P R OT E C T I O N

MiCOM P521
Fast Feeder
Differential Protection

The MiCOM P521 relay provides high-speed

two-ended current differential unit protection
of overhead lines and underground cables in
applications such as ring mains and parallel
feeders.
The integration of many protection functions allows
application to a wide range of power systems,
providing both local and remote backup protection.

Optimum phase selection is assured, as the

scheme measures the currents entering and
leaving the protected plant zone. Fast tripping
results for an internal fault, with stability for any
out-of-zone fault

The signalling interface options support metallic,

direct fibre optic and multiplexed digital links.
As digital communication is used, long distances
between scheme ends can be achieved, and the
signalling channel is monitored continuously.

Tripping uses a proven characteristic comparing

differential current with through current. Phase
differential elements of this type offer consistent
detection of solid and resistive faults, with optimum
faulted phase selection, tripping, and indication.

A full range of back-up protection is integrated.

This enhances the dependability of the protection,
as hot-standby elements such as overcurrent can
be brought into service whenever a signalling
channel outage may occur.

• Highly selective unit

Customer Benefits

protection.
• Variety of end-to-end
communications
interface options
• Integrated back-up
elements can run as hot
standby in the
event of comms
channel outage

AREVA T&D
 APPLICATION > Transformer Applications

The MiCOM P521 current differential scheme provides Figure 1 shows a protected line and transformer "unit".
a comprehensive protection package, primarily The P521 compensates for the vector group shift and
designed for unit protection of overhead and zero sequence filtering effects of the in-zone
underground feeders up to and including distribution transformer. Second harmonic restraint is used to
voltage levels. stabilize the protection against magnetizing inrush
currents.
The P521 is limited to three pole tripping only and is
suitable for cable applications where no auto-reclosing Where transformer loads are tapped off the protected
is required. line, it is not essential to install CTs at the tap. There
exists the facility to time grade the differential
The MiCOM P521 is supplied with a full suite of protection with downstream relays or fuses.
protection and control functions as standard.

Current differential protection by its nature requires few

protection settings, and for most applications the
factory default settings can be used - the P521 relay
as supplied is ready to protect!

P521 P521

Fig. 1 P521 in-zone transformer application

•
Protection Functions Overview P521
87P Phase segregated current differential protection
Intertripping (Direct, Permissive and Current differential) •
Propagation delay compensation •
3 Pole tripping only •
Fibre optic or metallic signalling channels •
Supervision of protection signalling channel •
Interchangeable protection signalling interface •
Vector Compensation (all vector groups) •
Ratio Correction •
Inrush restraint (menu selectable) •
50/51 Non-directional phase overcurrent protection •
50/51N Non-directional earth fault protection •
49 Thermal overload •
46 Negative sequence overcurrent protection •
46BC Broken conductor detection •
37 Undercurrent detection •
CBF Circuit breaker fail protection •
Circuit breaker control •
Circuit breaker monitoring •
TCS Trip circuit supervision •
Cold load pick-up protection for phase and E/F protection •
Blocking logic •
Selective logic •
5 optically isolated inputs •
8 output relays + watchdog output relay •
4 fixed function LEDs and 4 programmable LEDs •
2 setting groups •
Front EIA(RS)232 communication port (Modbus) •
Rear EIA(RS)485 communication port (choice of protocol) •
2>3
MAIN FUNCTIONS
I1 I2
> Differential Protection

The primary protection element in the P521 relay is

true, phase-segregated current differential protection.

I diff = I 1 + I 2
Operate
The measurement algorithm is extremely reliable,
offering fast detection of internal faults, and stability for
Percentage
external faults.
bias k2

The differential algorithm has a dual slope percentage

bias restraint, as shown in Figure 2. An internal fault
will generate differential current. The bias current is
that which merely flows through the protected unit, as
a load or through-fed external fault. The initial slope
Percentage Restrain

(k1) ensures sensitivity to low current faults, whereas

bias k1

the k2 slope is raised to counter the effects of current I s1

transformer mismatch.

