Distance Protection Schemes

1
 Basic Distance Scheme

Z3
Z2
Z1

Z1
Z2
Z3

Z1 1 Trip Trip 1 Z1

Z2 T2 . . T2 Z2

Z3 T3 T3 Z3

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 Basic Distance Scheme - Disadvantages

Zone 1 set to 80% leaves 2 end zones

Faults in end zone results in instantaneous
tripping at one end and time delayed at the other
Time delay may lead to system stability problems
Sequential clearance leaves no dead time for high
speed A/R cycle (transient fault becomes
permanent)
Longer clearance times - More damage

3
 Zone 1 Extension Scheme
Z3
Z2
Z1
Z1X

Z1X
Z1

Z2
Z3

A/R A/R
& &
Z1X Z1X

Z1 1 1 Trip Trip 1 1 Z1

Z2 T2 . . T2 Z2

Z3 T3 T3 Z3

4
 Zone 1 Extension - Advantages

No signalling channel required (may be used as

temporary replacement for carrier aided scheme
when comms. channel out of service)

Provides fast fault clearance at both ends for a

transient fault anywhere along the line length

Allows the use of high speed A/R cycle

5
 Zone 1 Extension Scheme - Disadvantages

Tripping can occur for external faults (but will be

followed by an autoreclose)

Basic distance scheme logic applies following

reclose (i.e. potential for time delayed clearance for
permanent faults)

Only suitable to systems where autoreclose is used

(for example can not be used on cable circuits)

6
 Loss of Load Accelerated Trip

Z3
Z2
Z1

Z1
Z2
Z3
T1 = 40ms (allows for slowest pickup of Zone 2)
T2 = 18ms (prevents LOL trip for external fault with
CB pole scatter)
LDA
LDB &
LDC . . T2
0
. & Trip
T1 0 Z2
&
1 .
. .
.

7
 Loss of Load Scheme

Fast fault clearance without the need for a

signalling channel

Only applicable where 3 phase tripping is used

Only operates for unbalanced faults

Load current (above the current detector settings)

must exist prior to the fault to ‘arm’ the scheme
Can be used as back up to signal aided scheme

8
Channel Dependant Schemes

9
 Unit Protection Schemes

Provide high speed clearance for all faults on line

(for example current differential)

Do not provide inherent back-up protection

Solution is to provide distance protection for
back-up protection of adjacent lines with an aided
tripping scheme for high speed protection of
whole line

Requires the use of an ON/OFF signalling channel

between line ends (i.e. HF/VF/Fibre Optic/Radio)

10
Types of Aided Tripping Schemes

Acceleration

Transfer tripping
Direct
Permissive
Underreach
Permissive Overreach

Blocking

11
 Direct Transfer Trip

Z3
Z2
Z1

Z1
Z2
Z3 Tx Tx
Rx Rx

Z1 1 Trip Trip 1 Z1

Z2 T2 . . T2 Z2

Z3 T3 T3 Z3

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 Direct Transfer Trip - Advantages

All faults anywhere along the protected line can

be cleared instantaneously at both line ends

Scheme can be advantageous for protecting 3

terminal lines due to ease of application

13
 Direct Transfer Trip - Disadvantages

A very secure signalling channel is required :-

incorrect operation leads to false tripping

Circuit breakers at both line ends must be closed and

contribute fault current to obtain high speed fault
clearance

If the channel fails only the Basic scheme logic will

be provided

14
 Acceleration Scheme (for Reach Stepped Relay)

Z3
Z2
Z1

Z1
Z2
Z3 Tx Tx
Rx Rx

Z1/Z2 1 Trip Trip 1 Z1/Z2

Z3 T3 . . T3 Z3

1 Change 1
Z1 T2
T2 . .
reach

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Permissive Schemes

16
 Permissive Underreach Scheme

Z3
Z2
Z1

Z1
Z2
Z3
Tx Tx
0 Rx Rx 0
100 100

& &

Z1 1 Trip Trip 1 Z1

Z2 T2 . . T2 Z2

Z3 T3 T3 Z3

17
 Permissive Underreach Scheme

Race between relay at D

A B
picking up and signal
send from relay at C
C D
resetting, following
opening of breaker at C
Fault
21 21
Send Rx + Z2
If signal send from C
A B
resets before relay D
operates then aided
tripping will not occur
C D
To prevent this a 100ms
Fault
21 21 delay on drop off of the
Rx + Z2 signal send is used in
the scheme logic

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 Permissive Underreach Transfer Trip -
Advantages

Only a simplex signalling channel required

Scheme is very secure as signalling channel only

keyed for internal fault (Zone 1 initiation)

19
 Permissive Underreach Transfer Trip -
Disadvantages
If one terminal of the line is open then only Basic
scheme logic will apply

