Directional Over Current Relay

Operating Principles of Protective Relays

The conventional types of electromagnetic relays (electro-mechanical relay) has one or more coils, movable
elements, contact system etc and its operation depends on whether the operating torque or force is greater
than the restraining torque or force. The relay operates when the operating force is greater than the
restraining force. The operating torque is produced by electro-magnetic attraction or by electromagnetic
induction. The restraining torque is given by the springs.

Types of Electromagnetic Relays

1. Attracted armature type

2. Balanced Beam type
3. Induction disc type
4. Induction cup type
5. Moving coil relay

Attracted Armature Type Relay

This has four types i.e., plunger, hinged armature, balanced beam and moving iron polarized. These are the simplest
types which responds to AC and DC.

The force of attraction, F = Kl2 = K(Im sin t)2

1/2 K (I2m I2m cos2t)

where k is a constant and I2mcos2t is pulsating

The coil is energized by current or voltage, a proportionate operating quantity,

which produces a magnetic flux, thereby creating an electromagnetic force. This
force is proportional to the square of the flux in the air gap or square of the
current. This force increases, as the armature approaches the pole of
electromagnet.

This type of relay is used for protection of small machines and also used for
auxiliary relays such as indicating relays (flags) alarm and annunciator relays etc.

Balanced Beam Type Relays

Principle
All these relays have the same principle. That is electromagnetic force produced by the magnetic flux which in turn is
produced by the operating quantity. The force exerted on the moving element is proportional to the square of the flux
in the air gap or square of the current. In DC electromagnetic relays this force is constant. If this force exceeds the
restraining force, the relay operates.

F 2 (AC), F = K (DC)

This type of balanced beam relay has a fixed beam and an electromagnet (EM) as shown in the figure. The EM has two
windings, one is energized by the voltage and the other energized by the current. Under normal conditions, the pull
due to the voltage (restraint quantity) will be high and hence the contact remains open. When a fault occurs, the
current increases, the pull due to current will be more than the pull due to voltage. This closes the contacts of the trip
circuit.

This balanced beam type relay shown in the figure consists of a horizontal beam pivoted centrally, with one armature
attached to either side. There are two coils, one on each side. The beam remains horizontal till the operating force
becomes greater than the restraining force. Current in coil gives the operating force and in the other, the restraining
force. When the operating force or torque
increases, the beam tilts and then the contact
closes. The relay then actuates the tripping
mechanism of the circuit breaker controlling the
line / equipment.

Induction Disc Types of

Electromagnetic Relays
Watt Meter Type or Non Directional Relay
It has a metallic disc free to rotate between the
poles of two electro magnets.

The spindle of this disc carries a moving contact

which bridges two fixed contacts when the disc
rotates through an angle, which is adjustable
between 0o to 360o. By adjusting this angle the
travel of moving contact can be adjusted so that the
relay can be given any desired time setting which is
indicated by a pointer. The dial is calibrated from 0-
1. The relay time from name plate cure is to be
multiplied by time multiplier setting.
The upper magnet has two windings. The primary coil is connected to the secondary of CT through tappings in it.
These tappings are connected to plug Settings Bridge. The secondary is connected to the lower electro magnet. The
torque exerted on the disc is due to the interaction of eddy current produced therein by the flux from the upper EM
and the lower EM. The relay setting is 50% to 200% in steps of 25%.

Shaded Pole Type or Non Directional Relay

The rotating disc is made of aluminum. In the above type one half of each of electromagnet shown in fig, is
surrounded by a copper band called as the shading ring. The shaded portion of the pole products a flux which is
displaced in space and time w.r.t the flux produced by the unshaded portion of the pole. These two alternating fluxes
cut the disc and produce eddy currents in it. Torques are produced by the interaction of each flux with the eddy
current produced by the other flux. The resultant torque causes the disc to rotate.

A spring is used to supply the resetting torque. A permanent magnet is employed to produce eddy current braking to
the disc. The braking torque is proportional to
the speed of the disc. When the operating
current exceeds pick-up value, driving torque is
produced and the disc accelerates to a speed
where the braking torque balances the driving
torque. The disc rotates at a speed proportional
to the driving torque.

At a current below the pick-up value, the disc remains stationary by the tension of the control spring acting against the
normal direction of disc rotation. The disc rests against a backstop. The position of the back-stop is adjustable. So that
the relay-contacts travel distance can be varied according to need. This is called time-setting of the relay.

In disc-type relays, there are a number of tappings provided on coil, to select the desired pick-up value of the current.

Introduction of Cup Relay or Directional Relay

1. It is a double actuating quantity relay (current and voltage)

2. Highly sensitive
3. High speed
4. Steady, non-vibrating torque
5. Ration of re-set to pickup is high (above 95%)
6. It has operating time less than 0.01sec

The operating is similar to induction motor. It consists of a stationary rotor iron

core and moving rotor conductor (cup). The moving element is a hollow cylinder
or cup which turns on its axis. The driving element is a four or eight pole structure
placed radially around the outside of the cylinder and joined by an yoke. To
shorten the air-gap, a stationary iron core is placed inside the rotate cylinder.

