ADV ANCES IN MICROPROCESSOR-BASED

DISTRIBUTION RELA VS

Edmund 0. Schweitzer, ill

and
Mark W. Feltis
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
Pullman, Washington

INTRODUcrlON

Advanced microprocessor-based distribution relays have features that improve distribution protection
and aid in event analysis and testing [References I, 2, 3, and 4]. Significant relay advancements also
handle system disturbances, relay failures, changes in protection philosophy, and changing system
conditions.

SYSTEM DISTURBANCFS AND EVENT REPORTING

Recreating the sequence of events for a distribution system disturbance with information available
from traditional distribution protection equipment is difficult at best. In most instances, targets are
the only source of information. Targets can show phase involvement and relative fault current
magnitudes (did the instantaneous element operate?), but no time sequence or precise fault current
magnitude information. If targets are not reset from a previous operation, the confusion is com-
pounded when the next disturbance occurs.

Sequence-of-events recorders and oscillograrns are generally considered too expensive for distribution
applications. An experienced operator must interpret oscillogram output.

Technicians now quickly retrieve event reports from advanced distribution relays locally or by
telephone modem and review every operation. Event reports simplify event analysis by combining
currents, voltages, relay elements, and contact 110 in one report.

Event Report Advantages

. One report contains all information -several cycles worth.

. One report fits on one or two sheets of paper .
. Report retrieval is fast: only 30 seconds at 1200 baud.
. Event reporting is essentially free: it is part of the relay. and digital relays cost less than
electromechanical or static analog relays.

System Knowledge Increased

. Sequence-of-events data are now available at all voltages and points in the system.
. We no longer need to rely on oscillographic data that may be available one or two stations
away from the fault.

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 . The phasor voltage and current data, along with fault location, are being used to verify and
improve system modeling.
. Scheme performance is easy to ascertain from the detailed data available after each opera-
tion. This is an aid in testing, also.

SystemProblemsDiscovered

. Instrument transformer ratio and polarity errors

. Instrument transformer failures

. High-resistance fault analysis
. Repeated failures to synchronize a generator
. Calculation of zero-sequence impedance of lines

Reference5 reviews someevent reports and illustratespractical analytical tools. An exampleevent

report is given in Figure 1.

SHOULD SELF TESTING AND EVENT REPORTING CHANGE TESTING PHll..OSOPHY?

Well-designed digital relays use fewer components than electromechanical or static analog designs,
and thus provide more reliable protection. Failures can still occur , however. In the remote chance
that a failure does occur, automatic self testing is almost certain to detect the problem and send
operators an alarm via SCADA, etc. The result is much improved relay availability .Before digital
relays, routine tests (or misoperations) were the only indicators of electromechanical and most solid-
state relay problems.

Relays with automatic self testing and event reporting require less testing to ensure they are operating
properly. Technicians can now better allocate their limited resources to relays without self testing and
to analyzing event reports from relays having event reporting. When technicians review relay event
reports, they are reviewing data from a test of the system created by a real fault. Technicians add
more value to the electric power system, because they are checking not only the relay, but the
surrounding equipment. Did the relay get proper voltages and currents? Did the circuit breaker
auxiliary contact respond correctly?

CHANGES IN PROTECTION PIllLOSOPHY AND PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC

Protection schemes are constantly being modified and improved. Changing traditional protection
schemes often requires purchasing and installing additional equipment.

Philosophy of distribution protection changes over time and differs from company to company;
sometimes from location to location within the same company. If a distribution relay meets one
company's requirements, it may not satisfy another's. Making factory modifications to satisfy
different companies is costly, time consuming, and results in "one-of-a-kind" relays.

Relay design engineers devised user-programmable logic for new distribution relays. This logic
handles future protection schemes as well as the multiplicity of protection schemes that protect
different companies' distribution systems. With these new relays, there is less need for additional
equipment as protection schemes are enhanced.

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Internal relay elements (e.g., overcurrent, voltage) can be programmed to control output contacts.
This flexibility aids technicians in " isolating II and testing relay elements.

ProgrammableLogic Example
In the following example, relay opto-isolated input IN6 supervises the ground overcurrent elements
(SlNT and SONLT) for tripping. Input IN6 can be de-energized during circuit paralleling operations
to prevent the ground overcurrent elements from initiating a trip on temporary current unbalance.
Figure 2 shows the example in relay logic form.

If 51 NT or 50NL T assert, " A " asserts .

