Types of Electrical Protection Relays and Their Applications

In every industrial plant and power system, safety and reliability depend heavily on proper protection. One of the most frequent topics engineers deal with is electrical protection relays —what they are, how they work, and where they are applied. This article answers the most common engineer questions about the types of electrical protection relays and their applications, making it a practical reference for professionals in power systems, utilities, and industrial automation. What are protection relays in power systems, and why are they important? A protection relay is an automatic device that monitors electrical quantities like current, voltage, frequency, and impedance. When an abnormal condition (fault) is detected, the relay sends a trip signal to the circuit breaker to isolate the faulty section. Importance: Prevents equipment damage (motors, transformers, generators). Improves safety by avoiding fires and arc flashes. Minimizes downtime by isolating only the fault...