2013 IEEE 7th International Power Engineering and Optimization Conference (PEOC02013), Langkawi, Malaysia.

3-4 June
2013

Overcurrent Relays Coordination for

Commercial Building
2
10. Aliman, 1. Musirin

I
Faculty of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia
2
Centre for Electrical Power Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

l 2
omaraliman@ieee.org, ismailbml@gmail.com

algorithm for optimal coordination of overcurrent relays in a

Abstract- This paper presents an overcurrent
coordination study for an 11 kV commercial building in southern
Malaysia. Nevertheless, the actual study that covers the over­
current relays, earth fault relays and earth leakage relays were
executed by providing optimum and functionable relay settings
prior to commissioning of the building. The calculated settings
and proposed adjustment settings have been
simulated by ETAP power tool for predictive sequence and
tripping time delay during fault. Based on the proven proposed
settings, the coordination study been accepted by the concerned
authority body and suggested for implementation accordingly.
Index Terms-Radial power system, protection, over-current
relays, ETAP, STAR view of relay curves, relay coordination.
I. INTRODUCTION
E
lectrical power system network consists of a series of
circuit breakers and relays which needed
expensive equipments. Significantly, the relays
coordinated so as to avoid mal-operation and also, to avoid
unnecessary downtime in other parts of
Coordination of overcurrent relays in a meshed distribution
system is a challenge task for the protection engineers. Hence,
it was initially done manually.
Generally, electricity demand increases more rapidly in
developing countries in line with its economic development of
the country. Impressed with the development, the networking
of the power systems will also become more complex. In a
case, analyzing streams load fault calculations and transfer
primary and backup pairs will be very exhausting. Also,
several iterations is needed to calculate the time multiplier
setting relay, so that the minimum margin discrimination as
required, is between relay and its entire backup relay in a large
electrical system. Therefore, in order to protect the entire
system, the relays should be able to evaluate a wide range of
parameters to determine what corrective action is needed
responsive to any faults or abnormal conditions. This situation
is only possible and more accurate with reliance on computer
capabilities.
In present research development, artificial intelligence and
optimization techniques are applied for optimal co-ordination
of overcurrent relays. For instance, application of genetic
relays loops distribution system is discussed in [1-4]. In this paper,
combination of primary and backup relay is chosen by using
graph theory, to avoid mal-operation of relays. A novel
optimization technique based on evolutionary programming
for overcurrent relay coordination in distribution networks is
presented in [5-6]. Evolutionary programming is a stochastic
verified and
multi-point searching optimization algorithm and is capable of
escape from local optimum problems.
In [7-9], intelligent relay coordination method have been
discussed based on the most widely used intelligent search
algorithms, called artificial bees colony (ABC) and particle
swarm optimization (PSO), for digital relaying, in which the
time-dial setting is appropriately adjusted in order to minimize
operating time while coordinated relays are also reliable.
Linear and non-linear programming optimizing techniques are
very frequently used for coordination of overcurrent relays. In
to protect one method of linear programming, the power supply system
must be is divided into subsystems to give disabled diagonal matrix
structure connecting variables. Subsystem is solved using the
the system. revised algorithm rare dual method of linear programming
[10-12]. Benders algorithm for linear programming is also
used to coordinate solutions for each subsystem and system
master [13]. Method of linear programming is also used to
coordinate distance relay zone-2 with overcurrent protection
[14].
Structured computer program that uses technically correct
models, uses a friendly interface, uses a common database and
user error trap are required to be a powerful tool that
significantly improves the efficiency of engineering and
performance. For that, ETAP is chosen that meets these
criteria. In addition, it performs numerical calculations with
great speed and automatically applies accepted industry
standards.
In this paper, an industrial practice approach of overcurrent
relay coordination of 11 kV commercial building is presented.
IT. SYSTEM MODEL
An electrical power system model of a commercial
building in southern Malaysia is shown in Figure 1. The 11 kV
incoming source has a three phase short current rating of 286
MV Asc. The step down 1110.415 kV transformer is 1.6 MYA
with 6% of transformer impedance is installed to connect to

978-1-4673-5074-7/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE 608

 2013 IEEE 7th International Power Engineering and Optimization Conference (PEOC02013), Langkawi, Malaysia. 3-4 June
2013

2. Minimum Plug Setting (PS) for every relay calculated

based on maximum demand (MD) written in single line
diagram. In other words, the plug setting must not be less

