COE - CCS Engineering Training

Section 4 :
Part 4 – Underground cable and Overhead line
protections
Jean-Pierre Boiton
COE CCS Engineering Manager

Pallawaram – January 2009

1 05/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 1
 UNDERGROUND CABLE &
OVERHEAD LINE PROTECTION
PART 4 : PILOT WIRE LINE
DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION

2 05/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 2
 COMPARISON BETWEEN
DISTANCE AND
DIFFERENTIAL LINE RELAY

3 05/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 3
 COMPARISON BETWEEN DISTANCE AND LINE DIFFERENTIAL RELAY

Application difficulties of distance protection

• Short lines

• Multi end lines

• Parallel lines
X

• Serie Compensated lines R

4 05/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 4
 COMPARISON BETWEEN DISTANCE AND LINE DIFFERENTIAL RELAY

Advantages of Differential Line Protections

• Suitable for short lines

• Suitable for 3-ended lines
• Suitable for transformer outgoing
• No parallel line application problem
• Suitable for serie compensated lines
• Can detect resistive faults
• Simple to set with no coordination problems (immune to power
swing, no need for DEF function, etc …)
• No need for Voltage transformer

5 05/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 5
 GENERAL ON DIFFERENTIAL
LINE RELAY

6 05/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 6
 GENERAL ON DIFFERENTIAL LINE PROTECTION

Differential Line Protections are well appropriate for long lines

heavy loaded, short lines, meshed networks, and where
protection system has to be independent from load currents

Differential Line Protection is based on Kirchhoff low and is

¾Intrinsically selective,
¾Independent of the network configuration,
¾Quasi instantaneous,

Differential Line Protections system requires signals exchange

ensured by pilot wires that can be wires, telephone lines and
even optical fibres with the new numerical protections.
Tripping order at both ends is needed
As pilot wires may suffer from damages due to wire cuts, short
circuit,… a supervision device is therefore needed

7 05/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 7
 GENERAL ON DIFFERENTIAL LINE PROTECTION

Whatever the type of line differential relay, either

electromechanical or numerical, the basic principle remains the
same, i.e comparison of currents at both ends

On the other hand, methods are different

¾For electromechanical relays, a circulating current principle
is used between the relays to compare currents. Measures,
transmission and comparison are analogical
¾For numerical relays, digitalized current values are sent
between the relays for comparison. Analogical measures
are digitalized, and transmission and comparison are
digital

8 05/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 8
 UNIT PROTECTION INVOLVING
DISTANCE BETWEEN CIRCUIT
BREAKERS

9 05/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 9
 UNIT PROTECTION INVOLVING DISTANCE BETWEEN CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Short Distance Between Circuit Breakers

A B

Relaying
Point R

Trip B

Trip A

Simple Local Differential Protection

One relay only, no pilot wire
1005/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 10
 UNIT PROTECTION INVOLVING DISTANCE BETWEEN CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Long Distance Between Circuit Breakers

A B
Communication
Channel

Relaying Relaying
Point Point
R R

Trip A Trip B

Unit Protection Involving Distance Between Circuits

Two relays with pilot wire

1105/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 11
 BASIC PILOT WIRE SCHEMES
WITH BIAS

1205/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 12
 BASIC PILOT WIRE SCHEMES WITH BIAS

Basic Pilot Wire Schemes with Bias

No internal fault or external fault
A B

S1 S1
B B

V
OP OP

Circulating current in pilot wire loop, and no current

passing through operating winding element
1305/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 13
 BASIC PILOT WIRE SCHEMES WITH BIAS

Basic Pilot Wire Schemes with Bias

One phase through fault

1405/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 14
 BASIC PILOT WIRE SCHEMES WITH BIAS

Basic Pilot Wire Schemes with Bias

Internal fault
A B

S1 I I S1
B B

V V
OP OP

No Circulating current in pilot wire loop, currents

are passing through each operating winding
1505/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 15
 BASIC PILOT WIRE SCHEMES WITH BIAS

