Presentation

on

PRE-COMMISSIONING TESTING PROCEDURES

OF LINE PROTECTION SCHEME

By
ANEESH.P.V
Diploma Trainee,
IIIrd Batch-Electrical(2007-08),
SR-II, Emp No.60084
 Importance of Line Protection

• The transmission lines are the most widely spread part of the power
system and the overhead lines are the largest environmentally-
influenced part of the system.

• The number of line faults will thus be very high compared with the
total number of faults in the whole power system

• Power lines are the part of the system that is most likely to cause
injuries to people and also to cause damages to equipment and
structures not part of the power system.

• Therefore line protection is the most important protection system in

the whole power system. And the reliability & security of power
transmission line largely depends on protection system.

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 Importance of Line Protection

• The main task of a PROTECTION SYSTEM is to disconnect faulty parts

of the power system to:

- Protect the primary equipment against unnecessary damages.

- Save the people in surrounding area of the power system from

injuries.

- Enable continued service in undamaged parts of the network.

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Definition of protective relay

• The term ‘protective relay of electric power system’ defines as:

“ A relay whose function is to detect defective lines or other

power system conditions of an abnormal or dangerous nature and to
initiate appropriate control circuit action.”

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The aim of commissioning tests

1. To ensure that the equipment has not been damaged

during transit or installation
2. To ensure that the installation work has been carried out
correctly
3. To prove the correct functioning of the protection scheme
as a whole

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PRE-COMMISSIONING TESTS

The following tests are carrying out,

a. General inspection of the equipment, checking all
connections, wires on relays terminals, labels on
terminal boards, etc.
b. Wiring diagram check, using circuit diagrams showing
all the reference numbers of the interconnecting wiring
c. Insulation resistance measurement of all circuits
d. Perform relay self-test procedure and external
communications checks on digital/numerical relays.
e. Test main current transformers

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PRE-COMMISSIONING TESTS

f. Test main voltage transformers

g. Check that protection relay alarm/trip settings have
been entered correctly
h. Tripping and alarm circuit checks to prove correct
functioning
i. Secondary injection test on each relay to prove
operation at one or more setting values
J. Primary injection tests on each relay to prove stability
for external faults and to determine the effective
current setting for internal faults

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WIRING DIAGRAM CHECK

This includes the complete scheme wiring check

according to schematic drawing. Should ensure AC/DC
distribution circuits, metering circuits, main and auxiliary
relay circuits, trip relay circuits, circuit breaker control
circuits, disturbance recorder, event logger, and
annunciation distribution circuits as per schematic drawing.
The inter panel wiring also to be conformed before doing
secondary injection tests.

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INSULATION TESTS

All the purposeful earth connections on the wiring to

be tested should first be removed, for example earthing
links on current transformers, voltage transformers and d.c.
supplies. In these instances any electronic equipment
should be disconnected while the external wiring insulation
is checked. The insulation resistance should be measured
to earth and between electrically separate circuits. The
minimum value should be 5 MΩ

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CURRENT TRANSFORMER TESTS

1.POLARITY CHECK
Each current transformer should be individually
tested to verify that the primary and secondary polarity
markings are correct. The ammeter connected to the
secondary of the current transformer should be a moving
coil, permanent magnet, centre-zero type. A low voltage
battery is used, via a single-pole pushbutton switch, to
energise the primary winding. On closing the push-
button, the d.c. ammeter, should give a positive flick and
on opening, a negative flick.

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CURRENT TRANSFORMER TESTS

Circuit Diagram for Current transformer polarity check

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CURRENT TRANSFORMER TESTS

2. MAGNETISATION CURVE
This can be done by energising the
secondary winding from the local mains supply through
a variable auto-transformer while the primary circuit
remains open. The characteristic is measured at suitable
intervals of applied voltage, until the magnetising current
is seen to rise very rapidly for a small increase in
voltage. This indicates the approximate knee-point or
saturation flux level of the current transformer.

