Justyna HERLENDER, Krzysztof SOLAK, Jan IŻYKOWSKI

Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Department of Electrical Power Engineering

doi:10.15199/48.2019.11.55

Impedance-Differential Protective Algorithm for Double-Circuit

Transmission Lines
Abstract. In this paper, the evaluation of the concept of impedance differential scheme for double-circuit transmission line protection is presented. In
case of single-circuit line, measurements of current and voltage at both line ends allow to formulate a differential impedance which constitutes
efficient criterion for transmission lines protection. However, in case of double - circuit line, where there is a mutual coupling between the parallel
lines, the algorithm should to be modified. Therefore, this paper introduced an improved protection scheme dedicated for double-circuit line in which
mutual impedance between the parallel lines was taken into account. The proposed protection method enables for fault detection and also has ability
to determine the fault location. For evaluating the validity of the considered protection algorithm for double-circuit line, computer simulation based on
ATP-EMTP was carried out.

Streszczenie. W niniejszym artykule przedstawiono algorytm impedancyjnego zabezpieczenia różnicowego dla linii przesyłowych dwutorowych. W
przypadku linii jednotorowej pomiary prądu i napięcia na obu końcach linii pozwalają sformułować impedancję różnicową, która stanowi skuteczne
kryterium w przypadku zabezpieczenia tego rodzaju linii. Jednak w przypadku linii dwutorowej, w której występuje wzajemne sprzężenie
magnetyczne pomiędzy liniami, algorytm zabezpieczeniowy wymaga modyfikacji. W pracy tej przedstawiono impedancyjno – różnicowy algorytm
zabezpieczenia dedykowany dla linii dwutorowej, w którym wzięto pod uwagę sprzężenie magnetyczne między poszczególnymi torami.
Zaproponowany algorytm pozwala nie tylko wykryć zwarcie, ale umożliwia również określenie miejsca jego wystąpienia. Oceny rozważanego
algorytmu zabezpieczenia dokonano na podstawie symulacji komputerowych wykonanych w programie ATP-EMTP (Impedancyjne zabezpieczenie
różnicowe dwutorowej linii przesyłowej).

Keywords: current differential protection, double-circuit line, transmission line, symmetrical components.
Słowa kluczowe: zabezpieczenie różnicowe, linia dwutorowa, linie przesyłowa, składowe symetryczne.

Introduction detect reliably internal faults regardless of the transmission

Double-circuit transmission lines have been extensively line length. In addition, the impedance-differential protection
utilized in modern power systems due to their economic and method allows for fault location which is indisputably a great
environmental advantages over single-circuit lines. The advantage.
different possible configurations of double-circuit lines, the The following sections of this paper briefly recalled the
possibility of occurrence of faults involving two circuits concept of impedance-differential protection for single-
combined with the effect of mutual coupling, makes their circuit transmission line – this method was precisely
fault analysis much more difficult than for single-circuit lines described in [16] and improved in [18]. Then, in order to
[1]. Moreover, double-circuit power lines are most prone to implement investigated algorithm for double-circuit line, its
faults and disturbances that are difficult to predict, forces modification is described. Next, the testing results of the
the necessity of providing these lines with protection proposed algorithm concerning double-circuit lines are
devices that would operate in a reliable and fast way. Since presented and discussed.
now, many various protection schemes for double-circuit
line have been proposed. Impedance-differential protection – formulation for
The longitudinal current differential protection method is single-circuit line
commonly used for parallel lines installed on the same The evaluated impedance - differential protection
tower [2]. However, such protection relay is influenced by algorithm introduced in [16] and improved in [18] is
the distributed capacitance and relies on communication composed of the following steps, see Figure 1. In Table 1
channel [3]. The distance protection dedicated for parallel the description of used variables is indicated.
line presented in [4, 5] faces some problems, mostly due to
mutual coupling between the circuits. It causes the relay Table 1. Signals and Variables used in Protective Algorithm
become over reached or under reached depending on the ISφ current at the line terminal S
network characteristics, operating status and fault location IRφ current at the line terminal R
[5]. To improve the relay performance an application of VSφ voltage at the line terminal S
adaptive protection principles is proposed in [6-9]. Other VRφ voltage at the line terminal R
available protection solutions for double-circuit line concern VS0 zero-sequence voltage at the line terminal S
current transverse differential protection including VR0 zero-sequence voltage at the line terminal R
directional transverse differential protection [10-14]. Their φ faulty phase (L1, L2, L3)
operation is not based on communication channel but exit a Y1L shunt admittance of the line
long successive operating zone. Moreover, in case of Z1L, Z0L positive-, zero-sequence impedance of the line
parallel lines, travelling wave based protection scheme was
also investigated as it is described in [15]. In the first step, information concerning each phase
This paper deals with impedance-differential protective voltages and currents from both line ends is collected and
algorithm providing effective protection of transmission lines the fault detection criterion is verified. This stride allows to
[16]. The traditional current differential relays [17] apply discriminate normal and faulty conditions in the protected
measurements of three-phase currents at the line ends, line. The checking criterion is expressed as:
while the considered one [16] utilizes the measurements of
both currents and voltages from the line ends. Thus, more (1) I S  I R  I SET
information on the fault is provided. Based on the voltage
and current measurements from both line ends, the where ISET is a threshold value. If the fault condition is
differential impedance is calculated. This method is able to fulfilled, the algorithm checks whether the fault is internal or

