DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION 87

Differential protection is based on the fact that any fault within

an electrical equipment would cause the current entering it, to be
different, from that leaving it.

Thus, we can compare the two currents either in magnitude or

in phase or both and issue a trip output if the difference exceeds a
predetermined set value. (Current Differential Protection)

This method of detecting faults is very attractive when both ends

of the apparatus are physically located near each other.
A typical situation, where this is true, is in the case of a transformer,
a generator or a bus bar. In the case of transmission lines, the ends are
too far apart for conventional differential relaying to be directly
applied.

Simple Differential Protection: Behavior During Load

Figure shows a simple differential relaying scheme (also known as
Merz-Price scheme).
The currents entering and leaving the equipment to be protected
are stepped down with the help of CTs on either side. Careful
attention must be paid to the dot marks placed on the CTs.
The following rule can be applied in order to trace the currents in the
circuit:
When current enters the dot on primary side of the CT, it must leave the
similarly marked dot on the secondary side.
For the operating condition of normal load flow shown in schematic,
(Assuming that the protected equipment is either a 1 : 1 ratio transformer
or say a generator winding or a bus bar,) the currents transformed by the
two CTs, being equal in magnitude as well as in phase, just circulate
through the 'pilot' leads connecting the secondary side. (For that, the
ratios of the two protective CTs will also be identical.)
There is no tendency for the current to spill into the over-current relay.
The over-current relay connected in the spill path is wired to trip the two
circuit breakers on either side of the equipment being protected.
Hence, the OC relay will not trip the two CBs.
 Simple Differential Protection: Behavior During
External Fault
Next, the differential relaying scheme should also remain stable for
any fault which is outside its protective zone. Such faults are called
external faults or through faults.

Figure shows that during external faults too, the current leaving the
protected zone is the same as that entering it.
Assuming that the CTs transform the two currents with the same
fidelity, there will be no current in the spill path and the scheme remains
stable (i.e. without any CB tripping).

Simple Differential Protection: Behavior During

Internal Fault

Figure shows an internal fault of magnitude If,int. The current

leaving the protected zone is now I2 whereas that entering it is I1, such
that, I1= I2 + If,int.
 As can be seen from the figure, current in the spill path is now
(If,int/n), where n is the CT ratio.
Assuming that the spill current is more than the pick-up value of the
over-current relay, both the circuit breakers will be tripped out.
Thus, the scheme meets the basic requirement of clearing internal
faults.
The minimum internal fault current that will cause the tripping, is
given by:
If,min= (CT ratio) (Plug setting of the OC relay) = nIps