When a trip is issued by the differential element, in I s2

addition to tripping the local breakers, the P521 sends
I1 + I2
a current differential intertrip signal to the remote end.
I bias =
This will ensure tripping of both ends of the protected
2
line. Fig. 2 Biased Current Differential Protectiom

> CT Ratio and Vector Correction > Overcurrent and

Earth Fault Protection
Where line CT ratios at either end of the protected
feeder are different, the P521 contains a settable The overcurrent and earth fault protection is provided
correction factor to compensate for the mismatch. as a form of back-up protection. The P521 has four
stages of overcurrent and four stages of earth fault
In applications with in-zone transformers, the P521 protection. The first two stages have an IDMT or
compensates for the vector group shift and zero definite time (DT) characteristic.
sequence filtering effects of the in-zone transformer, so
no external interposing CTs are required. The third and fourth stages are DT only. The
overcurrent and earth fault protection can be either
permanently enabled or disabled, or alternatively
> Inrush Restraint enabled upon failure of the differential protection
communication channel. A wide range of IEC and
Second harmonic restraint is used to stabilize the IEEE/ANSI curves are available.
protection against magnetizing inrush currents during
transformer energisation.

FUNCTIONAL OVERVIEW

Front port Rear port RECORDING

AUXILIARY FUNCTIONS MEASUREMENTS FEATURES
Setting EIA (RS) 485 port. - CB Local / Remote - True RMS measured values Fault Records
software S1 To setting software S1 - Phase Current Rotation - Phase Currents 5
to SCADA system - CB Monitoring - Neutral Currents
- Cold Load Pick Up - Sequence Currents
- Trip Circuit Supervision - Bias & Differential Currents Event Recording
- Blocking Logic - Remote Currents 75
- Selective Scheme Logic - Peak and rolling
- Relay Maintenance Mode demand values
- Remote ctrl on output relay - Communication Statistics Dist. Recording
- Auxiliary Timers 5 (3 sec.)
- Self Monitoring

87 50/51 50N 37 46 46BC 49 50BF

51N

(Description of ANSI code nos. see Function Overview)

 > Negative Sequence Overcurrent > Thermal Overload
Protection
Transformers and cables must be protected to account
Negative sequence overcurrent protection can be used for their particular thermal characteristics.
to provide greater sensitivity to resistive phase to The MiCOM P521 relay includes a thermal overload
phase or phase to earth faults even with delta element based upon the true RMS value of the
transformers present. The negative sequence element current. Alarm and overload thresholds are fully
can also be used to provide efficient back-up programmable to match each device requirement.
protection for dedicated motor protection relays.

> Cold Load Pickup

> Broken Conductor Detection
When a feeder is energised after a long outage most
The broken conductor protection element detects connected devices will draw a significant inrush
unbalanced conditions caused by broken conductors, current. The inrush current may be greater than the
maloperation of single phase switchgear or single overcurrent or earth fault settings thus causing mal-
phasing conditions. operation.
To prevent unwanted tripping the P521 has a cold load
pickup function that automatically increases the
> Undercurrent Protection overcurrent settings for a selectable time. Following a
successful close the settings revert back to their
The P521 provides undercurrent detection that can be normal values.
used to provide loss of mains protection.

Figure 3 Protection Signalling options

P521 P521

a) Direct link using optical fibres

P521 P59x
PCM
Other protection and
telecommunications MUX
equipment

b) Multiplexed link - relay connected to a remote PCM multiplexer using optical fibres
and via P59x interface unit

MT RS485
1.2 km max. MT RS485

P521 P521

c) Direct EIA485 connection with MT RS485 surge protection device - (Scheme A)

10 km max.
P595 P595
Interface Interface
P521 P521
d) EIA485 connection via P595 interface
(with optional PCM-FLU isolating transformers) - (Schemes F,G)

Baseband 10 km max. Baseband

or or
mDSL mDSL
P521 Modem Modem P521
e) pilot wire communications via leased line or mDSL modem
(with optional PCM-FLU isolating transformers) - (Schemes D,E)

Leased No strict limits Leased

Line Line
P521 Modem Modem P521

f) Conditioned telephone line communications via suitable modems - (Schemes B,C)

