Inverse Time Overcurrent Relaying Decision for

Protection of Three Phase Transmission Line

Anurag Tyagi Yash Bhandari
Electrical Engineering Department Electrical Engineering Department
Malaviya National Institute of Technology Malaviya National Institute of Technology
Jaipur, India Jaipur, India
[email protected] [email protected]
2022 IEEE 10th Power India International Conference (PIICON) | 978-1-6654-5930-3/22/$31.00 ©2022 IEEE | DOI: 10.1109/PIICON56320.2022.10045238

Kusum Verma Varnika Gulati

Electrical Engineering Department Electrical Engineering Department
Malaviya National Institute of Technology Malaviya National Institute of Technology
Jaipur, India Jaipur, India
[email protected] [email protected]

Abstract— The transmission lines are an indispensable part of section. It is used for primary but besides that it is also used as
the electrical power system and have a large impact on the backup protection [3]. The two types of overcurrent relays
quality of life in our communities. They transport electricity depend on operating speed are instantaneous time and delayed
from power plants to homes and businesses. They are the time relays. There are further two types of delayed type of
backbone of modern society, providing power for everything overcurrent relay: definite time and inverse time [4]. In
from lights to refrigerators to electric cars. They are an essential definite time, the time of operating is independent of the fault
part of the nation’s infrastructure, and when they are current and depends on the location of fault. The relay nearest
functioning properly, they help to keep our country moving to the fault takes less time and the relay farthest from fault
forward. But like any complex system, transmission lines are not takes more time. In the case of inverse time, the relay
without fault. They can experience a variety of faults such as line operating time varies inversely to the magnitude of fault
to line faults, line to ground faults, double line to ground faults
current. The higher the fault current less will be the operating
and three phase symmetrical faults. These faults can cause a
variety of problems for the electrical system, from power
time [5].
outages to safety hazards. To protect transmission lines from Overcurrent protection has been implemented with IDMT
these faults, different type of overcurrent relays are used which relay using Digital Signal Processing (DSP) board
are normally located at substations. When a fault occurs on TMS320F2812[7]. Numerical overcurrent relay has been
transmission line, the overcurrent relays are activated and the simulated for protection of Photovoltaic (PV) system for
transmission line is shut down. The overcurrent relays are also irrigation. The performance of this model is documented for
used to notify the transmission line operator of faults so that the
normal condition, starting of motor and faulty condition [8].
transmission line can be protected as early as possible. This
Mho type distance relay is simulated and used with Graphical
paper presents the modelling and simulation of inverse type
overcurrent relays using MATLAB/SIMULINK. A relaying
User Interface (GUI). GUI is used for the ease of interaction
decision is obtained based on the simulation results to determine and ease of teaching about the distance relays to the students
the suitable overcurrent characteristics for the different types of [9]. The performance of conventional distance relay is
faults. validated in real-time by MATLAB/Simulink and Real-Time
Laboratory (RT-LAB)[10].A novel approach using artificial
Keywords—overcurrent relay, protection, transmission line neural network for fault detection in transmission lines and its
protection has been proposed in [11]. The paper has also
I. INTRODUCTION discussed the development of neural distance relay for
protection. An application for auto-reclosing of single phase
Power system protection plays an important role to ensure
transmission lines using fuzzy logic technique has been
the high degree of reliability of the power system. The primary
developed by comparing different Fuzzy Inference
goal of power system protection is to detect faults as quickly
Mechanism. A problems that requires more complex
as possible. To achieve this goal, protective devices must be
algorithms to be solved, simple fuzzy procedure can be used
able to sense various types of line-fault conditions and take
to solve it.[12]. Wavelet transform is used to transforms a
adequate protective action [1]. Current approach to fault
time-domain waveform into time-frequency domain and
detection and protection at the substation utilizes sensors to
estimates the signal in both the domain. This technique is used
detect, identify, and locate line faults, and protective devices
for analysis in power systems which includes analysis and
such as circuit breakers and reclosers to physically connect the
study of power quality, forecasting, measurement and
line side to the load side. These devices must be able to
protection [13]. A new method has been proposed for the
independently and accurately detect the fault so that they can
detection of fault and identifying complex system using a
be appropriately tripped and reset [2].
combination of fuzzy tools and wavelet theory. Detectability
Overcurrent relays are used to protect the transmission and identifiability of the defects has been increased by fuzzy
lines or distribution feeders, transformers, generators, motors, and wavelet technique. [14]. Wavelet transform and fuzzy
bus coupler, etc. Overcurrent relays are the devices that trip a interference mechanisms has been used for the classification
circuit breaker, a fuse, or a breaker to disconnect a section of of faults in real-time into LG, LL, LLG as well as magnetising
the power system and limit the supply of electricity to that inrush current [15]. Wavelet transform and Neural network is
used to solve the problem of differentiating the internal faults

