Manual 37137B
ESDR 4 - Current Differential Protection Relay
Chapter 4.
Functional Description
Introduction
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The ESDR 4 is a three-phase current differential protection relay for generators and motors (protected object).
The currents flowing in the individual lines are each measured using a current transformer on both sides of the
protected object. They form the protection area boundary or zone. All two or three-phase short circuits and line-
to-earth faults within this protection area are detected by the ESDR 4 as fault currents which initiate tripping.The
unit does not trip if fault currents occur outside the protection zone. In this way, a selective protection is guaran-
teed.
The unit monitors six (6) measured currents via isolated inputs. The unit calculates internally the restraint current
(I
s
) and the differential current (I
d
) separately for each phase. The actual values of the calculated parameters (Dif-
ferential current I
d
und Restraint current I
S
) are shown on the display either as absolute values or as a percentage
of the generator rated current (selectable in locked input mode).
Theoretically the currents I
a
and I
b
are equal, both in fault-free operation and outside the protection zone (Figure
4-1-a).The difference is zero and the differential protection does not initiate. However, in practice current differ-
entials do occur (= spurious currents), even in fault-free operation. They result, for example, from summation or
phase angle errors in the CTs, which are influenced by deviating burden values. These spurious currents remain
small inside the operating range, but increase with increasing load and are especially high when one or more CTs
become saturated (e.g. in the case of an external short circuit). In order to prevent a tripping of the relay due to
spurious currents, the trigger threshold is not held statically constant but increases in relation to the restraint cur-
rent I
s.
Spurious currents need to be taken into account when adjusting the trip characteristic.
When a fault occurs inside the protection area (Figure 4-1-b), unequal currents flow in the CTs, which result in a
current differential. If this exceeds the differential protection threshold, the relay will trip.
G
I
I
I
L
G
I
I
I
L
a
a)
b
b)
a
b
Schematic circuit diagrams (single phase version):
a) Fault outside the protection area
b)Fault inside the protection area
Figure 4-1: Protection principle
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© Woodward
