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Under Reach of Distance Relay

November 4, 2017 by admin

A distance relay is said to under reach when the impedance seen by relay due to fault is more
than the relay setting value even though the fault point is within the protected zone of line. This
means that reach of relay has decreased from the setting value.

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Therefore, percentage under reach can be defined as

(ZR – ZF)x100/ZR
 where ZR = Relay Reach Setting and ZF = Effective Reach

Under Reach can be best illustrated by the figure below. Figure shows an uncompensated
transmission line having an impedance of Z and a distance relay.

 
A line to ground fault take place at point F. The impedance measured by distance relay is ZF and
the setting of relay is Z (say). In some cases, it may happen that line impedance ZF measured by
relay due to fault at F may exceed the setting value Z i.e. ZF > Z. What will happen then? The
relay will not actuate to clear the fault even though point F is within the protected zone. This
scenario is called under reach of relay. Why it is called under reach?

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Reach of distance relay is defined as line protection covered by relay in terms of line length or
impedance. In the example, the reach of relay is Z as it is expected to protect the entire line. But
due to absence of residual compensation, the relay is not only able to protect the whole line
rather it is protecting only a part of line say 90% of line. This means the effective reach of relay
has decreased. This is why; we say relay is under reaching.

Cause of Under Reach

Under Reach of distance relay is observed due to remote infeed. What is meant by remote
infeed? 

Remote infeed means, the fault is being fed through different circuit other than the protected
line. As a transmission line connects two substations, therefore it may happen in double circuit
line that fault may be fed by other circuit. To understand the under reach and remote infeed, let
us consider the figure below.

A & B are two substations connected by two lines 1 and 2. A third line 3 is connected from
substation B & C. Suppose,

Impedance of line 1 = Z1

Impedance of line 2 = Z2

Impedance of line 3 = ZL

Relay impedance setting or reach = Z1+ZL

As the relay setting is assumed (Z1+ZL) therefore the reach of relay is (Z1+ZL). A fault occurs at
point F on line 3 at a distance x from B. This fault will be fed by line 1 as well as line 2. Notice
that line 2 is also feeding the fault. This is called remote infeed.

Let us now calculate the reach of relay by calculating the impedance seen by the distance relay
21.

Current flowing through relay = I1

Voltage seen by relay = I1Z1 + Z’ (I1+I2)

Z’ is impedance of line 3 up to point of fault F. Let Z’ = µZL where 0<µ<1.

Voltage seen by relay = I1Z1 + µZL(I1+I2)

Therefore the impedance Zm measured by distance relay,

Zm = Voltage seen by relay / current through relay

     = [I1Z1 + µZL(I1+I2)] / I1

     = Z1 + µZL(1+ I2/I1)  ………..(1)

Thus the relay reach = Z1 + µZL(1+ I2/I1) < Actual reach (Z1+ZL). Confused?

Let us make it more clear by assuming that fault point F is very close to C. As point F is close to
C, therefore µ = 1 and Z’ = ZL.

Now, the impedance measured by relay Zm = Z1 + ZL(1+ I2/I1)

Carefully observe that, this measured impedance Zm is more than setting (Z1+ZL) and hence
relay will not actuate even though it is supposed to actuate. This why relay is said to under
reach.

How to Eliminate Under Reach?

As clear from discussion, to overcome this problem we need to increase the reach i.e.
impedance setting of distance relay. Since the reach of relay Zm is less than setting (Z1+ZL),
therefore the setting of relay shall be increased to Z1 + ZL(1+ I2/I1).
Hope you fully understand the concept of under reach. Please comment. Thank you!

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14 thoughts on “Under Reach of Distance Relay”

Unknown
March 19, 2018 at 12:18 am

Excellent

Reply

jagan
April 29, 2018 at 8:08 am
Very clear sir.
Thanq very much

Reply

Sarah Afifah
July 27, 2018 at 8:37 am

the explanation really helps, thank you

Reply

admin
July 27, 2018 at 12:11 pm

Thank you!

Abbas ghalib
July 28, 2018 at 11:22 am

Good imformation…
Q:coud we use 2 group for setting in distance relay to overcome overreach
problem in 2 parallel lines 2nd group work when 2nd line out and earth?

Reply
 admin
July 28, 2018 at 11:49 am

Do you mean two Group i.e. Group-1 & Group-2 setting of Numerical Relay?

Sarah Afifah
July 30, 2018 at 8:31 am

“But due to absence of residual compensation”, i’m a bit lost in this sentence,
what do you mean by residual compensation?

Reply

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PONVIGNESH B
October 21, 2018 at 9:22 pm
Please explain whether the Zm is less than the Reach (Z1+ZL) or Grater than the
reach . I got confused by your two different statement .

In your statement you mentioned that

1st Statement :

“Carefully observe that, this measured impedance Zm is more than setting

(Z1+ZL) and hence relay will not actuate even though it is supposed to actuate.
This why relay is said to under reach.”

2nd statement:

“As clear from discussion, to overcome this problem we need to increase the
reach i.e. impedance setting of distance relay. Since the reach of relay Zm is less
than setting (Z1+ZL), therefore the setting of relay shall be increased to Z1 +
ZL(1+ I2/I1).”

Reply

admin
October 21, 2018 at 10:13 pm

Here we are talking reach in terms of impedance. More reach means more
impedance. Zm is more. this is the reason, relay is not operating. To make relay
to operate we need to increase the relay setting from (Z1+ZL) to Zm. Consider
reach in terms of line length. Since Zm is more, the relay won’t operate. This
means the reach of relay has decreased. So ta take preventive action, we need to
increase the reach of relay by increasing its impedance setting. Did you
understand now or shall I clarify further?
 PONVIGNESH B
October 21, 2018 at 11:07 pm

Dear Admin thank you for your reply . Since i have considered Zm as a measured
impedance by relay instead of line reach, In your second statement i got
confused .

Could you please explain? 0 at what type of zone(Zone 1 , Zone-2 ect ) fault this
above scenario is possible . My concern is since the zone 1 will be protecting the
line from A upto Station B only . From Station B there should be another Relay
which will protect the line between station B and C .

admin
October 21, 2018 at 11:54 pm

It is observed in double circuit lines. Mutual compensation is used in double

circuit line which prevents this.
 Arjun
June 25, 2019 at 3:58 pm

Great Explanation.. Simply excellent

Reply

Arpit kumar
March 8, 2020 at 3:36 am

Sir , please you explain for following relay-

1. Trip circuit supervision relay.
2. Over voltage ground relay.
3. Directional power relay.
4. Restricted earth fault relay.
5.numerical relay.

Thank you

Reply

admin
March 10, 2020 at 7:46 pm

Most of the relays have already been explained. Kindly check posts on them.
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