RAJASTHAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY KOTA

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

SESSION 2020-2024

A presentation on
“Protection Schemes in Substation”

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Dr. Dinesh Birla Sir Name : Anil Saini
(Prof.) Roll No. : 20EUCEE302
Semester : 6th Semester
Batch : B-1
Contents

S No. Name Slide No.

1. Introduction 1
2. Types of Protection Schemes 4
3. Primary protection schemes: types 5
4. Selection of protection scheme: factors to consider 14
5. Components in Protection System 18
6. Future trends 19
7. Problems 21
8. Conclusion 24
Introduction
Substations play an essential role in the transmission, distribution, and
transformation of electricity from the power station to the end-user.

However, substations are also susceptible to faults, which can cause equipment
damage, power outages, and potentially life-threatening situations.

Protection schemes are designed to detect, isolate, and eliminate faults or

abnormalities occurring in a substation, ensuring the safety and reliability of the
electrical system.
Substation protection schemes are typically divided into two categories:

Primary Back-up
protection protection

• Primary protection is designed to immediately senses and responds to the

fault. It will take an instantaneous action in order to isolate the faulty part
from the healthy part of the power system.
• If due to some reasons, primary protection fails, additional protection is
generally provided called backup protection.
• The backup protection is the substitute for the primary protection and
isolates the faulty section from the healthy one.
Primary Protection Schemes
The advancement of power systems has led to the invention of several protection schemes.
The most common ones are:

Overcurrent Differential Distance Directional

Protection Protection Protection Protection
Scheme Scheme Scheme Scheme
Overcurrent Protection Scheme
• Overcurrent protection scheme is used in power systems to detect and isolate faults
caused by excessive current flow. It involves the use of protective devices such as fuses,
circuit breakers, and relays.
• Overcurrent protection devices operate based on predefined settings, including the
magnitude and duration of the current flow.
• The main advantage of overcurrent protection is that it can quickly detect and isolate
faults, minimizing damage to equipment and reducing the risk of safety hazards.
• It is relatively simple and cost-effective to implement, compared to other protection
schemes.
• Overcurrent protection, however, cannot distinguish between a fault and a high power
demand. Therefore, false tripping of protection devices may occur, causing service
disruptions and power outages.
• Over current relay is connected with current transformer (CT).
• Whenever CT senses a high current value then preset value, the relay operates and actuate
the trip coil of the circuit breaker and isolate the equipment from the electrical system.

overcurrent protection circuit diagram

Differential Protection Scheme
• Differential protection is a type of protection scheme used in power systems to detect and
isolate faults based on the difference in current flow between two points in the system.
• This involves comparing currents entering and leaving protected zones. When a fault
occurs in the protected zone, the differential current exceeds a predefined threshold, and
the protection system isolates the zone.
• Differential protection scheme can detect internal faults within equipment and isolate only
the affected circuit, minimizing the duration of power outages. In addition, differential
protection is sensitive to small faults, so it is effective in protecting expensive equipment
like transformers and generators.
• However, one disadvantage of differential protection is that it can be complex and
expensive to implement. Additionally, it may not provide adequate protection for certain
types of faults, such as ground faults.
Fig. : Current Differential Relay Protection
Distance Protection Scheme
• The concept of distance protection in power systems is based on the impedance between
the point of protection and the location of the fault to detect and isolate faults.
• Distance protection schemes involve measuring the impedance between the point of
protection and the fault location, and if the impedance is lower than a predefined
threshold, the protection system will isolate the faulted section of the power system.
• Distance protection scheme offers high-speed fault detection and precise fault location in
large power systems with multiple feeders, which is an advantage over differential and
overcurrent protection schemes.
• However, one disadvantage of distance protection is that it may be affected by system
conditions such as power swings or load changes, leading to false tripping of protection
devices.
Fig. : Distance Relay under normal condition
Fig. : Distance Relay under fault condition
Directional Protection Scheme
• Directional protection scheme becomes functional in the case of a double-end feed system
or parallel lines or a ring main system, where a fault gets fed from both sides.
• It involves comparing the current flow direction at the point of protection with a
predefined direction, and if the current flow direction deviates from the predefined
direction, the protection system will isolate the faulted section of the power system.
• In comparison to other protection schemes, directional protection enables selective fault
detection and isolation based on the direction of current flow. This increases fault
detection accuracy and reliability in complex power systems.
• Another advantage of directional protection is that it can provide improved fault detection
sensitivity, especially in systems with parallel feeders.
• However, one disadvantage of directional protection is that it can be complex and costly to
implement, requiring specialized equipment and careful coordination with other protection
schemes.
Selection of protection scheme: factors to consider
Selecting a protection scheme for a substation is a critical task that requires careful
consideration of various factors to ensure the reliability and safety of the power system. some
important things to consider while selecting a protection scheme for a substation:

1. System Configuration
2. Fault Detection Time
3. Sensitivity
4. Selectivity
5. Reliability
6. Coordination
7. Maintenance
8. Future Expansion
1. System Configuration: The protection scheme should be selected based on the
configuration of the substation and the type of equipment installed. The protection
scheme should be capable of detecting faults and isolating the faulted equipment to
prevent further damage.

