Relays Theories

Lecture 6

Presented by:
Professor Dr. Saady Abd-El hamid
Definition

 A current differential relay is one that

compares the current entering a section of the
system with current leaving the section.

 Under normal operating conditions, the two

currents are equal but as soon as fault occurs,
this condition no longer applies.
 The difference between the incoming and
outgoing currents is arranged to flow through relay
operating coil.
If this difference is equal to or greater than the
pick up value the relay will operate and open the
circuit breaker and isolate the faulty section.
 Protection systems using this techniques are
classified as unit protection systems.
 Unit Protection systems bounded by CT
locations
Differential Relays Features
current in = current out
Simple
Very fast
Very defined clearing area
Expensive
Practical distance limitations
■ Line differential systems overcome this using
digital communications
Principles of Differential Relaying
1- Differentialrelaying systems are based on the K.C. L
that under normal conditions current in equals current out (no
source or sinks).
2- In zone fault current in does not equal current out.

3- With multi-terminal zones the vector sum of the

currents at each terminal must equal zero.
1-
Principles of Differential Relaying
Voltage Balance
• Normal conditions, I1 = I2 as before
• The CT connections make I1 and I2 oppose
each other and thus no CT secondary current.
• Implies that CT s are effectively open
circuited!
• Overcome by loading each CT with a resistor.
2-

14
A- Operation during ( Normal &External Fault)

V N1N2= 0,
B- Operation during (Internal Fault), Case 1 RF= 0, Grid
C- Operation during (Internal Fault), Case 2 RF= 0, single source
D- Operation during (Internal Fault), Case 3 high fault impedance
E- Operation during (Internal Fault), Case 4, False detection internal
series fault
2- Principles of Differential Relaying
Current Balance High Impedance

Also known as unbiased differential protection only

one actuating relay quantity (current) required for operation.
Examples = REF, generator and bus-bar diff.
It is assumed with these schemes that a certain degree of
CT saturation is possible under through fault conditions.
This leads to a spill current which could operate the relay.

21
Current Balance High Impedance- Unbiased Differential
• With these schemes a certain degree of CT saturation is possible
under heavy fault conditions. This leads to false operation of the
relay.
• Stabilization is achieved by means of a stabilizing
resistor, RS, intended to raise the operating voltage of the system.
• Fault current through RS could lead to dangerous over voltages
voltage limiters are required.
• Relatively easy to set but it requires identical CT s (identical
magnetization characteristics) in order to minimize the spill
current with normal load.
- Alternatively the operating point of the system is increased by the
use of a stabilizing resistor (unbiased/high impedance diff. protection.
Behavior of differential current relay during external Fault
with saturation of C.T.2
2-b Principles of Differential Relaying
Current Balance High Impedance For REF
• REF is fast and sensitive (more so than biased
differential protection)
• Applied to transformer windings especially ones
which have been impedance earthed.
• Also bus-zones and generators.
• Typically only used for EF schemes (transformers)
but could be triplicated to offer phase fault
protection as well generator, motor, bus-zone.
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Proactive frequency control for high renewables penetrated power systems 27
3-

(Percentage or Biased Differential Protection)

Percentage or Biased Differential Relay

■ Ampere Turns on the left side of the restraining

coil
𝑵𝒓
= 𝑰
𝟐 𝟏
■ Ampere Turns on the right side of the
restraining coil
𝑵𝒓
= 𝑰
𝟐 𝟐
■ Total Ampere turns on the restraining coil
𝑵𝒓 𝑵𝒓
𝑨𝑻 𝒓 = 𝑰𝟏 + 𝑰𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
𝑰𝟏 + 𝑰𝟐
𝑨𝑻 𝒓 = 𝑵𝒓
𝟐
4- In reality provision has to be made for nonzero
differential quantities under normal, healthy conditions.
These could not result due to line charging current, CT
mismatching, the transformer tap-changer, etc.

5- Provision is thus made for ways to prevent relay

operation which could result due to differential current
being present under normal system conditions. This is
classically done by deriving a restraint quantity from the
terminal currents (biased differential protection).
Percentage or Biased Differential Relay
■ 𝑨𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆 − 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒐𝒊𝒍, 𝑨𝑻 𝒐 = 𝑵𝒐 𝑰𝟏 − 𝑰𝟐
■ 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒐𝒊𝒍, 𝑰𝒅 = 𝑰𝟏 − 𝑰𝟐
■ The relay will operate when,
𝑨𝑻 𝒐 > 𝑨𝑻 𝒓

𝑰𝟏 + 𝑰𝟐
𝑵𝒐 𝑰𝟏 − 𝑰𝟐 > 𝑵𝒓
𝟐

𝑵𝒓 𝑰𝟏 + 𝑰𝟐
𝑰𝟏 − 𝑰𝟐 >
𝑵𝒐 𝟐
𝑰𝒅 > 𝑲𝑰𝒓
Percentage or Biased Differential Relay

■ The relay will be on the verge of operation when,

𝑰𝒅 = 𝐊𝑰𝒓
■ For the operation of the relay, the differential current must be greater than
this fixed percentage of the restraining current. Hence this relay is called
percentage differential relay.
■ Under normal condition or through fault condition, the restraining toque
will be more than the operating torque. Hence the relay is inoperative.
■ During any internal fault condition, the operating torque will be more than
the restraining torque. Hence relay will operate.
Disadvantages of Differential Protection
The impedance of the pilot cables generally causes a slight difference
between the currents at the two ends of the section to be protected, then
the small differential current flowing through the relay may cause it to
operate even under no fault conditions.
Pilot cable capacitance causes incorrect operation of the relay when a
large current flows
Accurate matching of current transformers cannot be achieved due to
pilot circuit impedance .
The CTs will not always give the same secondary current
(manufacturing tolerances).
The ‘error’ current that can occur during heavy short circuit
conditions (external faults) i.e saturation in C.T2
 Problems with Current Differential
Protection unbiased:

1- Actually, the CTs will not always give the same

secondary current for the same primary current,
even if the CTs are commercially identical.
(manufacturing tolerances), (How to
solve)
2- unequal lengths of leads to the relay, unequal
burdens of meters and instruments that may be
connected in one or both of the secondary's. (How
to solve)

3- The ‘error’ current that can occur during short

circuit conditions (external faults) i.e saturation in
C.T2. (How to solve)
To over come these problems

1- The difference in secondary current due to

manufacturing tolerances will flow in the relay.
Relay must then be set above the maximum error
current that can flow during the normal external
faults
2- The percentage differential relay solves the
problem of unequal lengths without sacrificing
sensitivity as will shown next
 Relay will not operate

Repeat the salutation of above question if the direction

of current 300 A was changed to become from left to
right?
Repeat the salutation of above question if the direction of
current 340 A was changed to become from right to left to?
■ Discuss the Principle of Differential Protection?
■ Discuss the Principle of Differential Protection for
external faults?
■ Discuss the Principle of Differential Protection for
internal faults? With small resistance and with high
resistance?
Discuss the Principle of Differential Protection for
internal faults with high impedance?
Discuss the Principle of Differential Protection for
internal phase faults?
Discuss the Principle of Differential Protection for earth
faults?
Discuss the Principle of balanced voltage Differential
Protection for external faults?
Discuss the Principle of balanced voltage Differential
Protection for internal faults?
Discuss the Principle of bias current Differential Protection for
external faults?
Discuss the Principle of bias current Differential Protection for
internal faults?
Discuss the Principle of balanced voltage using two
overcurrent relays?
Discuss the Principle of balanced voltage using two current
transformer in series?