Functional Range
IWE - Earth Fault Relay
C&S Protection & Control Ltd.
Contents
Page No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Application Operating Principle Current T ransformer Connections Transformer Connections, Contact Arrangement and Setting Adjustments Functional Check Technical Data Information Required with Order 4 4 5 7 8 9 11
1. Application
The IWE relay is a definite time relay suitable for earth fault protection of generators, motors, transformers, capacitor banks, shunt reactors and radial feeders in distribution networks. Examples of the application of non-directional earth fault protection using the relay type IWE are shown below.
Example 3 : Back-up Earth Fault Proteciton
With the earth fault relay type IWE connected as shown in fig.3 it responds to any earth fault on the generator (or transformer) or on the network. In order to discriminate with other system earth fault protection the relay type IWE must have a tripping delay time which is longer than all other system earth fault protection devices. Fig. 3
Example 1: Generator Stator Earth Fault Protection.
With the generator neutral point earthed as shown in Fig.1, the earth fault relay type IWE responds only to phase-earth faults between the generator and the location of the current transformers supplying the relay. Earth faults beyond the current transformer, i.e. on the consumer or line side, will not be detected. Fig. 1
2. Operating Principle
The earth fault relay type IWE is a definite time over current relay with an additional low-pass filter. Fig. 4 Relay characteristic
Example 2 : System Earth Fault Protection.
With the generator neutral point earthed as shown in Fig.2, the earth fault relay type IWE responds only to earth faults in the power system connected to the generator. It does not respond to earth faults on the generator terminals or in the generator stator. Fig. 2 IE
It comprises a current input circuit, an electronic current measuring circuit and a time delay unit. It also includes a low pass filter which blocks higher harmonic currents such as third, fifth, seventh etc. Third and triple harmonics (e.g. 9th, 27th etc.) are of particular importance when applying earth fault protection since these harmonics are additive and co-phasal in a three phase system and thus appear in the system neutral or in an earth fault relay as zero sequence (or earth fault) current. Such a current would be detected by an earth fault relay and may cause unwanted tripping. The relay measuring system responds and initiates a timing circuit, if the effective current exceeds the relay current setting. If the earth fault current remains above the
setting for the set time delay the output tripping contacts operates. The tripping time delay is independent of the current level. When applied in a power system the relay time delay must be selected so that it coordinates with other earth fault relays. Fig.5a and 5b illustrate the operating characteristic of the relay. Consider a relay with a current setting IE=1.5 A and a time delay setting tE=0.8s: Fig.5a: At t=0.4s, the current exceeds the relay current setting and initiates the time delay circuit. The indicating LED I on the relay fascia is illuminated. At t=1s the earth fault current drops below the current setting. The LED I extinguishes and the time delay circuit reset to zero. There is no trip output. Fig. 5b: At t=0.4s the current exceeds the relay current setting and initiates the relay time delay circuit as in the example described above and illustrated in fig.5a. At t=1.2s, e.g. 0.8s, after the current exceeded the relay setting the time delay has elapsed and the TRIP LED is illuminated. The relay produces a trip output and the relay current is interrupted. Fig. 5a and 5b
3. Current Transformer Connections
Current transformer must be arranged so that the relay type IWE measures zero sequences (or earth fault) currents as indicated schematically in figs. 1 and 2. This can be achieved by using several current transformers connected suitable or by using a single ring type current transformer. Earth fault measurement using several current transformers The arrangement shown in figs. 6 and 7 should be used only where significant levels of earth fault current are available (e.g. in solidly earthed or low impedance earthed networks) since the errors associated with each current transformer are additive and these are recognized by the relay as zero sequence current. Such an arrangement can therefore only be used where the relay current setting is in excess of the sum of the CT errors. Guide for dimensioning of CTs arrangement as shown in figs. 6 and 7 CTs must be matched and have the same current ration, accuracy class, rated output, secondary winding resistance and magnetising characteristic. The current ratio and primary current withstand should be selected according to the maximum rated current of the circuit. The combination of rated output, overcurrent factor and secondary winding resistance should be chosen such that a CT does not saturate at the maximum short circuit current. If this combination is not correct the CT may saturate under external phase fault conditions (i.e. for a 2 or 3 phase fault which the relay should remains unoperated). In this case the several line CTs may saturate unequally. Therefore the sum of the secondary currents in no longer zero and the relay maloperates.