Generator Differential Protection 87G: Principles, Schemes, Settings and Testing

What Is Generator Differential Protection?

Generator differential protection, designated under the ANSI standard as 87G, is the primary high-speed protection scheme designed to detect internal faults within a generator’s stator windings.

The protection operates by comparing currents entering and leaving the protected zone. Two sets of current transformers are installed—one at the generator terminal and one at the neutral side. The relay continuously monitors both signals and calculates the difference between them.

Under normal conditions or during external faults, the currents at both CTs are equal, resulting in a net differential current of approximately zero. The relay remains stable and does not operate.

When a stator internal fault occurs—such as a phase-to-phase short circuit, a turn-to-turn fault, or insulation failure—the symmetry is disrupted. Fault current flows only within the faulted zone, and the currents measured by the two CTs become unequal. This imbalance generates a significant differential current. Once it exceeds the preset threshold, the relay issues an instantaneous trip command, isolating the generator from the system.

Modern 87G relays incorporate dual-slope characteristics to ensure stability during external faults with CT saturation, while maintaining high sensitivity for internal faults. Second-harmonic restraint is also applied to prevent false tripping during generator start-up inrush currents.

In short, 87G protection provides fast, accurate discrimination between internal and external faults, making it an indispensable safeguard for medium to large generators.

How Does Generator Differential Protection Work?

Generator differential protection (ANSI 87G) operates on a simple current comparison principle, continuously monitoring currents at both ends of the stator windings to detect internal faults.

The Core Principle

Idiff = |Iterminal − Ineutral|

Where Iterminal is measured at the line-side CTs and Ineutral at the neutral-side CTs. Under healthy conditions, these currents are equal, keeping Idiff near zero.

Normal Load & External Faults

During normal operation, current flows through the generator and out to the system. Both CTs measure the same current.

Iterminal ≈ Ineutral → Idiff ≈ 0

The relay remains stable and does not trip.

For external faults outside the generator, the fault current passes through the stator windings, but both CTs still see balanced currents. The relay recognizes this as an external event and does not operate.

Internal Stator Fault

When a fault occurs inside the stator windings—such as a phase-to-phase short circuit, turn-to-turn fault, or insulation breakdown—the balance is broken. Fault current flows only within the faulted zone, and the two CT readings become unequal.

Iterminal ≠ Ineutral → Idiff exceeds threshold

The relay instantly issues a trip command, opening the generator breaker and isolating the generator from the system within milliseconds.

Generator Differential Protection Scheme

Generator differential protection schemes are mainly divided into four types: Overall Differential Protection, Split-Phase Differential Protection, High-Impedance Differential Protection, and Low-Impedance Differential Protection.

Overall Differential Protection

Overall Differential Protection is the most basic scheme. It compares currents measured by CTs on the neutral side and line side of the generator to detect internal faults. Under normal conditions, the currents are balanced, and differential current ≈ 0. During internal faults, the currents become unequal, differential current increases, and the relay trips. Modern schemes incorporate dual-slope restraint and second-harmonic restraint to handle CT saturation and inrush currents.

Split-Phase Differential Protection

Split-Phase Differential Protection (transverse differential protection) is specifically designed for generators with multi-branch windings per phase. It compares currents between different branches within the same phase. Under normal conditions, all branch currents are equal. When a turn-to-turn short circuit or ground fault occurs in one branch, the current in that branch differs from the others, and the protection operates. This scheme is suitable for large hydro units but may have protection blind spots, so it is typically used in combination with other schemes.

High-Impedance Differential Protection

High-Impedance Differential Protection is based on voltage detection. A high-value resistor is connected in series with the CT secondary circuit, converting the differential current into a voltage for detection. During normal or external fault conditions, the differential current is very small, the voltage drop across the resistor is low, and the protection does not operate. During internal faults, the differential current increases, the voltage drop rises significantly, and the relay trips immediately. Its key advantage is excellent stability during external faults, making it suitable for large generators, multi-generator parallel systems, and other high-security applications.

Low-Impedance Differential Protection

Low-Impedance Differential Protection is the most common scheme for medium-voltage generators, typically implemented as dual-slope percentage differential protection. CTs are connected directly to the relay’s low-impedance inputs. The protection determines operation by calculating the ratio of differential current to restraint current. Its advantages are flexible configuration and high sensitivity. Modern relays incorporate multi-slope restraint curves and harmonic blocking to handle CT saturation and inrush currents.

