C2-210

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Session 2004
CIGR

BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE WITH SYSTEM PROTECTION SCHEMES

P. GOMES *

G. CARDOSO JUNIOR

S. L. A. SARDINHA

ONS Operador Nacional do Sistema Eltrico

(Brazil)

Summary: In view of the geo-electric characteristics of the Brazilian Electric System, the financial
restrictions to expansion projects and more recently, the delamination process of the utilities in the
electric energy sector, it has become necessary to develop and implant System Protection
Schemes (SPS). The first of these schemes was utilized in the South region of the country in 1974, a
Load-Shedding Scheme based on underfrequency. At present, there are more than 200 special
protection schemes in the Brazilian System. This paper will present a study based on the following
aspects:

The evolution, in a time frame, of the utilization of SPS in the Brazilian Interconnected System;

The distribution of the SPS as far as the kind of actions and types of problems to be solved is
concerned;

The criteria adopted and the analysis developed at the time that these schemes were devised;

The reliability aspects considered;

The gains obtained in terms of generation and power exchanges;

The statistics obtained with the different SPS.

Finally, a global evaluation will be developed concerning the utilization of the different SPS as
operative resources for the maintenance of electric system security, performing aggregations in terms
of types of actions, types of problems to be solved, technology employed, etc.
Keywords: System Protection Schemes, Emergency Control Schemes, Special Protection Schemes,
Defense Plans, Islanding, Load-Shedding.
1.

INTRODUCTION

The Brazilian electric power system presents some unique characteristics. Its energetic matrix is
predominantly hydro (more than 90%) with large amounts of energy being transferred from distant
hydro generation sites to major load centers, by means of long distance power corridors operated in
EHV. The Itaipu Hydro Plant in the south of the country is responsible for more than 18% of the total
energy production in Brazil. There are frequent operating conditions that involve heavy energy

* pgomes@ons.org.br

transfers, even during the light load period, as a result of electroenergetic coordination aiming at
optimal water usage.
System planning is currently based on the (N-1) criterion, where a temporary fault in any single
generation or transmission element should not cause supply interruption or violations in system
operating limits. This fact, coupled with recent economic constraints, has been leading the system to
operate closer to its limits, thus increasing the probability of major disturbances.
One of the commonest measures adopted in Brazil to allow maximizing energy transfers among
areas and regions is the utilization of System Protection Schemes (SPS), also called Emergency
Control Schemes or Special Protection Schemes.
The first of such schemes was implanted in 1974 in the South region, consisting of a 3-stage
load-shedding scheme, based on absolute frequency, which permited the transfer of blocks of power
from Southeast to South region, ensuring frequency control in the event of the loss of interconnections
between these regions, thus avoiding the total collapse of the South Region system.
In 1981, with the entry into operation of the 765 kV transmission system associated to the
energy flow produced in the 60 Hz sector of the Itaipu power plant and later with the starting of the 2bipole HVDC link associated to its 50 Hz sector, it was necessary to install new SPS.
As a consequence of the delay of entry of many elements in the transmission system and
unfavorable hydrological conditions, the Brazilian Interconnected System has been operated in
conditions very close to its limits. This has only been possible, thanks to the existing SPS, which
guaranteed the operative security of the system. Nowadays there are more than two hundred SPS,
some of them of a highly complex nature, performing a wide range of actions such as load-shedding,
generation dropping, transmission system elements switching, shunt compensation insertion and
disconnection.
2.

ASPECTS RELATED TO SYSTEM PROTECTION SCHEMES IMPLEMENTED IN

THE BRAZILIAN INTERCONNECTED SYSTEM

The following data and information are associated to the System Protection Schemes implanted
in the interconnected system that supplies the South/Southeast and Midwest regions.
2.1.

HISTORICAL EVOLUTION
The first SPS was implanted back in the 70s in the South region and consisted of
underfrequency load-shedding. Since then, a large number of SPS were implemented as a result of the
great number of systemic reinforcements that have been made and the collective experiences gathered
from large disturbances and atypical operation conditions. Some of the historical milestones worth
commenting are listed below:
1974 South Region energy deficit
1981 Beginning of operation of the following installations:
a) First 750 kV circuit South/South East interconnection
b) First HVDC bi-pole associated to Itaipu Power Plant (50 Hz sector)
c) Angra dos Reis Nuclear Power Plant
1984 First large blackout Southeast/Midwest System
1985 Second large blackout Southeast/Midwest System
1989 Second 750 kV circuit South/South East interconnection
1987 Second HVDC bi-pole associated to Itaipu Power Plant (50 Hz sector)
1997 Two blackouts Voltage Collapse So Paulo State
1999
a) Beginning of operation of the 500 kV North/South interconnection
2

b) Large blackout South/Midwest System

2000 Third 750 kV circuit South/South East interconnection
2002 Large blackout Southeast/Midwest System
2003
a) Beginning of operation of the 500 kV Southeast/Northeast
b) 500 kV Ibiuna Bateias transmission line (2 circuits) reinforcing the South/Southeast
interconnection
Figure 1 below, presents the historical evolution of Special Protection Schemes in usage in the
Southeast/Midwest and South regions of Brazil.
50
43
39

