Adaptive Protection Technology - EnTSO-E

6/3/22, 8:47 AM Adaptive Protection Technology - ENTSO-E
Adaptive Protection
Technology
A conventional protection system has relays
with fixed setting parameters. With the
growing complexity in operating power
systems, the increasing shares of power
electronic connected generating units, a lack
of short circuit current injection to correctly
detect faults, and increased harmonics that
can falsely trigger protection relays, various
challenges arise to fulfil the protection
requirements in variable operation conditions.
https://www.entsoe.eu/Technopedia/techsheets/adaptive-protection-technology 1/12
Adaptive protection schemes result from the

application of microprocessors in the area of
protective relays and are growing in
importance in the electrical power systems.
They enable grid operators to have flexible
protection schemes in response to changes in
the power system.
Technology Types
Protection relays are devices deployed in the field that trip off
under certain conditions. They can be categorised as:
Analogue relays: the conventional electromechanical or

static relays operating offline, with low maintenance, reliable
but unable to determine the exact location of the fault. They
establish a zone of protection in which the relay will operate
or trip if they measure an overcurrent. They have high
maturity but allow only for a fixed protection scheme.
Digital relays: recent microprocessor / numerical relays
which operate online and can adapt their settings in real time
in response to power system conditions.
Adaptive protection schemes can be categorised by the adaptive

protection device and adaptive protection system. Developed since
the 1980s, they are based on the underlying idea of the ability of the
protection system to adapt to the current operating condition of the

power system.
Various definitions of the adaptative protection function can be

found in the literature, such as the one proposed by the IEEE Power
System Relaying Committee: ‘automatically adjusts the operating
characteristics of the relay system in response the changing power
system conditions’. This definition clearly reflects the two main
features of an adaptative protection scheme: (i) the adjustment of the
protection functions or configurations, and (ii) the automatic nature
of this adjustment.
Protection functions deployed in transmission and distribution

systems differ. This results mainly from the more stringent stability
requirements for transmission with more complex schemes in
addition to the necessary redundancy. Distribution networks require
more cost-effective protection solutions due to the volume of assets
that require protection.
Protection principles include generally unit-based protection, for

which the zone of the protection boundary is limited, and the non-
unit protection, which relies on local measurements to inform about
protection features (e.g. overcurrent, distance protection):
unit-based protections are mostly applied to transmission

networks where the cost of required communications is
justified, such schemes are highly selective in their operation
non-unit protection schemes can be found in both
transmission and distribution.
Due to its simplicity, overcurrent protection is mostly applied in

distribution, but also in transmission as a backup protection function.
Distance protection is a mature protection mainly used in

transmission systems . It is based on the observation that the
protected line impedance is proportional to its length: monitoring
changes in the impedance (e.g. by measuring locally voltage and
current) thus enables the identification of a fault without any
communication device.
System integrity protection schemes (SIPS) are used to protect the

overall integrity of the power system against events leading
potentially to unstable transients, overloads or blackouts. The advent
of wide area measurements promises more flexibility in available
protection actions.
Components & enablers

When studying adaptative protection literature over the last three
decades and the applications in system operators, a progression is
thus observed from basic concepts such as subsystems (e. g. adaptive
distance relay), and localisation studies or rapid coordination
calculation, to technologies and experiments of wide geographic area
protection that could be considered as extensions of the protection
system.
Consequently, the adaptive protection scheme aims to monitor the

power system to determine its state and adjust its configuration
accordingly. In particular, adaptive relaying means changing relay
settings and picking up relay currents in online mode as the

operating conditions of the system changes.
Adaptive protection schemes require typically the following

components: hardware (referring to the digital relay itself and
intelligent electronic devices – IEDs), computational and
communication systems that model and monitor the relays and
coordinate the adaptation of parameters, the communication
protocol for intelligent electronic devices at electrical substations and
the algorithms ruling the settings, as well as the protocols to interface
to human factors.
Wide Area Monitoring System (WAMS) is an enabling technology

based on an information facility with monitoring purposes to improve
situational awareness and visibility within power systems. Based on
Phasor Measurements Units (PMUs), WAMS allow monitoring
transmission system conditions over large areas in view of detecting
and further counteracting grid instabilities. As mentioned above, such
an early warning system contributes to increasing system reliability
and can be considered as an extension and enabler of an adaptive
protection system:
PMUs sensors - measures bus angles and frequencies at high

sampling rate
WAMS – monitoring device that time synchronise via
geolocalised PMU measurements.
Advantages & field of application

