ICSET 2008

Three Zones Adaptive Characteristic of the Mho Distance Relay

by KU Method
S. Dechphung, and T. Saengsuwan
Electrical Engineering Department Engineering Faculty,
Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand 10900
E-mail: surachetd@hotmail.com, fengtss@ku.ac.th

Abstract—This paper presents the three zones adaptive
characteristic of the mho distance relay for compensate of the
phase to phase fault with fault resistance by KU method.
Generally, the characteristic of mho distance relay is suitable for
the phase fault protection and in the case of a low fault
resistance. But, the fault in case of the phase to phase fault with
fault resistance are a trajectory of impedance outside the
protection zone of the R-X diagram and the circuit breaker does
not trip. In this paper, we present an analysis of the three zones
adaptive characteristic of R-X diagram of the mho distance relay
for compensate of the phase to phase fault with fault resistance in
the radial transmission line. The KU method has been shown an
extent protection zone for the compensation of phase to phase
fault with fault resistance. The algorithm of proposed system is
verified by simulation and results.
I. INTRODUCTION
relay is to command un-trip to circuit breaker. In this paper,
we present an analysis of the three zones adaptive
characteristic of R-X diagram of the mho distance relay for
compensate of the phase to phase fault with fault resistance in
the radial transmission line. This paper solved this problem of
the mho distance relay as above-mentioned. The name of
method is “KU Distance Relay”.
II. GENERAL OPERATION OF MHO DISTANCE RELAY
Generally, the mho distance relay is used widely in the
present that a circular impedance characteristic. The
characteristic is suitable for the phase fault protection and in
the case of a low fault resistance. However, in the case of high
value of fault resistance, the result of fault location is outside
the zone circle and relay underreaches. Characteristic of Mho
distance relay is shown in fig. 1.

G enerally, distance protection is the short-circuit

protection. Its mode of operation is based on the
measurement and evaluation of the short-circuit
impedance, which in the classic case is proportional to the
distance to fault. Distance relay effectively measured the
impedance between the relay location and the fault. If the
impedance of the fault is low, the impedance is proportional to
the distance from the relay to the fault. For a fault at the
remote end of the line, the voltage at the local relay equals the
current multiplied by impedance of the line, i.e. IZ. Therefore,
the ratio of the voltage to the current measured at the relay
Fig. 1. Mho characteristic
equals the impedance of the line, Z. Since the ratio V/I is
proportional to the line length between the relay and the fault,
the ratio V/I is, therefore, the impedance to the fault. A
distance relay is design to only operate for faults occurring
between the relay location and the selected reach point and
remain stable for all faults outside this region or zone. The
first zone is normal to set the zone of distance relay at between
85% and 90%, the reach of the second zone is generally set at RF(BC)
120% to 150% of the line length and the third zone of
protection, and usually extend to 150% the next line section.
In time stepped the distance scheme, this ensure adequate Fig. 2. Phase BC short-circuit with a fault resistance (single-ended infeed)
discrimination for faults that may occur between different line
sections. Operating time in the first zone of distance relay is The impedance equations of distance relay to calculate the
instantaneous, in the second zone is approximately 300-500 impedance of phase to phase fault is shown in TABLE 1. A
milliseconds and in the third zone is approximately 1000 distance relay is designed to only operate for trajectory of
milliseconds respectively. faults occurring between the relay location and the selected
reach point to set up time and remain stable for all faults
From means and reason, the fault in case of the phase to outside this region or zone.
phase fault with fault resistance are a trajectory of impedance
outside the zone of R-X diagram and to bring about distance

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978-1-4244-1888-6/08/$25.00 
c 2008 IEEE
 Bus1 I
TABLE 1
THE IMPEDANCE EQUATIONS FOR CALCULATING
THE IMPEDANCE OF PHASE TO PHASE FAULT
Type of V
Impedance Equations
Faults

AB, Ea  Eb
AB to G I a  Ib
BC, Eb  Ec Fig. 3. Model of transmission line for simulation
BC to G Ib  Ic
CA, Ec  Ea
CA to G Ic  Ia

Consider the radial transmission system as shown in fig. 2,

an impedance is modified by inclusion of fault resistance
RF(BC). In the case of phase BC short-circuit, the impedance
seen by the faulted phase relay is

