GENERATOR PROTECTION
SYSTEM
TYPES OF FAULTS :-
The following problems required addressing & consideration
from the point of view of applying protection:-
• Short circuit protection
• Stator electrical faults
• Loss of excitation
• Over voltage
• Overload protection
• Unbalanced load protection
• Under /over frequency protection
• Mechanical Faults
Different Protections used for Generator
Generator Differential Protection.
Generator Inter Turn Protection.
Generator Negative Sequence Protection.
Generator Loss of Excitation Protection.
Generator Over Voltage Protection.
Frequency Protection
Generator Over Load/ Over Current Protection
Generator Rotor Earth Fault Protection
Generator Back Up Impedance protection
Generator Low Forward power Interlock
Generator reverse power protection.
95% stator Earth Fault Protection
Instrument Transformers
Current Transformers Potential Transformers
• Turns ratio is • Turns ratio is directly
inversely proportional proportional to the ratio
to the ratio specified specified
• Secondary current is
• Secondary current is
according to burden
according to primary
connected
current only
• Should not be short
• Should not be left circuited
open circuited
Protection Classes
Class A Protection
• This master trip will operate when the fault needs to isolate
the generator immediately
• This gives command to open the generator breaker and
field breaker.
Class B Protection
• This master trip will operate when the fault is not serious in
view of generator or it is not directly harmful to generator
• This gives the command to trip turbine or Prime Mover
Tripped
Elements of protection system
• Current relays
• Voltage relays
• Power relays
• Impedance relays
• Frequency relays
• Special function relays
• Auxiliary Relays
• Timers
Specifications of Generator
Make: BHEL Synchronous Impedance:
222%
MVA: 247
Sub Transient Impedance:
Connection: Three Phase 30.5%
Double Star Connected. Transient Impedance:
Voltage: 15750 Volts 21.4%
Current: 9050 Amp Cooling: water/ Hydrogen
Frequency: 50 Hz Cooled
Speed: 3000 RPM
Neutral Grounding: High
Impedance (Through NGT)
No. of Poles: 2
PROTECTION AGAINST 3 PHASE , SHORT
CIRCUIT (51 V)
Voltage restrained over current relay is one of the most
commonly used protection against generator external short
circuit protection.
The reason of introducing a voltage signal into over current
device is to provide a relay that can ride through momentary
overload conditions such as motor starting and still provide
proper short circuit protection.
The voltage is said to restrain the current element. Typical
voltage setting of this relay is (80-90%) of nominal.
EARTH FAULT PROTECTION :-( 51 G )
A relay connected to a current transformer mounted
on the Neutral- Earth conductor can provide back up
protection for all earth relays at the generator voltage
level, It provides protection against generator internal
earth faults, however not all the stator winding can be
protected against earth fault using this protection
function.
The relay settings should be higher than the expected
harmonic current following the neutral during normal
load condition and not more than 33% of the
maximum earth faults generator currents.
STATOR WINDING ELECTRICAL
FAULTS
Failure of the stator winding or connection
insulation can result in a severe damage to the
winding and stator core.
The extent of the damage depends on the
magnitude and duration of the fault current.
DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION (87)
To respond quickly to a phase fault with damaging heavy currents, high
speed differential protection is normally applied to generator equal or
higher than 500 KVA.
Differential relays operates only for faults within their protected zone
they are inherently Selective and can operate much faster. Accordingly
they will provide better protection and in large generating systems
maintaining stability by fast clearing faulted generators.
The zone of protection of differential protection can be extended to
cover the connecting cabling.
Typical setting of the differential relay is 5- 10% difference in CT’s current.
STATOR OVERHEATING PROTECTION
(49Q)
Accidental over loading might occur through the combination of full
active load current governed by the prime mover (KW) output and an
abnormally high reactive current component KVAR output, governed by
the level of rotor excitation.
Thermal relay (49 Q ) is normally connected to RTD’S resistance
temperature detectors imbedded in the stator winding of generators .It
Provides protection for the machine in the over load area but not fault
conditions
Each phase of the winding shall be connected to 2 RTD’S at the hot spot
defined by supplier.
The trip & alarm setting of this relay depends on the insulation class &
temperature rise of the generator. The generator manufacture should be
consulted during the setting of this relay.
PROTECTION AGAINST LOSS OF
EXCITATION
Loss of excitation can occur when the generator is operating at only 20-
30% of rated power. In this case the machine runs as induction generator
execited from the others machines on the system. The generator quickly
over heats due to the system slip frequency currents induced in it ,
generator terminal voltage decreases and the stator currents starts to
increase.
Rapid automatic disconnection is then required in order not only to
protect the generator but also to protect other machines from which the
faulted machine withdraw its excitation as an induction generator .
The last might cause instability of the power system & over heating of the
other machines.
PROTECTION AGAINST LOSS OF
EXCITATION
The last might cause instability of the power system
& over heating of the other machines.
Relay (40) loss of excitation is an impedance viewed
from the generator terminals. This relay must be used
with a proper time delay to stabilize the protection
against maloperation in response to transient
conditions.
PROTECTION AGAINST OVER
VOLTAGES
Over voltage may occur due to the transient surges on the network
and can also be caused from other reasons such as :
a) Defective operation of AVR when the machine is running in
isolated operation.
b) Sudden loss of load (Due to the tripping of outgoing feeders
leaving the machine isolated or feeding over small load).
c) Operation under manual central of the voltage regulator. A
sudden change in load particularly reactive powered component will
give rise a substantial change in voltage.