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from external ones using one-end data and also providing the phases thus making the system unbalanced. In a three phase
exact fault type. [16] system, shunt faults can be classified as:
This work aims to develop a rule to decide the type of relay • Line to ground fault (LG)
to be used for a given type of fault occurring on the • Line to line fault (LL)
transmission line. The rule is based on the results from the • Double line to ground fault (LLG)
simulations of the IDMT relay for transmission line under the • Triple line or three-phase short circuit fault (LLL)
influence of various types of faults. • Triple line to ground fault (LLLG)
II. INVERSE TIME OVERCURRENT RELAY
In this work, an overcurrent relaying decision for the
An inverse time overcurrent relay trips when the relay selection of suitable inverse time characteristics is
operating current exceeds its predetermined pickup value. The investigated under application of different symmetrical and
time of operation of the relay inversely varies with the input unsymmetrical faults on a transmission line. The selection of
(fault) current. There is standard inverse, very inverse and the relay is based on the time of operation of the relay under
extremely inverse types. different plug setting and fault conditions. The proposed
In inverse definite minimum time type of relays, operating methodology is shown in Fig.1.
time is varied inversely to the fault current. So, high fault
current will operate the IDMT relay faster than lower ones.
The time of operation of the overcurrent relay can be modified Develop model for overcurrent protection of three-
phase transmission line
by calibrating the ‘time dial setting’. The time setting dial is
calibrated in 0.05 second increments from 0 to 1.
The current setting for relay is given by the following
equation as
Ip = PS x CTsec (1) Simulate the model with different types of phase
and ground faults
where, PS is plug setting and CTsec is rated secondary
current of current transformer.
The time of operation for different relay is given by the
following equations [5]:
1. Standard inverse relay: Compare the suitability of the different type of
overcurrent relay for the given fault
.
top = TMS* . (2)

2. Very inverse relay:

. Decide the suitability of overcurrent relay
top = TMS* (3)
characteristics for the given fault on the basis of
operating time
3. Extremely inverse:
top = TMS* (4) Fig 1. Proposed Methodology

The paper also presents some practical results verifying

decision knowledge base for the operating personnel. The
where, relaying decision can be taken as per the following:
top = Time of operation (s)
TMS = Time Multiplier Setting (% or pu) 1) The most common fault is line to ground (LG) fault
If = Fault Current (A) and for every plug setting, extremely inverse relay
Ip = Pickup Current or Current Setting (A) performs best for this type of fault.
2) At plug setting = 100%, time of operation is decreasing
III. PROPOSED METHODOLOGY in nature with change in type of relay from change in
In short circuit fault, high magnitude current flows through relay characteristic from standard inverse to very
the system as a path of zero resistance is created when the inverse and lastly extremely inverse which makes
conductors of the different phases come into contact with each extremely inverse relay is most suitable for all types of
other or any other circuit element. The short-circuit fault can faults.
be further divided into the symmetrical and unsymmetrical
faults. 3) At plug setting = 125%, the time of operation does not
follow a fixed pattern for each type of fault and is
In symmetrical faults, all the phases are short-circuited to decreasing in nature for only line to ground fault but
each other or to earth. Such fault is balanced having same fault for every other fault it is found that very inverse relay
current in all the phases and system remain symmetrical. It is has least time of operation which makes that it is most
the most severe type of fault that involves largest current, but suitable for any other fault except line to ground fault.
its occurrence is very rare. In unsymmetrical faults, one or two
phases are involved which produces current only in those

