27

TEST UNIVERSE

Testing Directional
Overcurrent
Protection
 OMICRON Test Universe

Manual Version: DirOvcrAppNote.AE.1 - Year: 2010

© OMICRON electronics. All rights reserved.
This manual is a publication of OMICRON electronics GmbH.
All rights including translation reserved. Reproduction of any kind, e.g., photocopying, microfilming,
optical character recognition and/or storage in electronic data processing systems, requires the explicit
consent of OMICRON electronics. Reprinting, wholly or in part, is not permitted.
The product information, specifications, and technical data embodied in this manual represent the
technical status at the time of writing and are subject to change without prior notice.
We have done our best to ensure that the information given in this manual is useful, accurate and
entirely reliable. However, OMICRON electronics does not assume responsibility for any inaccuracies
which may be present.
The user is responsible for every application that makes use of an OMICRON product.

2
 OMICRON Schutzschulung

Testing Directional Overcurrent Protection

2010-05

Preface .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
1 Application Example ................................................................................................................................ 5
2 Theoretical Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Tripping Characteristics ....................................................................................................................... 6
2.2 IDMT-Characteristics (51, 51N, 67) ..................................................................................................... 7
2.3 Directional Overcurrent Protection (67) ............................................................................................... 8
3 Practical Introduction............................................................................................................................. 10
3.1 Defining the Test Object .................................................................................................................... 11
3.1.1 Device Settings ............................................................................................................................ 11
3.1.2 Defining the Overcurrent Protection Parameters ......................................................................... 12
3.2 Global Hardware Configuration CMC ................................................................................................ 16
3.2.1 Output Configuration for Protective Relays with a Secondary Nominal Current of 1A ................ 16
3.2.2 Output Configuration for Protective Relays with a Secondary Nominal Current of 5A ................ 17
3.2.3 Analog Outputs ............................................................................................................................ 18
3.2.4 Binary Inputs ................................................................................................................................ 18
3.2.5 Wiring of the Test Set .................................................................................................................. 19
3.3 Defining the Test Configuration ......................................................................................................... 19
3.3.1 General Approach ........................................................................................................................ 19
3.3.2 Pick-up Test ................................................................................................................................. 20
3.3.3 Trip Time Characteristic Test ....................................................................................................... 21
3.3.4 Directional characteristic test ....................................................................................................... 23

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 3/23

Test module Overcurrent

Preface
This paper will show how to test directional and non-directional overcurrent protection stages. It contains
an application example which will be used in the whole paper. The theoretical background of the
directional and non-directional overcurrent protection will be explained. Also this paper covers the
definition of the overcurrent Test Object as well as the Hardware Configuration for directional
overcurrent tests. Finally the Overcurrent test module is used to perform the tests which are needed for
the directional overcurrent protection function.

Supplements: Sample Control Center files Overcurrent Example.occ (referred in this document).
Requirements: Test Universe 2.40 or later; Overcurrent and Control Center licenses

While actively executing this example please feel free to press F1 to launch the test module's HELP
whenever you need more information regarding the test module's details and handling.

4/23 © OMICRON electronics GmbH

 Technical Application Document

1 Application Example

Figure 1 Feeder connection diagram of the application example

Table 1 Relay parameters for this example

Name of the parameter Parameter value Notes

Frequency 50 Hz

VT (primary/secondary) 10500 V / 110 V

CT (primary/secondary) 200 A /1 A

IEC Very Inverse Tripping characteristic

Directional Fwd Directional characteristic Forward

I> stage 300 A Pick-up value = 1.5 times InCT primary

Time multiplier (TD; TMS; τP, etc./

1.2
only for IDMT characteristics)
Relay characteristic angle (only for
45°
directional protective function)

DMT Tripping characteristic

I>> stage 600 A Pick-up value = 3 times InCT primary

100 ms Trip time delay

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 5/23

Test module Overcurrent

2 Theoretical Introduction
2.1 Tripping Characteristics

Tripping characteristics

Definite Minimum Time overcurrent Inverse-Definite Minimum Time

relay overcurrent relay

trip-time characteristic of a two-step trip-time characteristic of a

DMT-overcurrent relay IDMT- overcurrent relay

t[s] t[s]

t I> t I>

t I>> t I>>

I> I>> I/In IP I>>

I/IP
50-1 or 50N-1 50-2 or 50N-2 51 or 51N or 67

Table 2 IDMT tripping characteristics (range / show IEC 60255-3 or BS 142, section 3.5.2)