Number of SPS

40
30
20

15
12

12
8

10

0
1970-75

1976-80

1981-85

1986-90

1991-94

1995-99

1999-2002

Figure 1 : Historical Evolution of SPS Implementation

2.2.

CLASSIFICATION BY TYPES OF ACTIONS

Table 1 shows the distribution of SPS by types of actions.
Table 1 : SPS Classification by Actions
Actions

Number of SPS

Percentage

Generation dropping

27

20.3

Load rejection

48

36.1

Underfrequency load shedding

28

21.1

System Separation Control (Out-of-step tripping)

5.3

Automatic Load restoration

2.2

Generator Operation as Syncronous Condenser to

Generator Operation

5.3

Others

13

9.7

Total

133

100.0

* pgomes@ons.org.br

As can be observed, more than half of the SPS in use are associated to generation dropping or to
load relief. The Others category includes schemes such as circuit breakers sequential tripping,
automatic reactors insertion, ferro-resonance, self-excitation, busbars isolation, etc.
2.3.

CLASSIFICATION BY OBJECTIVES
Table 2 shows the distribution of SPS by objectives.
Table 2 : SPS Classification by Objective
Objective

Number of SPS

Percentage

Underfrequency Control

40

30.1

Transformer and Transmission Overload Control

35

26.3

Stability Control

24

18.0

Over voltage Control

11

8.3

Under voltage Control

5.3

Others

16

12.0

Total

133

100.0

Underfrequency control is the focus where the greatest number of SPS is concentrated. All
distribution utilities maintain their own underfrequency load-shedding schemes. The Brazilian Electric
Power System, due to its characteristic long transmission lines with high loadings, is subject to
underfrequencies when dealing with multiple contingencies. With the advent of interconnection
reinforcements between tregions (approximately 6000 km of 500 kV transmission lines in the last 2
years), the problem of underfrequencies has been drastically reduced (smaller number of occurrences
associated to an ever smaller number of frequency deviations).
It is important to mention that the expressive number of SPS associated to overload control is
related to the equipment on the frontier between the transmission grid and the subtransmission system.
The third large block is associated to the maintenance of stability to avoid collapse in the geoelectric areas of the interconnected system.
3.

ASPECTS RELATED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF SYSTEM PROTECTION

SCHEMES
Some types of information are necessary so that the performance of the SPS can be evaluated.

The first one deals with the number of activations that are recorded for a SPS. This value may
be divided into different subsets as defined below:
N1 number of correct operations or number of successful operations. The SPS operation
achieves the performance objective.
N2 number of failures. A SPS fails to prevent or minimize the effect of a Bulk Energy
System (BES) disturbance in the event of a contingency of severity equal to, or less than, the
specified or a SPS operates when it should not, resulting in, or contributing to, a BES
disturbance.
N3 number of unsuccessful operations. A SPS fails to prevent or minimize the effect of a
BES disturbance in the event of a contingency of greater severity than the specified in its
design.

 N4 number of unnecessary operations. A SPS operation that should not have occurred
(i.e., resulting from inadequate discrimination in the scheme design, equipment
malfunctioning, human error, etc) and that does not result in, or contribute to, a BES
disturbance. Local costumer interruption or generating unit outages may occur.
The following performance indexes may be defined associated to these numbers of actuations:
Index of effectiveness =

N1
N1 + N 2 + N 3

This index measures how effective is the SPS

in achieving its purpose

Index of dependability =

N1
N1 + N 2

This index measures how well the SPS

achieves its conceived level of performance

Index for unnecessary

operation rate =

N4
NYEARS

This index measures the vulnerability of the

scheme for unnecessary operations that do not
contribute to BES disturbances

Where NYEARS = number of years the SPS operates.

