Distribution Power Systems with Multiple Reclosers
Amir Enayati, Thomas H. Ortmeyer Clarkson University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Potsdam, NY, USA enayata@clarkson.edu, ortmeyer@clarkson.edu fiber-optics along the feeders in order to provide medium Abstract Electricity customers are increasingly sensitive to speed communications among the relays. Each recloser offers electric power interruptions and high reliability has become a two channels to provide communication between the upstream growing expectation. Due to this increased attention in electric and downstream reclosers. Therefore, a single pair of fibers is power distribution system reliability, more protection devices are required for this operation. An additional pair is required to being installed and significant investment is made to help improve grid reliability. The increased usage of protective allow engineers access and to control the reclosers by using devices in distribution systems makes coordination among the SCADA data. protective devices challenging. In many cases, proper Distance protection usage in distribution systems has been coordination cannot be achieved with traditional time- proposed in [8]; however, the proposed scheme in [8] does not overcurrent schemes. In addition to the coordination problem, provide solution for the coordination of multiple recloser the traditional approach might experience longer clearance time distribution systems. The protection scheme proposed in [7] intervals. In order to achieve feasible coordination in a radial distribution system with multiple reclosers, a new approach is provides a solution for coordination issues of the protection proposed. In this method, distance relays are applied along with system. However, it can be expensive for radial distribution overcurrent relays and reclosers to provide the expected proper systems. Communication is the cornerstone of most coordination. The paper includes detailed case study that distribution system protection schemes studied recently [1-6]. represents the performance of the proposed scheme in a multi- This paper proposes a new design that utilizes distance relays recloser distribution system. along with overcurrent relays to obtain proper coordination. A Index Terms Circuit breakers, Distribution System Protection, Relays, Time-overcurrent Protection, Distance major advantage of the proposed protection method is the fact Protection, Reliability. that communication between the reclosers is not required. The proposed method allows for full time-current coordination I. INTRODUCTION with backup tripping times that do not violate conductor and transformer damage curves. I n recent years, studies have been conducted to resolve distribution system protection issues [1-6]. However, a robust method that can solve all coordination and reliability This paper presents a case study of a radial feeder with one recloser initially, as two additional reclosers are added. In the problems associated with distribution system protection has initial instance, full coordination is achieved with traditional not yet been proposed. time-overcurrent (TOC) methods. It is shown that this is not An important distribution system protection issue is the possible when there are three reclosers on the line. The time-current coordination of multi-recloser systems. Even proposed method adds impedance relays at upstream though system reliability improves by increasing installations locations, with the overcurrent relay timing adjusted by of the protection devices, time coordination can be adversely impedance relay operation. With this approach, distribution impacted. Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) engineers can design a protective system that ensures the proposed a new technology to solve this issue [7]. Their fewest isolated customers and the shortest fault clearance time recommended technology, which utilizes automated feeder intervals for a given fault in the system. reconfiguration, reduces the duration of outages and the number of customers affected by the fault. II. PROPOSED SCHEME To meet higher reliability requirements, fewer customers In order to allow the coordination of the radial distribution are affected when additional protective devices are in use. system with multiple reclosers, utilizing distance relays along However, due to the cumulative delay in multi-recloser radial with the overcurrent relays and reclosers is proposed. In this systems, it can be difficult to provide coordination between all design, distance relays are utilized to detect the location of of these devices. Lack of coordination can significantly reduce faults. On each main feeder section, fast overcurrent relays the reliability