Power System Protection & Control
Dr. B. Kiran Babu
Ad-hoc Faculty, EED
NIT AP, Tadepalligudem
Limitations of Over-current Relays to Transmission line
applications
Overcurrent relays are unsuitable for protection of transmission lines because of variable reach and
variable operating time due to changes in fault type and source impedance.
1. Type of fault:
If depends on the type of fault, therefore the length of the line that is protected.
2 . Effect of Source Impedance:
If depends on source impedance and also E, therefore protection is required in such
a way that it should be independent of source characteristics and type of fault.
Distance Protection
Distance relays have been developed to overcome the problems associated with the
use of overcurrent relays for the protection of transmission lines.
Distance protection is widely used for the protection of extra high voltage (EHV)
transmission (132 kV, 220 kV & 400kV) and sub-transmission lines (66 kV, and 33
kV).
Distance relays measure the impedance or some components of line impedance (like
reactance) between the relay location and fault location.
The measured quantity (i.e. impedance or reactance or admittance) is proportional
to line-length between the location of relay and fault point.
As the measured quantity is proportional to the distance along the line, this relay is
called a distance relay.
Distance Protection
Distance protection is widely used for the protection of high and extra high voltage
(EHV) transmission and sub-transmission lines.
VR
Zset
Three types (basic) of distance Relays IR
1. Impedance Relay
Z R Zset - - - - - Relay willoperats
2. Reactance Relay
3. Mho/ Admittance Relay
1. Impedance Relay
Universal Torque Equation
T K1 I 2 K 2V 2 K 3VI cos( ) K
Current Voltage Directional Spring
Unit Unit Unit torque
For impedance relay,
K1 = +ve, K2 = -ve, K3 = 0 and K = -ve
Now, T K1 I 2 K 2V 2 K
T K1 I 2 K 2V 2 (K is neglected)
Current Voltage
Produces Produces
+ve torque –ve torque
Impedance Relay is Voltage restrained Over current Relay
1. Impedance Relay
Under Threshold During Operation
T 0; Top Tres T 0; Top Tres
K 1I 2 K 2 V 2 0 K 1I 2 K 2 V 2 0
K 1I 2 K 2 V 2 K 1I 2 K 2 V 2
V K1 V K1
I K2 I K2
K1 Z R Zset - - - Relay opearates
Zset
K2
1. Impedance Relay
1. Impedance Relay
NOTE:
1. If the impedance seen by the relay is less than the preset value of
impedance, the Relay Operates.
2. The operation of relay depends on both resistance and reactance seen by
the relay.
3. The impedance relay does not have inherent directional properties.
4. It occupies moderates space on RX diagram.
5. It is moderately affected due to Arc resistance.
6. Moderately affected due to power surges.
7. Moderately affected due to load encroachment (i.e. the measured
impedance due to load current & voltage exceeding the impedance
determined by the load ability limit of the impedance relay at an specific
power factor).
Directionality with Impedance relay
Impedance relay is non-directional relay.
2. Reactance Relay
Universal Torque Equation
T K1 I 2 K 2V 2 K 3VI cos( ) K
Current Voltage Directional Spring
Unit Unit Unit torque
For Reactance relay,
K1 = +ve, K2 = 0, K3 = -ve and K = -ve
Now, T K1 I 2 K 3VICos ( ) K
T K1 I 2 K 3VICos ( ) (K is neglected)
Current Directional unit
Produces Produces –ve
+ve torque torque
Reactance Relay is Directional restrained Over current Relay
2. Reactance Relay
Relay will operate, if
T 0; Top Tres
K1I 2 K 3 VICos( - ) 0
K1I 2 K 3 VICos( - )
Let 900 ,
K1I 2 K 3 VICos( - 900 )
K1I 2 K 3 VISin (or) K 3 VISin K1I 2
Divide by K 3 I 2 on both sides
V K K1
Sin 1 (or) Z R Sin
I K3 K3
K1
XR (or) X R X set - - - Relay opearates
K3
2. Reactance Relay
2. Reactance Relay
NOTE:
1. If the reactance seen by the relay is less than the preset value of
reactance, the relay operates.
2. The operation of relay depends only on reactance seen by the
relay.
