Realistic Testing Procedure of Power Swing
Blocking Function in Distance Relay
Farzad Razavi, Behrooz Taheri, Mohammad Parpaei, Mehdi Mohammadi Ghalesefidi and Siamak Zarei
AbstractAs one of the major problems in protecting large-
dimension power systems, power swing and its effect on distance
have caused a lot of damages to energy transfer systems in many
parts of the world. Therefore, power swing has gained attentions of
many researchers, which has led to invention of different methods for
power swing detection. Power swing detection algorithm is highly
important in distance relay, but protection relays should have general
requirements such as correct fault detection, response rate, and
minimization of disturbances in a power system. To ensure meeting
the requirements, protection relays need different tests during devel-
opment, setup, maintenance, configuration, and troubleshooting steps.
This paper covers power swing scheme of the modern numerical relay
protection, 7sa522 to address the effect of the different fault types on
the function of the power swing blocking. In this study, it was shown
that the different fault types during power swing cause different time
for unblocking distance relay.
KeywordsPower Swing, Distance Relay, Power System Protec-
tion, Relay Test, Transient in Power System.
I. I NTRODUCTION
T HE number of short-circuit currents in power systems is
constantly increasing due to the growing use of electrical
energy [1]. Moreover, power systems have a great tendency
toward fault [2]. Therefore, the need for protection relays,
which play a crucial role in ensuring power system reliability,
has increased rapidly [3]. Distance relay is one of major types
of the relays. When the changes in the grid (such as change
of demand and short circuit) are accompanied by a sudden
distortion, the impedance seen by distance relays may swing,
enter a protection zone, and cause an unwanted function in
the relays [4]. In addition, the method of detection of swing
power in distance relays is always important. The appropriate
test to examine the correct performance of the relay plays a
major role in this regard.
Protection relays need various tests during development,
setup, maintenance, configuration, and troubleshooting steps
[3]. One of the tests is Power Swing Blocking (PSB) function
test which aims to ensure the correct function of distance relay
during power swing.
Protection relays should satisfy general requirements such
as correct detection of problem, response rate, and minimiza-
tion of disturbances in a power system [5]. These factors
F.Razavi and B.Taheri are with the Faculty of Electrical, Biomedical and
Mechatronics Engineering, Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin,
Iran.
M.Parpaei is with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Amirkabir
University of Technology, Iran.
M.M.Ghalesefidi is with the Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty
of Engineering and Technology, Imam Khomeini International University,
Qazvin, Iran
S.Zarei is with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Vebko Amirkabir
Research and Development Company, I. R. of Iran
may cause a considerable loss in a protection relay due
to its long duration of operation in the power grid, which
can only been detected by system troubleshooting tests. This
manuscript discusses the test and examination of the power
swing function of a SIEMENS 7sa522 distance relay using a
VEBKO AMIRKABIR AMT-105 relay test device.
II. P OWER S WING
Dynamic events such as load change, fault, reclose dead
time, and switching may cause power swing [6]. The apparent
impedance of a distance relay may enter its operational zone
and deactivate sound lines unnecessarily [7]. In this condition,
generators swing in proportion to one another and introduce
instability to the system [6]. Figure 1 shows the measurement
values for power swing in the Siemens distance relay.
Fig. 1. Measured quantities during a power swing [6].
As shown by Figure 1, value I is obtained at the measure-
ment zone of M using the following formula [6]:
G1 + G2
I= (1)
Z1 + Z2
In a two-machine system such as Figure 2, the relationship
between the in line real power and the angle between generator
and engine voltages can be defined as follows [8]:
VG Vm
P G = PM = sin() (2)
XG + XL + Xm
The real power transmission between the generator and en-
gine is limited by generator source impedance, line impedance,
and motor impedance. The above formula shows that maxi-
mum power transmission occurs at the voltage angle of 90.
For the angle of voltages greater than 90 in the steady state,
the real power becomes smaller and system becomes instable,
since the generator will be unable to provide the required real
power even if the voltage angle increases. Normally, a grid
operates on voltage angles smaller than 60 [8].

