Special Feature

Line Differential Line Differential Protection

– Concept & sample
Protection calculations.

Preamble:
Line differential Protection can be applied on overhead lines and cables. It is a very reliable unit
protection. All faults on the line, between the line CTs, are cleared instantaneously. It has ability to
detect high resistive earth faults It is a preferred protection scheme for underground cable and also
for short lines where Distance protection would have limitations.

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 Due to its factor of reliability, it is used as an 20ms.
additional fault detecting relay for short line
• No voltage measurement is needed (unlike
protection by most of the State Transmission
Directional O/C Relay protection and DPR
Utilities as well as the Central Transmission
protection).
Utility. It is also used as fault detecting protection
in case of Hybrid line configuration comprising of Requirement/challenges;
Overhead lines and underground cables. • Communication media is always required
Line Differential protection is usually applied as (optical Fiber or pilot wire) .
Primary protection as it is instantaneous and not • There are challenges related to use of multiplex
coordinated with any other Protection. However, channels or public switched network.
in the modern line Differential protection. IED
may also have Distance protection and over
• Repeaters are required beyond a certain
distance.
current protection that is coordinated as back up
protection. • There is no inherent back up protection unless
a multi-function protection IED is used.
Key words: Line Differential Relay, Line
Capacitances & Fiber-Optic Communication link. 1.1 Features of this protection;
1.0 Concept cum features of this protection; • This is current differential protection.
• Two redundant communication channels are
usually provided that covers all the three
terminals.
• Since this is a unit protection, there is no
concept of Local and remote.
• Each terminal is designated by its Terminal
Fig.1: Schematic of line on which Line Differ- designation.
1.1
ential Protection is shown implemented.
• If time synchronization for measurement
Advantages of this protection; [1] is done by a terminal, that terminal can be
• Line differential protection provides a sensitive described as Master terminal. Each terminal
and selective protection. can also have independent GPS time synch
provision.
• It is Line cum Transformer combination
protection. • Derivation of the differential and the bias
currents are derived using e local and remote
• No need for time co-ordination as line
current measurements taken at the same
differential protection only operates for faults
point in time, if time is not synchronized, this
with in the protected zone ie Line only thus, it
would cause errors.
is also called Unit protection.
• Delays involved in communicating
• Protection operation time can be less than
measurements between terminals calls for

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 Special Feature

compensation. This process is called “time criteria for protection of a three-terminal feeder,
alignment”. but the principle is similar for a two-terminal
feeder also wherein instead of three currents only
* Differential current (IDiff) = vector summation
two currents are considered ie I1 & I2 only.
of all currents entering the protected zone.
* Bias current (IBias) = half the scalar sum of the
2.0 PHASE CURRENT DIFFERENTIAL
currents entering the protected zone.
TRIPPING CRITERIA;[2]
Line Differential Protection

1.2 Special features; The phase current differential characteristic is

defined by four settings:
i. In case of failure of optical fiber communication
between the local and remote Line Differential
• Phase Is1:The basic differential current setting
which determines the minimum pick-up level
relays then the protection of line is
of the protection.
automatically switches over to protect the line
with Distance protection features if, such IED • Phase k1:The lower percentage bias setting
is provided in this Protection.. used when the bias current is below the Phase
Is2 setting. This provides stability for small CT
ii. With fiber optic-communication there is no
mismatches, while ensuring good sensitivity
length limitation on Transmission lines for
to resistive faults under heavy load conditions.
Line Differential Protection. Relay to relay
dedicated communication channel can be • Phase Is2:A bias current threshold setting,
used up to 200 to 250 km. Above this length above which the higher percentage bias
fiber optic repeaters are required. In modern setting Phase k2 is used.
numerical differential relays. Errors due to
• Phase k2:The higher percentage bias setting
communication channel propagation delay as
used to improve protection stability under
well as errors due to channel asymmetry can
heavy through fault current conditions.
be compensated in modern Line Differential
protection. [3] 2.1 Operating & restraining phenomenon
[2];
iii. As most numerical Line differential Protection
relays also have built in Distance protection Please refer Fig.2 Bias Characteristic
in which auto-reclosure can be configured for graph:
single phase to ground faults.[3] • If the differential current falls above the graph.
1.2. Bias Characteristic Graph: (Fig.2:), relay shall trip.