An ex post study of the National Electric Reliability Council on black-

outs in the US showed that the maloperation of relays has
contributed to 70% of US black-outs. Adaptive protection
technologies therefore a potential facilitator of the reliability,
resilience and security of the future power system. Indeed, real-time
adaptation of the system protection actions to the true system state
enable the prevention of cascade failures and wide area disturbances
to power system blackouts, ensure the security of back-up relays and
limit the impact of hidden failures that are revealed under stressed
conditions.
In addition, the increasing use of grid assets constitutes a

considerable benefit: as protection setting and thermal limits are
calculated for worst case conditions, power system assets are
underutilised throughout most of their lifetimes.
Technology Readiness Level

Wide area, adaptative protection addresses a large variety of
technologies of various levels of maturity and TRL ranges from TRL 2
– Technology formulation (concept and application) to TRL 9 – System
ready for full scale deployment.
Research & Development

Current fields of research include topics that could be grouped.
Multi-agent coordination:
Multi-agent system based protection

Distributed adaptive protection schemes
Resilience to system splits
Smart coordination of overall protection devices, improved
speed for detection and clearing
Algorithms for robust operation to all network configurations
and network conditions and wide area backup protection
scheme, possibly based on ma-chine learning techniques,
fuzzy logic (-neuro, -wavelet based)
Blockchain technology for protection relay configuration.
HVDC protection and web architecture:
Hybrid HVDC/HVAC fault clearing

HVDC protection devices/breakers
Numerical directional overcurrent relays.
Protection relays and new equipment:
Adaptation of protection components and systems to new

market requirements, development of new material (e.g. fault
current limiters with super-conductive materials).
WAMS / PMUS:
PMU-based concepts for transmission line protection

Signal accuracy and reliability, communication architectures
and data processing, as well as on standards for data
processing and large-scale demonstrations, possibly in

combination with other active equipment.
Regional WAMS and PMUs applications operational in TSOs to
enable the operation of the transmission system closer to its
physical limits with high reliability.
Distributed observability of the transmission system through
steady state and dynamic state estimation of transmission
systems, using intelligent monitoring devices such as PMUs.
Best practice performance

Performance improvements are very case-specific and are subject to
a pattern of changes: distance wise, from local measurement-based
to remote measurement while, function wise, adaptation algorithms
will combine advanced techniques such as multi-variable, multi-
objectives or adaptative algorithms, able to operate stand-alone,
even in cases of the loss of communication of any other unexpected
event.
Best practice application
Brauweiler, Germany
2013
Description
One of the four German TSOs upgraded the main control center using a
new state of the art grid system. This TSO monitors approximately 11,000
km HV grid in Germany.
Design
A new adaptive protection function will be integrated in the control
system.
Results
Combined with overhead line monitoring, this function is used to
dynamically adapt the system limits to climatic conditions and to adapt
protection device settings respective to the varying short-circuit level.
EU wide
2017
Description
The ELECTRA Integrated Research Program on Smart Grids envisions for
the future power system a novel grid architecture, called the Web-of-Cells
with a wholescale deployment of distributed energy resources. The
adaptive scheme has been applied to a representative cell grid and it
addresses appropriate actions by protection devices to cope with the
flexibility required by the Web-of-Cells concept.
Design
The arrangement of this concept includes power system cells bounded to
a geographical area which are interconnected via tie lines and where each
of these cells is managed by a Cell Control Operator (CCC). The feature of
the Web-of-Cell concept combines flexible resources, the use of advanced

information and communication technology as well as novel frequency
and voltage control schemes.
Results
The case study simulation with the designed adaptive functionality for IED
models showed that the proposed protection scheme responded
appropriately at disturbed grid conditions coping with different cell
operating states. The results show that the CCC enables a proper
automatic shifting of IED tripping curves according to the short-circuit level
during the islanding condition of the cell.
References
[1] ENTSOE. Best Protection Practices for HV and EHV AC-
Transmission Systems of ENTSO-E Electrical Grids. Version 2 June
2018.
[2] Chandraratne C., Logenthiran T., Naayagi R. T, and Woo W. L.

