Application Notes P746/EN AP/F11

MiCOM P746 (AP) 6-23

6.3 Topology processing

The following scenarios demonstrate how the dynamic topology processing works and
accommodates anomalies and discrepancies in the scheme.

6.3.1 Single bar or double bus with bus sectionaliser

Bus Section Closed

Isolator Closed Isolator Closed
Zone 1 = CT1 + CT2
Zone 1 = BB1 + BB2

CB Closed CB Closed

Check Zone = CT1 + CT2

P0873ENa AP
FIGURE 9: BUS SECTION CLOSED
A zone is defined from a CT to an other CT or an open electrical element (coupler CB or
isolator).
As all the breakers and isolators are closed there is only one zone including BB1 and BB2

Bus Section Open

Zone 1 = CT1 Isolator Closed Isolator Closed
Zone 2 = CT2
Zone 1 = BB1
Zone 2 = BB2

CB Closed CB Closed

Check Zone = CT1 + CT2

P0875ENa

FIGURE 10: BUS SECTION OPEN

A zone is defined from a CT to an other CT or an open electrical element (coupler CB or
isolator).
When the bus section is open, a zone is created from each bar feeder CT to that open bus
section.
There is one zone for BB1 and one zone for BB2.
 P746/EN AP/F11 Application Notes

(AP) 6-24 MiCOM P746

6.3.2 Double bus with one CT bus coupler

Coupling Closed
Zone 1 = CT1 + CT3
Zone 2 = CT2 + CT3 Isolator Closed Isolator Closed
Zone 1 = BB1
Zone 2 = BB2

CB Closed CB Closed

Check Zone = CT1 + CT2

P0876ENa

FIGURE 11: BUS COUPLER CLOSED

AP A zone is defined from a CT to an other CT or an open electrical element (coupler CB or
isolator).
When one CT is used in the coupling and the coupler CB is closed, a zone is created from
each bar feeder CT to that coupler CT.
There is one zone for BB1 to CT3 and one zone for BB2 to CT3.

CT 3 is not taken into account

Zone 1 = CT1 Coupling Open

Zone 2 = CT2 Isolator Closed Isolator Closed
Zone 1 = BB1
Zone 2 = BB2

CB Closed CB Closed

Check Zone = CT1 + CT2

P0877ENa

FIGURE 12: BUS COUPLER OPEN

A zone is defined from a CT to an other CT or an open electrical element (coupler CB or
isolator).
When one CT is used in the coupling and the coupler CB is open, the coupler CT
measurement is not taken into account and a zone is created from each bar feeder CT to
that open coupler CB.
There is one zone for BB1 and one zone for BB2.
Application Notes P746/EN AP/F11

MiCOM P746 (AP) 6-25

6.3.3 Double bus with two CT bus coupler

CT 3 CT 4

BB 1 BB 2

Coupling Closed
Zone 1 = CT1 + CT4 Isolator Closed Isolator Closed
Zone 2 = CT2 + CT3
Zone 1 = BB1
Zone 2 = BB2

CB Closed CB Closed

CT 1 CT 2

Check Zone = CT1 + CT2

P0884ENa

FIGURE 13: BUS COUPLER CLOSED

A zone is defined from a CT to an other CT or an open electrical element (coupler CB or
isolator).
AP
When 2 CTs are used in the coupling and the coupler CB is closed, a zone is created from
each bar feeder CT to the opposite coupler CT.
The zone between the 2 coupler CTs belongs to both zones.
There is one zone for BB1 to CT4 and one zone for BB2 to CT3.

CT 3&4 not taken into account

Zone 1 = CT1 Coupling Open

Zone 2 = CT2
Isolator Closed Isolator Closed
Zone 1 = BB1
Zone 2 = BB2

CB Closed CB Closed

Check Zone = CT1 + CT2

P0879ENa

FIGURE 14: BUS COUPLER OPEN

A zone is defined from a CT to an other CT or an open electrical element (coupler CB or
isolator).
When 2 CTs are used in the coupling and the coupler CB is open, the coupler CTs
measurements are not taken into account and a zone is created from each bar feeder CT to
that open coupler CB.
There is one zone for BB1 and one zone for BB2.
 P746/EN AP/F11 Application Notes

(AP) 6-26 MiCOM P746

CT 3 CT 4
VZ 3

BB 1 BB 2

Coupling Closed
Coupling Closed
Zone 1 = CT1 Isolator Closed Isolator Closed
Zone 2 = CT2
Zone 1 = BB1
Zone 2 = BB2

CB Closed CB Closed

CT 1 CT 2

Check Zone = CT1 + CT2

P0880ENa

FIGURE 15: BUS COUPLER CLOSED AND ONE ISOLATOR OPEN

A zone is defined from a CT to an other CT or an open electrical element (coupler CB or
isolator).
AP
When 2 CTs are used in the coupling and the coupler CB is closed but a coupler isolator is
open, the coupler CTs measurements are not taken into account and a zone is created from
each bar feeder CT to that open coupler isolator.
The zone between the 2 coupler CTs belongs to the closed isolator zone.
There is one zone for BB1 to the open isolator and one zone for BB2 to the open isolator.

