SERIES COMPENSATED LINE PROTECTION A Newbould and I A Taylor GEC Measurements, UK

SYSTEM MODELLING E, RELAY TESTING

INTRODUCTION Over the last decade, considerable progress has been made in modelling series compensated power systems. With the introduction of computer based test benches, a method has emerged that dynamically tests line protection against a full power system model. Currents and voltages, incorporating all the electrical phenomena of series compensated lines, can be injected into relays and their responses measured within the laboratory. Using two test benches, an overall protection scheme, comprising two relays and a communication link, can be fully exercised. This form of protection type testing has proved of value to users. An example involves the series compensated lines of the West Coast USA, where the system is being converted to single phase tripping with high speed auto-reclose. Engineers need to show that line protection can operate quickly and selectively for all faults. Many utilities in this region now expect that line protection proposals are type tested using the accurate modelling techniques described. Beginning with a synopsis of the protection problems expected, the paper gives details of a special version of distance protection for series compensated lines. The relay modifications are described, and a summary of test results given. The paper concludes that the advanced test procedure has given the means of testing relays for a range of difficult applications, and in particular, has proven that distance protection can be practically applied to series compensated lines. POWER SYSTEM DESCRIPTION The power system of the West Coast USA represents one of the best examples of the application of series compensation, see Ref 1 for a full description. A typical line taken from this system is given in fig 1. Series capacitors provide 70% compensation of the positive sequence inductive reactance of the line. The practice for this region has commonly been to split the total capacitance into two, with the line end locations for the capacitors being preferred in the US. The capacitor banks are protected against dangerous overvoltages by one of two primary methods. Older schemes have used arc gaps, while modern designs employ metal oxide varistors (MOV's). MOV's have the advantage that they are self extinguishing when the overcurrent condition is removed, giving automatic fast reinsertion times. They also provide significant damping to the system. For these reasons, MOV's are expected to become the new standard for capacitor overvoltage protection. Although the capacitors are protected from overvoltage, it has been customary to quote the threshold as a current rating in

fundamental frequency rms amperes. Typical levels vary between 2.0 to 3.5 times the full load current rating of the line. LINE PROTECTION CONSIDERATIONS Five major factors have been identified as having a potential influence over the performance of line protection. These are voltage inversion, current inversion, LC resonance, the performance of the capacitor overvoltage protection and the location of the primary current and voltage transformers. Voltaqe Inversion Voltage inversion will occur when two conditions are met: the fault voltage has to be near zero, and a small inductive current has to flow through the capacitor. This current must not fire the capacitor's MOV, otherwise the MOV impedance will tend to dominate the response, and voltage inversion will not occur. For radial feeders, these two factors conflict in that low voltage faults produce relatively high currents. Voltage inversion is more easily found on parallel lines, as shown in fig 2. Test records confirm this, as discussed later for the example of fig 5. Unless special precautions are taken, voltage inversion can cause a loss of directionality to distance relays. Ref 3 has developed a detailed analysis relating the maximum inverted voltage to the MOV threshold. This produces an important design factor for a practical distance relay for series compensated lines. Current Inversion Current inversion would theoretically occur for a short circuit fault when the inductive reactance was less than the capacitive reactance. Fault currents would then be capacitive. The mistake in this theory is that the capacitor is being considered as a linear device, capable of passing large currents. Ratings for series capactors are typically 300MVAr at 525kV. The short circuit capacities for systems capable of producing current inversion are nearer 10,OOOMVA. This raises a large anomaly in the linear theory. Fortunately the problem is resolved by considering the non linear characteristics of the capacitor. The MOV's are specifically employed to restrict dangerous voltages from appearing on the capacitors. This means that for short circuits with Xs < Xc, current inversion will be prevented from occurring by the firing of the MOV's. Study of this phenomenon has confirmed this. Ref 2 has analysed the non linear characteristics of a series capacitor fitted with an MOV and arrived at an effective model to aid understanding. LC Resonance In a plain uncompensated power system, the main energy storage mechanism during faults is

