Distance Protection is for Zone Faults and it will trip on time delay.

But SOTF means Switch On to Fault i.e when fault is

there without knowing that fault, we can close the breaker means it will trip on SOTF, then we know that already fault in the
line. SOTF helpful for us like when we taking LC for some maintenance in the line, at that time we will provide Earth switch
for safety. Without removing the switch we can close the breaker means it will trip on SOTF.
During energisation of the line vt input is near to zero. at that time any fault happens in the line distance protection is not
able to operate because vt is near to zero. So we are enabling the SOTF protection in the relay.
SOTF function: The relay will check if any fault happens during energisation with in the 20ms, if fault is presents the relay will
operate
as
a
simple
O/C
relay
and
its
isolate
the
healthy
section
from
faulty
dection.
Current detection(A,B&C) and No Voltage detection(A,B&C)--> 20ms Delay ---> Trip