SEL-751A Feeder Protection Relay – APP 751A

Section 5 – Over- and Underfrequency Protection

In this section, we will define two types of frequency protection logic and determine frequency
protection settings based on several application examples.

81 Frequency

The SEL-751A uses optional voltage inputs to measure and analyze frequency values, and to shed
load at critical set points.

Frequency protection provides the ability to detect frequency disturbances and shed load to restore
frequency levels. Up to six frequency levels are available, each independently set with separate
timers. SEL recommends using time-delayed frequency elements. Each element can be set for either
under- or overfrequency protection.

Frequency Rate of Change

In addition, the SEL-751A offers four independent rate-of-change of frequency elements with
individual time delays for use when frequency changes occur, for example, when there is a sudden
unbalance between generation and load. The elements call for control action or switching action such
as network decoupling or load shedding. Each element includes logic to detect either increasing or
decreasing frequency and above or below nominal frequency.

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Section 5 – Over- and Underfrequency Protection

Industrial systems may be fed from both a utility transformer and privately owned generation. If the
main utility’s circuit breaker is lost, and the resulting load-generation unbalance is large enough, the
generator will decelerate, and the electrical frequency of the system can drop to an unacceptable
level.

A generator’s speed control cannot supplement the loss of generation coming from the utility. To
avoid major damages:

• Trip the generator(s), losing all loads

• Automatically disconnect some of the nonessential loads to recover the load-generation

balance

The underfrequency element (81) can produce automatic load shedding. For example, the
nonessential load connected through Circuit Breakers 1, 3, 4, and 5 can be disconnected in two load
blocks determined by two different frequency level set points. In the example shown:

• One load block (Feeders 1 and 3) could trip offline at relay setting 59.8 Hz

• Another load block (Feeders 4 and 5) could automatically disconnect at relay setting 58.7 Hz

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Section 5 – Over- and Underfrequency Protection

In this example, the frequency element operates to disconnect nonessential load at two different
frequency levels:

• Set Point A: When the frequency reaches 59 Hz, Circuit Breakers 4 and 5 are disconnected.
Then the system frequency partially recovers.

• Set Point B: Circuit Breakers 1 and 3 are tripped at 58.7 Hz, allowing the system to fully
recover. The generator’s control is then able to regulate the frequency to return it to its
nominal value.

This type of underfrequency load-shedding scheme generally requires the use of dynamic simulation
programs (such as ETAP software) to determine the number of load blocks to disconnect, the amount
of kW to disconnect in each block, and the frequency set points.

You can set the SEL-751A with similar load-shedding operation points.

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Section 5 – Over- and Underfrequency Protection

The (81) frequency element can detect frequency disturbances and shed load to restore frequency
levels.

Up to six frequency elements are available, each independently set with separate timers. Each
element can be set for either under- or overfrequency protection.

In the logic, setting 81DnTP determines the frequency element pickup, which is compared to the
nominal frequency setting (freq). For example, if system frequency is less than or equal to the pickup
setting, then the underfrequency element asserts, but only after a time delay determined by setting
81DnTD. The element is supervised by FREQTRK, which ensures that the relay is tracking and
measuring the system frequency.

Logic diagram definitions:

n = Frequency Elements 1–6

freq = Measured frequency
81DnTP = Frequency pickup setting
FNOM = Nominal frequency setting
81DnTD = Over- and underfrequency element pickup time delay
81DnT = Definite-time delayed over- and underfrequency element Relay Word bit
FREQTRK = Relay is tracking frequency

The figure on the slide is Figure 4.27. Over- and Underfrequency Element Logic from the SEL-751A
Instruction Manual.

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Section 5 – Over- and Underfrequency Protection

This settings example uses three levels of underfrequency plus one level of overfrequency settings
with associated trip delays.

Use Latch 10 to shed block 1 loads:

SET10 = NOT LT10 AND 81D1T

RST10 = LT10 AND NOT 81D3T AND NOT 81D4T
OUT210 = LT10 # SHED BLOCK 1 LOAD DUE TO LOW FREQ

Use Latch 11 to shed block 2 loads:

SET11 = NOT LT11 AND 81D2T

RST11 = LT11 AND NOT 81D3T AND NOT 81D4T
OUT211 = LT11 # SHED BLOCK 2 LOAD DUE TO LOW FREQ

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 SEL-751A Feeder Protection Relay – APP 751A
Section 5 – Over- and Underfrequency Protection

The SEL-751A offers four independent rate-of-change of frequency elements with individual time
delays for use when frequency changes occur, for example, when there is a sudden unbalance
between generation and load. 81R operation may call for control action or switching action, such as
network decoupling or load shedding.

Setting 81RnTP is calculated using Hz-per-second rate of change. For example, if the frequency
drops 5 Hz in 1 second, the setting would be 5.

Each element includes logic to detect either increasing or decreasing frequency and above or below
nominal frequency.

The SEL-751A measures Frequency 1 (mf1) and Frequency 2 (mf2) after a time window (dt).

The figure on the slide is Figure 4.28. 81R Frequency Rate-of-Change Scheme Logic from the
SEL-751A Instruction Manual.

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Section 5 – Over- and Underfrequency Protection

The SEL-751A measures frequency (mf1) and second frequency (mf2) after a time window (dt)
determined by the trip level setting (81RnTP). The table on the slide (from the SEL-751A Instruction
Manual) shows the time windows for different trip level settings.

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Section 5 – Over- and Underfrequency Protection

Set the 81Rn trend to INC or DEC to limit operation of the element to increasing or decreasing
frequency, respectively.

Leave the trend at ABS (default) if you want the element to disregard the frequency trend.

Also, when set to INC or DEC, the element is supervised by nominal frequency, FNOM.

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Section 5 – Over- and Underfrequency Protection

You can add a trip pickup delay or dropout delay to the frequency rate-of-change element using the
81RnTD/81RnDO settings.

Do not forget to use the timed output Relay Word bits 81RnT in your output logic to operate output
contacts for the appropriate breaker(s) required by your load-shedding scheme.

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Section 5 – Over- and Underfrequency Protection

A minimum positive-sequence voltage and/or current is required for the operation of the 81R element
when the levels are specified by the 81RISUP and 81RVSUP settings, respectively.

By default, voltage supervision setting 81RVSUP = .1 when the 81R element is enabled. Current
supervision 81RISUP default setting is OFF.

In any case, the element is also supervised by Relay Word FREQTRK, which ensures that the relay
is tracking and measuring the system frequency.

The figure on the slide is from the SEL-751A Instruction Manual.

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Section 5 – Over- and Underfrequency Protection

This example enables one rate-of-change of frequency element, and supervises using 0.1 volts.

Voltage supervision disables the rate-of-change of frequency elements during a loss-of-source event.

Current supervision disables the rate-of-change of frequency elements when loading is less than
maximum anticipated loading.

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Section 5 – Over- and Underfrequency Protection

You will also need to add the 81R element to your relay trip and output logic.

Here, we have added OR 81R1T to the SV01 equation. SV01 is mapped to TR.

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