Advanced Protection Application Example

DIgSILENT PowerFactory *

Abstract The power swing (PS) is a system phenomena occur-

ing after system disturbances like loss of large con-
sumers or generating units or short circuit events. A
This example provides an introduction to ad- power swing can be stable or unstable. A stable power
vanced protection cases. This includes static cal- swing is damped in nature having oscillating frequen-
culation and dynamic simulation cases for spe- cies around the range of 1 to 3 Hz. Unstable swings
cial applications. For every area a separate net- occur when an event causes the generator rotor an-
work model is provided with different study cases. gle to increase beyond the generator’s stability limit.
The following topics are handled in this example: When the event is cleared, the rotor angle may con-
Power swing blocking, out-of-step tripping and au- tinue to increase potentially resulting in an out of step
toreclosure. The document has been designed for (OOS) condition. Protection devices need to be able
a user who has already used, and is familiar with to distinguish between stable and unstable swings,
the functions and structure of PowerFactory. blocking for stable swings and tripping instantaneously
in the case that an out of step condition is detected. To
investigate these phenomena in PowerFactory a Sim-
ulation RMS/EMT licence module is required.
1 Power Swing Blocking and Out-
of-Step Tripping

Figure 1: Two machine network model to simulate stable and unstable power swings

* DIgSILENT GmbH, Heinrich-Hertz-Str. 9, 72810 Gomaringen, Germany, www.digsilent.de

ADVANCED PROTECTION APPLICATION EXAMPLE

1.1 Simulation Model The power swing characteristic is positioned between

the impedance starting characteristic and the largest
The network model provided in this example is a sim- zone characteristic.
ple two machine model intended to illustrate transient
stability concepts. Figure 1 shows the network dia-
gram. There is a 950 MVA generator and unit trans- Generator protection
former connected to parallel 350 kV lines which feed
into an external grid element. Three protection de- In the generator protection relay, the OOS tripping
vices are implemented in this model: function is enabled. This function detects an OOS
condition if the measured impedance trajectory enters
• Two line distance protection: REL561 the OOS zone on one side of the resistive plane and
• Generator protection: 7UMX62 exits it on the other side of the resistive plane. For
swings near to the relaying location, (i.e. within OOS
zone 1), the device trips after only one complete cross-
Line protection ing is detected. For swings further away (within OOS
zone 2), four complete crossings are allowed before
the device will trip. A crossing is assigned to the char-
The line distance protection zones are configured us- acteristic which is active at the point where the imagi-
ing simple setting rules: nary axis is crossed. The two OOS characteristics are
set as follows in accordance with [2]:
• Zone 1: 85% of the first line in forward direction
with no delay • OOS characteristic 1: 70% of the transformer re-
actance in forward direction and to 100% of the
• Zone 2: 120% of the first line in forward direction
generator transient reactance in the reverse di-
with 300 ms delay
rection.
The purpose of these devices is to protect the lines in
• OOS characteristic 2: 120% of transformer re-
case of short circuits. Furthermore the devices should
actance in forward direction.
not trip in case that a power swing enters either of the
zones. For this purpose the relay has a PS detection
method based on the classic dual-quadrilateral char-
acteristic shown in figure 2. The basic principle is to
measure the time that the impedance trajectory takes
to cross from the outer to the inner power swing zone.
A power swing would be expected to cross the zones
on a relatively slow steady trajectory, eventually leav-
ing the zones. By contrast a fault would be expected to
enter the zones much more quickly and to stay within
the zones until the fault is cleared.

Figure 3: RX plot of the generator relay showing zones

and OOS characteristics

1.2 Study Cases

The network disturbance used to cause a power swing

in this example is a 3 phase short-circuit event on the
lower line OHL2 located near bus HV. The short-circuit
is cleared within a specific time which is purposefully
Figure 2: RX plot of the line distance relay showing selected at the start of the simulation in order to cause
PS characteristics either a stable or unstable condition.

Rev.2 2
ADVANCED PROTECTION APPLICATION EXAMPLE

1.2.1 Power Swing Blocking 1.2.2 Out of Step Tripping

The fault clearing time for a stable PS in this case is To create an unstable condition, a longer fault clearing
100 ms. After the short circuit is cleared by opening time of 300 ms is specified. This causes the genera-
both circuit breakers located at OHL2, the system re- tor to accelerate beyond its stability limit. The swing is
acts with a PS frequency oscillation of approximately no longer stable and cuts across the impedance char-
1 Hz. acteristic of the generator relay, entering the OOS 1
characteristic in the right half of the resistive plane,
Figure 4 shows the impedance trajectory in the R- crossing the imaginary axis within the OOS1 charac-
X plane for a simulation time of 1 s. The relay initially teristic and then exiting it in the left half of the imagi-
sees the fault on OHL2 in the reverse direction, af- nary plane (figure 5). Since the OOS 1 characteristic
ter the fault is cleared, the trajectory jumps between setting only allows one crossing of the characteristic,
the PS zones and swings back into Zone 1 before fi- the relay immediately trips.
nally swinging out of the PS zones. Figure 6 shows
binary signals from the PS blocking logic. The first
[pri.Ohm]
crossing of the two PS characteristics is nearly instan-
taneous but the second crossing has a duration of 0,12

