Feeder

Automation
Worldwide Notes

Coordinating Multiple
Automatic Circuit Reclosers in
Series

It is frequently desirable to use Automatic Circuit

Reclosers in series to extend effective protection 51P
reach, to form transition points for protection
philosophies and to isolate sections of line from the 50P-3
effects of faults further along the feeder. 50P-1
t
When Automatic Circuit Reclosers are deployed in 50P-2
series, the coordination between reclosers needs to be
considered. This is especially true when the popular
concept of a protection scheme based on a mixture of I
TCC for phase over-current elements
fast and time delayed tripping operations is
employed.
The principles illustrated for these curves apply
By referencing a typical construct of protection curve equally to the neutral current (ground) fault elements.
elements, the complexity that can be encountered in
coordinating multiple ACR devices in series becomes Consider the following series arrangement of ACR’s.
more apparent.

51N 51P
R1 R2
50P-3
50N-3 Fault A
50P-2
t Zone Substation

50N-2 50N-1
50P-1
For a fault at location A, then it is desirable that
I
TCC construct possible on a typical ACR setup.
recloser R2 handle the isolation of the fault without
causing recloser R1 to operate.

The protection curves illustrated are a representation If both of these reclosers have their phase over-
of the over-current elements only, and further current protection elements enabled, then the
protection elements may also be employed to fulfill coordination between these elements can be broken
particular functions. down as follows.

The 50 series nomenclature used in this paper is that R 2: 50P-3

defined by ANSI for over-current protection. For the
purposes of discussing the coordination of multiple t R 1: 50P-3
reclosers in series, this paper shall concentrate on the
Phase Over-Current elements:
- 51P (Slow curve),
- 50P-1 (Fast curve),
- 50P-2 (Low set instantaneous)
- 50P-3 (High set instantaneous)
I

Coordinating Multiple Automatic Circuit Reclosers in Series Page 1 of 4

August, 1998
 Protection elements 51P and 50P-1 need to be
Consider the high-set instantaneous protection 50P-3. considered as a pair.
For both reclosers, the protection elements shall
operate at the same time. A conservative
coordination technique is to calculate the phase fault
value at the Recloser R2 location, then set the 51P
minimum operating value for the 50P-3 element of
Recloser R1 at this current value. Some protection
practices will set it to the fault value less a percentage t
value (typically 10%). For feeders with very high 50P-1
fault values at the location of recloser R1, this may
not always be possible to achieve, and for faults of a
magnitude between the set minimum operating
current and the fault level at the location of R2, I
tripping of both reclosers will occur.
Coordination between Recloser 1-51P and Recloser
The function of the protection 50P-2 can now be
2-51P elements, as well as the reclosers respective
considered. The role of the 50P-2 is to establish a
50P-1 elements are achieved in the same manner as
maximum response time for phase over-current
described for the 50P-2 element using both current
protection. Its minimum operating value is set as a
magnitude and time. It is important to ensure that the
multiple of the minimum phase over-current 51P
minimum difference between the operating time of
value, this value is typically in the range 0.5 to 20.
the respective curves is achieved for the value of the
phase fault current calculated at the location of
For the example: Recloser 2 and for all values lesser in magnitude.

Consider how these curves can overlap for two

reclosers in series.

t R2 : 50P-2 R 1: 50P-2
R 1: 51P

R2: 51P
R1: 50P-1
t
I
R 2: 50P-1

Coordination between the two devices is achieved by

two variables, minimum operating current and I
Fault current
definite time response. @A
A frequent operating sequence for Automatic Circuit
For:
Reclosers is two fast, two time delayed. The 50P-1 is
• Minimum Operating Current: The value set for
setup as the fast curve and the 51P is the time
recloser R2 needs to be lower than the R1 setting
delayed. Assume both reclosers are setup through the
by a suitable margin to allow for any error
operation to lockout for a fault at location A, then the
differences between the values of current both
operating sequences would be as follows:
devices read.
• Definite Time: The definite time value for 1. TripR2 on 50P-1
recloser R1 needs to be greater than the value set 2. Reclose
for Recloser R2 plus the total closing time of the 3. TripR2 on 50P-1
recloser. A conservative practice is to also allow 4. Reclose
an additional minimum time difference equal to a 5. TripR1 on 50P-1
half cycle allowing the possibility for vacuum 6. Reclose
bottle restrike. 7. TripR1 on 50P-1
8. Reclose
9. TripR2 on 51P
10. Reclose
11. Lockout R2 on 51P