2. Fault Detection Time: The protection scheme should be designed to detect faults as
quickly as possible to minimize the damage caused by the fault. The detection time
should be within the limits of the system's stability.

3. Sensitivity: The protection scheme should be sensitive enough to detect faults of small
magnitude, even in the presence of noise and disturbances.

4. Selectivity: The protection scheme should be selective to isolate only the faulted
equipment and not trip the healthy equipment, which can cause unnecessary power
outages.
5. Reliability: The protection scheme should be reliable and immune to false tripping or
failures. It should also be able to operate under all operating conditions, including
abnormal conditions.

6. Coordination: The protection scheme should be coordinated with other protective

devices in the power system to ensure proper protection and minimize the impact of
power outages.

7. Maintenance: The protection scheme should be easy to maintain, and the personnel
responsible for maintenance should be adequately trained.

8. Future Expansion: The protection scheme should be flexible and scalable to

accommodate future expansion or upgrades of the substation.
Protection Schemes for different apparatus in substation

Primary Protection Apparatus Overcurrent Differential Distance Directional

Alternator Yes Yes Yes

Busbar Yes
Transformer Yes
Transmission line Yes Yes Yes
Large Induction Motor Yes Yes
Components in Protection System
The protection system in a substation typically includes several components that work
together to detect and isolate faults in the power system. Some of the common components of
a protection system in a substation are:

1. Protective Relays
2. Circuit Breakers
3. Current Transformers (CTs)
4. Potential Transformers (PTs)
5. Control Equipment
6. Communication Equipment
7. Fault Recorders
Future Trends in Protection Schemes
The field of protection schemes in substations is constantly evolving. Some of the future
trends in protection schemes in substations include:

1. Digital protection schemes: Digital protection schemes are becoming increasingly

popular as they offer several advantages over traditional analog protection schemes. Digital
protection schemes use microprocessors and software algorithms to process signals, making
them more accurate and reliable than analog protection schemes.

2. Advanced fault detection techniques: Advanced fault detection techniques, such as

artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, are being integrated into protection schemes
to improve their accuracy and reliability. These techniques can analyze large amounts of data
in real-time, allowing for faster and more precise fault detection and isolation.
3. Cybersecurity: With the increasing use of digital protection schemes, cybersecurity is
becoming a significant concern in the field of protection schemes in substations.
Cybersecurity measures are being implemented to protect protection schemes from cyber
threats and ensure the integrity of the power system.

4. Integration with other systems: Protection schemes are being integrated with other
systems in the substation, such as control systems and monitoring systems, to improve the
overall functionality of the substation. Integration with other systems can provide a more
comprehensive view of the power system and improve the effectiveness of protection
schemes.

5. Standardization: Standardization is becoming increasingly important in the field of

protection schemes in substations. Standardization can ensure interoperability between
different protection schemes and simplify the design, installation, and maintenance of
protection schemes.
Problems with protection schemes
While protection schemes are crucial for the safe and reliable operation of substations, there
can be problems with these schemes if they are not designed, installed, and maintained
properly.
1. Inadequate Protection: In some cases, the protection scheme may be inadequate to
detect and isolate faults effectively. This can occur due to poor design or incorrect settings
of the protective devices.

2. False Tripping: Protection schemes can sometimes trip for no valid reason, causing
unnecessary outages. False tripping can occur due to various factors, including faulty
sensors, incorrect settings, or external factors like lightning.

3. Coordination Problems: The protective devices in a substation need to be coordinated

correctly to ensure that only the faulty equipment is isolated and not the entire substation.
However, coordination problems can occur if the protective devices are not correctly set
or if there is a lack of coordination between protective devices from different
manufacturers.
1. Grounding Problems: Proper grounding is essential to ensure that the protective devices
operate correctly. If the grounding system is faulty, it can cause issues with the operation
of the protective devices.

2. Maintenance Problems: Regular maintenance is critical to ensure that the protective

devices operate correctly. If maintenance is not carried out regularly or if the personnel
responsible for maintenance are not adequately trained, it can lead to issues with the
operation of the protective devices.

3. Communication Problems: Many modern protection schemes use communication

systems to share information between protective devices. If the communication system is
not functioning correctly, it can lead to issues with the operation of the protective devices.
Conclusion
In conclusion, protection schemes in substations are an essential aspect of ensuring the
reliable and safe operation of power systems. They are designed to detect and isolate faults
quickly to minimize damage to equipment, avoid power outages, and protect personnel from
harm.
It is crucial to maintain and test protection schemes regularly to ensure that they are working
correctly and can respond appropriately in the event of a fault. Effective protection schemes
require careful planning, design, and implementation to ensure that they meet the specific
requirements of the power system.
References
1. https://circuitglobe.com
2. https://electricalworkbook.com
3. https://studyelectrical.com
4. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9431176
Queries?
Thank You