Distance Relays Ideal Tripping Characteristic
in Presence of Directly Connected Load to
Transmission Lines
H. Shateri, Member, IEEE & IET, and S. Jamali, Fellow, IET
Abstract--This paper discusses the impact of a directly
connected load to transmission lines, without switching and
protective facilities, on distance relays at the line ends, by means
of presenting the measured impedance at the relaying point and
the distance relay ideal tripping characteristic. The measured
impedance at the relaying point is affected by several factors,
including the line structural and pre-fault loading conditions, and
specially the fault resistance. In the presence of a directly
connected load to the line, in addition to its connection point, its
type affects the measured impedance at the relaying point. The
variation of the measured impedance due to changes in the
concerning parameters would be investigated.
Index Terms--Directly connected load, Distance protection,
Fault resistance, Measured impedance, Transmission line.
I. INTRODUCTION
T HE measured impedance at the relaying point is the basis
of distance protection operation. There are several factors
affecting the measured impedance at the relaying point. Some
of these factors are related to the power system parameters
prior to the fault instance, which can be categorized into two
groups [1]-[5]. First group is the structural conditions, while
the second group is the operational conditions. In addition to
the power system parameters, the fault resistance, in single
phase to ground faults, could greatly influence the measured
impedance, in such a way that for zero fault resistance, the
power system parameters do not affect the measured
impedance. In other words, power system parameters affect
the measured impedance only in the presence of the fault
resistance, and as the fault resistance increases, the impact of
power system parameters becomes more severe.
In transmission systems, usually loads are supplied in the
substations; therefore, loads are connected at the buses of the
power system. From a transmission line point of view, loads
are usually connected at its ends, which are connected to the
system buses. The loads are tapped from bus-bars via a circuit
breaker and the required protective facilities. But, sometimes
some temporary loads should be supplied for a short time, e.g.
for a temporary need for electric energy, in an area without
The authors are with the Center of Excellence for Power Systems
Automation and Operation, Department of Electrical Engineering, Iran
University of Science and Technology (IUST), Narmak 16846, Tehran, Iran, (e-
mails: shateri@iust.ac.ir and sjamali@iust.ac.ir).
978-1-4244-3811-2/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE
MV or LV networks. These loads are supplied via a portable
substation directly connected to transmission lines. On the
other hand, some permanent loads are supplied through the
transformers directly connected to the transmission lines. In
these cases, loads are directly connected to the transmission
lines, without switching and protective facilities.
Unlike power system parameters, the type and the location
of the directly connected loads could affect the measured
impedance even in the absence of the fault resistance. In the
presence of directly connected loads, the conventional
distance characteristic might be subjected to mal-operation in
the form of over-reaching or under-reaching the fault point.
Therefore, the conventional characteristics might not provide
the protective duties satisfactorily in the presence of directly
connected loads to the transmission line.
This paper studies the impacts of the presence of a directly
connected load on a transmission line, by means of presenting
the measured impedance at the relaying point and the ideal
tripping characteristic of distance relay. The measured
impedance is presented for two cases of the load exclusion
and inclusion in the fault loop. The ideal tripping
characteristic is investigated due to changes in affecting
parameters.
II. LOAD MODEL
Loads in the power systems could be categorized in two
general types. The first type is the impedance loads, e.g.
thermal and lighting loads, or capacitors. These loads could be
modeled as an impedance, depending on their supplied active
and reactive power. The impedance could be a combination of
resistor and reactor depending on the supplied power and its
power factor. On the other hand, the second type is loads with
internal emf, e.g. electric motors. These loads could be
modeled as an impedance in series with a voltage source,
depending on their internal impedance and the amount of the
supplied load. The load could be the combination of the
mentioned load types.
The combination of two types of the loads could be
modeled with an impedance in series with a voltage source,
the same as the loads with internal emf. If the first type loads
are modeled with the impedances Z1Sh1 and Z0Sh1, and the
second type loads are modeled with the impedances Z1Sh2 and
Z0Sh2, and the voltage source of Eemf, the combination could be
modeled as: Z 1 A = Z 1SA + p Z 1 L (4)
Z 1Sh1 Z 1Sh2 Z 1 B = Z 1SB + ( 1 − p )Z 1L (5)
Z 1ld = (1)
Z 1Sh1 + Z 1Sh2 Z 0 A = Z 0 SA + p Z 0 L (6)
Z 0 Sh1 Z 0 Sh2 Z 0 B = Z 0 SB + ( 1 − p )Z 0 L (7)
Z 0 ld = (2)
Z 0 Sh1 + Z 0 Sh2 Z 1 A Z 1B Z Z
ZΣ = 2 + 0 A 0B (8)
Z 1Sh1 Z 1 A + Z 1B Z 0 A + Z 0 B
Eld = Eemf (3) Z1B
Z 1Sh1 + Z 1Sh2 C1 = (9)
Z 1 A + Z 1B
III. MEASURED IMPEDANCE AT RELAYING POINT Z0 B
C0 = (10)
Distance relays operate based on the measured impedance Z0 A + Z0 B
at the relaying point. In the absence of directly connected load Z 0 L − Z 1L
K0 L = (11)
and for zero fault resistance, the measured impedance at the 3Z 1 L
relaying point only depends on the length of the line section
1 − h e − jδ
between the fault and the relaying points. In Fig. 1 this K ld = (12)
Z 1 A h e − jδ + Z 1 B
impedance is equal to pZ1L, where p is per unit length of the
line section between the fault and the relaying points, and Z1L Cld = ( Z Σ + 3 R f )K ld (13)
is the line positive sequence impedance in ohms. 3R f
EA A B EB
Z A = p Z 1L + (14)
Z1SA p Z1L F (1-p) Z1L Z1SB Cld + 2C1 + C0 ( 1 + 3 K 0 L )
~ ~
It can be seen that for zero fault resistance the measured
Rf impedance at the relaying point is equal to the impedance of
the line section between the relaying and the fault points. The
power system conditions only affect the measured impedance
Fig. 1. Equivalent circuit for single phase to ground fault in the presence of the fault resistance.
Once a load is directly connected to a transmission line,
In the case of a non-zero fault resistance, the measured depending on its exclusion or inclusion in the fault loop, the
impedance is not equal to the impedance of the line section measured impedance would change. The load is connected at
between the relaying and the fault points. Here, the structural the length of i per unit from the relaying point. The following
and operational conditions of the power system affect the equations are introduced due to the load connection,
measured impedance. The structural conditions are evaluated independent of its exclusion or inclusion in the fault loop.
by short circuit levels at the line ends, SSA and SSB. The pre-
Z 1 AI = Z 1SA + i Z 1L (15)
fault operational conditions could be presented by the load
angle of the line, δ, and the ratio of the voltage magnitude at Z 1 BI = Z 1SB + ( 1 − i )Z 1 L (16)
the line ends, h, or totally EB / EA = he -jδ. In the absence of the Z 1 AF = Z 1SA + p Z 1L (17)
directly connected load and with respect to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, Z 1 BF = Z 1SB + ( 1 − p )Z 1L (18)
the measured impedance can be expressed by the following
equations. More detailed calculations can be found in [2]. Z 1 IF = i − p Z 1 L (19)
Z 0 AI = Z 0 SA + i Z 0 L (20)
A B
Z1SA p Z1L F (1-p) Z1L Z1SB Z 0 BI = Z 0 SB + ( 1 − i )Z 0 L (21)
Z 0 AF = Z 0 SA + p Z 0 L (22)
EA ~ ~ EB
Z 0 BF = Z 0 SB + ( 1 − p )Z 0 L (23)
Z 0 IF = i − p Z 0 L (24)
Z2SA p Z2L (1-p) Z2L Z2SB

