Power System Protection Course

As electrical networks grow more complex across Abu Dhabi’s industrial, commercial, and utility sectors, the need for safe, reliable, and error-free power system protection has never been greater. Modern facilities depend on accurate protection schemes to minimize downtime, prevent equipment failure, and maintain continuity of supply. Numerical relays—alongside traditional protection devices—play a central role in ensuring that every component in the power system responds correctly under fault or abnormal conditions.

This training provides a clear, practical understanding of power system protection principles, the application of numerical relays, and the use of ETAP for analysis and coordination. The course is designed for engineers and technicians who want a deeper understanding of how protective devices detect faults, trigger isolation, and secure the stability of electrical installations.

Training Objectives

Participants will develop the ability to: 

• Understand major components in an electrical power system and how protection is applied.
• Perform power system analysis, fault studies, and coordination using ETAP.
• Work with SEPAM protection relays, including configuration, logic, and maintenance.
• Analyze overcurrent protection fundamentals and characteristics.
• Interpret time–current curves and ensure selective coordination for system reliability.

Course Outline

This training program is structured to build a strong, practical understanding of power system protection and numerical relays. It begins with core power system fundamentals and protection principles, then progresses into hands-on power system analysis using ETAP for load flow, fault studies, and coordination. Participants gain detailed exposure to overcurrent protection concepts and time–current coordination, followed by in-depth practical training on SEPAM numerical relays, including wiring, configuration, logic, diagnostics, and maintenance. The step-by-step flow ensures learners can confidently analyze, coordinate, and maintain protection systems used in real industrial and utility environments.

Day 1 — Power System Fundamentals and Protection Basics

• Overview of electrical power systems
• Understanding single-line diagrams
• Switchgear drawings and interpretation
• Busbar ratings, selection criteria, and standards
• Types and ranges of circuit breakers (MCB, MCCB, ACB)
• Operation and characteristics of protective devices
• LSIG control unit settings
• Time characteristic curves and their interpretation

Day 2 — Power System Analysis Using ETAP

• Introduction to the ETAP environment
• Network modeling and configuration
• Component and element data entry
• Data Manager and revision control
• Using libraries for accurate system modeling
• Load flow and short-circuit analysis
• Protection and coordination studies
• Arc flash analysis (optional)
• Identifying system alerts, warnings, and errors
• Report generation tools
• Q&A session

Day 3 — Overcurrent Protection: Concepts & Practical Analysis 

• Types of overcurrent protection and characteristics
• Fuse operation, types, and performance curves
• Reading and interpreting time-current curves
• Understanding L, S, I, G functions in electronic trip units
• TCC plotting and selective coordination
• MCCB and ACB electronic protection units

Day 4 — SEPAM Protection Relays (Part 1) 

• Types of electrical faults in power systems
• Switchgear integration with SEPAM relays
• ANSI codes and their relevance
• SEPAM relay types and protection roles
• Measuring transformers for relay protection
• Tripping devices and additional modules
• SEPAM front panel overview

Day 5 — SEPAM Protection Relays (Part 2) 

• SEPAM wiring, installation, and best practices
• Using SFT 2841 software
• Measurement functions and monitoring capabilities
• Protection functions and configuration
• Disturbance recording and analysis
• MIMIC diagram editor overview
• Logic Equation and Logipam configuration
• Maintenance procedures for SEPAM relays

Methodology

This training follows a practical, application-driven methodology built around real industrial workflows in the UAE. Each module combines conceptual learning, interactive demonstrations, and hands-on sessions with ETAP and SEPAM tools. Participants learn through guided exercises, fault simulations, and case-based analysis that mirror actual protection scenarios in electrical systems. The structured approach ensures that every learner gains clear, functional skills they can directly apply in design, testing, commissioning, and maintenance tasks across Abu Dhabi’s industrial and infrastructure projects.