7/11/2017 Electromechanical Relays

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Electromechanical Relays

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By Steven McFadyen (/users/steven)on April 2nd, 2012

Electromechanical relays have been the traditional backbone of electrical protection systems. While over recent years these
have been replaced by microprocessor based numerical devices, there are still many older electromechanical relays in
service.

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Contents [hide]
1. Evolution
2. Tripping Curves
1. IEC 60255 Characteristics
2. North American Characteristics
3.
4. CDG11/16 Curves
5. GEC / English Electric / Alstom /Areva
1. Stabilising Resistors

Evolution
Mechanical relays developed in the 1800s were the first form of electrical protection. While still being reliable and widely
used these were superseded by static relays in the early 1980s. Static relays have no moving parts (hence the name) and
operated on the basis of analogue circuitry. More recently static relays have been superseded by first digital relays and now
numerical microprocessor based devices.

Tripping Curves Our Newsletter

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IEC 60255 Characteristics email

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(http://myelectrical.com/Portals/0/DNNArticle/Files/718/WLWimages/Windows-
Live-Writer-Electromechanical-Relays_BFC6-IEC60255Curves_4.jpg) The IEC
60255 standard defines four standard current time characteristics standard
inverse (SI), very inverse (VI), extremely inverse (EI) and long-time inverse. Each
email address
characteristic can be calculated from:

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where:

t = tripping time in (S)

I = fault (actual) secondary CT current (A)

Is = relay pick-up current setting)

TMS = time multiplier setting

Characteristic K

Standard Inverse 0.02 0.14

Very Inverse 1.0 13.5

Extremely Inverse 2.0 80

Long-time Inverse 1.0 120

Relay characteristics are sometimes classified according to the tripping time at 10 times the setting current (i.e. [3s/10] - a
standard inverse curve which will trip in 3 seconds at 10 times the current setting). Tripping times for the various relays are:

Standard Inverse (SI) [3s/10] or [1.3s/10]

Very Inverse (VI) [1.5s/10]
Extremely Inverse (EI) [0.8s/10]
Long Time Standard Earth Fault[13.3s/10]

North American Characteristics

(http://myelectrical.com/Portals/0/DNNArticle/Files/718/WLWimages/Windows-Live-Writer-Electromechanical-Relays_BFC6-
NorthAmericanCurves_4.jpg) Current time characteristics in North America as classified as IEEE Moderately Inverse, IEEE
Very Inverse, IEEE Extremely Inverse, US C08 Inverse and US CO2 Short Time Inverse. These are given by:

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(http://myelectrical.com/Portals/0/DNNArticle/Files/718/WLWimages/Windows-Live-Writer-
Electromechanical-Relays_BFC6-NACurves_2.png)

where:

t = tripping time in (S)

I = fault (actual) secondary CT current (A)

Is = relay pick-up current setting

TD = time dial setting (multiplier)

Characteristic K

IEEE Moderately Inverse 0.02 0.114 0.0515

IEEE Very Inverse 2.0 0.491 19.61

IEEE Extremely Inverse 2.0 0.1217 28.2

US CO8 Inverse 2.0 0.18 5.95

US CO2 Short Time Inverse 0.02 0.01694 0.02394

Setting Example (IEC 60255)

CDG11/16 Curves
An 1000 Amp breaker protected by relay with
Standard Inverse characteristic. The relay
If you have the 3sec relay's trip curve, you can just multiply the time
pick-up current value is set at 0.8, time
with 1.3 and divide the answer with 3. That is the time for the 1.3sec
multiplier setting is 7 and the fault current is
relay.
8000 A. What will be the tripping time?

GEC / English Electric / Alstom /Areva - from the table = 0.02, K = 0.14
- pick-up current setting = 1000 A x
0.8 = 800 A
Labelling the model from left to right, using number CDG31 etc. 1=C,
- using the IEC 60255 equations, the
2=D c=G etc.:
tripping time is:

1. operating quantity (C - current, D - differential, V- voltage)

2. basic movement (D - induction disc, M - balanced armature, T
- static)
3. Application (G- general or generator, E - earth, U - definite
(http://myelectrical.com/Portals/0/SunBlogNuke/2/Windows-
time, F - flag, M - motor, D - directional)
Live-Writer/Electromechanical-
4. number of units (ie CDG3x is a 3 element / unit CDG relay)
Relays_E3C0/image001_6.png)
5. characteristic (for CDG, 1= std inverse (3s), 2= long time delay, 3=very inverse (1.55s), 4=extremely inverse (0.6s),
6=Long Time Standard Earth Fault)
6. case size (15 different cases, A=size 1 draw out, 10 terminal etc.)