improvement provided by adding a recloser. A supervised by zone 1 distance relays are used for the primary new approach should be utilized to achieve a proper protection protection of that zone. These fast overcurrent relays only system that meets operational standards. PSE&G implemented need to coordinate with the lateral sectionalizing fuses. Zone 1 of each upstream relay or recloser is set to 90 percent of the length of that main feeder section. A Zone 2 distance relay is set to the length of the protected feeder section plus 50 percent This system is protected by multiple protection devices and of the length of the next main feeder section. For the shown in Fig.2. This model contains two main feeder sections coordination of the adjacent devices when the Zone 2 of the M1 and M2. M1 is the feeder section from the bus to the upstream device operates, a fixed time margin T is utilized as recloser and M2 is the feeder section from the recloser to the a Zone 2 time delay in addition to the local fast overcurrent end of the line. Each of these feeder sections contains ten relay. If a fault occurs on the protected feeder section but fused laterals. In this system, if a fault occurs on one of the outside of Zone 1, Zone 2 of the associated upstream laterals, the fuse on that particular lateral will disconnect the protective device will trip after an additional time delay T. lateral from the main feeder. If there is a prolonged fault on Faults on the first 50 percent of the downstream feeder section the feeder section M2, the recloser will disconnect M2 from will be cleared by Zone 1 of the recloser on that feeder the system, and M1 will remain powered. If a fault occurs on section. If Zone 1 of the upstream device on the feeder section feeder section M1, the feeder circuit breaker will trip and does not trip, Zone 2 of the relay installed to protect the service to the entire feeder will be interrupted. In this upstream feeder section will trip after time T. This fixed time protection system, the feeder circuit breaker also is a backup margin is set such that the two adjacent protection schemes protection device for the recloser and if set properly, trips have a coordination time interval of 0.3 seconds. By using this when the recloser does not trip for a fault on M2. TrCB is the method, no recloser will see beyond the next feeder section, transformer circuit breaker that protects the transformer from and cumulative delay in multiple recloser distribution systems overload conditions, and is a backup protection device for the will not be a problem. As a result, the system will have a fast bus and the feeder protection. The test case specifications are reliable protection design. Consequently, due to the utilization shown in Table 1. In this example, the total feeder load is of the distance relays, the clearing time is decreased and the considered single-phase with peak load of 5 MVA. distribution system coordination is improved. Table 1: System specifications of the one recloser case study In the proposed scheme, three additional voltage Feeder Section Length Number of Customers transformers (VTs) need to accompany each recloser. The M1 5 miles 250 addition of the VTs to the traditional recloser increases the L1.1 through L1.10 2 miles 100 (each) cost of a recloser; however, it provides distance protection in the recloser installation point. M2 5 miles 250 L2.1 through L2.10 A. Protection philosophy of the proposed scheme 2 miles 100 (each) The philosophy underscoring the coordination and relay Total Feeder 50 miles 2500 settings of the proposed protection scheme is depicted in Fig. 1. As indicated in Fig. 1, the total sensing time on each area protected by Zone 1 is the operating time of the fast overcurrent relay and Zone 1 of the associated distance relay. On the line segments protected with Zone 2 supervision, it is sufficient that the upstream time overcurrent characteristics plus time T be no faster than the downstream TOC with an additional 0.3 seconds to maintain the coordination Fig. 2: Operating diagram of the one-recloser case study
In order to enhance the reliability of the distribution system,
two additional reclosers have been added to the previous case study at the midpoint of feeders M1 and M2. Fig.3 represents the resulting system that contains four main feeder sections. Fig. 1: Coordination curves of the proposed protection scheme What follows is the application of the traditional overcurrent relays in the case study shown in Fig 3. III. CASE STUDY A. Coordination issues of the protection system using A test system has been studied to investigate relay traditional overcurrent relays while maintaining coordination coordination, as well as the fault clearance time interval [9].
