Considerations in applying breaker fail protection schemes to industrial and IPP systems

Increases of in-plant generation and independent power producers (IPP) installations prompted further discussions on breaker fail protection. New generations of multi-function digital relays possess sufficient programming and monitoring capacity to allow the economical inclusion of breaker fail function in their applications. This paper deliberates the evolvements; the needs and the applications of breaker fail protection schemes in such industrial systems. It discusses benefits and risks associated with the applications of breaker fail schemes. The overall breaker fail protection concept is introduced from the perspective of independent power producers (IPP) and industrial electrical power system engineers.