CA1140245A - Method of and a protection relay for protecting electrical equipment - Google Patents

Method of and a protection relay for protecting electrical equipment

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Publication number
CA1140245A
CA1140245A CA000391234A CA391234A CA1140245A CA 1140245 A CA1140245 A CA 1140245A CA 000391234 A CA000391234 A CA 000391234A CA 391234 A CA391234 A CA 391234A CA 1140245 A CA1140245 A CA 1140245A
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
signal
time delay
input signal
value
load current
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000391234A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Tobias D. Schonken
James C. H. Allen
Johan C. Botma
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Multilin Inc
Original Assignee
Multilin Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from CA315,894A external-priority patent/CA1133622A/en
Application filed by Multilin Inc filed Critical Multilin Inc
Priority to CA000391234A priority Critical patent/CA1140245A/en
Priority to CA000397009A priority patent/CA1141830A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1140245A publication Critical patent/CA1140245A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A method of and a protection relay for protecting electrical equipment. The method includes dividing a prede-termined dividend value by a signal corresponding to the load current in the equipment to provide a quotient signal, and then linearly integrating the quotient signal. When the integrated signal reaches a predetermined value, the equipment is tripped. This provides an overload vs tripping time charac-teristic which is substantially linear. The method further provides for sensing whether the equipment is operating in a start up mode or in a normal running mode, and then automatically to select a less sensitive overload vs tripping time charac-teristic when the equipment operates in the start up mode and automatically to switch to a more sensitive characteristic when the equipment reverts to its normal running mode.

Description

114{~2~

A METHOD OF AND A PROTECTION RELAY
FOR PROTECTING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

THIS INVENTION relates to a method of and a moni-toring device for monitoring a signal such as, for example, a signal corresponding to the load current in electrical equipment. More particularly, it relates to a method of and a protection relay for protecting such equipment.
~ n- accordance with one asp-ect of this invention there is provided a method of monitoring an input signal, which comprises dividing a predetermined dividend value by the input signal to provide a quotient signal, integrating the quotient signal with respect to time to provide an integrated signal, and generating an output signal when the integrated -ignal reaches a predetermined value.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is provided a monitoring device for monitoring an input signal, which comprises timing means operative in response to an intermediate signal to generate an output signal at the end of a time delay whereof the length depends non-linearly on the magnitude of the inter-mediate signal during the time delay, and correcting meansoperative in response to the input signal to provide said intermediàte signal to the timing means, the correcting means having a transfer characteristic which is such that the length of the time delay depends substantially linearly on the magnitude of the input signal during the time delay over a~ least a finite range of magnitudes of the input signal, the higher the magnitude of the input signal, the shorter the time delay.
The timing means may be in the form of an integrator for substantially linearly integrating said intermediate signal to provide an integrated signal, the
- 2 -11~02~5 monitoring device may include means for generating said output signal when the integrated signal reaches a prede-termined value, and the correcting means may be in the form of dividing means for dividing a predetermined divi-dend value by the input signal to provide as quotient the intermediate signal.
The dividing means may comprise a triangular wave generator for generating a triangular wave signal, a comparator for comparing the triangular wave signal with said input signal, and a feedback amplifier having a feed-back loop and being operative to amplify said dividend value to provide said intermediate signal, the feedback loop having switching means operative in response to the comparator to switch the feedback loop into or out of circuit depending on whether the instantaneous value of the triangular wave signal respectively exceeds or is less than the input signal ~y a predetermined amount.
The switching means may be in the form of a solid state analogue switch.
The monitoring device may further comprise detecting means for detecting when the instantaneous value of the triangular w.ve signal respectively exceeds or is less than the input signal by said predetermined amount for at least a whole cycle of the triangular wave signal, the detecting means being operatively connected to the means for generating said output signal, thereby, in response to such occurrence, to cause the generation of said output signal.
The detecting means may comprise a counting circuit which is operatively connected to the triangular wave generator for being advanced one count for every cycle of the triangular wave generator, and which is further operatively connected to the output of the comparator for being reset whenever the instantaneous value of the triangular wave signal respectively exceeds or is less than the input signal by said predetermined amount, whereby, when the counter reaches a predetermined count of at least two, the means for generating said output signal is caused to generate said output signal.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is provided a monitoring device for monitoring an input signal, which comprises dividing means for dividing a prede-termined dividend value by the input signal to provide a quotient signal, an integrator for integrating the quotient signal with respect to time to provide an integrated signal, and timing means operative in response to the integrated lS signal to generate an output signal when the integrated signal reaches a predetermined value.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is provided a protection relay for protecting electri-cal equipment, which comprises means for providing an input signal representative of the degree by which the current flowing in the equipment exceeds a predetermined full load value, dividing means for dividing a predetermined dividend value by the input signal to provide a quotient signal, an integrator for integrating the quotient signal with respect to time, and timing means operative in response to the inte-grated signal to generate an output signal when the integrated signal reaches a predetermined value, whereby, in operation~ the output signal is capable of being used for tripping said equipment.
The means for providing said input signal may include a high precision rectifier to provide said input slgnal as a DC signal where said current is an AC current.

