EE573/EE973 Advanced Power

System Analysis & Protection

Distributed Generator Protection

Dr. Adam Dyśko

e-mail: [email protected]
DG Protection – Content
 Distributed Generation (DG) overview
 Main characteristics
 Importance of DG and its impact on the existing system.
 Distributed Generation Protection
 Overcurrent protection
 Earth fault protection
 Neutral Voltage Displacement (NVD) Protection
 Islanding and Loss-Of-Mains (LOM) protection
 Undervoltage and overvoltage protection
 Underfrequency and overfrequency protection
 Differential protection of the stator winding
 Auto-reclose and check synchronism relay
 Reverse power protection
 Unbalanced loading and negative phase sequence protection
 Loss of excitation protection
Recommended Reading
 Nick Jenkins, Ron Allan, Peter Crossley, Daniel Kirschen and Goran Strbac,
“Embedded Generation”, The IET, University Press, Cambridge, 2000.
(Chapter 6)

 “Network Protection & Automation Guide”, ALSTOM, 1st Edition, July 2002.
Can be requested from: http://www.alstom.com/grid/npagrequest/
(Chapter 17)

 “Power System Protection”, edited by Electricity Trading Association,

Second Edition, 1995. (Volume 3, Chapter 12).

 P.M. Anderson, “Power System Protection”, IEEE Press, 1999.

Available through IEEE Xplore
(Chapter 18)

 C. Russell Mason, “Art & Science of Protective Relaying”, GE Consumer

and Industrial Electrical Distribution. This can be downloaded from
http://www.gedigitalenergy.com/multilin/notes/artsci/ (Chapter 10)

 IEEE Xplore – most recent technical papers – http://ieeexplore.ieee.org

Distributed Generation Basics

 Interest in Distributed generation has been growing since mid

1970-s. The 1989 Electricity Act gave the right to the privatised
electricity companies to generate up to 15% of their needs.

 Several names have been used: Dispersed Generation,

Embedded Generation, Independent Power Producers,
Nonutility Generators

 Main Characteristics of DG
 Not centrally planned
 Not centrally dispatched
 Normally smaller than 50-100MW
 Usually connected to distribution system
Distributed Generation Basics

 Main reasons for Distributed Generation

 Reduction of gaseous emissions (mainly CO2)

 Diversification of energy sources
 Ease of finding sites for smaller generators
 Short construction times
 Potentially reduced transmission losses
 Increased efficiency with combined Heat and Power
(CHP) units
 Visually appealing (?)
Distributed Generation
Distributed Generation Basics

 Technologies
 Small and Large scale combined heat and power units
 Energy from waste units
 Wind Farms
 Tidal and wave energy units
 Stand-by generators (diesel)

 Types of generating units

 Self-excited asynchronous generator
 Mains-excited asynchronous generator
 Power factor corrected asynchronous generator
 Doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)
 Synchronous generator
 Inverter connected Synchronous Generator (Wind)
 Inverter connected DC source (fuel cell, PV)
Conventional passive radial distribution system

33kV

132kV

~ 11kV
0.4kV

0.4kV

0.4kV

 Unidirectional power flows

 Protected mainly by time graded overcurrent and earth fault
relays
Distribution system with DG

33kV

132kV

~ 11kV
0.4kV
0.4kV

G G
G 0.4kV

 Power flows can no longer be assumed unidirectional

 Time graded overcurrent system is often not sufficient
 Additional protection arrangements are required to protect both
the generator and the network.
 Any primary system reinforcement is costly.
Distributed Generation – Main Issues
 Safety
 Ability to energise the network beyond utility’s control
 Possibility of unearthed system

 Impact on quality of supply

 Voltage levels
 Frequency
 Harmonics
 Voltage imbalance

 Short-circuit and damage prevention

 Generator protection from the internal and external faults
 Network protection from the generator faults and infeed
 Prevention of out-of-synchronism connection

 Increase in network fault levels

 Impact on power system stability
 Implications for network operation
 UK Transmission System Event
27 May 2008

http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/Codes/gridcode/associateddocs/
Distributed Generation Protection Guidelines
 DG protection has to achieve the following objectives:
 To inhibit connection of the generating equipment to the supply
unless all phases are available, energised and operating within
the specified protection settings
(check sync relay)

