EPSY

Earthfault Protection System

Electronic-Components
 Introduction Basic Units

EPSY (Earthfault Protection Sys-
tem) is a new and comprehensi-
ve earthfault protection system
designed for compensated
networks. As compared to other
methods of neutral point
treatment, earthfault compen-
sation shows clear advantages
in ensuring both the safety of
personnel and supply as well as
limiting possible consequential
damages during an earthfault.
In comparison with low
impedance neutral point
grounding, the reduction of the
fault currents during earthfault
compensation places high requi-
rements on the reliability and the
selectivity of the protection
devices for the recognition and to the operators of medium-
detection of earthfaults. Devices voltage networks. This is not
and systems of traditional earth- available using the traditional
fault protection engineering do methods and devices.
not meet or only meet these
requirements in a limited way. The electronic components of
the new earthfault protection
The protection system EPSY system (EPSY) and their configu-
essentially consists of a contin- rations are summarized as
uously adjustable arc sup- follows.
pression coil combined with an
automatic compensation con-
trol device and a selective,
highly sensitive earthfault
detection device. In particular,
the newly developed method for
selective detection of high-impe-
dance earthfaults, which is
integrated in EPSY, offers the
possiblity of early fault detection

Earthfault Compensation Controller EFC30

Fig. 1 Front view EFC30

The controller EFC30, available since 1991, determines the resonance point using a short detuning of the
ASC-coil. Remarks: For details see page 9 and EFC30/EFC40 brochure.

2
Earthfault Compensation Controller EFC40
Fig. 2 Front view EFC40
For determination of the
resonance point, the new
method of the earthfault com-
pensation controller EFC40 uses
the current injection into the
zero-phase sequence system and
therefore detuning of the arc
suppression coil is not necessary.
The EFC40 calculates the zero-
sequence impedance by measuring
the vectors of both the neutral-
to-ground voltage and the
current injected into the zero-
sequence system of the network
(according to the EDF licence)
before and during the injection.
If the network is very symmetric,
the neutral to ground voltage is
extremely low and there is no
marked resonance curve which
could be used as a control criterion.
In this case it is possible to increase
the neutral-to-ground voltage,
by using a permanent injection
of a current into the zero sequence
network, so that changes of the
network configuration lead to a
reliable trigger of the EFC40
controller. Furthermore, the
EFC40 is able to tune on-load
adjustable step-coils s.
Remarks:
• The operation mode of the
EFC40 necessarily requires the
installation of the current
injecting device ECI.
• Without the current injecting
device ECI, the EFC40 can be
used in the EFC30 operation
mode.
• For details see page 9 and the
EFC30/EFC40 brochure.
3
 Earthfault Detection Device EFD10
Fundamentals in
the Detection of the
Faulty Feeder
If an earth fault appears in a net-
work, it leads to a steady-state
asymmetry of the network after
the decay of the transient pro-
cesses. The zero-sequence voltage
(Uo) as well as the zero-sequence
currents of all feeders which are
supplied by the same busbar
( Iol .... Ion ) are available as
measurement variables for the
detection of the feeder in which
the earth fault occurs. In the
case of an earthfault, the highest
zero-sequence current does not
flow in the faulty feeder but in
the one that has the highest line
to earth capacitance. Thus the
amplitude of the zero-sequence
current cannot be used as a crite-
rion for detecting the faulty fee-
der. Traditional earthfault detec-
tion relays have problems to
achieve a reliable and selective
detection of low and high impe-
dance earthfaults. This is due to
a combination of the measure-
ment principles used, the effects
of instrument transformer errors
and implications of fault evalua-
tion in a single relay mode.
4
Earth Fault Detection After this initial phase, a check
System EFD without current injection is made
periodically to identify the feeder
The core of the electronic part of in which the asymmetry chan-
EPSY is the earth fault detection ges.The calculations of this chan-
device EFD, which is used both ge are made by using the vec-
in the separate earthfault detec- torial measurements of the ac-
tion device EFD10 and in the com- tual values of Uo and Io and
bined control and detection unit their reference values recorded
EFD40 (compact device). The during the initial phase. The feeder
difference in the new earth fault indicating the greatest change of
detection method compared to asymmetry is recognized as the
previous relay methods available faulty feeder. Using this method
is that the measuring signals of it is possible to detect high-
the zero-sequence currents are ohmic faults up to 100 kOhm.
periodically recorded and combi- This selectivity and sensitivity can
ned in a central unit for further not be achieved by using any de-
processing. The zero-sequence vice or system of the traditional
admittances of the feeders (ad- earth fault protection technique.
mittance method) are determi-
ned by the vectorial measure-
ment of the zero- sequence
currents (Iol .... Ion) and of the
zero-sequence voltage (Uo) befo-
re and during a defined modifi-
cation of the zero-sequence sy-
stem. The modifica-tion of the
zero-sequence system is caused
by a current injection, i.e., with
the assistance of the current in-
jection, in the healthy network,
the EFD system determines the
reference values of admittance
against earth and their natural
asymmetry per feeder by vecto-
rial measurement of Uo and Io.
Fig. 3 Front view EFD10-16

