Electrical Protection Systems: Design, Relay Settings, Testing and Commissioning
Master electrical protection systems, relay coordination, protection design, relay settings, testing and commissioning for LV, MV and HV power systems. Learn fault analysis, protection schemes and commissioning best practices.
- Hybrid-ONLINE & Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre
- 10th – 11th September 2026
- 2 CPD Points
- Price : R 8 999.00
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:
Understand the principles of electrical power system protection.
Explain the operation of protection relays and associated equipment.
Perform short-circuit and fault level calculations.
Design effective protection schemes for LV, MV, and HV systems.
Select appropriate protection devices for various applications.
Develop relay coordination and discrimination studies.
Diagnose protection malfunctions and nuisance tripping.
Commission electrical protection systems safely and efficiently.
Fundamentals of Power System Protection
- Objectives of protection systems
- Protection philosophy
- Power system faults
- Fault characteristics
- Types of electrical faults
- Fault current behaviour
- Protection zones
- Selectivity
- Sensitivity
- Reliability
- Stability
- Speed of operation
- Redundancy
- Protection standards
Power System Components
- Power generation systems
- Transmission systems
- Distribution systems
- Switchgear
- Circuit breakers
- Disconnectors
- Busbars
- Transformers
- Generators
- Motors
- Feeders
- Capacitor banks
- Reactors
Instrument Transformers
- Current transformers (CTs)
- Voltage transformers (VTs)
- Potential transformers (PTs)
- CT accuracy classes
- CT saturation
- Burden calculations
- Ratio selection
- Polarity
- Wiring configurations
- Testing procedures
- Safety considerations
Protection Relay Technologies
- Electromechanical relays
- Static relays
- Digital relays
- Numerical relays
- Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs)
- Relay operating principles
- Relay characteristics
- Relay functions
- Relay communication
- IEC 61850 overview
Protection Schemes
- Overcurrent protection
- Earth fault protection
- Directional protection
- Differential protection
- Distance protection
- Restricted earth fault protection
- Busbar protection
- Transformer protection
- Generator protection
- Motor protection
- Feeder protection
- Cable protection
- Capacitor bank protection
- Arc flash protection
Fault Studies and Relay Coordination
- Short-circuit calculations
- Symmetrical components
- Fault level calculations
- Time-current characteristics
- Relay grading
- Discrimination
- Selectivity
- Relay coordination studies
- Protection grading margins
- Coordination software overview
Relay Settings and Configuration
- Pickup current calculations
- Time multiplier settings
- Instantaneous settings
- Earth fault settings
- Differential settings
- Distance zones
- Motor protection settings
- Transformer protection settings
- Generator protection settings
- Relay parameter configuration
- Relay logic programming
- Setting validation
Protection Relay Testing
- Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
- Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)
- Functional testing
- Secondary injection testing
- Primary injection testing
- End-to-end testing
- Relay calibration
- Verification of settings
- Circuit breaker trip testing
- Alarm testing
- Event recording
- Test documentation
Protection System Commissioning
- Pre-commissioning inspections
- Wiring verification
- CT and VT polarity checks
- Trip circuit verification
- Interlock testing
- Functional commissioning
- Sequence testing
- SCADA integration
- IEC 61850 communication checks
- Commissioning documentation
- Handover procedures
Fault Analysis and Troubleshooting
- Relay misoperation
- Nuisance tripping
- CT saturation problems
- Incorrect settings
- Wiring faults
- Communication failures
- Breaker failure
- Protection coordination issues
- Disturbance record analysis
- Event log interpretation
- Root cause analysis
- Corrective actions
Protection System Maintenance
- Preventive maintenance
- Predictive maintenance
- Relay inspection
- Functional testing
- Firmware updates
- Backup settings
- Maintenance schedules
- Spare parts management
- Cybersecurity considerations
- Asset management