Backup Considerations for Line

Current Differential Protection

Steven Hodder
Hydro One Networks, Inc.

Bogdan Kasztenny and Normann Fischer

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.

Copyright Hydro One Networks, Inc. and SEL 2012

Outline
Line protection redundancy
Loss of 87L protection
87L backup schemes

POTT or DCB

Zone 1 extension

Stepped distance

Overcurrent

Backup protection strategies

NERC Guidelines
Protection system ensures that

Fault clearing times maintain system stability

Equipment ratings are not violated

Protection selectivity is maximized

Protection system performs during any

single contingency (breaker failure, relay
failure, channel loss)
Protected line is forced out of service

Line Protection Considerations

Critical fault clearing time protection type
Forced outages avoided protection
availability
HV / EHV applications

Breaker failure protection

Communications-assisted schemes

Parallel redundancy of protection

Hydro One Example

Operates Ontario transmission system
(500, 230, and 115 kV)
Follows NPCC guidelines
Categorizes BES lines

Impactive

Nonimpactive

Hydro One Example

BES-Impactive Lines
Fully redundant and independent protection
schemes capable of instantaneous trip
ZI trip with autoreclose Z1, POTT or DCB,
87L, and breaker failure plus DTT
ZT trip without autoreclose Z2T and 51G
87L, POTT, or DCB are acceptable
schemes functionally identical in A and
B systems

Instantaneous Tripping Lost

BES-impactive circuit

Independent electricity system operator

(IESO) must be notified within 5 minutes of
second failure

Forced line outage is immediate

Non-BES-impactive circuit

Line typically removed from service

If removal has adverse impact on customer

load, leave line in service and rely on timed
backup only

Line Current Differential Protection

Inherently selective
Very sensitive
Immune to
system conditions
Easy to set
Dependent on
communications

Loss of 87L Protection

87L element blocked
Relay out of service
Problems with communications

Channel loss

Channel brownout

Inability to align local and remote

currents loss of time reference
when using asymmetrical channels

Loss of Time Reference

IRIG-B connection severed
IRIG-B signal noisy
Time source (external clock) malfunction
Time source not locked
GPS problems
Using IEEE C37.118-compliant clocks
that report time quality is important

87L Adaptivity to
Channel Problems

Hot Standby Logic

87L Relay
87L
Hot Standby
Logic

Primary Channel
Hot Standby Channel

87L Relay
87L
Hot Standby
Logic

Hot Standby Logic

87L Relay
87L
Hot Standby
Logic

Primary Channel
Hot Standby Channel

87L Relay
87L
Hot Standby
Logic

Three-Terminal Applications
Master
87L
1

Master
Channel 1

Ch

an

87L
2

l
e
n

ne

n
a
h

l2

C
87L
3
Master

Three-Terminal Applications
Slave

Slave

87L
1

87L
2

Ch

an

l
e
n

ne

n
a
h

l2

C
87L
3
Master

Channel Loss Under Stub Bus

Stub Bus Zone
87L Master

Line Zone

87L
87L
Master

Master

Channel Loss Under Stub Bus

Stub Bus Zone
87L Master

Loss of 87L Protection

87L
87L
Slave

Monitoring actual state of 87L

elements is important

Slave

A87L
Main Path

SONET
Ring #1

B87L
Alternate Path

Add / Drop
MUX
DS1
MUX

DS1
MUX

A87L

B87L

DS1
MUX

DS1
MUX

Communications
Redundancy

Add / Drop
MUX
B87L
Main Path

SONET
Ring #2

A87L
Alternate Path

Hydro One Protection

Philosophy With SONET
DS0 Protection Circuits Static (Pinned)
Avoid complexity (e.g., testing), especially
as SONET network grows
Support protection scheme designed to
work despite single communications failure
Ensure channel symmetry, especially for
business-class SONET equipment

SONET Path Routing for

Three-Terminal Lines
Main
1-2

Main
2-1

1
Line
Distance

Line
Distance

Alternate
2-4

Alternate
1-3

Alternate
3-1

Line
Distance

Main
3-4

Alternate
4-2
Main
4-3

Communications Contingencies
Channel redundancy is preferred solution
for POTT or DCB over SONET
Channel redundancy is limited option for
87L schemes

