Alternator Protection for

Emergency Standby
Engine Generators
Kenneth L. Box P.E.
Regional Sales
Manager Power
Electronics
Cummins Power
Generation

TIME (SECONDS)

10

0.1

0.05

10
AMPS (TIMES RATED)

1. SOLID RED LINE IS ALTERNATOR THERMAL DAMAGE CURVE

2. DASHED BLUE LINE IS LINE TO NEUTRAL FAULT.
3. DASHED GREEN LINE IS LINE TO LINE FAULT.

Engine Generators
Control
Monitoring & Alarms
Engine Protection
System Protection
Paralleling
Applications
Alternator Protection

IEEE/ANSI Standards 141 & 242

Recommended
Practice for Protection
& Coordination of
Industrial &
Commercial Power
Systems
Recommended
Practice for Electric
Power Distribution for
Industrial Plants

Under & Over Voltage Protection

Protects against a severe
overload condition (27)
Initiates the starting of an
emergency standby genset
(27)
Load shed shut down in the
event of AVR failure (27)
Protect against dangerous
over-voltages (59)
Backup to internal V/Hz
limiters
Commonly combined 27/59

Devices
27
59

Reverse Power Protection

Provides backup
protection for the prime
mover.
It detects reverse power
flow (kW) should the
prime mover lose its
input energy without
tripping its generator
feeder breaker
Prevents motoring,
drawing real power from
the system

Device
32

Loss of Field Protection

Senses when the generators
excitation system has been
lost.
Important for paralleling
generator applications or when
paralleling with the utility.
When generator loses
excitation it will steal excitation
from other gensets & quickly
overheat the rotor due to
induced slip-frequency
currents
Reverse VAR protection

Device
40

Phase Balance Current Protection

Unbalanced loads
Unbalanced system
faults
Open conductors
Unbalanced I2
currents induce 2X
system frequency
currents in the rotor
causing overheating

Device
46

Backup Overcurrent Protection

The function of
generator backup
protection is to
disconnect the
generator if a system
has not been cleared
by the primary
protective device
Time delays

Device
51V

Ground Overcurrent Protection

Provides backup
protection for all ground
relays in the system at
the generator voltage
level
Provides protection
against internal generator
ground faults
Commonly provided as
GF alarm.

Device
51G

Voltage Balance Relay

Monitors the
availability of PT
voltage.
Blocks improper
operation of
protective relays and
control devices in the
event of a blown PT
fuse

Device
60

Differential Protection
For rapid detection of
generator to or
-G faults.
When NGRs are
used, 87G should be
used.
Used for protection of
larger generators
Zone protection

Device
87

Temperature Protection
Resistance
temperature detectors
are used to sense
winding temperatures.
A long term
monitoring philosophy
that is not readily
detected by other
protective devices

RTDs

IEEE Recommended Protection

Schemes
SMALL MACHINES
Up to 1000kVA, 600V
maximum

MEDIUM MACHINES
1000kW to 12,500
kVA regardless of
voltage

LARGE MACHINES
Up to 50,000 kVA
regardless of voltage

Any recommendation
based entirely on
machine size is not
entirely adequate.
The importance of the
machine to the
system or process it
serves & the reliability
required are the
important factors

Small Generators 1000kVA

Device 51V Backup overcurrent
Device 51G - GFP
Device 32 Reverse Power
Device 40 Loss of Field
Device 87 - Differential

Medium Size Generators 1 to

12.5 mVA
Device 51V Backup overcurrent
Device 51G - GFP
Device 32 Reverse Power
Device 40 Loss of Field
Device 87 - Differential
Device 46 Negative phase sequence
for paralleling or utility paralleling

My Opinion 3mW and less

SW

KW

VM

VM

KWH

SW

SW

PF

HZ

HZ

40

27

46

32

81

25C

GOV

51V

59

86

25

UL listed utility grade generator protection relay

SWITCHGEAR

AVR

SURGE SUPPRESSORS

AM

GENSET

SS

TRIP

CLOSE

NFPA70 - NEC
445.12(A) Overload Protection
Generators, except AC generator exciters, shall be protected from
overloads by inherent design, circuit breakers, fuses, or other
acceptable overcurrent protective means suitable for the conditions of
use.
240.15(A)
Overcurrent Device Required. A fuse or an overcurrent trip unit of a
circuit breaker shall be connected in series with each ungrounded
conductor. A combination of a current transformer and overcurrent
relay shall be considered equivalent to an overcurrent trip unit.
240.21(G) Conductors from Generator Terminals
Conductors from generator terminals that meet the size requirements of
445.13 shall be permitted to be protected against overload by the
generator overload devices) required by 445.12

Is the Alternator Protected?

