APPLICATION OF STANDARD SOULTIONS FOR MESH

CORNER DELAYED AUTO-RECLOSE AND

AUTOSWITCHING WITH NUMERICAL RELAY
Junqing Han *, Carol Aird †, Andrew Borrill ₤

*Areva T&D Substation Automation Solutions, Stafford, UK ([email protected])

†
ScottishPower Group, Energy Networks, Bellshill, UK ([email protected])
₤
ScottishPower Group, Energy Networks, Bellshill, UK ([email protected])

Keywords: Delayed Auto-Reclose (DAR), Autoswitching

(ASW), Mesh Corner (MC), Advanced numerical relay for 1 Introduction
Mesh Corner DAR and ASW (MCDAR), GOOSE.
Within UK transmission and distribution networks, a mesh
Abstract corner circuit arrangement is commonly used to reduce the
number of high voltage circuit breakers required to protect
For the Delayed Auto-Reclose (DAR) and Autoswitching several items of plant. Shown in Figure 1, Mesh corner is a
(ASW) systems in Mesh Corner circuits, taking into circuit connecting banked plant (Feeder/Transformer/Others)
consideration the desire to minimise the overall system cost with associated HV circuit breaker(s). Each plant item,
by reducing hardwired connections and auxiliary relays, the transformer, feeder or reactor, can be electrically isolated
advanced multifunctional numerical relays with GOOSE from the mesh corner by opening its associated disconnector.
(Generic Object Oriented Sub-Station Event) Communication
interface via UCA2 (Utility Communication Architecture)
protocol have been developed and used to replace old electro-
mechanical and numerical relays.
The application of DAR and ASW of Mesh Corner requires
interfacing to all the plant status, co-ordinated controls and a MCDAR MCDAR
large amount of inputs and outputs. To replace the old relays
and reduce massive traditional hardwire connections, using an
advanced numerical relay (here called MCDAR) with the
GOOSE Communication interface over an Ethernet link,
High Voltage
aMCDAR relay standard scheme solution has been created Circuit Breakers
and applied to provide the full control logic and input-output MCDAR MCDAR
(I/O) required for DAR and ASW of a single Mesh Corner.
Feeder
Within the MCDAR relay standard scheme solutions, all
interfaces to basic protection functions associated with Mesh
Corner such as Feeder, Transformer and Mesh Corner circuits
are catered for and control functions are provided such as Transformer
automatic reclosure of Mesh Corner circuit breaker, Low Voltage
Circuit Breaker
Autoswitching of the disconnectors, and suppression of a
Ferro-resonance condition. The control information for Mesh
DAR and ASW can be passed and exchanged between the
MCDAR relays with GOOSE mapping via Ethernet local Figure 1 – Typical Four Switches Mesh Topology
network. The MCDAR relay scheme solution can be used for
DAR and ASW applications from a single switch to an eight- For each of mesh corners, following the operations of the
switch mesh. protection relays for feeder, transformer or mesh corner
The paper presents the application of the numerical relay faults, the Delayed Auto-Reclose (DAR) and Autoswitching
MCDAR standard solution with UCA2 GOOSE interface at (ASW) are used to perform auto isolation of each associated
Mesh Corner sites on transmission and distribution networks, disconnector and reclose HV circuit breakers DAR
and highlights the benefits of the application of the numerical performance should meet the following requirement [1]:
MCDAR relay standard scheme solutions. • DAR shall be provided for all mesh corner circuit
breakers and any associated transformer plant LV
circuit breakers.

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 • Any associated circuit breaker DAR initiated
reclosure to re-energise non-faulted plant shall not These modules are designed to be loosely coupled within the
take place until isolation of associated disconnectors relay unit and connections between the modules are made
of feeder, transformers and other plant is completed. using the Programmable Scheme Logic (PSL). This method
• All Mesh HV circuit breaker reclosures shall be provides the flexibility to couple modules within the same
separated by a minimum inter-switch delay time. unit. With the GOOSE mapping and communications, it is
• If a mesh HV DAR sequence that is ready to reclose possible to add additional MCDAR to meet the switching
cannot proceed because of an inhibit condition then requirements of different mesh corner topologies. This
reclosure of any other ready HV CB shall be flexibility of the MCDAR application has been demonstrated
attempted. up to an eight-switch mesh.