Z~5 According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a method of protecting electrical equip-ment wherein load current during start up, when the equip-ment operates in a start up mode, exceeds a predetermined full load value and thereafter drops to a value equal to or less than the predetermined full load value when the equipment operates in a running mode, which method com-prises: obtaining an input signal representative of the load current; providing switchable time delay means being switchable between a starting condition and a running condition; feeding the input signal to the switchable time delay means, the switchable time delay means being operative in each of its said conditions in response to the input signal to generate an output signal at the end of a time delay whereof the length depends on the degree by which the load current exceeds the predetermined full load value during the time delay, the time delay when the switchable time delay means is in the starting condi-tion, being longer than that when it is in the running conditlon for the same load current; sensing whether the equipment operates in the start up mode by sensing when the load current rises beyond the predetermined full load value at more than a predetermined rate or in the running mode by sensing when the load current thereafter falls to below the predetermined full load value; auto-matically switching the switchable time delay means to its starting or running condition according to whether the equipment operates in the start up or running mode respectively; and causing said output signal to trip the equipment.

114~Z~5 In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is provided a protection relay for protect-ing electrical equipment wherein load current during start up, when the equipment operates in a start up mode, exceeds a predetermined full load value and thereafter drops to a value equal to or less than the predetermined full load value when the equipment operates in a running mode, which comprises: means for providing an input signal representa-tive of the load current; switchable time delay means operatively connected to the means for providing said input signal and being switchable between a starting condition and a running condition in each of which conditions it is adapted in response to the input signal to generate an output signal capable of being used for tripping said equipment, said output signal being gene-rated at the end of a time delay whereof the length depends on the degree by which the load current exceeds the predetermined full load value during the time delay, the time delay when the switchable time delay means is in the starting condition being longer than that when it is in tho running condition for the same load current;
ser.~ing means for sensing whether the equipment operates in the start up mode by sensing when the load current rises beyond the predetermined full load value at more than a predetermined rate, or in the running mode by sensing when the load current thereafter falls to below the predetermined full load value; and means operatively connected to the sensing means for automatically switch-ing the switchable time delay means to its starting or running condition according to whether the equipment operates in the start up or running mode respectively.

V~S

The switchable time delay means may include a pair of adjustable attenuators, and switching means for selectively connecting one of the adjustable attenuators, according to whether the equipment operates in the start up or running mode, in circuit to attenuate said input signal.
The switching means may be in the form of a pair of solid state analogue switches, each associated with one of the attenuators.

The switchable time delay rneans may include a monitoring device as described above, the switching means being operative selectively to connect one of the attenuators bet-"een the means for providing said input signal and the monitoring device.

Alternatively, the switchable time delay means may include an amplifier connected to the means for providing said input signal, a pair of adjustable attenuators, and switching means for selectively switching one of the attenuators in circuit as feedback element for the amplifier according to whether the equipment operates in the start up or running mode.

The switching means may in this case also be in the form of a pair of solid state analogue switches, each associ-ated with one of the attenuators.

The switchable time delay means includes a monitoring device as described above, operatively connected to the outaut of the amplifier.

The invention will now be described in more detall, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a protection relay in accordance Witil one embodiment of the inventioll;

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of an analogue voltage divider forlning part of the protection relay of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a graph (shown by a chain-dotted line) of the starting current of an electric motor plotted against time, with timing curves (solid lines) of the protection relay superimposed thereon;

Figure 4 shows a block diagram of a protection relay in accordance with a slightly different embodiment of the invention; and Figures 5 to 8 are more detailed circuit diagrams each showing part of the protection relay of Figure 4.

The values of resistors and capacitors are given in Figures 5 to 8 of the drawings. An "L" in a circle denotes a connection to a negative supply rail (at a potent~ial of about -6v) of the circuit, an "H" in a circle denotes a connection to a positive supply rail (at a potential of about +6v), and a small triangle with one of its apices pointing downwardly denotes a connection to a centre rail having a potential lying midway between that of the "L" and "H" rails.

The integrated circuits used are of the Ci~lOS
integrated circuit family available from, for e~ample, ~iotorola or KCA. In the drawings the pin members of the integrated circuits are indicated inside tlle ~locks reprcsenting thc integrated circuits.

In Figure 1, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a protection relay for monitoring the load current I flowills via a thrce-pllase feeder 11 from an elcctrical supply 1~ to a `` 11~2~5 load 14. The protection relay device has a trip relay 16 wit~.
tripping contacts 18 for tripping a circuit breaker (not shown) in the feeder 11.

An input signal corresponding to the load current I
is obtained by means of a current transformer 20 associated with one of the phases of the feeder 11. The input signal is fed via an adjustable attenuator 22 to an AC to DC converter 24 to provide a dc signal A which is substantially directly proportional to the magnitude of the load current I.

The signal A is fed to a first subtracting circuit 26 to provide at its output a signal C which is proportional to the difference between the signal A and a constant value B.

Thus, C = Xl(A-B), where Xl is a constant.

The signal C is fed to two adjustable attenuators 28.1 and 28.2, the output of any one of which is, at any one time, connectable via electronic switches 30.1 and 30.2 respectively, to the input of a second subtracting circuit 32 to provide a signal D to the second subtracting circuit. ~he second subtracting circuit provides at its output a si nal F

which is prol~ortional to the difference between a constant value E and the siynal D.