Generator is required to be
protected
CABLETHERMAL
THERMAL
CABLE
DAMAGECURVE
CURVE
DAMAGE

100

GENERATOR
GENERATOR
THERMAL
THERMAL
DAMAGE
DAMAGE
CURVE
CURVE

10
10
10

TIME (SECONDS)
TIME
TIME(SECONDS)
(SECONDS)

PROTECTIVE RELAY
CURVE
1

1
1

0.1
0.1
0.1

GENERATOR
THERMAL DAMAGE
CURVE

0.05
0.05

11

333
10
10
10
AMPS
AMPS(TIMES
(TIMESRATED)
RATED)
AMPS
(TIMES
RATED)

100
100
100

Generator conductors are

assumed protected by same
device protecting the genset.

Most common protection is

molded case breaker with
thermal/magnetic trip
100% rated thermal magnetic
breakers dont fully protect
alternator

Generator Protective Relay

provides the best protection
& superior coordination for
downstream devices

100% Rated Electronic Trip

Breaker is an Improvement

GEN FLA

Time

800A
INSULATED
CASE CB

800A
MOLDED
CASE CB

GENSET
DAMAGE
CURVE

Gen Relay

Current

Some Generator Mfrs offer self

contained alternator protection
Is it UL listed as a
generator protection
relay?
Does it provide O/L
protection for the
alternator and O/L and
short circuit protection for
the feeder?
Can it protect its transfer
switch on the emergency
side?

Differential Protection (87)

Rarely selected for LV
machines smaller
than 1.5 mW.
How do you mount
the CTs?
Cost vs. benefit?

Differential Protection (87)

The value of differential protection is
that it is very fast in detecting faults in
a circuit.
High current levels that pass through
both sets of CTs will not cause a trip
on common events like motor starting,
or even on downstream faults that are
intended to be cleared by other
means.
The high speed of operation for faults
sensed within the operating zone
makes it possible limit damage inside
an alternator stator when a fault inside
the machine occurs.
The device would also operate on a
feeder fault, but in general, once a
fault is sensed in a feeder, the feeder
will be replaced,

Differential Protection (87)

A key point to remember is that differential
relays dont prevent damage, they LIMIT
damage.
If a relay is properly operating it wont trip until
there is actually a line to ground fault
somewhere in its zone of protection.
By limiting the duration of a fault, it is often
possible to limit damage, but there is STILL
damage.
Eventually, you will have to deal with it.
Some mfrs. have high speed internal single
phase protection

Differential Protection (87)

GENSET

GENSET
CONTROL

ENG
,

SHUTDOWN

The protective devices

selected for a specific
application should always
be selected based on an
understanding of the
balance between
reliability and protection.
The more protection used
in the system the lower
the reliability, because of
the higher probability of
failing the system due to
a nuisance trip.

87

51

86

TRIP

SWITCHGEAR

52

Recommendations
Use the IEEE Recommended protection schemes with a dose of common sense.

Always carefully consider the balance of protection versus reliability, especially when
the protection is for equipment that is operating for very few hours.
With some mfrs. the alternator current sensing function monitors faults inside the
machine. When the machine incorporates protection for the alternator from
overcurrent conditions based on an I2t function, and regulates single phase faults
differential protection is optional.
On 15kV class machines, the alternator stator is expensive enough that it would
probably be repaired rather than replaced, so it will make more sense to try to limit
damage in the machine and have it repaired, in the general case.
In cases where it is decided to use differential protection, it is desirable to minimize
the zone of protection and use properly sized and matched CTs so that the
probability of nuisance tripping is reduced. Since the generator set provides
overcurrent protection from the alternator out, differential protection can be applied
with matched CTs provided and mounted at the wye side and alternator output,
preferably in the terminal cabinet. The differential relay can be mounted in the vicinity
of the generator set or in the switchgear.

Recommendations
A good standardized design is
superior to an optimized custom
design.
Custom designs breed custom
problems

Questions?

3 Fault Current Regulation

3 Phase L1-L2-L3 Short: AmpSentry Regulation and Shutdown

%Current

500

Peak Current: IR/Xd

400

Alt %Standby Max Line

Current

300

Regulates at 3X Rated
Shuts down before damage

200
100
0
0

10
time, sec

15

20

1 Fault Current Regulation

Single Phase L1-N Short and Recovery: Current vs. Time
150kW Quiet Site Genset w/Dominion Control

600
Alt %Standby L1 Current

500
Percent Current

Alt %Standby L2 Current

400

Alt %Standby L3 Current

300
200
100
0
0

tim e, sec

NOTE: THIS CURVE SHOWS FAULT CLEARED BEFORE SHUTDOWN.

Single Phase Fault

Single Phase L1-N Short and Recovery: Line-Neutral Voltage vs. Time
150kW Quiet Site Genset w/Dominion Control

120

Percent of Nominal Voltage

100
80
60
40
20
0
0

4
tim e, sec