E B  EC (1)
Z BC
IB  IC
Fig. 4. Transmission line in MATLAB/Simulink for simulation
EBC EB  EC 2RL ˜ I  jX L ˜ I   RF ( BC ) I (2)
IV. SIMULATIONS
IC I B I (3) The circuit of the transmission line system for simulation
with MATLAB/Simulink has impedance of the line in
boundary of zone1 is 8.71+j26.69 Ÿ, zone2 is 12.29+j37.68 Ÿ
2RL ˜ I  jX L ˜ I   RF ( BC ) ˜ I RF ( BC )
Z BC RL  jX L  (4) and zone3 is 22.54+j69.08 Ÿ. The distance relay is installed at
2I 2 bus1 and setting value of mho relay is shown in TABLE 2.
The impedance of phase to phase fault with fault resistance is
III. CIRCUIT OF TRANSMISSION LINE FOR SIMULATION
50 Ÿ (RF(BC)= 50 Ÿ) and shown in TABLE 3. The simulations
The impedance equations of distance relay for calculating by fixing the starting time of fault is 15 milliseconds and test
the impedance of phase to phase fault is shown in TABLE 1. with simulation all types of phase to phase fault at the same
Therefore, we design the circuit of a transmission line system time to keep the results from the output (m-file).
for simulation with Matlab/Simulink and m-file to create R-X
diagram of mho Relay. Voltages and currents of all three TABLE 2
SETTING VALUE OF MHO DISTANCE RELAY
phases to calculate impedance of the fault is considered only
Z (Ÿ) Angle (°) RF_Setting (Ÿ)
fundamental frequency (50 Hz) and sampling rate is 1 kHz.
Zone1 28.08 71.92 25
The fourier analysis method or f (t) in fourier series is
Zone2 39.64 71.92 25

a0 f Zone3 72.67 71.92 25

f (t)  ¦ an cos(nZt )  bn sin( nZt ) (5)
2 n1 From equations (4), the setting value of RF or RF_Setting is fault
t resistance between phase B and C divided by 2 (RF(BC)/2 Ÿ)
2
For an f (t) cos(nZt )dt
T t ³T TABLE 3
IMPEDANCE OF MHO DISTANCE RELAY WITH RF(PHASE TO PHASE) = 50 Ÿ
t
2 Z (Ÿ) Angle (°)
bn f (t) sin(nZt )dt
T t ³T Zone1 42.99 38.37
Zone2 53.01 45.29
Zone3 83.86 55.45
T 1 / f1 ; f1 is Fundamental frequency
From equations (4), the impedance of transmission line with
R
RF(BC) = 50 Ÿ is RL  jX L  F ( Phase to Phase)
2

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 V. CHARACTERISTIC OF MHO DISTANCE RELAY IN THE CASE OF TABLE 4
NON-ADAPTIVE R-X DIAGRAM FAULTS DISPLAY OF MHO DISTANCE RELAY AT RF(Phase to Phase) = 0 Ÿ
Type & Zone of Fault
The simulation of characteristic of mho distance relay for Fault
the phase to phase short-circuit using the MATLAB/Simulink Display AB BC CA AB BC CA AB BC CA
Z1 Z1 Z1 Z2 Z2 Z2 Z3 Z3 Z3
program is shown in fig. 4. Assume that phase AB short-
circuits at the 85% of line length. The trajectory impedance of AB
ON
the AB faults without fault resistance (RF(Phase to Phase) = 0 Ÿ) in Zone1
BC
zone1 and non-adaptive characteristic of mho distance relay is Zone1
ON
shown in fig. 5. The simulation results of the proposed system CA
ON
without fault resistance (RF(Phase to Phase) = 0 Ÿ) is shown in Zone1
TABLE 4. As the fault display showed the correct value of the AB
ON
Zone2
tripping zone because the impedance equation is (1) and the
BC
apparent trajectory impedance is inside the zone setting. ON
Zone2
However, the trajectrory impedance and the simulation result CA
ON
of the AB faults with fault resistance (RF(Phase to Phase) = 50 Ÿ) is Zone2
shown in fig. 6 and TABLE 5 respectively. As the fault AB
ON
Zone3
display showed the incorrect value of the tripping zone BC
because the impedance equation is (4) as the apparent ON
Zone3
trajectory impedance is included with fault resistance and may CA
ON
be the trajectory impedance is outside the zone setting (depend Zone3
upon the fault resistance value) and to bring about both errors
in the fault display of distance relay and the control engineer TABLE 5
FAULTS DISPLAY OF MHO DISTANCE RELAY AT RF(Phase to Phase) = 50 Ÿ
analyses a fault error.
Type & Zone of Fault
Fault
Display AB BC CA AB BC CA AB BC CA
Z1 Z1 Z1 Z2 Z2 Z2 Z3 Z3 Z3
AB
Zone1
BC
Zone1
CA
Zone1
AB
Zone2
BC
Zone2
CA
Zone2
AB
ON ON
Fig. 5. Trajectory impedance of the AB faults (RF(AB) = 0 Ÿ) in zone1 Zone3
without adaptive characteristic of mho distance relay BC
ON ON
Zone3
CA
ON ON
Zone3

