoperative. A fault involving a connection between a conductor and
earthedsupporting structure will result in current flow to ground through the fault bus, causing the relay to
operate. The operation of relay will trip all breakers connecting equipment to the bus.