I 286MVAsc
than the maximum normal load including permissible
continuous overload unless monitored by undervoltage
�
11 /0.415 kV relay, otherwise the relay will not allow the normal load
__ 1.6MVA
to be delivered.
MSB
3. Plug Setting value greater than minimum PS been chosen
to avoid tripping during normal operation and this PS
value also must be lower than upstream current setting.
MLl ML2 ML3 In estimating the plug setting, an allowance must be
1 made for the fact that the relay pick-up varies from 1 .05
------ to 1.3 times plug settings, as per standards.
2
..::.___
. - 1iI': �
�-- 4. Time Multiplier Setting (TMS) adjusted / grading based
1.0 MW on upstream relay curve. The time-multiplier setting
Stand by Gen.
must be chosen to give lowest possible time for the relay
EMSB
at the end of the radial feeder. Tn the preceding sections
towards the source, the time multiplier should be chosen
to give desire selective interval from the down-stream
ELl EL2 ELJ EL4 EL5 relay at maximum fault conditions.
5. The time multiplier setting should allow not only for the
Fig. I. II kV commercial building model. time of the breaker but also for the overshoot of the relay
and allowable time errors in the time of operation of
the MSB and EMSB feeders. Tn addition, a 1 MY A standby
successive relays. It is a common practice to use a fixed
power generator connected to 0. 415 kV bus acts a standby
selective interval of 0.25 second (considering 2cycle
power for EMSB. The total connected loads is 1,316.46 kW.
breakers) between the successive relays [15].
Out of the total connected load, EL3 bus carries the highest
loads of 407.54 kW.
TV. LOAD FLOW AND SHORT CIRC UlT ANALYSIS

m. METHOD IN COORDINATION ST UDY By performing the load flow analysis, the flow of current,
voltage and power, buses, transformers, switchgears, motors
Over the years, protection engineer use transparent template
and other equipment information can be determined. Thus,
that has been cut according to relay current-time characteristic
using this study as well plug relay settings can be solved. With
curve. By moving this template vertically will vary the time
the same work load flow, short circuit studies are important in
multiplier setting (T.M.S) and moving horizontally will vary finding the plug setting multiplier of relay. Therefore, load
the plug setting (PS) of relay. This traditional and flow and short circuit analysis should be required for the
conventional method which involves a lot of tedious and coordination of relays.
burdensome task in determine the plug and multiple setting for
each respective relay is adoptive and still considerable for a A. Loadflowanalysis
simple network. However, if the network is a bit large and has Load flow study plays an important role in the planning and
many layers of protective devices, the coordination works operation of electrical equipment. The results obtained in the
become intricate. study (in conjunction with the results of short-circuit) are used
With help of ETAP software, the protection engineer can to size capacitors, feeders, transformers and current-limiting
foresee the expected results from any possibilities of fault reactors, etc. Whether designing a new system or an existing
since from the initial stage. analysis, factors such as voltage drop, load capacity, power
Several options and techniques of relays coordination study factor constraints, steady-state stability limits, transformer tap
have been applied by engineers with ultimate goal of settings, and generator excitation levels should be considered.

providing optimum and functionable setting values. However, Analyzing the load flow study can determine the undervoJtage

the coordination procedure and consideration used in th is or overvoltage bus that can be severely affecting the efficient
study might be deferred and can be summarized as follow: operation of the machineries and loads.
1. Normally coordination study are doing by starting the
relay curve plot at lowest voltage level and largest load, B. Short circuit analysis
but in this case we will start from the power utility One of the major considerations in the design of a power
incomer since all the setting at this point has been system is adequate control of short circuits or faults as they are
decided by her. Grading from this point going to the commonly called. Uncontrolled short-circuits can cause
farthest relay at the lowers voltage level must be firstly service outage with accompanying production downtime and
done. Uniform grading time should be perform between associated inconvenience, interruption of essential facilities,
relays and if possible grading time of 0.3 second to 0.4 etc. Calculation of short-circuit currents for industrial power

second is recommended. systems are generally more complex, since a mixture of

sources that contributes to the current location of the fault. Tn a

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 2013 IEEE 7th International Power Engineering and Optimization Conference (PEOC02013), Langkawi, Malaysia. 3-4 June
2013

TC:': :l 3J.6. 4 6R.1A/

2:15. _ 9'9-:_
""'"
O . .:Ji1.5

� ��
) )

2 00/5 1400/5 _ "'00/5

><1<6 """ ?