Basic Pilot Wire Schemes with Bias

One phase internal fault

1605/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 16
 SUMMATION TRANSFORMER

1705/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 17
 SUMMATION WINDINGS

Summation windings arrangements

Arrangement to combine separate phase currents into a single relay
using a single pair of pilot wires
√3 IA = ÎA – ÎC

A IA
1
B 30° -IC
1
C
N
IC IB
N
Vector Diagram for Balanced 3 PH

Let output for operation = K

(1) Consider A-E fault
for relay operation : IA (1 + 1 + 3) > K
IA > 1/5K or 20%K
1805/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 18
 SUMMATION WINDINGS

Summation windings sensitivity for different faults

(2) B-E fault
for relay operation : IB (1 + 3) > K
IB > 25%K
(3) C-E fault
for relay operation : IC x (3) > K
IC > 331/3%K
(4) AB fault
for relay operation : IAB x (1) > K
IAB > 100%K
(5) BC fault
for relay operation : IBC x (1) > K
IBC > 100%K
(6) AC fault
for relay operation : IAC (1 + 1) > K
IAC > 50%K
1905/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 19
 SUMMATION WINDINGS

Zero Summation Transformer Output for 2-1-1 Current Distribution

2005/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 20
 SUMMATION WINDINGS

Fault Settings for Plain Feeders - Exemple

Input transformer summation ratio is 1.25 : 1 : N
where N = 3 for normal use
and N = 6 to give low earth fault settings

Fault Settings

N = 3 N = 6

A-N 0.19 x Ks x In 0.12 x Ks x In

B-N 0.25 x Ks x In 0.14 x Ks x In
C-N 0.33 x Ks x In 0.17 x Ks x In

A-B 0.80 x Ks x In
B-C 1.00 x Ks x In
C-A 0.44 x Ks x In
A-B-C 0.51 x Ks x In

Ks is a setting multiplier, variable from 0.5 to 2.0 In is the relay rated current 1 Amp or 5 Amps
2105/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 21
 SUMMATION WINDINGS

Phase fault
Two phases internal fault

2205/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 22
 SUMMATION WINDINGS

Phase fault
Two phases internal fault

2305/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 23
 SUMMATION WINDINGS

Phase fault
Two phases internal fault

2405/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 24
 SUMMATION WINDINGS

Phase to Ground fault

2505/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 25
 SUMMATION WINDINGS

External fault

2605/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 26
 SUMMATION WINDINGS

External fault

2705/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 27
 SUMMATION WINDINGS

External fault

2805/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 28
 LINE CHARGING CURRENT

2905/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 29
 LINE CHARGING CURRENT

Line charging current

Line charging currents flow in at one end of the feeder only and
is therefore potentially capable of unbalancing a protective
system.

Charging currents (or capacitance currents) of overhead lines

generally low.

Charging current levels of underground cables however can be

high enough to dictate minimum permissible operating level of
the protection.

3005/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 30
 LINE CHARGING CURRENT

Line charging current

ICA
1
ICB
1
ICC
N

Line charging current produce certain amount of For stability ,

unbalancing AT’s under normal steady state conditions
when balanced 3Ø charging current flows. (2 + N) Ι A > 3 ΙC
Unbalancing AT’s = √3 IC
3
AT’s of most sensitive fault setting = (2 + N) IA ΙA > ΙC
(2 + N)
where IA = setting for A-E fault

For N = 3, Ι A > 0.35 Ι C

3105/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 31
 LINE CHARGING CURRENT

Solidly Earthed System

Maximum unbalance amp-turns is obtained when an external
double phase to ground fault on phases B & C occurs.

Charging current flows in phase A only since B & C phase

capacitances are shorted out.