Overview of Adaptive Protection System for Modern Power Systems.
[Link]
[3] MPCE. Improving the performance of power system protection

using wide area monitoring systems. [Link]
[4] Y. Zhang and R. A. Dougal. State of the art of Fault Current Limiters
and their applications in smart grid. [Link]
[5] Siemens. SIPROTEC 5. [Link]
[6] Press release. Siemens delivers a new grid control system for
Amprion's Brauweiler main control center. [Link]
[7] Martini, L., Brunner, H. & Rodríguez-Seco, J. E., Caerts, C., Strasser,
T., Burt, G.M. Grid of the future and the need for a decentralised
control architecture: the web-of-cells concept. [Link]
[8] Vafeas. A, Peirano, E.: eHighway2050, D3.2 - Technology

innovation needs. [Link]
[9] ETIP SNET R&I Roadmap 2030. [Link]
[10] ETIP SNET R&I Implementation Plan 2021-2024. [Link]
[11] Babu, K. V. Tripathy M, Singh A. K Recent techniques used in

transmission line protection: a review. International Journal of
Engineering, Science and Technology Vol. 3, No. 3, 2011, pp. 1-8.
[Link]
[12] Jiang Huang, Iowa State University. Adaptive wide area protection
of power systems. [Link]
[13] Kocaman B., Bitlis Eren University, Akca Ü., Kocaeli University.
Adaptive Relaying in Electric Power System Protection. The Online
Journal of Science and Technology - January 2019 Volume 9, Issue 1.
[Link]
[14] Abdulhadi I. F. PhD thesis 2013. University of Strathclyde.

Facilitating the Validation of Adaptive Power System Protection
through Formal Scheme Modelling and Performance Verification.

[Link]
[15] Jiang W., Lu J., Xiang H., X. , Fang. H. Distance protection of EHV
long transmission lines considering compensation degree of shunt
reactor. [Link]
[16] Jonsson M. Chalmers University of Technology. Line protection

and power system collapse. [Link]
Home Contact © 2022 ENTSO-E
Phone: +32 2 741 09 50 Email: info@entsoe.eu

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6/3/22, 8:47 AM Adaptive Protection Technology - ENTSO-E

Adaptive protection schemes result from the

Analogue relays: the conventional electromechanical or

Adaptive protection schemes can be categorised by the adaptive

protection system to adapt to the current operating condition of the

Various definitions of the adaptative protection function can be

Protection functions deployed in transmission and distribution

Protection principles include generally unit-based protection, for

unit-based protections are mostly applied to transmission

Due to its simplicity, overcurrent protection is mostly applied in

Distance protection is a mature protection mainly used in

System integrity protection schemes (SIPS) are used to protect the

Components & enablers

Consequently, the adaptive protection scheme aims to monitor the

settings and picking up relay currents in online mode as the

Adaptive protection schemes require typically the following

Wide Area Monitoring System (WAMS) is an enabling technology

PMUs sensors - measures bus angles and frequencies at high

Advantages & field of application

An ex post study of the National Electric Reliability Council on black-

In addition, the increasing use of grid assets constitutes a

Technology Readiness Level

Research & Development

Multi-agent system based protection

HVDC protection and web architecture:

Hybrid HVDC/HVAC fault clearing

Protection relays and new equipment:

Adaptation of protection components and systems to new

PMU-based concepts for transmission line protection

processing and large-scale demonstrations, possibly in

Best practice performance

Best practice application

the Web-of-Cell concept combines flexible resources, the use of advanced

[2] Chandraratne C., Logenthiran T., Naayagi R. T, and Woo W. L.

[3] MPCE. Improving the performance of power system protection

[5] Siemens. SIPROTEC 5. [Link]

[8] Vafeas. A, Peirano, E.: eHighway2050, D3.2 - Technology

[9] ETIP SNET R&I Roadmap 2030. [Link]

[10] ETIP SNET R&I Implementation Plan 2021-2024. [Link]

[11] Babu, K. V. Tripathy M, Singh A. K Recent techniques used in

[14] Abdulhadi I. F. PhD thesis 2013. University of Strathclyde.

through Formal Scheme Modelling and Performance Verification.

[16] Jonsson M. Chalmers University of Technology. Line protection

Home Contact © 2022 ENTSO-E

Phone: +32 2 741 09 50 Email: info@entsoe.eu

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