PROTECTION CHAPTER 4: SETPOINTS

Current Unbalance Unbalance current, also known as negative sequence current or I2, results in
(46) disproportionate rotor heating. If the thermal overload protections unbalance bias feature
has been enabled (by setting non-zero value for the Unbalance Bias K Factor under
Setpoints > Protection > Group 1(6) > Motor > Thermal Model, the thermal overload
protection protects the motor against unbalance by tripping when the motors thermal
capacity is exhausted. However, the current unbalance protection can detect this
condition and alarm and /or trip before the motor has heated substantially. For the
869 relay, unbalance is defined as the ratio of negative-sequence to positive-sequence
current,
Eq. 26

where Afactor is the adjustment factor used to prevent nuisance trip and/or alarm at light
loads.
If the motor is operating at an average current level (Iavg) equal to or greater than the
programmed full load current (FLA, as selected by the Setpoints > System > Motor > Setup),
the adjustment factor (Afactor) is one. However, if the motor is operating at an average
current level (Iavg) less than FLA then the adjustment factor (Afactor) is the ratio of average
current to full load current.
If this element is enabled, a trip and/or alarm occur(s) once the unbalance level equals or
exceeds the set pickup for the set period of time. If the unbalance level exceeds 40% (30%
when VFD Function is enabled and VFD is not bypassed), or when Iavg 25% FLA and
current in any one phase is less than the cutoff current, the motor is considered to be
single phasing and a trip occurs within 2 seconds. Single phasing protection is disabled if
the unbalance trip feature is Disabled.
Unusually high unbalance levels can be caused by incorrect phase CT wiring.
NOTE:

NOTE Path: Setpoints > Protection > Group 1(6) > Motor > Current Unbalance
TRIP FUNCTION
Range: Disabled, Trip, Configurable
Default: Disabled
This setting enables the Current Unbalance Trip functionality.
TRIP PICKUP
Range: 4.0 to 50.0% in steps of 0.1%
Default: 15%
The setting specifies a pickup threshold for the trip function. When setting the pickup
level, note that a 1% voltage unbalance typically translates into a 6% current
unbalance. To prevent nuisance trips or alarms, the pickup level must not be set too low.
Also, since short term unbalances are common, a reasonable delay must be set to avoid
nuisance trips or alarms. This setting must be greater than the corresponding setting for
the alarm stage.

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TRIP CURVE
Range: Definite Time, Inverse Time
Default: Definite Time
Definite Time
When the curve is programmed as definite time, the trip element operates when the
operating quantity exceeds the pickup level for longer than the set time delay
(programmed as Trip Pickup Delay).
Inverse Time
The curve for the unbalance current is defined as:
T= TDM/[Unbal]2, where Unbal is defined by the preceding unbalance equation,
T= time in seconds when I2 > pickup (minimum and maximum times are defined by
setpoints),
TDM= time dial multiplier
TRIP PICKUP DELAY
Range: 0.00 to 180.00 s in steps of 0.01 s (when TRIP CURVE = Definite Time)
Default: 1.00 s
The setting specifies a time delay for the trip function. This setting is only applicable
when Trip Curve is programmed as Definite Time.
Small power system transients or switching device operation can generate spurious
NOTE:

negative sequence current that can result in the false operation of the Current Unbalance
NOTE element. In order to prevent false operation of the element, it is strongly recommended to
set Trip Pickup Delay and Alarm Pickup Delay settings greater than two power cycles.

TRIP TDM
Range: 0.00 to 180.00 in steps of 0.01 (when TRIP CURVE = Inverse Time)
Default: 10.00
The setting provides a selection for Time Dial Multiplier which modifies the operating
times per the inverse curve. This setting is only applicable when Trip Curve is
programmed as Inverse Time.
TRIP MAX TIME
Range: 0.00 to 1000.00 s in steps of 0.01 s
Default: 1.00 s
The Unbalance maximum time defines the maximum time that any value of negative
sequence current in excess of the pickup value will be allowed to persist before a trip is
issued. This setting can be applied to limit the maximum tripping time for low level
unbalances. This setting is only applicable when the Trip Curve is programmed as
Inverse Time.
TRIP MIN TIME
Range: 0.00 to 1000.00 s in steps of 0.01 s
Default: 0.25 s
Unbalance minimum time defines the minimum time setting that can be applied to limit
the minimum tripping time. Small power system transients or switching device operation
can generate spurious negative sequence current that can result in the false operation
of the Current Unbalance element. Unbalance minimum time must be set in order to
prevent false operation of the element. This setting is only applicable when Trip Curve is
programmed as Inverse Time.