PROTECTION AGAINST OVER
VOLTAGES
A typical setting for over voltage relay (59) is 107
% of rated stator voltage with a time delay of 10
sec. to allow for transients due to load switch off /
rejection , over voltages resulting from recovery
from fault or motor starting .
UNDER VOLTAGE PROTECTION :-( 27)
(OVER LOAD PROTECTION )
Under voltage protection is used for generator
feeding an isolated system. It protects generators
against prolonged over load or failure of AVR.
Setting must be chosen to avoid maloperation
during voltage dips during power system fault
clearance or associated with motor starting.
PROTECTION AGAINST UNBALANCED CONDITIONS
RELAY FUNCTION (46)
Phase balanced load produces a reaction field that is constant and
rotates synchronously with the rotor field system. Any phase unbalance
can be resolved into positive and negative sequence component.
The positive sequence component is similar to the normal balanced
load. The zero sequence produces no main armature reaction.
The negative sequence component field reaction rotates in the opposite
direction to the DC field system, thereby producing double frequency
currents in the field system and in rotor body. The resulting eddy
currents are very large and cause severe heating of the rotor.
This protection is not required when the generator has large negative
phase sequence capacity.
UNDER / OVER FREQUENCY PROTECTION 81%
SEQUENCE CAPACITY :-
The governor fitted to the prime mover normally provides protection
against over frequency, however over frequency may occur in case
sudden removal loads. Under frequency as a result of over load of
generators operating in isolated systems. Prime mover & generator
load must be protected against excessively low Frequency by tripping
of the generators concerned.
Typical settings of under frequency is 49 HZ for 20 seconds & 48 HZ
for 0.5 seconds.
Over frequency setting 51 HZ for 10 seconds and 52 HZ for 1 second
REVERSE POWER PROTECTION :(32)
Reverse power protection in its simple form means motoring of the
prim mover , if the prime mover has lost power for any reason and
start to be motored by the system. Diesel engine could catch fire or
suffer from damages to its gear box or shafts. Gas turbine could
suffers from gear box damage.
The manufacture value for motoring percentage of rated power
should be consulted.
The reverse power protection should be provided with time delay, on
operation to prevent operation of the relay with transient power
swings that may arise following synchronization
Typical protection settings is 50% of motoring power .This setting
must be checked during commissioning.
GENERATOR BEARING
PROTECTION: -(38)
Failure of the generator lubrication system may cause over
heating
of generator bearing. Consequently causing mechanical
damage.
Resistance temperature detectors (RTD’s) embedded near the
driving & non driving end bearing to trip the generator
breaker in
case of over heating of the bearing.
The generator manufacture should be consulted to provide this
setting.
Specifications of Generator
Make: BHEL Synchronous Impedance:
222%
MVA: 247
Sub Transient Impedance:
Connection: Three Phase 30.5%
Double Star Connected. Transient Impedance:
Voltage: 15750 Volts 21.4%
Current: 9050 Amp Cooling: water/ Hydrogen
Frequency: 50 Hz Cooled
Speed: 3000 RPM
Neutral Grounding: High
Impedance (Through NGT)
No. of Poles: 2
Generator Inter Turn Protection
Difference of sharing between
split phases
Reasons of diff. In currents
• If there is any inter-turn short
with in the winging
• If gen is supplying through fault
and small circulating currents
gets proportionately increased
• Tripping provided at 5% of rated
current
Generator Negative Sequence Protection.
Balanced and unbalanced systems
Sequence components
• Positive sequence component
I1 = 1/3 (IR +a2 *IY + a * IB)
• Negative sequence component
I2 = 1/3 (IR +a *IY + a2 * IB)
• Zero sequence component
I0 = 1/3 (IR +IY + IB)
Effect of negative sequence component on
synchronous machine.
Generator Capability for I2
• Continuous I2 capability 5% of Im
• I22 * t = 8
Balanced Phasers
Generator Loss of Excitation Protection.
Study of Generator capability curve
Setting criteria
Xa1 = 0.5*Xd*CTR/PTR
Xd = 30.5% = 0.305 pu ……sub-
transient reactance of generator
Xd in ohms = Xd (pu)*kv2/MVA
= 0.305*15.752/247
=0.306311993
Xa1 = 2.139 ohm
Xb1 = Xd * CTR/PTR
Xd (ohmic) = Xd(pu)*kv2/MVA
Xb1 = 2.22(15.752/247)(10000/5)
(110/15750)
= 31.14 ohm
Generator capability curve
Generator Over Voltage Protection.
Generator high voltage is harm full to the
insulation of generator, generator transformer,
excitation transformer, UAT, etc
Generator Over Voltage Capability – 10%
Setting Adopted
• Stage – 1 = 10%, 5 Sec delay
• Stage – 2 = 15%, 500msec delay
Frequency Protection
Over frequency protection
• It indicates excess generation than demand hence
tripping should graded among the units
Under frequency protection
Under frequency is harmful to turbine
Adopted settings
Adopted Frequency settings
UNIT CAPACITY UNDER OVER FREQUENCY TRIP
NO. FREQ. TRIP SETTING
SETTING
1 30 MW 47 HZ, 0.5 54.5 HZ, 21.15 SEC DELAY
SEC DELAY
2 30 MW
3 210 MW 52.5 HZ, 1 SEC DELAY
4 210 MW 52.0 HZ, 2 SEC DELAY
5 210 MW 52.0 HZ, 2.0 SEC DELAY
GENERATOR PROTECTION
SETTINGS EXAMPLES