3Rf
A. Load Connection Point out of Fault Loop
Once the load connection point is out of the fault loop, (4)-
(7) and (12)-(13) should be modified, and some new
Z0SA p Z0L (1-p) Z0L Z0SB
equations are introduced:
Z 1 A = Z 1 AF (25)
Z 1ld Z 1BI
Z 1 B = Z 1 IF + (26)
Z 1ld + Z 1 BI
Fig. 2. Equivalent circuit of phase A to ground fault Z 0 A = Z 0 AF (27)
 Z 0 ld Z 0 BI Z1SA = 1.3945 + j 15.9391 Ω
Z 0 B = Z 0 IF + (28) Z0SA = 7.4540 + j 27.8187 Ω
Z 0 ld + Z 0 BI
Z1SB = 0.6972 + j 7.9696 Ω
Den = Z 1BI [ Z 1 AF Eld + Z 1IF ] + Z 1ld [ Z 1 AF he − jδ + Z 1 BF ] (29) Z0SB = 3.7270 + j 13.9093 Ω
− jδ
K ld = Z 1BI [ 1 − Eld ] + Z 1ld [ 1 − he ] (30) h = 0.96
Cld = ( Z Σ + 3 R f )K ld / Den δ = 16º
(31)
In the absence of the load, Fig. 3 shows the ideal tripping
It can be seen that the measured impedance in the case of characteristic of the distance relay, which is the measured
zero fault resistance is equal to the impedance of the line impedance at the relaying point as the fault resistance varies
section between the relaying and the fault points. from 0 to 200 ohms, while the fault location moves from the
near end up to the far end of the transmission line.
B. Load Connection Point in Fault Loop
100
Once the load connection point is out of the fault loop, (4)-
90
(7) should be modified, (12)-(13) would change to (30)-(31),
80
and some new equations are introduced:
70
Z 1ld Z 1 AI