3. The reactance relay does not have inherent directional properties.
4. It occupies more space on RX diagram.
5. It is not affected due to Arc resistance
6. Highly affected due to power surges.
7. Highly affected due to load encroachment.
3. Mho Relay/Admittance relay/Angle Admittance Relay
Universal Torque Equation
T K1 I 2 K 2V 2 K 3VI cos( ) K
Current Voltage Directional Spring
Unit Unit Unit torque
For MHO relay,
K1 = 0, K2 = -ve, K3 = +ve and K = -ve
Now, T K 3VICos ( ) K 2V 2 K
T K 3VICos ( ) K 2V 2 (K is neglected)
Directional unit Voltage
Produces +ve Produces -ve
torque torque
MHO Relay is Voltage restrained Directional Relay
3. Mho Relay/Admittance relay/Angle Admittance Relay
Relay will operate, if
T 0; Top Tres
K 3 VICos( - ) - K 2 V 2 0
K 3 VICos( - ) K 2 V 2
Divide by K 3 V 2 on both sides
I K2 K2
Cos( - ) (or) YCos( - )
V K3 K3
(or)
1 K
3
YCos( - ) K 2
(or)
Z K3
(or) Z Z set Cos( - ) - - - Relay opearates
Cos( - ) K 2
3. Mho Relay/Admittance relay/Angle Admittance Relay
3. Mho Relay/Admittance relay/Angle Admittance Relay
NOTE:
1. If the impedance seen by the relay is less than the preset value of impedance,
the relay operates.
2. The operation of relay depends on both resistance and reactance seen by the
relay.
3. The Mho relay is having inherent directional feature.
4. It occupies least space on RX diagram.
5. It is highly affected due to Arc resistance
6. Less affected due to power surges.
7. Less affected due to load encroachment.
Comparison of Distance Relays
Factors Impedance Reactance Relay MHO Relay
Relay
Operating quantity Current Current Directional
element
Restraining Voltage Directional Voltage
quantity element
Directional No No Yes
property
Area occupied on Moderate Very large Smallest
R-X diagram
Effect of fault Under reach Unaffected Under reach
resistance
Effect of Power Moderately Large affected Least affected
Swings affected
Effect of arc resistance on the Performance of
Distance Relays
If a flashover occurs (due to LL or LG), arc resistance is introduced in the fault path.
For LL faults, the fault resistance consists of only the arc resistance.
For LG faults, the resistance of earth (i.e. resistance of tower, tower footing resistance
and earth return path) is also introduced in the fault path. (Fault resistance = arc
resistance + earth resistance)
Arc resistance is appreciable at higher voltages & it will added in series with fault
impedance.
Arc resistance is added to the impedance of a line, hence resultant impedance seen by the
distance relay increases.
Due to arc resistance of fault, the reach of relay will decrease.
Warrington Formula:
29x103.l Without
Rarc wind velocity
I 1.4
16300(1.75 S vt) With wind
Rarc velocity & time
I 1.4
Effect of arc resistance on the Performance of
Distance Relays
Effect of Power Surges (Power Swings) on the
Performance of Distance Relays
I = (EA-EB )/(ZA +ZL+ZB)
Let, ZT = ZA +ZL+ZB
V = EA- I ZA
Z = V/I = (EA /I ) - ZA
Impedance Z = ((EA ZT )/(EA-EB ))- ZA
seen by the
Relay
Effect of Power Surges (Power Swings) on the
Performance of Distance Relays
The phase angle between the generated voltages changes during disturbances which
may arise due to removal of fault or a sudden change in load.
During disturbances, the rotor of the generator swings around the final steady state
value.
When rotor swings, the rotor angle changes and the current flowing through the line
also changes.
Such currents are heavy and they known as “Power Surges or Power Swings”.
So long as the phase angle between the generated voltages goes on changing, the
current seen by the relay is also changing.
Therefore, the impedance measured by the relay also varies during power swings.
Thus, a power surge seen by the relay appears like a fault which is changing its
distance from the relay location and relay will maloperate.
Effect of Power Surges (Power Swings) on the
Performance of Distance Relays
NOTE:
1. MHO relay – occupies less area on RX diagram – So, least effected.
2. Reactance relay – Large area occupied on RX diagram – Large effected.
3. Impedance relay – moderate area on RX diagram – moderate effected.
Application of distance Relays
The effect of arc resistance and power surges plays an important role in the selection of
Distance relays.
Short transmission line:
1. The impedance measurement by the relay is effected by arc resistance because arc
resistance is comparable with transmission line impedance.
2. Reactance relay is suitable for the protection of short transmission line
because it's operation is independent of arc resistance.
3. Power swings on the short transmission line is very less and less severe.
Long transmission line:
1. Power swings are more common in long transmission line because of load variations.
2. The relay which is selected for long transmission line should be less affected due to power swings.
3. Mho relay is preferred.
4. Impedance of long line is very high so effect of arc resistance is very less on
impedance measurement.
Medium transmission line:
1. Arc resistance is comparable with line impedance.
2. Power swing occurrence is appreciable.
3. Impedance relay is suitable.
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