National Grid Delayed Automatic

Technical Reclosing (DAR)

Specification

NGTS 3.24.16
Issue 1
May 2000

CONTENTS Page

Foreword.............................................. 1
1 Scope.............................................. 1
2 References .................................... 1
3 Definitions ...................................... 2
4 Functional Requirements ........... 2
5 Functional Interfaces.................... 9
6 Settings.......................................... 11
7 Performance ................................. 12
8 Implementation ............................ 12
9 Contract Specific
Requirements .............................. 12

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John Scott
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Engineering & Technology

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 NGTS 3.24.16
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DELAYED AUTOMATIC RECLOSING (DAR)

FOREWORD

This specification is a functional specification within the Substation Information, Control and Protection suite of
technical specifications. It shall be called up and applied by appropriate bay level specifications.

1 SCOPE

This specification describes the functional and performance requirements for single shot three-phase
Delayed Automatic Reclosure (DAR) for busbar connected feeder circuits and transformer LV circuit
breakers, when the transformer's HV connection is banked/connected to a mesh/busbar corner. Figure 1
illustrates typical applications. National Grid’s system operates at 400, 275 and 132 kV.

Informative: The requirements for DAR at Mesh/Single switch stations are covered by NGTS 3.24.63.

To mesh/busbar corner

Line Volts

DAR DAR

Busbar Volts

Busbar DAR applied to double busbar Busbar DAR applied to transformer LV

feeder circuit circuit breaker when HV connection is
to mesh/busbar corner

Figure 1: Typical Busbar DAR Applications

2 REFERENCES

NGTS 3.24.4 Hardware Platform

NGTS 3.24.63 Mesh Automatic Switching

NGTS 3.24.75 DAR Conditioning and Interlocks

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3 DEFINITIONS

DAR Delayed Automatic Reclosure

CHECK SYNC Check Synchronisation

IN SYNC In Synchronisation

In Sync DAR Out (indication)

Plant Closed DAR In (Indication)

Line Volts DAR in Progress (Indication)

Busbar Volts Inhibit Sequential Isolation

Start DAR Check Sync

Close Circuit Breaker

Inhibit DAR (Control)
DAR
NGTS 3.24.10 DAR Function Faulty
Lockout DAR
(Alarm)
(Manual Close)

DAR Complete
Switch in DAR (Control) (Indication)

Switch out DAR (Control)

DAR (Information)

Figure 2: DAR Functional Interfaces

4 FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Informative: The automatic switching functionality provided by DAR is a single shot three-phase auto-reclose
facility. The DAR will operate in conjunction with external DAR conditioning and interlocks as defined in
NGTS 3.24.75.

Informative: This specification defines the required DAR functionality in terms of its operational states, such
as DAR in Progress, and conditions/events, such as Inhibit DAR, required to move from one operational
state to another. Figure 3 depicts the core DAR operational states with Figure 7 showing support
functionality. Functional interface requirements are detailed in Section 5 and Figure 2. To assist cross-
referencing between these drawings and the text, transitions between operational states are labelled with
a reference of the form (Tn) where n is a unique number.

Start (DAR Function)

Informative: Start (DAR Function) is the Pseudo State occupied prior to the defined functionality becoming
operational and therefore represents the starting point for all subsequent operational transitions. The
transition from this state would typically occur when the DAR equipment hardware platform is powered-up
or re-starting from a function reset condition

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4.1 The start transitions (T1 - Figure 3) and (T2.1,T3.1 - Figure 6) from the Start State to the operational states
DAR out of Service, Line Dead and Busbar Dead respectively shall occur when event DAR Function Started
occurs.

Start
(T1) Function
DAR Function Healthy Started
(T2) DAR
DAR Out of Service Function Faulty DAR Function
Failed
(T3) DAR Function Healthy
(T5) DAR in Service AND CB Closed AND Line Live

(T6) DAR in Service AND (CB Open OR Line Dead

(T7) DAR Out of Service

OR Busbar Dead OR Lockout DAR Set)

Lockout Reset
AND

DAR in Service

(T4) Lockout DAR

(T8) (CB Open OR Line

Set
Dead OR Busbar Dead) >2s
CB in Service OR Lockout DAR Set CB out of Service

(CB Closed and Live) (T9) CB Closed AND Line (CB Open or Line
Live AND Busbar Live AND Dead or Busbar
AND DAR Function Lockout Dead or DAR
Reset
Function Lockout
Set.
(T10) Start
DAR Set