The differential and bias currents are compared • If it is below the graph, the relay shall restrain.
against a tripping criterion which is defined by a As when the phase-differential protection issues
dual-slope characteristic in fig.2.shows the tripping a trip command, it sends a per-phase ‘differential
inter trip’ signal to the remote terminals to enable
remote breaker to trip. This is to ensure that all
ends of the protected line trip, even for marginal
fault conditions.
By default, the delay characteristic is set to
definite time with a zero second delay, resulting
in instantaneous tripping, however it can be
programed for either definite time or on inverse
Fig.2: Bias Characteristic graph.[2]
time for grading with other protections. grading or

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coordination with other protection. A small definite The magnitude of the charging current is dependent
time delay can be inherent to overcome transient of the line capacitance and the system voltage.
phenomenon. To overcome this constraint, the charging current
compensation is made available in Line differential
Since differential and bias current calculations are
protection. When enabled, this compensation will
made on a per-phase basis, the values vary on a
measure the fundamental frequency differential
per-phase basis.
current under steady state undisturbed conditions
Note; for optimum stability, the highest value of and then subtract it, making the resulting differential
the three-phase bias currents is used to restrain all current zero (or close to zero).
three phases. The worst condition for protection to
Note: All small pre-fault differential currents are
remain stable is saturation of CT at one end.
subtracted, no matter what may be their origin. As
2.2 Philosophy for minimum Trip current the differential protection is phase segregated, this
Level [2]; action is made separately for each phase.
The minimum trip current level (Idiff min) is a The charging current is generated because there is

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function of Phase Is1 and Phase k1 as shown in the a voltage applied over the line capacitances as seen
following calculation (note: Phase Is1 and Phase k1 in the fig.3. If an external short circuit with negligible
have been shortened to just Is1 and k1 for clarity). fault resistance occurs close to the line, the voltage
Idiff = k1(Ibias) + Is1 ... in the fault location will be approximately zero.
Idiff = (k1)(0.5Idiff) + Is1 ...
Consequently, zero voltage will also be applied
Is1 = Idiff - k1.0.5Idiff = Idiff.(1 - 0.5k1) ...
over part of the line capacitance, which in turn will
Idiff = Is1/ (1 - 0.5k1)
decrease the charging current compared to the pre-
If, k1 has a value of 30% for example, this means fault value.
that the minimum trip current is 1.176 Is1.
3.0 Calculation for charging current;
Where, Is1 (basic differential current setting which
Say for 220kV line of 15km line.
determines the minimum pick-up level of the
protection.) Line charging MVR/km for 220kV line = 0.132
MVAR / km,
2.3 Charging current compensation;
Formula for Line charging current ;

Therefore, line charging current for say, 15 km line

length =

3.1 True calculation of charging current

for 11.7 km 220kV Line ;
Fig.3: Typical schematic diagram of Line Differential Pro-
tection, showing Line capacitances & location of fault.[2]

There are capacitances between the line - phase

conductors and between phase conductors and
earth. These capacitances give rise to line charging
currents which are seen by the Line differential
protection Relay as “false” differential currents.

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 Special Feature

Since, this calculated Susceptance value being ii. CVT ratio 220kV/110V
very low, therefore considering the default value
iii. Characteristic slope:- 20%
of 0.2 sec., while Charging current calculations
iv. Operating current:- 0.15 A
4.0 Operation as Distance protection
Relay; v. Charging current:- not considered as it is <<
0.2A default value (refer Cl.3.1)
In every numerical line difference relay, there is a
Line Differential Protection

feature, if optical fiber link fails, then it switches vi. Differential Current calculation:
– over to Distance Protection Relay, in which (a)Please refer Cl.2 [calculation is reproduced for
local CVTs & CTs connected to Line Difference Easy reference;
Protection are used in Distance Protection.
• Phase Is1: The basic differential current setting
The settings thereof are similar to any other which determines the minimum pick-up level
Distance protection for any feeder ie. Z1, Z2 & Z3, of the protection.
impedances .
• Phase k1: The lower percentage bias setting
5.0 Constraints in respect of usage of used when the bias current is below the Phase
Line Differential Relay [3]; Is2 setting. This provides stability for small CT
With fiber-optic communication there is no mismatches, while ensuring good sensitivity to
length limitation on Transmission lines for Line resistive faults under heavy load conditions.]
Differential Protection. Relay to relay dedicated (b) minimum Trip current ie operating ;(please
communication channel can be used up to 200 to refer Cl.2.2)
250 km. above this length fiber optic repeaters are Idiff = phase Is1/ (1 - 0.5.phase k1).where, Phase
required. In modern numerical differential relays, K1 is % slope.
Errors due to communication channel propagation
delay as well as errors due to channel asymmetry
(v) Operating current;
can be compensated in modern Line Differential (Differential current calculation adopting
protection. [3] Can be compensated by appropriate Characteristic slope of 20%);
settings and communication algorithm.
Idiff = phase Is1/ (1 - 0.5.phase k1).
Note:
Idiff= 0.15/1- 0.5 x 0.20) = 0.1666 Amp
»» It can be used in any network including weak (vii) Restating current;
in-feed condition can be used for any type of
network earthing. 1/2 of Operating current;