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CURRENT TRANSFORMER TESTS

Circuit Diagram for Testing current transformer magnetising curve

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VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER TESTS
1. POLARITY CHECK
The voltage transformer polarity can be checked by
using the same method for CT polarity tests. Care must be
taken to connect the battery supply to the primary winding,
with the polarity ammeter connected to the secondary
winding.
2. PHASING CHECK
The secondary connections for a three-phase
voltage transformer or a bank of three single-phase voltage
transformers must be checked for phasing. With the main
circuit alive, the phase rotation is checked using a phase
rotation meter connected across the three phases.
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SECONDARY INJECTION TESTING

The purpose of secondary injection testing is to

check that the protection scheme from the relay input
terminals onwards is functioning correctly with the settings
specified. This is achieved by applying suitable inputs from
a test set to the inputs of the relays and checking if the
appropriate alarm/trip signals occur at the relay/control
room/CB locations.

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SECONDARY INJECTION EQUIPMENTS

TEST BLOCKS/PLUGS FOR SECONDARY INJECTION

EQUIPMENT
It is common practice to provide test blocks or
test sockets in the relay circuits so that connections can
readily be made to the test equipment without disturbing
wiring. This equipment is using when the CT & VT primary is
in energized condition. The top and bottom contact of each
test plug finger is separated by an insulating strip, so that the
relay circuits can be completely isolated from the switchgear
wiring when the test plug is inserted. To avoid open-circuiting
CT secondary terminals, it is essential that CT shorting
jumper links are fitted across all appropriate ‘live side’
terminals of the test plug BEFORE it is inserted. With the
test plug inserted in position, all the test circuitry can now be
connected to the isolated ‘relay side’ test plug terminals.
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SECONDARY INJECTION EQUIPMENTS

Test plug handle Test Switch

RTXH 18 RTXP 18

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SECONDARY INJECTION TEST KITS

Modern test sets are computer based. They

comprise a PC (usually a standard laptop PC with suitable
software) and a power amplifier that takes the low-level
outputs from the PC and amplifies them into voltage and
current signals suitable for application to the VT and CT
inputs of the relay. The phase angle between voltage and
current outputs will be adjustable. The alarm and trip outputs
of the relay are connected to digital inputs on the PC so that
correct operation of the relay, including accuracy of the relay
tripping characteristic can be monitored and displayed on-
screen, saved for inclusion in reports generated later, and
printed for a record.
Traditional test sets use an arrangement of
adjustable transformers and reactors to provide control of
current and voltage without incurring high power dissipation.
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SECONDARY INJECTION TEST KITS

Modern PC based test kit

Circuit diagram for traditional test

set for directional/distance relays
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TESTING OF PROTECTION SCHEME LOGIC

Protection schemes often involve the use of logic to

determine the conditions under which designated circuit
breakers should be tripped. It is essential to carefully test the
logic during commissioning to ensure correct operation. A
specific test procedure should include:
 Checking of the scheme logic specification and diagrams to
ensure that the objectives of the logic are achieved
 Testing of the logic to ensure that the functionality of the
scheme is proven
 Testing of the logic, as required, to ensure that no output
occurs for the relevant input signal combinations.

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TESTING OF PROTECTION SCHEME LOGIC

During commissioning all protection functions

shall be verified with the setting values used at each plant.
Finally trip tests must be performed. This involves
activation of protection functions or tripping outputs with
the circuit breaker closed and the tripping of the breaker
verified. When several breakers are involved each must be
checked individually and it must be verified that the other
involved breakers are not tripped at the same time.

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TESTING OF PROTECTION SCHEME LOGIC

The various protection functions that have to tested

incase of a Line Protection Scheme are:
 ZONE REACH TEST
 SOTF
 CARRIER SEND & RECIVE FEATURE
 AUTORECLOSE FEATURE
 POWER SWING BLOCKING FEATURE
 FUSE FAILURE RELAY
 BROKEN CONDUCTOR FEATURE
 OVER VOLTAGE PROTECTION
 STUB PROTECTION
 LBB
 FAULT LOCATOR FEATURE
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1. ZONE REACH TEST

In Distance Protection relays the line which is to be

protected is divided into various zones/reaches. Each zone
will have specified length and time setting for operation. Basic
distance protection will comprise instantaneous directional
Zone 1 protection and one or more time delayed zones. The
basic principle of distance protection involves the division of
the voltage at the relaying point by the measured current. The
apparent impedance so calculated is compared with the
reach point impedance. If the measured impedance is less
than the reach point impedance, it is assumed that a fault
exists on the line between the relay and the reach point.

