The Effects of Mutual Coupling Compensation on

Distance Protection of Parallel Lines

Michael O’Donovan Eoin Cowhey Noel Barry Joe Connell
Department of Electrical Engineering ESB Networks Department of Electrical Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering
Cork Institute of Technology ESB Ireland Cork Institute of Technology Cork Institute of Technology
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Abstract—Mutual coupling of multi-circuit lines affects The input to the relay point is the phase voltages and line
distance relay measurements during earth faults which include currents transformed with the help of voltage and current
zero sequence currents. The difficulty stems from the fact that transformers. When a fault occurs on the protected line, the
the lines are mutually coupled in their zero-sequence circuits. fault currents and voltages are monitored at the protection
This effect can cause distance protection on healthy circuits to
relay. The voltage drop along the line is equal to the product
mal-operate under fault conditions when mutual coupling was
not considered and when calculating impedance protection of the fault current Ie and the impedance fault Za.
settings. The multi-circuit lines need not be of the same voltage
levels to experience mutual coupling, and some coupling exists
even for lines that are not on the same tower. This paper studies Va
the effects of mutual coupling on parallel transmission lines and
how different system configurations affect the protection relay S R
settings. Finally, the paper describes using simulations the VS
effects off mutual coupling compensation to evaluate the CT Za
performance of the protection system.
VT
Ie
Keywords—Mutual Coupling, Mutual Compensation, Earth Fault
Fault, Distance Protection. Va=0
Z<
Relay

I. INTRODUCTION Fig 1. Distance protection principle

Mutual coupling of overhead lines occurs when two or

more circuits are in close proximity in the same corridor. Distance relays must be compensated against the coupling
Parallel circuits are widely utilised in transmission networks effect between parallel lines since the current flowing in one
to improve the reliability and security of the system. Today phase induces voltage onto adjacent phases. This will
environmental conditions and planning restrictions are forcing otherwise affect the measured impedance under fault
utilities to install more and more parallel lines. This conditions. In the case of phase faults, this is remedied by
configuration imposes a unique problem to the associated line taking the difference between relevant phase quantities.
protection relays. The vast majority of the short circuits that For example, the impedance Zbc apparent to b and c phase
occur in the transmission system are phase to earth faults [1]. elements of a relay is calculated from [3]:
The mutual coupling between parallel lines complicates
power systems analysis. It also complicates the setting of
overhead line protective relays, particularly for earth fault
−
protection. The mutual coupling has a substantial impact on = (1)
impedance protection which will ultimately result in −
suboptimal impedance settings.
The setting of Distance Relays and Fault Location In the case of an earth fault, the residual compensation
equipment is of the utmost importance for the protection of factor, k0, must be used.
transmission lines in the event of a fault. Impedance protection
is vulnerable to both under-reaching and over-reaching of
distance zones as a result of the current direction of Single
Line to Ground (SLG) faults. Within the relay, the setting
1
called the Mutual Compensation Factor or k-Factor gives the = −1 (2)
relationship between the line and the earth impedance. It can 3
also be used as the basis of the calculation of the location of
the fault [2].
The number of possible configurations of parallel lines
where:
combined with the effect of mutual coupling makes their
ZL0 is the zero-phase sequence line impedances
protection a challenging problem. In commercial relays, the
available methods for the determining and setting of k-factors ZL1 is the positive phase sequence line impedances.
are diverse.

978-1-7281-1078-3/20/$31.00 ©2020 IEEE

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 The apparent impedance seen by the relay for an earth fault
in phase a is: where:
is the depth of penetration in the ground
f is the frequency in Hz
is the specific resistance in Ω/m
Dab is spacing in meters between the two conductors.
= (3)
+
Alternatively, Zmo can be measured using test equipment
when a line is out of service.
where:
Za is the relay phase to earth impedance For the typical case of parallel lines A and B, connected
Vph-e is the phase to earth short-circuit voltage at the at the local and remote busbars, as shown in Fig 2, the
relay located on the faulted phase apparent impedance Za of line A seen by the ground distance
Iph is the short-circuit current in the faulted phase function for an earth fault in phase a is [7]:
Ie is the earth fault current.
.
The correct operation of earth fault elements in distance 3. 2 −
= . + . (5)
relays is highly dependent on the correct application of k0. 1+
Various relays vendors have different forms of naming,
defining and applying these factors [4]. For the protection of phase to earth faults, a measuring
error occurs. This error appears because the parallel line earth
II. GENERAL CONSIDERATION FOR PARALLEL LINES current (Ie-b = 3I0) which induces a voltage Ie-b × (Zm0 /3) into
the fault loop.
The most common problems concerning distance
protection of parallel lines ending at the same bus without From equation (5) it can be deduced [5]:
mutual compensation can be summarised as follows [5] :
• The error is proportional to the mutual coupling
• A tendency to underreach when both lines A and B factor Zmo/3ZL1.
are energised. • The error increases with the parallel line earth
• A tendency to overreach when one of the lines is current Ie-b in relation to the relay current Iph-a+k0Ie-a.
disconnected and earthed at both ends. • The relay underreaches when the parallel current
Ie-b is in phase with Iph-a and Ie-a.
l
• The relay overreaches when Ie-b and Iph-a /Ie-a have
opposite signs.
S Line B Ie-b , Iph-b R
VS VR
Simulations demonstrate that a relay, using fixed settings
to protect 85% of the total line length, protects at a specific
Line A Ie-a , Iph-a Zm0
moment only 50 % of the line, while at another moment its
actual coverage is more than 100 %, depending on the power
Z< F system configuration [8].
x l-x
For lines having only one supply at one end of the line,
Fig 2. Parallel circuit fed from both ends these values become even worse. The actual coverage is so
widespread that the relay settings must be adapted to the
The coupling impedance Zmo between the zero-sequence operation mode of the double circuit line.
systems of two lines with an earth-wire is estimated using the
following equation [6]: In the following analysis, different scenarios and
switching states of the parallel line system and the measured
impedances are discussed. In each case for a fault at the end
of the parallel line, with the following assumptions are made:
Ω
= . + . . (4)
4 • The phase current and zero-sequence current of the
protected line are equal (Iph-a=3I0)
• The parallel line residual current is equal to the
= 4 . 10 Ω. residual current of the protected line.

