Pilot wire Protection

Lecture 38
Contents: L38

Pilot wire protection of transmission lines:

Translay Scheme
Pilot Wire Protection of Transmission Lines
Pilot Relaying Schemes

Pilot relaying schemes are used for the protection of transmission
line sections.

They fall into the category of unit protection.

In these schemes, some electrical quantities at the two ends of
the transmission line are compared.

Hence, they require some sort of interconnecting channel over
which information can be transmitted from one end to the other.

Such an interconnecting channel is called a pilot.

Three different types of such channels are presently in use,
namely,

Wire pilot

Carrier-current pilot &

Microwave pilot
Pilot Relaying Schemes

A wire pilot may be buried private cables or alternatively,
rented private telephone lines.

A carrier-current pilot is one in which a low-voltage, high-
frequency signal (50 kHz – 700 kHz) is used to transmit
information from one end of the line to the other.

In this scheme, the pilot signal is coupled directly to the
same high voltage line which is to be protected.

This type of pilot is also called a power line carrier.

A microwave pilot is a radio channel of very high
frequency, 450 to 10,000 MHz.
Pilot Relaying Schemes

Wire pilot schemes are usually economical for distances up
to 30 km.

Carrier-current schemes are more economical for longer
distances.

When the number of services requiring pilot channels
exceeds the technical or economical capabilities of carrier-
current pilot, the microwave pilot is employed.

A distance range up to 150 km is possible in a flat country.

The link may operate up to 40 to 60 km without repeater
station.

The system is applicable only where there is a clear line of
sight between stations.
Pilot Wire Protection of Transmission Lines
Pilot Wire Protection of Transmission Lines

In a wire pilot relaying scheme, two wires are used to carry
information signals from one end of the protected line to the
other.

A wire pilot may be buried cable or a pair of overhead
auxiliary wires other than the power line conductors.

The scheme is a unit protection & operates on the principle of
differential protection.

The comparison is made between the CT secondary currents at
the two ends of the line.

As the pilot channels are very expensive, a single-phase current
is derived from 3-phase currents at each end of the line, thereby
using only a pair of pilot wires to carry the information signal.

For short lines, wire-pilot schemes are less expensive than carrier-
current schemes because terminal equipment is simpler &
cheaper.
Balanced Voltage Scheme
Balanced Voltage (or Opposed Voltage) Scheme

Schematic diagram of balanced voltage principle

Balanced Voltage (or Opposed Voltage) Scheme

Polarities of CTs & directions of currents shown in the figure are for
normal condition or external fault.

The operating coil of the relay is placed in series with the pilot wire.

Hence, current does not flow through the pilot wires under normal
conditions & in case of external faults.

In case of internal faults, the polarity of the remote end CT is reversed.

Hence, current flows through the pilot wires & operating coils of the
relays.
Translay Scheme
Translay Scheme

This scheme is a balanced voltage scheme with the
addition of a directional feature.

The name ‘Translay’ is evolved from the fact that the relay
embodies a transformer feature.

This system is based on the principle that the current
entering one end of the feeder will be equal to that leaving
at the other end at any instant.

An induction disc type relay is used at each end of the
protected line section.

The secondary windings of the relays are interconnected in
opposition as a balanced voltage system by pilot wires.
Translay Scheme

Translay scheme
Translay Scheme

The upper magnet of the relay carries a summation winding to receive
the output of current transformers.

Under normal conditions & in case of external faults, no current
circulates through the pilot wires & hence through the lower magnets of
the relays.

In these conditions, no operating torque is produced.

In case of internal faults, current flows through the pilot wires & the
lower electromagnets of the relay.

In this condition, the operating torque is produced from the interaction
of the two fluxes:

One of which is produced directly from the local CT secondary
current flowing through the upper magnet of the relay.

The second flux is produced by the current flowing through the lower
magnet.

The current flowing through the lower magnet may be relatively small.

Therefore, this scheme is suitable for fairly long pilots having loop
resistance up to 1,000 Ω.