Fig. 3: Operating diagram of the three-recloser case study
Short-circuit calculations and load levels are essential to procedure of R1 is described below. Since R2 and the feeder coordinate the overcurrent relays properly. Time-current circuit breaker follow a similar protection approach to that of coordination between two adjacent protection devices is R1, we have only focused on the R1 protective device. As needed for currents up to the maximum fault current at the depicted in Fig. 3, R1 protects the main feeder section M2, downstream device. In addition, minimum pick-up current and R2 protects the main feeder section M3. should be determined for coordination of overcurrent relays The 51F relay provides the fast sensing of the faults, and and the fuse. When the input current of the relay exceeds the will not time out for faults beyond fuses (51F will operate as a minimum pick-up current, the relay will start to time. The back-up when the fuses fail to operate as expected). If 51F and minimum pick-up current for each protective device is initially Zone 1 distance 21Z1 both operate, the fault is on the based on the multiple of the load level at that location. Table 2 protected main feeder segment. Tripping is immediate once shows the minimum pick-up current ranges for all protective both operate. If 51F, 21Z2 and the timer T all operate, the fault devices on the main feeder. is on the remaining 10% of M2 or the first 50% of the M3. Faults on the first 50 percent of M3 will be cleared by Zone 1 Table 2: Minimum pick-up current ranges and three-phase bolted fault current of the recloser R2. If Zone 1 of the recloser R2 does not values of the time-overcurrent relays operate, Zone 2 of R1 will trip after time T. The system is also Fault TrCB CB R1 R2 R3 protected by slow overcurrent protection. The 51 relay acts as location a back-up for the combination of 51F and distance relays. Settings of the 51 relay are the same as the 51 relay used in the Three-phase 11561 11561 3302.5 1917.8 1344 previous section, where traditional overcurrent relays are bolted fault 82.40 82.40 70 68.02 67.30 utilized in order to obtain complete coordination in the current (A) protected segment. 325.4 245.2 162.7 81.74 Fig. 4(b) represents the tripping system of the transformer Minimum pick-up circuit breaker, which can be done to achieve faster clearing 1050 < MPC < MPC < MPC < MPC current (MPC) times. TrCB protects the transformer from the overloads. < 542.3 < 408.7 < 271.2 < 136.2 TrCB also protects the system from bus faults. In addition, as range (A) the transformer circuit breaker and the feeder circuit breaker sense the faults on M1, hence, coordination with the proper Fault clearance times for faults at different locations are time interval is required. Therefore, zone 1 of the TrCB will shown in Table 3. Faults at the end of each line section have trip after T seconds and zone 2 will trip after T2 seconds to the slowest clearing time. Therefore, in order to consider the protect the transformer from overloads. The rest of the worst case, only clearance times of the end of feeder section tripping procedure will be the same as that of R1, which is faults are presented in the table. As depicted in Table 3, shown in Fig. 4(b). In the proposed scheme Zone 1 of the protection system experiences long fault clearing times, which TrCB is set to 80% of the length of M1 and Zone 2 is set to is not acceptable. Table 3: Excessive fault clearance times required to maintain coordination protect M1 plus 50% of M2. with traditional TOC protection At the At the At the At the V. PHASE PROTECTION At the end of end of end of end of Fast overcurrent relays are designed and used in the protection Fault location substation scheme. As the overcurrent relays are only required to M1 M2 M3 M4 coordinate with the sectionalizing fuses when Zone 1 senses 11561 3302.5 1917.8 1350 1042 the fault, the coordination is much easier compared to the Three-phase cases using only traditional time-overcurrent protection. bolted fault 82.40 70 68.02 66 66.7 Because there is no need for coordination between reclosers in current (A) the scheme, the tripping times are substantially reduced by Fault including the distance relay fault location detectors. 