Using COMTRADE Files for Relay Testing

Introduction
Since the inception of the COMTRADE standard in 1991 (C37.111), only a small number of users
were successful in using the playback of digital fault recorder data to analyze relay response to
power system disturbances. The use of COMTRADE files for protection testing is still limited due
to the users' lack of familiarity with the standard. A good understanding of the COMTRADE
standard allows the user to easily create a new file, or modify an existing file, to test the
protection.
The intent of this tutorial is to explain the basic structure of COMTRADE files and to familiarize
the user with how to edit or create COMTRADE files for use in protection testing.
Overview
The user installs a Digital Fault Recorder (DFR) to capture power system events as they occur.
The captured data is then used in the analysis of these events. As a result of the analysis, the
user can make any necessary adjustments to the settings on the relays, breakers, transformers,
etc. Captured data can also be used for the analysis of questionable operations, or nonoperations,
of protection schemes.
In the past, it was neither convenient nor cost effective to playback recorded data into the
protection scheme to evaluate the protection performance. The test equipment and programming
needed was the domain of the manufacturer. The user needed to request time from the
manufacturer for the test and travel to the manufacturers site to perform the testing. Two factors
inhibited the user from performing the tests themselves. First, the simulation equipment available
was complicated and cost prohibitive to users. The second factor was the lack of a standard
format for the data recording. Now, COMTRADE an
IEEE standard exists and modern
microprocessorbased
test instruments have become more affordable. They provide the user a
means to playback the data to the relay and provide sufficient power to perform the tests. With
standard data format and modern test instruments, the user is now able to test the complete
protection scheme with the playback of actual power system events at the user's location.
Transient Testing
Transient testing provides the accurate simulation of power system events. It is an important tool
the user has, to perform a thorough evaluation of protection scheme operation. Transient testing
can be performed using the data created by an EMTP program or data recorded by DFRs. DFR
records are generally not used for calibration testing. They are normally used for troubleshooting
after a questionable operation or nonoperation.
Transient testing is generally used to:
Evaluate the scheme performance, or as an application test, to check the performance of
the protection scheme under actual expected conditions.
Analyze the questionable operation, or nonoperation,
of the protection scheme during a
power system disturbance.
Evaluate various protection scheme options to select the appropriate scheme for the
intended application.
COMTRADE data files help the user to perform transient testing. Modern DFRs and digital
protection can record power system events in a COMTRADE data format. It is also possible to
create COMTRADE data files from simulation programs such as EMTP and ATP. All modern
digital test instruments are suitable to replay power system events. The COMTRADE format is a
collection of data around an event point, recorded at regular time intervals, to define the
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characteristics of voltage, current and the status of digital channels before, during, and after an
event. This can be played back through digital test instruments, via a PC, to faithfully reproduce
the stored data, pointbypoint.