Course Overview
This course describes design methods and equipment required to protect utility power systems against faults and operating conditions that could damage power system components. Topics include a review of power system fundamentals, types of faults, and protection philosophy. Design strategies for protection of distribution feeders, substation buses, transformers, transmission lines, and generators will be specified in detail. Laboratory exercises based on power system modelling for fault studies, protection coordination and fault record analysis are included in this course.
Prerequisite(s)
- 50% in ELEX 7240
Credits
4.0
Registration requirements
Departmental approval is required to register for this course. You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Domestic fees
$771.64
International fees are typically 3.4 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the economic, reliability and safety roles that protection systems have in power system operation.
- Specify how faults on power systems occur, and the impact these faults have on power system equipment and operation.
- Analyse electrical one line diagrams and determine suitable protection schemes to allow safe and reliable operation of power systems.
- Analyse how the non-ideal operating characteristics of instrument transformers impact protection system operation.
- Design using a philosophy which considers the entire life cycle of protection system equipment, from initial design, installation, and commissioning to long term maintenance and performance monitoring.
- Describe the operating principals of overcurrent, impedance, and current differential fault detection methods.
- Identify power system faults using symmetrical components.
- Design protection schemes for power system generators, transmission lines, transformers, buses, and distribution systems.
- Design fault and protection coordination studies using modern power system simulation software.
- Analyse the impact emerging technologies on traditional protection schemes
Effective as of Spring/Summer 2013
Related Programs
Power System Protection (ELEX 8285) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
- Indicates programs eligible for students to apply for Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
School of Energy
- Electronics
Bachelor of Technology Part-time
Course Offerings
Fall 2026
Below is one offering of ELEX 8285 for the Fall 2026 term.
CRN 52812
Dates
Sep 14 - Dec 14 Loading
- CRN 52812
- $771.64 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
14 weeks
Instructor
Russ Chore
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- No class on October 12th (Thanksgiving Day). The makeup session will be held ONLINE on Friday, October 2nd from 18:30 – 21:30. This class has an online delivery format for course material. The course is scheduled to begin on September 14th, but you will not need to go to the BCIT Burnaby campus. Instead, you will log on to learn.bcit.ca to access the course materials. Labs to be scheduled outside of class hours on Saturdays for a total of 18 hours, on a schedule to be determined on the first day of class. An on-campus lab room is available for students who are unable to get the required software working on their personal computers. This is an optional resource; the course can be completed entirely online.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.