Characteristic Formula Annotation

LTI 120
t= ⋅T e.g. for motors suitable
(long time inverse) ( I IP ) − 1 P
SI 0.14
t= 0.02
⋅ TP
(standard inverse) (I IP ) −1

VI 13.5
t= ⋅T
(very inverse) ( IP ) − 1 P
I

80 good adjustment on fuse

EI t= ⋅ TP
2 tripping characteristics
(extremely inverse) ( I IP ) −1 possible

t = trip time in seconds

TP or TMS = setting value of the time multiplier
I = fault current
IP = setting value of the pick-up current

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 Technical Application Document

2.2 IDMT-Characteristics (51, 51N, 67)

As these characteristics differ considerably from each other, the operational equipment to be protected
has to be taken into account (overload, short-circuit behavior etc.).

1
2
3
4

5
6
7

Figure 2 Parameters of an overcurrent relay (AREVA)

1 Tripping characteristic for the I> stage (IDMT IEC very inverse for this example)
2 Directional function (forward for this example)
3 Pick-up value of I> stage
4 Time multiplier for the I> stage
5 Tripping characteristic for the I>> stage (DMT for this example)
6 Pick-up value of I>> stage
7 Trip time delay of I>> stage
8 Relay characteristic angle RCA (only for the directional function)

7 3 6

Figure 3 Comparison of IEC very inverse tripping characteristics with different time multiplier

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 7/23

Test module Overcurrent

2.3 Directional Overcurrent Protection (67)

A factor which is characteristic to the short-circuit is the short-circuit angle between short-circuit voltage
and short-circuit current. This angle depends on the voltage level and the respective operational
equipment (overhead line, cable, transformer). First of all it shall be examined more closely.

Table 3 Short-circuit angle of overhead lines and cables depending on the voltage level

380 kV 220 kV 110 kV 10-30 kV Electric arc

Short-circuit
approx. 85° approx. 80° approx. 72° 30-50° approx. 0°
angle

The short-circuit angle ϕsc can be calculated from the resistance R and the reactance X of the protected
object

X
ϕsc = arctan
R

It is clear that the short-circuit current has to be used for determining the direction. For the selection of the
voltage to be applied the following conditions have to be taken into account:

• For a close fault the short-circuit voltage is almost zero.

• The angle of the directional characteristic depends on the fault type (a-E, b-E, etc.). In order to
determine the correct position of the forward and the reverse direction, the relay needs a reference
voltage.

For this, relay connections have been developed which make use of different reference voltages with
corrected phase angles.

Table 4 Relay connection for determining the reference voltage

Connection Advantages Disadvantages

Maximum sensitivity with arc Not feasible in HV-systems ,
(
0 ° Iph , Vph ) faults no decision with a close fault

(
30 ° Iph , Vph − Vph ⋅ a ) Reference voltage depending
(
60 ° Iph , − Vph ⋅ a ) on the fault

(
90° Iph , Vph ⋅ a 2 − Vph ⋅ a ) Maximum reference voltage
with PhE- and PhPh- faults
Not feasible for arc faults

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 Technical Application Document

Note: The method, which is used for the reference voltage, depends on the relay manufacturer.
For the following discussion, we use the overcurrent relay P14x (AREVA)

Vc

Va = Vsc

Vb
Isc
-45°
Vref
-Vc

Vref =Vb -Vc

Figure 4 90°relay connection with a relay characteristic angle of 45° (a-E fault)

Note: The forward direction for the measuring element a follows for the angle: 45° > ϕsc > -135°.

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 9/23

Test module Overcurrent

3 Practical Introduction
The Overcurrent test module is designed for testing directional and non-directional overcurrent protective
functions with DMT or IDMT tripping characteristics (short-circuit, thermal overload, zero sequence,
negative sequence, and customized curve characteristics).

The test module can be found at the Start Page of the OMICRON Test Universe. It can be inserted into
an OCC File as well.

10/23 © OMICRON electronics GmbH

 Technical Application Document

3.1 Defining the Test Object

The first step of testing is defining the settings of the relay under test. In order to do that, the Test Object
has to be opened. This can be done by double clicking the Test Object in the OCC file or by clicking the
Test Object button in the test module.