 To disconnect the generator from the system when a system

abnormality occurs that results in an unacceptable deviation of
the voltage or frequency at the point of supply
(voltage and frequency protection)

 To disconnect the generator in the event of loss of the supply

to the installation
(Loss-Of-Mains protection)

 To ensure that, unless the protective equipment is

satisfactorily in service, the generator is disconnected
Applied voltage and frequency settings

G59/1 G59/2
(Small LV connected DG)
Setting Time delay Setting Time delay
UV stage 1 –10% Vn 0.5 s –13% Vn 2.5 s
UV stage 2 – – –20% Vn 0.5 s
OV stage 1 +10% Vn 0.5 s +10% Vn 1.0 s
OV stage 2 – – +15% Vn 0.5 s
UF stage 1 47.0 Hz 0.5 s 47.5 Hz 20 s
UF stage 2 – – 47.0 Hz 0.5 s
OF stage 1 50.5 Hz 0.5 s 51.5 Hz 90 s
OF stage 2 – – 52 Hz 0.5 s

 Settings have been revised to reflect the need for Distributed Generation to remain
connected during certain transient system events
Elements of typical DG protection
NVD

Protection relay codes:

Utility bus 81O - overfrequency

81U - underfrequency
Intertie 81U 81O 27 59
breaker 52 25
59 - overvoltage
Site bus 27 - undervoltage
Generator 52 51V - IDMT with voltage restraint
breaker
or voltage control
51N - earth fault IDMT
LOM
87 - differential protection
46 51V 32R 64 - restricted earth fault protection
87 or
64 32R - reverse power
G
25 - check synchronism
46 - negative sequence overcurrent
51N
LOM - loss of mains protection
NVD - neutral voltage displacement
Earthing 52
breaker

In practice the scheme varies depending on the generator size,

technology, voltage level and earthing arrangement.
Engineering Recommendation G59/2 - Typical Protection Arrangement for an LV
Generator Connected to a DNO HV System and designed for both Independent
Operation (i.e. Standby Operation) and Parallel Operation
DNO’s HV
System
HV CB
CB Aux.
Contact
Trip

3OCI 3DOCI EI

NVD

Interface Protection
5 limb VT DNO’s Equipment

Customer’s Equipment
Interface Protection

LV Incoming CB
2ST 2ST
LOM SYNC
CB Aux. OF UF OV UV
Trip Contact

3OCI
Trip Close
Busbar CB Customer’s LV System

Trip

Generator CB

Trip Trip Trip Trip

CB 1 CB 2
Close

OF OV
3OCI 3OCI 3OCI RP SYNC
UF UV

Generating
Unit
Customer’s Non- Customer’s
essential Load Essential Load

EI

Neutral Earthing
(as required)
G59/2 – list of symbols
OV Single Stage Over Voltage &
BEF Balanced Earth Fault
UV Single Stage Under Voltage

Ph
CC Circulating Current Phase Unbalance
Unbal

3 Pole Directional Overcurrent

3DOCI RP Reverse Power
(IDMT)

2ST 2 Stage Over Frequency &

EI Earth Fault (IDMT)
OF UF 2 Stage Under Frequency

2ST 2 Stage Over Voltage &

LOM Loss of Mains
OV UV 2 Stage Under Voltage

M Metering SYNC Synchronising

NVD Neutral Voltage Displacement Circuit Beaker

3 Pole Overcurrent
3OCI
(IDMT)

OF Single Stage Over Frequency &

UF Single Stage Under Frequency
Distributed Generator Phase
and Earth Fault protection
Voltage controlled overcurrent protection – 51V
 Standard IDMT relay protects the generator
against external faults
V0
 Due to limited fault current during close-up
faults voltage control or voltage restraint is
used to increase sensitivity Excitation 52
transformer

 Typical settings: Vs=30%Vn, K Is should be VT

less than 50% of the generator steady state If
contribution to an uncleared remote fault.
51V
Voltage controlled current Voltage restrained current
pick-up level pick-up level CT

Is Is

K Is K Is G
Vs Voltage Vs2 Vs1 Voltage
level level
Voltage controlled overcurrent protection – 51V

 Standard IDMT relay also

protects the network and the
generator against internal
stator winding faults 52

 In generators equipped with If

differential protection the 51V
IDMT protection forms a
backup.