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7. case mounting (F=flush etc.) We also have an online IDMT Tripping Time
8. identification (identifies rating, contact arrangement etc. 2= 'metricated')
calculator (http://myelectrical.com/tools/idmt-
9. suffix ('5' is for 50Hz only relays, '6' for 60Hz) tripping-time) .
For a full list refer to publication MS/5100/2 from English Electric

The company history has changed over the last few years. English Electric became GEC and subsequently GEC-Alstom.
Recently the company has now been acquired by Areva.

example - CDG 34EG0022A5 is a current operated, induction disc general relay, with three extremely inverse
elements and is a 50 Hz unit.

Stabilising Resistors

If current transformers are connected in a residual circuit, saturation of one or more of the transformers during transient
events may result in large spill currents. Particularly with high impedance relays, this may cause the the relay to falsely
operate. To achieve stability under these conditions, stabilising resistor|resistors are added to increase the minimum relay
operating voltage.

Rule of thumb for sizing of resistor:

try to drop:

at

that is:

Where:
R = stabilising resistor value
Vk = knee voltage of CT
Ipk = relay pickup current

Alternatively the stabilising resistor can be calculated by using:

where:
VA = relay burden
Ir = relay setting current

Note: The power rating of the stabilising resistor should be chosen taking into consideration the expected
magnitude and duration of the current through the resistor.

Protection (http://myelectrical.com/notes/tag/protection), Protective Devices (http://myelectrical.com/notes?

tag=protective+devices), Relays (http://myelectrical.com/notes/tag/relays), IDMT (http://myelectrical.com/notes/tag/idmt)

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days)

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switchgear-room-design-guide)
Steven McFadyen (/users/steven)
Steven has over twenty five years experience working on some of the largest construction projects. He
has a deep technical understanding of electrical engineering and is keen to share this knowledge.
About the author

(/users/steven)

(http://myelectricalengineering.co.uk)

8 Comments myElectrical.com
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FELIX M.S. JR. 4 years ago

This is good reference coming from a respected electrical engineer. You give good explanations
about difference of settings from various international standards.
2 Reply Share

Guest 3 years ago

Hi I am pretty new to this but just a quick one .. doesn't the 20s time to trip seem a bit high and
TMS is generally in the range between 0.025-1.5. If it was just for the purpose of explanation the
TMS of 7 was chosen please ignore that part.
1 Reply Share

Steven McFadyen Mod > Guest 3 years ago

Thanks for the comment. The values chosen were only for demonstration. Your right that in
a real situation, you would not want to fault to be there for 20 seconds..
4 Reply Share

Steve 2 years ago

Why did you use TD divided by 7 in the IEEE equation. C37.112 does not include the factor of 7. It
only states that the A and B constants are for mid range TD. I have seen 5 used as the divisor. Is
there a reference for this divisor?
Reply Share

Muhammad 3 years ago

Hi, Thanks for the very good explanations. I was looking for the code of (IDMT characteristic)
perhaps MATLAB code to see how the curves change if TSM is changed from 1 to any other
number. Do you have source of the curves you've used here?
Reply Share

Steven McFadyen Mod > Muhammad 3 years ago

The formula are given above and you can use them in Matlab. The source of the curves is
the IEC standard. You can also find more information in the Alstom Network Protection &
Automation Guide [NPAG].
Reply Share

Fraser Faulks 3 years ago

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Fraser Faulks
Hi. As a consultant, i've spent the last couple of days advising a client on settings for CDG34
relays within part of his (extensive) electrical MV network. (11kV). I found that the specification of
the protection CTs is making all the difference, when, for example, the client wishes to alter a ring
feeder to form a radial feed to an existing transformer, say 800kVA, 11/0.415kV. CTs of 400/5, on
the lowest available plug setting couldn't protect the transformer at certain PSCC levels. Flc approx
42amps, IDMT pickup current 200amps, so not even close on overcurrent either. With CTs of 50/5
we can use a plug setting of 5amps (50A primary) to protect the transformer.
Any thoughts on weather I should recommend CT replacement or relay replacement to client?
Also, does the IEC 60255 standard replace BS 142?
From Fraser Faulks
Reply Share

Steven McFadyen Mod > Fraser Faulks 3 years ago

IEC 60255 (in the form of BS EN 60255) does replace BS 142. The CT specification is
important and many people don't give enough consideration to it. There are some posts on
the site which give guidance on CT sizing. Without doing a proper study, I wouldn't like to
recommend a replacement offhand.
Reply Share

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