INTRODUCTION

Relay is a switch, which opens and closes the circuit electronically. It uses electromagnetism
from small voltage to provide higher voltages. It has two basic contacts i.e. NO (Normally Open)
and NC (Normally Closed). When input voltage is applied across its coil, NC changes to NO and
NO changes to NC. When input voltage is supplied, we say that the relay is energized. It has
several features e.g. it can be used for switching smaller voltage to higher. But it can not be used
in power consuming devices. It has a wide range of applications. It can be used in home
appliances, electronic circuits where there is a need of protection, robotics for controlling its
motors for the proper motion and many more. Due to its wide range of application there are
different type of power system protection relay . these are over current relay, directional
relay ,distance protection and so on. Over current relay as its name implies is a relay
element which operates when the current exceeds the pre-set value. The relay trips the associated
circuit breaker. Overcurrent relay protection protects the power systems and its equipments such
as transmission lines, transformers, generators, or motors against short circuits, ground faults,
over loads etc.

INVERSE MINIMUM TIME OVER CURRENT PROTECTION

Inverse Time Overcurrent Relays are the relays whose operating time is inversely
changed with current. So, high current will operate overcurrent relay faster than lower
ones.
Inverse minimum time over current relay is one type this relays in which the operating time
is approximately inversely proportional to the fault current near pick-up value and then becomes
constant above the pick-up value of the relay. These relays have the combined
characteristics of definite time and inverse time relays. The IDMT relays operate
as inverse time relay i.e. there exists an inverse relationship between time and
current for lower values of fault current. While for higher values of fault current
the relay acts as the definite time relay where the operating time is independent
of fault current.The relay exhibits an inverse relation between operating time and
fault current near pick-up value and becomes almost constant just above the
pick-up value.
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF INVERSE MINIMUM TIME OVER
When the current in the system increases, the secondary current
of the current transformer is increased proportionally. The
secondary current enters the relay current coil. But when the CT
becomes saturated, there would not be a further proportional
increase of CT secondary current with increased system current.
From this phenomenon, it is clear that from trick value to certain
range of faulty level, an inverse time relay shows specific inverse
characteristic. But after this level of fault, the CT becomes
saturated and relay current does not increase further with
increasing faulty level of the system. As the relay current does not
increase further, there would not be any further reduction in time
of operation in the relay. We define this time as the minimum time
of operation. Hence, the characteristic is inverse in the initial part,
which tends to a definite minimum operating time as the current
becomes very high. That is why the relay is referred as inverse
definite minimum time over current relay .

ADVANTAGE OF INVERSE MINIMUM TIME O/C PROTECTION

DIRECTIONAL OVER CURRENT PROTECTION
Directional overcurrent protection is used when it is necessary to protect the system
against fault currents that could circulate in both directions through a system element,
and when bi-directional overcurrent protection could produce unnecessary
disconnection of circuits.

The over-current protection can be given directional feature by adding

directional element in the protection system. directional over-current
protection responds to excessive current flow for a particular directional in
power system. This means if directional over current relay is set to trip for
fault in forward direction it will protect the equipment in front of the
relay. Or they can also be set to trip for faults behind the relay in the
reverse direction. In other words If power flow is in the opposite direction,
the directional over-current protection remains un-operative.so directional
over current relay recognizes the direction in which fault occurs relative to
location of relay

Directional over-current protection comprises over-current relay and power

directional relay- in a single relay casing. The power directional relay does not
measure the power but is arranged to respond to the direction of power flow.

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
. 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.

WORKING PRINCIPLE OF DIRECTIONAL OVER CURRENT

PROTECTION