MISOPERATION OF BUSBAR

PROTECTION DURING
CLOSE-IN EXTERNAL FAULTS


May 18, 2010
Steve Turner
Senior Applications Engineer
BECKWITH ELECTRIC CO., UPS.
INTRODUCTION
Typical Substation Configuration & Fault
Location
Delta
Wye Grounded
(Distribution Sub)
INTRODUCTION
Two Misoperations in 2004

Transformer Differential Protection
Fast Bus Trip Protection Scheme
Part One
Numerical Transformer Differential Protection
Misoperation
Multi-winding transformer relay protects:

Parallel 23 MVA Banks
23 kV Distribution Bus

Part One
Numerical Transformer Differential Protection
Misoperation
Delta
Wye Grounded
115 kV
23 kV
23 MVA 23 MVA
C800 C800
C200 C200 C200 C200
C800 C800
T
1
T
2
Wndg1 (87) Wndg2 (87)
Wndg3 (87)
A-B
Wndg4 (51N)
Part One
Numerical Transformer Differential Protection
Misoperation
Intense lightning storm passed through the area
Distribution feeder subjected to several heavy faults
Faulted feeder CT developed significant remanence flux?
C200 Excitation Characteristic
C200 CT on faulted feeder saturated -> low knee point
C200 CTs are connected in parallel
All C200 CTs saturate


Therefore ->
Total excitation current appears in the operating coil!
V
SAT
i
e
i
e
i
e
Why Did Transformer Relay Trip?
I
WNDG3
vs. I
WNDG4
Dual Slope Characteristic
I
OP
I
BIAS
25%
50%
A-Ph
B-Ph
C-Ph
INTERNAL EXTERNAL
Solution
1. Match C-ratings for CTs
2. Do not connect CTs in parallel
(i.e., low impedance differential protection)
3. Separate protection for transformer & bus
4. Use high impedance differential protection
for bus
Solution
Delta
Wye Grounded
115 kV
23 kV
23 MVA 23 MVA
C800 C800
C400 C400 C400 C400
C800 C800
T
1
T
2
Wndg1 (87T) Wndg2 (87T)
87B
Wndg4 (87T) Wndg3 (87T)
Part Two
Numerical Fast Bus Protection Scheme
Misoperation
Feeder overcurrent relays block high-side quick trip
Delta
Wye Grounded
230 kV
23 kV
23 MVA
T
1
50FT
50B
F
50B 50B
Blocking Signal
50FT Fast Trip Element
50B Blocking Element
Some Customers Uses Directional Elements
Delta
Wye Grounded
230 kV
23 kV
23 MVA
T
1
50FT
50B & !32R
F
50B & !32R 50B & !32R
*No Blocking Signal*
50FT Fast Trip Element
50B Blocking Element
32R Adaptive Directional Element
Yg D
I
G
Directional element inhibits blocking for bus ground faults
32R, Adaptive Directional
Element
Use most prevalent signal (+, -, or 0) for
polarizing
Negative-seq. voltage is the most common
choice
V
2
& I
2
equal zero during balanced three-
phase faults
Evolving Faults Fool Directional
Element
No signal while fault evolves from Ph-Ph to
Three-Phase!
F32Q = Negative-Seq. Directional Element
F32P = Positive-Seq. Directional Element
67P2 = Blocking Element
Hole = Trip!
Solution
Add two cycle time delay on dropout to
blocking signal
Blocking
Signal
0
2
Rides through momentary holes
Blocking Signal
w. Time Delay on Dropout
CONCLUSIONS
Dont parallel CTs for low impedance differential
protection
Use properly rated CTs
Use zones of protection
Fast bus tripping schemes require coordination