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and Intertripping
Introduction 8.1
Intertripping 8.4
8.1 INTRODUCTION
Unit protection schemes, formed by a number of relays
located remotely from each other, and some distance
protection schemes, require some form of communication
between each location in order to achieve a unit protection
function. This form of communication is known as
protection signalling. Additionally communications
facilities are also required when remote operation of a
circuit breaker is required as a result of a local event. This
form of communications is known as intertripping.
The communication messages involved may be quite
simple, involving instructions for the receiving device to
take some defined action (trip, block, etc.), or it may be
the passing of measured data in some form from one
device to another (as in a unit protection scheme).
Various types of communication links are available for
protection signalling, for example:
i. private pilot wires installed by the power
authority
ii. pilot wires or channels rented from a
communications company
iii. carrier channels at high frequencies over the
power lines
iv. radio channels at very high or ultra high
frequencies
v. optical fibres
Whether or not a particular link is used depends on
factors such as the availability of an appropriate
communication network, the distance between
protection relaying points, the terrain over which the
power network is constructed, as well as cost.
Protection signalling is used to implement Unit
Protection schemes, provide teleprotection commands,
or implement intertripping between circuit breakers.
8 . 2 U N I T P R OT E C T I O N S C H E M E S
Phase comparison and current differential schemes use
signalling to convey information concerning the relaying
quantity - phase angle of current and phase and
Trip Trip
I V V I
Intertrip Intertrip
Permissive Permissive
trip trip
Telemetry Telemetry
P rotection: Signalling and Intertripping
Telecontrol Telecontrol
Telephone Telephone
Data Data
Communication Communication
systems systems
Figure 8.1: Application of protection signalling and its relationship to other systems using communication
(shown as a unidirectional system for simplicity)
magnitude of current respectively - between local and piece of apparatus in sympathy with the tripping of other
remote relaying points. Comparison of local and remote circuit breakers. The main use of such schemes is to
signals provides the basis for both fault detection and ensure that protection at both ends of a faulted circuit
discrimination of the schemes. will operate to isolate the equipment concerned. Possible
circumstances when it may be used are:
Details of Unit
Figure 8.1: Protection
Application schemes
of protection areand
signalling given in Chapter
its relationship 10. systems using communication
to other
(Shown as a unidirectional
Communications methods are covered later in this Chapter. system for simplicity) a. a feeder with a weak infeed at one end, insufficient
to operate the protection for all faults
• 8• 8 . 3 T E L E P R OT E C T I O N C O M M A N D S b. feeder protection applied to transformer –feeder
Some Distance Protection schemes described in Chapter circuits. Faults on the transformer windings may
12 use signalling to convey a command between local operate the transformer protection but not the
and remote relaying points. Receipt of the information feeder protection. Similarly, some earth faults may
is used to aid or speed up clearance of faults within a not be detected due to transformer connections
protected zone or to prevent tripping from faults outside c. faults between the CB and feeder protection CT’s,
a protected zone. when these are located on the feeder side of the CB.
Teleprotection systems are often referred to by their Bus-zone protection does not result in fault
mode of operation, or the role of the teleprotection clearance – the fault is still fed from the remote end
command in the system. of the feeder, while feeder unit protection may not
operate as the fault is outside the protected zone
d. some distance protection schemes use
8.4 INTERTRIPPING intertripping to improve fault clearance times for
Intertripping is the controlled tripping of a circuit some kinds of fault – see Chapters 12/13
breaker so as to complete the isolation of a circuit or Intertripping schemes use signalling to convey a trip
8.5.3 Performance Requirements – Blocking Schemes 8.6.1 Private Pilot Wires and Channels
Low security is usually adequate since an unwanted Pilot wires are continuous copper connections between
command can never cause an incorrect trip. High signalling stations, while pilot channels are
dependability is required since absence of the command discontinuous pilot wires with isolation transformers or
could cause incorrect tripping if the protection relay repeaters along the route between signalling stations.
operates for an out-of-zone fault. They may be laid in a trench with high voltage cables,
Typical performance requirements are shown in Figure 8.2. laid by a separate route or strung as an open wire on a
separate wood pole route.
C Distances over which signalling is required vary
considerably. At one end of the scale, the distance may be
10-2
Sec only a few tens of metres, where the devices concerned are
10-3
P rotection: Signalling and Intertripping
TOP - 0.015sec T
The capacity of a link can be increased if frequency
P -1.00E-01 P T - Maximum
imum operating time division multiplexing techniques are used to run parallel
PMC -1.00E-01 P -1.00E-01
signalling systems, but some Utilities prefer the link to be
ª - UC )%
T - 0.015sec T - 0.015sec PMC used only for protection signalling.
-2.00E-02
-1.00E-01 P Dependability ª 100(1-P
PMC )%
Private pilot wires or channels can be attractive to an
Figure 8.2: Typical performance requirements Utility running a very dense power system with short
for protection signalling when the
communication link is subjected to noise distances between stations.