3.1.1 Device Settings

The general relay settings (e.g. substation, relay ID, or CT and VT parameters) are entered into the
RIO function Device.

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 11/23

Test module Overcurrent

3.1.2 Defining the Overcurrent Protection Parameters

More specific data concerning the overcurrent relay can be entered in the RIO function Overcurrent. The
definition of the overcurrent characteristic has to be done here as well.

Relay Parameters

This first tab contains the definition of the directional behavior as well as the relay tolerances.

2 3

1 As we want to test a directional overcurrent relay this has to be activated.

2 Regarding the feeder connection diagram (Figure 1) the VT is placed At protected object. If you
choose Not at protected object, the voltage will have the nominal value after tripping.
3 The CT starpoint connection has to be set according to the connection of the secondary windings of
the CT. For this example the feeder connection diagram shows, that the CT grounding is towards the
protected object.
4 The current and time tolerances have to be looked up in the relay manual.

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 Technical Application Document

Elements

This tab defines the characteristic of the different overcurrent stages.

1
5
2

The default overcurrent characteristic is shown above. It contains an IEC Definite Time scheme with one
stage for a phase overcurrent protection. This characteristic has to be adjusted to parameters of the relay
(Table 1):

1 In order to define the elements of the phase overcurrent protection, select Phase as the
Selected element type. Note: In case other element types would also be present in the relay select
the related element types one after another in (1) to enter these elements. The selection field shows
the number of already defined related stages and how many of these are marked as active.
2 This table shows the elements which define the tripping characteristic for the selected element type.
The name of the first element may be changed according to the name used in the relay, e.g.
"I> stage".
3 The characteristic type of the first element has to be changed to IEC Very inverse.
4 Afterwards I pick-up and the Time index have to be set.
5 Now the second element can be added. It has an IEC Definite Time characteristic, which might be
renamed to "I>> stage". Also I pick-up and the Trip time have to be set.

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 13/23

Test module Overcurrent

The list of the elements after these adjustments is shown below.

1 The Reset Ratio has to be looked up in the manual as well.

2 In order to define the directional behavior, the Direction of the "I> stage" has to be set to Forward.
Note: This setting is an orientation help for the reader, and, once it is set, it will rotate the directional
limits by 180° if changed to Backward.

The adjustments of the directional characteristic have to be done in the tab Define Element Directional
Behavior:

3 As the relay characteristic angle cannot be entered in the Test Object directly, the Trip sector
definition has to be calculated. Figure 5 shows the difference between the relay characteristic angle,
which is a relay setting, and the Maximum torque angle, which can be set in the Test Object.

Vc

Va = Vsc

Vb
-45°
Vref

-Vc

Vref =Vb -Vc

Figure 5 Difference between the relay characteristic angle and the maximum torque angle

14/23 © OMICRON electronics GmbH

 Technical Application Document

The resulting overcurrent characteristic is shown below.

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 15/23

Test module Overcurrent

3.2 Global Hardware Configuration CMC

The global Hardware Configuration has to be defined according to your relay connection. It can be
opened by double clicking the Hardware Configuration in the OCC file.

3.2.1 Output Configuration for Protective Relays with a Secondary Nominal Current of
1A

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 Technical Application Document

3.2.2 Output Configuration for Protective Relays with a Secondary Nominal Current of
5A

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 17/23

Test module Overcurrent

3.2.3 Analog Outputs

The analog outputs as well as the binary inputs and binary outputs can be activated individually in the
local hardware configuration of the specific test module.

3.2.4 Binary Inputs

1
2

1 The start command is optional (it is needed if you select Starting as time reference in the test module
or if you want to perform a pick-up / drop-off test).
2 The trip command has to be connected to a binary input. You can use BI1 … BI10.
3 For wet contacts the nominal voltages of the binary inputs have to be adapted to the voltage of the
CB trip command. Or check Potential Free for dry contacts.
4 The binary outputs, the analog inputs etc. will not be used for the following tests.

18/23 © OMICRON electronics GmbH

 Technical Application Document

3.2.5 Wiring of the Test Set

Note: The following wiring diagram is only an example. Depending on the protective functions of
the relay such as sensitive earth fault protection, the wiring of the analog current inputs (IE
separately) is different.

