Power System Protection

Distance Relays, Step Distance Relaying

Day 5
 Distance Relays
Mason
Chapter 4, pgs. 61-76 R-X Diagrams
Operating Principles of:
Impedance
Admittance (Mho)
Reactance
Memory Action

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 Distance Relays
Respond to phasor ratio of input voltage &
input current to relay (V/I)
They are directional
They have high speed
Used to protect transmission lines
Usually induction cup design

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Construction

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 R-X Diagram

Can use
impedance or R-X
diagram to analyze
relay operation
1. Plot relay
characteristic
2. Plot impedance
seen by the
relay (Z relay)

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Impedance Relay

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Admittance (Mho) Relay

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Offset Mho

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Offset Mho

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Angle Impedance Relay

Non-Directional
Not appropriate to work alone

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Reactance Relay

Non-Directional

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 Distance Relays
Operating Time
Induction Cup: High
Speed
Adjustments
Reach: Tapped
Transformer
Rises or lowers voltage on
restraining coil
Range of Z to cover down
the line
Offset: Tapped Reactor
For offset Mho, adjust ZT

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 Application of Distance Relays to
Transmission Line Protection
Phase distance relays
Ground distance relays (will not be
covered)
Step distance relays
Usually 3 zones
Distance better than overcurrent
Faster
Easier coordination
Permit higher line loading
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System Impedance on Relay Base

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System Impedance on Relay Base

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PT Connections-Phase Distance
Relays

VLLin 115kV
PTRLL = = = 103
VLLout 115V

VLGin 66.4kV
PTRLG = = = 577 600
VLGout 115V

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CT Connection to Op Coils

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Impedances Detected by Phase
Relays
V -Y connected

3 Phase Fault

Phase-Phase Fault I -Delta

connected

Relay setting
based on Positive
Sequence
Impedance (Z1)
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 Step Distance Relaying
Objectives
Zones of protection
Effect of arc resistance
Effect of infeed
Methods to reduce size of distance relay
characteristic

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 Zones of Protection-3 Zones
Zone 1

3 zones (Primary & Backup)

Purpose: Provide high speed tripping for internal faults
Relay must be set to underreach
Does not cover entire line
Zone 1 settings:
Reach:80-90%
Time: No time delay

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 Zones of Protection
Zone 2

Purpose: Cover remaining 10-20% of AB segment

Zone 2 must reach beyond B
Will detect faults on CD segment
Must have time delay
Zone 2 settings:
Reach:120%
Time: 0.2-0.4 seconds

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 Zones of
Protection
Zone 3

Equivalent Relays at B and D looking on the other direction

Purpose: Provides Backup protection for faults on

adjacent line
Do not set such that load can cause a trip
Zone 3 settings:
Reach:120% of ZAB+ZCD
Time: 0.4-1.0 seconds

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 Three Zones of Protection Using
Mho Relays
GCY - GE Mho

Advantage
Lots of fault coverage
Disadvantage
Characteristic gets
close to ZLOAD
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 Relay Characteristic Vs Arc
Resistance

illustrates increase RF coverage with mho relay (GCY)

& reactance relay (GCX)
O1 & M3 operate - Zone 1
O2 & M3 operate Zone 2
M3 operate Zone 3
M1 Zone1 using mho
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Zone 3 Setting with Infeed

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Zone 3 Setting with Infeed

danger

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Use of Blinders where Impedance
may cause incorrect tripping

Zone 3 so big
that ZLOAD gets
inside of it

Angle Impedance
relays to blind

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Reverse Third Zone
ZAB+ZCDIF/IA

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Reverse Third Zone

Load

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 Admittance Relay Settings
Reach: Diameter of Mho
Circle
Maximum Z that makes
relay operate

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 Admittance Relay Settings

t varies from 0.10 to 1.00 (t higher, smaller circle)

k is called Basic Minimum Reach is adjustable
Angle of maximum torque is adjustable
Offset is adjustable

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 Impedances Detected by all Relays
During B-C Fault
B-C Relay

A-B Relay

C-A Relay

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Impedances Detected by all Relays
During B-C Fault

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