DAR in Progress
(T14) Reclaim Timer expired AND CB Closed AND Line Live AND Busbar Live

DAR Started and

(T12) Start DAR Set OR Inhibit Set

Inhibited
DAR Reset
(T11) Start
and Inhibit
Reset

(T16) Lockout DAR SET

Check Reclose
Conditions

(Run Delay Timer and Key to Symbols

Monitor Line, Busbar
Volts and System
Synchronism Conditions)
Operational State "X"
Start DAR Reset AND
Conditions Met AND
(T13) Reclose
Inhibit Reset

Transition (Tn)

Reclose CB (T15) Reclaim Timer Expired AND (CB Open

OR Line Dead OR Busbar Dead)

(Close CB and Run

Reclaim Timer) Operational State "Y"

Figure 3: DAR Functional Requirements Statechart

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DAR Function Healthy

4.2 While in the operational state DAR Function Healthy, the DAR function shall operate in accordance with its
required functional and performance requirements.

4.3 If the DAR function is incapable of operating according to its required functional and performance
requirements or a functional or performance failure has been detected then transition (T2), DAR Function
Faulty, to the operational condition DAR Function Failed shall occur.

DAR Function Failed

Informative: The DAR Function Failed state describes the condition where the DAR is not capable of
operating according to its defined functionality/performance due to a failure condition/event.

4.4 The DAR function shall be deemed faulty if it is incapable of operating or has failed to operate in accordance
with its defined functionality.

Informative: The loss of power to hardware platform used to implement the DAR functionality should be
counted as a DAR Faulty condition.

4.5 When entering the state DAR Function Failed, any pending DAR sequences shall be cancelled and the
condition(s) responsible for the failure logged.

4.6 While in the state DAR Function Failed a DAR Faulty alarm shall be set.

4.7 When the condition DAR Function Healthy occurs, transition (T3) from the state DAR Function Failed to
operational states DAR out of Service and DAR Function Healthy shall occur.

DAR out of Service

Informative: DAR out of Service is the state where DAR sequences cannot be initiated or if already in
progress cancelled.

4.8 When entering the state DAR Out, any in progress DAR sequences shall be cancelled.

4.9 While in the state DAR Out, the indication DAR Out shall be set.

4.10 The transition (T5) from DAR out of Service to states DAR in Service and CB in Service shall occur when
the external conditions DAR in Service AND CB Closed AND Line Live AND Lockout DAR Reset occurs.

4.11 The transition (T6) from DAR out of Service to states DAR in Service and CB out of Service shall occur when
external conditions DAR in Service AND (CB Open OR Line Dead OR Lockout DAR Set) occurs.

DAR in Service

Informative: DAR in Service is the state where DAR sequences can be initiated.

4.12 The transition (T7) to state DAR out of Service from the operational state DAR In Service shall occur when
control input DAR out of Service is set.

4.13 While in the state DAR in Service the indication DAR In shall be set.

CB Out of Service

Informative: CB Out of Service represents the condition where the circuit breaker is not in an operational
condition where closure of the circuit breaker by DAR is allowed

4.14 On entering the state CB Out of Service any DAR sequences in progress shall be cancelled

4.15 If the condition (CB Closed AND Line Live AND Busbar Live AND DAR Function Lockout Reset) occurs while
in state CB out of Service then transition (T9) to operational state CB in Service shall take place.

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DAR Lockout - CB out of Service

4.16 If the external condition Lockout DAR Set is present when entering the state CB out of Service via transitions
(T6,T16), or occurs while in the state CB out of Service via transition (T4), then an internal condition DAR
Function Lockout = Set shall be established.

4.17 When external event Lockout DAR Reset occurs then the internal DAR Function Lockout condition shall
reset after a time equal to the DAR Lockout Reset time if no further external DAR Lockout Set events occur
during this reset time.

Informative: If a DAR Lockout condition occurs then the effective duration of the DAR Function Lockout
condition will be equal to the DAR Lockout Set time + DAR Lockout Reset Time.

CB in Service

Informative: CB in Service represents the state where reclosure of the circuit breaker by DAR may be
permissible. A circuit breaker is defined as being in service if it is closed, its line voltage is live and there
is no Lockout DAR condition. The timing relationship between the States CB in Service, CB out of Service,
CB Closed and Live and CB Open or Line Dead is shown in Figure 4.