4>5
 In direct fibre optic applications, the distance
achievable depends on the type of fibre interface
PROTECTION SIGNALLING
chosen, as detailed in the table below.
> Interfacing Options
Fibre Interface Option Typical fibre run
The MiCOM P521 relay is designed to ensure 850nm multi-mode (to P59x) 1 km
compatibility with a wide range of communication 1300nm multi-mode 50 km
equipment and media. It is supplied fitted with one of 1300nm single-mode 100 km
the following protection signalling interfaces (order
option): The P521 protection signalling interface is
interchangeable, which allows simple upgrade without
• 850nm multi-mode fibre the need for any software changes.
• 1300nm multi-mode fibre
• 1300nm single-mode fibre
> Direct Intertripping
• EIA(RS)232 electrical
• EIA(RS)485 electrical
A typical application of the user defined direct
intertripping facility is shown in Figure 4.
These interfaces allow a variety of signalling links to
be used, as shown in Figure 3 and summarised below.
Using the selective Intertrip settings, either a user-
Signalling bandwidths of 9.6 / 19.2 / 56 / 64 kbps are
configurable input or an internal status signal can be
available, subject to the type of link used.
assigned for this purpose. Upon receipt of this
message the remote relay will operate user specified
Where 4 wire unconditioned twisted-pair metallic pilots
outputs for direct transfer tripping or blocking, and
are available, distances up to 25km can be achieved
provide indication of the remote intertrip. The indication
using the P595 Interfacing Unit. For distances less
can be disabled then it acts as signal transfer function.
than 1.2km, direct 4 wire EIA(RS)485 connection can
be used.
> Permissive Intertripping
For 2 or 4 wire unconditioned twisted-pair metallic
pilots, options for other modems exist, allowing
There is an auxiliary signalling facility whereby
distances up to 18km to be achieved.
a permissive intertrip command is sent over the
protection communication channel.
For 2 wire conditioned pilots (provided by a
telecommunications company), a suitable type of
A user configurable input can be assigned for this
modem must be used, and there is no strict limit to
purpose. When energised, the communication
the distance.
message to the remote relay is modified. Upon receipt
of this message, and providing one or more currents
For connection to multiplexer equipment, electrical
are above the differential setting (Is1), the remote
interfaces conforming to the G.703, V.35, and X.21
relays will initiate a trip, operate the user defined
recommendations are available, by using the 850nm
outputs and provide an indication of the remote
fibre interface in the P521 plus a P591, P592 or P593
intertrip. If required the current checking can be
interface unit.
disabled thus enabling the permissive intertrip feature
to operate as a second direct intertrip function. The
indication can be disabled then it acts as signal transfer
function.

Fig. 4 Example Application of Direct Intertripping

X X

Transformer
P521 P521 protection

DTT=1
Data message

- + - Opto +
 CONTROL MEASUREMENTS &
POST FAULT ANALYSIS

> Circuit Breaker Control

> Event Recording
Circuit breaker control is available from the front panel
user interface, optically isolated inputs and remotely via Up to 75 events are stored in the MiCOM P521 relay's
the substation communications. Flash memory. Events include the change in state of
inputs/outputs and presence of any alarms. All events
are time-tagged to 1ms.
> Programmable Inputs and Outputs

The MiCOM P521 relay includes 5 logic inputs and 9 > Fault Records
logic outputs including a watch-dog. All inputs and
outputs are freely configurable, with the exception of Records of the last 5 faults are stored in Flash memory.
RLY1 which is a dedicated trip relay. The information provided in the fault record includes:
RLY1 and RLY2 outputs are changeover contacts,
typically used for tripping. • Indication of faulted phase
All programmed thresholds (time delayed or • Protection flags
instantaneous) can be easily routed to any of the • Active setting group
outputs.
• Local phase and neutral currents
• Differential currents
> Blocking Logic • Maximum bias current
• Communications channel status
When the MiCOM P521 relay is used on critical • Fault time and date
networks, management of protection relays must take
surrounding devices into consideration.
Blocking inputs can be configured independently from > Disturbance Recording (Oscillography)
each other to block any combination of the user
selected elements (e.g. current differential, thermal A total of 5 disturbance records can be stored each of
overload, overcurrent etc.). up to 3 seconds in duration. The disturbance recorder
function is triggered by any of the programmable
thresholds, by an external input, or via the remote
> Selective Relay Scheme Logic communications. The data is stored in memory and can
be transferred to a data analyser using the front
A dedicated input can temporarily alter the overcurrent communication port or the rear EIA(RS)485 port.
and earth fault time-delay settings in response to a
downstream phase/earth fault start condition. This
function allows the MiCOM relay to discriminate > Instantaneous Records
correctly when used in a cascade scheme.The
selective relay scheme logic function can be enabled Five instantaneous (start) records can be stored in the
or disabled by the user as required. MiCOM P521 relay. Each instantaneous record
includes:

