Using Directional Protection To Protect Isolated Neutral
Networks
It is necessary to consider special requirements when
installing reclosers onto electrical distribution networks with
isolated neutrals. Phase to ground faults in particular can
have capacitively coupled fault currents on adjacent
feeders when a phase to ground fault occurs. As a result
any network protection scheme needs to be able to detect
the direction of the fault.
In the example below, a fault is shown on the bottom feeder
downstream of recloser R4. This has resulted in
capacitively coupled fault currents in the adjacent feeders
to start flowing in the opposite direction into the fault
through the substation medium voltage bus connection. If
R1, R2 and R3 were not able to detect the actual direction of
the power flow, then they may trip erroneously. This would
result in customers losing their supply unnecessarily.
The best solution would be to have just R4 trip, while the
other reclosers remain closed. This is achieved by utilising
reclosers with full directional protection. When the fault
occurs, R1, R2 and R3 detect that the power flow is in the
opposite direction and use this to block the fault so they do
not trip. R4 detects the power flow is flowing downstream
and trips normally, according to its earth fault settings.
All NOJA Power reclosers feature full directional protection.
To do this they measure voltage and current on all three
phases using built-in Rogowski current sensors and
capacitive voltage sensors. The controller then calculates
positive and zero sequence voltage and current to
determine the phase angle and direction of power flow. The
positive current calculation is used for overcurrent
protection while zero sequence is used for earth fault.
In order to use directional protection on the OSM the user
must program a torque angle into the controller which then
determines when power flow is forward or reverse.
When a fault occurs, the phase angle between positive
sequence voltage and current is calculated. If this angle is
within +/- 90 degrees of the torque angle then the power
flow is in a forward direction and the positive sequence
protection settings will be applied. If the phase angle is
outside of this area then the power flow is in a reverse
direction and the negative sequence protection settings are
used instead.
Using reclosers with directional protection capabilities on
isolated neutral networks has distinct advantages. This
method can eliminate the need for substation circuit
breakers to operate to clear the fault while at the same time
isolating just the faulted section. In addition, the reclosers
provide the added ability to automatically restore the supply
if the fault is transient.
where: Upol polarising voltage
Iop operating current
Aop phase angle between
Upol and current Iop
At preset torque angle
Note: A full description of how
directional protection is implemented
by NOJA Power can be found in the
OSM User Manual.