Differential Relays

Chapter 10 Part 7

1
 Differential Relay Advantages
• Selectivity, does not depend on fault
current magnitude
• No coordination with other zones is
required.
• No time delays (Fast)
• Settings do not need to be precise
• Do not need to calculate fault currents and
voltages
2
 Differential Relay Protection
• The network is divided into sections
• Each section is terminated by circuit
breakers and current transformers supplying
a differential relay.
• The relay comperes the magnitude and
direction of the CT currents
• Fault within the section produces large relay
current and CB operation
• Fault outside the section produces small
relay current and blocking of the CB’s
3
 1 2
I p1 Equipment to I p2
be
CB1 Protected CB2

I P1 *
I p2 *
 Ie'  Ie"
* Excitation current for CTs n2
n1

Iop
I1 I2

I p1 I p2
I op  I 1  I 2   Ie' Ie" n1 = n2 except for transformer
n1 n2
I p1 I p2
For no fault between 1 and 2  and I op  Ie" Ie'
n1 n2
If Iop≥ IK trip CB1 and CB2 If Iop < IK block CB! And CB24
 Current Transformer
Equivalent Circuit

I ● ● I’ + I e Z‘ I’

Ie

E‘ Relays
Ze ZB Meters
etc.

I:n
45o
E ‘ = I ‘ (Z ‘ + ZB) E‘
Saturation
I ‘ = (I/n) - Ie Point
Ideally I ‘ = I/n
Therefore I e represents the CT error
I e becomes very large for high
E ‘ = I ‘ (Z’ + ZB)
5
Current Transformer
Saturation

6
Current Transformer Saturation

7
 Current Transformer
Saturation
System data
CT ratio and series inductance
200A
n   40 Zct  0.125
5A
CT magnetizing impedance is given by the enclosed figure

Relay impedance ZR  0.5

Circuit load and short circuit current is:

Irated  200A Ishort  6 Irated Ishort  1.2 kA
I
8
Rated current error calculation
Irated
CT output current should be Ict_out  5A
n
The magnetizing impedance voltage is:

 
Em  Ict_out  ZR  Zct  3.125 V

The magnetizing current from the figure is

: Ict_m  0.08A

The CT secondary current Ict_s  Ict_out  Ict_m  5.08A

is: 5.08  5
CT error at rated current  1.575% good
is: 5.08
 

9
CT error calculation at short circuit current
The CT current at short circuit should be:
Ishort
Ict_outs   30 A
n
The magnetizing impedance voltage at short circuit is:

 
Ems  Ict_outs  ZR  Zct  18.75 V

The magnetizing current from the figure is

: Ict_ms  0.23A

The CT secondary current Ict_sh  Ict_outs  Ict_ms  30.23 A

is:
30.23  30 good
CT error at rated current  0.761 %
is: 30.23

10
Traditional Differential
Protection

11
 1 2
I F1 Equipment to Z IF2
be
CB1 Protected IF CB2
IF 2
IF1 *  Ie* "
 Ie' * Excitation current for CTs n2
n1

Iop

I1 I2
IF1 IF 2
For a fault at Z: I1   Ie' and I 2  Ie"
n1 n2
n1 = n2 = n for equipment other than transformers

IF1 IF 2 IF Very positive trip

Therefore: I OP  I1  I 2    ( Ie'Ie" ) 
n1 n2 n signal
12
 1 2
IL Equipment to IL
be Load
CB1 Protected CB2
IL
IL *
 Ie'  Ie*"
n1 * Excitation current for CTs n2

Small load
Iop current does
not produce
saturation
I1 I2
For no fault but only load current flowing through protected equipment:

n1 = n2 except for transformer

IL IL
I OP  I 1  I 2   Ie' Ie"  Ie" Ie' 0
n n Good
Since Ie’ and Ie” are small due to operating on the linear discrimination
portion of the CT saturation curve. 13
 1 2
IF Equipment to IF X
be
CB1 Protected CB2 IF

IF * IF *
 Ie'  Ie"
n1 * Excitation current for CTs n2

Iop Large Fault

current
produces
I1 I2 saturation
For a fault at X:
IF IF
I op  I 1  I 2   Ie' Ie" and n1 = n2 =n except for transformer
n1 n2
I OP  Ie" Ie' But Ie” and Ie’ can be very large and very different in
magnitude due to being high on the CT saturation
curves. Poor Security Therefore restraint coils
14
 I p1 Equipment to I p2
be
CB1 Protected CB2
I p2
I P1 *
 Ie' * Excitation current for CTs  Ie* "
n1 n2
I1 I2

