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Advanced transmission line protection system

Conference Paper · May 2004

DOI: 10.1049/cp:20040157 · Source: IEEE Xplore

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 445
ADVANCED TRANSMISSION LINE PROTECTION SYSTEM
G Benmouyal, N Fischer, A Guzman, J Mooney, and D Tziouvaras
Schweiher Engineering Laboratories, Inc., USA
ABSTRACT
This paper describes an advanced protective relay
system for high-speed transmission line protection. In
the paper, we present the high-speed distance element
performance, an algorithm that prevents Zone 1 element
overreach in series-compensated transmission lines, and
a reliable frequency estimation algorithm for proper
frequency tracking during pole-open conditions to
prevent relay misoperations. Finally, we present logic
that prevents distance element polarization corruption
during any pole-open condition in single-phase tripping
and reclosing applications.
Keywords: Line Protection, Distance Relay, High-
Speed Protection
INTRODUCTION
Right-of-way restrictions on building new transmission
lines increases existing transmission line loading,
reduces stability margins, and imposes challenges on
distance relays for faster tripping times and more secure
relay performance. Combining elements that respond to
only transient conditions with elements that respond to
transient and steady-state conditions results in
dependable, high-speed protection. To achieve security
in high-speed tripping, we supplement the fast mho-type
fault detectors with a High-speed Directional and Fault
Type Selection (HSD-FTS) algorithm.
The application of series capacitors in transmission lines
imposes challenging problems for distance-type
protection systems. Subharmonic transients that occur
during faults in series-compensated systems can cause
Zone 1 direct tripping distance elements to overreach
for external faults and jeopardize system security. It is,
therefore, necessary to include series-compensated line
logic in distance-based relays to prevent misoperations
for external faults.
Distance elements need a reliable frequency estimation
algorithm for proper frequency tracking during pole-
open conditions to prevent relay misoperations. Line
shunt reactors interact with line capacitance and
maintain oscillatory line voltages for a number of cycles
at a frequency lower than the power system frequency,
when the breakers are open at both ends of the line.
These voltages corrupt the distance protection
polarization and frequency estimation. The distance
relay must detect these oscillatory voltage conditions
and eliminate the corrupted voltage from the memory
filter input.
0 2004 Schweitzer Engineering Labs, INC, USA. Reproduced with kind permission
HIGH-SPEED DISTANCE ELEMENTS
Reduction in relay operating times is one trend in
recently developed digital transmission line relays. A
number of new techniques allow for secure subcycle
tripping. Reference (1) introduced the concept of
multiple data-window filters with corresponding fixed
reach. Based on the principle of multiple data-window
filters, we developed the concept of the dual-filter
scheme. This scheme combines voltage and current data
from half-cycle and one-cycle data windows to obtain
Zone 1 distance element detection and achieve fast
tripping times.
FIGURE 1 - Zone 1 Distance Element Using a Dual-Filter
Scheme
The mho distance element calculations in FIGURE 1
use techniques presented in (2). Two sets of filtering
systems compute the line voltage and current phasors to
achieve speed in fault detection: one fast using one half-
cycle data window, and one conventional using a one-
cycle data window. We apply this principle for Zone I
fault detection and for Zones 2 and 3 used in
communications-assisted schemes. In the case of
Zone I , the half-cycle detector has a reach less than the
one-cycle detector reach. For Zones 2 and 3 , the reach
remains the same.
Mho-type detectors are inherently directional but are not
useful for fault type selection because multiple elements
pick up for single-phase-to-ground faults. Furthermore,
phasors derived from the half-cycle data window are
less stable than the ones derived from the one-cycle data
window. Therefore, in order to achieve security for
high-speed tripping, we supplement the fast mho-type
fault detectors with the HSD-FTS algorithm ( 3 ) . The
algorithm uses the sign of the torques in Equation 1 to
establish direction and their relative values to select the
fault type. The high-speed directional element provides
a combined directional and fault type selection signal
for a total of seven outputs in each direction. FIGURE 2
shows the A-phase-to-ground impedance loop, where
we simply “ O R signals from the one-cycle and half-
cycle data-window fault detectors to get the final loop
logic signal.
 446

<

t
R

ATAB= Real AVAB.(1L8,, 'AIABy

AT,, = R e a l AVBc . ( I L O , , .AIBcY
AT,, = Real[AV,, .(lLOL,
FIGURE 4 - Series-Compensated Line With a Fault at Station
R and Apparent Impedance
Where:
FIGURE 5 shows the impedance plane plot for the fault
AVAB = Two-cycle window incremental A-phase- shown in FIGURE 4 with the series capacitor in service.
to-B-phase voltage
AIAB = Two-cycle window incremental A-phase-
to-B-phase current
OneCyde DirectionalElement