 The tripping time has to be G

coordinated with the network
protection
Standard IDMT Curves (IEC/UK)
 Example – Voltage controlled IDMT protection

Establish the settings of a voltage controlled IDMT protection for a

distributed generator based on the following parameters:
Generator: Sn=6250kVA, Vn=11kV,
CTgen=500:1 A/A, VTgen=11000/110 V/V
Steady state fault contribution to a remote fault Ifg=150A
Network: CTnet =200:1 A/A, IDMT curve: SI, Isn=0.72A, TMSn=0.176
Max. fault current Ifn=850A
Assume protection time grading of tprot=0.5s

Voltage controlled current

pick-up level
Available Relay Setting Values:
Is
I's (0.08 - 4.0)In in steps of 0.01In
TMSg (0.025 - 1.2) in steps of 0.025
K (0.1 – 1) in steps of 0.05
K Is V's (5-120)V in steps of 1V
Solution
Vs
Earth Fault Protection

 Protection scheme and setting depends on the

type of earthing arrangement for the generator
and the utility network.

 Generators can be directly connected to the

network or via a step-up transformer (star-delta
or delta-star).

 When connected via step up transformer,

generator side and utility side form two isolated
earthing systems.
Earth Fault Protection
 Generators can be earthed:

 directly (limited to LV connections due to high earth fault

current)

 using low resistance (earth fault current limited to the level of

the nominal current of the generator, i.e. up to few hundred
amps)

 using single phase earthing transformer with a resistor

connected to the secondary winding (earth fault current limited
to the level of the residual capacitive current).

 using an inductor to limit fault current to the level of the residual

capacitive current and also to obtain an effective cancellation of
the capacitive charging currents.

 unearthed
 Earthing practice
 Petersen Coil (resonant earthed system)
 Not extensively used in UK - extensively used in part of Europe
 Inductor sized so that XL=XC (capacitance of lines) during earth fault
 𝐈𝐅 = 𝐈𝐂 + 𝐈𝐋 (𝐈𝐂 , 𝐈𝐋 are 1800 out of phase, therefore 𝐈𝐅 very low)
 Arc “self extinguishes” – protection operation not required for
many transient faults

IL IC

http://www.electrotechnik.net/2009/02/petersen-coils-principle-and.html
http://www.ipst.org/TechPapers/2005/IPST05_Paper107.pdf
Inductor earthed transformer – Petersen Coil

𝐈𝐂

𝐕𝟏
𝐈𝟎 ≈ 0

𝐈𝐋

𝐈𝐋

𝐈𝐂 𝐈𝐂
𝟐 𝟐
 Earth Fault Overcurrent Protection
Resistor earthed distributed generator
V
 CT mounted on a neutral-earth conductor
drives an overcurrent element

 It is impossible to provide the protection of

the whole winding

 Instantaneous element 50N usually covers

90% of the generator winding 50N a

51N
If
 Time delayed element 51N can be made
more sensitive and can cover up to 95% R
of the stator winding

 Current setting is 5% and 10% of the

maximum earth fault for time delayed and
aV ph I s CTn R
instantaneous elements respectively
If  amin 
R V ph
 The tripping time of the time delayed
element has to be coordinated with the
network protection
%covered  1  amin 100%
 Earth Fault Overcurrent Protection – 50N/51N
Application of the earthing transformer

 Primary side of a distribution transformer is connected

in series with a neutral-earth conductor.

 The value of the resistor R on the secondary

side of the transformer referred to the primary
side determines the amount of earth
fault current. If

 CT mounted in the secondary winding of the R

distribution transformer drives an overcurrent
element (50N or/and 51N).
50N
 Alternatively a VT can be connected in parallel 51N
with the loading resistor to drive an overvoltage
element (59).
Distribution Loading
transformer resistor
 It is important to that the earthing transformer
is never saturated; otherwise ferroresonance may occur.

