11/15/2018

Distance Protection

Over-current Protection ?
Inverse time will introduce considerable delays in clearing faults
Zs= 10 Ohms
IF = 132/(5+4)(3^.5) = 8470 Amps
~ X ZL= 4 Ohms IF
Zs= 10 Ohms X X X
~ X F

F
Zs= 10 Ohms

~ X IF
IF = 132/(10+4)(3^.5) = 7621 Amps
Zs= 10 Ohms X X X
ZL= 4 Ohms
~ F

Even HSI over current protection is not capable of providing fast protection
under all system operational conditions.
Hence a new concept needs to be adopted to provide fast protection to
transmission/distribution networks.

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Alternative Concept
• Distance of a transmission/distribution line is fixed and
determined at the time of commissioning.

• It remains constant under all system conditions.

• Hence measurement of distance of a

transmission/distribution line is a good concept.

• If the distance measured is less than the “known”, that

indicates a faulty condition.

• If it is more than the “known” it indicates a healthy

condition

Advantages of the “Alternative Concept”

• Virtually independent of fault current level

• Fast discriminative protection

• Can be modified to provide unit protection by combining

with signaling channels

• Can be directional

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Measurement of Distance

ZL
ZS ZLOAD
~
IR
~
VR

IR

ZS
ZL ZLOAD
~ VR

Normal Operation

Impedance measured = Z Relay = VR/ IR = ZL+ ZLOAD

Measurement of Distance
IR

ZS
ZF= xZL
~ VR ZLOAD

Impedance measured = Z Relay =VR/IR = Z F= x ZL where x < 1

If the relay is set to operate when the impedance

measured (Z Relay ) is less than Z Lthe relay will
operate when Z Relay= ZF= x Z L, as x < 1

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Impedance Seen by the Relay

ZS
ZF= xZL
~ VR ZLOAD

ZL

Simple Impedance Relay

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Plain Impedance Characteristic

Secondary Impedance
• Distance relay inputs are the currents and
voltages from CTs and PTs

• Relays are set to measure the positive

impedance of the protected line

• All distance relays except numerical relays

are calibrated in secondary ohms.

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Primary Impedance and Secondary

Impedance
ZS = Vs / Is

VS = VP / VT ratio

IS = IP / CT ratio

ZS = (VP/ VT ratio) / (IP /CT ratio)

= (VP / IP) x CT ratio/ VT ratio

= ZP x CT ratio/ VT ratio

Distance Relay Inputs

• As distance relays measure the positive sequence
impedance, inputs to the relay have to be suitably
selected.
• Single voltage and a current can not cover all types of
faults
• Inputs for phase faults are as follows:

Fault Voltage applied Current

A-B VA - V B IA- IB
B-C VB - VC IB-IC
C-A VC - VA IC-IA

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Distance Relay Inputs – Earth Faults

Va = I1Z1 + I2Z2 + I0Z0 ; For a line Z1 = Z2

Va = (I1 + I2 + I0) Z1 + I0(Z0 -Z1) = (Ia + I0 (Z0 -Z1)/ Z1)Z1

Va
Z1 = ---------------------
(Ia + Ir(Z0 -Z1)/ 3 Z1 )

Zones

Second zone
First zone Second zone

First zone

Second zone

First zone

A
D

B C

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Characteristic presentation
• Distance relay operates when
Z measured < Z setting
• Remains stable when
Z measured > Z setting
• Hence it has a balanced point .
• Characteristic is presented in a polar
characteristic with resistance on X-axis and X-
on Y axis.
• Angle of impedance relative to R axis.
• Describes the locus of relay in balance condition
for different impedance angles.

Impedance Measuring
• Comparators
• Amplitude comparator
• Phase comparator

• Numerical techniques
• Solving the differential equation

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Amplitude and Phase Comparators

SO SR
SO SR
Amplitude Phase
comparator
comparator

Output > 0 Output >0

when
when So ≥ SR
-900 ≤ α ≤ 900
Marginal operation
when SO = SR Where α is phase angle
between SO and SR

Equivalence of Amplitude and Phase

Comparators

SO S1= S0-SR SO S1= S0-SR S1= S0-SR

S2= S0+SR S2= S0+SR

S2= SO+ SR

SR SR

• Marginal operation of an amplitude comparator can be defined by SO= SR

• For such a condition sum and difference of SO and SR are at right angles.
•When SO > SR , a decisive operation α angle between S1 and S2 is<± 900
•When SO < SR , decisive restraint α angle between S1 and S2 is >± 900
•

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Distance Relay Performance

• Defined in terms of reach accuracy, a
comparison of actual ohmic reach of the
relay with setting
• Underreaching
• Overreaching

Reach Accuracy Curves

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Switched and Non switched Relays

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