Line trap
To station
To line
• 8•
Series
tuning
unit
Capacitor VT
To E/M VT To E/M VT
Optical fibre communications are well established in the Plain high frequency signals can be used successfully for
electrical supply industry. They are the preferred means the signalling of blocking information over a power line.
for the communications link between a substation and a A normally quiescent power line carrier equipment can
telephone exchange when rented circuits are used, as be dedicated entirely to the transfer to teleprotection
P rotection: Signalling and Intertripping
trials have shown that this link is particularly susceptible blocking commands. Phase comparison power line
to interference from power system faults if copper carrier unit protection schemes often use such
conductors are used. Whilst such fibres can be laid in equipment and take advantage of the very high speed
cable trenches, there is a strong trend to associate them and dependability of the signalling system. The special
with the conductors themselves by producing composite characteristics of dedicated 'on/off' keyed carrier systems
cables comprising optical fibres embedded within the are discussed later. A relatively insensitive receiver is
conductors, either earth or phase. For overhead lines use used to discriminate against noise on an amplitude basis,
of OPGW (Optical Ground Wire) earth conductors is very and for some applications the security may be
common, while an alternative is to wrap the optical satisfactory for permissive tripping, particularly if the
cable helically around a phase or earth conductor. This normal high-speed operation of about 6ms is sacrificed
latter technique can be used without restringing of the by the addition of delays. The need for regular reflex
line. testing of a normally quiescent channel usually precludes
any use for intertripping.
Plain tone power line carrier signalling systems are
8.7 SIGNALLING METHODS particularly suited to providing the blocking commands
Various methods are used in protection signalling; not all often associated with the protection of multi-ended
need be suited to every transmission medium. The feeders, as described in Chapter 13. A blocking
methods to be considered briefly are: command sent from one end can be received
simultaneously at all the other ends using a single power
a. D.C. voltage step or d.c. voltage reversals
line carrier channel. Other signalling systems usually
b. plain tone keyed signals at high and voice require discrete communication channels between each
• 8• frequencies of the ends or involve repeaters, leading to decreased
dependability of the blocking command.
c. frequency shift keyed signals involving two or more
tones at high and voice frequencies Plain voice frequency signals can be used for blocking,
permissive intertrip and direct intertrip applications for
General purpose telecommunications equipment
all transmission media but operation is at such a low
operating over power line carrier, radio or optical fibre
signal level that security from maloperation is not very
media incorporate frequency translating or multiplexing
good. Operation in the 'tone on' to 'tone off' mode gives
techniques to provide the user with standardised
the best channel monitoring, but offers little security; to
communication channels. They have a nominal
obtain a satisfactory performance the output must be
bandwidth/channel of 4kHz and are often referred to as
delayed. This results in relatively slow operation: 70
voice frequency (vf) channels. Protection signalling
milliseconds for permissive intertripping, and 180
equipments operating at voice frequencies exploit the
milliseconds for direct intertripping.
standardisation of the communication interface. Where
voice frequency channels are not available or suitable,
protection signalling may make use of a medium or
specialised equipment dedicated entirely to the
signalling requirements.
Pilot channel
Voice
frequency
Power line
Protection carrier
relay communication
scheme channel Power line carrier
Carrier
frequency
shift
On/off
keyed
carrier
Frequency
division
multiplex
PCM
primary
multiplex Optical fibre
Digital
general purpose
Optical
transmitter
Optical fibre
dedicated
Optical
Protection Communication
signalling Transmission media
equipment
equipment
8.7.3 Frequency Shift Keyed Signals give the required degree of security in direct intertrip
schemes: the short operating times needed may result in
Frequency shift keyed high frequency signals can be
uneconomical use of the available voice frequency
used over a power line carrier link to give short
spectrum, particularly if the channel is not exclusively
operating times (15 milliseconds for blocking and
employed for protection signalling. As noise power is
permissive
Figureintertripping,
8.5: Communication20 milliseconds
arrangements commonlyfor direct in protection signalling
encountered directly proportional to bandwidth, a large bandwidth
intertripping) for all applications of protection
causes an increase in the noise level admitted to the
signalling. The required amount of security can be • 8•
detector, making operation in the presence of noise more
achieved by using a broadband noise detector to
difficult. So, again, it is difficult to obtain both high
monitor the actual operational signalling equipment.
dependability and high security.
Frequency shift keyed voice frequency signals can be
The signal frequency shift technique has advantages
used for all protection signalling applications over all
where fast signalling is needed for blocked distance and
transmission media. Frequency modulation techniques
permissive intertrip applications. It has little inherent
make possible an improvement in performance, because
security, but additional circuits responsive to every type
amplitude limiting rejects the amplitude modulation
of interference can give acceptable security. This system
component of noise, leaving only the phase modulation
does not require a channel capable of high transmission
components to be detected.
rates, as the frequency changes once only; the
The operational protection signal may consist of tone bandwidth can therefore be narrower than in coded
sequence codes with, say, three tones, or a multi-bit systems, giving better noise rejection as well as being
code using two discrete tones for successive bits, or of a advantageous if the channel is shared with telemetry
single frequency shift. and control signalling, which will inevitably be the case
Modern high-speed systems use multi-bit code or single if a power line carrier bearer is employed.
frequency shift techniques. Complex codes are used to