Zone of Protection of the Differential Relay

The differential scheme
generates a well-defined
and closed zone of
protection. This zone
encompasses everything
between the two CTs as
shown in Figure.
Thus, we talk of any fault between the two CTs as an 'internal
fault'. To the differential scheme, all other faults are 'external
faults' or 'through faults'.
Ideally, therefore, a differential scheme is supposed to respond
only to internal faults, and restrain from tripping on external or
through faults.
Thus, an ideal differential scheme should be able to respond to
the smallest internal fault but restrain from tripping on the largest
external fault.
SIEMENS
Numerical Differential
Protection Relay
7UT51
The numerical current
differential protection
7UT51 is a fast and
selective short-circuit
protection for transformers
of all voltage levels, for
rotating machines, or for
branch points with max.
three feeders.
Actual Behavior of a Simple Differential Scheme
So far we have assumed that the CTs are ideal. How ever, in
practice, CTs are subject to ratio and phase angle errors.
Both these errors depend upon the burden on CTs, which in
turn depends on the lead lengths and impedance of the relay coil.
The errors, in general, increase as the primary current
increases, as in the case of external faults.
If CT1, has an actual ratio n1, and phase-angle error ᶲ1, while
CT2, has an actual ratio n2 and phase-angle error ᶲ2, The difference
between these two currents, therefore, ends up as spill current.
As the 'through fault' current goes on increasing, various
imperfections of the CTs get magnified. This causes the spill
current to build up.
Therefore, as the 'through fault‘
current goes on increasing, as
shown in Fig, there comes a stage
when the spill current, due to the
difference between secondary
currents of the two CTs, exceeds
the pick-up value of over-current
relay in the spill path.
This causes the relay to operate, disconnecting the equipment
under protection from rest of the system. This is clearly a case of
mal-operation, since the relay has tripped on external fault.
In such instances, the differential scheme is said to have lost
stability. To signify the ability of the differential scheme to
restrain from tripping on external faults, we define 'through
fault stability limit' as the maximum 'through fault' current
beyond which the scheme loses stability.
Compare this with the situation of an internal fault.
The minimum internal fault current required for the scheme
to operate, correctly in this case, is decided by pick-up value of
the over-current relay in the spill path.
To signify the spread between the minimum internal fault
current at which the scheme operates and the maximum
'through fault' current beyond which the scheme (mal)operates,
we define a term called stability ratio as:
The higher the stability ratio, the better is the ability of the
system to discriminate between external and internal faults.
The stability ratio can be improved by improving the match
between the two CTs.
This is especially true in case of transformer protection. The
CTs on the two sides of the transformer have to work at
different primary system voltage. Because the currents on the
two sides of the transformer are, in general, different, the
ratios of transformation of the CTs are also different.
Their designs are therefore different, making it impossible to
get a close match between their characteristics. This explains why
the spill current goes on increasing as the 'through fault' current
increases.
On a Symmetrical basis (no dc offset in the primary current)
this would not exceed 10A if a C class CT were used within rated
burden and the ratio were chosen such that the secondary
current did not exceed 100A for the maximum “through” phase
fault.
Also, To avoid operation on an asymmetrical current, the trip
time would have to exceed at least three dc time constants.
Thus, the simple differential scheme needs to be further
modified.
Percentage Differential Relay
The percentage differential relay solves the problems of poor
sensitivity and slow operation. The inputs from the two sets of
current transformers are used to generate a restraint quantity.
This is then compared to the difference of these two currents.
Operation (or restraint) is decided as a result of this comparison.
Thus, the spill current must be greater than a definite
percentage of the 'through fault' current for the relay to operate.
Hence, the name percentage differential relay.
The percentage differential relay does not have a fixed pick-up
value. The relay automatically adapts its pick-up value to the
'through fault' current.
As the 'through fault‘ current goes on increasing, we are in
effect asking the relay to “take it easy”, by introducing a
restraining quantity proportional to the circulating current.
Fixed percentage relays exist between 10 % and 50%.
Thus with a 50% characteristic, an external or through
current of 10 A would require a difference or operating current
of 5 A or more for the relay to operate.
With a 10 % type , and 10 A through current, 1 A or more
difference current would produce relay operation.
It is important to recognize that these characteristics, apply
only to external faults or through current flow.
Differential relays are quite sensitive to internal faults when
one of the restraint current is zero.
Objectives:
• To learn placement of Differential Relays on
ETAP

System used:
• IEEE 4 Bus System with all modifications
previously done for placement of Overcurrent
Relays
• Remove Relay 2 and 3 along with respective
CTs from section 1 – 2 and section 2 – 3
• Place CTs on either side of Bus 2, taking great
care that when current enters the dot on
primary side of the CT, it must leave the
similarly marked dot on the secondary side.
• Connect one more CT on load 3.
• Now set turns ratio for all CTs,
considering the full load current
in that line section or load.
Placement of differential Relay 87
• Connect all three CTs with Differential Relay.
• From Input Tab of Relay, Increase CT Terminal
to 3.
• Select 3 CT IDs for three current inputs and
their ratios will be updated.
• In output Tab of Relay Editor , Add two HV
CB on either side of bus 2 to which the relay
should send its output.
• Select a Differential relay from a library of
different models and manufacturers from DIF tab.
• For example, we select Siemens 7UT51 and Select
an operation time.
• From Star Protective Device Coordination Place
fault on bus 2 and check operation of differential
relay. Also place fault on other buses to check
restrain.