Contents

Introduction......................................................................................................2
Distance Relay Modeling .................................................................................2
Setting the Distance Relay...............................................................................8
Creating and Editing a Path...........................................................................11
Adding More Relays.......................................................................................15
Creating a New Path......................................................................................16
Creating a Time-Distance Plot .......................................................................16
Distance Protection Tutorial
Introduction
This tutorial demonstrates the modeling and editing of protective devices
typically found in transmission networks. The network that is used can be
found, as an application example, in the 1987 edition of Protective Relays
Application Guide (PRAG) published by GEC Measurements, paragraph
11.32. Some differences from the original example in the text have been
introduced to demonstrate specific PowerFactory applications, as well as to
model a more realistic example.
As it is assumed that the user is familiar with basic editing of data, the network
has been prepared for use, only requiring the editing of protection devices.
Instructions to perform load flows and the observations of the results are thus
left to the students discretion. It is also assumed that the student has
completed the overcurrent protection tutorial so that the basics of relay
modeling are familiar.
Distance Relay Modeling
The textbook example uses a Quadramho relay. In this tutorial however, a
Micromho relay will be used, which is very similar. The Micromho type
characteristics are available in the tutorial project library. The steps we follow
to model the relay are as follows:
Right click on the cubicle feeding Line G from Station P. Select New
Devices / Relay Model. as is shown below.
A relay element data input window opens, where the new relay is
named Relay G.
We select the relay type using the select button and look for the relay
type in the project library. The project library should open with the relay
type filter activated.
There is only one distance relay type saved in the library, this has been
placed there for use in this tutorial and of course this relay type is the
Micromho that we want to use in this example.
We select this Micromho relay by double clicking on the relay type icon.
The relay element data input window is now updated as shown below.
Select Create CT to model a CT input to the relay. The CT data input
window as shown below, opens.
The CT element can be given a special name such as CT G, but this
is not absolutely necessary.
Again we need to select a CT type from the project library. This is done
by pressing selecting a type from the project library once again. Then
select the 600/1 CT Type from the project library.
The CT element data window is updated to show a 600/1 ratio. Of
course, had the CT type been a multi-ratio CT, we would also need to
select the CT ratio.
The Location is not specified and therefore the CT is automatically
modeled in the same cubicle as the relay. A specific location, other
than the local cubicle, would only be used if current measurement was
required from a different feeder that that in which the relay is located.
Press OK and the CT element is correctly modeled and visible in the
relay element model.
Now a VT element must be created. To do this, the Create VT button is
pressed. A element data input window, as shown below, opens.
The VT is given a name VT G.
Note that the VT is defined in terms of a Type and Secondary Type. In
other words the VT model consists of a separate primary and
secondary. Firstly the primary type is defined by selecting the relevant
type using the selection button. A drop down menu appears and we
select the VT that is available in the project library.
Now the Secondary Type is selected from the project library using hte
normal type selection procedure, this time for the Type in the
Secondary section. Use the Voltage Transformer Secondary that is
available in the project library.
Press OK and we are back to the relay element input window, but this
time with a VT modeled in the relay.
Just as with real systems, we need to be sure that the relay model type
is correct for the application. Double click on the Measurement element
in the relay, and we notice that the relay has been rated with a nominal
current of 1 A and a nominal voltage 110 V. These values correctly
match the CT and VT input values. Pressing OK closes the
measurement element.
The Relay G has been modeled in place, but has not yet been set. This is our
next step.
Setting the Distance Relay
The relay elements are set individually using the same settings proposed in
the textbook, as follows:
Double click on the polarizing element. The window shown below
opens.
Note that the line k0 (described as kn, residual compensation factor
adjustment in the ref. book) value is automatically calculated and
displayed. As should be expected, the value of 0.49 at an angle of 7.8
degrees matches the textbook exactly. By pressing Assume k0, the k0
setting is changed to 0.48, which is the closest available setting to
0.4893 for this relay. Press OK.
Double clicking the starting element opens the next setting window:
The starting element consists of earth fault and over-current elements.