CT 3&4 not taken into account

Extended
Zone

Zone 1 = CT1 Coupling Open

Zone 2 = CT2
Isolator Closed Isolator Closed
Zone 1 = BB1
Zone 2 = BB2

CB Closed CB Closed

Check Zone = CT1 + CT2

P0881ENa

FIGURE 16: BUS COUPLER AND ONE ISOLATOR OPEN

A zone is defined from a CT to an other CT or an open electrical element (coupler CB or
isolator).
When 2 CTs are used in the coupling and the coupler CB is open and a coupler isolator is
open, the coupler CTs measurements are not taken into account and a zone is created from
each bar feeder CT to the open CB coupler and to the open coupler isolator.
The zone between the 2 coupler CTs belongs to the closed isolator zone.
There is one zone for BB1 to the open breaker and one zone for BB2 to the open isolator.
Application Notes P746/EN AP/F11

MiCOM P746 (AP) 6-27

6.3.4 CTs on one side of bus coupler

1 CT coupler and CB Closes on to external fault with

wrong isolator or CB Status position

I ExtFault through CB
CT removed
from Zone 1

CT CLOSED
but auxiliary
contact OPEN

P0842ENb

FIGURE 17: CT’S ON ONE SIDE OF BUS COUPLER,

CB CLOSES BEFORE STATUS ACQUISITION
As the CB has closed but the status has not yet been refreshed the topology still believes the
CB to be open.
AP
Treating this as an open bus coupler circuit breaker the topology algorithm will have
extended Zone 1(with the area located between the CT and the circuit breaker). This then
fully replicates the scheme up to the open bus coupler CB on both sides.
If the circuit breaker was open no load current would flow through the circuit breaker. The
differential current in the two main zones would equal zero, as the current flowing into the
zones would still equal the current flowing out.
However, if the circuit breaker is actually closed, the external fault current will flow through
the circuit breaker. The differential current in main zone 1 and in main zone 2 will be equal in
magnitude but opposite in sign. (±fault)
When the check zone element is calculated, the differential currents seen in zone 1 and 2,
which result from the discrepancy in the plant status, can be seen to be cancelled out.
Zone 1 Idiff = I1+ I2= idiffZ1 = -ifault > (ID>2 and k2 x IBias)
Zone 2 Idiff = I5+ I6=idiffZ2 = +ifault > (ID>2 and k2 x IBias)
Check zone Idiff = I1+ I2+ I5+ I6=(-ifault) + (+ifault) = 0
Again the system retains its stability for discrepancies in plant status (even for switch onto
fault).
 P746/EN AP/F11 Application Notes

(AP) 6-28 MiCOM P746

6.3.5 CTs on both sides of bus coupler, CB closes before status acquisition.

2 CT coupler and CB Closes on to external fault with

wrong isolator or CB Status position

I ExtFault through CB
CT removed
from Zone 1

CT CLOSED
but auxiliary
contact OPEN

P0843ENb

FIGURE 18: CT’S ON BOTH SIDES OF BUS COUPLER,

CB CLOSES BEFORE STATUS ACQUISITION
As the CB has closed but the status has not yet been refreshed the topology still believes the
AP CB to be open.
Treating this as an open bus coupler the topology algorithm will have extended the two
zones with the areas located between the CTs and the circuit breaker. These then fully
replicate the scheme up to the open bus coupler CB on both sides.
If the circuit breaker was open no load current would flow through the circuit breaker. The
differential current in the two main zones would equal zero, as the current flowing into the
zones would still equal the current flowing out.
However, if the circuit breaker is actually closed, the external fault current will flow through
the circuit breaker. The differential current in the two main zones will be equal in magnitude
but opposite in sign. (±ifault)
When the check zone element is calculated, the differential currents seen in the two main
zones, which result from the discrepancy in the plant status and which are taken into account
for the check zone calculation, can be seen to be cancelled out.
Zone 1 Idiff = I1+ I2= idiffZ1 = -ifault > (ID>2 and k2 x IBias)
Zone 2 Idiff = I5+ I6=idiffZ2 = +ifault > (ID>2 and k2 x IBias)
Check zone Idiff = I1+ I2+ I5+ I6=(-ifault) + (+ifault) = 0
Therefore, the system retains its stability even when there are discrepancies in plant status.
Application Notes P746/EN AP/F11