-=-CL:130�
� ><K5
T-c:I...: J. OOKW
=CL; 1.4�. 62KH
l"!l:),: :!' .Q! 4.cef\ri

.r. __�BG�_'_4 ° O /_5__ �-�

I
4�
8'SO() IIdi
,STANBY GEN.

1400./5.
EMS .. �CL: 942 _ 85K""w
O_4�5 !<!!::.,: 716.9 9f\ri

..,,, h. ,""J-e
� MKlO ,""" 4h,
MKll ,"""�h,><KU �"�k.
MKla
� """9
TCL��75K""rl TCL�J.06'5- 24Krn' TCL�":::O? 54Kn' TCL�e:aHMir TCL:J.OE' .O"7KW

�: � 7 5 X--rl MD: J.<69.24KIii' MD: J. 9 2 . 0 D .2 .f K!ii' �: e :a RIM MD: 97 .'i5Kloi

Fig. 2. Single line diagram of 11 kY commercial building.

typical modem industrial system of the main sources of Setting Relay MK2 :
short-circuit currents are utilities, in-plant generation and
synchronous and induction motors. These sources contribute Maximum demand current
additional exponentially decaying currents which make fault 0.415
1773.94 x - - -
current magnitudes at various locations time dependent. 11
=

= 66.93 A
V. RELAY COORDINATION
[max
A. Manual calculation ofrelay setting PS> %
CT ratioxrelay current setting
The single line diagram of the commercial building is
illustrated in Figure 2 with all protective devices are placed 66.93
according to its original design. The initial calculation is PS>�%
started by focusing to the farthest and highest load at the x5
S
lowest voltage level. The first grading step is determining the PS> 89.24 %
grading relays for EL3as illustrated in Figure 3.
The parameters for relay MKI has been given by the power PS = 110% (adjusted based on relay MK 1 curve setting)
utility which the plug-setting is given as 82%, while the time­ TMS = 0.09
multiplier-setting is set as 0. 1.
Setting Relay MK3 :
Setting Relay MKI :
Maximum demand current is 1,773.94 A at 0.415 kV
Setting parameter for relay MKI has been provided by the
power utility supplier. 1773.94
PS> %
2000
-- x5
PS = 82% 5
TMS = 0.1 PS> 88.7 %

PS = 100% (adjusted based on relay MK2 curve setting)

TMS = 0.07

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 2013 IEEE 7th International Power Engineering and Optimization Conference (PEOC02013), Langkawi, Malaysia. 3-4 June
2013

Setting Relay MK6 : Setting Relay MKII :

Maximum demand current is 1,175.86 A at OA15 kV Maximum demand current

192.0034 kW
1175.86 v'3x415x0.85
PS> %
1400 314.25 A
--x5 =

5
PS> 84.0 % 314.25
PS> %
500
PS 100% (adjusted based on relay MIG curve setting) x5
=
T
TMS = 0.07 PS>62.85 %

PO'Mc.r UlI;ilitry PS = 75% (adjusted based on relay MK8 curve setting)

:2:86 �c:
TMS = 0.05
The above calculated and adjusted grading of relays is then be
150/5 translated into tripping curve as depicted in Figure 4.
!lK1.
CBIl-2
11 ""V 6aO A Amps X 100 EMSB (Nom. kV=0.415. Pial Ref. kV=0.415)
25 !<A CB:n.-4
6ao A

Ii I
500 500

JOO

>---.,---MK2·P
Mikro
I I fo.1I<2200 " .
CT RallO 75:5
) CB,-HS-8 lEe - Normal Inverse

2 00 A 50 Pickup::o 1.1 (0.5 - 2.5 xCT Sec) 50

Time Dial = 0.09

3x = 0.567 $, 5x == 0.385 $, 8x = 0.297 s
.M.5B. 50 "-'I. 2000/S JO
Inst == 8 (0.5 - 40 xCT Sec)
0..41.5 rt.V .!lK2 Time Delay = 0_05 s

