Differential Relay Protection Settings

Low impedance differential protection systems typically have 3 to 5 settings required to properly define the restraint characteristic of the relay. See Fig. 4.2.1. The ensuing discussion will mainly focus on differential protection for power transformers. Generator and motor diff are included where applicable.

IREST, IDIFF(min)

Operating Region

S2

S1 IDmin

Restraint Region

ITP1 Fig. 4.2.1 IDmin ITP1 ITP2 S1 S2 ITOT IREST, IDIFF(min) IDIFF-HI

ITP2

ITOT

Typical restraint characteristic of a biased differential relay.

= minimum differential current (secondary) required to operate the relay = turning point 1 = turning point 2 = Slope 1 setting = Slope 2 setting = Total current through the differential system. Measure of system loading. = For a given value of ITOT, this is the restraint current applied by the relay or alternatively the minimum differential current required to operate the relay. = Should the differential current exceed this threshold, operation results irrespective of the restraint current applied

The settings to be considered are IDmin, ITP2, S1, S2 and IDIFF-HI. These are generic representations of the settings. They will differ from one manufacturer to the next.

Before proceeding to discuss the settings, some fundamental concepts first. Consider the equivalent circuit of a two-ended circulating current differential protection system as shown in Fig. 4.2.2 with a throughfault current flowing from End P to End Q.

Object to be protected

RLDP

RCTP

M1 IR

RLDQ

RCTQ

I21P
CT P XP

I21Q E2Q I2Q

E2P VR

RRELAY

CT Q

IMP

I2P M2

IMQ

END P Fig. 4.2.2

END Q Equivalent circuit of a circulating current differential protection system

E 2P E 2Q

I2P RLDP I2Q RLDQ

R CTP R CTQ

I2P I2 Q

I2Q R RELAY I2P R RELAY

(4.2.1) (4.2.2)

The limiting case for a low impedance relay (relay current prevails over relay impedance) is for the case when RRELAY = 0, i.e. a dead short from M1 to M2. Equations (4.2.1) and (4.2.2) now become,

E 2P E 2Q

I2P R LDP I2Q RLDQ

R CTP R CTQ

(4.2.3) (4.2.4)

For the case when both ends see the same primary current, the turns ratios are identical and there is no saturation, then I21P = I21Q. Thus I2P + IMP = I2Q + IMQ. Relay current is thus IR = I2Q - I2P = IMP - IMQ. Let the relay operating current be IROC. Then to ensure stability must have IR = IMP - IMQ < IROC. What the above states is that for throughfault stability, the differential current is the difference between the magnetisation currents. These in turn depend on :

a) b)

CT magnetisation curve Resistances in the CT circuit

Thus, non-zero IDIFF can still result if the CT s are identical but the sum of CT and lead resistances are substantially different. This is the case when the relay is not located at the electrical midpoint of the secondary system and/or the CT resistances are different.

On the other hand, non-zero IDIFF can also result if the CT mag curves are not identical. Different magnetisation currents are required to produce identical induced voltages, the difference between the mag currents now seen by the relay.

This translates into the requirement that the minimum current required to operate the relay should be > maximum difference between the mag currents at the two ends. Thus IROC. > max(IMP, IMQ ) or even more conservatively, IROC > IMP + IMQ. The minimum current required to operate the relay system assuming a single ended fault may be approximated as follows:
Object to be protected

RLDP

RCTP

M1 IROC

RLDQ

RCTQ

I21P
CT P XP

E2P VR

RRELAY

E2Q

XQ

CT Q

IMP

I2P M2

IMQ

END P Fig. 4.2.3 Equivalent circuit for a single-ended fault

END Q

IFOC
IFOC IMP, IMQ IROC settable) N

N IMP

IMQ

IROC

(4.2.5)

= minimum primary fault current required to operated the differential relay = respective CT magnetisation currents = minimum differential current required to operated the relay (usually

= number of turns of the CT secondary winding (assuming primary winding = 1 turn)

As IROC >> IMP, IMQ above can be simplified to,

IFOC

N IROC

(4.2.6)

4.2.1 Low Impedance Differential Relay Settings

A) IDmin IDmin should satisfy the following criteria: 1. The minimum current required to operate the relay, IROC, should be at least > maximum difference between the mag currents at the two ends. Thus IROC. > max(IMP, IMQ ) or even more conservatively,

IROC
2.

