Differential protection :

7ut61 O/M :

In differential protection systems for protected objects with two terminals, a restraining
quantity is normally derived from the current difference |I1 I2| or from the arithmetical
sum |I1| + |I2|, Both methods are equal in the relevant ranges of the stabilization characteristics.
In differential protection systems for protected objects with three or more
terminals, e.g multiple-winding transformers or busbars, restraint is only possible with
the arithmetic sum.
a tripping effect or differential current
IDiff = |I1 + I2|
and a stabilization or restraining current
IRest = |I1| + |I2|
The current sum definition is extended for more than 2 measurement locations, e.g.
for 4 measuring locations (Figure 2-16 or 2-17):
IDiff = |I1 + I2 + I3 + I4|
IRest = |I1| + |I2| + |I3| + |I4|

a) Through-flowing current under healthy conditions or on an external fault:
I1 flows into the protected zone, I2 leaves the protected zone, i.e. thus has opposite
sign, i.e. I2 = I1, and consequently |I2| = |I1|
IDiff = |I1 + I2| = |I1 I1| = 0
IRest = |I1| + |I2| = |I1| + |I1| = 2|I1|
no tripping effect (IDiff = 0); restraint (IRest) corresponds to twice the through-flowing
current.
b) Internal fault, fed from each end e.g. with equal currents:
In this case, I2 = I1, and consequently |I2| = |I1|
IDiff = |I1 + I2| = |I1 + I1| = 2|I1|
IRest = |I1| + |I2| = |I1| + |I1| = 2|I1|
tripping effect (IDiff) and restraining (IRest) quantities are equal and correspond to
the total fault current.
c) Internal fault, fed from one side only:
In this case, I2 = 0
IDiff = |I1 + I2| = |I1 + 0| = |I1|
IRest = |I1| + |I2| = |I1| + 0 = |I1|

tripping effect (IDiff) and restraining (IRest) quantities are equal and correspond to
the fault current fed from one side.
This result shows that for internal fault IDiff = IRest. Thus, the characteristic of internal
faults is a straight line with the slope 1 (45)

The dashed line in Figure 2-19 shows an example of the shape of the instantaneous
quantities during a through-fault current with CT saturation at one side.
Immediately after fault inception (A) the fault currents increase severely thus producing
a high restraint quantity (twice the through-flowing current). At the instant of CT
saturation (B) a differential quantity is produced and the restraint quantity is reduced.
In consequence, the operating point IDiff/IRest may move into the tripping area (C).
In contrast, the operating point moves immediately along the fault characteristic (D)
when an internal fault occurs since the restraint current will barely be higher then the
differential current.


Current transformer saturation during external faults is detected by the high initial restraint
current which moves the operating point briefly into the add-on stabilization
area (Figure 2-19). The saturation indicator makes its decision within the first quarter
cycle after fault inception. When an external fault is detected, the differential stage is
blocked for an adjustable time. This blocking is cancelled as soon as the operation
point moves steadily (i.e. over at least one cycle) near the fault characteristic (90 %
of the slope of the fault characteristic). This allows to detect evolving faults in the protected
zone reliably even after an external fault with current transformer saturation.
Add-on stabilization operates individually per phase. You can determine by a setting
parameter whether only the phase with detected external fault is blocked or also the
other phases (so called crossblock function).
A further stabilization comes into effect when differential secondary currents are simulated
by different transient behavior of the current transformer sets. This differential
current is caused by different DC time constants in the secondary circuits during
through-current conditions, i.e. the equal primary DC components are transformed
into unequal secondary DC components due to different time constants of the secondary
circuits. This produces a DC component in the differential current

Harmonic Restraint

When switching unloaded transformers or shunt reactors on a live busbar, high magnetizing
(Inrush) currents may occur. These inrush currents produce differential quantities
As they seem like single-end fed fault currents. Also during paralleling of transformers,
Or an over excitation of a power transformer, differential quantities may occur
Due to magnetizing currents cause by increased voltage and/or decreased frequency.
The inrush current can amount to a multiple of the rated current and is characterized
By a considerable 2nd harmonic content (double rated frequency) which is practically
Absent in the case of a short-circuit. If the 2nd harmonic content exceeds a selectable
Threshold, the differential stage is blocked.

Overexcitation of the transformer iron is characterized by the presence of odd harmonics
in the current. Thus, the 3rd and 5th harmonic are suitable to detect such phenomena.
But, as the 3rd harmonic is often eliminated in power transformers (e.g. by the
delta winding), the use of the 5th is more common