A = 51NT+50NLT

E = IN6 If input IN6 is energized with nominal control voltage, variable E asserts.

v = A*E If both variables A and E are asserted at the same time, variable V asserts.

Effectively, V=(51NT+50NLT)*IN6.

TR = 51T+V TR is the TRIP output contact programmable trip variable. 51T is a phase
overcurrent element. If 51T or V asserts, TR asserts.

Effectively, TR =51 T + [(51NT +50NLT)*IN6]

Close TRIP output contact = TR + ...

CHANGING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND MULTIPLE SETrING GROUPS

An electric power distribution system changes hourly to seasonally:

. Scheduled switching for construction or maintenance projects

. Emergency switching for repairs
. Bus-tie breakers substituting for distribution feeder breakers
. Seasonal load transfers

The resulting system reconfigurations last from hours to months. Many reconfigurations are repeated.
The following problems can result:

. Major changes in load or unbalance

. Large variations in fault duties, due to source and feeder changes
. Coordination problems with different protective equipment
. Increased fault duty on conductor, cable, and equipment

Traditional protective equipment does not adapt readily to distribution system reconfigurations. If
new settings are needed they have to be manually changed: there are no settings in reserve. The time
to derive, enter, and test new settings slows down emergency responses and risks human error .
Sometimes relay settings are not changed for emergency or abnormal switching, because it takes too
long or is too difficult. System protection is compromised.

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Advanced distribution relays handle system reconfigurations with multiple setting groups. A specific
setting group can be enabled by:

. Command via communications port or

. Setting group selection inputs

Different setting groups can be programmed to cover many different contingencies. The optimal
protection scheme and settings are enabled for highest service reliability .

Operational costs are reduced by not having to derive, enter, and test new settings. This is done
conveniently in advance. For example, in a bus-tle circuit breaker application, the bus-tie relay stores
the settings for the feeder relays it replaces (see Figure 3).

References 6 and 7 describe the first relay with multiple setting groups. In new distribution relays,
the multiple setting group feature has been expanded to allow the programmable internal logic and
output contact functions to change along with the relay element settings .

CONCLUSIONS

Event reports, self testing, programmable logic, and multiple setting group features in advanced
microprocessor-based distribution relays improve distribution protection and aid in event analysis and
testing.

REFERENCm

I. Data Sheet, SEL-151 Distribution Relay, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (1991).

2. Data Sheet, SEL-151C Distribution Bus Relay, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
(1991).

3. Data Sheet, SEL-251 Distribution Relay, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (1992).

4. "Improved Sensitivity and Security for Distribution Bus and Feeder Relays," Ahmed F.
Elneweihi, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, Edmund 0. Schweitzer, III and Mark
W. Feltis, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. Proceedings of the 18th Annual Western
Protective Relay Conference, Spokane, Washington, October 22-24, 1991. Washington State
University, Conferences and Institutes, Pullman, Washington.

5. "Analysis of Event Reports," by Jeff Roberts and Edmund 0. Schweitzer, III, Schweitzer
Engineering Laboratories, Inc. Proceedings of the 16th Annual Western Protective Relay
Conference, Spokane, Washington, October 24-26, 1989. Washington State University,
Conferences and Institutes, Pullman, Washington.

6. Data Sheet, SEL-121B, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (1989).

"Novel Applications of a Digital Relay with Multiple Setting Groups, " Demetrios A. Tziouvaras,
7
Pacific Gas and Electric Co., and William D. Hawbaker, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories,
Inc. Proceedings of the 17th Annual Western Protective Relay Conference, Spokane, Washing-

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 ton, October 23-25, 1990. Washington State University, Conferences and Institutes, Pullman,
Washington.

BIOGRAP~

Edmund 0. Schweitzer, III is President of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (SEL), Pullman,
Washington. SEL designs and manufactures microprocessor-based protective relays for electric power

systems.
Mark w. Feltis is a development engineer at SEL. He previously worked for the Pacific Gas and
Electric Company (California) in distribution engineering.

~
 Currents Voltages
p Q N Out In
A pri V pri
555T 55555 D 7B T13A 135
IA 16 IC VA VB VC IDDC 10100 E 9K &&&L &&&
IR
LHI LH M R C24R 246

R. B351 One cycle of data,

-5 -82 -288 362 -1613 -9533 11081
-122 11837 R. B351 prefault conditions
-0 382 -254 -7279 -4601
5 77 288 -362 1606 9533 -11081 R. B351
-0 -379 254 122 -11830 7279 4601 R. B351
Both (8) inputs 1 and 2

-5 -74 -288 362 -1606 -9540 11081 R. arr--- are energized.