CB Closed and Live

CB Open or CB Open or
Line Dead Line Dead

Circuit Memory Time

CB in Service

CB Out of Service CB Out of Service

Figure 4: Timing relationship for state CB in Service

Informative: When a circuit breaker is tripped the events Start DAR, CB Open and Line Dead will occur
almost instantaneously. To ensure that the conditions for starting a DAR sequence are not missed the
state CB in Service has a delayed drop-off time called Circuit Memory time.

4.18 If the external condition (CB Open OR Line Dead OR Busbar Dead) occurs for a period equal to the circuit
memory time (2s) OR the external condition Lockout DAR Set occurs then transition (T8) from the
operational state CB in Service to the state CB out of Service shall occur.

Start DAR - CB in Service

4.19 If the external event Start DAR Set occurs while in the state CB in Service the transition (T10) from the
operational state CB in Service to the states DAR in Progress and DAR Started and Inhibited shall occur.

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DAR in Progress

Informative: DAR in Progress represents the state where a DAR sequences has been started and will
terminate once the DAR sequence has been completed or cancelled.

4.20 While in the state Switching in Progress the indication Switching in Progress shall be maintained.

4.21 When leaving the state DAR in Progress the output indication DAR Complete shall be set for 2s.

4.22 While in the state Switching in Progress the output Inhibit Sequential Isolation shall be maintained.

4.23 If the external event Lockout DAR SET occurs while in the operational state DAR in Progress then transition
(T16) to CB out of Service shall take place.

DAR Sequence Started and Inhibited

Informative: When a DAR sequence is started it will be inhibited from progressing through to the reclosure
sequence if the external conditions Start DAR Set or Inhibit DAR Set are maintained. The Inhibit DAR
condition is typically used for recoverable events such as low CB energy and system interlocking. The use
of the Start DAR Set condition to inhibit DAR sequences has typically been used by National Grid to
achieve DAR interlocking and co-ordination with remote end DAR sequences

4.24 If the external conditions Start DAR Reset AND Inhibit DAR Reset occur then transition (T11) from DAR
Started and Inhibited to the state Check Reclose Conditions shall occur.

Check Reclose Conditions

Informative: While in the state Check Reclose Condition the external conditions line volts, busbar volts and
system synchronisation and the internal switching delay timer are monitored to determine when one or more
user selected system conditions for reclosure have been met. When a reclosure condition is met, CB
reclosure is initiated.

4.25 When the state Check Reclose Conditions is entered the switching delay timer shall be started.

4.26 While in the state Check Reclose Conditions the output Check Sync shall be set.

4.27 While in the state Check Reclose Conditions the external conditions Line Volts (Live/Dead), Busbar Volts
(Live/Dead), In Sync (Set/Reset) and the internal switching delay timer shall be monitored. When these
conditions match one of the user selected reclosure conditions as detailed in Table 1 then transition (T13)
from Check Reclose Conditions to the state Reclose CB shall be initiated.

4.28 The user shall be able to select one or more conditions for DAR reclosure as detailed in Table 1.

4.29 If the external condition Start DAR Set OR Inhibit DAR Set occurs then the transition (T12) from Check
Reclose Conditions back to the operational state DAR Started and Inhibited shall occur.

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Table 1: Conditions for Busbar DAR Reclose

Ref. Reclose Mode Required System Conditions for Reclosure
Synchronisation DAR Delay Busbar Volts Line Volts
Conditions Timer

1 Check Sync In Sync Don’t Care Live Live

Close
2 Dead Line Close Not in Sync Expired Live Dead
3 Dead Bar Close Not in Sync Expired Dead Live
4 Close after time Don’t Care Expired Don’t Care Don’t Care
delay

Reclose CB

4.30 The state Reclose CB shall be entered from state Check Reclose Conditions via transition (T13) when one
or more DAR Reclose condition as defined in Table 1 have been met.

4.31 When the state Reclose CB is entered a Close CB control shall be set and the Reclaim Timer started.

Informative: If the circuit breaker is reclosed by a DAR reclosing action then the circuit breaker must
remain in service for a defined period of time, known as the Reclaim Time, before a new DAR sequence
can be started. If the circuit breaker is tripped during the Reclaim Time the fault is judged to be persistent
and therefore no new DAR sequence shall be started. This relationship is illustrated in Figure 5.

