Application Note

System-based Testing of Line Distance Protection with

Teleprotection

Author
Jens Baumeister | Jens.Baumeister@omicronenergy.com

Date
February 20, 2017

Related OMICRON Product

CMC, RelaySimTest, CMGPS 588

Application Area
Distance Teleprotection End to End Testing

Keywords
RelaySimTest, System-based Testing, Distance Teleprotection, End to End Testing, GPS Synchronization,
PTP

Version
v2.0

Document ID
ANS_14004_ENU

Abstract
Due to the increasing complexity of our electrical power systems, the need for highly selective protection is
increasingly being fulfilled by the use of distance teleprotection. To test a teleprotection function
thoroughly, a distributed end to end test with synchronized injection can be utilized.
This application note describes how this could be done in an easy and comfortable way using the
corresponding OMICRON RelaySimTest test template. RelaySimTest offers simulation based system testing
methods. To perform a test a fault scenario is calculated based on the simulation of the power system
network. The resulting voltages and currents for the different relay locations can be used to test the correct
behavior of the distance teleprotection system. For this reason RelaySimTest offers the possibility to control
several distributed and time synchronized CMC test sets.

© OMICRON Page 1 of 20
 General information

OMICRON electronics GmbH including all international branch offices is henceforth referred to as
OMICRON.
The product information, specifications, and technical data embodied in this application note represent the
technical status at the time of writing and are subject to change without prior notice.
We have done our best to ensure that the information given in this application note is useful, accurate and
entirely reliable. However, OMICRON does not assume responsibility for any inaccuracies which may be
present.
OMICRON translates this application note from the source language English into a number of other
languages. Any translation of this document is done for local requirements, and in the event of a dispute
between the English and a non-English version, the English version of this note shall govern.

All rights including translation reserved. Reproduction of any kind, for example, photocopying, microfilming,
optical character recognition and/or storage in electronic data processing systems, requires the explicit
consent of OMICRON. Reprinting, wholly or in part, is not permitted.
© OMICRON 2017. All rights reserved. This application note is a publication of OMICRON.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 2 of 20

 Content

1 Safety Instructions ................................................................................................................................4

2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................5
2.1 General Requirements....................................................................................................................5
2.2 What this Application Note describes .............................................................................................5
2.3 Distance Teleprotection ..................................................................................................................5
3 System Under Test ................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Application Example .......................................................................................................................7
3.2 Settings of the System Under Test Menu in RelaySimTest ...........................................................8
4 Test Cases ........................................................................................................................................... 10
4.1 Suitable Test Cases ..................................................................................................................... 10
4.1.1 General Test Information ................................................................................................................ 10
4.1.2 Test Case 1: Time Grading without Teleprotection ......................................................................... 12
4.1.3 Test Case 2 – Double Infeed, Fault on Line.................................................................................... 12
4.1.4 Test Case 3 and 4 – Double Infeed, Line Fault at 0 and 100%, RF and Load Current ................... 13
4.1.5 Test Case 5 and 6 – Single Infeed, Fault on Line (Weak Infeed Logic Test) .................................. 14
4.1.6 Test Case 7 and 8 – Single Infeed, Fault on Busbar....................................................................... 15
4.1.7 Test Case 9 and 10 – Double Infeed, Fault on Busbar, RF and Load Current ................................ 16
5 Illustration of the Impedances ........................................................................................................... 17
6 List of Literature ................................................................................................................................. 19

© OMICRON 2017 Page 3 of 20

1 Safety Instructions
This application note may only be used in combination with the relevant product manuals which contain all
safety instructions. The user is fully responsibility for any application that makes use of OMICRON products.
Instructions are always characterized by a  symbol even if they are included to a safety instruction.

DANGER
Death or severe injury caused by high voltage or current if the respective
protective measures are not complied.