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 ZONE REACH TEST

Typical time/distance characteristics for three zone distance protection

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ZONE REACH TEST

1. ZONE 1 SETTING: Usually have a reach setting of up to 80% of

the protected line impedance for instantaneous Zone 1
protection.
2. ZONE 2 SETTING: The reach setting of the Zone 2 protection
should be at least 120% of the protected line impedance. In
many applications it is common practice to set the Zone 2
reach to be equal to the protected line section +50% of the
shortest adjacent line. Zone 2 tripping must be time-delayed
to ensure grading with the primary relaying applied to
adjacent circuits that fall within the Zone 2 reach.
3. ZONE 3 SETTING: Remote back-up protection for all faults on
adjacent lines can be provided by a third zone of protection.
Zone-3 sets to cover 120% of principal section plus adjacent
longest section. This setting ensures remote backup
protection for all faults. Zone-3 time setting should be more
than Zone-1& Zone-2.
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ZONE REACH TEST

4. SETTINGS FOR REVERSE REACH: Modern digital or numerical

relays may have additional impedance zones that can be
utilised to provide additional protection functions. The first
three zones are set as above, Zone 4 might be used to
provide back-up protection for the local busbar, by applying
a reverse reach setting of the order of 25% of the Zone 1
reach.

Page  27
 ZONE REACH TEST

RELAY OPERATION
The basic principle of distance protection involves
the division of the voltage at the relaying point by the
measured current. The apparent impedance so
calculated is compared with the reach point impedance.
If the measured impedance is less than the reach point
impedance, it is assumed that a fault exists on the line
between the relay and the reach point. Thus the relay
will give trip command to the particular breakers.

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2. SWITCH ON TO FAULT (SOTF)

Any fault detected immediately (within 200ms) after closing

of breaker is termed as SOTF. When energizing a power line
onto a forgotten earthling, no measuring voltage will be
available and the directional measuring element thus can not
operate correctly. So a special SOTF function that detecting
the over current is provided.
RELAY OPERATION
Give one shot in Zone-1. The relay should operate on
SOTF. This can be confirmed at local HMI in disturbance
report by SOTF indication.

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3. CARRIER SEND & RECIVE FEATURE

One of the main disadvantages of time stepped

distance protection scheme is that the instantaneous Zone 1
protection at each end of the protected line cannot be set to
cover the whole of the feeder length and is usually set to
about 80%. This leaves two 'end zones', each being about
20% of the protected feeder length. Fault in these area are
cleared by Zone-2 time delay. Instantaneous tripping at area
is achieved by interconnecting the distance protection relays
at each end of the protected feeder by a communications
channel.

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CARRIER SEND & RECIVE FEATURE

i) DIRECT UNDER-REACH TRANSFER TRIPPING

SCHEME
A contact operated by the Zone 1 relay element is
arranged to send a signal to the remote relay requesting a
trip. The receipt of signal at the remote end initiates tripping
immediately because the received relay contact is
connected directly to the trip relay. The disadvantage of this
scheme is the possibility of undesired tripping by accidental
operation or maloperation of signaling equipment, or
interference on the communications channel. As a result, it
is not commonly used.

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CARRIER SEND & RECIVE FEATURE

Logic for direct under-reach transfer tripping scheme

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CARRIER SEND & RECIVE FEATURE

ii) PERMISSIVEUNDER-REACH TRANSFER

TRIPPING(PUP) SCHEME
The direct under-reach transfer tripping scheme
described above is made more secure by supervising the
received signal with the operation of the Zone 2 relay
element before allowing an instantaneous trip. Both
relays must detect a fault before the remote end relay is
permitted to trip in Zone 1 time.

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CARRIER SEND & RECIVE FEATURE

Logic for direct under-reach transfer tripping scheme

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CARRIER SEND & RECIVE FEATURE

iii) PERMISSIVE OVER-REACH TRANSFER TRIPPING

(POP) SCHEME
In this scheme, a distance relay element set to reach
beyond the remote end of the protected line (Zone-2) is used
to send an inter tripping signal to the remote end. However, it
is essential that the receive relay contact is monitored by a
directional relay contact to ensure that tripping does not take
place unless the fault is within the protected section. The
instantaneous contacts of the Zone 2 unit are arranged to
send the signal, and the received signal, supervised by Zone
2 operation, is used to energise the trip circuit.