Available for two-terminal schemes only

when direct point-to-point channels are used

SONET path switching may cause problems

87L backup is preferred over 87L channel

redundancy

87L Backup
Backup required for rare occasions when
87L is unavailable

Channel problems

Timing problems

Backup integrated within multifunction 87L

relay acceptable and beneficial
Selectivity requirements can be relaxed if
87L backup engaged only when needed

87L Backup Options

Directional Comparison
Not practical in many cases requires
channel in addition to 87L channel
More difficult to set compared with 87L
Sensitive if 67Q / 67G used, may
cause sequential tripping
Less secure compared with 87L

Zone 1 Extension Logic

Substitute for extra channel at
expense of selectivity

Trips from overreaching Z1

Reduces Z1 reach before reclosing

Less sensitive compared with 87L

Susceptible to load and power swings
Supplemented with 51Q / 51G and
67Q / 67G for high-resistance faults

Stepped Distance
Time-delayed for selectivity and coordination
Part of remote backup strategy (if used)
More difficult to set (infeed)
Less sensitive compared with 87L
Susceptible to load and power swings
Supplemented with 51Q / 51G and
67Q / 67G for high-resistance faults

Time Overcurrent
Time-delayed for selectivity and coordination
Torque-controlled with 67Q / 67G
51P usage versus 51Q / 51G usage
More difficult to set (current variability)
51P susceptible to load and power swings

87L Backup Strategies

Fully operational backup
Backup engaged only upon loss of 87L
Adaptive backup

Fully Operational Backup

Parallel with 87L scheme
Requires no information about 87L state
standalone implementation
Biases protection toward dependability
Must be set conservatively to maintain
security faces settings challenges
Not justified if redundant system operational

Backup Engaged if 87L Lost

Does not adversely impact security
Can follow simpler operating principles
stepped distance
Can be biased toward dependability
Zone 1 extension
Faces fewer settings challenges

Backup Engaged if 87L Lost

87L

87L

21

21

All relays are masters

Backup inhibited
in all relays

87L

21

Backup Engaged if 87L Lost

87L

87L

21

21

Master-slave mode upon

first channel failure
Backup remains blocked

87L

21

Backup Engaged if 87L Lost

87L

87L

21

21

Backup engaged when

second channel fails

87L

21

Backup Engaged if 87L Lost

87L

87L

21

21

Or
Backup engaged if
any relay is slave

87L

21

Backup Engaged if 87L Lost

87L

87L

21

21

Backup is ready should

second channel fail

87L

21

Adaptive Backup Examples

Zone 2 (Timed)
Zone 1 (Instantaneous)
87L /
21P /
21G

ZAX

87L /
21P /
21G

ZCX

ZBX
Terminal A

Terminal C
Terminal B
87L / 21P / 21G

Adaptive Backup Examples

Zone 2 (Timed)
Zone 1 (Instantaneous)
87L /
21P /
21G

ZAX

87L /
21P /
21G

ZCX

ZBX
Terminal A

Terminal C
Terminal B
87L / 21P / 21G

Master-Slave Configuration
DTTA-C-B
DTTA-C
21-1

87L
21P
21G
Terminal A

87L
21P
21G
Terminal C
Terminal B
87L, 21P, 21G

DTTA-B

DTTC-B

Stub Bus
DTTRem2_Local_Rem1
Local_DTT_TX

DTTLocal_Rem1

Z2_Pickup (Rem1)
Z2_Pickup (Rem2)
Local_Stub_Bus

DTTRem1_Local_Rem2

DTTLocal_Rem2

Conclusions
87L is selective, sensitive, and secure
Communications paths and equipment
affect overall 87L availability
Communications and timing contingencies
can render 87L unavailable

Conclusions
87L backup covers failures in
communications and timing, not relays
Regulatory requirements and internal
practices impact selection of backup
Typical backup schemes include 21T,
Z1EXT, 51, and POTT or DCB

Conclusions
Settings backup schemes are typically
more involved than 87L
87L backup elements integrated within
same protective device are prudent
Backup only engages upon loss of 87L

Benefits security

Simplifies settings selection

Questions?