> Output Relay Latching • Start time (date & duration)

• Origin (phase & earth threshold)
Any of the outputs, including trip, can be latched.
Reset of the outputs is possible from a logic input, the These records are intended to aid preventative
front panel user interface or through the remote maintenance.
communications.

P521 makes
current differential protection
available over pilot wires
6>7
MEASUREMENTS > Circuit Breaker Supervision and Monitoring

The MiCOM P521 relay provides advanced circuit

> General Measurements breaker monitoring features. The relay monitors the
operating and closing times of the CB to ensure that
• Local and remote phase currents they do not exceed adjustable thresholds. The state of
• Local neutral current the circuit breaker is also monitored by use of the CB
• Phase differential currents auxiliary contacts.
If the relay detects the circuit breaker contacts in the
• Phase bias currents
same state for more than 5 seconds the relay will
• Sequence currents
initiate an alarm.
• Thermal state During faults, I and I2 values are summed and
• Peak and rolling demand values memorised for each phase.
The MiCOM P521 relay also provides Trip Circuit
Supervision via a user definable input. Any break in
> Protection Signalling Supervision the trip circuit will be accompanied by an alarm.

Dependable communications are essential for high-

performance differential protection. The MiCOM P521
monitors the protection signalling channel, and reports INFORMATION INTERFACES
the following error statistics in line with the guidance
from ITU-T G.821. Information exchange is performed via the LCD, the
local PC interface and via the rear communications
• Channel propagation delay interface.
• Channel status
> Local Communication
• Number of valid messages
• Number of errored messages
The front EIA(RS)232 port has been designed for use
• Number of errored seconds
with MiCOM S1, providing the ability to programme the
• Number of severely errored seconds settings (on or off-line), configure the relay, extract and
view records, view the measurement information
dynamically and perform control functions.

> Remote Communication

PLANT SUPERVISION

> Circuit Breaker Failure Protection

The rear communication port is based upon
If the fault current has not been interrupted following a EIA(RS)485 voltage levels and is designed for
set time delay from circuit breaker trip initiation, the permanent connection to network control and data
P521 can be configured to initiate a circuit breaker acquisition systems (see Figure 5). One of the three
failure (CBF) condition. CBF operation can be used to protocols listed below should be selected at the time
backtrip upstream breakers or remove blocking signals of order:
from upstream relays.
• Modbus
• IEC 60870-5-103
• DNP3

Local Fig. 5
User
Interface Connect to
Control System

Data logger
TM
Modbus
protocol
 AREVA TRACK RECORD - HIGH SPEED
DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION
>> LFCB digital current differential protection launched in 1986.
Class-leading protection applied at all voltage levels -
over 5000 units delivered.
>> P54x MiCOM series introduced in 1999.
Worldwide application, with over 13,200 units delivered.
>> PQ741 numerical current differential protection launched in 1996.
Over 3000 units delivered.
>> P521 MiCOM series introduced in 2003.
Worldwide application, with over 2,200 units delivered.

MiCOM is a registered trademark of AREVA. All trade names or trademarks mentioned herein whether registered or not, are the property of their owners. - 389191982 RCS PARIS - Printed in France - SONOVISION-ITEP
AUTOMATION-L3-P521-BR-09.09-2141-EN - © - AREVA - 2009. AREVA, the AREVA logo and any alternative version thereof are trademarks and service marks of AREVA.

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