Design and implementation of a standalone motor protection relay apparatus

Motor protection relays (MPR) are crucial in the protection of electrical circuits and can be implemented in a variety of industries to protect a plethora of electrical equipment. The way in which protections are implemented can vary greatly and in the case of this report the protection relay selected was a Schneider Sepam M41, which is used for the protection of industrial-type induction motors. The MPR is a crucial piece of equipment within an electrical circuit. Incorporated correctly, a MPR can potentially save a business a significant amount of money and time if a fault condition is observed early and the relay acts to remove the motor from the source of supply, limiting exposure to the fault. In the context of an undergraduate course at university it is not always possible for students to be exposed safely to electrical equipment, let alone exposed to equipment under fault conditions that would cause circuit protection devices to operate. The purpose of this thesis is to deliver a standalone system for a MPR using a complete engineering process. Using a complete engineering process from initial consultation to handover, a stand-alone motor protection apparatus was created to be used safely by students. The unit will enable students to witness what they will be exposed to in industry, while providing opportunities for future students to expand on the significant work completed and build on the existing construction