MiCOM P543, P544, P545,

P546

Addendum
Current Differential Protection Relays
Platform Hardware Version: M
Platform Software Version: 76
Publication Reference: P54x-EN-AD-N

© - ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or warranty is given or should be relied on that it
is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is provided without liability and is
subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
MiCOM P543, P544, P545, P546 Line Current Differential Protection

1 STARTERS FOR CURRENT DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION

This is available on the P543/4/5/6 sw. ver. 76. It allows the IED to improve differential protection
stability during communication path switching and other communication issues, using optional starters
in the differential protection.
The trip command will only be initiated if both starters and differential protection element operate. The
starters respond to all types of faults including high resistance earth faults. The pickup values of the
starters are sufficiently sensitive to detect any high resistance earth faults, and they do not operate
under the worst system unbalanced condition with a maximum load current. The delta starters have a
reset time never less than 600 ms. The starters accuracy is ±2% (when setting is ≥50mA).
The implementation of this function is based in the existing starters used in P547 which includes a
number of starters like Low Sets, High Sets and Transient.
The Starters function includes the entire current based Low Set delta and threshold starters (Delta I1,
Delta I2, Start I1, Start I2) and if selected by settings use them to confirm the Current Differential
protections and can be set in the CURRENT DIFF column.
By default, all starters are disabled, so the Current Differential Protection operates as standard. When
Enabled, the starters can operate and set DDB’s which can then be used in the PSL file to block the
Current Differential Protection or any other function.
If starters are set to “Permit Cdiff” the function has the same functionality as the Enabled option, but
with additional inbuilt logic to permit the Current Differential Protection only if the Starter has operated.
Operation of any starter using this setting is sufficient to allow the Current Differential Protection to
operate.
If any starter has operated, the CDiff Permit signal is set and latched until all start levels have reset
and all phases of Current Diff have reset.

1.1 Starters for Current Differential Protection - Settings

The CURRENT DIFF column is used to set the parameters for the Current Differential function. The
Current Diff column includes all the current based Low Set delta and threshold starters and their
settings.

MENU TEXT Col Row Default Setting Available Setting

Description
GROUP 1
33 0 0
CURRENT DIFF
This column contains settings for Diff Current Function
STARTERS 33 90 0
Sub heading.
Delta I2 33 91 Disabled 0 = Disabled, 1 = Enabled, 2 = CDiff Permit
This setting disables/enables the starter functionality. If disabled the Current Differential Protection operates as standard. If Enabled the relay provides
DDB’s in the PSL which can be used to block the Current Differential Protection. If CDiff Permit the user has the same functionality as the enabled option,
but with additional inbuilt logic to permit the Current Differential Protection only if the Starter has operated.
Delta I2 low 33 92 0.2 0.05*In to 0.6*In step 0.05*In
The setting is used to set the threshold to operate the Delta I2 Starter.
Delta I1 33 94 Disabled 0 = Disabled, 1 = Enabled, 2 = CDiff Permit
This setting disables/enables the starter functionality. If disabled the Current Differential Protection operates as standard. If Enabled the relay provides
DDB’s in the PSL which can be used to block the Current Differential Protection. If CDiff Permit the user has the same functionality as the enabled option,
but with additional inbuilt logic to permit the Current Differential Protection only if the Starter has operated.
Delta I1 low 33 95 0.4 0.05*In to 0.6*In step 0.05*In
The setting is used to set the threshold to operate the Delta I1 Starter.

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Line Current Differential Protection MiCOM P543, P544, P545, P546