= 658

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A. Double-circuit lines with Lines A and B operated in C. Double-circuit lines with Line B disconnected (one or
parallel both ends isolated)

Network 1 Network 2
Line B

Network 1 Network 2 Zmo

Line B
Line A

Line A

Fig 5. Parallel circuit disconnected (one or both ends isolated)

Fig 3. Both circuits in parallel operation fed from a single source
With only one of the parallel circuits connected, the
distance protection of the energised circuit measures the fault
When zero sequence currents flow in the same direction impedance correctly, as shown in Fig 5.
in both lines, the measured impedance is too large, and the
distance relays underreach, as shown in Fig 3. The measured
impedance for a fault at the end of the parallel line is: = (8)

Modern distance protection devices often include an

adaptive function to compensate for the mutual influence of
= + (6) parallel lines in case of earth faults. If the parallel line
3(1 + )
compensation function has been enabled, then the residual
current of the parallel line will be included in the distance and
B. Double-circuit lines with Lines B disconnected and directional measurement.
earthed at both ends
To compensate a ground distance relay such that the effect
The worst-case regarding the effects of zero sequence of the zero-sequence mutual coupling on its reach is minimal
mutual coupling on the performance of distance relays is the another current transformer (CT) is needed. The distance
overreaching which occurs when the parallel circuit is out of protection has another measuring input to which the earth
service and earthed at both ends, as shown in Fig 4. current of the parallel line is connected, as shown in Fig 6.

Network 1 Network 2
Line B
S R
Line B
VS VR
Zmo
Line A
Zm0
Line A

Z< F

Fig 4. Parallel circuit switched off and earthed on both ends Fig 6. Mutual compensation using the zero-sequence current from line B into
the ground distance relay in line A

The apparent impedance seen by the relay in this case is:

III. POWER SYSTEM SIMULATION

= − (7) In order to illustrate the effects of mutual coupling, a
3 (1 + )
simulation was developed using DigSilent PowerFactory. It
includes two 400 kV busbars and two transmission lines 57.7
In this case, the earth fault current of the energised circuit km long, coupled at the same tower and feed from a common
can induce current flow in the opposite direction in the earth busbar. An external grid feeds a 200 MW load. The
loop of the earthed circuit, causing the distance protection of protection relay vendor uses a particular definition to
the energised circuit to overreach. The distance protection determine the compensate earth faults and mutual coupling
overreaches as the earth impedance is reduced due to the effects. Instead of directly using the k0 and km0 values as per
parallel connection of the zero-sequence systems of both the usual definition, it decouples the resistive and inductive
lines. components [9].

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 The compensate earth factor can be calculated using:
TABLE II. DISTANCE RELAY PROTECTION SETTING PARAMETERS
1 Grading +Rreach +Rph-ph +Xph-e Time delay
= −1 (9) (Reach) Ω Ω Ω (s)
3
Zone 1 (85%) 6.12 2.29 8.23 0.0
Zone 2 (120%) 8.64 2.50 9.72 0.4
1 Zone 3 (300%) 21.60 3.54 11.61 0.7
= −1 (10)
3

The mutual earth factor can be calculated using: Within DigSilent PowerFactory, and using the IEC 60909
method, an SLG fault was performed at 75% and 85% of line
1 A with the parallel line energised and de-energised, from
= −1 (11) where the relay is.
3

1
= −1 (12)
3

TABLE I. OVERHEAD LINE PARAMETERS

Line data Ω/km
Positive sequence reactance X1 0.3119
Positive sequence resistance R1 0.0249
Zero sequence reactance X0 0.9599
Zero sequence resistance R0 0.1400 Fig 8. SLG fault at line A with line B disconnected
Mutual zero-sequence reactance Xm0 0.4670
Mutual zero-sequence resistance Rm0 0.1079
A. Analysis of an SLG at 85% on line A connected and line
The CT used has a 1600/1A ratio, and the voltage B disconnected. (Compensated)
transformer was 400kV/100V. The line impedances were
converted to the secondary side of the instrument An SLG fault is applied at 85% of line A. Line B is
transformers using: disconnected. Mutual compensation has been applied.