Fig. 2. Two machine model [8].
III. P OWER S WING F UNCTION T EST M ETHOD
It is possible to communicate with the machine using a
software developed in C#. The software can communicate with
the machine using the T CP/IP v4 network protocol. Figure
3 shows the test diagram for an AMT-105 relay tester.
Fig. 3. Test diagram for an AMT-105 relay tester.
To start examining the power swings, distance relay zones
should first be provided to the software as the inputs. Figure
4 shows a sample zoning of distance relays.
Fig. 4. Typical distance relay zones.
The Z-Tracking ability, which was used for the test function
of power swing in the machine, allows changes in impedance
at any angle, velocity, and direction of distance relay zones.
Impedance value in a single-phase fault is obtained from
the following formula [9]:
UP hE
ZP hE = (3)
IP h KE IE
where KE = ZE/ZL and I0 = IE. In three-phase
faults, IE = 0. Therefore, impedance in three-phase faults
is achieved using the following equation:
U
Z3P hase = (4)
I
A. DC-Decay
For some of our tests, we may need the DC current to be
start from a certain value and be gradually damped overtime.
The following formula allows this condition:
A e(tT ) (5)
In the previous formula, A is the magnitude and T is
the reverse time constant. This manuscript carries out the
following tests and the results and analyses are expressed in
each section.
1) Power swing detection test.
2) Single-phase fault detection test during power swing.
3) Three-phase fault detection test during power swing.
IV. P OWER S WING D ETECTION A LGORITHM FOR R ELAY
7 SA 522
The detection algorithm for power swing test in relay
7sa522 is based on the continuous impedance calculation
method [10]. This method has the following features [8]:
1) No settings are required, thus no complex calculation is
needed.
2) Detection of power swing with frequencies up to 10Hz.
3) Detection of power swings that occur during singlepole
open condition and during faults.
4) Immediate unblocking of distance protection on all kind
of faults occurring during power swing.
5) Quick detection of reappeared power swing after fault
clearance.
6) Out-of-step tripping in case of unstable power swing.
The main features for power swing detection in relay 7sa522
include Monotony, Continuity, and Smoothness. They are also
important for power swing detection, velocity, and change of
impedance vectors [6]. Figure 5 shows the impedance vectors
in two modes of fault and power swing.
Fig. 5. Impedance vectors during a power swing and during a fault [6].
A. Monotony
The directions of derivatives of R and X will be calculated.
Since none of these variables changes direction, monotony is
guaranteed along one direction [8].
B. Continuity
The distance between R and X values should exceed a
threshold value. This guarantees that the impedance vector is
not stationary [8].

C. Smoothnesse
The values of sequence of derivatives for R and X should
be lower than the threshold value. This guarantees that the
impedance geometrical location has a smooth motion [8]:
   
 X1 
 < thereshold  R1  < thereshold
 

 X1   R1  (6)
This criterion is met only at the time of power oscillation,
but not at the time of power supply and occurrence of faults.
Impedance vector never moves smoothly on a regular path. In
the event of faults, impedance vectors jump abruptly toward
fault impedance. Impedance vectors do not usually move when
loads are being supplied [8]. Figure 6 shows the performance
of power swing function in relay 7sa522.
Fig. 6. Logic diagram of power swing detection [6].
V. P OWER S WING D ETECTION T EST
Distance relays are immune to unwanted operations at the
time of oscillations. The immunity is due to a function called
PSB, whose main function is to differentiate faults from power
swing [2]. The major part of PSB function test is to check the
correct function of relay at the time of power swing.
Figure 7 shows how the power oscillations enter into and
exits from the distance relay zones. As shown by Figure 8, the
relay has detected the power swing correctly and has prevented
an undue trip.
VI. FAULT D ETECTION I MPORTANCE DURING P OWER
S WING
One of the major items that should be considered in power
swing function test is the ability of relay to differentiate
between simultaneous error and power swing in proportion
to power swing. A relay should block distance function trip
at the time of power swing. However, if a fault is created
simultaneous to a power swing, the relay should unblock
Fig. 7. Impedance trajectory of Power Swing
Fig. 8. Voltage and Current during Power Swing
function distance immediately and issue a Trip command. If a
Trip command is not issued on time, it may cause instability
in a grid.
VII. S INGLE - PHASE D ETECTION T EST DURING P OWER
S WING
This section examines some single-phase samples during
power swing. As one of the factors effective in examining
the correct performance of relays during power swing is
fault current magnitude power, the single-phase fault with the
magnitudes different from power swing current was tested. In
each case, the Trip the monitored power swing signals are
monitored and the fault detection command is evaluated by
the relay.
A. Test with a Fault Current Equal to Maximum Swing Current
In this test, a power swing was created using AMPro power
swing test module.
As shown by Figure 9, the power swing current ranges
between 0.5 and 3 amperes. Impedance trajectory enters into
Zone 1 within 0.5 sec and exits from Zone 3 after 0.5 sec.
Figure 10 shows the current and voltage caused by power
swing in which the frequency of envelope of curve changes
specifies the frequency current of power swing. As shown, the
frequency of this power swing is 1 Hz. The swing power fre-
quency can be changed conveniently in AMPro. Power swing
test can be performed in AMPro with varied frequencies. To
further examine the relay performance, a single-phase fault
was generated in Zone 1 after power swing. Fault current is
equal to the maximum power swing current. It is expected
that the relay detects the fault during power swing and issues
the Trip command. As shown by Figure 10, power swing has
been detected correctly by the relay and relay trip has been
blocked. Moreover, the relay has detected the single-phase
fault generated in Zone 1 and has issued the Trip command
in 94 ms.

