Generator protection systems are very complex systems with many different protective functions.

The
configuration of these systems depends on the rated power of the generator as well as on the power system
structure, i.e. whether the generator is in busbar connection or connected to a unit transformer, as shown in
Figure 4. This article will describe solutions for testing selected protective functions effectively for the above
connection configurations. As a starting point, experience recommends to structure the tests according to the
following criteria:
Step 1: Testing protective functions that only use voltage measurements (e.g. ANSI 59, ANSI 81, etc.)
Step 2: Testing protective functions that only use current measurements (e.g. ANSI 50, ANSI 87, ANSI 46,
etc.)
Step 3: Testing protective functions that use both voltage and current measurements (e.g. ANSI 32, ANSI
90/40, etc.)
Test philosophy for overlapping protective functions
Generator protection systems can trip different breakers such as the network circuit breaker (CB), the
generator CB, and the de-excitation CB. This so called trip command matrix depends on the activated
protective functions, the technical philosophy as well as the power system structure.
Therefore it is recommended to test the correct behavior of each protection function. This is only possible
without deactivating any protective functions during the tests.
Application examples
For the following protective functions, the relevant technical background will be explained and practical settings
for testing will be derived:
Testing the ANSI 90 protective function (underexcitation)
Testing the ANSI 46 protective function (negative sequence / unbalanced load)

Primary testing of the ANSI 59GN protective function (directional 90% stator ground fault)
Testing of ANSI 90
A synchronous generator
always requires a
sufficient DC voltage and
thus a DC current flow
through the excitation
winding. This is
necessary to maintain
the synchronization to
the connected power
system.
The generator capability
diagram defines the
limits of active and
reactive power resulting
from the physical
parameters of the
turbine and the
generator, see Figure 2.
The underexcitation area
is especially critical for
the stability of the
generator. In this area, the generator can lose its stability, e.g. as a result of a short-circuit in the connected
power system or a malfunction of the automatic voltage regulator.
The protective function ANSI 90 protects the generator from asynchronous operation in case of these events.
Depending on the
manufacturer of the
protective devices, this
function uses the impedance
measurement or the
admittance measurement.
Note: The impedance
measurement method is not
part of this article, because it
is possible to transfer all
necessary relay settings
directly in the impedance
plane of a distance relay
(Figure 1).
On the one hand, for
protection devices which use
the admittance measurement
method, the calculation of the
relay settings is a lot easier
than with the impedance
measurement, because the
admittance plane of the turbo
generator can be used
directly, see Figure 3.
On the other hand, testing the
following characteristics in the admittance plane is rather complicated. Therefore, in the following, a more
elegant method of testing admittance characteristics shall be introduced. The idea is to transform the
admittance characteristics to the impedance plane to use automated distance test routines for testing the
underexcitation protective function.
The admittance plane can be reproduced in the impedance plane using a mathematical transformation, as
shown bellow.

The constant voltage must be divided by the apparent power S. (equation 1)

 (equation 1)
By using this formula any point in the admittance plane can be transformed to the impedance plane. However,
for the automatic testing of the ANSI 90, it is desirable to transform the complete characteristic curve.
For this purpose the straight line equations must be inverted. According to Figure 5 and equation 2 the
inversion of a straight line in the admittance plane results in a circle in the impedance plane.

(equation 2)
With
Figure 6 shows the settings which are used in this
example.
The following example shows the transformation of the trip
time characteristic No. 1 to the impedance plane (equation
3) and the resulting impedance zone (Figure 7).

(equation 3a)

(equation 3b)

The same transformation applies to the trip time

characteristic curves 2 and 3. Figure 9 shows the results
of this transformation.
Summary: With the transfer of the trip time characteristics
from the admittance plane to the impedance plane, it is
possible to use the same test philosophy as for a distance
relay. In order to stabilize overlapping protective
functions,such as the undervoltage protective function, it is
required to use a constant test voltage, i.e. the rated
voltage of the generator.
If the overcurrent protective function is active, its pick-up or
trip may interfere for test points between 0 and
approximately -40 in the impedance plane. For such
cases the relay settings have to be checked.
Testing of ANSI 46
Unbalanced load conditions result in a positive and a
negative sequence system, see Figure 8.
The negative sequence component rotates counter to
the rotor movement and hence produces a flux which
cuts the rotor at twice the rotational velocity. Thereby
large currents with double frequency are inducted in
the rotor causing severe heating.
According to the manufacturers it is possible to have
different thermal trip time characteristics. This example
is based on protective devices which use the ratio
between the negative sequence current and the
generator nominal current (I2/In). This function works
with the current of only one side (side 1 or side 2) as
well.
In multifunctional machine protection relays, all
necessary protective functions, including differential
protection are implemented in one device.
This can cause problems, because some protective
functions may overlap during the test of the
unbalanced load protection function.