Thus, F = K2(~-D), where K2 is a constant.

Also, D = K3(C), where K3 is a constant w]llch will depcnd on whicll of tlle adjustable attenuators 2~.1, 28.2 has been selected, and on the setting of the selected at.el.uato~

ll~VZ~5 Thus, F = K5 - K4.A, where K4 = Kl.K2.K3, a constant and K5 = K4.B + K2.E, a constant.

The signal F is fed to the input of a time delay device 34 which comprises a correcting circuit in the form of an analogue voltage divider 36 connected in series with a timer in the form of a voltage controlled time delay circuit 38. The output of the time delay device is arranged to energise the relay 16, thus to provide a trip signal by means of the relay contacts 18.

The voltage controlled time delay circuit 38 may be a time delay circuit of the conventional type exhibitiny a hyperbolic time delay characteristic. Thus, if a voltage H is applied to the input of the circuit 38 it will provide an output signal at its output after a time delay T which is a function of H, mathematically representable as follo~s:

T = f(H) = H

where K6 is a constant.

Tlle time delay circuit may also ]~e of the type exhibiting a decaying exponelltial time delay characteristic.
Such a time delay characteristic may, ~or e~ample, be provided ~y an ~-C circui~ and may be represented mathematically as follo~s:

T = f(H) = ~7~e~H
wllere K7 is a constant.

)Z4~

Where the voltage con.rolled time delay circuit exhibits fairly accurately a hyperbolic time delay character-istic, the correcting circuit may be a simple analogue voltase divider as indicated in the drawings. This will provide from a signal F at its input an intermediate signal H at its output, where H = F, G being a constant T = H = K8.F where K8 = G , a constant From this it follows that:
T = K9 KlO.A
where K9 = K8 .K5, a constant, and K10 = K8.K4, a constant This represents a time delay characteristic having a constant negative slope K10.

In order to actlvate the time delay circuit only ~hen the load current exceeds a maximum permissible value, the value of B is chosen to represent the current at maximum permissible load. The signal C will thus be positive only wnell the current I exceeds this maximum permissible value. An overload discriminator 40 is conllected to detect v~llen C becomes positive and then to interconnect the analo~ue voltage divider 36 to the voltage contl-olled time delay circuit 38 by means of an electronic switch 42.

114VZ~S
The adjustable attenuators 28.1 and 28.2 are individually selectable by means of a start signal discrimin-ator 44. This discriminator receives its inputs respectively from the output of the AC to DC converter 24 and the output of the overload discriminator 40. It is arranged to detect when the current I increases at more than a predetermined rate from zero to a value beyond the maximum permissible current. When this condition prevails it switches the electronic switch 30.1 on and the electronic switch 30.2 off. I~henever the current I
is below the maximum permissible value, the discriminator 44 will switch on the electronic switch 30.2 and switch off the electronic switch 30.1.

- The analogue voltage divider 36 is shown in more detail in Figure 2. It comprises a triangular wave generator 46, the output of which (graphically shown at 48), together wit~ the signal F, are fed to a voltage comparator S0. The voltage comparator is arranged to provide at its output a square wave signal (graphically shown at 52), which goes high whenever the value of the triangular wave e~ceeds the value of F, giving a duty cycle PtQ which decreases linearly as F
increases.

The analogue voltage divider 36 further comprises an amplifier 54 with a switchable negative feedback loop 56 havirlg a filter 58. The feedback loop 56 is i.ntelrupted by an electronic switch 60 actuated by thc output of the voltage comparator. ~rhus, when F is higll and the duty cycle P/Q

accordingly low, the feedback loop 56 is switched in circuit most of tlle time, giving a low output signal ~. Converselv, if 2~S
F is low and the duty cycle P/Q accordingly high, the feedback.
loop 56 is switched out of circuit most of the time, giving a high output signal H. Between limits, the output signal H will approximately have the value H = FG

Time delay characteristics 62 obtainable by the circuit described above are plotted in Figure 3. The time delay is marked off in seconds on the x-coordinate, and the number of times the load current exceeds the normal full load current is marked off on the y-coordinate. The slope of the character-istics between zero time delay and a time delay of lOO seconds is adjustable by adjusting the attenuators 28.l and 28.2 (see Figure l). Thus, two different characteristics may be selected on the two attenuators 28.l and 28.2.

At 64 there is shown a typical starting current curve of an electric motor. Upon switch-on the current according to this curve rapidly increases to about 8 or 9 times the full load current and then drops down to a value less than full load current.

To protect such a motor, the attenuator 28.l is set to select a characteristic which gives zero time delay at about 9 or lO times the maximum permissible load current. The attenuator 28.2 is set to select a characteristic which gives zero time delay at, say, 2 or 3 timcs the ma~imum permissible load current.