Protective
Relay

Va
Vb
Vc
(-) (-)

Ia
Ib
Ic
IE

Trip
(+)
optional
Start
(+)

3.3 Defining the Test Configuration

3.3.1 General Approach
When testing the directional overcurrent protection, the following steps are recommended.

• Pick-up Test: Testing the pick-up value of the overcurrent protection (only if start contact is wired for
this relay).
• Trip time characteristic: Verifying the trip times of every element of the tripping characteristic.
• Directional characteristic: Verifying the angle of the directional characteristic.

Each of these tests can be done with the Overcurrent test module.

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 19/23

Test module Overcurrent

3.3.2 Pick-up Test

2 1

4 5 6

1 The trigger for this test has to be set in the Trigger tab. For this example the trigger will be the start
contact. This is the reason why this test cannot be performed if the start contact is not wired.
2 Settings in the Fault tab will not be needed in this test.
3 As we use the start contact to trigger, Relay with start contact has to be chosen.
4 The phase overcurrent function is tested with a three phase fault. Otherwise a ground fault protection
or a negative sequence protection may interfere.
Note: If these functions or elements are present they may be specified in the Test Object in the
same manner as the phase elements were entered in this example. The resulting characteristic will
individually be calculated and shown for each test shot depending on its fault type (4) and fault angle
(5), ensuring a proper assessment according to the expected overall relay behavior.
5 The test angle for the forward direction should be the maximum torque angle.
6 As the pick-up is not delayed, a step length of 50 ms should be sufficient.

Note: The pick-up value will be measured and assessed automatically. The drop-off value will be
measured as well, but it will not be assessed. The assessment of the drop-off value and the
reset ratio has to be done manually.

You may add more test lines as needed, e.g. a test in backward direction.

20/23 © OMICRON electronics GmbH

 Technical Application Document

3.3.3 Trip Time Characteristic Test

Trigger and Fault tab:

1
3

1 The trigger for this test will be the trip contact.

2 A Load current during the prefault state will not be used.
3 The Absolute max. time has to be adjusted. It has to exceed the upper tolerance of the test point
with the longest trip time. Otherwise an assessment will not be possible. On the other hand, it should
not be set to an unnecessarily high value since for shots where No trip is expected this will be the
waiting time until the assessment 'no trip' is done, before continuing with the next shot, so this would
unnecessarily prolong the test duration.

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 21/23

Test module Overcurrent

Characteristic Test tab:

1 2

3
4
5

1 As the function to test is a phase overcurrent function, a three phase fault is used. Otherwise a
ground fault protection or a negative sequence protection may interfere.
NOTE: If these functions or elements are present they may be specified in the Test Object in the
same manner as the phase elements were entered in this example. The resulting characteristic will
individually be calculated and shown for each test shot depending on its fault type (1) and fault
angle (2), ensuring a proper assessment according to the expected overall relay behavior.
2 The Angle for the forward direction should be the Maximum torque angle. For reverse direction it
has to be entered shifted by 180°.
3 As the trip time of the IDMT stage depends on the current, this element has to be confirmed with
more than one test point.
4 Whereas the trip time of the "I>> stage" can be confirmed with only one test point.
5 The directional behavior is tested with one shot in each zone in reverse direction.
6 The value of the "I>> stage" is also confirmed by placing two test points outside of the tolerance band
of this setting.
Note: Instead of directly entering the magnitude value you may express the magnitude by its relation
to an element setting, e.g. set Relative to: to "I>> stage" and set the factor to 1.06 (i.e. 6% above the
threshold) or 0.94 (i.e. 6% below the threshold).

Note: Regarding the ways to enter and modify test data please also have a look at the Help of the
module (press F1).

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 Technical Application Document

3.3.4 Directional characteristic test

The Trigger and Load settings are the same as explained for the trip time characteristic test. The
Absolute max. time can be reduced, because the test current will be set shortly below the lower
tolerance of the "I>> stage" value.

As this test confirms the angle of the directional characteristic, the test points have to be placed on both
sides of the directional characteristic line. In order to get a correct assessment, they should be placed just
outside of the angle tolerance.

Feedback regarding this application is welcome under TU-feedback@omicron.at .

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 23/23