Comparison of the Four Schemes

Scheme	Core Principle	Main Application	Key Advantage
Overall Differential	Current comparison between neutral and line CTs	General generators	Simple principle, wide application
Split-Phase Differential	Current comparison between branches of the same phase	Large hydro units with multi-branch windings	Detects turn-to-turn faults
High-Impedance Differential	Differential voltage detection	Large generators, busbars, multi-machine systems	Excellent external fault stability
Low-Impedance Differential	Percentage differential (dual-slope)	Medium-voltage generators, industrial sites	Flexible configuration, high sensitivity

Generator Differential Protection CT Configuration

CT configuration directly affects the reliability and sensitivity of generator differential protection. This section provides key points for CT selection and configuration.

CT Configuration Overview

Item	Requirement
Terminal side CT	Generator terminal
Neutral side CT	Generator neutral
Main function	Detect internal stator faults
CT polarity	Must be correctly matched
CT ratio	Must be matched / compensated
CT saturation	Must be considered
Relay input	Three-phase differential current

CT Polarity

Incorrect CT polarity is the most common root cause of commissioning issues. If one CT is connected with reversed polarity, the currents from both sides will be 180° out of phase, producing a false differential current even under normal load—leading to nuisance tripping or reduced sensitivity.

Verification method: Perform an injection test during commissioning to confirm the phase relationship of currents from both CTs; digital relays typically include built-in polarity verification features.

Key recommendation: Always verify polarity after commissioning and any work affecting the secondary circuits.

CT Ratio

The CT ratio must be carefully selected to ensure that the secondary current falls within the relay’s nominal input range (1A or 5A) at rated load. If ratios on both sides do not match, the relay can compensate using internal ratio matching.

Key recommendation: Select ratios that minimize mismatch and utilize the relay’s compensation features for accurate balance.

CT Saturation

During severe external faults, fault current can reach 20–30 times the rated value, potentially causing CT saturation. Saturated CTs produce distorted secondary currents, which can create a false differential current and cause unwanted tripping.

Mitigation strategies:

Strategy	Description
Proper sizing	Select CTs with adequate knee-point voltage and accuracy class for the maximum expected fault current
Relay characteristics	Use relays with dual-slope restraint characteristics
Burden reduction	Use short leads and appropriate wire gauge to reduce secondary burden

Key recommendation: Always verify CT performance against maximum fault levels, and coordinate relay settings with CT characteristics.

Checklist

Item	Status
CT polarity	Verified
CT ratio	Matched / compensated
CT accuracy class	Meets protection requirements
Knee-point voltage	Adequate
CT burden	Within limits
Relay settings	Coordinated with CT characteristics

Generator Differential Protection Slope and Percentage Restraint

Modern differential protection resolves the conflict between sensitive operation during internal faults and stable operation during external faults through the Percentage Restraint principle. The key lies in the Slope setting.

Key Concepts

Concept	Definition	Purpose
Differential Current (Idiff)	Difference between currents from both CTs	Indicates internal faults
Restraint Current (Irestraint)	Average (or maximum) of the two CT currents	Reflects through-current; provides restraint
Slope	Angle of the operating characteristic curve	Determines the operating threshold

Operating Criterion

Idiff > Slope × Irestraint + Pickup

The higher the fault current, the higher the required differential threshold—increased restraint during external faults, maintained sensitivity during internal faults.

Dual-Slope Characteristic

Slope Section	Application	Characteristic
First Slope (Low)	Normal operation, minor internal faults	High sensitivity
Second Slope (High)	External faults, potential CT saturation	Strong stability, prevents maloperation

CT Saturation and External Fault Stability

During external faults, massive through-current can cause CT saturation, producing distorted secondary currents that create false differential current. Restraint current increases with through-current, raising the operating threshold accordingly—even if CT saturation produces some differential current, the relay remains stable as long as it stays below the restraint threshold.

Dual-slope plays a critical role here: the second slope provides stronger restraint in the high-current region, ensuring protection stability during external faults.

Generator Differential Protection Settings

Generator differential protection settings are critical to ensuring protection selectivity, sensitivity, and reliability. The following parameters are conceptual only. Actual settings must be calculated based on specific project parameters and the relay manufacturer’s manual. There are no universal parameters applicable to all generators.

Differential Pickup Setting

Definition: The differential pickup threshold—when differential current exceeds this value, the protection enters its operating logic.

Principle: Must be set above the maximum unbalance current during normal operation. Typically 0.1–0.3 × rated current.