70 ms. Given that the minimum time duration setting 0,10

for detection of a PS condition has been specified to 0,08

be 45 ms, the blocking signal is generated and sub- 0,06

sequently zone 1 does not trip. After the power swing 0,04

condition is declared, the blocking signal is active for 0,02

-0,22 -0,20 -0,18 -0,16 -0,14 -0,12 -0,10 -0,08 -0,06 -0,04 -0,02 0,02 0,04 0,06 0,08 0,10 0,12 0,14 0,16 0,18
a specified duration of 0.5 s
-0,02
75,
-0,04

63,
Power Swing -0,06

50, Z2P -0,08

Zone 2 -0,10
38,
Z1P
Zone 1
25, Figure 5: RX plot section of the generator distance
13,
relay with the impedance trajectory
13, 25, 38, 50, 63, 75, 88, 100, 113, 125, 138, [pri.Ohm]

-13,

-25,

-38,

-50,

Figure 4: RX plot section of the line distance relay with

the impedance trajectory

Rev.2 3
ADVANCED PROTECTION APPLICATION EXAMPLE

2
Inner Zone
1 Outer Zone
0

0,5 Power Swing Tripping

2
Blocking Input Z1P
1 Blocking Input Z2P
0

20
10 Power Swing Starting
0
0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 [s] 1

Figure 6: Binary plot of the line distance relay R_OHL1_L PS logic

Rev.2 4
ADVANCED PROTECTION APPLICATION EXAMPLE

2 Autoreclosure • Reset time: 30 s

• Reclosing interval 1: 0.5 s

This section demonstrates the auto reclosing (ARC)
• Reclosing interval 2: 1 s
operation of distance protection relays for single and
three phase faults. This function is typically applied • Closing command duration: 0.02 s
to overhead lines in transmission and distribution net-
works where the insulation medium self heals after the • Fast reclosing 1-phase: 1.6 s
circuit is de-energised. Successful and unsuccessful
For the calculation of the fast reclosing interval for sin-
ARC events are demonstrated.
gle phase faults of 1.6 s, the following equation has
In order to simulate the behaviour of ARC relays in been used. [3].
PowerFactory an Simulation RMS/EMT licence mod-
𝐼𝑏 = 43 · (𝑡𝑏 − 0.2)
ule is required.
𝐼𝑏 is the capacitive earth fault current in A
𝑡𝑏 is the reclosing time in seconds
2.1 Simulation Model
A capacitive current of 60.62 A was extracted from the
The network has been pre-prepared with two protec- line model of the protected line/
tion devices. As shown in figure 7, the distance relays
The following empirical values are typical values of re-
Dist_NW and Dist_NE with ARC functionality are lo-
closing time which can be assumed to facilitate suit-
cated at each end of line NW-NE_L3 (marked in red).
able arc quenching:
It is to be noted that in this example, only the Distance
Polygonal elements of the relays are being considered Table 1: Reclosing intervals for single phase and three
and so the Distance Circular subrelay is set out of ser- phase faults
vice. In order to enable single pole tripping of the relay
the DIP Switch status of the Single Pole Trip.RelLogdip 1ph faults 3ph faults
element located in the Distance Polygonal subrelay of Medium Voltage - 0.3 to 0.5 s
each relay should be set to “on(high)”. High Voltage 0.4 to 1.2 s 0.3 to 0.5 s
Extra High Voltage 0.4 to 2 s 0.3 to 0.5 s
Recloser settings such as Operations to lockout, Re-
closing intervals, Operation Mode and Logic can be
set in the Reclosing block of the Distance Polygon el-
ement as follows: Accordingly, in this example the first reclosing inter-
vals for three phase faults and single phase faults are
• Operations to lockout: 2 assumed to be 0.5 s and 1.6 s respectively.