One philosophy for

testing this protective
function is to deactivate
the differential protective
function before starting
the test. The disadvantage of this method is that it is not possible to discover logic errors, e.g. in the trip
command matrix or overlapping protective functions. Therefore it is recommended to test without deactivating
any protective function.
Without a unit transformer in the protection zone,
testing ANSI 46 with active differential protection is
not too complicated. There is just a phase shift of
180 between the currents of side 1 and side 2.
Note: The phase shift between side 1 and side 2
depends on the position of the CT starpoint
grounding.
The situation is different, however, if there is a unit
transformer in the same protection zone, as shown
in Figure 11.
In this case, the vector group and the transformation
ratio of the unit transformer must be considered.
Also the different CT ratios will have an influence on
the calculation of the test currents for side 1 and side
2.
The phasor diagrams in Figure 10 (a and b) display
the phase shift of the test currents between side 1
and side 2 for a unit transformer with the vector
group Ynd5.
The transformer ratio and the CT ratios are not
considered in this diagram.

Note: For the positive sequence current the phase shift is

150 clockwise (transformer vector group 5 times 30).
The phase shift for the negative sequence current is 150
counter clockwise!
Summary: As a conclusion, the physical behavior of the
symmetrical components depends on the transformer
vector group. It was shown that it is possible to test
protective functions which only use one current
measurement system (side 1 or side2) while the
differential protective function is active.
Primary testing of ANSI 59GN
For generators with a maximum rated power lower than
50 MVA and busbar connection, the directional 90%
stator ground fault protection (ANSI 59GN) is the
standard protective function.
An alternative solution is the ground differential protective function with the displacement voltage as pick-up
criterion and two cable-type transformers for ground current measurement, as shown in Figure 12.
Note: This solution is only possible, if the generator is connected via cable and the star point is accessible.
Secondary tests alone do not guarantee the correct function of the stator ground fault protection, because all
settings were calculated based on theoretical grounding conditions.
It is therefore necessary to confirm the theoretical values with primary tests.
For this function the very first commissioning test is to check the secondary current transformer ground
connection. Only one CT must be grounded.
The two primary tests (Figures 13 & 14) will check if the ground fault current is higher than the set pick-up
value, and if the stability of the 90% stator ground fault protection function is ensured.
In this example, the settings of a 2.5 MVA generator (IEE > = 4 mA; Ven > = 4.9 V) were used.
Primary test with a ground fault inside the protection zone: A
ground electrode is connected to the generator terminal, the
voltage regulator is deactivated and the trip command is blocked.
When the generator runs at nominal speed the terminal voltage
must be increased manually to the rated generator voltage. The
next step is to measure the ground fault current (IEE) and the
displacement voltage (Ven), as shown in Figure 13.
Primary test with a ground fault outside the protection zone
(stability test): A ground electrode is connected to the feeder
grounding point. The remaining test steps are the same as for the
previous test. Figure 14 displays the test for this example.
Summary: The comparison between the measured ground fault
values for both primary tests confirms that the relay settings for the
ground fault protection in this example are correct. With a ground
fault which is located inside the protection zone, the flowing
ground fault current (IEE) and the displacement voltage (Ven) are
high enough to protect approx. 90% of the generator stator.

For the ground fault in the power system

(outside the protection zone) this protective
function is stable (no trip) and the difference
between the parameterized pick-up value
and the measured ground fault current (IEE)
is high enough. The theoretical value I =
0A is not possible, because the cable-type
transformers have different magnetizing
characteristics. If the comparison between
the measured and the calculated values
reveals potential malfunctions, the settings
need to be adapted based on the measured
values.
Conclusions
In this article, solutions for secondary and primary testing of the protective functions ANSI 90, ANSI 46 and
ANSI 59GN were introduced. These solutions have shown that secondary testing of complex multifunctional
relays is possible even without deactivating overlapping protective functions.
Furthermore, it was pointed out why the additional primary test of ANSI 59GN to verify the calculated settings is
essential.
The presented approaches are illustrated in a way that allows for their application to similarly configured
protective functions in relays of completely different manufacturers.

Biographies
Biography:
Dr.-Ing. Torsten Schierz worked for 7 years at the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Grlitz in the area of
research and teaching. Since 1996 he has been an employee of OMICRON electronics Deutschland GmbH in
the business fields Training, Commissioning and Technical Consulting. He has more than 16 years of
experience in power system and rotating machine protection, especially in calculation and commissioning, as
well as more than 24 years of experience in teaching electrical engineering. At present he is a Senior
Consultant.
Torsten is member of the VDE (Federation of Electro Technology Electronics Information Technolog