MENU TEXT Col Row Default Setting Available Setting

Description
Start I2 33 97 Disabled 0 = Disabled, 1 = Enabled, 2 = CDiff Permit
This setting disables/enables the starter functionality. If disabled the Current Differential Protection operates as standard. If Enabled the relay provides
DDB’s in the PSL which can be used to block the Current Differential Protection. If CDiff Permit the user has the same functionality as the enabled option,
but with additional inbuilt logic to permit the Current Differential Protection only if the Starter has operated.
Start I2 low 33 98 0.2 0.025*In to 5*In step 0.05*In
The setting is used to set the threshold to operate the Start I2 Starter.
Start I1 33 9A Disabled 0 = Disabled, 1 = Enabled, 2 = CDiff Permit
This setting disables/enables the starter functionality. If disabled the Current Differential Protection operates as standard. If Enabled the relay provides
DDB’s in the PSL which can be used to block the Current Differential Protection. If CDiff Permit the user has the same functionality as the enabled option,
but with additional inbuilt logic to permit the Current Differential Protection only if the Starter has operated.
Start I1 low 33 9B 1.5 0.05*In to 5*In step 0.05*In
The setting is used to set the threshold to operate the Start I1 Starter.
Res Low Time 33 B2 0.6 0.6s to 1s step 0.01s
The setting is used to set the time to reset the CDiff Permit signal after all starts levels have reset and all phases of Current Diff have reset.
Table 1: GROUP 1 CURRENT DIFF column

1.2 Starters for Current Differential Protection - Logic

The following logic is required as part of the Current Differential algorithm and fits between the count
strategy and the output signals it produces. Only if the starter logic “CDiff Permit” is set are the current
differential start signals allowed to be set.
In addition to the normal DDB outputs, the CDiff Permit signal is set if any starter is above starter
setting and selected to Permit or all starters are set to Disabled or all starters are set to Enabled.

Figure 1: Starters Application Logic

This logic applies to both the low set and the high set Current Differential Starters and requires a
similar logic for the Neutral Differential protection.
 

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MiCOM P543, P544, P545, P546 Line Current Differential Protection

1.3 Starters for Current Differential Protection - DDB Signals

Ordinal Signal Name Source Type Response
Description
546 DDB_BLOCK_DELTA PSL PFSI NO_RESPONSE
Delta starter block.
548 DDB_BLOCK_START_I2 PSL PFSI NO_RESPONSE
I2 starter block.
807 DDB_DELTA_I2_LOW SW PFSO Event_Protection
Delta I2 Low start.
809 DDB_DELTA_I1_LOW SW PFSO Event_Protection
Delta I1 Low Start.
811 DDB_START_I2_LOW SW PFSO Event_Protection
Threshold I2 Low start.
813 DDB_START_I1_LOW SW PFSO Event_Protection
Threshold I1 Low start.
825 DDB_ANY_DELTA_START FL PFSO Event_Protection
Any delta current start.
826 DDB_ANY_THRESH_START FL PFSO Event_Protection
Any threshold current start.
827 DDB_ANY_LOW_SET FL PFSO Event_Protection
Any low set start.

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Line Current Differential Protection MiCOM P543, P544, P545, P546

2 SUPERVISION OF STANDING DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION

For current differential protection using digital communication, additional supervision of differential
current may be required. The supervision function may be set to alarm and block differential
protection. The alarm has a time delay with a user settable setting of 1 – 5 seconds. The pickup
value of the differential supervision function can be set at least 20% more sensitive than that of
differential protection for a given bias current (i.e. the supervision function will operate before the
differential protection function), and it will not operate during normal condition with a maximum load
current.
The reason for this functionality is to detect standing differential current and block the differential. The
most likely reason for standing differential is the comms network controller has failed and left the
comms on split paths.
If the comms network controller detects a problem with the comms, it will initiate a switch to an
alternative path. The relay will detect this as a propagation delay change and invoke the alternative
(transient) characteristic for a period set by the “Char Mod timer” after which the characteristic returns
to normal. During this time, the relay will be stable even if the comms network controller fails and
selects split paths but if this persists when the characteristic switches back, the relay will trip. This
condition is detected and the relay blocks.
P54x includes an additional dual slope characteristic with suitable settings, which is set more sensitive
than the differential characteristic. This works in conjunction with the alternative (transient)
characteristic as the probability of the differential current due to a split path being above the
supervision and below the tripping characteristic is low.
The user needs to set the Time delay for alarm or Block longer than the timer used for Char Mod
Timer. The output from the Timer latch with a setting option of Manual or Auto reset. If the I Diff
Supervision timer is running and the char mod timer is about to time out and return the Differential to
the normal characteristic the IDiff Supervision timer accelerates to the timed out state and the
Indication/Blocking is applied.
This can raise an Alarm and if required Block the Differential if any supervision elements of differential
current remains above this characteristic for a set time and create a DDB in the event list
“IDiffSupStart”, the status of the Block is stored in non-volatile memory and is reapplied after a power
up.
The supervision of standing differential protection operation uses three independent supervision
nd
elements one per phase and these three elements are blocked by CTS or 2 harmonic if these
functions are enabled and set to block Phase Current differential. Each supervision element is
blocked by operation of corresponding Phase Current Differential Start element or Neutral Differential
Start element, to prevent the Phase Current Differential and/or Neutral differential from being reset if
the fault persists for greater than the timer.
An alarm “IDiffSupervision” is raised if you set to Indication or Blocking mode, after the output from the
latch operates and is applied also to the High Set Differential start element. If you set to Blocking
mode, also the output from the latch, inhibits the phase and neutral differential in the local end and
remote end(s).
The IDiffSupervision element does not delay the operation of Phase Current Differential or Neutral
Differential under genuine fault conditions with no previous standing differential.
This function can be used independently of GPS Sync setting and run even if differential protection is
disabled in the CURRENT DIFF column so long as it is enabled in the Configuration column.