` il~V2~5 Refer.ing again to Figure 2 of the drawings, the voltage comparator 50 may alternatively be arranged to provide at its output a square wave signal which goes high whenever the value of F exceeds the value of the triangular wave, giving a duty cycle P/Q which increases linearly as F increases. The electronic switch 60 will then be operated in the phase opposite to that described above.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a protec-tion relay 100 which has an input terminal 102 whereby, like the monitoring device 10 of Figures 1 to 3, it is connectable to a current transformer 20 associated with one of the phases of a three phase feeder 11 interconnecting a supply 12 to a load 14. The protection relay 100 comprises:
an adjus~able attenuator 104 connected to the input terminal 102 via a connection 103;
a buffer amplifier 106 connected to the adjustable attenu-ator 104 via a connection 108;
an AC to DC converter 110 connected to the buffer ampli-fier 106 via a DC isolating cauacitor 112;
an adding circuit 114 connected to the AC to DC converter 110 via a connection 116 and to which a signal to be added is fed via a connection 118;
an adjustable feedback amplifier 120 conllected to tlle adding circuit 114 via a conllectioll 122, and coJnprising a forward loop amplifier 124, a pair of adjustablc attenuators 126.1 and 126.2 ~llich are each selecti~ely swi.tcl7able in circuit as feedback element by means of electronic switc!les 128.1 and 128.2 respectively;

a combined adding and analoaue voltage dividing circuit 130 connected to the adjustable feedbac}; amplifier 120 via a connection 132, to which a signal to be added is fed via a connection 134 and to which a signal to be used as a dividend is fed via a connection 136;
a voltage controlled time delay circuit 138 connected to the combined adding and analogue voltage dividing circuit 130 via a connection 140, an electronic switch 142, and a connec-tion 144;
a short circuit detecting circuit 146 connected to the circuit 130 via two connections 148 and 150;
an OR-gate 152 having its one input connected to the output of the circuit 138 via a connection 154 and its other input to the short circuit detecting circuit 146 via a connection 156;
a latching circuit 158 connected to the output of the OR-gate 152 via a connection 160;
a trip reiay 162 connected to the latching circuit 158 via a connection 164 and having tripping contacts 166 which can be utilised to trip a circuit ~reaker (not shown) in the feeder 11;
an overlaod discriminator 168 connected to the output of the adjustable feedback al,lplifier 120 via a connection 170, an R-C smoothing ci.rcuit 172, and a connection 174, and having its output connected to the electronic switch 142 via a connection 176; and a start signal discriminator 178 havillg one of its inputs connected to the output of the oveLload discri.minator 168 via an inverter 180 and a connection 182, and havillg its other input con1lected to the output of the AC to DC converter 113 via )2~5 a connection 1&4, the output of the start signal discriminator 178 being connected to the electronic switches 128.1, 128.2 vi~
connections 186 (as will be seen later, there are two connec-tions 186, one for each of the electronic switches 128.1 and 128.2).

As will be seen in Figure 6, the combined adding and analogue vol,age dividing circuit 130 comprises:
a triangular wave generator 188;
a voltage adder and comparator 190 which has three inputs, one of which is connected to the ou,put of the triangular wave generator 188 via a connection 192, a second of which is the connection 134 referred to above, and the third input of which is connected to the output of the adjustable feedback amplifier 120 via the connection 132; and an operational amplifier 194 with a switchable negative feedback loop having a low pass filter 196 and an electronic switch 198, the electronic switch 198 being operable by the output of the voltage adder and comparator 190 via a connection 200.

The positive input of the amplifier 194 is connected to a fixed reference voltage via the connection 136, and the output thereof ic collnected to the electron.ic switcil 142 via the connection 140.

The circuit will now be described in more detail with referellce to ~igures S to 8.

_ ~ _ , . . _ _ . .. . , .. . . . . _ .. . . .. . . .. . . .

2~5 '., The adjustable attenuator 104 (Figure 5) comprises a shunt resistor 202 for the current transformer 20, and a variable resistor 204. The variable resistor 204 is graduated with markings indicating the current which will be considered by the device as full load current.

The buffer amplifier 106 comprises an operational amplifier 206 which is connected to have a predetermined gain which can be preset by n~eans of a preset resistor 208.

The AC to DC converter 110 comprises a pair of operational amplifiers 210 and 212 and a pair of diodes 214 and 216 which are connected in a manner known per se to form a high precision full wave rectifier. The rectifier is termed 'high precision' because it is able to rectify very small voltages, unlike an ordinary rectifier which, if it makes use of silicon diodes, is not able to pass voltages of less than about 0,6V.
The AC to DC converter 110 also includes a capacitor 218 having a capacitance which is sufficiently high to smooth the rectified output of the rectifier.

The preset resistor 208 is set such that, when full load current, as set on the variable resistor 204, flows from the supply 12 to the load 14, the output of the AC to DC
converter 110 is about 200mV.

Tlle adding circuit 114 comyrises an operational ampli~ier 220 having its negative input connected to the connection 116 via a resistor 222, and to tlle ne-,ative rail v;a rcsistors 224 and 226. The resistor 226 is a yreset resistor.

Accordingl~y, the adding circuit 11~ will add a fi~ed negative reference voltage, the magnitude of which will depend on the setting of the preset resistor 226, to the output of the AC to DC converter 110, and invert the resulting sum.

