ImpedanceRelays

Protective Relays Examples - Impedance Relays Hydro Circuit Protection

Overcurrent Relays Directional OC Relays Voltage Relays Differential Relays Pilot Protection

IMPEDANCE RELAYS NEMA number 21

Impedance relays are used whenever overcurrent relays do not provide adequate protection. They
function even if the short circuit current is relatively low. The speed of operation is independent of
current magnitude.

Impedance relays monitor the impedance between the relay location and the fault. If the impedance falls
within the relay setting, the relay will operate. The basic construction for impedance relays on which the
principle of operation is easily explained is the balanced beam.

Figure: Principle of Impedance Relay

The relay consists of a balanced beam. At each end of the balanced beam is a coil that exerts a force on
the beam at that end. One coil is connected to a current from a current transformer, the other coil is
connected to a potential transformer. The voltage coil functions as a restraining coil, the current coil
functions as an operating coil. Under normal conditions, the contact of the relay is kept open. During a
fault, the voltage drops, and the current rises. The torque due to the current coil overpowers the torque
due to the voltage coil, and the relay closes its contact.

The torque caused by the current through the current coil is

where Ki is a constant of proportionality that depends on the relay construction

The torque caused by the voltage coil is

where Kv is a constant of proportionality that depends on the relay construction

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When the torques are balanced,

The ratio of voltage and current is the impedance the relay detects at the point of its connection.

To close its contacts,

The contacts will close anytime the impedance the relay sees is less than a preset value given by

This can be represented on an impedance graph X vs R

Figure: Operating Diagram of an Impedance Relay

This type of impedance relay is not directional. It will detect a fault in any direction. If it is used, it is used
together with a directional relay that eliminates half of its characteristic.

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Figure: Operating Diagram of an Impedance Relay with a Directional Unit

OFFSET IMPEDANCE RELAY

Offset impedance relay is also known under names ADMITTANCE RELAY or MHO RELAY

Phasor Diagram

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The torque of the watt element is

where Kw is a constant of proportionality that depends on the relay

construction

The torque caused by the voltage coil is

where Kv is a constant of proportionality that depends on the relay construction

Relay operates if

The phase angle θ depends on impedance Zs . Zs can be chosen so that θ = 0. Also, both voltage coils are

connected to the same voltage V. ( )

It follows that

Similarly as for the impedance relay, this impedance can be represented by an X vs R graph. This time
the circle is offset from the center.

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Figure: Operating Diagram for an Offset Impedance Relay with Characteristic Angle equal to 0

If impedance Zs is chosen so that θ ≠ 0, the circle shifts:

Figure: Operating Diagram for an Offset Impedance Relay with Characteristic Angle Different from 0

For impedance relays detecting short circuits on transmission lines, impedance Zs is chosen so that θ is
the same as the impedance angle of the line. This relay will detect a fault in only one direction.

RESISTANCE AND REACTANCE RELAYS

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The torque of the watt element is

where Kw is a constant of proportionality that depends on the relay construction

The torque caused by the current coil is

where Ki is a constant of proportionality that depends on the relay construction

Relay operates if

The phase angle θ depends on impedance Zs . Zs can be chosen so that θ = 0. Also, both current coils are
connected to the same current I.

It follows that

The operating characteristic of this relay is a straight line

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Figure: Operating Diagram for a Resistance Relay

Figure: Operating Diagram for a Reactance Relay

All distance relays are connected to the power system through instrument transformers. The relay
monitors the impedance in secondary ohms. Secondary ohms are related to the primary ohms by the
equation

where CTR is the current transformer ratio

PTR is the potential transformer ratio

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Zones of Protection

In general, distance protection includes three steps of protection, with each step reaching a fixed preset
distance and operating in a preset time.

Zone 1 reaches 80 - 90% of the protected line. The tripping is instantaneous.

Zone 2 extends beyond the protected line up to about 50% of the adjacent line. The tripping has a time
delay, usually set to a value between 0.3 s to 0.5 s.

Zone 3 covers the protected line, the adjacent line, and up to 25% of the line next to the adjacent line.
Tripping is delayed between 0.6 s to 1.0 s.

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Protective Relays Hydro Circuit Protection

Overcurrent Relays Directional OC Relays Voltage Relays Differential Relays Pilot Protection

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