Reactance, X (Ohms)
Z 1 A = Z 1 IF + (32) 60
Z 1ld + Z 1 AI
50
Z 1 B = Z 1BF (33) 40

Z Z
Z 0 A = Z 0 IF + 0 ld 0 AI (34)
30

Z 0 ld + Z 0 AI 20

Z 0 B = Z 0 BF (35) 10

Z 1ld 0
C1 A = (36)
0 50 100 150 200
Resistance, R (Ohms)
250 300 350

Z 1ld + Z 1 AI Fig. 3. Distance relay ideal tripping characteristic, without load

Z 0 ld
C0 A = (37)
Z 0 ld + Z 0 AI It can be seen that in the absence of the fault resistance, the
− jδ measured impedance at the relaying point is the actual
Den = Z 1 AI [ Z 1 IF he + Z 1BF Eld ]
(38) impedance of the line section up to the fault point.
− jδ
+ Z 1ld [ Z 1 AF he + Z 1 BF ] When a load is directly connected to a transmission line,
K ld Δ = Z 1 AI [ Eld − he − jδ ] − Z 1 BI [ 1 − Eld ] (39) apart from the amount of the supplied power and its
connection location, the other parameters such as the load
Cld Δ = ( Z Σ + 3 R f )K ld Δ / Den (40) type and its power factor also affect the measured impedance.
⎡Cld + 2C1 ( 1 − C1 A ) ⎤
C Sh = Z 1IF ⎢ Δ ⎥ (41) A. Load Type
⎣ + C0 ( 1 − C0 A )( 1 + 3 K 0 L )⎦ As mentioned, loads could be categorized into two types,
C Sh + 3 R f from modeling point of view, impedance loads and loads with
Z A = p Z 1L + (42)
Cld + 2C1C1 A + C0 C0 A ( 1 + 3 K 0 L ) internal emf. The supplied load could be the combination of
the two types. Fig. 4 shows the effect of the load type on the
It can be seen that in the absence of the fault resistance, the measured impedance, where the supplied load is a
measured impedance is not equal to the actual impedance of combination of the two types with the various proportions.
the line section located between the relaying and the fault Here, the proportion of the impedance loads is 0%, 25%,
points. 50%, 75%, and 100%. The load is 50 MVA, with power
factor of 0.9, and it is connected at the mid-point of the line.
IV. EFFECTS OF DIRECTLY CONNECTED LOAD ON DISTANCE The ideal tripping characteristic in the absence of this load is
RELAY IDEAL TRIPPING CHARACTERISTIC shown in dotted form for comparison.
The impacts of the direct connection of the load to a In the presence of the load at the mid-point, or anywhere
transmission line have been tested for a practical system. A on the line, the tripping characteristic is split into two
400 kV Iranian transmission line with the length of 300 km adjoined parts. The lower part is for the faults on the near half
has been used for this study. By utilizing the Electro-Magnetic of the line, or the near line section up to the load connection
Transient Program (EMTP) [6] various sequence impedances point, while the upper part is corresponding to the faults on
of the line are evaluated according to its physical dimensions. the far half, or the far line section. The lower boundary of the
The calculated impedances and the other parameters of the upper part and the upper boundary of the lower part are the
power system are: same.
Z1L = 0.01133 + j 0.3037 Ω/km In the case of a pure impedance load, case of 100%, the
Z0L = 0.1535 + j 1.1478 Ω/km measured resistance decreases in both parts. In the lower part,
the measured reactance increases. The measured impedance 100
in the case of zero fault resistance is the actual value. In the 90
upper part, the measured reactance increases for the faults
80
close to the mid-point, and in the case of faults close to the far
70
end, the measured reactance increases for low and high fault