It is important that these elements are set sensitively enough to pick up
for all faults at the end of the setting zones. To determine this
sensitivity we can use PowerFactory to calculate the 3-phase and earth
fault currents at the end of zone 3 for relay on Line G. Using a fault
impedance of, say, 10 Ohms, we give us a conservative value for
setting the starting elements. For this tutorial the busbar at Substation
R/B1 at the end of Line J is faulted, using the complete calculation
method. Respective resultant fault currents of 600 A and 410 A for 3-
phase- and earth fault through Line G are calculated.
Set the Current, 3*I0 to 0.6 sec.A and Current I>> to 1 sec.A. Press
OK.
Double click on the earth fault measuring element for phase 1 called
PGZ1. The window shown next opens.
The secondary ohm impedance values of the first line are automatically
calculated and shown. Assuming we want to set this element to 80% of
the impedance of Line G, we calculate a value of 8.78 sec.Ohms
(10.981 x 80%). Set the Replica Impedance to 8.78 and the Relay
Angle to 65 deg. The branch angle reach is automatically calculated as
79.93% of the line impedance, confirming that the setting is correct.
Press OK.
The Zone 2 reach must be set to cover the protected line plus 50% of
the shortest adjacent line or 120% of the protected line whichever is
the greater. For the application under consideration Zone 2 is set to
cover the protected line plus 50% of the shortest adjacent line. Using
the same procedure as for setting PGZ1, we set PGZ2 Replica
Impedance to 15.37 sec ohm and the Relay Angle to 65 deg.
Again we set PGZ3 using the same procedure as for PGZ1 and PGZ2.
This time we set the PGZ3 Replica Impedance to 65.89 sec ohm and
Relay Angle to 65 deg. The Character Angle is kept at 90 deg (to
maintain a circular tripping characteristic) and the Offset Impedance is
set to 2.2 sec ohm.
The phase elements of PPZ1, PPZ2 and PPZ3 are all respectively set
to be exactly the same as the earth fault elements of PGZ1, PGZ2 and
PGZ3.
Double clicking on the Z2GD element (earth fault timer), opens the
following window:
Select time Z2GD Time Setting to 0.3 s. Press OK.
Repeat this procedure for Z3GD, setting the Time Setting to 0.6 s.
The same procedure is used to set Z2PD and Z3PD timers to 0.3 s and
0.6 s respectively.
The last element to be set is the logic element. In most cases, such as
this one, it needs no setting. However, should we wish to trip a different
breaker to the one in the same cubicle as the relay, we would need to
define this here. For this exercise, we will not set the logic unit.
Creating and Editing a Path
When there are several relays in a system and one would like to check the
settings of some of these distance relays, in series, it is beneficial to define a
path. We define a path as follows:
Multi-select the busbars and lines from Station P Busbar B3 (132 kV)
to Station R Busbar B1 by clicking on each of the elements along this
path, while holding down the Control key.
Right click anywhere on this multi-selection. A drop down menu
appears. Select Path / New.as shown.
The following input window appears:
The path to be created can be given a unique name for identification.
Press OK.
The path selected should appear in red on the single line diagram.
Right click anywhere on the path and select Path / Create R-X Plot
on the drop down menu as shown next.
An RX Plot appears showing the settings of Relay G, as well as some line
impedances. Note that the earth fault and phase fault impedance elements
are on top of each other for each zone. This can be seen by double clicking
on, say, the outer zone setting (Zone 3). The following window appears:
Relay elements can be set directly from the RX plot by double clicking
on the displayed characteristic. In case of there being more than one
plot being on top of another, as we have here, a window will open in
which we must then select the relevant relay setting to be edited.
After selecting the element to be set or changed, press the Edit Object
tool on the toolbar, and the setting sheet of the selected element
appears. Alternatively, double click on the element icon to arrive at the
setting sheet.
Double click anywhere on the diagram (but not on a plot) and the relay
plot editor appears. Select Options and the window shown below
appears.
Select Zone 2 in the Branches, Z options. Press OK and OK again to
return to the graphic.
A new line has appeared. Double click on the new vertical line and we
see that this is represents the impedance of transformer T6.
Adding More Relays
The aim of any protection engineer is to ensure that coordination between
different distance and overcurrent relays is correct. This coordination can be
checked using RX plots, Time-Distance plots and time Overcurrent plots.