 Carefully read and understand the content of this application note as well as
the manuals of the involved systems before starting its practical application.
 Please contact OMICRON before you continue the process if you do not
understand the safety instructions, operating instructions, or parts of it.
 Follow each instruction mentioned there especially the safety instructions
since this is the only way to avoid danger that can occur when working at
high voltage or high current systems.
 Furthermore, only use the involved equipment according to its intended
purpose to guarantee a safe operation.
 Existing national safety standards for accident prevention and
environmental protection may supplement the equipment’s manual.

DANGER
Death or severe injury caused by high voltage or current.

 Before wiring up or rewiring the equipment always turn off each system
involved to the test process.

WARNING
Equipment damage or loss of data caused by high voltage or current possible.

 Before wiring up or rewiring the equipment always turn off each system
involved to the test process.
 Before starting a test always check that the test signals are suitable for your
system under test.

Only experienced and competent professionals that are trained for working in high voltage or high current
environments may perform this application note. Additional the following qualifications are required:
• authorized to work in environments of energy generation, transmission or distribution and familiar
with the approved operating practices in such environments
• familiar with the five safety rules
• familiar with protection testing
• good knowledge of the OMICRON CMC test sets, RelaySimTest and CMGPS 588

© OMICRON 2017 Page 4 of 20

2 Introduction

2.1 General Requirements

Before you get started with this application note, read the “Getting Started” manual [1] of RelaySimTest.
Please make sure that you also have a good knowledge about the CMC test system.

2.2 What this Application Note describes

The application note describes the End to end relay tests of the RelaySimTest predefined Distance
Teleprotection template. Therefore it covers the following content of the test template.

1. Distance Teleprotection (general information)

2. System Under Test
3. Test Sets Configuration
4. Test Cases

The application note does not describe a distance protection test itself. It does not describe reach tests
for the distance zones, single end tests, wiring checks and parameter tests. To test the protection thoroughly
such tests are also recommended.

2.3 Distance Teleprotection

The zone grading of distance protection has the problem that zone 1 (Z1) does not protect the entire length
of the line. This means that instantaneous tripping is only possible for around 80% to 90% of the line (see
Figure 1).

Figure 1: Fault in zone 2

© OMICRON 2017 Page 5 of 20

 If a fault occurs, communication between both sides of the protected line allows instantaneous tripping for
the entire line. This scheme is generally referred to as "teleprotection".

Figure 2: Functional principle of teleprotection: Fault between the teleprotection system (left side); Fault behind substation B (right side)

Figure 2 describes the principle of teleprotection:

> Left side: The fault is in zone 2 (Z2) for relay A and in Z1 for relay B. Relay B uses
telecommunication to show relay A that the fault is between them. This allows relay A to trip
instantaneously, it doesn’t has to delay the tripping with the time of Z2.
> Right side: The fault is behind substation B. For relay A the fault is in Z2, for relay B it is in
backwards direction. Therefore relay B doesn’t send a signal to relay A, that would allow relay A
to trip instantaneously. Relay A trips with the delay time of Z2

There are different teleprotection schemes. Figure 2 describes a permissive underreach transfer tripping
scheme (PUTT). Here a signal is only sent to the other end if a fault is detected in zone 1. It’s enough if only
one relay detects a fault in its zone 1 to ensure that the fault is between side A and B. In this case the relays
on both sides have to trip instantaneously. Zone 1 doesn’t cover the whole length of the line, this is why such
a scheme is classed as “underreaching”.

Figure 3: Principle of PUTT

In contrast a permissive overreach transfer tripping scheme (POTT) uses typically an extended zone (Z1B).
This zone extends Z1 to cover a length that is longer than the line length (overreaching). Relay A and B
send a release signal to the other end if a fault is within the respective extended zone. That means if both
relays send a signal the fault is between them (see Figure 4). In this case the relays on both sides have to
trip instantaneously.

Figure 4: Principle of POTT

The example of this application note uses a POTT scheme. For more information about Distance protection
see [2].

© OMICRON 2017 Page 6 of 20

3 System Under Test
3.1 Application Example
The following figure shows the power system protected by distance teleprotection using a POTT scheme as
described in chapter 2.3 .