»» The general consensus in our country is to use = 0.1666/2=0.0833 A

Line Differential Relays preferably for Short Note:
lines only.
(i) The settings are opted for 11.7 km Line & set
»» If underground cable is used as transmission on the Line Differential Relay type.Ic.1-545.001
line protected through Line differential relay, with distance relay which runs into large number
auto - reclosure is not used. of pages; 76pages (pdf A4 copies).
6.0 Settings adopted for 11.7km 220kV (ii) Relevant settings adopted on the Line
line;
differential relay:
Differential current setting;
Screen shot of relevant setting (enclosed in
i. CT ratio 800/1Amp.. red font rectangle) of Line Diff .IC 1.545.001 is

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reproduced hereunder; As could be seen therefrom
phase Is2=2.00A & Phase k2 = 50%.(pl ref.fig.5)
Please ref. the characteristic curve here-under
(fig.4)

Fig.4 : characteristic graph for 1-remote terminal.

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Fig.5:pdf copy of actual relevant settings provided on
the Line differential relay for the said 11.7 kV Line.
7.0 Conclusion;
Note: 1. This protection is preferably used for short
i. Kindly refer Cl.6.0.as regards settings adopted. lines by most of the STUs and CTU in addition
to DPR.
ii. Kindly refer fig.5 .enclosed in red rectangle are
the real settings adopted in the Line Differential 2. It has an advantage of built in Single phase to
Relay. ground fault auto-reclose function.

iii. For clarity the settings adopted are reproduced 3. If the transmission line is through Underground
– hereunder ;(table 6). cable, Auto reclose function should be disabled
8.0 References;
1. ABB’s Line deferential Protraction manual
RED-615.
2. MiCOM P54x (P543, P544, P545 & P546)

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 Special Feature

Current Differential Protection Relay-mannual. Chief Engineer (Testing & Commun.),M.P. Power
Transmission co. Ltd. Jabalpur, for permitting Shri
3. In consultation with Er.Shri Sanjay Patki,
Rajat Jain. AE(Testing) 400kV.S/S BINA, to get
former Vice-president-Corporate Engineering
associated himself with me as my Co-author. EM
( Protection Expert), Tata Power ,Mumbai and
a distinguished member in CIGRE, Paris.
9.0 Gratitude & acknowledgement;
Line Differential Protection

I express my sincere thanks to Er.Shri Atul Joshi the

10.0 Authors

• Retd. Chief Engineer (Testing & Commun.), M.P.Power Transmission Co. Ltd.
Jabalpur. (Served in MPSEB & MPPTCL, Jabalpur for 33 years).
• Empanelled as an Expert Professional on the panel of CPRI, Bangalore
(2008 to 2012) and carried out Third Party Inspections on behalf of CPRI
Bangaluru /Bhopal.
• Worked as Advisor (Testing) in SOUTHCO, Berhampur. Odisha (A DISCOM
in Odisha of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group).(from 2004 to 2006).
• Recipient of plaque in recognition of his eminence and contribution to the
K.K.Murty. BE (Hons), profession of Electrical Engineering at the National level by The Institute of
Elect,FIE(India) ,CE(India),M.
CIGRE’ Engineers India, Kolkata in Oct 2015.

• He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Govern-

ment College of Engineering Karad in 2007.
• He has more than 12 years of experience in the EHV and Renewable Ener-
gy Projects.
• Brief of his work experience includes Installation, Erection, Testing, Com-
missioning of EHV Substation up to 400 kV and Transmission Line up of
220 kV and 33 kV.
• Installation & commissioning of Renewable Energy Projects includes Wind
Mr. Santosh Bagade Power Project up to 200 MW and De-Centralized Ground Mounted Solar
PV Based Power Projects and O&M of the same.
• QA/QC Quality inspection, Audits, FQP(Field Quality Plan) implementation
of Wind and Solar Project, EHV Substation and TL Project.

• B-Tech, from GAUTAM BUDDH TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY LUCKNOW.

• Working in MP Power Transmission Co. Ltd. since 2014 , with 9 Years’
experience.
• Rich experience of Testing & Commissioning of modern numerical pro-
tection schemes of DPR & Line diff. Repay protection Upto and including
400kV Lines.
• Testing & commissioning of Transformers up to & including 400kV level ie
Rajat Jain, AE(Testing) 315 MVA Transformers and Line-Reactors of 420 kV, 80 MVAR.
O/o EE 400kV Testing
Div. MPPTCL BINA.

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