Pick Up Current | Current Setting | Plug Setting

Multiplier and Time Setting Multiplier of Relay

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During study of electrical protective relays, some special terms are frequently used. For proper understanding, the
functions of different protective relays, the definition of such terms must be understood properly. Such terms are,
1. Pick up current.

2. Current setting.

3. Plug setting multiplier (PSM).

4. Time setting multiplier (TSM).

Pick Up Current of Relay

In all electrical relays, the moving contacts are not free to move. All the contacts remain in their respective normal
position by some force applied on them continuously. This force is called controlling force of the relay. This controlling
force may be gravitational force, may be spring force, may be magnetic force.

The force applied on the relays moving parts for changing the normal position of the contacts, is called deflecting
force. This deflecting force is always in opposition of controlling force and presents always in the relay. Although the
deflecting force always presents in the relay directly connected to live line, but as the magnitude of this force is less
than controlling force in normal condition, the relay does not operate. If the actuating current in the relay coil increases
gradually, the deflecting force in electro mechanical relay, is also increased. Once, the deflecting force crosses the
controlling force, the moving parts of the relay initiate to move to change the position of the contacts in the relay. The
current for which the relay initiates it operation is called pick up current of relay.

Current Setting of Relay

The minimum pick up value of the deflecting force of an electrical relay is constant. Again the deflecting force of the
coil is proportional to its number of turns and current flowing through the coil.
Now, if we can change the number of active turns of any coil, the required current to reach at minimum pick value of
the deflecting force, in the coil also changes. That means if active turns of the relay coil is reduced, then proportionately
more current is required to produce desired relay actuating force. Similarly if active turns of the relay coil is increased,
then proportionately reduced current is required to produce same desired deflecting force.
Practically same model relays may be used in different systems. As per these systems requirement the pick up current
of relay is adjusted. This is known as current setting of relay. This is achieved by providing required number of
tapping in the coil. These taps are brought out to a plug bridge. The number of active turns in the coil can be changed
by inserting plug in different points in the bridge.
The current setting of relay is expressed in percentage ratio of relay pick up current to rated secondary current of
CT.
That means,

For example, suppose, you want that, an over current relay should operate when the system current just crosses
125% of rated current. If the relay is rated with 1 A, the normal pick up current of the relay is 1 A and it should be
equal to secondary rated current of current transformer connected to the relay.
Then, the relay will be operated when the current of CT secondary becomes more than or equal 1.25 A.
As per definition,

The current setting is sometimes referred as current plug setting.

The current setting of over current relay is generally ranged from 50 % to 200 %, in steps of 25 %. For earth fault
relay it is from 10% to 70% in steps of 10%.

Plug Setting Multiplier of Relay

Plug setting multiplier of relay is referred as ratio of fault current in the relay to its pick up current.

Suppose we have connected on protection CT of ratio 200/1 A and current setting is 150%.
Hence, pick up current of the relay is, 1 150 % = 1.5 A
Now, suppose fault current in the CT primary is 1000 A. Hence, fault current in the CT secondary i.e. in the relay coil
is, 1000 1/200 = 5 A
Therefore PSM of the relay is, 5 / 1.5 =3.33

Time Setting Multiplier of Relay

The operating time of an electrical relay mainly depends upon two factors :
1. How long distance to be traveled by the moving parts of the relay for closing relay contacts and

2. How fast the moving parts of the relay cover this distance.
So far adjusting relay operating time, both of the factors to be adjusted.

The adjustment of travelling distance of an electromechanical relay is commonly known as time setting. This
adjustment is commonly known as time setting multiplier of relay. The time setting dial is calibrated from 0 to 1 in
steps 0.05 sec.

But by adjusting only time setting multiplier, we can not set the actual time of operation of an electrical relay. As we
already said, the time of operation also depends upon the speed of operation. The speed of moving parts of relay
depends upon the force due to current in the relay coil. Hence, it is clear that, speed of operation of an electrical relay
depends upon the level of fault current. In other words, time of operation of relay depends upon plug setting multiplier.
The relation between time of operation and plug setting multiplier is plotted on a graph paper and this is known as
time / PSM graph. From this graph one can determine, the total time taken by the moving parts of an electromechanical
relay, to complete its total travelling distance for different PSM. In time setting multiplier, this total travelling distance
is divided and calibrated from 0 to 1 in steps of 0.05.
So when time setting is 0.1, the moving parts of the relay has to travel only 0.1 times of the total travelling distance, to
close the contact of the relay. So, if we get total operating time of the relay for a particular PSM from time / PSM graph
and if we multiply that time with the time setting multiplier, we will get, actual time of operation of relay for said PSM
and TSM.
For getting clear idea, let us have a practical example. Say a relay has time setting 0.1 and you have to calculate actual
time of operation for PSM 10.
From time / PSM graph of the relay as shown below, we can see the total operating time of the relay is 3 seconds. That
means, the moving parts of the relay take total 3 seconds to travel 100 % travelling distance. As the time setting
multiplier is 0.1 here, actually the moving parts of the relay have to travel only 0.1 100% or 10% of the total travel
distance, to close the relay contacts.
Hence, actual operating time of the relay is 3 0.1 = 0.3 sec. i.e. 10% of 3 sec.

