Application Note

System-based Testing of Distance for Protection

Transformer Backup

Author
Ana García | [email protected]
Jens Baumeister | [email protected]

Date
February 16, 2017

Related OMICRON Product

CMC, RelaySimTest

Application Area
Distance protection

Keywords
RelaySimTest, Distance protection, Transformer, System Testing

Version
v 1.0

Document ID
ANS_17005_ENU

Abstract
This application note describes how to test directional distance protection when it is used as a backup
protection for a power transformer. This test can be carried out in an easy and comfortable way using the
corresponding OMICRON RelaySimTest test template.
The RelaySimTest software offers simulation based system testing methods. To perform a test, a fault
scenario is calculated based on the simulation of the power system network. The voltages and currents for
the relay location can be used to test the correct behavior of the distance protection when the fault is located
before or after the power transformer.

© OMICRON Page 1 of 19
 General information

OMICRON electronics GmbH including all international branch offices is henceforth referred to as
OMICRON.
The product information, specifications, and technical data embodied in this application note represent the
technical status at the time of writing and are subject to change without prior notice.
We have done our best to ensure that the information given in this application note is useful, accurate and
entirely reliable. However, OMICRON does not assume responsibility for any inaccuracies which may be
present.
OMICRON translates this application note from the source language English into a number of other
languages. Any translation of this document is done for local requirements, and in the event of a dispute
between the English and a non-English version, the English version of this note shall govern.

All rights including translation reserved. Reproduction of any kind, for example, photocopying, microfilming,
optical character recognition and/or storage in electronic data processing systems, requires the explicit
consent of OMICRON. Reprinting, wholly or partly, is not permitted.
© OMICRON 2017. All rights reserved. This application note is a publication of OMICRON.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 2 of 19

 Content

1 Safety instructions ................................................................................................................................4

1.1 Requirements to use this Application Note.....................................................................................4
2 About this Application Note .................................................................................................................5
2.1 General Requirements....................................................................................................................5
2.2 What this Application Note Describes ............................................................................................5
2.3 Distance function as power transformer backup protection ...........................................................5
3 System under Test ................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Application Example – Protected Area and Time Grading .............................................................7
3.2 Settings of the System under Test Menu in RelaySimTest ............................................................9
4 Test Set Configurations in RelaySimTest ........................................................................................ 11
5 Test Cases ........................................................................................................................................... 13
5.1 Suitable Test Cases ..................................................................................................................... 13
5.1.1 Test Case 1: Fault on the High Voltage Line ................................................................................. 13
5.1.2 Test Case 2: Fault on the Medium Voltage Cable ......................................................................... 14
6 Visualizing the diagrams with TransView ........................................................................................ 15
7 List of Literature ................................................................................................................................. 18

© OMICRON 2017 Page 3 of 19

 1 Safety instructions

1.1 Requirements to use this Application Note

This application note may only be used in conjunction with the relevant product manuals which contain all
safety instructions. The user is fully responsibility for any application that makes use of OMICRON products.
Instructions are always characterized by a  symbol even if they are included to a safety instruction.

DANGER
Death or severe injury caused by high-voltage or current if the respective
protective measures are not complied with.

 Carefully read and understand the contents of this application note (as well
as the manuals of the systems involved) before you start to work with it.
 Please contact OMICRON Support if you have any questions or doubts
regarding the safety or operating instructions.
 Follow each instruction listed in the manuals particularly the safety
instructions, since this is the only way to avoid danger that can occur when
working at high-voltage or high current systems.
 Only use the equipment according to its intended purpose to guarantee safe
operation.
 Existing national safety standards for accident prevention and
environmental protection may supplement the equipment’s manual.

Only experienced and competent professionals who are trained for working in high-voltage or high current
environments may perform the applications in this document. In addition the following qualifications are
required:
• Authorized to work in environments of energy generation, transmission or distribution and familiar
with the approved operating practices in such environments.
• Familiar with the five safety rules.
• Good knowledge of the OMICRON CMC test sets and RelaySimTest.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 4 of 19

 2 About this Application Note

2.1 General Requirements

Before you get started with this application note, read the “Getting started” manual [1] of RelaySimTest.
Please make sure that you also have a good knowledge about the CMC test set.

2.2 What this Application Note Describes

The application note describes how to test a distance relay when it is back up protection for a power
transformer using a RelaySimTest template.
Therefore it shows the following content:
1. Distance function as power transformer backup protection (general information)
2. Defining the System under Test
3. Defining Test sets configurations
4. Defining Test cases
The application note doesn’t describe a classical test of the distance protection itself, when it is performed
a detailed test of the distance characteristic zones and a check of the distance parameters like reach and
trip delay time. To test the protection thoroughly, such tests are also recommended.