EFD10-Types
(for details see page 9):
• EFD10-8 (Earth fault detection
device for a maximum of
8 feeders)
• EFD10-16 (Earth fault detection
device for a maximum of
16 feeders)

Remarks:
• If there are more than 16
feeders, the expansion unit
EFX10 is required.
• The EFD requires the
installation of the current in-
jecting device ECI.

5
 Compact Device EFD40
(Earth Fault Compensation Controller and Detection)
Fig. 4 Front view EFD40-16
The compact device EFD40
combines all the functions of the
earth fault compensation
controller EFC40 and the earth
fault detection device EFD10.
6
EFD40-Types
(for details see page 9):
• EFD40-8 (earth fault controller
and detection device for a
maximum of 8 feeders)
• EFD40-16 EFD40-16 (earth fault
controller and detection device
for a maximum of 16 feeders)
Remarks:
• If there are more than 16
feeders, the expansion unit
EFX10 is required.
• The EFD necessarily requires
the installation of the current
injecting device ECI.
Expansion Unit EFX10
Fig. 5 Front view EFX10
In case it is necessary to monitor
more than 16 feeders in one
substation, the devices EFD10
and EFD40 have to be extended
with one expansion unit EFX10.
In addition, the expansion unit
EFX10 can be used to increase
the number of the digital inputs/
outputs which are required, for
example, for the replica of the
switching state of the circuit-
breakers in multiple bus-bar
operation.
EFX10-Types
(for details see page 9):
• EFX10-8 (earth fault detection
expansion unit for 8 additional
feeders)
• EFX10-16 (earth fault detection
expansion unit for 16 additional
feeders)
7
 Current Injection Device ECI
The current injection device ECI
is used to change the zero-
sequence voltage by injecting a
current into the zero-sequence
system. This change of the zero-
sequence voltage is required
both for the earth fault compen-
sation controller EFC40 (see
page 3) and for the earth fault
detection device EFD (see page 4).
ECI - Technical Data
Voltage supply
voltage
current
inrush current
Control contacts
voltage range
current
power consumption
Output to the ASC
injection voltage
injection current
Output to the controller
current transformer
potential-free signal contacts
Dimensions
width / height /depth
mass
8
The current injection into the The current injection device ECI
zero-phase sequence system is essentially consists of a transform-
usually done on the low-voltage er, capacitors for current-limiting,
side via a secondary auxiliary relays, control- and signal
winding and a sufficient dimen- contacts.
sioned voltage winding of the
arc suppression coil.
230 V AC, 50 Hz
7 A at healthy network condition
max. 23 A in case of an earth fault
approx. 140 A
24...240 V AC oder V DC
max. 40 mA
max. 2 W
230 V AC, 50 Hz
approx. 7 A (max. 23 A))
1A
5 A / 250 V AC
640 / 800 / 250 mm
approx. 75 kg
Technical Data for Basic Devices