DAR Function
Close CB event

Reclaim Time

Possible Start DAR events

A Start DAR event A Start DAR event after the

during the Reclaim Reclaim Period could start a
Period would be a DAR sequence.
"Persistent Fault" and
a new DAR
sequence shall not
be started

Figure 5 Reclaim Time and Persistent Fault

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4.32 If the condition Reclaim Timer Expired AND (CB: Open OR Line: Dead OR Busbar: DEAD) occurs then
transition (T15) from the operational states Reclose CB and DAR in Progress to CB Out of Service shall be
initiated.

4.33 When the condition (Reclaim Timer = Expired AND CB = Closed AND Line = Live AND Busbar = Live)
occurs then transition T(14) from the states Reclose CB and DAR in Progress to the state CB in Service
shall be initiated .

Start Start

(T2.1) DAR (T3.1) DAR

Function Started Function Started

Line Dead Busbar Dead

(T3.3) Busbar Volts <=Dead

(T3.2) Busbar Volts >= Live
(T2..3) Line Volts <=Dead
(T2.2) Line Volts >= Live

Line Live Busbar Live

Line Live/Dead Statechart Busbar Live/Dead

Statechart

Figure 6 Line/Busbar Volts Live/Dead Statechart

Line and Busbar Voltage Conditions

Informative: The states Line Dead, Line Live, Busbar Dead, and Busbar Live represent the operational
states that determine whether the DAR’s Line/Busbar systems voltage inputs are operationally Live or Dead
for the purposes of DAR.

Line Dead

4.34 If the analogue input Line Volts are equal or greater than the Live Volts threshold then the transition (T2.2)
from condition Line Dead to Line Live shall occur.

Line Live

4.35 If the analogue input Line Volts are equal or less than the Dead Volts threshold then the transition (T2.3)
from Line Live to the condition Line Dead shall occur.

Busbar Dead

4.36 If the analogue input Busbar Volts are equal or greater than the Live Volts threshold then the transition (T3.2)
from Busbar Dead to condition Busbar Live shall occur.

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Busbar Live

4.37 If the analogue input Busbar Volts are equal or less than the Dead Volts threshold then the transition (T3.3)
from Busbar Dead to the condition Busbar Dead shall occur.

5 FUNCTIONAL INTERFACES

Informative: The functional interfaces for the DAR function are depicted in Figure 2.

5.1 The DAR function shall provide the functional interfaces as detailed in Figure 2. The physical
implementation of these interfaces shall be as specified in NGTS 3.24.4 Hardware Platform and the Contract
Specific Requirements of this specification.

Table 1 details each interface’s ID, function and type. The interface type corresponds with hardware
interface type definitions as described in NGTS 3.24.4 Hardware Platform.

Table 2: DAR Functional Interfaces

Interface Interface Function Type of Interface

5.2 In Sync This input shall accept a signal that indicates that the Single Point
voltage synchronism conditions across the associated CB Status Input
meet the requirements for CB closure.

5.3 CB Closed/Not This input shall accept a signal that indicates that the CB Single Point
Closed is closed/not closed. Status Input

Information: For a typical busbar DAR installation, see

Figure 1, the plant closed condition will be met by the
busbar feeder's circuit breaker and line disconnector both
being closed.

5.4 Start DAR This input shall accept signals to initiate DAR sequences. Single Point
Status Input

5.5 Line Volts This input shall accept an analogue signal that represents Single Phase
the rms voltage on the line VT, see Figure 1. Analogue Input
(1% accuracy)

5.6 Busbar Voltage This input shall accept an analogue signal that represents Single Phase
the rms voltage on the busbar, see Figure 1. Analogue Input
(1% accuracy)

5.7 Inhibit DAR This input shall accept signals to delay DAR on the Single Point
associated CB. Status Input

Informative: This input is typically used to delay reclosure

for reasons of low CB energy, system interlocks and
local/remote DAR co-ordination.

5.8 Lockout DAR This input shall accept signals to cancel DAR on the Single Point
(Manual Close) associated CB. Status Input

Informative: This input is typically driven by such events

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Table 2: DAR Functional Interfaces

Interface Interface Function Type of Interface

as busbar faults, system splits and CB manual close.

5.12 Switch in DAR This input shall accept requests for the operational state Control Input
DAR in Service to be selected.

5.13 Switch Out This input shall accept requests for the operational state Control Input
DAR DAR out of Service to be selected.

