BEEE611 

Module Name Power System Protection 
 Module Code BEEE611 
Level Six 
 Credits 15 

  

  

Module Description and General Aims 

The objective of this module is to: provide students with detailed knowledge of power system protection and its role in the safe and reliable operation of a power system; and, to impart the ability to choose and apply protection systems in a given context. Information covered in this module will include: the different types of protective devices and their applications; the coordination between different protective devices and the different forms of grading that are possible; protection of individual types of equipment such as motors, generators, transformers, and switchgear; and the approach to setting these protective devices. Students will also undertake project work involving protection applications and settings for a typical industrial power network. 

  

Learning Outcomes 

On successful completion of this Module, students are expected to be able to: 

  1. Explain the fundamentals of electrical power system protection and its components. 
    Bloom’s Level 2 
  1. Describe protection devices used in LV systems, relays, and IEDs. 
    Bloom’s Level 2 
  1. Evaluate short circuit current values of simple industrial systems using equivalent diagrams. 
    Bloom’s Level 3 
  1. Explain the time/current characteristics of DMT and IDMT types and calculate coordinated settings in practical circuits. 
    Bloom’s Level 6 
  1. Explain the concept of unit protection and compare its applications. 
    Bloom’s Level 5 
  1. Describe protection systems specific to each type of equipment. 
    Bloom’s Level 3 

  

Student Assessment 

Assessment Type When assessed Weighting (% of total module marks) Learning Outcomes Assessed 
Assessment 1 Type: Multi-choice test / Group work / Short answer questions / Practical / Remote Lab / Simulation Example Topic: Protection systems requirements, components, and devices. Students will complete a quiz with MCQ type answers to 30 questions to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of protection systems requirements, components, and devices. Due after Topic 5 15% 1, 2 
Assessment 2  Type: Multi-choice test / Group work / Short answer questions / Practical / Remote Lab / Simulation Example Topic: Short circuit calculation and its influence on setting and coordination. Students will complete a test with about 20 questions of numerical problems and short answer questions (each to be answered in less than 100 words and explanatory diagrams) to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of fault current calculation, and its use in setting and coordination of over-current and earth fault protection. Due after Topic 7 20% 3, 4 
Assessment 3 Type: Multi-choice test / Group work / Short answer questions / Practical / Remote Lab / Simulation / Project / Report Example Topic: Students will complete a project covering the design of a protection system, including the determination of relay requirements and setting calculations. Due after Topic 11 20% 1 to 6 
Assessment 4 Type: Exam Example Topic: All topics An examination with a mix of detailed essay type questions and numerical problems to be completed within 2 hours. Final Week 40% All 
Attendance / Tutorial Participation Example: Presentation, discussion, group work, exercises, self-assessment/reflection, case study analysis, application. Continuous 5%  1 to 6 

  

Overall Requirements: Students must achieve a result of 40% or above in the exam itself to pass the exam and must pass the exam to be able to pass the module. An overall final module score of 50% or above must be achieved to pass the module once all assessment, including the exam, has been completed. 

Prescribed and Recommended Readings 

Required textbook(s) 

Reference book on power system protection (Course code PS) 

Reference Materials 

Number of peer-reviewed journals and websites (advised during lectures) 

For example: 
Simple, easy to follow explanations can be seen from the webpage: 
http://www.electrical4u.com/protection-system-in-power-system/, Protection System in Power System by electrical4u.com Online Electrical Engineering. 

  

Module Content 

One topic is delivered per contact week. 

  

Topics 1 and 2 

Basics of Power System Protection 

1. Objectives of protection systems 
2. Attributes of protection systems 
3. Functional components in a protection system 
4. Protection – basic approaches: fuses, release integrated with breakers, and relays 
5. Instrument transformers and their application in protection 
6. Reliable, battery-based power supply for protection systems 
7. Fuses and their application in the protection of feeders 
8. Types of protective release integrated systems with LV circuit breakers 

  

Topics 3 and 4 

Faults: Types and Calculation of Fault Current 

1. Reason for faults in electrical circuits 
2. Types of faults 
3. Principle of fault current calculation 
4. Limiting the fault current magnitude – methods of determining this 
5. Ohmic and per unit impedance, and the calculation of impedance per unit values 
6. Equivalent diagrams for fault current evaluation 
7. Calculation of 3-phase fault current using reduction of equivalent diagram 
8. Maximum and minimum fault currents, implication for protection design 
9. Symmetrical components and application in calculating the current for unbalanced faults 

  

Topics 5 and 6 

Protection Relays and IEDs, Their Setting and Coordination 

1. Types of protection relays based on construction 
2. Time-current characteristics and relay types based on the characteristic 
3. Intelligent electronic devices – essential components 
4. IEC/ANSI equations for time/current characteristics 
5. Determining current setting based on circuit parameters and fault current values 
6. Grading of protection needs and methods (current, time, energy, impedance, direction) 
7. Current/time grading and the different approaches used 
8. Calculation of coordinated setting on current relays using a spreadsheet program 

  

Topics 7 and 8 

Principles of Unit Protection and Protection of Feeders 

1. Unit or differential protection 
2. Comparison with other methods of protection 
3. Applications of unit protection and pitfalls 

4. Protection Requirements for Bushfire mitigation 
5. Feeder protection using current relays 
6. Feeder protection using unit principle 
7. Protection by comparison of phase angle 
8. Distance protection and comparison with unit protection 
9. Distance protection with PLCC or other inter-communication for fast operation 

  

Topic 9 

Transformer Protection 

1. Transformer faults 
2. Over-current protection 
3. Differential protection 
4. Earth fault/REF protection 
5. Temperature based protection 
6. Gas protection 
7. Mounted DGA monitoring for early detection 

  

Topics 10 and 11 

Protection of Electrical Switchgear and Rotating Machines (Generators and Motors) 

1. Busbar protection in outdoor and indoor substations using current relays and unit protection 
2. LV busbar protection with optical (arc) sensing 
3. LV busbar protection with zone selective relaying and communication interlinks 
4. Faults in motors 
5. Winding protection using unit protection approach 
6. Thermal protection 
7. Stall protection 
8. Over-current, earth fault and negative sequence current protection 
9. Generator faults 
10. Protection using current relays 
11. Winding protection using unit approach and sensitive earth fault protection 
12. Temperature based protection 
13. Loss of field and pole-slip protection 

  

Topic 12 

Module Review 

In the final week students will have an opportunity to review the contents covered so far. Opportunity will be provided for a review of student work and to clarify any outstanding issues. Instructors/facilitators may choose to cover a specialized topic if applicable to that cohort. 

  

Software/Hardware Used 

Software 

  • Software: ETAP 19 
  • Version: N/A 
  • Instructions:  N/A 
  • Additional resources or files: N/A 

Hardware 

  • N/A