Reactance, X (Ohms)
60
resistances while decreases for medium fault resistance. The
measured impedance in the case of zero fault resistance is not 50

equal to the actual value, but its deviation is really low, less 40

than 0.4 ohms, or 0.4%. 30

110 20

100 (0%) 10

90 0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
80 ( 100 % ) Resistance, R (Ohms)
Fig. 5. Tripping characteristic, impedance load, location variation
Reactance, X (Ohms)

70

60

50 Fig. 6 shows the effect of the load connection location on

40 the measured impedance at the relaying point. Here, for a pure
30 load with internal emf, the connection point is at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6,
20
and 0.8 of the line length. The load is 50 MVA, with power
10
factor of 0.9.
0 110
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 ( 0.4 ) ( 0.6 )
Resistance, R (Ohms) 100
Fig. 4. Tripping characteristic, load type variation 90 ( 0.2 ) ( 0.8 )

80
In the case of a pure load with internal emf, case of 0%,
Reactance, X (Ohms)

70
and in the lower part, the measured resistance increases as 60
well as the measured reactance. The measured impedance in 50
the case of zero fault resistance is the actual value. In the 40
upper part, the measured resistance increases for the faults 30
close to the mid-point, while it decreases for the faults close 20
to the far end. The measured reactance increases along the far 10
half of the line. The measured impedance in the case of zero 0
fault resistance is not equal to the actual value, and the 0 50 100 150 200
Resistance, R (Ohms)
250 300 350

measured impedance deviation is relatively considerable,
more than 16 ohms, or 17%.
It can be seen that as the proportion of the impedance load
increases, in the lower part the measured resistance decreases
as well as the measured reactance. In the upper part, the
measured resistance decreases as well as the measured
reactance. The deviation of the measured impedance in the
case of zero fault resistance decreases considerably.
B. Load Connection Point
The load connection point could affect the measured
impedance at the relaying point. Fig. 5 shows the effect of the
load connection location on the measured impedance at the
relaying point. Here, for a pure impedance load, the
connection point is at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 of the line length.
The load is 50 MVA, with power factor of 0.9.
It can be seen that in the case of the impedance load, the
ideal tripping characteristic does not change considerably due
to the load connection point variation. The only major change
in the tripping characteristic is the variation of the covered
region in the lower and upper parts. In the close look it can be
seen that as the load connection point approaches to the mid-
point, the deviation of the measured impedance increases.
Fig. 6. Tripping characteristic, emf load, location variation
It can be seen that in the case of the load with internal emf,
the ideal tripping characteristic changes considerably due to
the load connection point variation. In the addition to the
variation of the covered region in the lower and upper parts,
the deviation of the measured impedance for zero fault
resistance changes considerably.
It can be seen that as the load connection point approaches
to the mid-point, the deviation of the measured impedance
increases.
C. Load Power Factor
The load power factor could affect the measured
impedance at the relaying point. Fig. 7 shows the effect of the
load power factor on the measured impedance at the relaying
point. Here, for a pure impedance load, the power factor is
equal to 0.8, 0.9, and 1.0, both lagging and leading. The load
is 50 MVA and connected at the mid-point of the line.
It can be seen that as the lagging power factor increases up
to the unit power factor and then decreases in leading mode,
in the case of the impedance load the measured resistance
increases while the measured reactance decreases. The ideal
tripping characteristic does not change considerably in the supplied load is equal to 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 MVA. The
case of low fault resistances. load power factor is 0.9 and it is connected at the mid-point.
100
100
90
90
( 0.8 Lag )
80 ( 100 )
80
70 (0)
70
Reactance, X (Ohms)

Reactance, X (Ohms)
60 ( 0.8 Lead )
60
50
50
40
40
30
30
20
20
10
10
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Resistance, R (Ohms)
Resistance, R (Ohms)
Fig. 7. Tripping characteristic, impedance load, power factor variation Fig. 9. Tripping characteristic, impedance load, power variation