1 2
3 I1 – I 2

I1 I2
Operation coil (3) The protection
operation is improved
by the use of restrain
Coil 1: For current I1 – force is restraining
coils(1, 2)
Coil 2: For current I2 - force is restraining
Coil 3: For current (I1 – I2) – force is operating (tripping)
Current direction does not matter
15
Balance Beam Differential Relay

16
 Differential Relay Restraint
│I1 – I2│≥ K│I1 + I2│/2 Trip
│I1 - I2│ < K│I1 + I2│/2 Block
If K = 1 50% restraint characteristic
If K = 2 100% restraint characteristic
Slope = ½, K = 1
Trip 50% restraint
│I1-I2│
Block

│I1 + I2│

17
 X I FX Z Equipment to I FX
be
CB1 Protected CB2
I FX
I FX *  Ie* "
 Ie' * Excitation current for CTs n2
n1
I1 I2

1 2
3 I1 – I 2

I1 I2
I FX I FX
For fault at X with 50 % restraint: I 1  Ie' and I 2  Ie"
n1 n2
I FX I FX IR
I OP  Ie' Ie" I R    Ie' Ie" I OP 
n1 n2 2
Block, No Trip
18
 X I FZ1 Z Equipment to I FZ2
be
CB1 Protected CB2
I FZ 2 *
I FZ 1 *  Ie"
 Ie' * Excitation current for CTs n2
n1
I1 I2

1 2
3 I1 – I 2

I1 I2
I FZ 1 I FZ 2
For fault at Z with 50 % restraint: I1   Ie' and I 2  Ie"
n1 n2
I FZ 1 I FZ 2 I
I R  Ie' Ie" I OP    Ie' Ie" I OP  R
n1 n2 2
Trip
19
 Differential Relay Advantages
• Selectivity, does not depend on fault
current magnitude
• No coordination with other zones is
required.
• No time delays (Fast)
• Settings do not need to be precise
• Do not need to calculate fault currents and
voltages
20
 Differential Relay Application
• Need one differential relay per phase
• Need restraint circuit for each path into
protection zone. Relays can be purchased
with up to six restraint coils.
• CT taps and restraint taps should be
selected so that IOP will be small for load
current and through-faults
• Phasing must be corrected by appropriate
CT connections.
21
 Digital Differential Relays

SEL-387 Current Differential and

Overcurrent Relay

22
 Digital Differential Relays

Connection diagram

23
 Digital Differential Relays

Percentage differential characteristic

24
 Digital Differential Relays
Protected

• Calculates IA
component
Ia
External fault

– Sum of the absolute IA Ia

value of the currents.

IA IA Differential protection relay
Ia
– Vector sum of the Main current Ia
current , including the measurement
IA Differential
current

positive and negative IA

measurement
IA – Ia
Ia
signed
(a) No trip signal
– The obtained values a
evaluated by Protected
component
IA Ia
compering with the
characteristics IA
Internal fault
Ia

Digital relay measures the

IA IA Differential protection relay
Ia
current and the current Main current Ia
directions measurement
IA Differential
current
measurement
IA IA + Ia Ia

(b) Trip signal

25
 Digital Differential Relays
Differential current

Circuit breaker is
tripped

Circuit breaker is not

tripped

Main current
Rated current

26
 Differential Relays for Bus Protection

X
xQ Q P
X
Q

For fault outside of protected Zone at P I3 = -I1 – I2 so that I op

= I1’+ I2’ + I3’= 0 if there is equal CT saturation, but since I3 is larger than I1
and I2 the saturation levels could be quite different resulting in I 1’ + I2’ + I3’
≠ 0. The restraint coils will tend to account for this.

