electrical-engineering-portal.com http://electrical-engineering-portal.

com/anti-pumping-and-lockout-relays

Anti Pumping And Lockout Relays

Asif Eqbal

Anti-pumping relay - Powell (a - position of AP relay inside circuit breaker)

What is ANSI code for Antipumping relay?

ANSI codes 94 or even 52 can be used.

How relays are classified based on functional categories?

Relays can be divided into six functional categories shown below:

Top

Protective relays

Detect defective lines, defective apparatus, or other dangerous or intolerable conditions. These relays generally trip
one or more circuit breaker, but may also be used to sound an alarm.

Monitoring relays

Verify conditions on the power system or in the protection system. These relays include fault detectors, alarm units,
channel monitoring relays, synchronism verification, and network phasing. Power system conditions that do not
involve opening circuit breakers during faults can be monitored by verification relays.

Reclosing relays

Establish a closing sequence for a circuit breaker following tripping by protective relays. Regulating relays are
activated when an operating parameter deviates from predetermined limits. Regulating relays function through
supplementary equipment to restore the quantity to the prescribed limits.
Auxiliary relays

Operate in response to the opening or closing of the operating circuit to supplement another relay or device. These
include timers, contact-multiplier relays, sealing units, isolating relays, lockout relays, closing relays, and trip relays.

Synchronizing (or synchronism check) relays

Assure that proper conditions exist for interconnecting two sections of a power system.

Top

Many modern relays contain several varieties of these functions. In addition to these functional categories, relays may
be classified by input, operating principle or structure, and performance characteristic.

The following are some of the classifications and definitions described in ANSI/IEEE Standard C37.90 ( also
ANSI/IEEE C37.100 “Definitions for Power Switchgear”):

Inputs
Current
Voltage
Power
Pressure
Frequency
Temperature
Flow
Vibration
Operating Principle or Structures
Current balance
Percentage
Multirestraint
Product
Solid state
Static
Microprocessor
Electromechanical
Thermal

Performance Characteristics
Differential
Distance
Directional over current
Inverse time
Definite time
Under voltage
Over voltage
Ground or phase
High or low speed
Pilot
Phase comparison
Directional comparison
Current differential
Top

Solid-state (and static) relays are further categorized under one of the following designations:

Analog

Analog relays are those in which the measured quantities are converted into lower voltage but similar signals, which
are then combined or compared directly to reference values in level detectors to produce the desired output (e.g., SA-
1 SOQ, SI-T, LCB, circuit shield relays).

Digital

Digital relays are those in which the measured ac quantities are manipulated in analog form and subsequently
converted into square-wave (binary) voltages. Logic circuits or microprocessors compare the phase relationships of
the square waves to make a trip decision.

Numerical

Numerical relays are those in which the measured ac quantities are sequentially sampled and converted into numeric
data form. A microprocessor performs mathematical and/or logical operations on the data to make trip decisions.

Top

How do we classify an Antipumping relay?

It is classified as an auxiliary relay.

Why Antipumping relay is used?

Anti pumping relaying is done primarily to indicate the spring failure of TNC switch and a person need to attend the
problem. The function of this relay is to cut off the supply to 52C (CB closing coil) in case of TNC switch spring failure
and prevent CB hunting effect (i.e. continuous closing, opening operation).

Anti pumping is also called trip free mechanism of any circuit breaker. Suppose the breaker has been instructed to
close by manual instruction by pressing the TNC (trip neutral close push button) switch. The operating mechanism
will start operating for closing operation.

Meanwhile a fault has taken place and relay closes the trip circuit of breaker. The trip free mechanism/ Anti pumping
feature permits the circuit breaker to be tripped by protective relay even if it is under process of closing. Thus auxiliary
relay (or sometimes the inbuilt feature of circuit breaker) which prevent alternate tripping and closing of the circuit
breaker if closing push button is held close during fault is called the trip free mechanism or anti pumping mechanism.

What will happen if Antipumping relay circuit is not present?

If the circuit breaker is closed using TNC switch, and at the same instant let spring of TNC switch has failed and it did
not came to its neutral state, and primary protection relay had been operated at this instant and opened the CB, since
supply is being extended to 52C (CB closing coil) because of TNC spring failure, then CB will close again, since fault
is still persisting the following cycle occurs.

CB trip, because of protection. Operation -> CB close, because of TNC switch spring failure-> CB trip, because of
protection. Operation-> CB close, because of TNC switch spring failure-> CB trip, because of protection. Operation ->
CB close, because of TNC switch spring.
The above cycle is termed as circuit breaker hunting. Circuit breaker hunting will cause damage to breaker and it can
be avoided by using 52 (Circuit breaker Antipumping relay).The function of this relay is to cut off the supply to 52C
(CB closing coil) coil in case of TNC switch spring failure and prevent CB hunting effect (i.e. continuous closing,
opening operation).