Basis: Generator rated current, CT accuracy class, and relay measurement precision.

Slope Setting

Definition: The ratio of differential current to restraint current—the core parameter of percentage restraint.

Principle:

• First Slope: Typically 20%–40% – ensures sensitivity
• Second Slope: Typically 50%–80% – ensures external fault stability

Basis: CT saturation characteristics, maximum system external fault current, and relay characteristic curves.

High-Set Differential Protection

Definition: A non-restrained high-speed element for fast clearing of severe internal faults.

Principle: Set significantly higher than the pickup value, typically 3–8 × rated current. No restraint is applied, and it is not affected by CT saturation.

Basis: Minimum expected internal fault current (to ensure operation) and maximum external fault current (to prevent maloperation).

CT Ratio Compensation

Definition: Internal relay mathematics to eliminate unbalance current caused by mismatched CT ratios on both sides.

Basis: Neutral side CT ratio, terminal side CT ratio, and the relay’s allowable compensation range.

Setting Verification

Verification Methods:

Item	Purpose
Fault current calculation	Confirm settings operate reliably
CT saturation assessment	Confirm slopes can handle CT saturation
Sensitivity check	Confirm sufficient sensitivity for high-impedance faults
External fault stability	Confirm no maloperation during external faults
Secondary injection test	Verify actual operating values match settings

Important Reminders

Key Point	Note
No universal parameters	Each generator must be calculated individually
Consult the manual	Different relays have different setting methods
Fault analysis required	System fault current calculation must be completed first
Field verification required	Settings must be validated by injection testing

All setting work must be performed by qualified protection engineers.

Generator Differential Protection Testing

Generator differential protection testing is a critical step in verifying the correctness, reliability, and security of the protection system. Testing covers the entire process from CT circuit verification to complete trip validation, ensuring that the protection operates reliably during internal faults and remains stable during external faults.

CT Polarity Test

Purpose: To verify that the CT polarity connections on both the generator neutral side and terminal side are correct.

Test Methods:

• DC Inductive Method: Apply a DC pulse to the CT primary side and observe the induced voltage direction on the secondary side to determine polarity
• Primary Injection Method: Inject a single-phase current into the generator circuit and measure the phase relationship of the secondary currents from both CTs
• Relay Polarity Indication: Some digital relays have built-in polarity verification functions to assist in judgment

Acceptance Criteria: When CT polarity is correct, the secondary currents are in phase, and the differential current is near zero. Reversed polarity will cause increased differential current and may trigger maloperation during normal operation.

Key Reminder: CT polarity errors are the most common root cause of commissioning issues in differential protection and must be verified before system energization.

CT Ratio Test

Purpose: To confirm that the actual CT ratio matches the nameplate rating, ensuring measurement accuracy.

Test Methods:

• Primary Injection Method: Inject a known current on the primary side, measure the secondary output, and calculate the actual ratio
• Comparison Method: Connect the CT under test in series with a reference CT of known accuracy and compare secondary outputs

Acceptance Criteria: The error between measured ratio and nameplate ratio should be within the CT accuracy class tolerance (typically ±0.5% to ±1%).

Key Reminder: Excessive ratio errors will increase differential unbalance current during normal operation, potentially reducing protection sensitivity or causing maloperation.

Secondary Injection Test

Purpose: To verify relay measurement accuracy, setting values, and logic functions.

Test Methods:

• Use a relay test set to inject simulated CT secondary current signals into the relay
• Inject single-phase current to simulate differential current and verify pickup settings
• Inject currents on both sides simultaneously to simulate different operating conditions and verify slope characteristics and restraint functions

Acceptance Criteria: The relay’s measured operating values should match the settings within the relay’s accuracy tolerance; operating times should meet design expectations.

Key Reminder: Secondary injection testing should be performed at the protection panel, covering the complete circuit from relay input terminals to output contacts.

Generator Differential Protection Relay 87G

For projects requiring a numerical generator differential protection relay, our 87G protection relay is designed for generators up to 100 MW and provides phase-separated generator differential protection, high-speed differential protection and CT open-circuit detection. Communication options include RS-485, CAN, Ethernet and IEC 60870-5-103.

View Generator Differential Protection Relay 87G

How to Select a Generator Differential Protection Relay Supplier

Choosing the right supplier affects not only the product itself but also the long-term reliability of your generation assets. The following evaluation criteria focus on technical capability and service quality rather than brand origin.