27
For a bus fault at Q, I1 + I2 + I3 = IF so that Iop = I1’ + I2’ + I3’ = IF/n - Ierror
 Differential Relay Protection of Single Phase Transformer

Iop

Iop = I1’ – I2’ = I1/n1 – I2/n2

For no internal fault I1N1 = I2N2 so that I1 = (N2/N1)I2
Iop should be 0 therefore: 0 = (N2/N1)(I2/n1) – (I2/n2)
So that (N2/N1) = (n1/n2) 28
 Differential Relay Protection of 3 – Phase Transformer

Step 1: Phasing

Step 2: CT ratios
and taps
29
 Transformer Differential Relay Protection
Factors to consider
• CT differences
• Voltage levels, ratios
• Phase shifts
• Transformer taps
• Magnetizing inrush (later)
• I0

30
 Differential Relay Taps
IH IL
TOP  
TH TL

Where: IH = I1’ = High side relay current in amps

IL = I2’ = Low side relay current in amps
TH = High side torque in amps per foot-pound
TL = Low side torque in amps per foot-pound

Example 10.10

31
Part 1: Phasing
Example 10.10

IL IH

I L’

Δ Y

3 I L’ 3 I H’ –IL ‘ I H’

32
DIGITAL DIFFERENCIAL
PROTECTION

33
 DIGITAL DIFFERENCIAL PROTECTION

Digital Differential relay calculates :

1.Operating current, which is the absolute value of the
vector sum of the CT currents

1.Restrain Current, which is 0.3-0.4 times the sum of the

CT currents absolute values
N
Irestrain ￥ Ict
n
n 1
34
Digital Differential Relays Characteristics
 Current transformer polarity
definition

100
80
60
IS1( t ) 40
20
0
IS2( t )  20
 40
 60
 80
 100
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
t
ms
Currents value are Is1 100 Is2  100

Current equations IS1( t) Is1 cos ( t) IS2( t) Is2 cos ( t)
Differential Protection Outside fault

Negative current

37
Differential Protection Inside fault

38
 Numerical example
DIGITAL DIFFERENCIAL PROTECTION

39
Analysis the Differential Protection Method

Differential protection
An important load is protect ed by differencial protect ion. The load is supplied by two transmission
lines which are conncted to a nework bus.

AC
Xs
Fault inside the
Vs Vb
section
X1 X2

F1

The current of CT1 is positive

and the current of CT2 is
positive in case of internal
fault
Positive current
VF1a Positive current
VF1b
Load

Vs AC
Xs Fault outside the
Vb section

X1 X2

F2

The current of CT1 is

positive and current of CT2
is negat ive in case on
Positive current
VF2a Negative current
VF2b outside fault
Load
40
 Differential Protection
• Calculate the load produced current in the lines and in
the load
• Select the current transformers
• Calculate the short circuit currents inside fault , close to
the load
• Outside fault on the line side

41
 Differential Protection
Syst em dat a
Vsource
Source data Vsource  12.47kV Ishort   j 8kA Xs   0.9i
3 Ishort

Line dat a Xline j 0.62
mi L1  10mi X1  XlineL1  6.2i

  2  60Hz L2  5mi X2  XlineL2  3.1i

42
Load currents and voltage calculation CT rations
Vsource
Load data Pload  7MW pf  0.8 Vload  0.95   6.84 kV
3
 j acos( pf )
Ploade Vsource
Load current Iload  Vs  1.05   7.56kV
3 Vloadpf 3

Iload  ( 341.152  255.864i) A Iload  426.439A  

 load  arg Iload   36.87deg

Nodal point equations for load condition

Approximate values
estimated voltages
has solution(s)
Vs  Vb Vload  Vb Vload  Vb
  0
Xs X1 X2
VsX1X2  VloadX1Xs  VloadX2Xs
Vb
has solution(s) X1X2  X1Xs  X2Xs

Vload  Vb Vload  Vb has solution(s)

  Iload 0
X1 X2
VloadX1  VloadX2  IloadX1X2
Vb
X1  X2
43
The two Vb equations are combined together

VsX1X2  VloadX1Xs  VloadX2Xs VloadX1  VloadX2  IloadX1X2

 0
X1X2  X1Xs  X2Xs X1  X2

has solution(s)

Vs X1  Vs X2  IloadX1X2  IloadX1Xs  IloadX2Xs

Vload 
X1  X2
Vload  ( 8.319  1.012i) kV

VloadX1  VloadX2  IloadX1X2

Vb  Vb  ( 7.79  0.307i) kV
X1  X2

Vb  Vload
IX1   (  113.717  85.288i) A IX1  142.146A
X1
Vb  Vload
IX2   (  227.434  170.576i) A IX2  284.293A
X2

ILoad  IX1  IX2  (  341.152  255.864i) A ILoad  426.439A

44
 Differential protection
Vb  Vload
IX1   (  113.717  85.288i) A IX1  142.146A
X1
Vb  Vload
IX2   (  227.434  170.576i) A IX2  284.293A
X2