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CARRIER SEND & RECIVE FEATURE

Permissive over-reach transfer tripping scheme

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CARRIER SEND & RECIVE FEATURE

TESTING OF CARRIER SEND FEATURE

 Connect multimeter across carrier send contacts of the relay
as per relay schematics in DC volts mode. Normally 220V DC
voltage will appear on multimeter.
 Operate the relay in phase to earth or phase to phase fault in
zone-1
 The voltage displayed on the multimeter should come to 0 V
momentarily & then back to nominal value.
 The feature can also be confirmed at local HMI by CS in
disturbance report

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CARRIER SEND & RECIVE FEATURE

TESTING OF CARRIER RECIVE FEATURE

 Identify the carrier receive terminals as per the relay
schematic.
 Operate the relay in phase to earth or phase to phase fault in
zone-2.
 Give zone-2 fault to the relay & simultaneously short the
carrier receive point momentarily.
 The relay should operate in carrier acceleration timings say
60 to 80 mSec, slightly higher than the zone-1 tripping time.
 Operation can be confirmed at local HMI by ‘Carrier aided
trip’ indication.

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4. AUTORECLOSE FEATURE

80-90% of faults on any overhead line network are transient in

nature. Transient faults are commonly caused by lightning and temporary
contact with foreign objects. The immediate tripping of one or more circuit
breakers clears the fault. Subsequent re-energisation of the line is usually
successful. Use of an auto-reclose scheme to re-energise the line after a
fault trip permits successful re-energisation of the line.
The most important parameters of an auto-reclose scheme are:
 Dead time
 Reclaim time

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AUTORECLOSE FEATURE

The dead time is the interval between interruption in all poles on the
opening stroke and re-establishment of the circuit on the reclosing stroke.
Actually this is the time for deionization of the arc between breaker
contacts.

The reclaim time is the time measured from the instant the auto-
reclose relay closing contacts make after a successful auto reclosing
operation, to the relay will initiate for a new reclosing sequence in the
event of a further fault incident. The auto recloser will go for lock-out i.e.
three phase tripping, if any further fault occurred between the reclaim
time.

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AUTORECLOSE FEATURE

Operation of single-shot auto-reclose scheme on a permanent fault

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AUTORECLOSE FEATURE

TESTING OF AUTORECLOSE FEATURE

 Check the relay for proper setting i.e dead time, reclaim time
& proper program like single phase single shot.
 Close the line breaker for simulation of the auto recluse
scheme. And ensure there is no blocking command to the
auto-recloser relay like air pressure etc.
 Operate the relay for any single phase to earth fault in zone-1
 The particular phase breaker should trip and close.
 Again operate the relay for L-L fault, the relay will give
blocking command to the auto-recloser relay and three phase
tripping will occur.
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5. POWER SWING BLOCKING FEATURE

The changes in load flows that occur as a result of

faults and their subsequent clearance are one cause of power
swings. A power swing may cause the impedance presented
to a distance relay to move away from the normal load area
and into the relay characteristic. In the case of a stable power
swing it is especially important that the distance relay should
not trip. When the relay detects such a condition, operation of
the relay elements can be blocked.

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POWER SWING BLOCKING FEATURE

Power Swing
Power Swing detection zone
X X
Z3 Z3
Recoverable Z2
Z2 Power swing
Swing detection zones

Z1 Z1

Load
R R
Area

21

24

Page  44
POWER SWING BLOCKING FEATURE

TESTING
Power swing is detected when the impedance travels from outer
boundary of power swing impedance (Z- out) value to inner boundary of
power swing impedance (Z- in) value at a slower rate.
 Keep voltage of any two phase say R & Y to 10.0 V and third phase say B-
phase to 63.0 V.
 Set current in all three phases as 0.2 A. please note that initial impedance
should be slightly above the outer boundary of PSB setting. For example: If
the outer boundary impedance for PSD settings is 30 ohms, taking voltage
as 10 V, current comes out to be 0.3 A. So take initial value of current as 0.2
A.
 Keeping the voltage as constant gradually vary the current in two phases (R
& Y) till PSB start signal value becomes high (1) as indicated in above menu.
Also in the disturbance report PSD- start signal will be indicated.