3.2 3.8 2.2 1.5 0.6 clearance time (sec) A. Coordination scheme of the proposed design Fault clearance time To obtain the desired coordination in Zone 2 of the distance for arcing fault relays, the coordination between the devices mentioned below currents equal 4.5 6.5 6 4 0.95 should occur. to 50% of the Three-phase Coordination between R3 and the sectionalizing bolted fault fuses, as well as the coordination between R2 Zone current (sec) 2 and R3. Coordination between R2 and the sectionalizing fuses, as well as the coordination between R2 and IV. TRIPPING SCHEME OF THE PROPOSED METHOD Zone 2 of the recloser R1, with time delay T. Fig. 4(a) demonstrates the tripping system of the protection Coordination between R1 and the sectionalizing devices R1, R2 and the feeder circuit breaker. The protection fuses, as well as the coordination between R1 and (a) (b) Fig. 4: Protection devices trip system: (a) R1 and R2 and feeder circuit breaker (b) Transformer circuit breaker. zone 2 of the feeder circuit breaker CB, with time horizontal axis (R axis) added to the line impedance, which delay T. can move the impedance seen by the MHO relay outside the Coordination between the feeder circuit breaker coverage zones. and the sectionalizing fuses, as well as the In order to obtain greater resistance coverage for the three- coordination between CB and the TrCB at their phase faults on the system, a quadrilateral relay can be used Zone 1. Coordination between CB and the TrCB in Zone 2. Fault clearance times for this proposed design are shown in Table 4 for faults at different locations. This table shows that fault clearing time is decreased significantly compared to the traditional approach fault clearing time, which is presented in Table 3. Table 4: Fault clearance time at different locations using the proposed scheme At the At the At the At the At the end Fault end of end of end of location substation of M2 Fig. 5: MHO relays characteristic on the R-X diagram M1 M3 M4 [10], [11]. It is essential to set the maximum reach of the relay Three- so that the load and switching currents and currents generated 11561 3302.5 1917.8 1350 1042 phase from faults on sections outside the trip zone of the relay, do bolted fault 82.40 70 68.02 66 66.7 not initiate any trip signal. Fig. 6 shows the characteristics of current (A) the quadrilateral relay on an R-X diagram. L1, L2, L3, and L4 Fault represent the boundaries of the quadrilateral relay. In the 0.5 0.6 0.6 1.1 0.6 clearance protection system, the protection region of the relays shall not time (sec) overlap with the load region. The margins of the load region Fault can be defined as follows [12]: clearance time for = (1) arcing fault Where and are load angle and angle of the lines in the currents load blinder, respectively. Also, is the impedance of the equal to 0.6 1 1.2 1.8 0.95 load and Z is the magnitude of the arcs radius. 50% of the Three- phase bolted fault current (sec)
B. Distance relays characteristics
MHO and quadrilateral relays are the two most popular distance relays used by protection system designers. Under faulted conditions, quadrilateral relay provides much higher resistance coverage than MHO relay. The characteristics of MHO relays are shown in Fig. 5 [10]. Zone 1 reaches to 90% of the length of the line segment it protects, as shown in the figure. Zone 2 reaches into the next line segment. Bolted faults Fig. 6: Quadrilateral relays characteristic on the R-X diagram will be sensed by a value on this line that is related to the fault location. Fault resistance is sensed as a value parallel to the C. Utilizing quadrilateral relay to protect the three-recloser A. Calculating the minimum pick-up currents in the ground case study protection design As depicted in Fig. 6, in order to have a reliable protection Due to less sensitivity of the ground relay during heavy load system, L1, L2, L3, and L4 need to be set properly. As the currents or load inrush compared to the phase relay, setting the system under study is radial, L1 is set by using the zone values ground relay to include all of the faults is simpler than the and is a parallel line to the R-axis, but there is no practical phase overcurrent relay. In a perfectly balanced feeder, the reason to increase the angles of L2 and L3. Also, L4 is set by current of the ground overcurrent relay is near zero under the values of the faults arc resistance. It is assumed the arc normal load. Therefore, the ground relay is not affected by due to the fault is resistive, variable, and unpredictable. load current and can have a sensitive setting compared to that However, resistance values of up to 20 ohms covers almost all of the phase relay [13]. However, the distribution line is not arcing fault resistances in distribution systems. To set L4 perfectly balanced and there is always current flowing in to properly, the maximum load impedance at all relays and the ground due to the load imbalance; hence, it is necessary to reclosers are needed. Table 5 represents the load impedances estimate how much current the ground relay might sense. In at R1, R2, CB and TrCB. addition, sectionalizing fuse operation on the fused laterals Table 5: Maximum load levels that causes the loss of the load on the single-phase lateral and TrCB and CB R1 R2 increased current flow through the ground relay shall also be S (MVA) 5 3.75 2.5 taken in to consideration. Furthermore, the