It is a high speed induction relay since inertia is less. the two pairs of coils are displaced by 90 o. When these coils are
excited, a rotating magnetic field is produced. The rotor cuts the magnetic field and an emf is induced in the rotor.
which results in a current due to short circuit nature of the rotor. A torque is produced due to the interaction between
the rotating flux and the induced current which causes the rotation of the cylinder. The movement of the rotor closes
the trip circuit. The torque produced is proportional to |I1| |I2| sin or 1 2 sin , where 1 2 are the fluxes due to
excitation currents I1 and I2 of coil pairs and is the phase difference between the two fluxes.
Due to low weight of the rotor and efficient magnetic system, its torque is found to be three times that of an induction
disc types. As this type of relay has high torque /weight ratio, high speed operation is possible.

Moving Coil Relays

It has two types:

1. Rotary Moving coil

2. Axial moving coil

Rotary Moving Coil Relay

It consists of a permanent magnet coil

wound on a non-magnetic former, spring,
spindle etc. as shown in the fig. The coil is
energised by the fault current. Due to the interaction of the permanent magnetic field and the field due to the coil,
moving torque is developed. Due to this the spindle rotates and closes the trip circuits. It has negative time-current
characteristics as shown in the figure. It has high torque / weight ration.

F NHIL

where F = Force, N= No. of turns, H=Magnetic Field, I=Current in the coil, L=Length of coil

Axial Moving Coil Relay

It has axially suspended coil wound on a former. The coil has only
axial movement. When the coil is energized by the current,
magnetic field is developed and this magnetic field is repelled by
the already existing permanent magnet. Due to this, contacts get
closed.

This relay is more sensitive and faster than the rotary moving coil
relay. This relay has inverse operating time-current characteristics.
Directional Over Current Relay

This is also a special type of over current relay with a directional features. This directional over current relay employs
the principle of actuation of the relay, when the fault current flows into the relay in a particular direction. If the power
flow is in the opposite direction, the relay will not operate. Normally, the conventional over current relay (non-
direction) will act for fault current in any direction.

The directional over current relay recognizes the direction in which fault occurs, relative to the location of the relay.
The principle of directional protection is as under:

Consider a feeder XY, passing through station A. The circuit

breaker in feeder AY is provided with a directional relay R,
which will trip the breaker CBy, if the fault power flow is in
the direction AY alone. Therefore, for faults in feeder AX,
the circuit breaker CBy, does not trip unnecessarily.
However, for faults in feeder AY, the circuit Breaker CBy
trips, due to direction feature of the relays, set to act in the
direction AY. This type of relay is also called reverse power
relay, So far as the direction of fault current (power) flow is
concerned.

Reverse power flow relays with directional features, not only senses the direction flow, but also measures magnitude of
power flow.

Constructional Details and Operation of Non Directional over Current Relay (Wattmeter Type)

It has a metallic disc free to rotate between the poles of two

electromagnets (EM).

The spindle of this disc carries a moving contact which bridges

two fixed contacts when the disc rotates through an angle,
which is adjustable between 0o to 360o. By adjusting this angle,
the travel of moving contact can be adjusted so that the relay
can be given any desired time setting which is indicated by a
pointer, The dial is calibrated from 0-1. The relay time from
name plate curve is to be multiplied by time multiplier setting.

The upper magnet has two windings. The primary coil is

connected to the secondary of CT through tapping in it. Theses
tapings are connected to plug setting bridge. The secondary is
connected to the lower electro magnet; the torque exerted on
the disc is due to the interaction of eddy currents produced
therein by the flux from the upper EM and the lower EM. The
relay setting is 50% to 200% in steps of 25%.

Constructional Details and Operation of Non Directional

Over Current Relay (Wattmeter Type)
A directional over current relay operates when the current
exceeds a specified value in a specified direction. It contains two relaying units, over current units and the other a
directional unit. For directional unit, the secondary winding of the over current (relay) unit is kept open (AB). When the
directional unit operates, it closes the open contacts of the secondary winding of the relay may be either wattmeter or
shaded pole type.
Under normal operating conditions, power flows in the
normal direction in the circuit, protected by the relay and
therefore, the directional unit does not operate. When a short
circuit occurs, there is a tendency for the current or power to
flow in the reverse direction. In such a case, the disc of the
directional unit rotates to bridge he fixed contacts A and B,
completing the circuit for the over current unit. The disc of
the over current unit rotates consequently and the moving
contacts attached to it closes the trip circuit. This operates
the circuit breaker which isolates the faulty section.

The directional unit is made very sensitive so that with the

lowest value of voltage which may be anticipated under
severe fault conditions, sufficient torque is produced by the
current to complete the operation and allow its contacts to
close.