Fig. 11. Single phase fault during Power Swing

to the creation of zero and non-zero sequence components,

single- and double-phase faults are detected easier during
power swing. However, sequence components are almost zero
for symmetrical three-phase faults. Therefore, the algorithm
used in relays is highly important in detecting such faults, so
that it is capable of detecting a fault at the right time and
issuing a Trip command.

Fig. 9. Power Swing and Fault A. Testing using Symmetrical Three-phase Fault with a Mag-
nitude Equal to Power Swing Current
Similar to the single-fault test, a power swing was generated
in this test using the test module AMPro (Figure 9). A sym-
metrical three-phase fault was generated in Zone 1 after the
power swing. The fault current is equal to the maximum power
swing current. As shown by Figure 12, the relay detected the
fault during power swing and issued a Trip command 120 ms
after applying the fault.

Fig. 10. Power Swing and single phase fault

B. Test with a Current Lower than the Maximum Power Swing

Current
The relays may encounter problems in fault model detection.
In this case, a single-phase fault was considered in Zone 1
with a low current magnitude. Figure 11 shows that the power Fig. 12. Power Swing and 3 phase fault
swing has been detected correctly by the relay in 101.7 ms
after applying the fault.

VIII. D ETECTION T EST OF S YMMETRICAL T HREE - PHASE
FAULT DURING P OWER S WING
As the symmetrical three-phase fault in power swing has a
symmetrical nature, three-phase fault detection during power
swing has changed into a basic challenge for relays. Due
B. Testing with the Symmetrical Three-phase Fault with the
Magnitude Lower than Power Swing Current
In this case, a fault in Zone 1 is assumed with low current
magnitude. As shown by Figure 13, the fault was detected
correctly by the relay in 126.6 ms.
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ual, 2011.
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window averaging of current signals, IEEE Transactions on Power
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IX. C ONCLUSION
As explained in the manuscript, examination of protection
relays is highly important. The authors tested and analyzed
the power swing function of a 7sa522 distance relay. Table
1 shows that the lower the magnitude of fault during power Farzad Razavi received the B.S, M.S., and Ph.D.
degrees in power engineering from the Amirkabir
swing is, the higher the fault detection time will be. Fault University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 1998,
detection duration during power swing depends on fault type. 2000, and 2007, respectively. He was the chief exec-
utive officer (CEO) of Vebko Amirkabir research and
TABLE I development company. His fields of interest include
R ESULTS OF TESTS power system protection, power system transient,
mathematics, and flexible ac transmission systems.
Test Current Power Fault Time of
type magnitude Swing Detection fault
detection
Detection Test (ms)
during
Power
Swing
Power Swing - * - -
Behrooz Taheri is a power system protection engi-
Single phase Low * * 101.7 neer in Qazvin Islamic Azad University. His main
fault during research interests include power system protection,
Power Swing(1) power system transient, smart grid, and information
technology.
Single phase Equals * * 94
fault during
Power Swing(2)
3 phase Low * * 126.6
fault during
Power Swing(1)
3 phase Equals * * 120
fault during
Power Swing(2)

Mohammad Parpaei is a power system protection

engineer in Amirkabir University of technology.
He received his masters degree in power electron-
R EFERENCES ics engineering from Imam Khomeini International
University in 2014. He is currently pursuing the
[1] B. Taheri, F. Razavi, and M. M. Ghalesefidi, Transient Fault Analysis PhD degree in power system protection engineering
in 63/20 KV Substation, Indian Journal of Science and Technology, at Amirkabir University of technology. His main
vol. 10, no. 21, 2017. research interests include power system protection,
[2] J. Khodaparast and M. Khederzadeh, Three-phase fault detection dur- Optimization algorithm, and renewable energy.
ing power swing by transient monitor, IEEE Transactions on Power
Systems, vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 2558-2565, 2015.
[3] M. Musaruddin, M. Zaporoshenko, and R. Zivanovic, Remote protec-
tive relay testing, in Power Engineering Conference, 2008. AUPEC08.
Australasian Universities, 2008, pp. 1-4: IEEE.
Mehdi Mohammadi Ghalesefidi He received his
B.S degree in Tafresh University. He is currently pur-
suing the MA degree in power system protection at
Imam Khomeini International University. His main
research interests include power system protection,
power system transient and smart grid.

Siamak Zarei is a electronic engineer in Vebko

Amirkabir research and development company. He
received his BS degree in Abhar Islamic Azad
University. His main research interests include Elec-
tronic and control.