IC
1

3205/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 32
 LINE CHARGING CURRENT

Solidly Earthed System

Unbalancing AT’s due to charging current = (2 + N) IC

AT’s of most sensitive fault setting = (2 + N) IA

where IA = setting for A-E fault

For stability ,

(2 + N) IA > (2 + N) IC
IA > IC

Note: For EHV cables, one relay per phase is sometimes used to
avoid lack of sensitivity for phase faults.

3305/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 33
 PILOT CIRCUIT
CHARACTERISTICS

3405/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 34
 PILOT CIRCUIT CHARACTERISTICS

Pilot wire

Resistance and shunt capacitance of pilots introduce magnitude and phase

differences in pilot terminal currents.
Pilot Resistance
Attenuates the signal and affects effective minimum operating levels.

To maintain constant operating levels for wide range of pilot resistance, padding
resistor used.

R Rp/2 R

Rp/2

Padding resistance R set to ½ (1000 - Rp) ohms

3505/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 35
 PILOT CIRCUIT CHARACTERISTICS

Pilot capacitance

Circulating current systems :

z Pilot capacitance effectively in parallel with relay operating coil.

z Capacitance at centre of pilots has zero volts across them.

3605/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 36
 PILOT CIRCUIT CHARACTERISTICS

Pilot isolation

Electromagnetic Induction

Field of any adjacent conductor may induce a voltage in the pilot circuit.

Induced voltage can be severe when :

(1) Pilot wire laid in parallel to a power circuit.
(2) Pilot wire is long and in close proximity to power circuit.
(3) Fault Current is severe.

Induced voltage may amount to several thousand volts.

Danger to personnel
Danger to equipment

Difference in Station Earth Potentials

Can be a problem for applications above 33kV - even if feeder is short.

3705/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 37
 PILOT CIRCUIT CHARACTERISTICS

Pilot circuit level standards

5kV 15kV

2kV
5kV 15kV

3805/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 38
 PILOT CIRCUIT CHARACTERISTICS

Pilot circuit level standards

Pilot circuits and all directly connected equipment should be insulated to
earth and other circuits to an adequate voltage level.

Two levels are recognised as standard : 5kV & 15kV

Relay Case

5kV 15kV
Pilot
Terminal
Relay
Input Relay
Circuit
Pilot
Wire
2kV 5kV

3905/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 39
 PILOT SUPERVISION

4005/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 40
 PILOT SUPERVISION

Pilot supervision

Pilot circuits are subject to a number of hazards, such as :

- Manual Interference (disconnection during maintenance)
- Acts of Nature (storms, subsidence, etc.)
- Mechanical Damage (excavators, impacts)

Therefore supervision of the pilots is felt to be necessary.

4105/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 41
 PILOT SUPERVISION

Pilot supervision

Two types of supervision exist :

- Signal injection type

- Wheatstone Bridge type

The pilot wire resistance change is detected

4205/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 42
 OVERCURRENT CHECK

4305/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 43
 OVERCURRENT CHECK

Overcurrent check

Any failure detected by supervision will give an alarm after

few seconds

But

False tripping can occur instantaneously depending of the

type of failure

Overcurrent Check required

4405/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 44
 OVERCURRENT CHECK

Overcurrent check

Circulating
Current
Schemes

Pilot Wire False Trip

Open Circuited
Pilot Wire Stable
Short Circuited
Pilot Wire False Trip
Crossed

False Tripping occurs even under normal loading conditions if 3-

phase setting < ILOAD.
Overcurrent check may be used to prevent False Tripping .
Overcurrent element set above maximum load current.

4505/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 45
 OVERCURRENT CHECK

Overcurrent check

4605/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 46
 OVERCURRENT CHECK

Overcurrent check

4705/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 47
 OVERCURRENT CHECK

Overcurrent check

IN>
I> I> IN>

I> I>

I> I>

4805/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 48
 OVERCURRENT CHECK

Overcurrent check

Trip

IN>
I>

I>

I>

4905/02/03
08/02 Issue A page 49