11844 R. B35 lnput 3 (3) is energized
-0 374 -254 -122 -7279 -4615
-362 1591 R. B35 input 5 (5) is energized
5 79 288 9547 -11074

-0 -377 254 122 -11851 7265 4637 R. B35

-5 -82 -288 362 -1577 -9554 11066 R. B35

-0 379 -254 -122 11844 -7250 -4644 R. B35
5 79 288 -362 1562 9569 -11066 ... R. B35
-0 -379 254 122 -11837 -956911066
72364644 B35
B35
Keclosing relay
362 -1555 (dev. 79) is in the
-7 -77 -288
-254 -125 11844 -7236 -4658 R B35 reset state (R).
2 379
124 192 283 -355 1570 9569 -11066 R. B35

277 -82 228 132 -10800 6818 4349 ~...R B35 I

uvercurrent elements
314 -1519 -9634 11066 ~:.~. p~. .R. B35 I pick up (pj at phase
-1153 -1200 -252
-190 -120 8575 -5904 -3686 p... p. pp. .R. B35 A-to-ground fault
-226 84
218 -269 1361 9742 -11023 p.. .p. pp. .R. B35 inception and start
2318 2338
-153 -425 178 98 -7265 5342 3298 p. ..p. pp. .R. B35 timing.

-2600 -2614 -211 257 -1246 -9799 10987 p... p. pp. .R. B35

204 470 -178 -96 7106 -5256 -3254 p. ..p. pp. .R. B35

2639 2650 211 -254 1217 9814 -10987 p... p. pp. .R. B35

-212 -478 178 96 -7078 5242 3262 p. ..p. pp. .R. B35

-2646 -2654 -211 254 -1210 -9821 10980 p. ..p. pp. .R. B35 Ground overcurrent
-178 -96 7070 -5242 -3276 p. ..p. pp. .R. B35 element SONLT times out
216 482
2646 2654 211 -254 1210 9821 -10973 p... p. pp. .R. B35 after 3 cycles ("p"
-221 -487 175 96 -7070 5227 3290 p. ..p. p~. .R. B35 changes to "T"). SONLT
enabled for tripping.
-2646 -2652 -211 254 -1202 -9821 10973 p. ..p. pt. .R. t. ..B35 TRIP output contact
224 490 -173 -96 7070 -5213 -3298 p... p. pT. .R. T. ..B35 asserts (T).
2646 2650 211 -254 1188 9835 -10973 p.. .p. pT. .C. T.3. B35

-224 -490 173 96 -7070 5206 3305 p... p. pT. . fi ~T.3. B35 Reclosing relay is in the

-209 254 -1181 -9850 10966 p. ..p. pT. ..T .3. B35 reclose cycle state (C).
-2646 -2652
226 494 -175 -96 7070 -5191 -3312 p. ..p. pT. .C. T.3. B35

2527 2532 199 -242 1159 9850 -10958 p... p. pT. C. T .3. B35

-504 -710 110 106 -8129 5602 3650 p. ..p. pT. .C. T .3. B3f--- Circuit breaker auxiliary
contact (52A) opens and

-1491 -1498 -115 144 -1166 -9799 10951 p. ..p. pT. .C. T.3. B3. input 5 is de-energized

438 521 -26 -65 10354 -6509 -4342 p. ..p. pT. .C. T .3. B3. (input IN5=52A).
326 331 24 -34 1289 9713 -10966 p.pT..C.T.3.B3.
-56 -70 5 10 -11678 7049 4745 ..C. T.3. B3.
uvercurrent elements drop
-44 -43 -5 5 -1382 -9677 10987 C. ..3. B3. out after circuit
7 12 0 -2 11844 -7099 -4802 C...3.B3. breaker clears fault.
7 5 0 0 1382 9684 -10987 C. ..3. B3.

-0 -2 0 0 -11858 7092 4810 C. ..3. B3.

Event: AG T Location: 2.45 Shot: 0 Targets: INSTAQNl rEvent Summary -includes

Currents (A pri), ABCQN: 2698 274 271 2616 2655 J l fault location

Figure 1: Example Event Report

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 Figure 2: Relay Logic Representation of Programmable Logic Example

FEEDER 3

FEEDER4

Figure 3: Bus-tle Breaker Substitutes for Distribution Feeder Breakers