Basic Device Controller Detection Controller & Expansion

Detection

EFC30

EFC40

EFD10-8

EFD10-16

EFD40-8

EFD40-16

EFX10-8

EFX10-16
Data
Hardware
CPU: 32 bit Transputer (RISC Prozessor)
x x x x x x x x
with floating point unit
ROM 1 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2MB
RAM 1 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 4 MB 4 MB
Display: double supertwist LCD 640 x 200 Pixel
x x x x x x
with back-light
Film designed keyboard x x x x x x
Power supply: 110-220 V DC, 230 V AC, 50 Hz, 50 W
x x x x x x x x
Optional: 24, 48, 60 V DC
Analogue inputs for voltage (amplitude):
1
3 mV...230 V AC
Analogue inputs for voltage (amplitude and phase):
4 4 4 4 4
3 mV...110 V AC
Analogue inputs for current injection (ECI):
4 4 4 4 4
0...1 A AC
Analogue inputs for zero-sequence currents:
8 16 8 16 8 16
0...1 A AC oder 0...5 A AC
Analogue input for coil position:
linear potentiometer 0...200 Ω bis 0...2 kΩ 1 1 1 1
or current imput 0...20 mA
Analogue output (for Uo, coil position, distance location):
2 2 2 2 2 2
0...20 mA, programmable
Digital inputs: potential free contacts
16 32 32 32 32 16 16
24...250 V AC od. DC
Digital inputs: potential free contacts
4
24 V DC, 60 mA
Digital inputs: potential free contacts
2
24...250 V AC od. DC
Digital autputs: potential free change over contacts
4 8 8 8 8 4 4
max: 250 V AC 1000 VA or 250 V DC 100 W
Digital autputs: potential free make contacts
7 12 24 24 24 24 12 12
max: 250 V AC 1000 VA or 250 V DC 100 W
Serial Interface: 3 x RS232 opt. opt. opt. opt. opt. opt.
Expansion with controller possible x x
Expansion with detection possible x x
Upgradeable for up to 24 feeders x x x x
Replica of the substation´s switching condition by means of groups x x x x x x
Replica of the substation´s switching board x x x x x x
100 V AC reference voltage necessary x x x x x
Software
Control operation by tuning of the ASC x x x x
Control operation by means of current injection x x x
Control operation at very low neutral-to-ground volt. x x x
Detection of high- and low-ohmic earth faults x x x x x x
Dual bus bar operation possible opt. x x x x x x x
SCADA system (SPABus, IEC/VDEW 6) opt. opt. opt. opt. opt. opt.
Mechanical Data
Mass in kg 8,2 13,5 18,0 19,5 18,0 19,5 15,5 18,0
Height of the 19“ rack in HE 3 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
W 483 483 483 483 483 483 483 483
Dimension in mm H 132,5 266 266 266 266 266 266 266
D 252 300 300 300 300 300 300 300
Case opt. opt. opt. opt. opt. opt. opt. opt.

9
 Summary of the Electronic-Components
of EPSY (incl. Options)
EFC30 Basic device, earth fault compensation controller EFC30
EFD10-UD-8 EFC30-upgrade with the detection EFD10 for 8 feeders
EFD10-UD-16 EFC30-upgrade with the detection EFD10 for 16 feeders

EFC30-SIF Serial interface option

EFC30-AKL Terminal strip option
EFC30-WAND Wall-mounting option
EFC30-ADAPT EZR2-adapter
EFC30-DC Optional power supply voltage
EFC30-GEH Protective case for the EFC30
EFC30-HB Additional user manual
EFC30-SW-FIX Optional software for fixed coil control
EFC30-SW-RC* Optional software for resistor control
EFC30-SW-KN Optional software for KNOSPE resistor control
EFC30-SW-LS Optional software for control by external power switch
EFC30-SW-MR Optional software for more than one controller in the same network
EFC30-SW-UM Optional software for control at U>Umax
EFC30-SW-ZS* Optional software for time synchronisation by means of impulse input
EFC30-SW-U Optional software with special functions for large U0
EFC30-SW-LT Optional software for SCADA