5.14

5.15 Dar In Service This indication shall be active when the operational state Single Point
of the DAR function is DAR in Service. Status Output

5.16 DAR out of This indication shall be active when the operational state Single Point
Service of the DAR function is DAR Out of Service.. Status Output

5.17 DAR in This indication shall be set while a DAR switching Single Point
Progress sequence is in progress. Status Output

5.18 DAR Complete At the end of any DAR sequence, as indicated by the Single Point
DAR in Progress indication the indication DAR Complete Status Output
shall be raised for 2s.

Single Point
5.19 Inhibit This signal shall be set when sequential isolation of the
Status Output
Sequential associated CB is to be delayed.
Isolation (Normally
Informative: When a circuit breaker is opened there may Closed Contact)
an arrangement whereby an associated disconnector is
automatically opened in order to maintain required isolation
requirements. This is called sequential isolation. When
a circuit breaker is to be reclosed by DAR then the DAR
function must inhibit sequential isolation until the circuit
breaker has been reclosed or the DAR sequence has
been cancelled.

5.20 Check Sync This output shall be set while the voltage synchronism Single Point
conditions of the associated CB are being checked. Status Output

5.21 Close Circuit A signal to initiate closure of the circuit breaker. Control Output
Breaker

5.22 DAR Function This signal is set while the DAR function is faulty. Single Point

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Table 2: DAR Functional Interfaces

Interface Interface Function Type of Interface

Faulty Alarm Status Output

5.23 DAR Information The information available on this port shall include: Information Port
Port Settings, Alarm and Indication Logs, Firmware/Software
Revision and circuit Ids.

6 SETTINGS

6.1 The DAR function settings as detailed in Table 3 shall be provided as a set of settings that the user can
change.

Table 3: Busbar DAR Settings

Setting Setting Range Minimum Setting

Resolution

6.2 Dead Line Timer

0 - 120s 1s

6.3 Reclaim Timer

0 – 60s 1s

6.4 Lockout Reset Time

0 – 60s 1s

6.5 Live Volts Threshold

0 – 100% or fixed 60% 1%

6.6 Dead Volts Threshold

0 – 100% or fixed 40% 1%

6.7 Dead Line Close

Yes/No -

6.8 Dead Bar Close

Yes/No -

6.9 Check Sync Close

Yes/No -

6.10 Close after time delay

Yes/No -

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7 PERFORMANCE

7.1 All timers shall have an accuracy of ± 0.1s or better

7.2 All internal and external actions shall be started/completed within 0.1s of the initiating external or internal
event(s) occurring.

7.3 Analogue inputs shall have an accuracy of ± 1% or better and response time =< 0.5s

8 IMPLEMENTATION

Hardware Platform

8.1 The DAR function shall be implemented on a platform that complies with the requirements of NGTS 3.24.4
Hardware Platform.

Interfaces

Where external access to the DAR functional interfaces is required, for example hardwired, then these
requirements will be specified under Contract Specific Requirements.

9 CONTRACT SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Interface Requirements

8.2 The functional interfaces shall comply with the requirements detailed in Table 4 and NGTS 3.24.4 Hardware
Platform.

Informative: Column 2 of Table 4, “Type of Interface”, corresponds with hardware interface type definitions
as described in NGTS 3.24.4 Hardware Platform. Column 3 “Interface Requirement” will detail contract
specific requirements for each functional interface.

Table 4: Contract Specific Interface Requirements

Interface Type of Interface Interface Requirement

8.3 In Sync Single Point Status Input:

8.4 CB Closed/Not Single Point Status Input

Closed

8.5 Start DAR Single Point Status Input

8.6 Line Volts Single Phase Analogue Input

8.7 Busbar Voltage Single Phase Analogue Input

8.8 Inhibit DAR Single Point Status Input

8.9 Lockout DAR Single Point Status Input:

(Manual Close)

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Table 4: Contract Specific Interface Requirements

Interface Type of Interface Interface Requirement

8.10 Switch in DAR Control Input

8.11 Switch Out DAR Control Input

8.12 Dar In Single Point Status Output

8.13 DAR Out Single Point Status Output

8.14 DAR in Progress Single Point Status Output

8.15 DAR Complete Single Point Status Output

Single Point Status Output

8.16 Inhibit Sequential
Isolation

8.17 Check Sync Single Point Status Output

8.18 Close Circuit Control Output

Breaker

8.19 DAR Function Single Point Status Output

Faulty Alarm

8.20 DAR Information Information Port

Port

Other Requirements

8.21 Other Contract Requirements as specified in Table 5 shall be met.

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Table 5: Other Contract Requirements

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