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6.FUSE FAILURE RELAY

In case of a VT fuse failure, the impedance seen by the distance

relay can suddenly become zero, which the distance relay may see as
fault and trip. In order to avoid such unnecessary operation distance
relays are equipped with a provision to block tripping in such condition.
TESTING
 set all phase voltage as 63.5 V, Set all the phase current as 0.2 A.
 Apply the values to the relay and reduce one of the phase voltage
gradually. Then relay will sense to ‘Fuse failure’.
 Relay will block and alarm will come on the annunciation panel.

Page  46
7.BROKEN CONDUCTOR FEATURE

In broken conductor condition there will be a unbalance in current

and that leads to relay operation. In this condition voltage in the three
phases will be normal.
TESTING
 set phase voltage for all phases as 63.5 V. Set any two phases current as
‘0.3 A’ and the another phase to less than 20% say for this example 0.25
A.
 Apply these values to the relay.
 The relay will sense it as ‘Broken conductor’. Confirm it from local HMI in
disturbance report.

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8. OVER VOLTAGE PROTECTION

In over voltage protection relay is monitoring the system

voltage and gives the trip command when it crosses the set
value. Normally two stage voltage protection is provided one
is delayed and the another instantanious. Ist stage sets for
110% of nominal voltage with time delay 5 sec. and IInd stage
sets for 140% of nominal voltage with instantaneous trip.

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9. STUB PROTECTION

When a line is supplied via two circuit breakers in a 1-½

breaker bus arrangement, the line protection includes the area between
the two CT’s. However, when the line isolator is open, the line CVT’s for
the distance protection are connected to the line and cannot provide the
correct voltage for the stub end, the area between the line isolator and
CT’s. To provide protection for a fault in this area, stub protection is
provided which gives an over current trip if the line isolator is open and the
current exceeds the set value in each phase. While testing the relay we
have to give Line isolator open input to the relay by shorting particular
point.

Page  49
10. LOCAL BREAKER BACKUP (LBB)

LBB (Local Breaker Back up) is back up protection. It

operates/initiate trip command when a breaker fails to operate due to its
operating mechanism failure. It initiates all the breakers which are
connected to the particular bus. Thus isolate the fault from the system.
LBB is connected with the CT input of the particular line. When a trip relay
operates it get one initiation from the particular relay. From that instant
relay starts a timer and monitor both the CT i/p and initiation. In normal
condition when the breaker opens the CT i/p will go-off. If the CT i/p and
the trip initiation sustains more than the timer setting LBB will operate and
will give initiation to all the breakers which are connected to the particular
breaker.

Page  50
11. FAULT LOCATOR FEATURE

 From relay setting calculate the zone-1 reach in Km/miles.

 Operate the relay for L-L OR L-E faults in the zone-1/2 range at various
points subject to 100% line length.
 At local HMI in disturbance report menu see the distance of the fault in
fault locator sub menu.
 This distance should match with the theoretical value.

Page  51
PRIMARY INJUCTION TESTING

This type of test involves the entire circuit; current transformer

primary and secondary windings, relay coils, trip and alarm circuits, and
all intervening wiring are checked. Wiring errors between VT’s/CT’s and
relays, or incorrect polarity of VT’s/CT’s may not then be discovered until
either spurious tripping occurs in service, or more seriously, failure to trip
on a fault. Primary injection testing is, the only way to prove correct
installation and operation of the whole of a protection scheme. Primary
injection tests are always carried out after secondary injection tests.
Primary injection is usually carried out by means of a portable injection
transformer, arranged to operate from the local mains supply and having
several low voltage, heavy current windings.

Page  52
 CONCLUSION

Pre-commissioning testing is a tool for ensuring the reliable

operation of the relays. Testing of numerical relay with new PC based test
kits give greater accuracy and detailed test results. Other required
features which were used to be implemented as dedicated relays are now
included as inbuilt features in numerical relays. Hence the parameter
settings of the relay become an essential and the effect of these
parameters should be checked thoroughly and clarified during the pre-
commissioning time with the help of manufacture representatives. Most of
the problem occurring due to relay parameters which will be difficult to
diagnose once the feeder is charged. Hence it is concluded that line
protection in particular numerical relays and their pre-commissioning
procedures need to be flexible to various problem arising out of
automation, modularity and multifunctionality.

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