1400/5
f:���li-H.'
!lK6

..
\ \ MK3-P
MJU.,E
�-----

,�A-�-----MK6-P
CB- 4 1 5- 1a ,����-----MK8-P
) H()() A
H.OO/;; MKJ.1..,J' -------',
Mikro
EH.:m, 50 kA !lK8 MK1000

O.·4H tV CT Ratio 500:5

IEC - Normal Inverse
Pickup = 0.75 (0.5 - 2.5 xCT Sec)
Time Dial = 0.09
3x == 0_567 s, 5x = 0.385 S, ax = 0.297 s
Ins! = 5 (0.5 - 40 xCT Sec)
Time Delay = 0_05 s

.. ...
5 'OK
"C'CL : 4 0"1. 5qK""ri'
¥.:J: 1 9 2.0Cii 3, ;Q illof Amps X 100 EMSB (Nom. kV=0.415. Plot Ref. kV=0.415)

Fig. 4. Overcurrent grading for relay MK!1.

Fig. 3. Grading of EL3.

Setting Relay MK8 :

TABLE!
ADJACENT RELAYS SETTING
Maximum demand current is 1,175.86 A at OA15 kV
Relay IMD. (A) PS(%) TMS

1175.86 MSB
PS> % 212.77 0.1
1400 MK4 90
--x5
5 MK5 163.67 100 0.1
PS> 84.0 % EMSB
MK9 286.40 80 0.05
PS = 90% (adjusted based on relay MK6 curve setting) MK10 277.00 100 0.1
TMS = 0.05 MK12 135.84 80 0.1

611
 2013 IEEE 7th International Power Engineering and Optimization Conference (PEOC02013), Langkawi, Malaysia. 3-4 June
Relays connected to MSB are graded base on the upstream
relay which is relay MK3. Whereas, relays connected to
EMSB are graded base on the upstream relay which is relay
MK8. Table 1 shows the grading of the rest of the adjacent
relays.
B. Relay setting in ETAP:
Consider that fault is occurred at bus EL3. Then near the
faulted bus, first relay MKII must be operated. In the ETAP
software, the star view feature is good to show the exact
coordination of relays.
Same way, if the relay MKll is failed, the relay MK8 must
be operated as back up relay. So as, if relay MK8 is failed, the
relay MK6 must be operated. As above, if relay MK6 is failed,
the next relay that should be operated is relay MK3. The same
will follow to relay MK2 and the last relay MKI.
Thus, the relay coordination from relay MKll to relay MKI
is done by using ET AP software. The star views of all relays
can be displayed to confirm complete coordination of all
relays.
VI. CONCLUSION
The overcurrent relays which dominate almost all types of
relays in the power system need to be coordinated properly so
as to avoid mal-operation and also, to avoid unnecessary
downtime in other parts of the system. In this paper, normal
practice of coordination works of overcurrent relays
manual calculation has been presented. However, since the
network is very large and has many layers of protective
devices, the coordination works become intricate. With help of
ETAP software, the protection engineer can foresee
expected results from any possibilities of fault since from the
initial stage. Therefore, the chances of mal-function operation
of the devices is very very minimal. Thus, the advantage of
using software tool can efficiently provide and solve the
coordination problem of overcurrent relays in radial system.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to acknowledge The Research
Management Institute (RMT) UiTM, Shah Alam and Ministry
of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE) for the financial
support of this research. This research is supported by MOHE
under the Research Acculturation Grant Scheme (RAGS) with
project code: 600-RMIIRAGS 5/3(49/2012 ).
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Omar Aliman (M'07) received his Diploma in Electrical Power Engineering
from University Teknologi Malaysia, graduated his BSc. from Hanyang
University, Korea and obtained his MEng. from Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia. Currently, he is a PhD candidate at Universiti Teknologi MARA
His special field of interest includes power distribution,distributed generation
and arc-flash analysis study.
Associate Professor Dr. Ismail Musirin obtained his Diploma of Electrical
Power Engineering in 1987, Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Hons) in
1990; both from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, MSc in Pulsed Power
Technology in 1992 from University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom and
PhD in Electrical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia in
2004. His research interest includes power system stability, optimization
techniques,distributed generator and artificial intelligence.
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