If there is a weak infeed at one terminal then only

Basic scheme logic will apply

If signalling channel fails then only Basic scheme

logic will apply

Resistive coverage is governed by Zone 1 setting

(may be limited on short lines)

20
 Permissive Overreach Scheme Internal Fault

Z3
Z2
Z1

Z1
Z2
Z3

Rx Rx
Tx Tx

& &
Z1 1 Trip Trip 1 Z1

Z2 T2 . . T2 Z2

Z3 T3 T3 Z3

21
 Permissive Overreach Scheme External Fault

Z3
Z2
Z1

Z1
Z2
Z3

Rx Rx
Tx Tx

& &
Z1 1 Trip Trip 1 Z1

Z2 T2 . . T2 Z2

Z3 T3 T3 Z3

22
 Permissive Overreach Scheme (CB Echo Logic)

Z3
Z2
Z1

Z1
Z2
Z3

CB open & & CB open

Rx Rx
Tx Tx
1 1

& &
Z1 1 Trip Trip 1 Z1

Z2 T2 . . T2 Z2

Z3 T3 T3 Z3

23
 Permissive Overreach Scheme (WI Echo Logic)

Z4
Z2
Z1

Z1
Z2
!
Z4

CB open & & CB open

Rx Rx
Z4 & Tx Tx & Z4
1 1

& &
Z1 1 Trip Trip 1 Z1

Z2 T2 . . T2 Z2

Z3 T3 T3 Z3

24
 Permissive Overreach Weak Infeed Trip Scheme

Z4
Z2
Z1

Z1
!
Z2
! " # $
Z4

CB open & & CB open

Rx Rx
Z4 & Tx Tx & Z4
1 1

LDOV & & LDOV

& &
Z1 1 Trip Trip 1 Z1

Z2 T2 . . T2 Z2

Z3 T3 T3 Z3

25
Permissive Overreach Transfer Trip - Advantages

Provides better resistive coverage, especially on

short lines, where MHO measuring elements are
used

For cases where one line terminal is open, open

breaker echo logic can be used

For cases of weak or zero infeed at one line

terminal weak infeed logic can be used (reverse
looking zone required)

26
Permissive Overreach Transfer Trip - Disadvantages

Duplex signalling channel required

Scheme is theoretically less secure then PUR as

signalling channel is keyed for external faults

If signalling channel fails then only Basic scheme

logic will apply

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Blocking Schemes

28
 Blocking Scheme - Internal Fault
Z3
Z2
Z1
Send Logic : Z3 + Z2
Z1 Trip Logic : Rx + Z2
Z2
Z3

& &
Rx Rx
Tx Tx

& &

Z1 1 Trip Trip 1 Z1

Z2 T2 . . T2 Z2

Z3 T3 T3 Z3

29
 Blocking Scheme - External Fault
Z3
Z2
Z1
Send Logic : Z3 + Z2
Z1 Trip Logic : Rx + Z2
Z2
Z3

& &
Rx Rx
Tx Tx

& &

Z1 1 Trip Trip 1 Z1

Z2 T2 . . T2 Z2

Z3 T3 T3 Z3

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 Blocking Scheme - Advantages

Only simplex signalling channel required

Provides better resistive coverage than PUR on short

lines where MHO elements are used

Fast tripping will still be possible at closed end of

line for all fault positions with remote breaker open

Fast tripping will still be possible at strong infeed

terminal for all fault positions where remote terminal
has no or weak infeed

31
 Blocking Scheme - Disadvantages
Only 2 forward zones of protection available (unless
relay has >3 Zones)

If signalling channel fails then only Basic scheme

logic will apply

Current sensitivity is lower as tripping elements (Z2)

are controlled by high set current level detectors (to
ensure blocking elements (Z3/Z4) are more sensitive
than tripping elements)

32
 Permissive Schemes vs Blocking Schemes

Permissive less reliable - require a signal from

remote relay plus local operation to trip

Blocking less secure - require a signal from remote

relay to prevent a trip

Permissive schemes are marginally faster and more

sensitive (timer plus high set current elements on
Blocking scheme)

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Directional Earth Fault (DEF)

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 Directional Earth Fault Schemes

DEF schemes are identical to Distance schemes

DEF Forward replaces Zone 2, DEF Reverse
replaces Zone 3/4 Reverse
No equivalent to Zone 1 as the DEF elements can
not have a defined reach, hence no schemes using
Zone 1 can be replicated (Z1 ext, PUR)

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 Directional Earth Fault Schemes

% %&
*

$
'() '()

Independent signalling channels allows the use of

different schemes for the distance and DEF elements,
for example PUR distance with POR DEF

36
 Directional Earth Fault Schemes

% %&
*

Shared Channel

'() '()

Shared signalling channels limits the use of

schemes for the distance and DEF elements.
Both use the same scheme logic.

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