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PROTECTION CHAPTER 4: SETPOINTS

TRIP RESET TIME

Range: 0.00 to 180.00 s in steps of 0.01 s
Default: 1.00 s
This setting defines the linear reset time of the trip element time accumulator. It is the
maximum reset time from the threshold of tripping based on the motor unbalance
inverse curve. The reset time has an accumulator/integrator to represent the thermal
memory counter which increments linearly if the motor unbalance current is above the
threshold, and decrements linearly if it is below the threshold. This setting is only
applicable when Trip Curve is programmed as Inverse Time.
Figure 4-48: Unbalance Inverse Time Curves

TRIP DROPOUT DELAY

Range: 0.00 to 180.00 s in steps of 0.01 s
Default: 1.00 s
The setting specifies a time delay to reset the trip command. This delay must be set long
enough to allow the breaker or contactor to disconnect the motor. This setting is only
applicable when Trip Curve is programmed as Definite Time.
TRIP OUTPUT RELAY X
For details see Common Setpoints.
ALARM FUNCTION
Range: Disabled, Alarm, Latched Alarm
Default: Disabled
The setting enables the Current Unbalance Alarm functionality.
ALARM PICKUP
Range: 4.0 to 50.0% in steps of 0.1%
Default: 10%
The Alarm Pickup setting specifies a pickup threshold for the alarm function.
For example, if the supply voltage is normally unbalanced up to 2%, the current
unbalance seen by a typical motor is 2 6 = 12%. In this case, set the current unbalance
alarm pickup to 15% and the current unbalance trip pickup to 20% to prevent
nuisance tripping; 5 or 10 seconds is a reasonable delay.

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CHAPTER 4: SETPOINTS PROTECTION

ALARM PICKUP DELAY

Range: 0.00 to 180.00 s in steps of 0.01 s
Default: 1.00 s
The setting specifies a time delay for the alarm function.
ALARM DROPOUT DELAY
Range: 0.00 to 180.00 s in steps of 0.01 s
Default: 1.00 s
The setting specifies a time delay to reset the alarm command.
ALARM OUTPUT RELAY X
For details see Common Setpoints.
BLOCK
Range: FlexLogic Operand
Default: Off
The Current Unbalance can be blocked by any asserted FlexLogic operand.
EVENTS
Range: Enabled, Disabled
Default: Enabled
TARGETS
Range: Self-reset, Latched, Disabled
Default: Latched

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PROTECTION

LED: Alarm
SETPOINT
AND

ALARM FUNCTION:
OR

Disabled=0 SETPOINT SETPOINTS

ALARM ALARM PICKUP: ALARM PICKUP DELAY: S
AND

OR
ALARM DROPOUT DELAY:

AND
LATCH ALARM RUN
tPKP LATCH
tRST
Unbal = Alarm Pickup RESET R
SETPOINT Command
BLOCK:
Off=0 LED: TRIP
Operate Output
Relay 1(TRIP)
SETPOINT
AND

TRIP FUNCTION:
Disabled=0 SETPOINTS
FLEXLOGIC OPERANDS

AND
Trip TRIP CURVE:

OR
Configurable TRIP PICKUP: CUR UNBAL ALARM OP
TRIP Pickup Delay:
TRIP TDM: SETPOINT
TRIP MAX TIME:
Figure 4-49: Current Unbalance logic diagram

Output Relay X
Calculated Values TRIP MIN TIME:
TRIP RESET TIME: Do Not Operate, Operate
Positive seq. Current (I 1)
TRIP DROPOUT DELAY:
Negative seq. Current (I 2) RUN

I2 FLEXLOGIC OPERANDS
Three Phase Currents SETPOINT Unbal = Afactor 100% t
from CT bank MOTOR FULL LOAD AMPS (FLA) I1 CUR UNBAL TRIP OP
IA RMS if I avg FLA , A factor = 1
IB RMS 1
I avg = (IA RMS + IB RMS + IC RMS ) I avg
3 if I avg < FLA , A factor =
IC RMS FLA SETPOINT
I2/I1
OR

From Setpoint> System > Motor Output Relay X

Do Not Operate, Operate

Iavg = 0.25 x FLA Unbal > 40%

AND

2s FLEXLOGIC OPERANDS
OR

AND
IA RMS < 0.02 x CT
SINGLE PHASING OP
IB RMS < 0.02 x CT

OR
IC RMS < 0.02 x CT 894093A4.cdr

869 MOTOR PROTECTION SYSTEM INSTRUCTION MANUAL

CHAPTER 4: SETPOINTS