In the adjustable feedback amplifier 120 the adjustable attenuators 126.1 and 126.2 are each in the form of a potentiometer, and the electronic switches 128.1 and 128.2 are in the form of a 4066 integrated circuit 228. This is a four channel analogue switch only two channels of which are utilised. The sliders of the potentiometers 126,1 and 126.2 are respectively connected via the electronic switches 128.1 and 128.2 to the negative input of the operational amplifier 124. The two control terminals of the electronic switches 128.1 and 128.2 are, as will be seen in Figure 7, interconnec-ted via the connections 186 by means of an inverter 230, so that, when one of the switches 128.1, 128.2 is switched off the other one will be switched on, and vice versa.

The triangular wave generator 188 (Figure 6) com-prises a 555N integrated circuit 232, an illverter 234, a resistor 236, an operational amplifier 238, and a capacitor 240 conn-cted as shown in the drawing to provide a free running oscillator producing a triangular wave of a frequency of a~out 1,2 Hz on its output, ie the connection 192. The wave form of tllis output ls as that shown graphically at 48 in Figure 2.

' The voltage adder and comparator circuit 190 (Figure 6) comprises an operational amplifier 242 havlllg its posi.tive i.nput connected via a resistor 244 to the conllection 192, via resistors 246 and 248 to the connection 1'4, and via resistors 250 and 252 to the connection 132. The connection 134 is connected to the positive rail to provide a fixed reference voltage. The resistors 246 and 250 are preset resistors, per-mitting adjustment of the circuit.

Because of inversion by the amplifier 220, the effect of the adder and comparator circuit 190 will be to provide the difference between a fixed value (depending on the se(tting of the preset resistor 246) and the output voltage of the amplifier 124, and to compare this difference with the output of the triangular wave generator 188, ie on its connection 192.
IYhen the difference is less than the output of the triangular wave generator 188, then the output of the amplifier 242 will switch to a low value, whereas if the difference is more than the output of the triangular wave generator, it will switch to a high value. The preset resistors 246 and 250 are set to such a value that when the voltage of the connection 192 is zero and full load current, as set on the variable resistor 204 (Figure 5), flows from the supply 12 to the load 14, then the voltage on the positive input of the amplifier 242 will he zero. If the load current is below its full load value, the voltage on ~he positive input of the amplifier 242 will be positive, and if the load currcnt exceeds its full load va]ue, the voltage will be neyative.

The fixed reference voltage ror the amplifier 19~ is provided by a voltaye divider 252 connected bet~eell the positive and centre rails. This providcs a rererence voltage of about lOOmV on tlle conllection 136.

11402~5 The electronic switch 198 is provided by t~o of the channels of a four channel analogue switch which is in the form of a 4066 integrated circuit 254. Hereby the negative input of the amplifier 194 via the low pass filter 196 can be switched either to the output of the amplifier 194 via a connection 256 or to the centre rail via a connection 258. The low pass filter 196 comprises a resistor 260 and a capacitor 262. To switch the electronic switch 198, the output of the amplifier 242 is connected to the control terminal (pin 13) of that channel which is connected to the connection 258, via the connection 200 and an inverter 264, and the control terminal for the other channel (pin 5) is connected to the control terminal of the first channel via a further inverter 266, thus ensuring that when one of the channels is switched on the other will be switched off and vice versa.

The electronic switch 142 (Figure 6) is formed by tlle third and fourth channels of the circuit 254. The third channel is utilised to connect the connection 144 to the connection 140 via resistors 268 and 270, and the fourth channel is utilised to connect the connec,ion 144 to the negative rail via a resistcr 272. Tl~e connection 176 is connected to the control terminal (pin 12) for the third channel and the control terminal (pin 6) for the fourth channel is connected via the inverter 180 to the control terminal for the third chanllel to ellsure t}lat, whell the third challllel is swi.~ched on, the fourth challnel is switched off, and v.ice versa.

2~S
The voltage controlled time delay circuit 138 (Figure 6) comprises an operational amplifier 274 having a capacitor 276 and a diode 278 connected in parallel as feed back element.
It will thus act as an integrator.

The latching circuit 158 (Figure 8) comprises a bistable multivibrator 280, the set terminal S of which is connected to the connection 160. The Q terminal thereof is connected via an inverter 282, a gating diode 284, a further inverter 286, an R-C smoothing circuit 288, yet a further inverter 290, and a resistor 292, via the connection 164, to the base of a switching transistor 294. A coil 296 of the relay 162 is connected to the collector of the transistor 294.
A free wheeling diode 297 is connected across the coil 296 of the relay 162.

In order to allow the bistable multivibrator 280 to be reset, its reset terminal R is connected by means of a connection 298 to the positive rail via a reset button 300. A
light emitting diode 302 is connected to the output of the inverter 282 to provide an indication when the bistable multi-vibrator 280 is set, ie to indicate that a trip has occurred.

The latching circuit 158 comprises a further bistable multivibrator 304 with associated circuitry 'or switching and latching the relay 162. This may be used to switch the relay in response, or e~.lmple, to an unba]allce s;.gllal fed to the S
terminal of the circuit 304 vi.a a collllection 306. The circuit for obtaining the unbalance sigllal docs not form part o the urcsent invention and is accoL-dingly not hercill described or illustrated.

ll~OZ~S
The overload discriminator 168 (Figure 6) co.nprises an operational amplifier 308 which is connected as a Schmitt trigger.