240 PRZEGLĄD ELEKTROTECHNICZNY, ISSN 0033-2097, R. 95 NR 11/2019

external based on phase difference between phase angle of existence of mutual coupling between lines during single
the calculated positive sequence impedances [18]. phase-to-earth faults.
In the next step, the compensated differential impedance
(2) is computed according to: S ZL R
ES ZS ER
  V S   V R   ZR
' '
 Y 1L 
(2) Z comp
diff  
 1  Z 
1L   Z0m
 2   I S   I R  F


where VS’ and VR’ are obtained from the following ZL

equation:
Fig.2. Schematic diagram of power network with double-circuit
' Z  Z 1L overhead line terminated at both ends at common buses
(3) V S  V S  0L V S0
Z 0L
For this purpose, in this paper, the symmetrical
components analysis is utilized. Figure 3 represents the
Z 0 L  Z 1L positive-, negative-, and zero-sequence network for a
(4) V 'R  V R  V R0 double-circuit line. From Figure 2 the following relationships
Z 0L
can be stated:
It is assumed that the fault (F) is on the line S-R, at the
relative distance d [p.u.], counted from the bus S. V F1  V S1  d Z 1L I S1  V R1  (1  d ) Z 1L I R1
Thereafter, the fault location can be determined using: V F 2  V S 2  d Z 1L I S 2  V R 2  (1  d ) Z 1L I R 2
1  ImZ LOC  
(7)
(5) d  1 V F 0  V S 0  d Z 0 L I S 0  d Z 0 m I SP0
2  ImZ 1L    V R 0  (1  d ) Z 0 L I R 0  (1  d ) Z 0 m I PR 0
where ZLOC is calculated from:
where Z0m is mutual coupling zero-sequence impedance,
IPS0, IPR0 is zero-sequence current from parallel line at the
 comp Z 1L  I S  I R 
  Z 2d  1
(6) Z LOC  2 Z diff
  terminal S and R, respectively.
 2  I S  I R  1L
Considering that the fault occurs in phase L1, and after
 
implementation of symmetrical component properties, it can
be obtained from (7):

V SL1 V RL1  d Z 0L  Z 1L I S 0  1 d Z 0L  Z 1L I R0

Measure (8)
VSφ, VRφ ISφ, IRφ  d Z 0m I SP0  1 d Z 0m I PR0  d Z 1L I SL1  (1 d )Z 1L I RL1

S Z1L R

NO Z1S Z1R
Fault detection
IS1 dZ1L IF1 (1-d)Z1L IR1
F
YES VF1
VS1 VR1
IF1
NO S Z1L R
Internal fault
Z2S Z2R

IS2 dZ1L IF2 (1-d)Z1L IR2

YES
F
Calculate ZLOC, d VF2
VS2 VR2
IF2

Z0L-Z0m
S R
Trip Fault location Z0S IS0+IPS0 IR0+IPR0 Z0R
IS0 IF0 IR0 (1-d)Z0m
Fig. 1. Block diagram of the improved impedance-differential dZ0m F
protection
d(Z0L-Z0m) (1-d)(Z0L-Z0m)
Impedance-differential protection for double-circuit line VF0
VS0 VR0
However, the formulas (3) and (4) cannot be IF0
implemented for double-circuit line, see Figure 2 , because
in this case it is required to take into consideration the Fig.3. Equivalent circuit diagram of double-circuit line for: positive-,
negative- and zero-sequence components