2.1 Supervision of Standing Differential Protection - Settings

The SUPERVISION column is used to set the parameters for the Supervision functions. The
Supervision column includes Voltage Transformer Supervision (VTS), Current Transformer
Supervision (CTS), Inrush Detection, special Weak Infeed Blocking and Supervision of standing
Differential.

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MiCOM P543, P544, P545, P546 Line Current Differential Protection

MENU TEXT Col Row Default Setting Available Setting

Description
GROUP 1
46 0 0
SUPERVISION
This column contains settings for Voltage and Current Supervision
I DIFF Supervision 46 51 Disabled 0 = Disabled, 1 = Indication, 2 = Blocking
This setting is to disable/enable the Current differential supervision. If enable, the user can choose alarm only, or alarm and blocking of the current
differential protection.
I DIFF Sup Reset 46 52 Auto 0 = Manual or 1 = Auto
The Current differential supervision alarm will be latched after a user settable time delay ‘IDiff Sup TDelay’. Once the signal has latched then two methods
of resetting are available. The first is manually via the front panel interface (or remote communications) and secondly, when in ‘Auto’ mode, provided the
Current differential Supervision condition has been removed.
I DIFF ISup 1 46 53 8 50 to 90 step 1
Setting that defines the minimum pick up level, expressed as a percentage of current differential setting 'Phase Is1'.
I DIFF ISup 2 46 54 200 50 to 90 step 1
Setting that defines the bias current threshold, at which the current differential supervision alarm characteristic becomes vertical. Expressed as a
percentage of current differential setting 'Phase Is2'.
I DIFF Sup TDelay 46 55 5 0.5 to 30 step 0.01
Time delay before the Current differential supervision alarm will operate, after a Current Diff supervision condition occurs.
Table 2: GROUP 1 SUPERVISION column

2.2 Supervision of Standing Differential Protection - Characteristic

4.5

3.5

Standard
Idiff

2.5 Trancient
Supervision

1.5

0.5

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Ibias

Figure 2: Differential Protection Characteristics

The characteristic is defined in two slopes. The first slope has an initial setting of IDiff Sup1 (set as a % of
Is1) and with a slope K1 up to a second setting IDiff Sup2 (set as a % of Is2) and then a vertical line.

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Line Current Differential Protection MiCOM P543, P544, P545, P546

2.3 Supervision of Standing Differential Protection - DDB Signals

Ordinal Signal Name Source Type Response
Description
340 DDB_CDIFF_SUPERVISION SW PFSO Event_AlarmSelfReset
Alarm to indicate standing differential current has presented for greater than time delay setting.
927 DDB_CDIFF_SUPERVISION_START SW PFSO Event_Protection
Current Differential Supervision Start

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PXXX
Product Description

Alstom Grid

© - ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved.

Information contained in this document is
indicative only. No representation or warranty
is given or should be relied on that it is
complete or correct or will apply to any
particular project. This will depend on the
technical and commercial circumstances. It is
provided without liability and is subject to
change without notice. Reproduction, use or
disclosure to third parties, without express
written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Alstom Grid Worldwide Contact Centre
www.alstom.com/grid/contactcentre/
Tel: +44 (0) 1785 250 070

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