Earth Fault Relay
Earth Fault Relay
Earth Fault Relay
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.
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
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