ground current due to operation of sectionalizing fuses shall be considered to Z !" () 34.84 46.46 69.69 avoid ground relay nuisance tripping. Therefore, by considering the aforementioned conditions, 25 to 50 percent of As we can see, especially in reclosers close to the end of the the phase minimum pick-up current is commonly used to set line, there is a significant difference between the load the minimum pick-up current of the ground relays. impedance and the arcing resistance. Therefore, a designer can increase L4 to support more resistive faults. The other B. Distance element settings in the ground protection characteristic that can limit L4 is the inequality of the fault In the proposed method, Zone 1 of the distance elements of current angle and angle of the current sensed by the recloser the reclosers R1, R2, and feeder circuit breaker are set to 85 [11]. As in radial distribution systems, these current angles are percent of the impedance of the associated main feeder equal; L4 is only set by the faults arc resistance. However, the section. The 15% safety margin ensures that there is no over- question is: Will the overcurrent function of the reclosers and reaching in the protected main feeder section. Typically, this relays sense the low current caused by the high arcing safety margin is 5-10% higher than that of the phase distance resistance?. To obtain the answer, the currents flowing into settings due to higher errors for ground protection. The angle the relays need to be calculated when a fault with 20 ohms setting of the distance relay is set to be the same as the line resistance occurs at 50% of the next line. Table 6 represents impedance angle. Similar to the phase protection, Zone 2 the current at relays and reclosers for faults at 50% of the next distance relay is set to the length of the protected feeder feeder section. This table shows that overcurrent function of section plus 50 percent of the length of the next main feeder all of the reclosers and relays are capable of detecting the section. arcing faults with 20 ohms resistance. Table 6: Minimum fault currents as a result of arcing faults located at each C. Outcomes of proposed scheme implementation in the relay and recloser with 20 Ohms fault resistance ground protection TrCB and CB R1 R2 Using the proposed scheme, ground protection of the 1318 j150.9 = 955.4 j78.8 = 748.6 j48.2 = system is designed. The ground protection coordination Current (A) philosophy of the proposed scheme is depicted in Fig.7. As 1326 6.53 958.6 4.71 750.1 3.69 indicated in the diagram, distance relays are utilized along with the fast over-current relays at the reclosers R1 and R2. Consequently, by using the distance relay, along with the Since proper coordination and small clearance time interval overcurrent relay, the clearance time interval is decreased can be obtained by only using over-current relays at CB and significantly. In the next section, this method is implemented TrCB, distance relays are not utilized in the design scheme of on single-phase-to-ground faults to prove that the proposed these reclosers. Therefore, by utilizing distance relays at only method improves coordination of the protective devices. R1 and R2 a protection scheme is designed that meets all existing power system protection requirements from the power VI. GROUND PROTECTION system reliability standpoint. Due to the design philosophy similarity of the proposed Similar to the phase design the clearance time interval is ground protection method to that of the phase protection decreased significantly while maintaining coordination. Table scheme presented previously, settings of the proposed method 7 and 8 show the fault clearing time using the traditional and are only discussed in this section. At the end of this section outcomes of implementing the proposed method in ground protection are analyzed.
Fig. 7: Coordination curves of the proposed ground protection scheme
proposed approaches respectively. protection scheme is recommended to be utilized as one of the Table 7: Fault clearance times using the traditional approach best options for the multi recloser protection systems, as well At the At the At the At the as the smart-grids, where grid resiliency is the key factor. At the end of end of end of end of Fault location substation REFERENCES M1 M2 M3 M4 [1] Waleed K. A. Najy, H. H. Zeineldin. Optimal Protection Coordination for Microgrids With Grid-Connected and Islanded Capability, IEEE Single-phase to Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 1668-1677 ground bolted 12976 1801 968 661 502 APRIL 2013. fault current (A) [2] V. Salehi, A. Mohamed, A. Mazloomzadeh, O. A. Mohammed. Fault clearance 1.75 1.66 1.62 1.67 1.2 Laboratory-Based Smart Power System, Part II: Control, Monitoring, time (sec) and