Another important item is the percentage of time in which each SPS remains activated (on-line
and ready to intervene). Another aspect to be analyzed is the predominating cause of failures or
unnecessary actuations affecting each SPS.
A point of singular importance that must be considered is the consequence of incorrect
operations (incorrect operations, operation refusals or accidental operations).
A performance analysis may also be complemented by including other aspects such as:
Types of SPS actuation versus the degree of redundancy adopted;
Types of SPS actuation versus the frequency of performance evaluation;
Cost of SPS implantation versus the cost of its incorrect actuation;
Costs of SPS implantation/deactivation versus the cost of other alternatives (new
transmission lines or equipments, reduction of generation or interchange);
Estimated frequency of events that may cause a SPS to operate.
4.

A PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF SOME SPS IMPLANTED IN THE BRAZILIAN

SYSTEM

4.1.

ISLANDING SCHEME AT THE THERMAL PLANT JORGE LACERDA

This scheme was designed to avoid tripping of the machines at the plant, by means of
underfrequency protection, when faced with atypical situations involving generation deficits that
cannot be adequately controlled by the South Region Load-Shedding Scheme.
Entry into operation: 1977
Number of operations: 14 (last one in 1982)
Number of successful operations: 14
Number of failures, unsuccessful operations or unnecessary actions: 0
This SPS obtained the following indices:

Effectiveness: 1,0 ; Dependability: 1,0 ; Unnecessary operations: 0,0.

* pgomes@ons.org.br

 Effects of incorrect actuation or operation refusal : blocking of the plant and difficulty in the
recomposition of the system:

Estimated loss of energy: 2000 MW/min

Value of maximum load per year: 8000 MW

Estimated cost: US$ 10,000 to US$ 100,000/fault

Effects caused by unnecessary actuations: loss of load and separation from the system:

Estimated cost: US$ 10,000/fault

Total cost of project, construction, installation and commissioning:

Less than US$ 100,000

Alternatives to this SPS: this SPS is a back-up to the load shedding scheme. An
alternative would be to operate the system in conditions that would ensure no risk of
actuation of the load-shedding scheme
Frequency of evaluation of this load shedding scheme: annual
4.2.

GENERATION DROPPING SCHEME AT THE SO SIMO POWER PLANT

This scheme was created to guard the integrity of the system in the event of the loss of So
Simo gua Vermelha 500 kV transmission line, as a function of the power flow in this transmission
line and of the dispatch of the Paranaba River power plants.
Entry into operation: 1985
Number of operations: 14 (period considered: 1985-1994)
Number of correct operations: 13
Number of failures: 0
Number of unsuccessful operations: 0
Number of unnecessary operations: 1
Performance Indices:

Effectiveness: 1,0 ; Dependability: 1,0 ; Unnecessary operation: 0.1.

Effects caused by incorrect actuation : general instability in the system that could provoke a
blackout in the Southeast/Midwest area.
4.3.

UNDERFREQUENCY LOAD SHEDDING SCHEMES

Table 3 co-relates the underfrequency load shedding operations in disturbances occurring in the
Southeast/Midwest System from 1996 to 2000.
Table 3 : Underfrequency Load-Shedding Operations

Date

03/26/96

Origin of disturbance

Loss of Furnas plant caused by differential

Number
of
Stages
Activated

Load
cut
(MW)

Minimum
Frequency
( Hz )

Frequency
Recovery
( Hz )

1611,0

55,25

Remained at

Date

Origin of disturbance

Number
of
Stages
Activated

Load
cut
(MW)

Minimum
Frequency
( Hz )

protection actuation at 345 kV bus.

Frequency
Recovery
( Hz )
about 58 Hz

10/25/96

Shutdown: 750 kV lines ItaberIvaipor #1/2

3557,0

57,72

Normal

12/16/96

Shutdown: 750 kV lines ItaberT.Preto #1/2

3123,8

57,90

Normal

02/12/97

Shutdown: 750 kV T lines Itaber T. Preto circ.

2 and Itaber Ivaipor circ. 1

3247,0

57,91

Normal

04/24/97

System operating at voltage limit

3168,0

58,10

Normal

04/25/97

System operating at voltage limit

4171,9

59,20

Remained
< 60

03/27/97

Shutdown: 750 kV T lines - F. do Iguau

Ivaipor circuits 1 and 2.

3787,2

58,00

Normal

06/28/97

Accidental actuation of ECEs on 750 kV trunk &

shutdown of 5 machines in Itaipu

1382,2

58,50

Normal

09/14/97

Shutdown: 750 kV lines ItaberT.Preto #1/2

3608,0

57,60

Normal

04/06/98

Shutdown: 750KV lines ItaberIvaipor #1/2

1596,4

58,42

Normal

08/12/98

Total opening of 750 kV trunk at Ivaipor

3645,7

58,10

Normal

09/19/98

Shutdown: 750 kV T lines - Itaber Ivaipor circ.