Time vs PSM Curve of Relay

This is relation curve between operating time and plug setting multiplier of an electrical relay. The x-axis or horizontal
axis of the Time / PSM graph represents, PSM and Y-axis or vertical axis represents time of operation of the relay. The
time of operation represents in this graph is that, which required to operate the relay when time setting multiplier set at
1.
From the Time / PSM curve of a typical relay shown below, it is seen that, if PSM is 10, the time of operation of relay
is 3 sec. That means, the relay will take 3 seconds to complete its operation, with time setting 1.
It is also seen from the curve that, for lower value of plug setting multiplier, i.e. for lower value of fault current, the
time of operation of the relay is inversely proportional to the fault current.
But when PSM becomes more than 20, the operating time of relay becomes almost constant. This feature is necessary
in order to ensure discrimination on very heavy fault current flowing through sound feeders.

Calculation of Relay Operation Time

For calculating actual relay operating time, we need to know these following operation.
1. Current setting.

2. Fault current level.

3. Ratio of current transformer.

4. Time / PSM curve.

5. Time setting.

Step 1
From CT ratio, we first see the rated secondary current of CT. Say the CT ratio is 100 / 1 A, i.e. secondary current of
CT is 1 A.
Step 2
From current setting we calculate the trick current of the relay. Say current setting of the relay is 150 % therefore
pick up current of the relay is 1 150% = 1.5 A.
Step 3
Now we have to calculate PSM for the specified faulty current level. For that, we have to first divide primary faulty
current by CT ratio to get relay faulty current. Say the faulty current level is 1500 A, in the CT primary, hence
secondary equivalent of faulty current is 1500/(100/1) = 15 A

Step 4
Now, after calculating PSM, we have to find out the total time of operation of the relay from Time / PSM curve. From
the curve, say we found the time of operation of relay is 3 second for PSM = 10.
Step 5
Finally that operating time of relay would be multiplied with time setting multiplier, in order to get actual time of
operation of relay. Hence say time setting of the relay is 0.1.
Therefore actual time of operation of the relay for PSM 10, is 3 0.1 = 0.3 sec or 300 ms.

Protection of Lines or Feeder

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As the length of electrical power transmission line is generally long enough and it runs through
open atmosphere, the probability of occurring fault in electrical power transmission line is
much higher than that of electrical power transformers and alternators. That is why a

transmission line requires much more protective schemes than a transformer and an
alternator.
Protection of line should have some special features, such as1. During fault, the only circuit breaker closest to the fault point should be tripped.

2. If the circuit breaker closest the faulty point, fails to trip the circuit breaker just next
to this breaker will trip as back up.

3. The operating time of relay associated with protection of line should be as minimum
as possible in order to prevent unnecessary tripping of circuit breakers associated
with other healthy parts of power system.

These above mentioned requirements cause protection of transmission line much different
from protection of transformer and other equipment of power systems. The main three
methods of transmission line protection are 1. Time graded over current protection.

2. Differential protection.

3. Distance protection.

Time Graded Over Current Protection

This may also be referred simply as over-current protection of electrical power transmission
line. Let' discuss different schemes of time graded over current protection.

Protection of Radial Feeder

In radial feeder, the power flows in one direction only, that is from source to load. This type of
feeders can easily protected by using either definite time relays or inverse time relays.

Line Protection by Definite Time Relay

This protection scheme is very simple. Here total line is divided into different sections and each
section is provided with definite time relay. The relay nearest to the end of the line has
minimum time setting while time setting of other relays successively increased, towards the
source.
For example, suppose there is a source at point A, in the figure below

At point D the circuit breaker CB-3 is installed with definite time of relay operation 0.5 sec.
Successively, at point C an other circuit breaker CB-2 is installed with definite time of relay
operation 1 sec. The next circuit breaker CB-1 is installed at point B which is nearest of the
point A. At point B, the relay is set at time of operation 1.5 sec.
Now, assume a fault occurs at point F. Due to this fault, the faulty current flow through all the
current transformers or CTs connected in the line. But as the time of operation of relay at point
D is minimum the CB-3, associated with this relay will trip first to isolate the faulty zone from
rest part of the line. In case due to any reason, CB-3 fails to trip, then next higher timed relay
will operate the associated CB to trip. In this case, CB-2 will trip. If CB-2 also fails to trip, then
next circuit breaker i.e. CB-1 will trip to isolate major portion of the line.