A~PhareOneEyde
FaYlt Seledan

A~PharetMimund
OneCycle Mho Element

High-speed Dlrenlonal
HSD-AGF
A-Phase-tocraund
HslICycle Mho Element
3
FIGURE 2 - A-Phase Impedance Loop Half- and One-Cycle
Combination Logic
Note that we also supplement the conventional one-
cycle mho element with a directional element (4)
A-Phare-loGround
Fault Defeclar-MAG

FIGURE 5 -
_I_ n,

Apparent Impedance for a Fault at the End of the

derived from the one-cycle data window and a fault-
type-selection logic (2). Extensive testing revealed that
fault detection occurs within a subcycle time frame in
practically all cases.
FIGURE 3 shows the two calculations of the distance m
for a long line in a 50 Hz system. An A-phase-to-ground
fault occurs at 0.1 s in Zone 2 reach, in a system with a
SIR = 0.2.
2 !
I overreach for external faults. FIGURE 6 is a plot of
Line
As we see in the impedance plot, the apparent
impedance magnitude decreases to a value close to half
of the compensated line impedance.
From FIGURE 4, we can calculate the voltage drop for
a bolted A-phase-to-ground fault at the line end as
follows:
The ratio of VMEAsto VCALCis used to supervise the
underreaching Zone 1 distance elements to prevent
VMEAs,VcALC,and the ratio of VMEAsto VcALcvoltage.