In the close look it can be seen that as the load power It can be seen that as the magnitude of the load increases,
factor changes from the lagging to the leading mode, the in the case of the impedance load, the measured resistance
deviation of the measured impedance in the case of zero fault decreases and the measured reactance increases for low fault
resistance decreases. resistances, while it decreases in the case of high fault
Fig. 8 shows the effect of the load power factor on the resistances. The ideal tripping characteristic does not change
measured impedance at the relaying point. Here, for a pure considerably.
load with internal emf, the power factor is equal to 0.8, 0.9, In the close look it can be seen that as the magnitude of the
and 1.0, both lagging and leading. The load is 50 MVA and load increases, the deviation of the measured impedance in
connected at the mid-point of the line. the case of zero fault resistance increases slightly.
110
Fig. 10 shows the effect of the load magnitude on the
100
measured impedance at the relaying point. Here, for a pure
90
load with internal emf, the supplied load is equal to 0, 25, 50,
( 0.8 Lag )
80
75, and 100 MVA. The load power factor is 0.9 and it is
connected at the mid-point of the line.
Reactance, X (Ohms)

70
( 0.8 Lead )
60 130
( 100 )
50 120
110
40
100
30
90
(0)
Reactance, X (Ohms)

20 80
10 70

0 60
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
50
Resistance, R (Ohms)
Fig. 8. Tripping characteristic, emf load, power factor variation 40
30
20
It can be seen that as the lagging power factor increases up
10
to the unit power factor and then decreases in the leading 0
mode, in the case of the load with internal emf, the measured 0 50 100 150 200
Resistance, R (Ohms)
250 300 350

resistance increases and the measured reactance increases for
low fault resistances while decreases in the case of high fault
resistances.
It can be seen that as the load power factor changes from
the lagging to the leading mode, the deviation of the measured
impedance in the case of zero fault resistance decreases.
D. Load Magnitude
The load magnitude could affect the measured impedance
at the relaying point. Fig. 9 shows the effect of the load
magnitude on the measured impedance at the relaying point.
Here, for a pure impedance load, the magnitude of the
Fig. 10. Tripping characteristic, emf load, power variation
It can be seen that as the magnitude of the load increases,
in the case of the load with internal emf, the measured
resistance decreases for high fault resistances while increases
for low fault resistances, in the upper part. The measured
reactance increases in both parts. The ideal tripping
characteristic expands considerably.
It can be seen that as the magnitude of the load increases,
the deviation of the measured impedance value in the case of
zero fault resistance increases considerably.
 V. CONCLUSION
This paper evaluates the measured impedance at the
relaying point once a load is directly connected to the
transmission line. The distance relay ideal tripping
characteristic is presented in the presence of the load. The
variation of the tripping characteristic due to the load types,
connection location, power factor and magnitude is
investigated.
Among the mentioned affecting parameters, load type is
the most effective parameter. When the load has the
impedance feature, the other mentioned parameters do not
affect the measured impedance considerably, but in the case
of the load with internal emf, load connection location as well
as the load magnitude has a great impact on the measured
impedance.
Once a load is directly connected to a transmission line, the
supplied load should be analyzed from internal emf point of
view. In the case of zero, or low, internal emf, the measured
impedance deviation is low and the previously set distance
protection could perform the protective duties satisfactorily.
On the other hand and in the case of the high internal emf, the
measured impedance deviation is not tolerable for previously
set distance relay and its reach-point, or covering region,
decreases considerably depending on the supplied load
magnitude and connection point.
VII. BIOGRAPHIES
Hossein Shateri (M’07) was born in 1979 in Karaj,
Iran. He received his BSc and MSc from Iran
University of Science and Technology in Tehran in
2001 and 2003, respectively all in electrical
Engineering. He is currently working towards a PhD
degree in the Department of Electrical Engineering at
Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) in
Tehran, Iran since Sep. 2004. He has published over
100 papers in international conferences and journals.
H. Shateri is a Member of the Institution of Engineering Technology (IET) and a
Graduate Student Member of the Institution of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers (IEEE). His field of interest includes Power System Protection, and
Distribution Systems Protection and Automation.
Sadegh Jamali, was born in 1956 in Tehran, Iran. He
received his BSc from Sharif university of Technology
in Tehran in 1979, MSc from UMIST, Manchester,
UK in 1986 and PhD from City University, London,
UK in 1990, all in Electrical Engineering. Dr. Jamali
is currently an Associate Professor in the Department
of Electrical Engineering at Iran University of Science
and Technology in Tehran. Dr. Jamali is a Fellow of
the Institution of Engineering Technology (IET) and
the IET Council Representative in Iran. His field of interest includes Power
System Protection and Distribution Systems.

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