80% Z2
Z1 Z1B
120% 120%
Z1B Z1
Z2 80%

Figure 5: Application Example – Line protected by distance teleprotection using a POTT scheme (CT: Current Transformer; VT: Voltage
Transformer)

Figure 5 shows that the extended zone (Z1B) reaches from 80% to 120% of the line length. A fault in the
area of 0% to 100% of the line length should lead to an instantaneous trip of relay A and B. It is assumed
that the relays of the example have an impedance tolerance of 5%.
Figure 6 illustrates the time grading of the distance protection. Both relays have two distance zones for their
forward and one zone for their reverse direction. The first zone has no delay which means the nominal trip
time is 0 s. In the second zone the nominal trip time is 400 ms. The reverse zone has a delay time of 1.2 s.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 7 of 20

 Z3
1.2 s
0.8 s
Z2
0.4 s
Z1 Z1B
0s
A B

0s
Z1B Z1
0.4 s
Z2
0.8 s
1.2 s
Z3

Figure 6: Example - Time grading for relay A and B (Blue: Relay A; Green: Relay B)

3.2 Settings of the System Under Test Menu in RelaySimTest

The power system parameters according to the example (see chapter 3.1 ) are in the submenu Power
system of the menu System Under Test. A click on an element like “Infeed A” opens the associated input
mask on the right side of the screen.

Figure 7: Power system

© OMICRON 2017 Page 8 of 20

 A double click on the protection relay opens the corresponding configuration menu. It contains details like
general settings and device connections as well as the description of signal in- and outputs. The distance
protection relays are connected to the corresponding VT and CT of their site as well as to the corresponding
CB (trip signal).

Figure 8: Protection relay

© OMICRON 2017 Page 9 of 20

4 Test Cases
4.1 Suitable Test Cases
4.1.1 General Test Information
Figure 9 shows the menu Test cases. It contains the test scenarios and test steps of the corresponding
RelaySimTest template. A double click on a test case opens it.

Figure 9: Test cases menu

After a click on the relay in the power system model, a menu pops up showing a pin needle (Figure 10). A
click on the pin needle opens the corresponding relay widget. With the wrench icon in the widget header it is
possible to configure it to show the steady state impedances resulting from the test signals. This feature is
useful to check the impedances that the relay under test calculates.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 10 of 20

 Figure 10: Power system widgets

This chapter describes the test of the corresponding RelaySimTest template.

To keep the template simple, it uses only the following Fault types:
> L1-N
> L2-L3
> L1-L2-L3

All test cases with faults include these fault types. Depending on the relays under test, on the relay’s
parameter and on the grid where the protection system is used, it can be necessary to add more fault types.

To get particularly high currents the fault inception angle is set to 0°.

The nominal trip time of the protection is between 0 and 1.2 s. All test cases should have an adequate
simulation time to cover the whole test scenario and to ensure that the relay has enough time to show its
reaction on the test.

Sometimes distance protection relays use the voltages of their voltage memory, if the voltages during a fault
are too small to use them. Therefore it is necessary to fill this memory before the fault occurs. How long this
takes, depends on the relay type. The template uses a prefault duration of 300 ms to fill the memory.

Some of the test cases use a certain fault resistance RF to find out if the protection system can handle it. In
all test cases where the influence of RF is not considered RF is set to 0 .
The following chapters describe the different test cases of the template in detail. To use the template power
system and test cases have to be adapted to the respective application, because each protection system is
very individual. In all test cases the trip command of relay A and the trip command of relay B is observed.
Chapter Error! Reference source not found.describes how to measure and to assess the trip times.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 11 of 20

4.1.2 Test Case 1: Time Grading without Teleprotection
For this test case the teleprotection function has to be disabled. After the test it is very important to
enable the teleprotection function again.
This test case should show that the relays use the distance time grading if the teleprotection is disabled.