Autoswitching (ASW) performance should meet the 2.2 GOOSE Application

following requirement [1]:
For DAR and ASW at the mesh corner, it is more important
• Autoswitching facilities shall be provided for all
to link the control logic functions inside the MCDAR relay
plant connected to a mesh corner.
and control the DAR and ASW at each mesh corner to ensure
• The isolation sequence shall start after a user defined the correct sequence of operations. Normally, closing two
time delay after the initiating protection operation. separate CBs at the same time at the mesh corner is not
• Autoswitching shall not take place unless all allowed. With the availability of input and output control
associated local and remote circuit breaker auto- logic, GOOSE mapping and communication between devices
reclose are inhibited and any other required interlock provides easier control of sequences than traditional
conditions have been met. hardwiring solutions. As GOOSE is transmitted as a fixed
• Autoswitching sequences shall be cancelled once the size message it is necessary to map any information required
required plant isolation operation has been by other devices into the message. Within the MCDAR relay,
completed or the pant isolation sequence has been all logic signals that interface between the hardware inputs
reset. and outputs and functional modules are stored on a Digital
• Where plant isolation is required before any DAR Data Bus (DDB).
sequences can be completed and isolation is not As shown in Figure 2 & 3, the DDB signals can be mapped
possible or has failed then all related DAR sequences into the GOOSE message by converting a single Boolean
shall be locked out. value to a bit pair value. If more complex mapping is
required, using the relay PSL to create the signal prior to
mapping into the GOOSE message is implemented.
2 MCDAR and GOOSE Application The receive logic is implemented as ‘Virtual Inputs’ up to 32
signals. Each virtual input is an output from a single logic
Based on the above functional requirement, the application of gate, which can be configured to accept inputs from several
DAR and ASW of Mesh Corner requires interfacing to all the enrolled devices.
plant status, co-ordinated controls, interconnection between
local and adjacent HV circuit breaker DAR units, thus a large
amount of inputs and outputs are required.
Using the old relays requires massive hardwire connections,
and results in difficult site commissioning and maintenance.
A key driver in the design of relay has been the desire to
reduce hardwired connections and use of auxiliary relays to
minimise the overall system cost. This has been achieved by
MCDAR relay design with integrating a suite of protection
functions within the relay with implementing Programmable
logic configuration and the GOOSE mapping to replace
hardwired solution schemes.

2.1 MCDAR Design

The design of MCDAR - the numerical relay for Mesh Corner
DAR and ASW is to provide the following functional
modules to cover the functional requirements for a single
corner.
• Circuit Breaker (CB) Control
• Feeder line Control Figure 2 – Example of GOOSE Virtual Input Mapping
• Transformer Control
• Ferroresonance Suppression

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 with GOOSE communications was engineered. The Micom
P842 relay standard scheme solution was offered and
implemented by AREVA T&D Substation Automation
Solutions to perform DAR and ASW at Torness. Eight relays
were required to perform DAR and ASW at this site. The
relays were mounted in cubicles in two separate relay rooms,
100 meters apart. Fibre optic cables were installed in a ring
configuration between the two relay rooms providing
connection between the P842 MCDAR relays via two
Ethernet switches.