VI. CHARACTERISTIC OF MHO DISTANCE RELAY

IN THE CASE OF ADAPTIVE R-X DIAGRAM

The fault component of the power system is an uncontrolled

Fig. 6 Trajectory impedance of the AB faults (RF(AB) = 50 Ÿ) in zone1
without adaptive characteristic of mho distance relay
parameter which is influenced by many conditions, and can be
made up of fault arc resistance. The effect of fault resistance at
the fault location is generally to reduce the effective reach of
distance relay. This paper presents adaptive characteristic of R-
X diagram of mho relay for fault resistance compensation in the
phase to phase fault. In order to adapt the resistance in the fault
path, it is necessary to shape the trip zone of a distance relay in
such a method that region surrounding the apparent impedance
is included inside the zone. It will be seen in this paper that
different types of distance relay to have been differing by
ability of adapting the fault resistance. It should be noted that a

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larger area for the protection zone in R-X plane adapts greater
fault path resistance. This adaptive characteristic of mho
distance relay is using an extended protection zone by
condition:- 1. The zone of protection is divided by the
impedance line as two parts, part A and B. 2. When the fault
resistance founded by checking the value of the measure angle
is less than the setting angle by 5 degrees or not and also the
calculate impedance incoming in the new protection zone more
than 5 ms or not, it will extend a protection zone to the R-axis
on the right equal the setting value of compensating of fault
resistance (this setting value or RF_Setting is 25 Ÿ). 3. To draw
two lines for writing a new protection zone, the first line starts
at origin or point 1 over the R-axis to point 2. Then, draw the
second line from the setting value of impedance or point 3 Fig. 9 Trajectory impedance of the BC faults (RF(BC) = 50 Ÿ) in zone2
parallel along to the R-axis to point 4. This adaptive is staying with adaptive characteristic of mho distance relay
time as 1 second for compensate operating time in zone3 and
the adaptive mho distance relay to turn back to the mho
distance relay. This method is shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 7. The method for improving the characteristic of distance relay

Next, the phase to phase fault impedance with fault

resistance can be calculated in (4) with the fault resistance 50 Fig. 10. Trajectory impedance of the CA faults (RF(CA) = 50 Ÿ) in zone3
with adaptive characteristic of mho distance relay
Ÿ and the relay is setting for improving characteristic of the
mho distance relay for compensate of the phase to phase with TABLE 6
fault resistance. It has been extended by insert two straight FAULTS DISPLAY OF ADAPTIVE MHO DISTANCE RELAY AT RF_Setting = 25 Ÿ
lines between the R-X diagram of mho distance relay. Type & Zone of Fault
Trajectory impedance of the Phase to Phase faults with the Fault
fault resistance 50 ohms in boundary zone1, zone2 and zone3 Display AB BC CA AB BC CA AB BC CA
Z1 Z1 Z1 Z2 Z2 Z2 Z3 Z3 Z3
with adaptive characteristic of mho distance relay is shown in
fig. 8, 9 and 10 respectively. The simulation results of all phase AB
ON
to phase faults are shown in table 6. Zone1
BC
ON
Zone1
CA
ON
Zone1
AB
ON
Zone2
BC
ON
Zone2
CA
ON
Zone2
AB
ON
Zone3
BC
ON
Zone3
CA
ON
Zone3

In general case, the operating time of mho distance relay in

Fig. 8. Trajectory impedance of the AB faults (RF(AB) = 50 Ÿ) in zone1 case of phase to phase fault with fault resistance is very close
with adaptive characteristic of mho distance relay to the operating time of the adaptive mho distance relay. In

