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OVERCURRENT PROTECTION ASSIGNMENT
FUNCTION:
Over current protection device acts as a protection against overcurrent effects such as overload current
or a short-circuit current. This type of effect will result of the circuit getting fault current. Overcurrent
protection device is also meant to protect against any potential hazard which can result to equipment
damage, injury and even death if the device voltage rating, current rating or interrupting rating is not
properly sets. To make it simple, circuit breaker or fuse can protect a circuit but without any proper
setting of the rating, it can cause an accident or potential danger such as rupture or explode while
attempting to stop the fault.
RATING:
The rating which manipulate most of the action of the protection is very important aspect in designing a
protective device such as overcurrent protection. Every rating plays its own role in isolating the fault
efficiently.
The first is voltage rating. The main condition of overcurrent protection is that the voltage rating must
be greater or equal to the circuit voltage. If the voltage rating is sets lower than the circuit voltage, the
arc supression and ability to extinguish the arc will be impaired which will result the overcurrent
protection may not clear the overcurrent safely.
Current rating should also be properly set as the overcurrent protection device has a specific current
rating. The current rating should not exceed the current carrying capacity of the conductors. For
example, if the current is rated to carry a 30A, the maximum allowed current rating is 20A.
Lastly, interrupting rating. In order to use an overcurrent device, the device must be able to interrupt
the maximum short-circuit current safely so that any process of interruption does not bring any
hazardous situation. The interrupting capacity should be able to interrupt the highest current at rated
voltage of the device in order to use it as a protection device.
TYPES OF PROTECTION:
1. Unit type protection.
Unit type protection protects a specific designated area of the system. It specifically protects
component such as transformer, transmission line, generator or bus bar. This type of protection
uses the concept of Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL) where the sum of current entering the area is
equals to the sum of current leaving area. In this scheme of protection, the protection device
ignored the disturbances or faults happening outside of the zone of protection.
2. Non-unit type protection.
Unlike unit type protection, the non-unit type protection can overlap into other areas that are
protected. It clears the disturbances or faults produce within its zone even though it is
overlapping. This protection usually used as a backup protection.
TYPES OF OVERCURRENT RELAY:
1. Instantaneous overcurrent relay.
Current relay will operate instantaneously when the current reaches the designated value. It
operates using current magnitude only which acts instantaneously. This relay usually applied to
the outgoing feeders.
2. Definite time overcurrent relay.
This type of relay requires two condition in order initiate tripping process which is current must
exceed the setting value and fault must be continuous at least to a time of relay sets. This type
of protection is very efficient. The circuit breaker will only trip when the time of fault is equal to
the time of relay sets.
3. Inverse time overcurrent relay.
This relay operating time is inversed to the changed of current. Overcurrent relay operates
faster when high current is detected unlike the low current. It operates when current exceeds
the pick-up value. Operating time depends on the current magnitude. High current operating
time is faster than a low current operating time.
APPLICATION OF OVERCURRENT RELAY:
1. Motor protection
2. Transmission Line protection
3. Generator protection
4. Distribution protection