The start signal discriminator 178 (Figure 7) comprises a 555N integrated circuit 310 and an operational amplifier 312. The connection 184 from the AC to DC converter 110 (Figure 5) is connected to the negative input of the operational amplifier 312, and the positive input of the operational amplifier 312 is connected to a voltage divider 314 connected between the positive and central rails to provide a reference voltage of about 40mV. The output of the operational amplifier 312 is connected to the triyger terminal (pin 2) of the circuit 310 via a capacitor 316. Pins 4 and 8 OL the circuit 310 are bridged and connected to the pin 2 via a resistor 318. Pins 6 and 7 are bridged and connected via an R-C time delay circuit 320 (providing a time delay of about 300ms) to the connection 182. A light emitting diode 322 is connected between the positive rail and the connection 182 so as to provide an indication of the existence of an overload condition on the feeder 11. The output of the circuit 310 (pin
3) is connected to one of the lines 186, the two llnes lS6 being, as mentioned above, interconnected by tlle inverter 230.
A light emitting diode 32~ is connected bet-.Jeen the outpu~ of the inverter 230 and the positive rail so as-to yive an indication whell the device is in the start mode.

; The short circuit detector 146 (Figure 6) compriscs a decade counter 326 in the form of a 4017A integL-ated circuit having its cloc~ terminal CL (pin 14) connected via the -2'-)2~5 conneCtiOn 148 to the output Oc the inverter 234 in the tri-angular wave generator 188. Its '9' terminal (pin 11) is connected to the positive input of the OR-gate 152 via a voltage divider comprising resistances 328 and 330. Its reset terminal R (pin 15) is connected to the ou.put of the inverter 266 via the connection 150.

The operation of the device 100 is basically similar to that of the device 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3 and will therefore be discussed very briefly, the emphasis being on the differences.

The AC to DC converter 110 provides at its output a voltage which increases linearly as the current I increases.
In the adder circuit 114 a fixed negative voltage is added to this voltage, which is equivalent to subtracting a fixed positive voltage as in the subtracting circuit 26 of the device 10, and in addition the sum is inverted, thus providing an output voltage which is high when tlle current I is low, drops to zero when the current I is at its full load value, and becomes negative when tlle current I exceeds its ull load value.

The adjustable feedback amplifier 120 has e.~actly the same function as the adjustable attelluatoL-s 28.1 and 28.2 of the device 10, except that the feedback amplifier 120 is able to attelluate as well as to ampliy.

The com~ined adding and analogue voltage dividi!lg circuit 130 difers rom tllat illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in il~V~S
that it combines the subtracting and comparison functions of the circuits 32 and S0 in a single adder and comparator 190.
Because the voltage on the connection 132 of the device 100 is an inverted representation of the load current I, the addition of a reference voltage (via connection 134) in the circuit 190 has the same effect as subtraction of the value E in the circuit 32 of the devicè 10.

Like in the device 10, a square wave signal as indicated at 52 in Figure 2 will appear on the connection 200.
For low load currents the duty cycle P/Q will be high. The preset resistors 246 and 250 will be set such that when the current I drops below full load current, the duty cycle will be 100~. Under these conditions the output of the amplifier 194 will be swi~ched to its negative input all the time thus providing an output voltage on the amplifier 194 equal to the voltage on the input connection 136, ie lOOmV. For a 50~ duty cycle the output voltage of the amplifier will be about double, that is 200mV. For very high load currents the duty cycle will be very low so that the output voltage of the amplifier 194 will be very high. I~hén the duty cycles decreases to less than about 2'i%, eg under short circuit conditions the amplifier 194 will go into saturation, ie at an output voltage of about 4v.
Thus, the circuit 130 will not be able to discrimlnate bet~een heavy overloads alld short circuit.

In order to provide for rapid tril~ping of the circuit breaker in the feeder 11 under(~short circuit conditions the short circuit detector 146 is arranged to detect wllen the duty cycle falls to zero. This will llappen at the point at whicil ;9Z~5 the curve 62 selected on the attenuator 126.1 or 126.2 intersects the y-co-ordinate in the graph of Figure 3. This takes place as follows. The square wave output of the circuit 232 is fed to the decade counter 326 which will attempt to advance one count for each cycle of the square wave. However, its reset terminal R receives pulses from the output 200 of the amplifier 242, and for as long as the duty cycle is bet~leen 0 and 100~ the counter 326 will be reset each cycle. But when the duty cycle falls to zero, the pulses on the output 200 will disappear. The counter 326 will then rapidly count to 'nine' so that the output of its pin 11 will go from a negative value to a high value. At a frequency of 1,2 Hz this will take place within a fraction of a second. The voltage on the pin 11 is then fed to the latching circuit 158 via the OR-gate 152 to cause tripping of the circuit breaker. Because the decade counter 326 has to receive nine pulses uninterruptedly before causillg tripping, it will effectively prevent the device from tripping spuriously due to noise or transient conditions.