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order to demonstrate this, the data in m-file is used to analyze compensation of the phase to phase fault in the radial
the operating time by comparing between non-adaptive mho transmission line. This proposed method solved this problem
distance relay and adaptive mho distance relay. The result of of the fault displays and the tripping zone as above-mentioned.
comparison is shown in TABLE 7 which the operating time of The simulation results of mho and adaptive mho distance relay
non-adaptive mho distance relay is very close to the adaptive (KU Distance Relay) is shown in TABLE 8. The results in
mho distance relay. TABLE 8 has shown a significant improved in the operation
of the mho distance relay using the adaptive KU method in
TABLE 7
case of the phase to phase fault with fault resistance up to 50
THE COMPARISON OF OPERATING TIME
Ÿ.
Operating time (ms) Operating time (ms)
of non-adaptive of adaptive
at RF(Phase to Phase) = 0 Ÿ at RF(Phase to Phase) = 50 Ÿ VIII. CONCLUSIONS
AB BC CA AB BC CA
The proposed method can be solving the error of fault
Simulation at rim of zone1
display and tripping zone in case of the phase to phase fault
Zone1 31 28 27 31 28 27 with fault resistance. The KU distance relay is appropriated in
Zone2 27 24 26 27 26 26 the radial transmission line in case of the phase to phase fault
Zone3 23 20 20 24 23 21 with and without fault resistance. The proposed KU distance
relay offers and extended of the normal mho characteristic
Simulation at rim of zone2
during phase to phase fault with fault resistance and provide
Zone2 31 28 27 31 28 27
correct tripping zone and displays zone. The drawback of KU
Zone3 24 22 21 25 24 22 distance relay occurs when applied to the complicated circuit
Simulation at rim of zone3 of transmission line since the contribution of current from
Zone3 29 26 27 31 28 27 another source will cause the error during calculation of the
impedance to this method.

TABLE 8 ACKNOWLEDGMENT
THE SIMULATION RESULTS OF MHO AND ADAPTIVE MHO DISTANCE RELAY
Tripping zone of Tripping zone of The author would like to express his gratitude to the
Location of fault Graduate School and Department of Electrical Engineering,
mho (non-adaptive) adaptive
Kasetsart University, Thailand for providing the financial
AB BC CA AB BC CA
support for this work.
rim of zone1
1,2,3 1,2,3 1,2,3 - - -
RF(Phase to Phase) = 0Ÿ REFERENCES
rim of zone1
RF(Phase to Phase) = 50Ÿ
3 3 3 1,2,3 1,2,3 1,2,3 [1] V. Cook, “Analysis of Distance Protection”, Research
rim of zone2 Studies Press Ltd.,1985
2,3 2,3 2,3 - - - [2] A. G. Phadake and J. S. Thorp, “Computer Relaying for
RF(Phase to Phase) = 0Ÿ
rim of zone2 Power System” Research Studies Press Ltd., England,
3 3 3 2,3 2,3 2,3
RF(Phase to Phase) = 50Ÿ 1988.
rim of zone2 [3] Gerhard Ziegler, “Numerical Distance Protection
3 3 3 - - -
RF(Phase to Phase) = 0Ÿ
Principle and Application” Siemens AG., Berlin and
rim of zone2 Munich, July, 1999.
- - - 3 3 3
RF(Phase to Phase) = 50Ÿ
[4] Stanley H. Horowitz and Arun G. Phadake, “Power
System Relaying” Research Studies Press Ltd., England,
1992.
VII. RESULTS
[5] T. Saengsuwan, “Modelling of Distance Relays in
According to the radial of transmission line shown in fig. 3, EMTP” IPST International Conference, Budapest
all the voltages and currents at relay location are extracted and Hungary 1999, pp. 213-217
feed into the mho distance relay algorithm. However, the fault [6] S. Dechphung and T. Saengsuwan, “Adaptive
in case of the phase to phase fault with fault resistance is a Characteristic of Mho Distance Relay for Compensation
trajectory of impedance outside the zone of R-X diagram and of the Phase to Phase Fault Resistance” ECTI
the circuit breaker does not trip. The “KU Distance Relay” is International Conference, Chiang Rai, Thailand 2007, pp.
presented an analysis of the three zones adaptive characteristic 313-316
of R-X diagram of mho distance relay for fault resistance

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