IMP

IMQ

(4.2.7)

It must also be ensured that the relay remains stable under no-load conditions when only transformer magnetising current flows from the primary side. This is typically 1% of full load amps. Escalate this to 5% to allow a sufficient margin of safety.

IROC > 0.05*IFLA*K1 K1 = allows for the CTR correction factor

(4.2.8)

Experience dictates that

IDmin

200mA suffices for most transformer differential

applications. Thus it is only necessary to ensure that the above two criteria are satisfied with IDmin = 200mA.

With generators the criteria that IROC current is usually sufficient.

IMP

IMQ also applies. A setting of 5% of rated

B) Slope 1, S1 When applied to motors and generators this setting is based on worst case unbalance that could result due to CT errors up to 120% of rated load. With high accuracy CT s (Class PL, PX, P, etc.) a setting of between 0 and 10% will suffice whilst for low accuracy CT s (Class P, PR) a setting of between 10 to 25% is recommended. When applied to power transformers this is based on the worst case IDIFF that could result due to the action of the tapchanger. It is assumed that the transformer impedance remains constant over the tapping range.

Transformers o Determine the tap which results in the largest unbalance. This is usually the maximum boosting tap.

Denote the turns ratio corresponding to this tap position by TRMIN (maximum boosting corresponds to the minimum turns ratio). TRMIN is calculated as follows:

TR MIN

VHV MAXTAP TR NOM VHV NOM

(4.2.9)

where VHV-MAXTAP = HV voltage corresponding to the maximum tap (on nameplate) VHV-NOM TRNOM = nominal HV voltage corresponding to the nominal tap position (on nameplate). = nominal turns ratio of the transformer

Suppose rated current, IFLA, flows through the transformer Then

IFLA being the LV current.

ILV

IFLA LV CTR CFLV and IHV CTR LV

IFLA LV TR MIN CTR HV

CTR CFHV

(4.2.10)

CTRCFLV CTRCFHV

IDIFF

IHV

ILV . IREST depends on whether it is a Type A, B or C relay.

ITOT

IHV 2
IHV

ILV

(4.2.11)

Type B:

ITOT

ILV

(4.2.12)

and Type C: ITOT

IHV

ILV

(4.2.13)

For motor and generator applications, replace IHV with I1 and ILV with I2. o o In each case the Slope 1 setting is given by Allow for 5% relay and calculation errors.

S1

IDIFF 100% ITOT

(4.2.14)

Example Transformer = 420MVA, 530kV/23kV, 17.4%

Tapchanger

= 21 taps, nominal tap = tap 9, HV voltage at maximum tap = 450.5kV.

CTRHV = 1500/1, CTRLV = 19000/1

IFLA
1.8.

LV

420MVA 3 23kV

10543 A primary or 0.555A secondary. Thus CTRCFLV = 1/0.555 =

IFLA-HV = 457.52A primary or 0.305A secondary. Thus CTRCFHV = 1/0.305 = 3.28.

TR MIN

VHV MAXTAP TR NOM VHV NOM

450.5 530 530 23

19.587

ILV

0.555 1.8 1, IHV

IFLA LV TR MIN CTR HV

CTR CFHV

10543 19.587 1500

3.28 1.177 A

Type A relay,

IDIFF

1.177 1

0.177 A , ITOT

IHV 2

ILV

1.177 1 1.0885 A 2

S1

0.177 100% 16.26% . Allowing for a 5% error, get a slope setting of 17.1%. Set 1.0885

to 20%.

Type B relay,

IDIFF

1.177 1

0.177 A , ITOT

IHV

ILV

1.177 1 2.177 A

S1
10%.

0.177 100% 2.177

8.13% . Allowing for a 5% error, get a slope setting of 8.5%. Set to

Type C relay,

IDIFF

1.177 1

0.177 A , ITOT

IHV

ILV

1.177

2.177

S1
10%.