Whereas the overload discriminator 40 in the device 10 is connected to the output of the subtracting circuit 26, the overload discriminator 168 vf the device 100 is conllected to the output of the variable feedback amplifier 1,0. ~s the discriminators 40, 168 are merely polarity detectors, this docs not make any real difference. The o~-erload discrimina~or 168 is arrange~ as a Schmitt trigger to pL-ovide positive s~itching ~hen the load current is at or close ~o its full load value.

In the start sigllal discriminator 178 the ~?lirier 312 is arranged SllCh that ~hell the ],oad currellt (a re~rese:l-2~5 tative value of which is obtained via the connection 184) increases sufficiently rapidly beyond 20% of its full load value (ie representing 40mV for a full load representa.ive voltage of 200mV) a setting pulse is fed via the capacitor 316 to the circuit 310, causing its output (pin 3) to go high.
This will switch the attenuator 126.1, say, for the start curve into circuit. At the same time the pin 6 is freed to go positive. However, if the load current continues to rise to above its full load value, the voltage on the connection 182 will go low so that a capacitor 320.1 of the R-C circuit 320 will remain substantially uncharged. However, if the load current remains below its full load value or subsequently drops below its full load value, the voltage on the connection 182 will go high, charge the capacitor 320.1 so that after a time delay of about 300ms the circuit 310 will be reset and its pin 3 go low. This causes the adjustable attenuator 126.1 to be switched out of circuit and tlle adjustable attenuator 126.2 for the run curve to be switched into circuit.

l~hen, during normal conditions, the negative input of the amplifier 274 is switched to the necTative rail, the diode 278 will tie the output of the amplifier to zero potential.
~hen, during overload conditions, the negative input of the amplifier 274 is switched to the output of th~ emplifier 194, the amplifier 274 will start integrating, so that its output voltage will fall from zero to a negative value at a rate depending on the ~utput voltage of the amplifier 194. ~Tlth the '9' terminal of the decade coun~er 326 at a nesative value, the positive input connection 15G of ~he or~-~ate 152 will be held at about -3V. 'l'hus, as soon as the volta~3e on the nesative ll~V245 input connection 154 drops to less than -3V, the output of the OR-gate will go high. The time taken for the voltage to drop .o this level will be inversely proportional to the output voltage of the amplifier 194, giving a hyperbolic relationship.

As soon as the output of the OR-gate 152 goes high, the latching circuit 178 will operate to switch off the transistor 294. This de-energises the relay 162 causin~ its tripping contacts to operate so as to cause tripping of the circuit breaker in the feeder 11.

As the relay 162 is energised during normal load conditions, the device 100 will fail to safety. After it has tripped, the device 100 may be reset by pushing the reset button 300.

In order to facilitate selection of the appropriate setting of the attenuator 126.1 for the start curve, a specially calibrated voltmeter may ~e used, which is connec-table between the negative rail and the output of the amplifier 194. The voltmeter may conveniently be calibrated in seconds so as to give a direct indication of tripping time for a particular voltage on the output of ~he amplifiel- 194. Thus, w]len setting up the device 100, the load 14 is switched on and the voltmeter observed. Immediately after switcil on, ~hile the load current is still at its maximum value the attenuator 126.1 is adjusted so as ~to give the desired time rcaQing eg 20 seconds. Tllis will mean that, at that settiny the cdevice 100 will trip after 20 seconds if the starti!lg current is main-tained for lonc~er than this time.

11~024S

The protection relays described with reference to the illustrated embodiments have the advantage that they can be set accurately to discriminate at long time delay settings up to 100 seconds as well as at short time delay settings. In conventional protection relays having time delay character-istics of the hyperbolic type, accurate discrimination at high and low load currents is difficult due to the very large and small slopes at such currents, respectively, of the time delay characteristic. The protection relays described have the further advantage that they are automatically switched to a less sensitive mode during start-up conditions and auto-matically revert to the normal run mode when the starting current surge has subsided.