> The zone borders between Z1 and Z2 are at 20% of the line for relay B and at 80% of the line for relay A

> The zone tolerance is assumed to be 5%

> The fault is located around the zone borders but not inside the tolerance band

> Fault locations: 14%, 26%, 74%, 86%

Figure 11: Test case 1

→ According to the time grading of the distance protection the relays have to show the following trip times:

Fault Location 14% 26% 74% 86%

Trip Time Relay A 0s 0s 0s 400 ms

Trip Time Relay B 400 ms 0s 0s 0s

4.1.3 Test Case 2 – Double Infeed, Fault on Line

This test case should show that a fault on the protected line leads to an instantaneous trip of the
teleprotection system. The fault is placed on different fault locations.

> Fault locations: 0%, 50%, 100% of the protected line.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 12 of 20

 Figure 12: Test case 2

→ The fault is on the protected line, hence the relays have to detect it in zone 1 (Z1) or in the extended
zone Z1B. In both cases they have to send a signal immediately to the other site which releases the
extended zone of the remote relay. If a relay detects a fault in Z1, it has to trip instantaneously. If it
detects a fault in Z1B it has to trip instantaneously when it receives the release signal from the other
end.

4.1.4 Test Case 3 and 4 – Double Infeed, Line Fault at 0 and 100%, RF and Load Current
These test cases should show that a fault on the protected line leads to an instantaneous trip of the
teleprotection system even under unfavorable conditions.

> A fault resistance of 3  is used. It influences the fault loop impedance measured by the relays. (Number
[2] of the bibliography shows how to estimate a fault resistance). Figure 13 illustrates such an effect, if
there would be only a single infeed at the relays site and no infeed at the remote line end. Furthermore
the influence of a load current is neglected.

RF

ZL
ZM

Figure 13: Influence of a fault resistance (ZL: Line impedance from the relay to the fault location; RF: Fault impedance; ZM: Measured
Loop Impedance)

> The influence of the fault resistance increases, if there is a load current and if there is an infeed at the
remote end. Depending on the power direction the measured reactance increases or decreases.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 13 of 20

 X

ZF

ZL
ZM

Figure 14: Influence of a fault resistance with an infeed at the remote end and a load current (ZL: Line impedance from the relay to the
fault location; ZF: Impedance due to the fault resistance; ZM: Measured loop impedance)

> To realize the load current the phase angle of infeed B is varied, while the phase angle of infeed A
stays at 0°. For the tests phase angles of -20°, 0° and +20° are used for infeed B. +-20° leads in the grid
of the example to a load current of about 340 A, this current is assumed as maximum load current. 0°
leads to a no load condition.

> For test case 3 the fault location is at the beginning of the line (0%) and for test case 4 at the end of the
line (100%). Especially these two locations can cause trouble, because they are at the borders of the
teleprotected area.

→ Even if there are unfavorable conditions the fault is inside the area that is protected by the teleprotection
system, therefore the relays have to behave in the same way they have to behave in test case 2.

4.1.5 Test Case 5 and 6 – Single Infeed, Fault on Line (Weak Infeed Logic Test)
It can be a requirement that faults on the teleprotected line have to lead to an instantaneous relay trip even if
the remote relay does not detect the fault.
The reason why the remote end does not pick up could be a weak infeed. Figure 15 illustrates a weak infeed
at site B. The relay on site A detects the fault in Z1B and sends a signal to relay B. On site B the fault current
is insufficient to cause a trigger of relay B. Hence relay B would not send a release signal and relay A would
trip with zone 2. Relay B on the other hand would not trip at all.
If a logic for weak infeed signals is used and relay B receives a signal while it has not detected the fault, this
logic checks whether the voltage is below a specific value. If this is the case, Relay B trips and sends an
echo to relay A to release its extended zone.
In this application note such a logic is called weak infeed logic. With test cases 5 and 6 this logic is tested.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 14 of 20

 Figure 15: Weak infeed at site B

> The fault is placed at different fault locations: 0%, 50% and 100% of the line

> In test case 5 only Infeed A is connected.

