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TIME-LIMIT RELAYS.
BY GEORGE F. CHELLIS.
ALTERNATOR RELAYS.
The type and design of the ideal relay for the protection of
alternators will depend upon the conditions under which it is
to operate. A relay should operate on overload at normal
pressure; on short circuit at zero pressure, or reduced pressure, or
when the direction of the flow of energy is reversed. It can be
designed to operate in the event of any of these conditions pre-
vailing, and each at a different value, in which case a differential
relay would be required. The principal advantages of the
differential relay are that it can be so designed as to permit the
alternator to be loaded to its maximum current capacity at
normal pressure without danger of being cut out, and also op-
erate on short circuit, when the pressure is zero, at a point
sufficiently under the short-circuit current of the alternator
to allow a suitable factor of safety. Compared with the straight
overload relay, set to operate on, short circuit with an equal
factor of safety, at power-factor values usually attained (50%
and higher), it will permit a greater load being carried at any
operative pressure.
Assuming that the relay is to operate on short circuit and
reversal, but not on overload at normal pressure, the ideal
relay should have the following characteristics:
1. It should permit the alternator to be loaded to its max-
imum current capacity at normal pressure.
2. It should limit the current on short circuit to not more
than 75% of, the short-circuit current of the alternator.
3. It should limit the current on reversal to the lowest value
at which no difficulty is experienced when synchronizing.
4. It should be provided with a positive time-limiting device,
the time adjustment of which is independent of the current
value at which the 'relay is operated.
In existing forms of alternating-current relays of the dit-
Iererrtial type the energizing coils consist of two windings
with a common magnetic circuit. These windings, which for
convenience will be called a and b, receive current from a shunt
transformer, and a series transformer, respectively connected
with the alternator. Therefore, the current in a is de-
pendent upon the pressure, and that in b upon the current ..
Since with constant pressure the magnetomotive force due
to coil a is fixed in direction and magnitude, it serves to polarize
the relay. The action of coil b in conjunction with coil a,
at iOO% power-factor, depends therefore on the direction of
1905.] CHELLIS: TIME-LIMIT RELAYS. 255
if
F/&.··
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100r---~-"T"""'-1-----rT-----'----'-----rT----r-T-----'--- -
901---~--\---+--++-----+-------i
8O~---+------\lf----f-t----t----t-
70 I----+---~t---_+_ l---+----h~l---tBtl-----+---+__-_+_--1
a:
...
o
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~60
~
a:
U.I
~ 501--,- - I - - - . t -
a.. i
...
Z
~ 4Ol----+---r--'
a:
U.I
a..
301-----!----1----.rl---+t--l'-t--+-----t----t-----t----t------1
201----+-----1---l----I-I--I-----+-----t----t---t-----t---1
5 ·6 8
AMPERES
FIG. 2.
Characteristic curve of differential relay. Differential factor 61.8 per
cent. Current in A and B coils in phase at unity power-factor for the
alternator.
100,----.----,------r--.-
8 10
AMPERES
FIG. 3.
Characteristic curve' of differential relay. Differential factor 25 per cent.
Current. in A and B coils in phase at .unity power-factor for the
alternator.
2.
~/G.4.
rt l~ CONTROL CIRCUIr.
A COIl-S
POLE 2.
8 COILS
~~=~
{1 P07EN,IAL
r,q/iN~~ORHERS
L.-------lj~~P------+----_+_-_+_----..l~-- PHAse I.
2.
03.
CURRENT
TflAN,JFORHERS
FIGS.
with the core of the solenoid, and provided with suitable means
for adjusting the air discharge. While ideal from the stand-
point of simplicity, these devices are not positive, the time
adjustment being inversely proportional to the current at which
the relay is operated.
A COIL S A - - - - - - - - - - .
POLE 2.
~~=~
~ PO TEN T/;A. L
TRANSFORMERS.
F/G6
rIG.6.A.
was then increased step by step and the times for the relay
to operate were noted. The" inverse" feature of this relay
as described later, may be used to advantage in connection with
the protection of feeders.
1905.] 261
FEEDER RELAYS.
The method of protecting feeders depends upon the operating
conditions. This subject may be most consistently discussed
by considering the conditions from the power-house altemating-
current bus-bar to the sub-station direct-current bus-bar.
To guard against overload, and to open the circuit in the event
of a short circuit, a relay is required at the power-house end of
100
( I \
00
J-SO
z
l&J
a::
a:
g ,'0
~
z
goo
-c
..J
a:
0
.- 50
0 I
<{
tt
a: I
~ 40
0
CL
~ so
w
0
a::
~20
10
\ II
0 o
U
\ 4 5 6 8 9 10
AMPERES
FIG. 7.
Characteristic curve of differential relay. Differential factor 61.8 per
cent. Current in coil B 30° ahead of coil A at unity power-factor
for the al ternator.
Fig. 8.
Ampere-time curve for bellows-type overload relay.
TR/PPIN61 COIL .
OVERLOAD RELAY
FEEDER.B.
-.
~
~
~
~
~
~
~. g
~ ttl
~ ~
~
FEEDER.D.
~
~
~
\ TOCONTROLLING CIRCUIT ~
\I)
\ ~
-"',--<I~----,-
OF SWITCH. ~
lI)
4j>-'t)
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e
ct ~ ~
~ <,
ClJQJ~
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FIG. 9.
esc.
1905.] CI-{ELLIS: TI1V1E-LIMIT RELA YS. 263