0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

Time (Seconds)
FIGURE 3 - m Calculations for a Zone 2 A-Phase-to-Ground
Fault
The half-cycle element detects the fault at 0.11 1 s and
the one-cycle element detects the fault at 0.123 s. The
half-cycle element detects the fault 12 ms faster than the
FIGURE 6 - Measured and Calculated Voltages and Voltage
one-cycle element. Ratio for Faults Along the Line
SERIES-COMPENSATED LINES When the ratio of VMEAsto VCALCvoltage is less than a
predefined threshold, the Zone 1 distance element can
Subharmonic transients in series-compensated operate. Otherwise, the Zone 1 element is blocked. With
,transmission lines can cause Zone 1 underreaching the ratio supervision, one can set the Zone 1 reach based
distance elements to overreach for external faults. The on the uncompensated line impedance.
Zone I distance element at Station S should not operate
for the fault shown at Station R in FIGURE 4.
 447
FREQUENCY ESTIMATION DURING POLE-
OPEN CONDITIONS
Distance elements can misoperate during frequency
excursions and single-pole open conditions if they do
not track the system frequency correctly (1).
Traditionally, relays that calculate frequency have
circuitry or logic that detects zero-crossings of a single-
phase voltage signal to determine the signal period.
These relays calculate frequency reliably as long as the
voltages are present and healthy. This section describes
logic to correctly estimate the system frequency during
pole-open conditions and unhealthy voltage conditions.
During pole-open conditions, the power system is prone
to instability. The power frequency changes when one
phase is open, due to sudden increase in the impedance
between the two line terminals, particularly in weak
source systzms. The distance relay needs to track this
frequency to minimize distance element overreach.
FIGURE 7 shows a 600 MVA generator connected to a
275 kV network through two transmission lines.
FIGURE 7 - 275 kV Network With 600 MVA Genemtor
FIGURE Sa illustrates the frequency change when
Line 2 opens A-phase to clear an A-phase-to-ground
fault located 50 km from Station S while Line 1 is open.
The frequency varies from 60.2 to 59.8 Hz durlng the
pole-open condition. If the relay in FlGURE 7 does not
track the system frequency appropriately, the apparent
impedance begins to appear as a fault condition, as
shown in FIGURESb. The relay must use voltage
information from the unfaulted phases to track the
system frequency and minimize dktance element
overreach.
FIGURE 8 - Frequency Close to the Generator Bus and
Distance Element Apparent Impedance During
Pole-Open Conditions
FIGURE 9a shows the A-phase voltage of a line, with a
shunt reactor located on the line side of the circuit
breaker after line de-energization.
t k . . h ...., ............. .......... ' ............. ...........
~~~~~~~~~: :..A
FIGURE 9 - A-Phase Voltage Afler Line De-energization and
Its Frequency Estimation
FIGURE9b shows the frequency estimation for the
A-phase line voltage. The frequency of the voltage
signal oscillates between 44.6and 54.4 Hz after line de-
energization. These corrupted voltages must be removed
from the frequency estimation logic to prevent
estimation erron.
FIGURE I O shows the frequency estimation logic that
increases distance element reliability. The relay uses
voltages VA, V,, and V, to calculate the frequency,
FREQ, obtain the relay tracking frequency, and adapt
the line protection to power system changes.
"cL
;-m+J-/ Componl."oll.Q. Calculsl,on i
FIGURE 10 -Frequency Estimation Logic for Transmission
Line Protection Applications
Depending on breaker pole status and voltage source
health switches SWI, SW2, and SW3 select voltages
V,, V,, and Vc, respectively, or zero. The switches are
in Position 2 if their corresponding pole is closed. The
relay selects Position 1 during a pole-open condition on
a phase-by-phase basis, a three-pole open condition, and
during a loss-of-potential condition.
VI, V2, and V3 are the voltages after SW1, SW2, and
SW3 switch selection. The relay uses these voltages to
calculate the composite signal, Va. Equation 3 shows
the Va calculation.
v, v2 v 3
=(vl-,-Tj.K
(3)
L l
The frequency estimation algorithm uses the zero-
crossing detection method. To prevent erroneous
frequency estimation during power system faults, the
relay freezes the output of the frequency estimator if the
relay detects a transient or a tripping condition The
 448
output of the logic is the power system frequency,
FREQ. The frequency estimation logic removes the
voltage signal from the open phase to avoid the use of
corrupted signals during pole-open conditions or loss-
of-potential conditions. The relay uses the composite
signal, V,, to track the system frequency during pole-
open conditions. The constant K modifies the gain of
the composite signal V,, to provide constant signal
amplitude to the frequency estimator for different line
operating conditions.
DISTANCE ELEMENT POLARIZATION
DURING POLE-OPEN CONDITIONS
The most popular polarizing quantity for distance
protection is positive-sequence voltage with memory
(2). During pole-open conditions in applications with
line-side potentials, eventual comption of the
polarizing quantity can occur if the input voltage to the
memory circuit is corrupted. Invalid memory
polarization may cause distance element misoperation.
Shunt reactors located on the line-side of the circuit
breakers compensate the line-charging currents and
reduce overvoltages in long transmission lines. After the
circuit breakers open at both line ends, the shunt
reactors interact with the line capacitance and maintain
ringing line voltages for several cycles that have
frequencies different from the actual system frequency.
These ringing voltages corrupt the distance protection
polarization and frequency estimation.
The relay detects the ringing condition and eliminates
the corrupted voltage from the memory filter input. On a
phase-by-phase basis, the relay inputs zeros to the
memory filter during pole-open conditions to prevent
distance element misoperation. FIGURE 11 shows the
logic for inputting zeros to the memory filter after the
relay detects voltage ringing or undervoltage conditions.
FIGURE I 1 -The Relay inputs Zeros to the Memory Filter
When input Voltages Are Corrupted
CONCLUSIONS
1. The result ofusing the dual-filter scheme technique
is reliable high-speed transmission line protection
Copyright 02003 SEL
(All rights reserved)
Printed in USA
20031216
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compared to conventional one-cycle only filtering
schemes.
The ratio of the measured voltage, VUEASI to the
calculated voltage, VcnL,in series compensation
applications provides information to block Zone 1
distance elements and prevent distance element
overreach.
Using the composite signal, V,, allows relays to
track system frequency during pole-open conditions.
The composite signal combines information from
the three phases without additional signal
manipulation, as in the case of positive-sequence
quantity.
The ability to remove the open phase voltage
prevents using corrupted signals for distance
element polarization and frequency tracking during
pole-open conditions or loss-of-potential conditions.
REFERENCES
1. Hou, D., Guzman, A., and Roberts, J. “Innovative
Solutions Improve Transmission Line Protection,”
Proceedings of the 24th Annual Western Protective
Relay Conference, Spokane, Washington, October
21-23, 1997.
2. Schweitzer, E. O., 111 and Roberts, J. “Distance
Relay Element Design,” Proceedings o f the 19th
Annual Western Protective Relay Conference,
Spokane, Washington, October 20-22, 1992.
3. Benmouyal, G. and Roberts, .I. “Superimposed
Quantities: Their True Nature and Their
Application in Relays,” Proceedings of the 26th
Annual Western Protective Relay Conference,
Spokane, Washington, October 26-28, 1999.
4. Guzman, A., Roberts, J., Hou, D.“New Ground
Directional Elements Operate Reliably for
Changing System Conditions,” Proceedings of the
23rd Annual Western Protective Relay
Conference, Spokane, Washington, October 15-1 I ,
1996.
5. Guzman, A., Mooney, J., Benmouyal, G., and
Fischer, N. “Transmission Line Protection System
for Increasing Power System Requirements,”
Proceedings of the 29th Annual Western Protective
Relay Conference, Spokane, Washington, October
22-24,2002.