Figure 16: Test case 5

→ There is no infeed at the site of relay B, therefore it will not detected the fault. Nevertheless the faults on
the line have to lead to an instantaneous trip command of relay A and B due to the weak infeed logic. If
the fault is located at 100% of the line the trip time could be a little bit longer compared to a trip in Z1,
because of the weak infeed logic.

> In test case 6 only infeed B is connected.

→ There is no infeed at the site of relay A, therefore it will not detected the fault. Nevertheless the faults on
the line have to lead to an instantaneous trip command of relay A and B due to the weak infeed logic. If
the fault is located at 0% of the line the trip time could be a little bit longer compared to a trip in Z1 (of
relay B), because of the weak infeed logic.

4.1.6 Test Case 7 and 8 – Single Infeed, Fault on Busbar

A fault on the busbar is out of the teleprotected area. These test cases should show that in such a case Z1B
is not released and that the trip times of the relays fit to the time grading of their distance protection.

> In test case 7 only infeed A is connected

> The fault is placed on busbar B

© OMICRON 2017 Page 15 of 20

 Figure 17: Test case 7

→ The fault is out of the teleprotected area. Relay A has to trip with Z2. Relay B has to trip with its reverse
tripping zone (Z3).

> In test case 8 only infeed B is modeled

> The fault is placed on busbar A

→ The fault is out of the teleprotected area. Relay B has to trip with Z2. Relay A has to trip with its reverse
tripping zone (Z3).

4.1.7 Test Case 9 and 10 – Double Infeed, Fault on Busbar, RF and Load Current
This test cases are similar to test case 7 and 8 but with unfavorable conditions. As shown in chapter 4.1.4 a
fault resistance as well as a load current and a remote infeed can cause trouble for the distance
teleprotection. These test cases should show that the relays can deal with this influences if a fault occurs on
the busbar.
> A fault resistance of 3 Ohm is used.

> The phase angle of infeed B is varied: -20°, 0°, +20° are used as phase angles, while the phase angle
of infeed A stays at 0°.

> For test case 9 the fault is placed at busbar A

→ The fault is out of the teleprotected area. Relay B has to trip with Z2. Relay A has to trip with its reverse
tripping zone (Z3).

Figure 18: Test case 8

> For test case 10 the fault is placed at busbar B

→ The fault is out of the teleprotected area. Relay A has to trip with Z2. Relay B has to trip with its reverse
tripping zone (Z3).

© OMICRON 2017 Page 16 of 20

5 Illustration of the Impedances
The OMICRON TransView software is useful to analyze the test results. Here it is possible to display the
impedance trajectories resulting from the test voltages and currents. The feature Synchronize to
TransView in RelaySimTest offers the export of the signals.

Figure 19: Synchronize to TransView button

It is also possible to display the distance zones of the protection relay in the TransView circle diagrams, if
they are available as RIO file for example in the Menu Test Object of the OMICRON Test Universe.
The RIO file can be exported from the Test Universe Test Object as follows:
Select File in the Test Object main menu.
Select Export … in the submenu.
Select RIO file type and enter %TEMP%\SIMULATIONTEST.RIO as file name. The RIO file will be
saved in the same location where the RelaySimTest signal export is saved
(C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Temp).
Save the file.

Figure 20: RIO export from the menu Test Object of the OMICRON Test Universe

The illustration of the test signals and the distance zones in TransView allows to double check that the
relays trip in the correct zone.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 17 of 20

 Figure 21: Illustration of the impedances in TransView

© OMICRON 2017 Page 18 of 20

6 List of Literature

[1] Getting Started with RelaySimTest; OMICRON electronics GmbH; 2017

[2] “Numerical Distance Protection: Principles and Applications”; 4th edition; Gerhard Ziegler;
PUBLICIS; 2011
[3] “Implementation and Transition Concepts for IEEE 1588 Precision Timing in IEC 61850
Substation Environments”; B. Baumgartner, C. Riesch, M. Rudigier; OMICRON electronics
GmbH

© OMICRON 2017 Page 19 of 20

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