= . . (13)

The quadrilateral characteristic was used as this allowed

the setting of the resistive reach of the phase to phase
measuring elements and the phase to earth measuring
elements separately. By setting the compensate earth and
mutual factors, the effects of zero-sequence mutual coupling
on parallel operating lines can be accommodated.

The distance protection relay slot shown in Fig 7, included Fig 9. R-X Plot for SLG fault at 85% of line A, with line B disconnected
a CT-Mutual measuring input to which the earth current of
the parallel line was connected. With line A compensated and line B disconnected, the
relay of the energised circuit measures the fault impedance
correctly. The relay correctly operated for a fault in zone 1.

B. Analysis of an SLG at 85% with both lines connected.

(Compensated)

An SLG fault is applied at 85% of line A. Line B is now

connected. Mutual compensation has been applied.

Fig 7. Slot definitions with mutual coupling CT-Mutual included

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 It was observed that the fault (75%), this time determined
by the relay to be outside of zone 1. This is due to the Mutual
Coupling Effect.

E. Analysis of an SLG at 75% on line A, with both lines

connected with a fault resistance of 18Ω.(Compensated)
According to Warrington’s formula for arc resistance and
the known tower footing resistance, the maximum expected
fault resistance for an SLG fault was calculated to be 18Ω.
This is now included in the SLG fault path.
Fig 10. R-X Plot for an SLG fault at 85% of line A, with both line A and B
connected

When zero sequence currents flow in the same direction in

both lines, the measured impedance is too large, and the
distance relays underreaches, as shown in Fig 10.

C. Analysis of an SLG at 75% on line A, with both lines

connected. (Compensated)

Fig 13. R-X Plot for an SLG fault at 75%, with both line A and B connected
An SLG fault is applied at 75% of line A. Line B is now and fault resistance of 18Ω with compensation
connected. Mutual compensation has been applied.
F. Analysis of an SLG at 75% on line A, with line B,
disconnected and earthed with a fault resistance of 18Ω.
(No mutual compensation applied)
An SLG fault is applied at 75% of line A. Line B is now
disconnected and earthed. Mutual compensation has been
removed.

Fig 11. R-X Plot for an SLG fault at 75% of line A, with both line A and B
connected

Again, as expected, the measured impedance is too large,

and the distance relays underreaches, as shown in Fig 11.

Fig 14. R-X Plot for SLG fault at 75%, with both line A and B connected
and fault resistance of 18Ω with no compensation
D. Analysis of an SLG at 75% on line A and B connected.
(No mutual compensation) It was observed that the fault (75%), this time determined
by the relay to be outside of zone 1. This is due again to the
To see the effect of the mutual coupling on the relay Mutual Coupling Effect.
impedance measurement without the proper compensation,
the “Mutual Earth Factor” values were set to zero.
Alternatively, the reference CT in the adjacent line can be IV. CONCLUSION
disconnected. Distance relays must be compensated against the coupling
present between parallel lines. This will otherwise affect the
measured impedance under earth fault conditions.
Compensation the mutual effects of parallel lines by
referencing the residual current from the parallel line into the
distance relay of the protected line is complex and can lead to
incorrect operation and testing. Also, there are many system
configurations that will defeat this method of compensation.
It is also impossible to compensate this way when several
lines are in parallel or when a line is out of service.
In some cases, the overhead line positive and zero
sequence impedances are measured as part of the
Fig 12. R-X Plot for an SLG fault at 75%, with both line A and B, connected
with no compensation commissioning tests of an overhead line. The actual
measurement of the fault-loop impedance is the best way to

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ensure that the distance relay settings are correct. Where 2008), 17-20 March 2008 2008, pp. 649-653, doi:
10.1049/cp:20080115.
measured line impedance data is available, this should be
used in preference to the calculated or simulated impedances. [4] E. Sorrentino, "Comparison of five methods of compensation for the
Line impedances and k factors are critical for a fully ground distance function and assessment of their effect on the resistive
reach in quadrilateral characteristics," International Journal of
operational distance protection relay. The recommended Electrical Power & Energy Systems, vol. 61, pp. 440-445, 2014/10/01/
method to determine the settings for distance protection 2014, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2014.03.049.
relays requires a thorough knowledge of the relay’s reach, [5] CIGRE, "Modern Distance Protection Functions and Applications,"
and its k factors in order to provide proper protection. 2008. [Online]. Available: https://e-cigre.org/publication/359-modern-
distance-protection-functions-and-applications
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