Figure 7: Single line diagram of the network

Rev.2 5
ADVANCED PROTECTION APPLICATION EXAMPLE

2.2 Study Cases 2.2.1 Unsuccessful 1-Phase Auto Reclosing

Four study cases are configured to demontrate the Right click on the Study Case “02a Unsuccessful 1-
ARC functionality. The first two cases study the oper- Phase Auto Reclosing” and activate it. A “Single
ation of ARC relays during a single phase to ground Phase to Ground Fault” short circuit event has been
fault and the remaining two cases during a three defined at 50% of the length of line NW-NE_L3.
phase fault:
Select the Simulation RMS/EMT Toolbox and run the
• 02a Unsuccessful 1-Phase Auto Reclosing configured dynamic simulation for 10 seconds. The
plots as shown in figure 8 represent the operation of
• 02b Successful 1-Phase Auto Reclosing the relays. When the fault is not cleared after the sec-
ond reclosure attempt, the relays reach the lockout
state.
• 02c Unsuccessful 3-Phase Auto Reclosing
The upper plot shows the three phase currents of the
• 02d Successful 3-Phase Auto Reclosing line during this simulation and the lower curve repre-
sents the states of both the breakers during the ARC
After executing each simulation, the stability of each operation of the relays. The fault occurres at t=0 and
generator should be verified based on the relative ro- at t=1.6 s both relays attempt to close the breakers.
tor angle between its own rotor angle and that of the Since the fault is still there, the breakers open and at
reference machine. t=1.7 s, and the relays reach the lockout state.

6
[kA]
4

2
0
0 0,5 1 1,5 [s] 2

NW-NE_L3: Phase Current, Magnitude A/Terminal i

NW-NE_L3: Phase Current, Magnitude B/Terminal i
NW-NE_L3: Phase Current, Magnitude C/Terminal i

1,5

0,5
0
0 0,5 1 1,5 [s] 2

NW_03\CB7: Breaker Closed NE_02\CB3: Breaker Closed

Figure 8: Unsuccessful single phase auto reclosing

2.2.2 Successful 1-Phase Auto Reclosing gle phase to ground fault at t=1 s. Run the dynamic
simulation for 10 seconds. The plots, as shown in fig-
ure 9, represent the operation of the relays. Since the
Right click on the Study Case “02b Successful 1- fault is cleared at t=1 s., the relays successfully close
Phase Auto Reclosing” and activate it. In this case, the breakers after the second reclosure attempt and
a second short circuit event is defined to clear the sin- the network continues in its normal operating state.

Rev.2 6
ADVANCED PROTECTION APPLICATION EXAMPLE

4
[kA]
2

0
0 0,5 1 1,5 [s] 2

NW-NE_L3: Phase Current, Magnitude A/Terminal i

NW-NE_L3: Phase Current, Magnitude B/Terminal i
NW-NE_L3: Phase Current, Magnitude C/Terminal i

1,5

0,5
0
0 0,5 1 1,5 [s] 2

NW_03\CB7: Breaker Closed NE_02\CB3: Breaker Closed

Figure 9: Successful single phase auto reclosing

2.2.3 Unsuccessful 3-Phase Auto Reclosing at 50% of the length of line NW-NE_L3. Run the dy-
namic simulation for 10 seconds. The plots, shown in
Right click on the Study Case “02c Unsuccessful 3- figure 10, represent the operation of the relays. When
Phase Auto Reclosing” and activate it. In this case, the fault is not cleared after the second reclosure at-
a “3-Phase Short-Circuit” short circuit event is defined tempt at t=0.5 s, the relays enter a lockout state.

[kA]
4

0
0 0,5 1 1,5 [s] 2

NW-NE_L3: Phase Current, Magnitude A/Terminal i

NW-NE_L3: Phase Current, Magnitude B/Terminal i
NW-NE_L3: Phase Current, Magnitude C/Terminal i

1,5

0,5
0
0 0,5 1 1,5 [s] 2

NW_03\CB7: Breaker Closed NE_02\CB3: Breaker Closed

Figure 10: Unsuccessful three phase auto reclosing

Rev.2 7
ADVANCED PROTECTION APPLICATION EXAMPLE

2.2.4 Successful 3-Phase Auto Reclosing phase fault. Run the dynamic simulation for 10 sec-
onds. The plots, shown in figure 11, represent the
operation of the relays. Since, the fault is cleared at
Right click on the Study Case “02d Successful 3- t=0.2 s, the relays close the breakers successfully af-
Phase Auto Reclosing” and activate it. In this case, a ter the second reclosure attempt and the network and
second short circuit event is defined to clear the three the network continues in its normal operating state.

6
[kA]
4

2
0
0 0,5 1 1,5 [s] 2

NW-NE_L3: Phase Current, Magnitude A/Terminal i

NW-NE_L3: Phase Current, Magnitude B/Terminal i
NW-NE_L3: Phase Current, Magnitude C/Terminal i

1,5

0,5
0
0 0,5 1 1,5 [s] 2

NW_03\CB7: Breaker Closed NE_02\CB3: Breaker Closed

Figure 11: Successful three phase auto reclosing

Rev.2 8
ADVANCED PROTECTION APPLICATION EXAMPLE

References [2] Siemens Siprotec “Multifunction Machine Protec-

tion 7UM62 V4.6 Manuel”, Siemens AG, 2005

[1] Gerhard Zieger: “Numberical Distance Protec- [3] “Richtlinie für die Automatische Wiedereinschal-
tion - Principles and Applications”, Publicis Pub- tung in elektrischen Netzen”, VWEW Energiever-
lishing, 2011, ISBN 978-3-89578-381-4 lag GmbH, 2001