Coordinating Multiple Automatic Circuit Reclosers in Series Page 2 of 4

August, 1998
This operating sequence has the undesirable affect of time. This needs to be taken into consideration when
tripping the recloser R1, increasing the number of comparing coordination curves, or upgrading
customers momentarily interrupted by the fault. In hydraulic reclosers with electronically controlled
order to combat this affect, most modem Automatic ones.
Circuit Reclosers have a Zone Sequence
Coordination (ZSC) feature. So far, the coordination between two reclosers in
series has been discussed. For three or more
The Zone Sequence Coordination feature increments reclosing devices, coordination is first considered for
the Automatic Circuit Reclosers trip counter the recloser closer to the substation; then a check
whenever a fault element pickup is cleared before its with the other Automatic Recloser(s) it associates
protection elements generates a trip command. It with. It is often frequently necessary to iterate setting
should be noted that it will increment up to, but not values in order to achieve full coordination. For
generate the lockout trip. greater than three reclosers in series, this can be
extremely difficult and frequently not achievable
Should the Automatic Recloser R1 be equipped with without making compromises in terms of usable
and have enabled Zone Sequence Coordination, then protection elements and the possibility of co-tripping.
the operating sequence for a fault at location A would As a general rule of thumb, the coordination of
be: greater than three reclosers in series is to be
discouraged; however, it isn’t impossible. In order
1. TripR2 on 50P-1 to provide an increased number of automatically
2. Recloser isolated protection zones, the use of Automatic
3. TripR2 on 50P-1 Sectionalizers that count the number of recloser
4. Recloser operations could be considered.
5. TripR2 on 51P-1
6. Recloser The concepts discussed are a generalized guide,
7. Lockout R2 on 51P modified and different practices are followed in many
places around the world. They generally take into
For the Automatic Reclosers in this example the account local constraints and field practices.
same coordination issues need to be satisfied for the Whatever your local practices, the use of multiple
neutral (ground) fault time current curves. Automatic Reclosers in series can achieve
incremental performance increases in distribution
It should be noted that when the recloser R2 doesn’t feeder availability and quality of supply to power
have neutral (ground) fault time current elements that utility customers, while generating operational
correspond with the recloser R1, settings, then it is savings to the utilities own bottom-line.
necessary coordinate the phase over-current settings
of recloser R2 with the neutral (ground) time current
curves of the recloser R1. This would typically be
the case if R2 is a hydraulic timing type recloser.

As a general note, the accuracy of neutral current

readings is generally less than for phase over-current,
since the accumulative errors of three current
transformers have to be taken into account. Thus,
greater timing margins are advisable for neutral to
neutral curve coordination than would be used for
phase to phase. Additionally, the timing of hydraulic
reclosers drift with temperatures, wear and level of
maintenance. Their timing accuracy is not as well
defined as that achievable with electronic controllers.

A cautionary note should be made regarding

comparing time curves. The curves for
electronic controls are typically relay times
Author:
(minimum response) and the operating time of the Graeme N. McClure
interruption mechanism needs to be added to generate Manager, Product Development
a total clearing time curve. For hydraulic reclosers ABB Power T & D Co Inc
Distribution Automation Equipment Div.
and some analog electronic controlled reclosers, the
1017 Main Campus Dr., Suite 1250
published time current curves are for total clearing Raleigh, NC 27606 USA

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August, 1998