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Differential characteristic test

Description
Overview
The following commissioning tests are organized in two parts: general procedures for testing points of the differential-restraint
characteristics, and examples of the percent differential element response, based on different transformer configurations and fault
current distribution. The following tests can be performed by using either 2 or 3 individually adjustable currents, and do not
require additional specialized equipment.

Preparation
1. Select a 0° or 180° transformer phase shift and identical winding connection type into the relay.
2. Select the “Not Within Zone” setting value for each winding grounding setting.
3. Select and set the CT ratios for each winding.
4. Calculate the magnitude compensation factors M[1] and M[2] for each winding.
5. Enable the Transformer Percent Differential element, and enter the required test settings to shape the differential restraint
characteristic.
6. Connect the relay test set to inject x current (I ) into the Winding 1 Phase A CT input, and y current (I ) into the
x Y
Winding 2 Phase A CT input.

Testing
The tests of the differential restraint characteristic verify the minimum pickup point, the intersection point of Breakpoint 1 and
Slope 1, and the intersection point of Breakpoint 2 and Slope 2.
For simplicity, enter the following settings for each winding:
SYSTEM SETUP ðò TRANSFORMER ðò WINDING 1(4) ðò WINDING 1(4) CONNECTION: “Wye”
SYSTEM SETUP ðò TRANSFORMER ðò WINDING 1(4) ðò WINDING 1(4) GROUNDING: “Not Within Zone”
SYSTEM SETUP ðò TRANSFORMER ðò WINDING 2(4) ðò WINDING 2(4) ANGLE WRT WINDING 1: “0°”
If the power transformer phase shift is 0°, make the two currents to be injected to the relay 180° apart. This 180° phase
shift results from the inversion of the field CT, as their positive marks are away from the protected transformer terminals and
are connected to the positively marked terminals on the relay.

Minimum pickup
Inject current (I ) into Winding 1 Phase A and monitor the per-unit Phase A differential current until it exceeds the minimum
x
pickup setting. The theoretical injected current for minimum pickup verification can be computed as follows:

Eq. 8-1
where CT is the 1 A or 5 A tap, and M[1] is the calculated magnitude compensation factor (see the Transformer section in
Chapter 5 for details on calculating the M[1] and M[2] factors).

Slope 1 / Breakpoint 1
The point of Slope 1 and Breakpoint 1 is tested as follows. See the Differential Restraint Characteristic figure in the next
section for details.
1. Inject current (I ) into Winding 2 Phase A as follows:
y

Eq. 8-2
2. At Breakpoint 1, the injected current I is determined by:
XOP1

Eq. 8-3

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 and the differential current is then equal to:
Eq. 8-4 I = Slope 1 (in %) x Breakpoint 1 (in pu)
d
3. Preset the I current to 1.05 x I . Switch on the test set. The relay should restraint, as the differential to restraint
x XOP1
ratio becomes less than the Slope 1 setting. Switch off the current.
4. Preset the I current to 0.95 x I . Switch on the test set. The relay operates. Switch off the current.
x XOP1
To test any other point from the Slope 1 section of the curve, inject a per-unit restraint current smaller than the Breakpoint 1
current and repeat the steps above by substituting the Breakpoint 1 value with the new per-unit restraint current value into the
equations.

Slope 2 / Breakpoint 2
The point of Slope 2 and Breakpoint 2 is tested as follows. The figure shows details.
1. Preset the I current to a magnitude that results in the restraint current being equal to Breakpoint 2. Use the following
y
calculation to define the magnitude of the injected current:

Eq. 8-5
2. At the above current (restraint), the I current required to operate the element is calculated as:
XOP2

Eq. 8-6
3. Preset the I current to1.05 x I and switch on the test set. The relay should restrain, as the differential to restraint
x XOP1
ratio becomes less than the Slope 2 setting. Switch off the current.
4. Preset the I current to 0.95 x I . Switch on the test set and verify relay operation. Switch off the current.
x XOP1
To test any point from the Slope 2 portion of the characteristic, inject a per-unit restraint current greater than the Breakpoint
2 current as restraint and repeat the steps above by substituting the Breakpoint 2 value in the equations with the new per-unit
restraint current value.
The two tests can be repeated for Phases B and C.
Figure 8-1: Differential restraint characteristic

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