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Few Words About Digital Protection Relay

jiguparmar

Few Words About Digital Protection Relay (on photo: Siprotec microprocessor based protective relay)

History of Protective Relay

Around 1980s the digital relay entered the market. Compared to the Solid State Relay, the digital relay takes the
advantages of the development of microprocessors and microcontrollers. Instead of using analog signals, the digital
relay converts all measured analog quantities into digital signals.
Digital protection relays is a revolution step in changing Relay technology.
In Digital Relay Microprocessors and micro controllers are used in replacement of analogue circuits used in static

relays to implement relay functions. Digital protection relays introduced in 1980.

However, such technology will be completely superseded within the next five years by numerical relays.
By the mid-1990s the solid state and electromechanical relay had been mostly replaced by digital relay in new
construction. In distribution applications, the replacement by the digital relay proceeded a bit more slowly.
While the great majority of feeder relays in new applications today are digital, the solid state relay still sees some use
where simplicity of the application allows for simpler relays, and which allows one to avoid the complexity of digital
relays.

Measuring principles
Compared to static relays, digital relays introduce Analogue to Digital Convertor (A/D conversion) of all measured
analogue quantities and use a microprocessor to implement the protection algorithm.
The microprocessor may use some kind of counting technique, or use the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) to
implement the algorithm.
The Microprocessors used in Digital Relay have limited processing capacity and memory compared to that provided
in numerical relays.

Function of Relay
The functionality tends therefore to be limited and restricted largely to the protection function itself. Additional
functionality compared to that provided by an electromechanical or static relay is usually available, typically taking the
form of a wider range of settings, and greater accuracy.
A communications link to a remote computer may also be provided.
The limited power of the microprocessors used in digital relays restricts the number of samples of the waveform that
can be measured per cycle. This, in turn, limits the speed of operation of the relay in certain applications. Therefore, a
digital relay for a particular protection function may have a longer operation time than the static relay equivalent.
However, the extra time is not significant in terms of overall tripping time and possible effects of power system
stability.

Operation of Relay
Digital relay consists of:
1. Analogue input subsystem,
2. Digital input subsystem,
3. Digital output subsystem,
4. A processor along with RAM (data scratch pad),
5. main memory (historical data file) and

6. Power supply
Digital relaying involves digital
processing of one or more analog
signals in three steps:
1. Conversion of analogue signal to
digital form
2. Processing of digital form
3. Boolean decision to trip or not to trip.

Advantages of Digital Relay

High level of functionality
integration.
Additional monitoring functions.
Functional flexibility.

SEPAM relays in medium voltage switchgear

Capable of working under a wide

range of temperatures.
They can implement more complex function and
are generally more accurate
Self-checking and self-adaptability.
Able to communicate with other digital
equipment (pear to pear).
Less sensitive to temperature, aging
Economical because can be produced in
volumes

Operation diagram of digital relay

More Accurate.
plane for distance relaying is possible
Signal storage is possible

Limitations of Digital Relay

Short lifetime due to the continuous development of new technologies.
The devices become obsolete rapidly.
Susceptibility to power system transients.
As digital systems become increasingly more complex they require specially trained staff for Operation.
Proper maintenance of the settings and monitoring data.

References
Handbook of Switchgear Bhel
Digital/Numerical Relays -T.S.M. Rao

About Author //
Jignesh Parmar
jiguparmar - Jignesh Parmar has completed his B.E(Electrical) from Gujarat University. He
is member of Institution of Engineers (MIE),India. Membership No:M-1473586.He has more
than 12 years experience in Transmission -Distribution-Electrical Energy theft detectionElectrical Maintenance-Electrical Projects (Planning-Designing-Technical Reviewcoordination -Execution). He is Presently associate with one of the leading business group
as a Assistant Manager at Ahmedabad,India. He has published numbers of Technical
Articles in "Electrical Mirror", "Electrical India", "Lighting India", "Industrial Electrix"
(Australian Power Publications) Magazines. He is Freelancer Programmer of Advance
Excel and design useful Excel base Electrical Programs as per IS, NEC, IEC,IEEE codes. He is Technical Blogger
and Familiar with English, Hindi, Gujarati, French languages. He wants to Share his experience & Knowledge and
help technical enthusiasts to find suitable solutions and updating themselves on various Engineering Topics.

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2 Comments
1.
Flexibility and Reliability of Numerical Protection Relay | EEP
Dec 27, 2012
[...] in terms of protection, reliability, troubleshooting and fault information.The distinction between digital relay
and numerical relay rests on points of fine technical detail, and is rarely found in areas other [...]
(reply)
2.
Veeraraghavan VS
Dec 24, 2012
Digital relays are here to stay. Mostly because of their connectivity. In case a more reliable
method of transferring CT and PT information through a different mode is designed, all metering will be at one
place! Utility supplier need not send anybody to each house to take meter reading!
(reply)
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