Advantages of Definite Time Line Protection

The main advantage of this scheme is simplicity. The second major advantage is, during fault,
only nearest CB towards the source from fault point will operate to isolate the specific position
of the line.

Disadvantage of Definite Time Line Protection

If the number of sections in the line is quite large, the time setting of relay nearest to the
source, would be very long. So during any fault nearer to the source will take much time to be
isolated. This may cause severe destructive effect on the system.

Over Current Line Protection by Inverse Relay

The drawback as we discussed just in definite time over current protection of transmission
line, can easily be overcome by using inverse time relays. In inverse relay the time of
operation is inversely proportional to fault current.

In the above figure, overall time setting of relay at point D is minimum and successively this
time setting is increased for the relays associated with the points towards the point A.
In case of any fault at point F will obviously trip CB-3 at point D. In failure of opening CB-3, CB2 will be operated as overall time setting is higher in relay at point C.
Although, the time setting of relay nearest to the source is maximum but still it will trip in
shorter period, if major fault occurs near the source, as the time of operation of relay is
inversely proportional to faulty current.

Over Current Protection of Parallel Feeders

For maintaining stability of the system it is required to feed a load from source by two or more
than two feeders in parallel. If fault occurs in any of the feeders, only that faulty feeder should
be isolated from the system in order to maintain continuity of supply from source to load. This
requirement makes the protection of parallel feeders little bit more complex than simple non
direction over current protection of line as in the case of radial feeders. The protection of
parallel feeder requires to use directional relays and to grade the time setting of relay for
selective tripping.

There are two feeders connected in parallel from source to load. Both of the feeders have nondirectional over current relay at source end. These relays should be inverse time relay. Also
both of the feeders have directional relay or reverse power relay at their load end. The reverse
power relays used here should be instantaneous type. That means these relays should be
operated as soon as flow of power in the feeder is reversed. The normal direction of power
from source to load.

Now, suppose a fault occurs at point F, say the fault current is If. This fault will get two parallel
paths from source, one through circuit breaker A only and other via CB-B, feeder-2, CB-Q, load
bus and CB-P. This is clearly shown in figure below, where I A and IB are current of fault shared
by feeder-1 and feeder-2 respectively.

As per Kirchoff's current law, IA + IB = If.

Now, IA is flowing through CB-A, IB is flowing through CB-P. As the direction of flow of CB-P is
reversed it will trip instantly. But CB-Q will not trip as flow of current (power) in this circuit
breaker is not reversed. As soon as CB-P is tripped, the fault current I B stops flowing through
feeder and hence there is no question of further operating of inverse time over current relay.
IA still continues to flow even CB-P is tripped. Then because of over current IA, CB-A will trip. In
this way the faulty feeder is isolated from system.

Differential Pilot Wire Protection

This is simply a differential protection scheme applied to feeders. Several differential schemes
are applied for protection of line but Mess Price Voltage balance system and Translay Scheme
are most popularly used.

Merz Price Balance System

The working principle of Merz Price Balance system is quite simple. In this scheme of line
protection, identical CT is connected to each of the both ends of the line. The polarity of the
CTs are same. The secondary of these current transformer and operating coil of two
instantaneous relays are formed a closed loop as shown in the figure below. In the loop pilot
wire is used to connect both CT secondary and both relay coil as shown.

Now, from the figure it is quite clear that when the system is under normal condition, there
would not be any current flowing through the loop. As the secondary current of one CT will
cancel out secondary current of other CT.
Now, if any fault occurs in the portion of the line between these two CTs, the secondary
currentof one CT will no longer equal and opposite of secondary current of other CT. Hence
there would be a resultant circulating current in the loop.
Due this circulating current, the coil of both relays will close the trip circuit of associate circuit
breaker. Hence, the faulty line will be isolated from both ends.

IDMT (Inverse Definite Minimum Time) Relay Calculation

Overcurrent and Earth Fault Relay Setting

Setting calculation is separated for overcurrent and eart fault relay. For both settings, there are few
following input parameters:
1. Name of Feeder
2. Load Current: (IL) in Amps
3. Min Fault Current (Line-Line) in Amps
4. Max Fault Current (Line-Line) in Amps
5. Relay Type
6. Relay Code
7. Relay No

8. CT Primary Current (in Amps)

9. CT Secondary Current (in Amps)
10. Relay Error (%)
11. CT Error (%)
12. Over shoot (in seconds)
13. C.B Interrupting Time (in seconds)
14. Safety (in seconds)
Summary of overcurrent and earth fault relay settings:
1. Actual Plug (Relay Pick up) setting
2. Plug Setting Multiplier (PSM)
3. Time setting
4. Total Grading Time
5. Low Over Current Setting: (I>)
6. Actual Operating Time of Relay (tI>)
7. High Over Current Setting: (I>>)
8. Actual Operating Time of Relay (tI>>)