2.3 Distance function as power transformer backup protection

Distance protection is a universal short-circuit protection. Its mode of operation is based on the
measurement and evaluation of the short-circuit impedance, which is usually proportional to the distance to
the fault. The distance function acts as main protection for overhead lines and cables and in addition it works
as backup protection for other parts of the network, such as power transformers.
Directional distance relaying can be used for transformer backup protection when the setting or coordination
of the overcurrent relays is a problem. Besides, overcurrent is more sensitive than distance to the different
short-circuit levels that can be found in the network.
The directional distance relays operate when the fault current flows toward the protected transformer and
adjacent lines.
For distance measurements with transformers in the protected area, the next aspects must be taken into
account:
 Impedance is transformed with the square of the power transformer’s voltage ratio.
 On star/delta transformers there is a phase rotation corresponding to the power transformer’s vector
group. The fault current distribution changes from one side of the transformer to the other. For
instance, a two-phase short circuit on one side may appears as a three-phase fault with asymmetric
current distribution on the other side.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 5 of 19

 Figure 1: Two phase short-circuit

 The zero-sequence system cannot be converted by a start/delta transformer. That means that earth-
faults are not measured correctly by the distance relay through a star/delta transformer. In isolated
or compensated systems, this is usually not a problem. Depending on the system characteristics, a
separate earth-fault protection may be required.

Usually in the distance scheme, Zone 1 doesn’t protect the complete line adjacent to the power transformer.
The instantaneous tripping is only possible for around 80% to 90% of the line. Zone 2 reaches into, but not
beyond the transformer and Zone 3 protects the cable connected to the secondary side of the transformer.

Z3
Z2

Z1

D1

Figure 2: Graded distance zones

© OMICRON 2017 Page 6 of 19

 3 System under Test

3.1 Application Example – Protected Area and Time Grading

The following figure shows the power system protected by the distance protection that is used as example in
the RelaySimTest template.
 Zone 1 protects up to 80% of the overhead line.
 Zone 2 protects up to 80 % of the power transformer.
 Zone 3 protects all three equipment including the cable connected to the second side of the power
transformer.

80% transf. Z3
80% line Z2
Z1

Figure 3: Distance scheme in the example using a CT and a VT (CT: Current Transformer; VT: Voltage Transformer)

The settings of the elements forming the distance scheme are shown in the Figure 4.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 7 of 19

 Figure 4: Settings of the elements forming the distance scheme

Figure 5 presents the time grading of the distance protection. The relay has three forward zones.
The first zone is instantaneous which means the nominal trip time is 0 seconds. The second zone’s nominal
trip time is 400 ms and the third zone trips with an 800 ms delay.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 8 of 19

 Z3
0.8 s
Z2
0.4 s
Z1
0s
A B

Figure 5: Time grading for the relay

3.2 Settings of the System under Test Menu in RelaySimTest

The power system parameters according to the example (see chapter 3.1 ) are in the submenu Power
system of the menu System under Test. A click on an element like “Infeed” opens the Settings pane on
the right side of the screen. Note that Figure 3 shows not only the power system topology but also the initial
state of the switches.

Figure 6: "Infeed" Settings

A click on the “Relay” opens the Settings pane on the right side of the screen.

Figure 7: "Relay" Settings

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 The “Configure device …” button on the Settings pane opens details like general settings and device
connections as well as the description of the signal in- and outputs. The distance protection relay is
connected to VT, CT and CB A (trip signal).

Figure 8: "Relay" Configuration

© OMICRON 2017 Page 10 of 19

 4 Test Set Configurations in RelaySimTest
The proposed distance test requires one CMC test set and one PC with RelaySimTest.
This chapter assumes that:
 The PC is running RelaySimTest.
 The wiring between the CMC test set and the relay is ready.
 The CMC test set and the PC are connected using the USB port. (Connection by Ethernet is also
possible).
The Test sets configurations menu defines the CMC test set and the configuration used for the tests.
The test template includes a general CMC test set as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9: Test sets configurations

After a click on the “Choose test set” button on the right side of the CMC test set, a new window opens and
offers the CMC test set that is connected to the PC. A click on the CMC test set selects it.

Figure 10: A CMC test set is selected

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 The Getting Started manual of RelaySimTest [1] describes how the wiring between the CMC test sets and
the relays can be configured in the Test sets configurations menu.