PRZEGLĄD ELEKTROTECHNICZNY, ISSN 0033-2097, R. 95 NR 11/2019 241

In view of zero-sequence circuit presented in Figure 3, the obtained values within third cycle of fault interval. The error
equation (8) can be defined as: of protection algorithm is defined as:
V SL1  V RL1  V R 0  V S 0  Z 1L I R 0 (12)  
error (%)  d computed  d actual * 100
 d Z 1L I S 0  I R 0   d Z 1L I SL1  (1  d ) Z 1L I RL1
(9)
Table 3. Computed Fault Location - L1-L2 Fault, RF=0.02 Ω
Fault 50km 80km 200km
The missing d can be derived from zero-sequence loc. dcomp. error dcomp. error dcomp. error
components analysis for double-circuit line and can be [p.u] [p.u] [%] [p.u] [%] [p.u] [%]
expressed as: 0.1 0.1001 0.0140 0.0998 0.0162 0.0989 0.1081
0.2 0.1998 0.0209 0.1995 0.0498 0.1984 0.1624
V R 0  V S 0  Z 0 L I R 0  Z 0 m I PR 0 0.3 0.2995 0.0475 0.2993 0.0685 0.2983 0.1654
d
 
0.4 0.3993 0.0670 0.3992 0.0763 0.3987 0.1332
Z 0 L I S 0  I R 0   Z 0 m I SP0  I PR 0 0.5 0.4992 0.0815 0.4992 0.0776 0.4992 0.0820
(10) 0.6 0.5991 0.0929 0.5992 0.0757 0.5997 0.0328
0.7 0.6990 0.1031 0.6993 0.0737 0.7001 0.0076
Thus, the equation (9) can be written as: 0.8 0.7989 0.1137 0.7993 0.0745 0.8004 0.0364
0.9 0.8987 0.1257 0.8992 0.0800 0.9003 0.0296
V SL1  V RL1  V R 0  V S 0  Z 1L I R 0  Max. - 0.1257 - 0.0800 - 0.1654


Z 1L V R 0  V S 0  Z 0 L I R 0  Z 0 m I PR 0 
I S 0  I R 0 
Avg. - 0.0740 - 0.0658 - 0.0842
(11)

Z 0 L I S 0  I R 0   Z 0 m I SP0  I PR 0  The example (case 1) is presented in Figure 4 – Figure
5, while Figure 6 indicates computed fault location. The
 d Z 1L I SL1  (1  d ) Z 1L I RL1 specifications of the case 1 are as follows: phase-to-phase
(L1-L2) fault at 40% of 50 km line, fault resistance Rf = 0.02
Analogous equations are valid for the remaining single- Ω.
phase-to-earth faults (L2–E, L3–E). The obtained formula
(11) in case of double-circuit line replaces in (2) part Current L3 [kA] Current L2 [kA] Current L1 [kA]
40  
side S
concerning voltage difference VSφ’-VRφ’ formulated for side R
single line. 0

Simulation Results -40  

0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
For evaluating the presented algorithm, the 40
representative model of the 400 kV, double-circuit
transmission line supplied from both sides has been 0
investigated. The simulation tests were performed in ATP-
EMTP [19], while protection algorithm was implemented in -40
MATLAB software. The double-end line, whereas the 0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
sending equivalent system S is assumed to be strong (of 2
high short-circuit power SkS"= 30 GVA), while the receiving
0
one R is weak (SkR"= 5 GVA). The currents and voltages
phasors estimation is done by the full-cycle Fourier filtering.
-2
The developed model includes ideal CTs and the secondary 0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
currents and secondary voltages are filtered by anti-aliasing Time [s]
filters of 1 kHz/3=330 Hz cut off frequency. The line Fig. 4. The case 1 – Current waveshapes of protected line
parameters are gathered in Table 2.
In order to test the proposed protection algorithm, short- 400
Voltage L3 [kV] Voltage L2 [kV] Voltage L1 [kV]

 
side S
circuit simulations have been conducted inside the line as side R
well as beyond it. Different line lengths – 50 km, 80 km and 0
200 km have been taken under consideration whereas the
faults have been applied inside the protected zone, referring -400
0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
to S side at distances of d = 0.1; 0.2;…0.9 p.u. The studies 400
included four different short-circuit types: three-phase fault
(L1-L2-L3) and different types of asymmetrical faults 0
(phase-to-earth (L1-E), phase-to-phase (L1-L2), and phase-
to-phase-to-earth (L1-L2-E) faults. -400
0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
Table 2. Unit Parameters of the Transmission Line Model 400
’ ’ ’
Parameter R [Ω/km] ω1L [Ω/km] C [nF/km]
0
Zero sequence 0.1812 0.764 8.50
Positive sequence 0.0235 0.288 13.0 -400
0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
Mutual sequence 0.1563 0.476 12.0
Time [s]
Fig. 5. The case 1 – Voltage waveshapes of protected line
Presented results in Table 3 concern phase-to-phase
(L1-L2) faults, in view of different line lengths. The results For the investigation concerning fault resistance changes,
indicating phase-to-earth (L1-E) faults, regarding to the fault the following values of resistance were applied:
resistance, are presented in Table 4 and Table 5. 2 Ω, 10 Ω, 25 Ω, 50 Ω. In this section only chosen
Computed distance to fault is defined as an average of all examples are presented.