Protection, IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, vol. 3, no. 3 Fault clearance SEPTEMBER 2012. time for arcing [3] I. Abdulhadi, F. Coffele, A. Dysko, C. Booth, G. Burth. Adaptive fault currents Protection Architecture for the smart Grid, Innovative Smart Grid 1.9 2.3 3.3 4.4 1.8 Technologies (ISGT Europe), 2011, pp. 1-8. equal to 50% of the Single-phase [4] K. Kauhaniemi, S. Voima. Adaptive Relay Protection Concept for to ground bolted Smart Grids, Renewable Efficient Energy II Conference, March 2012. fault current (sec) [5] X. Fang, S. Misra, G. Xue, D. Yang. Smart Grid The New and Table 8: Fault clearance times using the proposed scheme Improved Power Grid: A Survey, IEEE Communication Surveys & At the At the At the At the Tutorials, vol. 14, no. 4 Fourth Quarter 2012. At the [6] M. M. Eissa. Protection Technique for Complex Distribution Smart end of end of end of end of Grid Using Wireless Token Ring Protocol IEEE TRANSACTIONS Fault location ON SMART GRID, VOL. 3, NO. 3, SEPTEMBER 2012 substation M1 M2 M3 M4 [7] R. Wernsing, J. Hubertus, M. Duffy, G. Hataway, D. Conner, E. Nelson. ADVANCED LOOP SCHEME Improving reliability through better operational methods IEEE Industry Applications Magazine, 2012. Single-phase to 12976 1801 968 661 502 [8] Amy Sinclair, Dale Finney, David Martin, Pankaj Sharma. Distance ground bolted Protection in Distribution Systems: How It Assists With Integrating fault current (A) Distributed Resources2012 65th Annual Conference for Protective Fault clearance 0.8 0.82 0.61 1.3 1.2 Relay Engineers, April 2012. time (sec) [9] T. Ortmeyer. A unified index for power distribution reliability/power Fault clearance quality indices Harmonics and Quality of Power (ICHQP) time for arcing SEPTEMBER 2010. fault currents [10] J.L. Blackburn, T.J. Domin. Protective relaying principles and 0.94 1.2 1.2 2.75 1.8 equal to 50% of applications, Third edition: CRC Press 2007. the Single-phase [11] SEL-411L Relay Protection and Automation System Applications to ground bolted Handbook, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc., 2011. fault current (sec) [12] S. Li, N. Yorino, M. Ding, Y. Zoka. Sensitivity Analysis to Operation Margin of Zone 3 Impedance Relays With Bus Power and Shunt Susceptance IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. VII. CONCLUSION 23, NO. 1, JANUARY 2008. Utility companies are utilizing more protection devices to [13] GE Power Management, Distribution System Feeder Overcurrent Protection, GE, Fairfield, CT decrease power interruptions; thereby increasing the systems Amir Enayati was born in Salmas, West reliability. In this paper, it is proven that utilizing multi Azerbaijan, Iran, in 1984. He received the recloser protection schemes to protect the system from faults B.S. degree in electrical engineering from adversely impacts power system coordination. A new design is Iran University of Science and Technology, proposed, which addresses the coordination concern of multi in 2008 and the M.Sc. degree in electrical recloser distribution systems. The proposed method, which is engineering from Clarkson University, NY, the combination of distance and over-current protection, in 2013. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. improves the coordination and decreases the fault clearance degree in electrical engineering at Clarkson time interval. From system reliability and maintenance University. From 2012 to 2013 he was a research standpoints, the proposed methods advantages overweigh the assistant developing a power system merits of the other existing methods in which the laboratory at Clarkson University. His research interests include communication among the relays is the cornerstone. The Power system protection, reliability resiliency, micro-grid, smart- cumulative delay issue of the multi recloser protected systems grid, and renewable energy. requires high speed wireless connection amongst the relays. Thomas Ortmeyer is Professor of The connection can also be done by fiber-optics. The proposed Electrical and Computer Engineering at method is based on the current and voltage measurements at Clarkson University. His work includes the recloser or the relay; hence, the communication amongst research into power quality, power the relays is no longer required. In addition, in some case system protection, and power distribution systems. Dr. Ortmeyer has studies, the proper coordination design can be obtained by chaired Clarksons Electrical and implementing the proposed scheme on only some of the feeder Computer Engineering Department for 9 protective relays (observed in ground protection), which years, and developed and managed further decreases the cost. Clarksons Experiential Learning To sum up, the proposed method solves the coordination Program. and system reliability issues properly. Therefore, the proposed