ADVANCED POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION AND SWITCHGEAR

EXPERIMENT NO: -

RADIAL FEEDER PROTECTION

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND: -

Whole of the power system can be subdivided into number of radial feeders
fed from one end. Generally such radial feeders are provided by over current and
earth fault relays used as primary relays for 11 KV and 66 KV lines. For lines of
voltage rating beyond 66 KV, distance protection is applied as a primary
protection whereas over current and earth fault relays are used as back up
relays.

A simplified radial feeder network without transformers (in actual practice

transformers do exist at substations) is shown in single line diagram of figure 1.

If the fault occurs in distribution network, fuse should isolate the faulty section.
Should the fuse fail, relay R3 shall give back-up protection. Relays R1, R2 and
R3 act as primary relays for faults in section I, section II and section III
respectively. If fault in section III is not cleared by relaying scheme at relaying
point R3, relay R2 will act as a back-up. Similarly back-up protection is provided
by relay R1 for fault in section II. A, B and C are substations in figure 1. Back-up
to R1 is offered by generator protection scheme, not shown in figure 1.

Generally inverse time overcurrent relays with definite time feature (IDMT
relays) are used in practice. There are many types of such relays available in
relay-market, viz. normal inverse relays, very inverse relays and extremely
inverse relays.

Very inverse relays are less prone to the ratio ZS/ZL. Extremely inverse relays
are yet better. Very inverse relays are faster in operation for close-in faults yet
maintaining the discrimination with fuse and other relays. Extremely inverse
relays are more meritorious in this aspect too. Instantaneous overcurrent relays
are not immune to ZS/ZL ratio. Definite time overcurrent relays are 100 % immune
to this ratio.

Very inverse relays can be used with an additional advantage while protecting
a machine or a transformer as they match with the heating characteristic of the
equipment better than their normal inverse equivalent. Extremely inverse relays
can best co-ordinate with the fuse characteristic.

The aim of this experiment is experiment is to reveal these facts

experimentally.

PREPARED BY DR. VIJAY H. MAKWANA

 RADIAL FEEDER PROTECTION
N L
A. C. SUPPLY
Section I Section II Section III
10 A A
10/5 A C1-1 9 , 12 A 10/5 A C2-1 9 , 12 A 10/5 A C3-1 9 , 12 A

R1 R2 R3
MCB
A S1 S2 S3 2A
B C

185
1.5 A

18 ,
12 A
350
1.5 A

PREPARED BY DR. VIJAY H. MAKWANA

POWER CIRCUIT (Figure 1)
ADVANCED POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION AND SWITCHGEAR

PREPARED BY PROF. VIJAY H. MAKWANA (GCET)

 ADVANCED POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION AND SWITCHGEAR

LABORATORY SIMULATION: -

Referring to A.C. circuit of figure 1, a live model of radial feeder fed from one
end can be self-understood.

This is only a single-phase version of a radial feeder. Transmission lines are

simulated by ohms resistors as we are studying only a steady state behavior of
the relays and network. Circuit breakers are simulated by contactors. Distributor
is protected by a 0.5 Amp M.C.B. Visual neon lamp indicators are used. Faults in
different sections can be created by switches S1, S2 and S3. Fault limiting
resistance of 18 is used for practical purposes only, as otherwise the source
would get shorted for a fault at start of first section. For fault in distributor, ohmic
value of load rheostats can be decreased. MCB simulates fuses or MCCB.

Any section can be manually charged or made off using start and stop push
buttons, which are spring loaded. On occurrence of fault, concerned auxiliary
relay will energize giving signal to concerned contactor and making it off. Back-
up can be shown by using C.T. shorting switch. Time of operation of relays can
be measured by a time-interval counter.

The circuit can be reset by reset push button of concerned section.

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS: -

1. Measure the currents for extreme faults in section I, II and III as follows.

Sr. No. Fault Location Fault Current in Amp

1 F1
2 F1
3 F2
4 F2
5 F3
6 F3

In actual practice C.T. secondary rated current (1 Amp or 5 Amp) and relay
rating should be same. Here C.T. secondary rating is 5 Amp and relay rating
is 1 Amp. This is contradicting the practice for practical purpose.

2. Calculate the plug-settings of normal inverse relays R1, R2 and R3. (Plug
settings will be same irrespective of type of relays). For this purpose, assume
the number of distributors each of 0.5 Amp rating from the following
possibilities.

The experiment is a simulation and hence the distributor current is 0.5 Amp.
In actual practice it may be 500 Amp or more or less.
Number of distributors: 2, 3 or 4.

PREPARED BY DR. VIJAY H. MAKWANA

 ADVANCED POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION AND SWITCHGEAR

(Calculation of the setting shall be done with respect to following

considerations.)

(i) The plug-setting shall be more than or equal to the maximum full-load
current passing through the relay.
(ii) The pick-up of the relay varies from 1.05 to 1.3 times the plug setting of
the relay.
(iii) For back-up relay R1 shall reach for the fault F2 and R2 for the fault F3.

3. Time settings (Normal Inverse Relays)

For deciding time-settings consider T.M.S. of relay R3 to be 0.1.

For grading R2 with R3, use worst possible current, to decide T.M.S. of R2.
Similarly decide T.M.S. of R1. Use discriminating time interval between two
successive relays as 0.25 second for these calculations. Tabulate the results
as follows.

Table 1

Relays P.S. T.M.S.

R1
R2
R3

4. Set the normal inverse over-current relays as per calculated settings.

5. Vary the 350 and 185 resistances such that current in the radial feeder
varies from 1 A to 2 A.

6. Do fault in sections I, II and III using switches S1, S2 and S3, respectively.

7. To observe the effect of back-up protection, use switches S4 and S5.

8. Complete calculations to fill Tables 1, 2 and 3.

Table 2

Relays Difference in time of operation of relays for extreme

faults
Sections Calculated time (sec)
R1 I
R2 II
R3 III

PREPARED BY DR. VIJAY H. MAKWANA

 ADVANCED POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION AND SWITCHGEAR

Table 3

Fault Relay R1 Relay R2 Relay R3

locations PSM Calculated PSM Calculated PSM Calculated
Top (sec) Top (sec) Top (sec)
F1
F1
F2
F2
F3
F3

9. Draw your own conclusion.

REVIEW QUESTIONS: -

1. Explain the control circuit of the experiment.

2. Why are the settings of earth-fault relays lower than the settings of over-
current relays?
3. What do you understand by an overshoot of a relay?
4. What is the significance of resetting time of relays?

PREPARED BY DR. VIJAY H. MAKWANA