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Ground fault Tripping of Large Motors:

Introduction: Motor form a vital component in the overall electrical energy conversion system. Motors offer enormous degree of flexibility in utilization of electrical energy as both rotational and linear or combination of both motions can be achieved through motors depending upon the end use. This vital function of motors calls for provision of optimum degree of reliability both in the design and its protection system so as to allow efficient functioning and long life. In Recent Past at almost all ma or Power !tations it has been observed that large Motors trip on "arth #ault during starting. $umber of different techni%ues have been used in order to avoid this pessimistic tripping. This articles deals with the a approach which avoids pessimistic tripping as well as provide protection to the system.

Motor Earth Fault Protection Schemes:


Residually connected ground relay #igure & shows a residually connected ground relay '()$*. Ideally ()$ relay operates only on the zero+se%uence current due to ground faults.

Fig 1: Residual Connected Ground Relay

In practice, however, current may flow through this residual circuit because of the une%ual outputs of the phase+-T. This may be due to une%ual burdens on the current transformers, the difference in the -T characteristics due to variations in manufacturing, or -T saturation caused by high starting currents. .ecause these unbalanced currents are present, it often becomes necessary to use time+delay residual protection so that undesired tripping on starting does not

occur with sensitive current settings on the relay. #alse residual current can be decreased remar/ably by increasing residual burden through the use of a lower tap value, or by adding a series resistance. 0owever, the former also increases sensitivity to ground+fault currents. current.

Sensitive Ground Fault protection:


#igure 1 shows a method of obtaining sensitive ground+fault protection with an I2- relay '()3*. The toroidal -T encircles the three+phase conductors, summing the flux produced by the current passing through the conductors within the -T. This arrangement allows all positive+ and negative+se%uence currents, including their dc components, to be magnetically canceled out within the -T, so that only the zero+se%uence ground+fault current appears in the relay. This means that under all balanced conditions, including single+phase loading, all currents leave and return through the toroidal -T. The net flux within the -T will be zero.It is only when the current returns by a path outside of the -T that a flux imbalance will occur within the -T, resulting in a proportional current flow to the ground relay. 4 small possibility of false tripping does exist if an unbalanced current 'due to inrush or a through phase fault* creates a sufficient net flux, operating the relay.

Fig :2 Sensitive Ground Fault Protection

5hen using a grounded conductor, the toroidal -T should encompass only the phase conductors and not the grounded conductor. #igure 6 shows two methods of grounding the cable sheath when using a toroidal -T. $ote that the cable shield ground is established on the load side of the -T in #igure 6'a* and, therefore, does not contribute to the flux within the -T. In #igure &&'b*, the shield lead is doubled bac/ from the source side to the load side of the -T, resulting in magnetic flux due to current in the shield summing to zero within the -T. If the cables in #igure 6 'b* have individual shielding tape or braiding, they can be umpered together on the source side with a shield lead brought bac/ through the -T. The purpose of both methods is to ensure the current measured by the ground relay reflects the ground+fault current and elimination of the outgoing phase current with the returning current in the grounded sheath.

#ig 6 Ring -T -able !heath 3rounding !election of the optimum toroidal -T ratio and %uality is important. #or minimum primary current pic/up, the -T exciting impedance 'as indicated by the excitation or saturation curve* and relay impedance should be matched. Therefore, the lowest primary current pic/up value may not occur at the lowest -T ratio for a given relay burden. Primary current pic/up values in the range of 78&1 4 are practical, utilizing a plunger or induction+dis/ relay9 approximately & 4 primary current pic/up can be achieved with sensitive relays. The -T ratio, commonly ():(, is independent of motor size. Various Factors Affecting Performance of Ground Fault Scheme: .oth the earlier discussed scheme have their pro and -ones. In Most -ases !ensitive earth #ault Protection scheme is preferred over Residual protection scheme ,the advantage is high sensitivity with good security, but is limited by the conductor size that can be passed through the -T opening. There are -ertain other factors which influence the Performance of these scheme. !ome of these #actors are: !"a#le "harging "urrent: 4lthough not physically connected to ground, electrical cables and the windings of all components are capacitive connected to ground. :uring !tarting of Motors a current #lows in order to charges the -apacitances . This current does not occur at any particular location9 rather, it is distributed throughout the system ust as the capacitance to ground is distributed throughout the system. This imbalance current is sensed by relay as a fault -urrent. The condition is further deteriorates if these capacitance are not symmetric. In order to get symmetric capacitances cables are transposed after regular intervals. $! Surge Arresters: 5hen surge+protection or surge arresters are connected at the motor terminals, the sensitivity of the !ensitive ground+protective scheme should be considered. The relay are re%uired to be insensitive to the capacitor inrush current or to the arrester power follow current. The relay must not pic/ up on these transient currents or, alternatively, a short+time delay must be used.

%! "T performance: -.-T performance is greatly affected by !tray Magnetic field caused by a* 2rientation of -ables : 4bruptly turning the primary conductor that passes through a -.-T b* ;ocalized !aturation caused when the sum of all current carrying conductors cause the magnetic flux density in the -T core to exceed the material capacity in localized regions. c* -oncentricity problems : 5hen the primary current carrying conductors are not centered in the -T window, or the -T window is irregular in shape it results in distorted #lux density characteristic. Techni&ues Generall' Emplo'ed to Avoid this Pessimistic Tripping: !Increasing the Earth Fault "urrent ( Time Setting: This is most popular method to avoid these tripping. 4s a first step Time settings is increased and Motor is operated , if it sustains then Motor is operated with Increased Time !etting otherwise -urrent setting is Increased. This method is based on trial and "rror system thus is time consuming and needs a number of 2peration before #inal !etting is arrived. This is not a recommended approach as in case of a fault ,#ault isolation time is increased which can result in increase of extent of damage. $! )eplacing Sensitive Earth fault scheme *ith )esidual earth Fault Scheme: In this Methodology !ensitive "arth fault scheme is replaced with Residual earth #ault !cheme while adding a high stabilizing resistance .This high resistance acts as a time delay element. %! +'passing Earth Fault Protection during startup: In this methodology we detect the starting of Motor and bypass the earth #ault protection during the starting transient. 2nce this transient phase is completed "arth fault protection is ta/en into service. $ormally brea/er closing contact is used for detecting the starting. In case if there is issue with this contact it can result in permanent bypassing of earth fault protection. ,! T*o Sets of Earth Fault Settings: It uses two set of settings one set for startup and other for $ormal 2peration. Proposed Techni&ue: #igure 7 illustrates an extra+sensitive differential ground+fault protection scheme. The product+ type relay '<=$* receives its polarizing signal from a -T connected in the system neutral. >oltage polarization is also possible by using a set of wye+bro/en+delta voltage transformers. The product+type relay '<=$* can be used when the available ground+fault current is limited to a very low value, and is used as an alternative to the toroidal -T with relay '()3* scheme when the toroidal -T does not accommodate the cable space re%uirements. The product+type relay is directional, and this must be considered in the connection of the relay. It is chosen because of its sensitivity

Fig 4: Sensitive Differential Earth Fault Protection Relay

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