Figure 3 – Example of GOOSE Output Mapping

The GOOSE messaging service allows status information to

be passed between MCDAR relays connected together using
an Ethernet interface via UCA2 protocol. The benefit of using
this interface is that the high communication bandwidth
allows a peer-peer method to be used. Each relay broadcasts
its status information as a multicast message. All other relays
connected on the local sub-network can potentially see this
message. The decision on whether to act on this information
is made at the receiving end. Each relay is configured as to Figure 4 – Torness 400KV Substation Single Line Diagram
which relay it requires signals coming from, and the receiving
relay shall enrol these devices. The initial identification of the The AREVA Micom P842 relay provides MCDAR, including
GOOSE message is via the device name assigned to it. The the logic for the auto-isolation of up to two lines, three
receiving relay can then use the unique hardware address of transformers, and DAR for two circuit breakers. The relay
the sending devices to filter out any GOOSE messages it is also provides logic to permit ferroresonance suppression by
not interested in. flapping of the transformer disconnector or earth switch and
To ensure reliable operation of the GOOSE communications inter-trip reset logic. Since the P842 relay was developed by
between a number of MCDAR relays, an Ethernet switch AREVA T&D Automation, standard P842 relay scheme
shall be used. The Ethernet switches are connected via solutions for Mesh Corner DAR and Autoswitching have
100MHz Fibre optic cable in a ring connection, which allows been developed and implemented to replace old relays such as
the GOOSE communication to continue to operate if one of the LFAA relay for various customers. The P842 standard
the fibres is damaged. It will guarantee the operation of the scheme solution can be used for DAR and ASW applications
DAR and ASW is not interrupted though loss of a single from a single switch to an eight-switch mesh r.
fibre. For Torness DAR and ASW, each of eight P842 relay
schemes has the following basic configurations of input and
output within the relay logic and GOOSE mapping.
3 Site Application Case Relay logic inputs:
Here is an example of a MCDAR scheme, which has been • ASW In / Out
applied to Torness 400kV Substation within Scottish Power • DAR In / Out
Group for DAR and Autoswitching. As shown in Figure 4, • Mesh Corner Function DAR Required
Torness 400kV substation is eight-switch mesh, which has • Mesh Corner Function DAR Not Required
eight circuit breakers, four feeder lines, two transformers and • Mesh Corner Function DAR Inhibit
two generators. • Feeder Function DAR Required
The coordination of DAR and ASW at this site is complicated • Feeder Function DAR Not Required
and challenging, especially as the protection equipment on • Feeder Function Intertrip Receive
site is split over two relay rooms. Using traditional relays • Feeder Function Line Disconnector Open/ Close
would involve massive hardwired interfaces and more Status
difficulty in providing control and co-ordination between the • Feeder Function Autoswitching Inhibit
eight mesh corner DAR and ASW units. So, rather than using • Transformer Function DAR Not Required
a traditional hardwired solution, a scheme using MCDAR

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 • Transformer Function Disconnector Open/ Close each mesh corner more easily controlled, increases flexibility
Status and intelligence.
• Transformer Function Autoswitching Inhibit
• Mesh corner CB Function CB Open / Close Status 4 Conclusions
• Mesh corner CB Function DAR Inhibit
• Mesh corner CB Function DAR Lockout The implementation of the MCDAR scheme with GOOSE
communication to the mesh corner DAR and Autoswitching
• Mesh corner CB Function Manual Check Synch
demonstrates a real application with the following benefits in
Initiation
comparison with old hardwired relay solutions:
• DAR Global Lockout
• DAR Corner Lockout
• Without compromising the performance of the
system, physical I/O and associated scheme wiring
Relay logic outputs:
requirements are reduced.
• DAR CB Close
• As each MCDAR unit is only physically wired to
• Manual Synch CB Close
plant items and protection associated with the local
• Feeder Line Disconnector open corner, the complexity of the old relay
• Transformer Disconnector open interconnections is also reduced.
• LV DAR Start • With application of fast peer-peer GOOSE message
• LV DAR Inhibit communication implementation, and consideration
• LV DAR Lockout of system failure interlock in the relay logic design
• Trip Relay Reset Inhibit and GOOSE mapping, it makes DAR and ASW
• Various alarms outputs operations more stable and secure.
• With less hardwiring, it makes site commissioning
GOOSE Inputs: and maintenance easier and reduces cost.
• MC DAR In
• MC DAR Start Acknowledgements
• MC DAR Inhibit
• MC DAR Lockout We thank AREVA T&D Substation Automation Solutions
• CB Token Request and ScottishPower Group for the support and facilities offered
• CB In Service for the development of the present paper.
• CB In Progress
• CB Reclaim Timer Running References
• CB Fail
[1] NGTS 3.24.63, Issue 1, May 2001 – “Mesh Station
• Other MC Receive Token DAR and Plant Isolation “
• MC CB Remote Live
• CB Fault Detected

GOOSE Outputs:
• DAR In
• DAR Start
• DAR Inhibit
• DAR Lockout
• CB Request Token
• CB In Service
• CB In Progress
• CB Fail
• CB Fault Detected
• MC Protection Operated
• CB Remote Live

Based on the above configuration of logic and GOOSE within

each P842 relay scheme, each of MCDAR relays can transmit
the information, receive and send interlocking signals and
messages to other MCDAR relays located in the same relay
room or in another relay room 100 meters away. The
MCDAR solution makes the operation of DAR and ASW at

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