1 and 2 and Itaber T. Preto circuit 1

4354,3

57.65

Normal

01/17/99

Total rejection of Itaipu 60Hz due to shutdown of 4

circuits - 500 kV Itaipu F. do Iguau

3820,3

57,93

Normal

02/19/99

Short circuit in 440 kV line - Bauru Jupi #1

6582,6

57,30

Normal

03/11/99

Short-circuit in Isolator - pedestal at Barra - 440

kV in SE at Bauru

4365,8

Local
Loadshedding

09/14/99

T line shutdown - Rio Verde - Rondonpolis 1 due

to atmos. discharge during restoration process..

27,02

Local
Loadshedding

05/26/00

Shutdown: 138 kV T line - Rio Verde-C. Dourada

breaker refusal at C. Dourada

48,5

Local
Loadshedding

06/30/00

Shutdown: 750 kV lines ItaberIvaipor #2/3

1744,7

58,38

10/10/00

Shutdown: LI Rondonpolis R. Verde

176,7

Local
Loadshedding

10/10/00

Shutdown: C. Dourada and Itumbiara Transform

181,3

Local
Loadshedding

11/25/00

Transf burnout at T. Preto&750 kV trunk loss

5169,8

57,72

12/14/00

Shutdown: 4 Machines at Itaipu & opening of N/S

interconnection.

2108,0

58,40

Entry into operation: 1981

Number of operations: 22 (period considered: 1996-2000)
Number of correct operations: 22

* pgomes@ons.org.br

 Number of failures: 0
Number of unsuccessful operations: 0
Number of unnecessary operations: 0
Performance Indices:
Effectiveness: 1,0 ; Dependability: 1,0 ; Unnecessary operation: 0,0.
Alternatives for this SPS are economically unjustifiable.
5.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS ON SPS ANALYSIS

a) The great majority of the SPS in operation have fixed logic actuation (94%); the remainder
are programmable (6%).
b) Practically all the System Protection Schemes are in permanent operation. It is interesting to
note that some of the SPS implanted to help overcoming delays in the implementation of
projects ( in order to minimize the effects and consequences of disturbances in the system
related to single contingencies ), were not deactivated when the work was competed. In these
cases the SPS continue to be utilized during programmed shutdown services.

6.

CONCLUSIONS
With the growing complexity of the electric systems in the world, it is evident that the
associated problems that may arise can be dealt with the utilization of SPS. System
Protection Schemes have been one of the means most commonly utilized to guarantee the
performance of electric energy systems.
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the imperativeness of developing better ways to
analyze the reliability and cost effectiveness of each type of SPS, even in their conception
and project development stages. Parallel to this consideration, a systemic monitoring process
should be created for collecting standardized data regarding the SPS already installed or
under installation in the Interconnected System.
A better working knowledge of the SPS reliability data will aid in improving the quality of
future studies carried out in the Electric Operation Planning Program, notably in those
studies focusing on determining the amount of thermal generation to be required and in
calculating risk levels that will be established in the diverse areas on the Brazilian Electric
system.
The utilization of SPS in the Brazilian Electric Power System helped to keep operative
security in great disturbances and during critical hydrological periods. Another significant
aspect is their contribution to the elevation of transmission limits between system areas, as
well as to system security in atypical conditions such as in energy saving periods and at the
unavailability of important transmission elements. Some examples are the SPS associated to
the 60 Hz transmission system from Itaipu Plant that permitted an increase of around
1000 MW in the power transfer to the Southeast region , the one associated to the generation
in the Paranaiba River that incremented 1100 MW to the allowable dispatch of those plants
and the SPS of the North-Northeast interconnection that added 500 MW to the power
transfer between those regions.

7.

REFERENCES

[1]

Gomes, P.; Vieira Filho, Xisto.; Viotti, F.: Confiabilidade de Esquemas Especiais de
Proteo, XII SNPTEE, out/93, Recife, Brasil. (only available in Portuguese)

[2]

IEEE/CIGR Committee Report, Industry Experience with Special Protection Report,

IEEE/PES, 1994, Winter Meeting.

[3]

Relatrio GCOI-SCEL/GTAD-GTP 92 e GCOI-SCEL/GTP 09/94, Banco de Dados

sobre Esquemas de Controle de Emergncias dos Sistemas Interligados Sul/Sudeste.
(only available in Portuguese)

[3]

P.M. Anderson, P.K. Le Reverend : Industry Experience with Special Protection

Schemes , IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, Vol. 2 , Vol. 11 n 3, Aug 1996.

* pgomes@ons.org.br