Top

Let us analyse the behavior of circuit in case anti pumping is present and in case it is not present, one by one:

CASE 1: Closing Coil Circuit Without 52 Relay

The path for CB close with out 52 relay is shown in Figure 1. In this case if spring of TNC switch fails, then supply will
be get extended to 52C (CB closing coil) coil as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1 - Circuit breaker closing coil without Antipumping relay

If the TNC switch spring has failed then supply will be extended as shown below.

Figure 2 - showing how supply will be extended to closing coil because of TNC spring failure

CASE 2: Closing Coil Circuit With 52 Relay

Closing coil circuit with 52 present is as shown in Figure 3. Path 1 in Figure 3 shows how 52C (CB closing coil) will
be energized when we press TNC switch CS1.if CS1 comes to its original state once we release it then 52 will not
come in picture. if CS1 does not comes to its original state then 52 will be energized as shown in path 2.then 52-NC
contact present in path 1 will be got opened up and prevents extension of supply.

We have the concept that initially for the energization of 52 80% to 90% of 110V is required. But once after
energization 60-70% of 110V is sufficient to maintain its energization state. This logic is achieved by introducing a
resistance in 52 energization maintenance path. This path is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 3 - With Antipumping relay present

Figure 4 - Antipumping relay with a resistor

Once 52 is energized it will give an alarm and a maintenance person in the substation need to attend that problem.
This is how 52 is useful in avoiding CB hunting effect.

Top

What is ANSI code for Master trip lockout relay?

ANSI code 86 is used.

What is function & Utility of lockout relay?

When a ‘‘drive-to-lockout’’ input is energized, the reclosing relay will go into lockout from any point in the sequence.
The relay will stay in lockout until the input is removed and the breaker is closed manually or by supervisory control.
Upon removal, the recloser will go through its reset sequence and return to ‘‘ready’ state.

All the different trip signals from fault detection devices are wired to the lockout relay, which is the master trip relay for
the circuit breaker. It is usually a manually reset relay with an indicating flag or lamp. In case of DG a similar
philosophy of tripping is used in the engine control panel in which all the mechanical failure signals are received at
the engine lockout relay (86-T, T for turbine). This lockout relay also trips the generator circuit breaker.

When either the 86-G or the 86-T relay sends its signal to the circuit-breaker trip coil, time is taken before the circuit
breaker begins to move and finally reach its fully open state. The generator switchgear is recommended to have two
separate lockout relays. One will receive all the electrical protection relay trip signals, and denoted as 86–1. The other
will receive a master trip signal (or several trip signals) from the turbine unit control panel, and denoted as 86–2.

It operates whenever any of the protection relay operates and would prevent any circuit breaker operation until the
lock out relay is manually rest.

Can we manage without anti pumping since operation of lock out relay would prevent any
further operations of CB even continuous opening-closing?

Figure 5 - Antipumping relay & Lockout relay contacts in closing coil circuit

Let us assume that we have closed the circuit breaker using the TNC switch CS1.At this instant TNC switch spring
failed and fault is there which is sensed by primary protection relay and sends tripping command to circuit breaker.
This would energize the trip coil of breaker; this will result in operation of lock out relay.

The lock out relay will go into lock out state as shown in Figure 6 below:
 Figure 6 - The lock out relay goes into lock out state

Now let a person had attended that fault and resetted 86 lockout contacts. After resetting its status will be NC and a
closed command will be extended to closing coil without any human interface which is a mal function.

So an 86 lockout relay cannot fulfill the purpose of anti pumping relay.

The function of anti pumping relay is to cut off the supply to closing coil in case of TNC switch spring failure and
prevent CB hunting effect (i.e. continuous closing, opening operation) and a person needs to attend the problem.
Where as 86 lock out relay contact in closing circuit is meant to ensure that a person had attended the fault occurred
and we are closing the circuit after clearing the circuit.

It is extra mechanical protection meant for safety of equipments considering the cost and sophistication involved; it is
always advisable to go for extra human interface.

REFERENCES:

1. ANSI/IEEE C37.100 ‘‘Definitions for Power Switchgear”.

2. Relay And Circuit-Breaker Application Authors: E. L. Harder and J. C. Cunningham.
3. Protection Application Handbook: ABB, Transmission Systems and Substations.
4. http://www.electrotechnik.net/2009/06/what-is-anti-pumping-relay.html