242 PRZEGLĄD ELEKTROTECHNICZNY, ISSN 0033-2097, R. 95 NR 11/2019

 1 investigated cases. Moreover, the maximal computed error,
d(0.061÷0.08)s=0.3993 [p.u.] with respect to different fault resistance, is higher for longer
0.9 lines and in case of 50 km line does not exceed 0.15%.
What is more, better results concerning average error
0.8
computations are obtained for shorter line, but in both cases
computed distance[p.u.]

0.7 this values are lesser than 0.3%.

The example (case 2) concerning phase-to-earth fault,
0.6 at 20% of 50 km line, Rf = 10 Ω is depicted in Figure 7 –
0.5 Figure 8 and the calculated distance is shown in Figure 9.
20  

Current L3 [kA] Current L2 [kA] Current L1 [kA]

0.4 side S
side R
0.3 0

0.2
-20  
0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
0.1
2
0
0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0
Time [s]
-2
Fig. 6. The case 1 – computed distance and its average 0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
2
Table 4. Fault Location - L1-E Fault, 50 km line
Fault 10 Ω 50 Ω 0
loc. d error d error
computed computed
[p.u] -2
[p.u] [%] [p.u] [%]
0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
0.1 0.1009 0.0868 0.1014 0.1387 Time [s]
0.2 0.2006 0.0589 0.2010 0.0989
0.3 0.3004 0.0360 0.3006 0.0632 Fig. 7. The case 2 – Current waveshapes of protected line
0.4 0.4002 0.0166 0.4003 0.0303
Voltage L3 [kV] Voltage L2 [kV] Voltage L1 [kV]

0.5 0.5001 0.0001 0.5000 0.0014 400  

side S
0.6 0.5998 0.0169 0.5997 0.0333 side R
0.7 0.6997 0.0334 0.6993 0.0670 0
0.8 0.7995 0.0514 0.7990 0.1038
0.9 0.8993 0.0718 0.8985 0.1452 -400  
0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
Max. - 0.0868 - 0.1452
400
Avg. - 0.0413 - 0.0758

0
Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that
the average error is greater for phase-to-earth faults than
-400
for phase-to-phase faults. Despite this, the error is relatively 0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
small, and its maximal value is approximately equal to 400
0.29% in case of single-phase to earth fault, arisen at the
90% of the 200 km line length. In addition, the average 0
computed error for all investigated cases does not achieve
0.18%. -400
0.0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
Table 5. Fault Location - L1-E Fault, 200 km line Time [s]
Fault 10 Ω 25 Ω Fig. 8. The case 2 – Voltage waveshapes of protected line
loc. d error d error
computed computed 1
[p.u]
[p.u] [%] [p.u] [%] d(0.061÷0.08)s=0.2006 [p.u.]
0.1 0.0981 0.1878 0.0987 0.1291 0.9
0.2 0.1975 0.2460 0.1981 0.1872
0.8
0.3 0.2977 0.2251 0.2983 0.1686
computed distance[p.u.]

0.4 0.3985 0.1486 0.3990 0.0976 0.7

0.5 0.4996 0.0381 0.5000 0.0025
0.6 0.6008 0.0832 0.6011 0.1077 0.6
0.7 0.7019 0.1934 0.7020 0.1952
0.8 0.8027 0.2706 0.8024 0.2427 0.5
0.9 0.9029 0.2946 0.9023 0.2291
0.4
Max. - 0.2946 - 0.2427
Avg. - 0.1875 - 0.1236 0.3

After consideration of various fault resistance values, 0.2

see Table 4 - 5, it can be concluded that the impedance 0.1
based protection algorithm works correctly for all simulated
cases. The accuracy of the fault locations computation 0
0.02 0.04 Time [s] 0.06 0.0
remains on the same level for all of the investigated line
lengths. The computed error obtained for all considered
Fig. 9. The case 2 – computed distance and its average
fault resistances does not exceed 0.3% in any of

PRZEGLĄD ELEKTROTECHNICZNY, ISSN 0033-2097, R. 95 NR 11/2019 243

 Note, that the differential impedance algorithm enabled [5] Bhalja B.R., Maheshwari R.P., High-resistance faults on two
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