To perform the tests of this application note the following signals have to be configured:
 Three test voltages
 Three test currents
 Start and trip signals

© OMICRON 2017 Page 12 of 19

 5 Test Cases

5.1 Suitable Test Cases

This chapter describes the tests defined in the corresponding RelaySimTest template, while the following
chapters describe them in detail. Because each protection scheme is different, these test cases are just
examples.
The suitable test cases are:
1. Fault on the high voltage line, preceding the transformer
2. Fault on the medium voltage cable which succeeds the transformer.

To keep the template simple, it uses only the following Fault types:
 L1-N
 L2-L3
 L1-L2-L3
Depending on the relay under test, on the relay’s parameters and on the grid where the protection system is
used, it may be necessary to add more fault types.

In the isolated system at the low-voltage side of the transformer, single L-N faults do not characterize short-
circuits.
The nominal trip time of the protection is between 0 and 0,8 s, therefore the simulation time after a fault or
switching event is at least 1,5 s. Hence the protection system has enough time to show its reaction on the
event.

5.1.1 Test Case 1: Fault on the High Voltage Line

This test case should show that a fault on the first 80% of the overhead line leads to an instantaneous trip of
distance protection relay. From the 80% to the 100% of the line the relay has to trip with a 400 ms delay.
 Fault locations: 0%, and 100% of the overhead line.

Figure 11: Test Case 1: Fault on the High Voltage Line

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5.1.2 Test Case 2: Fault on the Medium Voltage Cable

This test case should show that a fault on cable which succeeds the transformer leads to a trip with 800 ms
delay.
 Fault locations: 0%, 50% and 100% of the cable length.

Figure 12: Test Case 2: Fault on the Medium Voltage Cable

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 6 Visualizing the diagrams with TransView
The Sync to TransView option in RelaySimTest will help you to analyze the results of the test steps.
To get the distance zones displayed in the view “Circle Diagrams” from TransView, save the relay under test
RIO file as:
%TEMP%\SIMULATIONTEST.RIO
Note that the %temp% command allows access to the Windows temporary files (AppData\Local\Temp)
where the Sync to TransView option saves the COMTRADE file displayed by TransView.
The RIO file can be exported from the Test Universe Test Object as follows:
1. Select File in the Test Object main menu.
2. Select Export … in the submenu.
3. Select RIO file type and enter %TEMP%\SIMULATIONTEST.RIO as file name. The RIO file will be
saved in the correct location.
4. Save the file.

Figure 13: Export RIO file

The distance zones in the view “Circle Diagrams” from TransView are displayed in the next four figures.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 15 of 19

 Figure 14: Synchronize to TransView feature

When a test step is executed, the fault trajectories are visible in the view “Circle Diagrams” from TransView
and it allows to double check that the relay trips in the correct zone.
The next examples can be found in the RelaySimTest sample:
 L1-N Fault on the High Voltage Line: fault location 0% of the overhead line
The trip occurs at 47.6 ms. According to the zones time grading, this means Zone 1. On the right-hand side,
trajectory of phase 1 ends in Zone 1 in the LE Circle Diagram.
Note that you may have to zoom on the Zone 1 because it is very small compared with the other zones.

Figure 15: L1-N Fault on the High Voltage Line: fault location 0% of overhead line

 L1-L2-L3 Fault on the High Voltage Line: fault location 100% of the overhead line
The trip occurs at 442.8 ms. According to the zones time grading this means Zone 2. On the right-hand side,
the three phases fault trajectories end in Zone 2 in the LL Circle Diagram.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 16 of 19

 Figure 16: L1-L2-L3 Fault on the High Voltage Line: fault location 100% of overhead line

 L2-L3 Fault on the Medium Voltage Cable: fault location 50 % of the cable
The trip occurs at 837.7 ms. According to the zones time grading this means Zone 3. On the right-hand side,
trajectory of the phase 2- phase 3 fault ends in Zone 3 in the LL Circle Diagram.

Figure 17: L2-L3 Fault on the Medium Voltage Cable: fault location 50 % of the cable

© OMICRON 2017 Page 17 of 19

7 List of Literature
[1] Getting started with RelaySimTest; OMICRON electronics GmbH; 2017
[2] “Numerical Distance Protection: Principles and Applications”; 4th edition; Gerhard Ziegler; PUBLICIS;
2011
[3] “SIPROTEC Distance Protection 7SA6 V4.70 Manual”, SIEMENS

© OMICRON 2017 Page 18 of 19

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