ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter

1 Objective
An easy to use utility to generate the distance relay characteristics for an ABB REL 511, REL 531 or REL561
relay in the OMICRON Test Universe software.
Supported Software Platforms:
OMICRON Test Universe V1.51 & V1.6
Microsoft Excel 97/2000

2 Principle of Operation/Limitations
Independent reactive and resistive reaches, line angles as well as trip times can be set for each earth and
phase fault elements of the ABB REL 5xx range of relays. This results in the possibility to set independent
resistive blinders and line angles for each zone and fault type as well as independent earth fault compensation
factors for each earth fault zone.
2.1 Tripping Characteristic - Phase to Phase Faults
The phase to phase fault characteristic is entered according to the diagram below. On the relay, the resistive
reaches (B and D) are set as loop resistances, as the relay treats the arc resistance portion of a fault
impedance separate to the line impedance portion of a fault impedance. As the OMICRON Test Universe
software does not support this Separate Arc Resistance feature for phase faults, the resistive reach entered
in the OMICRON software needs to be divided by a factor of 2 to convert the loop resistance to a reach
resistance. The converter performs this division automatically.

Points A, B, C and D in the above diagram are defined as follows:

A = X1PP; B= RFPP; C = -X1PP; D = -RFPP

ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter

Alectrix (Pty) Ltd, 19 November 2003

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2.2 Tripping Characteristic - Phase to Earth Faults

The phase to earth fault characteristic for each zone is plotted in the loop impedance plane,
i.e. Zloop = Vfault / Ifault:

AA

25

15

The converter assumes, that the earth fault characteristic will be tested in the loop impedance plane, i.e. no
compensation for the earth fault compensation factor needs to be made, as the earth return impedance is
already part of the loop impedance for an earth fault. The OMICRON Test Universe software supports such
testing if the k factor in the Advance Distance Software is set to zero (or the Z0/Z1 factor is set to unity). If the
k factor is set to zero the Separate Arc Resistance algorithm does not need to be enabled, in fact its setting
does not affect the results in any way.
On the relay individual Z1 and Z0 impedances can be set for each zone. This results in individual line angles
and earth fault compensation factors settable for each zone. Plotting the earth fault characteristic in the loop
impedance plane has the one advantage that these individual line angles and earth fault compensation factors
are fully taken care of.
Points A and B in the above diagram are calculated and defined as follows:
A = 2/3*X1PE + 1/3*X0PE
B = RFPE
The angle of the resistive blinders is calculated as follows:
= ATAN ((2*X1PE + X0PE) / (2*R1PE + R0PE))

ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter

Alectrix (Pty) Ltd, 19 November 2003

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2.3 General Fault Criterion Phase to Phase Faults (Only for REL511)
The characteristic for the General Fault Criterion (GFC) for phase to phase faults can be entered as shown in
the characteristic below. As for the phase to phase fault tripping characteristic, the resistive reaches set on the
relay (RFPP and Rload) needs to be divided by 2 to allow for the separate arc resistance algorithm in the
relay.

XFW = X1FwPP; XRV = X1RvPP

2.4 General Fault Criterion Phase to Earth Faults (Only for REL511)
The characteristic for the General Fault Criterion (GFC) for phase to earth faults can also be entered as
shown in the characteristic above. As the earth fault characteristic is tested in the loop impedance plane (earth
fault compensation factor kL in the Test Universe software is set to zero), the resistive reaches (RFPE and
Rload) can be entered as is. The reactive reaches of the characteristic are calculated as follows:
XFW = 2/3*X1FwPE + 1/3*X0FwPE
XRV = 2/3*X1RvPE + 1/3*X0RvPE

ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter

Alectrix (Pty) Ltd, 19 November 2003

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3 Running the ABB REL5xx to RIO converter utility

1.
2.
3.
4.

Start the Excel file ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter.

Select Enable Macros when prompted - Figure 1 - 1.
Enter all necessary settings in the dialog displayed - Figure 2.
Click on Save RIO File. The standard windows Save As dialogue will be displayed - Figure 3. The
default filename is automatically constructed from the entry in the substation, feeder and relay model
fields. Please do not use any funny characters in the substation, feeder and relay model fields for this
reason.
5. A warning message will be displayed if the save function was cancelled or aborted - Figure 4. The
macro will return to the settings dialogue to enable the user to re-save the RIO file.

Figure 1: Enable Macros Dialogue

Figure 2: Settings Dialogue for REL5xx

ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter

Alectrix (Pty) Ltd, 19 November 2003

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Figure 3: Save As RIO File Dialogue

Note: If there is an existing file with the same filename, the converter will overwrite this file without prompting
the user.

Figure 4: Warning message that RIO File was not generated

ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter

Alectrix (Pty) Ltd, 19 November 2003

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4 To change the default values displayed and saving the entered values
1.
2.
3.
4.

Start the Excel file ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter.

Select Enable Macros when prompted - Figure 1- 1.
Enter all necessary settings in the dialog displayed - Figure 2.
Click on Save Settings. The standard windows Save As dialogue will be displayed - Figure 5. The
values entered will be saved and are available as new default values when this file is used again. The
default filename is ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter.xls.

Figure 5: Save As Settings Dialogue

Note: To recall the saved settings just launch the saved Excel spreadsheet from the Explorer, i.e. double
click on the saved Excel file.

ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter

Alectrix (Pty) Ltd, 19 November 2003

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5 To change the default nominal values and added triptime

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Start the Excel file ABB REL5xx to RIO converter.

Select Disable Macros when prompted - Figure 1.
Select Settings worksheet - Figure 6.
Update/edit any of the red fields.
Select Main worksheet.
Save File with the same filename.

Figure 6: Setting Worksheet

Note: An inherent time for the relay tripping times was added; This time will be added to the actual relay
timer setting. If this function is not required the field Added Zone Triptime in the Settings worksheet
should be set to zero.

ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter

Alectrix (Pty) Ltd, 19 November 2003

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6 Importing the RIO file in the Omicron Control Center

Start a new OMICRON Control Center (OCC) document (or Open an existing OCC document).
Insert a new Test Object Manager (Inset / Test Object) (or Open the existing Test Object Manager).
Click on Import.
Browse and select the RIO file generated.
Click on Open, which will import the relay settings and characteristics into the OCC document.

ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter

Alectrix (Pty) Ltd, 19 November 2003

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In the Advanced Distance module the relay characteristics will be displayed as follows for phase to phase
faults and further below for phase to earth faults:

ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter

Alectrix (Pty) Ltd, 19 November 2003

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7 Trouble Shooting
Macro Security
Macro security of MS Excel must be set to medium. If it is set to high security all macros will automatically be
disabled.
To set the macro security for Microsoft Excel 2000 the following steps must be taken:
1. Select on Tools, Macro and then Security - Figure 7.
2. Select Medium and accept the changes by clicking on OK - Figure 8.

Figure 7: Changing Macro Security

Figure 8: Changing Macro Security to Medium

ABB REL5xx to RIO Converter
Alectrix (Pty) Ltd, 19 November 2003

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