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Key Evaluation Dimensions

Dimension	Key Considerations	Priority
Technical Support	Professional engineering support, commissioning and troubleshooting capability, emergency response time	★★★
Documentation	Manual completeness, setting calculation guides, test reports, language support	★★★
Relay Configuration	Pre-configuration based on generator parameters, software usability, setting lists	★★
FAT	Test scope, witness options, deviation handling process	★★★
Communication	Protocol support, SCADA integration experience, mapping documentation	★★
Spare Parts	Critical parts list, lead time, product lifecycle support	★★
After-Sales Support	On-site commissioning assistance, training, software upgrades, warranty terms	★★★
Project Experience	Track record with similar capacities, references from hydro/thermal/gas/industrial projects	★★★

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Key Questions to Ask

Technical Support:

• Does the support team have specific expertise in generator differential protection?
• What is the committed response time for technical inquiries?

Documentation & Configuration:

• Do they provide recommended settings based on your generator parameters?
• Is documentation available before delivery for advance study?

Testing & FAT:

• Does the standard FAT scope cover all protection functions?
• Can you witness the test or request video records?

Spares & After-Sales:

• What after-sales support is included in the standard package?
• What is the lead time for critical spares? How long is product support available?

Project Experience:

• Can they provide references from similar projects?
• What challenges did they encounter and how were they resolved?

Selection Recommendation

A qualified supplier should demonstrate:

• Solid engineering capability – Deep understanding of generator protection principles
• Transparent delivery process – Complete documentation and test procedures
• Full lifecycle service commitment – Technical support from selection through commissioning to maintenance
• Proven field experience – Successful delivery records for similar projects

Before making a decision, we recommend evaluating potential suppliers against the dimensions above.

FAQ

1. What is generator differential protection 87G?

Generator differential protection 87G is a primary protection function used to detect internal phase-to-phase and other stator winding faults within the protected generator zone. It compares the currents measured by CTs at the generator terminal and neutral ends. Under normal operating conditions and external faults, the currents remain substantially balanced. An internal fault produces differential current that can cause the 87G protection to operate.

2. How does generator differential protection work?

Generator differential protection compares the current entering and leaving the protected generator zone. Under normal load or an external fault, the differential current remains low. When an internal stator fault occurs, the current balance is disrupted and the relay detects a significant differential current. If the differential current exceeds the configured operating characteristic, the relay issues a trip command to disconnect the generator.

3. What CTs are required for generator differential protection?

Generator differential protection normally uses CTs at the generator terminal and neutral ends to define the protected stator zone. CT ratio, accuracy class, polarity, excitation characteristics, secondary burden, and wiring must be properly coordinated. CT mismatch and saturation can produce unwanted differential current, so CT selection and polarity verification are important parts of 87G protection design and commissioning.

4. What causes false trips in generator differential protection?

False 87G operation can result from CT saturation during external faults, incorrect CT polarity, CT ratio mismatch, wiring errors, excessive secondary circuit resistance, or inappropriate differential protection slope settings. During commissioning, CT polarity and ratio checks, secondary injection testing, and differential protection stability tests should be performed to verify secure operation.

5. How is generator differential protection 87G set?

87G settings depend on the generator rated current, CT ratios, CT characteristics, expected fault current, relay operating characteristic, and protection coordination requirements. Typical setting considerations include differential pickup, percentage restraint or slope, high-set differential protection, CT ratio compensation, and stability requirements during external faults. Final settings should be calculated from the actual generator and protection system data rather than applying a universal setting.

6. What is a generator differential protection stability test?

A generator differential protection stability test verifies that the 87G relay remains stable when current passes through the protected zone during normal operation or an external fault. The test checks whether CT mismatch, wiring errors, or CT saturation could create enough differential current to cause an unwanted trip. Stability testing is an important part of FAT and site commissioning.

7. What is the difference between generator differential protection and generator-transformer differential protection?

Generator differential protection 87G primarily protects the generator stator winding between the generator terminal and neutral CTs. Generator-transformer differential protection covers a wider protection zone that may include the generator, step-up transformer, and associated connections, depending on the protection scheme. The CT arrangement, protected zone, relay settings, and fault coverage are therefore different.

8. How do I choose a generator differential protection relay?

When selecting a generator differential protection relay, consider the generator capacity and voltage, CT configuration, required 87G characteristics, differential protection slope, auxiliary protection functions, communication protocols, event and fault recording, and integration with the plant protection and control system. For EPC projects, the relay should also be evaluated for testing requirements, technical documentation, commissioning support, and long-term maintenance.