What is the primary role of protection relays in substations?

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The primary role of protection relays in substations involves activating emergency shutdown procedures in the event of fault conditions. These devices are critical for the safety and reliability of electrical systems. When abnormal conditions such as short circuits, overloads, or other faults are detected, protection relays respond by sending signals to circuit breakers or other mechanical devices to isolate the faulty section of the system. This minimizes the risk of equipment damage and enhances the overall safety of the electrical network by preventing potentially dangerous situations.

In contrast, providing decorative lighting does not align with the functionalities of protection relays, as their purpose is focused on operational integrity and safety rather than aesthetic enhancements. Similarly, while maintaining continuous operation of all circuits is important for overall system performance, it is not the primary function of protection relays, which are designed specifically to react to faults rather than ensure uninterrupted operation. Monitoring and controlling power flow is more related to systems like SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) or automation devices, which have a different focus than the dedicated fault protection tasks performed by relays.

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