EFC40 Basic device earth fault compensation controller EFC40

EFD40-UD-8 EFC40-upgrade by the detection for 8 feeders in the basic device
EFD40-UD-16 EFC40-upgrade by the detection for 16 feeders in the basic device

EFD10-8 Basic device for earth fault detection EFD10 for 8 feeders
EFD10-16 Basic device for earth fault detection EFD10 for 16 feeders
EFD40-UC EFD10-upgrade by the controller EFC40 in the basic device

EFD40-8 Compact device for 8 feeders, including controller and detection

EFD40-16 Compact device for 16 feeders, including controller and detection

EFD40-GEH Protective case for EFC40, EFD10 and EFD40

EFD40-SIF Serial interface option for EFC40, EFD10 and EFD40
EFD40-SW-LT Optional software for SCADA
EFD40-SW-STU Optional software for control of a step adjustable ASC
EFD40-SW-AWE Optional software for automatic reclosing function

EFX10-8 Expansion device for additional 8 feeders

EFX10-16 Expansion device for additional 16 feeders

EFX10-0 Expansion unit (empty)

EFX10-UD-8 EFX10 plug-in modul for additional 8 feeders
EFX10-UD-DI EFX10 plug-in modul for additional 16 digital inputs
EFX10-UD-DO EFX10 plug-in modul for additional 16 digital outputs

ECI-FL Current injection device (outdoor construction type)

ECI-IR Current injection device (indoor construction type)

EFD-EdC Detuning capacitor for polygon-method (fault distance location) incl. software

Remark: For detailed information about hard- and software-options please inquire and see the
corresponding user manual.
* These software options are also available in the EFC40 operation mode.
10
Examples for Upgrading Basic Devices

.... Necessary units for the upgrade

Upgrading of the controller EFC30 by the earth fault detection:

requested 8 Feeder 16 Feeder 24 Feeder

config. EFC30 EFC30 EFC30
EFD10-8 EFD10-16 EFD10-16
actual EFX10-8
config.
EFC30 EFD10-UD-8 EFD10-UD-16 EFD10-UD-16
EFX10-8

Upgrading of the controller EFC40 by the earth fault detection:

requested 8 Feeder 16 Feeder 24 Feeder

config. EFD40-8 EFD40-16 EFD40-16
EFX10-8
actual
config.
EFC40 EFD40-UD-8 EFD40-UD-16 EFD40-UD-16
EFX10-8

Upgrading of the earthfault detection EFD10 by additional feeders resp. by the controll function:

requested detection detection, control

config. 24 Feeder 16 Feeder
EFD10-16 EFD40-16
actual EFX10-8
config.
EFD10-16 EFX10-8 EFD40-UC

Upgrading of the compact device EFD40-16 by additional feeders:

requested 24 Feeder
config. EFD40-16
EFX10-8
actual
config.
EFD40-16 EFX10-8

11
 Examples of System Configurations

Fig. 6 EFC30 in a one-busbar configuration

Fig. 7 EFC40 in a one-busbar configuration

12
Fig. 8 EFC40 in a two-busbar configuration

Fig. 9 EFD10 in a one-busbar configuration

13
 Fig. 10 EFD10 in a two-busbar configuration

Fig. 11 Control and detection with EFD40 in a one-busbar configuration

14
Fig. 12 Control and detection with EFD40 in a two-busbar configuration with one tuneable and one fixed arc suppression coil

Fig. 13 Control and detection with EFD40 in a two-busbar configuration with two tuneable arc suppression coils

15

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