0.177 100% 2.177

8.13% . Allowing for a 5% error, get a slope setting of 8.5%. Set to

C) Turning Point 2, ITP2 Slope 1 dictates the relay restraint characteristic over the load current range of the transformer. Thus it is meant to be effective up to the maximum possible loading of the transformer. For large transformers on the transmission system this could be up to 200% of rated current. For smaller transformers allowable maximum loading could be anything from 100% to 200% of rated load typically 150%. For most cases a turning point of 2 (corresponding to twice rated load) suffices.

Type A

ITOT

2 IFLA 2
2 IFLA 2 IFLA

2 IFLA

2 IFLA thus ITP2 = 2

(4.2.15)

Type B

ITOT ITOT

2 IFLA 2 IFLA

4 IFLA thus ITP2 = 4 4 IFLA thus ITP2 = 4

(4.2.16)

Type C

(4.2.17)

Alternatively some texts advocates that slope 1 is effective over the linear operating range of the current transformer. ITP2 should thus be set at this limit. This approach leads to ITP2 typically being greater than ITP2 = 2 as advocated above. This implies improved sensitivity over the linear operating range but less stability. For this reason the approach of ITP2 is adopted in this text.

When it comes to generators and motors a turning point > 1.2 IRATED times rated current is generally considered sufficient as motors and generators are rarely loaded above this.

D) Slope 2, S2 The second bias slope is intended to ensure additional restraint with severe throughfault currents that could lead to CT saturation. Thus additional restraint is provided on top of the two other restraints already mentioned so far, viz. IDmin to cater for differences in CT magnetisation currents and transformer magnetisation currents and the slope 1 which caters for the action of the tapchanger.

Most manufacturers recommend a slope 2 setting of at least 80% (Type 1 relay). The limitation is that there should be a sufficient margin of safety between the restraint characteristic and the inzone fault characteristic to ensure relay operation for high current single ended faults.

Singe-ended inzone fault characteristic:

IDIFF

IHV

ILV

IHV

Type A:

ITOT

IHV 2

ILV

IHV 2

, and so slope

IHV IHV 2
IHV IHV

100

200%

(4.2.18).

Type B:

ITOT

IHV

ILV

IHV and so slope

100 100%

(4.2.19)

Type C:

ITOT

IHV

ILV and so slope

IHV IHV

100 100%

(4.2.20)

IREST, IDIFF(min) A B C

IDmin

ITP1 A B C D = = = =

ITP2

ITOT

single-ended inzone fault characteristics for a Type 1 relay single-ended inzone fault characteristics for Type 2 and 3 relays typical restraint characteristic for a Type 1 relay typical restraint characteristic for Types 2 and 3 relays Inzone fault vs. restraint characteristic for Types 1, 2 and 3 relays

Fig. 4.2.4

With generators and motors a slope 2 setting of at least 80% is recommended.

E) IDIFF-HI This function allows operation of the differential protection whenever the differential current exceeds the IDIFF-HI setting. The objective is to ensure fast, yet selective protection operation for high current inzone faults.

The settings criteria is based on one set of CT s saturating under worst case throughfault conditions, i.e. considering maximum DC offset.

Object to be protected

RLDP

RCTP

M1 IR

RLDQ

RCTQ

I21P
CT P XP

E2P VR

RRELAY CT Q

IMP

I2P M2

END P Fig. 4.2.5 Throughfault with end Q CT saturated

END Q

In Fig. 4.2.5 have that the throughfault lead to CT Q being fully saturated. The differential current is thus IDIFF = I2P = IF/CTR. Thus,

IDIFF
Where IF CTR K1 K2

HI

IF K1 K 2 CTR

(4.2.21)

= maximum symmetrical throughfault current (no DC offset included). = current transformer ratio = allows for the CTR correction factor = safety factor

The choice of safety factor, K2, depends on several factors. For properly sized CT s full saturation is only a remote possibility especially if a close-up throughfault is cleared by a unit protection scheme such as buszone. Clearance times are then in the order of 100ms and with high X/R ratios full saturation may take up to 1s. A safety factor of 5% or at most 10% will suffice. This is generally applicable to large transformers as they have high X/R ratios. Their size also would imply large LV fault currents making buszone protection a near certainty.

With smaller transformers (

20MVA, X/R

20) there is a possibility that a close up

throughfault may not be cleared in 100ms. A higher degree of saturation is now possible and so a safety factor of 30% may be necessary.