EXPERT WORKSHOP SERIES

Basics of Protection - Part II

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Basics of Protection
03: Protection Principles

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Criteria for fault detection

I1 I2

U
Detection of short circuits

Current: I ∆I
Impedance: Z

Detection of other faults

Voltage: U, dU/dt & problems
Current: I, dI/dt
Power: S, P, Q
Frequency: f, df/dt

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Overcurrent criterion

The measured current I is used for fault detection

• Where can this be applied?

Normal operation Short circuit

I>
ILoad,max ISC,min Current

Additional criterion “time” is required to obtain selectivity

Principle is used for:

• Fuses
• Inverse time overcurrent protection
• Definite time overcurrent protection

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Overcurrent protection with three current inputs

IL1 IL1
t=f(I)
IL1 A
D

IL2 IL2
t=f(I) >1
A
IL2 D
TRIP

IL3 IL3
t=f(I)
A
IL3 D

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Overcurrent protection

I
t=f(I)
Definite time
t> over current protection
Function:
Trip signal, if current is above
IN I> I
I> for more than t>

Function:
Inverse time
Trip signal, if t(I) is exceeded
over current protection

IN I

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Distance protection (impedance protection)

Detection of short circuits by impedance measurement

• Fault on the protected line:

Z1

Selectivity
• Fault on the next line:

Z2

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Impedance criterion

The impedance is calculated from voltages and currents

(The impedance is proportional to the fault distance)
• Characteristic:

X
I
Function:
Z< Trip signal, if measured
V impedance is inside characteristic
R

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Differential current criterion

I1 I2

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Differential current criterion

Current criterion: IDiff = I1 + I2 + I3 + ... In = 0

I1 In (for every phase)
Protected zone
I2 IDiff ≠ 0 indicates a fault in protected zone

I3 I4
Comparison with zero is not applicable!
 Comparison with threshold:  IDiff > Ithres

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Line differential protection

A B

Protected line
Current measurement on different locations,
summation and comparison with a threshold

Protection Protection
relay communication
relay

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Differential protection for transformers and motors

To consider:
• Winding ratios
x

• Vector group of transformer

• Inrush

Current measurement at the terminals of the transformer (motor),

x

calculation of the differential current considering

the particularities and comparison with threshold.

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Busbar protection

BB A System I

BB B System II

X
Function:
Measurement of many
currents within a substation,
X

X
X
X

summation and comparison

with threshold (separately
for systems A & B)

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Basics of Protection
04: Earth Current (Ground Current)

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What is the Earth Current IE?

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Symmetrical three phase system

IL1
IL2 IL1

IL3

IL3 IL2

IL2
IL1

IL3
Symmetrical load current:
IL1+IL2+IL3 = 0

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Current flow in case of an earth fault

IL1 IL1

IL2 IL2

IL3 IL3

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Definition of the earth current

The earth current is the negative sum of the three Important fact for protection:
phase currents: In normal operating states, the earth current is
(nearly) zero:
IE=-(IL1+IL2+IL3) IE=-(IL1+IL2+IL3)=0

In case of earth faults, the earth current increases:

Also called “residual current” or “ground current” IE=-(IL1+IL2+IL3) ≠ 0

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How can we measure the earth current?

IL1 Relay inputs Holmgreen IL1 Relay inputs

connection
IL2 IL2

IL3 IL3

IL1+IL2+IL3
IL1+IL2+IL3
IE

IE

IL1 Relay inputs Internal

Computation of IE IE measurement
IL2 with core balance ct
(high sensitivity possible)
IL3
IL1+IL2+IL3

IE

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How can we use the earth current to detect earth faults?

Detecting phase faults with phase currents: Detecting earth faults with the earth current:

Normal Normal
operation Short circuit operation Short circuit
I> IE>
ILoad,max ISC,min Current IE,max, NO IEF,min Current

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Overcurrent protection with four current inputs
(Holmgreen Connection)

IL1 IL1
t=f(I)
IL1 A
D

IL2 IL2
t=f(I)
A
IL2 D
>1
IL3 IL3
t=f(I)
A TRIP
IL3 D

IE t=fE(I)
A
IE D
Basics of Protection
05: Primary & secondary

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Definitions
Secondary current
Primary current

Primary voltage

Secondary
voltage

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Instrument transformers

Current Transformers: Voltage transformers

Current transformer ratio rI = IN,prim/IN,sec Voltage transformer ratio rU = UN,prim/UN,sec

Example: ri = 600A / 1A 110kVΤ 3

Example: rU =
100VΤ 3
For standard instrument transformers, we typically
have IN,sec = 1A or IN,sec = 5A For standard instrument transformers, we typically
have UN,sec = 100V… 125V

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Settings & measured values

Setting values are normally calculated from network calculations → primary values

Relay settings are often treated as secondary values

DIGSI can treat setting values as primary values or as secondary values

Caution: You must be careful, if you change the c.t. or v.t. ratio: either the primary values or the secondary
values will change

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Published by Siemens 2024
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Electrification & Automation
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