MiCOM P746 (AP) 6-29

6.3.6 CTs on one side of bus coupler, CB closed and fault evolves between CT and CB (even for
switch onto fault).

1 CT coupler with CB closed - Fault clearance - Stage 1

P0844ENb

FIGURE 19: CT’S ON ONE SIDE OF BUS COUPLER,

CB CLOSED AND FAULT OCCURS BETWEEN THE CB & THE CT
Treating this as a closed bus section circuit breaker the topology algorithm will have
extended the limits of the main zones to the bus coupler CT. This then fully replicates the
scheme.
AP
Under normal operating conditions when the circuit breaker is closed load current would flow
through the circuit breaker and differential current in the two main zones would equal zero,
as the current flowing into the zones would still equal the current flowing out.
However, if a fault occurs between the CT and the circuit breaker, the current will flow from
zone 1 into zone 2 which feeds the fault. The differential current in main zone 1 will still equal
zero, as the current flowing into the zone 1 will still equal the current flowing out, but the
differential current measured in zone 2 will be equal to that of the fault current.
In this case zone 2 would operate as will the check zone element.
Zone 1 Idiff = I1+ I2+ I3= idiffZ1 = 0
Zone 2 Idiff = I3+ I5+ I6=idiffZ2 = ifault > (ID>2 and k2 x IBias)
Check zone Idiff = I1+ I2+ I5+ I6= idiffZ2 = ifault > (IDCZ>2 and kCZ x IBias)
However, when zone 2 trips the fault will still be present. The topology then analyses the
remainder of the system as follows.

1 CT coupler with CB closed - Fault clearance - Stage 2

(zone 2 tripped but fault still present)
Dead
Zone 11
CT removed
from Zone 1

Dead
Zone 10

P0845ENb

FIGURE 20: ZONE 2 TRIPPED, FAULT STILL PRESENT

 P746/EN AP/F11 Application Notes

(AP) 6-30 MiCOM P746

Treating this as an open bus coupler circuit breaker as before the topology algorithm will
have extended zone 1 with the area located between the CT and the circuit breaker. This
then fully replicates the scheme up to the open bus coupler CB. Remember that in this
example zone 2’s limit extended up to the circuit breaker but this zone has been tripped
already.
The circuit breaker is now open and the fault current would flow to feed the fault. The
differential current in the main zone 2 would equal zero, as the current is flowing into zone 1
whereas the current measured will be equal to the fault current ifault.
Zone 2 Idiff = I5+ I6= idiffZ2 = 0
Zone 1 Idiff = I1+ I2=idiffZ1 = ifault > (ID>2 and k2 x IBias)
Check zone Idiff = I1+ I2+ I5+ I6=idiffZ1 = ifault > (IDCZ>2 and kCZ x IBias)
Therefore, the system reacts to the continuing presence of the fault and trips the zone 1 as
the check zone Idiff > (IDCZ>2 and kCZ x IBias) and the zone Idiff > (ID>2 and k2 x IBias).
In this example it can be seen that the opposite zone is tripped first but the dynamic topology
reacts to the changed scheme and subsequently trips the adjacent main zone.

6.3.7 CTs on both sides of coupler, CB closed and fault evolves between CT and CB.

2 CT Coupler with CB closed and Fault between a CT and the CB

Zone 1 BB1 BB2 Zone 2
AP

P0846ENb

FIGURE 21: CT’ ON BOTH SIDES OF BUS COUPLER,

CB CLOSED FAULT OCCURS BETWEEN A CT & THE CB
Treating this as a closed bus section circuit breaker the topology algorithm will have created
an overlapped zone that surrounds the circuit breaker with the bus coupler CTs as its limits
made by zone 1 and 2. This then fully replicates the scheme.
Under normal operating conditions when the circuit breaker is closed load current would flow
through the circuit breaker and so both zones. The differential current in the two main zones
would equal zero, as the current flowing into the zones would still equal the current flowing
out.
However, if a fault was to occur in the overlapped zone, current would flow into both zones
and feed the fault. The differential current in the two main zones will be equal to that of the
fault current.
The main zones would operate. When the check zone element is calculated, the differential
current which results from the presence of the fault in the coupler, will confirm the presence
of a fault and initiate a simultaneous trip of both main.
(1) Therefore, the system reacts to a fault occurring between the CT and the CB
simultaneously tripping both zones.
Zone 1 Idiff = I1+ I2+ I4=idiffZ1 = ifault > (ID>2 and k2 x IBias)
Zone 2 Idiff = I3+ I5+ I6= idiffZ2 = ifault > (ID>2 and k2 x IBias)
Check zone Idiff = I1+ I2+ I5+ I6=idiffZx = ifault