 The tripping time of the time delayed element has to be coordinated with the
network protection
Example – Earthing Transformer resistance

Establish appropriate value of the resistor R connected to the secondary

winding of an earthing transformer using the following data:
Generator: Sn=80MVA, Vn=13.8kV,

Earthing Transformer: ratio 18/0.25 kV/kV, R1=400Ω, R2=0.08Ω

Total capacitance of the system (generator, transformer and connecting

cables) is C=0.35µF per phase.

Assume that it is desired that the earth If

fault current should not exceed the total
residual capacitive current IC. R

50N
Solution
51N
Earth Fault Overcurrent Protection
Generator connected to the utility network via transformer with
earthed star connected winding on the utility side
I1A

I1B
G I1C

50 50 50
51 51 51

50N
51N

 This type of arrangement is typical for transmission or subtransmission level DG

connections.

 The outputs from the line CTs are residually connected to an earth fault
overcurrent relay.

 Both instantaneous 50N and time delayed 51N elements can be included to
provide fast clearance of close up faults and backup for the network protection

 The tripping time has to be coordinated with the network protection

Generator connected to the utility network via transformer
with delta connected winding on the utility side
Fault clearance by
the network protection

G
Ifg  0 Ifn

 This type of generator connection arrangement is typical in distribution

systems where single point of earthing is normally practiced.

 After an earth fault is isolated by the utility protection the system

becomes unearthed and the generator will continue to energise the
fault.

 Earth fault current is very low and is determined by the total

capacitance of the system.

 Overcurrent protection is unable to clear the fault. Special protection

arrangement is needed.
Generator connected to the utility network via transformer
with delta connected winding on the utility side
Fault clearance by
the network protection

G
Ifg  0 Ifn
Ifg
1-phase fault
prefault
Fault cleared by
the utility protection
 Sequence components
Taking Phase A as a reference:
V0  Va  Vb  Vc 
1
Va  V0  V1  V2 3
Vb  V0  a 2V1  aV2 V1  Va  aVb  a 2Vc 
 1
Vc  V0  aV1  a 2V2 3
V2  Va  a 2Vb  aVc 
1
3
V1a
Va
V2b V0a
Vc V1c
 V2c
V0b
V0c
V2a
Vb
V1b

[1] Stephen Chapman, “Electric Machinery and Power System Fundamentals”, Chapter 13, McGraw Hill
[2] J.D. Glover, M.S. Sarma, T.J. Overbye, “Power System Analysis and Design”, Chapter 8,9, Cengage Learning
[3] C.L. Fortescue, “Method of symmetrical coordinates applied to the solution of polyphase networks.”, Transactions
of the AIEE 37 (1918), pp. 1027–1140.
Sequence components in symmetrical 3 phase
systems
Va   Z s Zm Zm  I a 
V    Z Zs Z m   I b 
 b  m
Vc   Z m Zm Z s   I c 
1 1 1
V  ZI 1
A  1 a a 2 
AV  A Z I 3
1 a 2 a 
AV  A Z A 1 AI
Vseq  Z seq I seq Z s  2Z m 0 0 
Z seq  A Z A 1   0 Zs  Zm 0 
 0 0 Z s  Z m 
 All off diagonal elements become zero
 System can be solved as 3 independent single phase equations
Generator connected to the utility network via transformer
with delta connected winding on the utility side

Normal operating condition

Generator Transformer HV Line System

Generator connected to the utility network via transformer
with delta connected winding on the utility side

Earth fault

Generator Transformer HV Line System

Generator connected to the utility network via transformer
with delta connected winding on the utility side

Earth fault

Fault cleared by
the utility protection
Generator connected to the utility network via transformer
with delta connected winding on the utility side

Fault cleared by
V0 the utility protection

1-phase fault
prefault
Neutral Voltage Displacement (NVD) Protection

 NVD protection measures system

residual voltage using VTs capable I1A
of transforming zero sequence
voltage. I1B
G I1C
 Either one 5-limb VT or three
individual phase VTs are used.

 Primary side of the VTs is star

connected and is solidly earthed.

 Secondary side of the VTs is open

delta connected which gives and 59N
output proportional to the zero
sequence voltage.

 NVD protection is time delayed in

order to coordinate with the network
earth fault protection.