ILoad  IX1  IX2  (  341.152  255.864i) A ILoad  426.439A

200A 300A 450A

The required CT rat ios are: nCT1  nCT2  CTload 
5A 5A 5A

45
Short circit current calculation
Load voltage is zero. Node point equation

Vs  Vb Vb Vb has solution(s) Vs X1X2

  0 Vb   5.266kV
Xs X1 X2 X1X2  X1Xs  X2Xs

Vb
Ishrt1 
X1
 ( 0.05  1.256i) kA Ishrt1  1.257kA  
 shrt1  arg Ishrt1   87.743 deg

Vb
Ishrt2 
X2
 ( 0.099  2.513i) kA Ishrt2  2.515kA  
 shrt2  arg Ishrt2   87.743 deg

Short circuit current at the CT secondary site

Ishrt1 Ishrt2
Ish1   31.435A Ish2   41.913A
nCT1 nCT2

 
ISh1 ( t)  2  Ish1 cos  t   shrt1 
ISh2 ( t)  2  Ish2 cos  t   shrt2
46
Differencial relay operation
Inside fault: Absolute value of fault current vector sum and sum of t he absolute value of
each fault current . Both short circuit fault current is positive
IF1_op1 ( t)  ISh1 ( t)  ISh2 ( t) 
IF1_rst1( t)  0.3  ISh1 ( t)  ISh2 ( t) 
t  0s 100s  20ms
Vector sum Absolute value
150
Operation Restrain
signal signal
IF1_op1( t) 100

IF1_rst1( t)
50

0
0 5 10 15 20
t
ms

 The restrain signal is 30%,

 The operat ion signal is larger than the restrain signal.TRIP
 The absolut e value of the operation signal is used
 The same polarity of the sampled current indicatesinside fault
 Instability is expected at current zero 47
Biasing the net work for eliminat ion t he current zero produced insabilit y problem
2 
Operation signal To   4.167ms
4


IF1_op2 ( t)  if IF1_op1 ( t)  0.05  IF1_op1 ( To) 0.05 IF1_op1 ( To) IF1_op1 ( t) 
IF1_op2_max  IF1_op2 ( To)  103.649A

Restrain signal


IF1_rst2( t)  if IF1_rst1( t)  0.05  IF1_rst1( To) 0.05 IF1_rst1( To) IF1_rst1( t) 
IF1_rst2_max  IF1_rst2( To)  31.095A

150
Operation signal

IF1_op2( t) 100

IF1_rst2( t)
50 Restrain signal

0
0 5 10 15 20
t
ms
48
Outside fault: Absolute value of fault current vector sum and sum of the absolute value of
each fault current is calculated. One of the short circuit fault current is positive the other is
negative,

IF2_op1 ( t)  ISh1 ( t)  ISh2 ( t) 

IF2_rst1( t)  0.3  ISh1 ( t)  ISh2 ( t) 
t  0s 100s  20ms

40
Restrain signal
30
IF2_op1( t)
20
IF2_rst1( t)
10 Operation
signal
0
0 5 10 15 20
t
ms
 The restrain signal is 30%,
 The operation signal is smaler than the restrain signal.Block
 The absolute value of the operation signal is used
 The different polarity of the sampled current indicatesoutside fault
 Instability is expected at current zero 49
Biasing the net work for eliminat ion t he current zero produced insabilit y problem
2 
Operation signal To   4.167ms
4


IF2_op2 ( t)  if IF2_op1 ( t)  0.05  IF2_op1 ( To) 0.05 IF2_op1 ( To) IF2_op1 ( t) 
IF2_op2_max  IF2_op2 ( To)  14.807A

Restrain signal


IF2_rst2( t)  if IF2_rst1( t)  0.05  IF2_rst1( To) 0.05 IF2_rst1( To) IF2_rst1( t) 
IF2_rst2_max  IF2_rst2( To)  31.095A

40
Restrain signal
30
IF2_op2( t)
20
IF2_rst2( t)
10
Operation
signal
0
0 5 10 15 20
t
ms 50
Digital Differential Relays Operation
 Effect of CT polarity
• The polarity of CT effect the operation of the
digital differential relay
• The next slide shows the possible polarities
• The CT polarity change the sign of the current
1. First case inside fault both current is positive and
outside fault one positive other negative
2. Second case outside fault both current is positive
and inside fault one positive other negative
• Both polarity is acceptable but the relay setting
is different