BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND

TECHNOLOGY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

BS ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION

PAPER REVIEW

MIDTERM PROJECT

ELEN131_EE ELECTIVE 1

BACURIN, JANRYVEN A

(21-76138)

OCTOBER 19, 2024

Introduction

Power System Protection is an important element built in to electrical power

systems for ensuring the safety, reliability and stability of their operation by disconnecting

a faulty section from rest of the normal portions. The process includes monitoring the

electrical network with protection tools like relays, circuit breakers and sensors that are

capable of react immediately to irregularity (short-circuiting, overloading or equipment

failures). To prevent loss of expensive equipment, to avoid long outages and maintain the

stability of an electrical system such protection systems should operate quickly (but only

when necessary) as well as correctly. Modern power systems have grown in complexity

and stability even further complicated by the integration of renewable energy sources and

smart grid technologies for which robust protection schemes are imperative to ensure

system resilience against instability or prevent large-scale blackouts.

This study aims to explore the basic principles of power system protection, with an

emphasis on the operating principles and characteristics of protective relays. The study's

intent is to provide a foundation-level understanding of the protective relays that exist and

that are required for the reliable and well-coordinated operation of power systems; it is

also to provide an understanding of the huge variety of situations in which different types

of protective relays are required to protect different types of electrical equipment.

Overview of Power System Protection

Power systems are fundamental to the generation, transmission, and distribution of

electrical energy. Generation includes the different resources that convert energy to

electricity it includes the renewable energy (solar, wind) and non-renewable energy (coal,

gas). Transmission is responsible in carrying the electricity in a long distance directly

came from the generation sites to consumption areas. The distribution is the responsible

in distributing the electricity to the consumers from different substation with are connected

in transmission that carries a high voltage electricity. The power system protection is

responsible in maintaining the flow of current or stabilize the voltage to avoid any possible

threats that may harm the consumers or the equipment with a primary objective of fault

detection, system stability and equipment protection.

 I. Fault Detection- Power system protection aims to detect any fault that would affect

the distribution of electricity as well as the equipment; it is the process of

determining the fault before it manifest it self in a form of breakdown.

II. System Stability- Power system protection ensures the safe and reliable operation

of electrical network to lessen the possible threats to the equipment and

consumers. It helps to lessen the possible blackout that possibly cause by the

faulty transmission.

III. Equipment Protection- Power system protection aims to protect and detect the fault

in different equipment to avoid any loss that will cost a lot and delays the operation.

Key components:

• Relay as protection- Relays in electrical power systems protect against abnormal

conditions. They monitor the system's performance under expected conditions, such

as steady currents and voltages. If the system deviates from these conditions, relays

detect it as operating outside its expected environment. In case the system isn't

functioning, relays can still monitor its conditions without normal conditions.

• Purpose of relays- Relays monitor equipment's current, voltage, power factor, and

frequency to ensure necessary supply. They detect abnormalities like overcurrent and

earth fault, providing alarms for troubleshooting. Reset mechanisms reset if fault

cleared.

• Different type of relay as fault detector

I. Pilot relay is used to determine whether a fault is inside or outside the protected

line. If the fault is internal toward the protected line, then all the circuit breakers

(CBs) at the line terminals are tripped at maximum speed.

II. Differential Relay actually compares between primary current and secondary

current of power transformer. If any unbalance found in between primary and

secondary currents the relay will detect and trip both the primary and secondary

circuit breaker of the transformer.

 III. Overcurrent monitoring relay, as its name directly implies, is a device that

monitor’s the current flowing through a conductor or device, and reacts if the

current exceeds a predetermined threshold.

• Relay in different application

I. Overcurrent protection- Protection relays monitor the current flowing through

electrical circuits. They trip the circuit breaker if the current exceeds a

predefined threshold, preventing damage to equipment and wiring caused by

overheating and overloading.

II. Over and under voltage protection- Relays monitor the required voltage

whether the voltage rise or drop to avoid any possible damage to equipment

due to the changes in voltage.

III. Distance protection- Used to protect transformers, generators, and motors,

differential relays compare the current entering and leaving a component.

IV. Generator protection- Protection relays safeguard generators from faults such

as overloading, over-speeding, and loss of excitation, which could lead to

catastrophic failure if not detected and corrected promptly.

V. Motor protection- Relays monitor motor parameters and trip the circuit breaker

if abnormal conditions are detected, preventing damage to motors susceptible

to faults like overcurrent, phase imbalance, and thermal overload.tr

VI. Transformer protection- Transformers are essential for voltage transformation

in power systems. Protection relays safeguard transformers from faults such

as overcurrent, overvoltage, and internal short circuits, which can lead to

insulation breakdown and failure.

• Relays in transmission- Protective relays for transmission are used to detect

abnormalities in electrical circuits and prevent faults from causing damage to the

transmission lines or equipment. They can be electromechanical, numerical, or digital,

and are typically installed at substations serving bulk transmission systems. Protective

relaying devices are essential for ensuring the reliability and security of power

systems, and are designed to function reliably and quickly to clear line and station

faults while minimizing false tripping.

• Relays in distribution substation- Distribution substations are essential in the electrical

distribution system, receiving and redistributing power from high-voltage transmission

lines to lower voltages for local consumption. They act as an intermediary between

the transmission network and the distribution network, ensuring consistent and reliable

supply. The following is important in the distribution substation:

I. Voltage Level: The relay must match the voltage level of the substation.

II. Fault Types: Identify the potential faults the substation could experience.

III. Substation Size: The number of feeders and transformers determines how

many relays and what kind of protection is needed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, power system protection is a crucial element in electrical power

systems, ensuring the safety, reliability, and stability of their operation by disconnecting

a faulty section from the rest of the normal portions. Protective relays play a vital role in

detecting abnormalities in electrical circuits and preventing faults from causing damage

to equipment and transmission lines. The various types of relays, such as pilot relays,

differential relays, and overcurrent monitoring relays, serve different purposes and are

applied in various applications, including overcurrent protection, over and under voltage

protection, distance protection, generator protection, motor protection, and transformer

protection. Understanding the operating principles and characteristics of protective relays

is essential for the reliable and well-coordinated operation of power systems, ensuring

system resilience against instability or preventing large-scale blackouts.