Impact of Single Phase Auto Reclosing

On 380kV Network Stability

400km Transmission Line
Model Development in Matlab/Simulink

Author: Saman Abbasian

Introduction
Single phase auto reclosing is the concept of self-healing the grids. Majority of faults in transmission and
networks are kinds of temporary ones and they may disappear a certain time after de-energization of the faulted
sections of the power systems network. Auto reclosing scheme helps to recover the original status of the network
without any human interaction.

Advantages of Auto Reclosing Scheme

 Outage times will be short compared with auto system recovery where station personnel must turn out
and re-energize the lines after a fault.

 It reduces operating costs and improves the reliability of distribution network by restoration of critical
loads.

 Saving of the staffs where substations can be unmanned.

Types of Faults
 Transient faults such as lightning or falling a tree branch on transmission line.

 Overvoltages across the insulators.

Note: Reclosing scheme won’t be a practical workaround on permanent faults since it must be removed, and the
line is to be taken out till the fault is cleared.

Principle of Auto Reclosing

A transmission line connecting two parts of a network which are connected to the buses A and B following three
feeders. In Fig 1, a fault on the line is detected by the relays at both ends of the line measuring the currents IA
and IB and the voltages UA and UB. As soon as the relays A and B detect that the fault is on the protected line,
they will send a trip command to open the associated circuit breaker CB like shown in Fig 2.

At this time the automatic reclosing functions integrated with the relays A and B start the dead time of the auto
reclosure. During this dead time, the fault has the chance to extinguish. After the dead time is expired, the
automatic recloser function sends a close command to the associated circuit breaker. For transient faults, a
successful recloser is mostly obtained with the first reclose cycle like shown in Fig 3.If the fault still persists the
protective relays A and B will detect this and send a trip command again.
Development of Logic Model in Simulink
A 380kV, 400km transmission line feeding 10MVA load and interconnected by two breakers CA and CB, following
Fig 4. A temporarily LG fault by falling a branch tree occurs at instant 0.2s on one of the phases of the line
assumed phase A, causing the O/C relay sends trips to both breakers and disconnect the line.

According to IEEE std C37.104-2012, the number of reclosing attempts and dead time shall be designed
considering available air or gas pressure for breaker operation system stability potential equipment damage to
excessive current or heating and potential adverse effects to customers and their equipment.
The system described above has been developed in Simulink using logic blocks and simulated results are
validating an auto reclosing scheme within a consecutive three times attempts if LG fault has disappeared and
shows a successful line operation by auto recloser scheme following Fig 5.

Fig 4: Single Phase Auto Reclosing Logic Scheme

Fig 5: Simulation of Single Phase Auto Reclosing Logic Scheme three Phase Instantaneous Currents
References:
1- IEEE Std C37.104-2012 Guide for Automatic Reclosing of Circuit Breakers for AC Distribution and
Transmission Lines