Claims (15)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A method of protecting electrical equipment wherein load current during start up, when the equipment operates in a start up mode, exceeds a predetermined full load value and thereafter drops to a value equal to or less than the predetermined full load value when the equipment operates in a running mode, which method comprises obtaining an input signal representative of the load current:
providing switchable time delay means being switchable between a starting condition and a running condition;
feeding the input signal to the switchable time delay means, the switchable time delay means being operative in each of its said conditions in response to the input signal to generate an output signal at the end of a time delay whereof the length depends on the degree by which the load current exceeds the predetermined full load value during the time delay, the time delay when the switchable time delay means is in the starting condition, being longer than that when it is in the running condition for the same load current;
sensing whether the equipment operates in the start up mode by sensing when the load current rises beyond the predetermined full load value at more than a predetermined rate or in the running mode by sensing when the load current thereafter falls to below the predetermined full load value;
automatically switching the switchable time delay means to its starting or running condition according to whether the equipment operates in the start up or running mode respectively;
and causing said output signal to trip the equipment.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the input signal is proportional to the degree by which the load current exceeds the predetermined full load value.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the switchable time delay means is operative in each of said conditions to generate said output signal by providing, in response to the input signal, a derived signal which becomes smaller as the input signal becomes bigger, dividing a predetermined dividend value by the derived signal to provide a quotient signal, integrating the quotient signal with respect to time to provide an integrated signal, and generating said output signal when the integrated signal reaches a predetermined value.
4. A protection relay for protecting electrical equipment wherein load current during start up, when the equipment operates in a start up mode, exceeds a predetermined full load value and thereafter drops to a value equal to or less than the predetermined full load value when the equipment operates in a running mode, which comprises means for providing an input signal representative of the load current;
switchable time delay means operatively connected to the means for providing said input signal and being switchable between a starting condition and a running condition in each of which conditions it is adapted in response to the input signal to generate an output signal capable of being used for tripping said equipment, said output signal being generated at the end of a time delay whereof the length depends on the degree by which the load current exceeds the predetermined full load value during the time delay, the time delay when the switchable time delay means is in the starting condition being longer than that when it is in the running condition for the same load current;
sensing means for sensing whether the equipment operates in the start up mode by sensing when the load current rises beyond the predetermined full load value at more than a predetermined rate, or in the running mode by sensing when the load current thereafter falls to below the predetermined full load value, and means operatively connected to the sensing means for automatically switching the switchable time delay means to its starting or running condition according to whether the equipment operates in the start up or running mode respectively.
5. A protection relay as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said switchable time delay means includes a pair of adjustable attenuators, and switching means for selectively connecting one of the adjustable attenuators, according to whether the equipment operates in the start up or running mode, in circuit to attenuate said input signal.
6. A protection relay as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the switching means is in the form of a pair of solid state analogue switches, each associated with one of the attenuators.
7. A protection relay as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said switchable time delay means includes an amplifier connected to the means for providing said input signal, a pair of adjustable attenuators, and switching means for selectively switching one of the attenuators in circuit as feedback element for the amplifier according to whether the equipment operates in the start up or running mode.
8. A protection relay as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the switching means is in the form of a pair of solid state analogue switches, each associated with one of the attenuators.
9. A protection relay as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the input signal is proportional to the degree by which the load current exceeds the predetermined full load value, and wherein the switchable time delay means comprises means for providing in each of said conditions, in response to the input signal, a derived signal which becomes smaller as the input signal becomes bigger, dividing means for dividing a predetermined dividend value by the derived signal to provide a quotient signal, and timing means which includes an integrator for integrating the quotient signal with respect to time to provide an integrated signal, and a level detector operative in response to the integrator to generate said output signal when the integrated signal reaches a predetermined value.
10. A protection relay as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the dividing means comprises a triangular wave generator for generating a triangular wave signal, a comparator for comparing the triangular wave signal with said derived signal, and a feedback amplifier having a feedback loop and being operative to amplify said dividend value to provide said quotient signal, the feedback loop having switching means operative in response to the comparator to switch the feedback loop into or out of circuit depending on whether the instantaneous value of the triangular wave signal respectively exceeds or is less than the derived signal.
11. A protection relay as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the switching means is in the form of a solid state analogue switch.
12. A protection relay as claimed in Claim 10, which further comprises detecting means for detecting when the instantaneous value of the triangular wave signal respectively exceeds or is less than the derived signal for at least a whole cycle of the triangular wave signal, the detecting means being operative in response to such occurrence, to cause the generation of said output signal.
13. A protection relay as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the detecting means comprises a counting circuit which is operatively connected to the triangular wave generator for being advanced one count for every cycle of the triangular wave generator, and which is further operatively connected to the output of the comparator for being reset whenever the instantaneous value of the triangular wave signal respectively exceeds or is less than the derived signal whereby, when the counter reaches a predetermined count of at least two, said output signal is generated.
14. A protection relay as claimed in any one of Claims 4, 5 or 6, wherein the input signal is proportional to the degree by which the load current exceeds the predetermined full load value, and wherein the switchable time delay means comprises timing means operative in each of said conditions, in response to an intermediate signal, to generate said output signal at the end of a time delay whereof the length depends non-linearly on the magnitude of the intermediate signal during the time delay, and correcting means operative in response to said input signal to provide said intermediate signal to the timing means, the correcting means having a transfer characteristic which is such that the length of the time delay, in each of said conditions, depends substantially linearly on the magnitude of the input signal during the time delay over at least a finite range of magnitudes of the input signal, the higher the magnitude of the input signal, the shorter the time delay.
15. A protection relay as claimed in any one of Claims 4, 5 or 6, wherein the means for providing said input signal includes a high precision rectifier to provide said input signal as a DC signal where said load current is an AC current.
CA000391234A 1978-11-07 1981-11-30 Method of and a protection relay for protecting electrical equipment Expired CA1140245A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000391234A CA1140245A (en) 1978-11-07 1981-11-30 Method of and a protection relay for protecting electrical equipment
CA000397009A CA1141830A (en) 1981-11-30 1982-02-24 Method of and a protection relay for protecting electrical equipment

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA315,894A CA1133622A (en) 1978-11-07 1978-11-07 Method of and a protection relay for protecting electrical equipment
CA000391234A CA1140245A (en) 1978-11-07 1981-11-30 Method of and a protection relay for protecting electrical equipment

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1140245A true CA1140245A (en) 1983-01-25

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000391234A Expired CA1140245A (en) 1978-11-07 1981-11-30 Method of and a protection relay for protecting electrical equipment

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1140245A (en)

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