Defining paths for the relays to be coordinated is a tool that may be used in
order to make maximum use of these different plots. Before this can be
demonstrated, more relays must be added to our project. In the next few
steps, we add an overcurrent relay to the source side (Station Q side) of Line
K, and a distance relay at the source side of Line J, as follows:
Right click on the Station Q cubicle connected to Line K. Select New
Devices/ Relay Model.
Name the relay Line K OC.
Select the Standard OC Relay type relay from the library.
Select Create CT. From the library select the type to be a 400/200/1
CT and press OK.
Note that the CT defaults to the lowest available ratio of 200/1. We
want to use the 400/1 ratio and must select it in the Primary Tap drop
down menu. Press OK.
Set the three-phase over-current element to 5 p.u. and the time
multiplier to 0.2 (double click on the Toc3Ph element field to access
these setting fields). Press OK.
Right click on the Station Q cubicle connected to Line J. Select New
Devices/ Relay Model.
Name the relay Relay J.
Select the Micromho type relay from the library.
Select Create CT. On the window that appears, select the Type arrow
down. From the library select the 600/1 CT and press OK.
Select Create VT. Define both primary and secondary VT type as
before for Relay G.
Set the relay as follows:
PGZ1 = PPZ1 = 18 sec.Ohm; PGZ2 = PPZ2 = 30 sec.Ohm;
PGZ3 = PPZ3 = 60 sec.Ohm; Relay Angle = 65 degrees;
Z3 Offset Impedance = 0; Characteristic Angle = 90 degrees
The new distance relay Relay J is already in the defined path. The relay can
either be added to the existing RX plot, or a new RX plot could be generated
containing all relays in the path. The second option is chosen:
Right click on the red path in the grid and select Path / Create R-X
Plot.
A new RX plot appears showing both Relay G and Relay J
impedance plots.
Creating a New Path
Say we need to check the tripping coordination between Relay G and Line
K OC relays. One way to do this would be to use a time-distance plot. First a
new path needs to be defined:
Multi-select the new path shown below holding down the control key.
Make sure the Station Q 132 kV bussection cubicle/ breaker is also
selected in the path, or you will receive a warning Path not complete.
To do this, you may need to enlarge the area around the bussection.
Select Path / New.
A dialogue for the new path appears with the path colour as green (this
can of course be changed). Select OK. The new path will appear in
green.
Creating a Time-Distance Plot
Right click on the newly created green path and select Path / Create
Time-Distance Diagram. Make sure that you do not right click on a
combined path, but select a part of the path that is unique to the green
path in order to create the correct diagram.
Press Execute on the window that opens.
Two plots are shown, but these need to be further defined. Double click
anywhere on the plots. The screen shown will appear.
Only a forward plot is required. In the drop down menu next to
Diagrams, select Forward.
For the Reference Relay, Forward select Relay G.
Press OK.
The curves may not appear immediately as the scale could be
incorrect. Press the Scale X-Axis Automatically and Scale Y-Axis
Automatically buttons on the second toolbar, and the curves should
appear as shown next.
From the diagram it is noticed that the distance relay (Relay G) will operate
faster than the overcurrent relay. This would cause incorrect tripping. To set
this right, take the following steps:
Double click on the green curve of the over-current relay. Change the
Current Setting to 1.5 p.u. and Time Dial to 0.1.
Press OK.
Double click on the Zone 2 part of the red distance relay (Relay G).
The PPZ2 window opens. Select Timer. The Z2PD window opens. Set
the Time Setting to 0.5 seconds. Press OK and OK.
Double left click on the Zone 3 part of the red distance relay. The PPZ3
window opens. Select Timer. The Z3PD window opens. Set the Time
Setting to 1.0 seconds. Press OK and OK.
Press the Rebuild button on the second toolbar.
After the recalculation has been completed, rescaling the Y-Axis may
be required. This is done by pressing the Scale Y-Axis Automatically
button on the second toolbar.
The Time-Distance diagram now appears as shown below.
It is now clear that for three-phase faults without any fault impedance along
the green path, tripping coordination will be correct.