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 IV. SIMULATION AND RESULTS when the current exceeds a predetermined pickup value. The
The present work simulates a three-phase transmission relay operates with Inverse Definite Minimum Time (IDMT)
system under the influence of different kind of faults which is characteristics (standard inverse, very inverse, extremely
protected using Inverse Overcurrent Relay (ANSI/IEEE inverse). The proposed model shown in Fig. 2 consists of
C37.2 device number 51) in MATLAB Simulink that operates different components with their parameters mentioned in the
Tables I-V.

Fig 2. Proposed Model for Overcurrent Protection of Transmission Line

The proposed model is simulated with inverse type, very TABLE IV. PARAMETERS OF THREE-PHASE FAULT
inverse type and extremely inverse type relay for symmetrical
faults (LLL, LLLG) and unsymmetrical faults (LG, LL, LLG). switching time 0.1 sec
The results are recorded for two values of plug setting 100% fault Resistance 0.001 Ω
ground Resistance 0.01 Ω
and 125%. The settings are available upto 200%. The current snubber Resistance 1e6 Ω
setting can be adjusted according by the application engineer. snubber Capacitance Infinite
Different type of relay characteristics is applied to calculate
the time of operation of the relay for a given fault which then TABLE V. PARAMETERS OF AC OVERCURRENT RELAY SETTING
sends the trip signal to isolate the faulty part. The fault
initiation time is taken as 0.1 sec for the faults. The results Plug Setting 0.25/0.5/0.75/1.25/1.5/1.75/2.0
Time Multiplier Setting 0.1
determines the operation time (top) for all the types of relays CT primary(A) 300
for all the types of faults. The operating time of relay depends CT secondary(A) 5
on the magnitude of the fault current and is less if the current frequency 50
magnitude is more. Initial rms 0

TABLE I. PARAMETERS OF THREE-PHASE SOURCE The sample results with inverse type relay having plug
phase-to-phase voltage 400 V setting PS= 100% and 125% for protecting the transmission
phase-to-phase angle 0 line from single line to ground fault (LG) is shown in shown
Frequency 50 Hz in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Relay starts operating at 0.1 second and
3-phase short circuit level 1e6 VA breaks circuit after 0.4621sec which can be seen from the
X/R ratio 7 current and voltage graphs as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 at bus
base voltage 400 V
1 and bus 2. Fault current flows through the faulted phase
while other all phases are safe. The simulation results are also
TABLE II. PARAMETERS OF LOAD AT BUS 1 AND 2 ( RL LOAD)
obtained with different types of relay characteristics for each
configuration Y(grounded) type of fault at two plug settings (PS= 100% and 125%).
phase-to-phase voltage 400 V
frequency 50 Hz The Fig. 5 shows the comparison of time of operation of
active power 100kW different relays for different types of faults at PSM setting of
Reactive power (Inductive) 1000 100%. It can be clearly seen that the time of operation is
maximum for inverse type relay and minimum for extremely
TABLE III. PARAMETER OF THREE-PHASE BREAKER inverse type relay. The Fig. 6 shows the comparison of time
operation of different relays for different types of faults at
breaker resistance 0.01 Ω
snubber resistance 1e6 Ω PSM setting of 125%. It can be clearly seen that the time of
snubber capacitance Infinite operation is maximum in extremely inverse type relay and
minimum for very inverse type relay.

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 Fig 3. Voltage and current vs time at bus 1 for LG fault (PS=100%)

Fig 4. Voltage and current vs time at bus 2 for LG fault (PS=125%)

Fig 5. Time of operation of different overcurrent relays at PS=100%

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 Figure 6: Time of operation of different overcurrent relays at PS=125%

V. CONCLUSIONS Symposium on Industrial Electronics & Applications (ISIEA), pp.

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