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via magnetic flux, held in the loops and coils of the inductive elements such as overhead lines and transformers. From basic electrical theory, any single energy source produces exponential transients. Power Engineers recognise the exponential transient as being very common in faulted power systems. The introduction of series capacitance provides the second alternative form of energy storage. This opens up the possibility of resonance between the capacitive and inductive forms. The critical parameter controlling the degree of resonance is the losses in the system. Analysis has proven that the losses incurred within the MOV can be significant, and create a very powerful damping effect. Test results show that extra transient components of both high and low frequencies do exist, however, these do not dominate the waveforms Substantial amounts of fundamental frequency components still exist. Examples of typical waveforms are given in figs 5 & 6.

tests have shown that correct practical protection scheme operation can be achieved. Under-reaching zone 1 As this zone trips independently of any additional information from the far end of the line, it is vital that the element does not overreach. If there is a series capacitor in front of the relay's voltage measuring point, then the worst case assumption is to allow for that capacitor to be fully in circuit. For this reason the zone 1 should be set at 80% of the compensated impedance. Over-reaching zone 2 The zone 2 needs to be able to detect all faults within the feeder, even if it operates somewhat beyond the terminal. To cover the risk that the capacitor in the line has been bypassed, and is therefore out of circuit, the zone 2 must be set relative to the uncompensated impedance. Typical values allow for 120% to 150% of the protected feeder. SYSTEM MODELLING AND TEST EQUIPMENT

Capacitor Overvoltage Protection In discussing the importance of the MOV overvoltage protection to Engineers, there has been a residual doubt that if the MOV's were slow to fire, then protection problems could still exist in the time window between the instant of fault and the MOV acting. To quantify this doubt, a computer study was undertaken to calculate the time taken for the capacitor voltage to build up to the trigger level. The computer model included the transient effects, and involved moving the point of wave of the fault over the full range. The average time for firing the MOV protection was found to be close to one third of a power system cycle. Maximum times reached half of one cycle at currents of twice nominal rating and 0.7 cycles at nominal rating. These are generally beneath the operating time of the distance protection. The results indicate that either the.MOV's fire fast or not at all. From performing actual tests, problems of slow MOV firing have not been substantiated. Location Of Voltaqe and Current Transformers The technique favoured in the US has been to position the current transformers on the bus side, and the voltage transformers on the line of the capacitor. With this arrangement, the local capacitor effectively forms part of the source impedance. The impedances seen for in zone line faults involve only the inductive line and therefore show no distortion due to the capacitor. This is a notable advantage of employing lineside voltage measurements. The capacitor at the remote terminal needs separate consideration, especially with regard to relay settings, see comments below. DISTANCE PROTECTION SETTING PHILOSOPHY To apply distance protection to series compensated lines demands a different setting philosophy than that adopted on plain feeders. Basically the presence of a capacitor in front of the relay will distort the reach of an impedance measuring element. As long as the impedance elements maintain their directional stability, then distortion of the reach is more of an inconvenience than a problem. The complete unit protection is made up of two under-reaching zones and two over-reaching zones, with signalling between the ends to form a unit scheme. As long as the fault is cleared by this combination of relays then the protection is functioning effectively. By adopting a modified setting philosophy, the The development of the special version of distance protection for series compensated lines highlighted two areas of the design needing special attention:The fault data is produced by the ElectroMagnetic Transient Program (EMTP). Using this approach, it is possible to simulate all types of fault, including internal, external and evolving faults. The non linearities of MOV's or spark-gaps can also be modelled. Typically the EMTP program would run on a mainframe computer to produce numerical data representing the voltages and currents at each relay location. This data is transferred via magnetic tapes to a second specially configured computer. The Programmable Power System Simulator (PPSS), shown in the block diagram of fig 3 is based around a mini-computer. It converts the EMTP digital data into analogue signals, which feed 3 phase voltage and current amplifiers, capable of driving relays direct. The PPSS monitors the relay output functions, and logs all operations including the operating time. RELAY DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

1. The selection of polarising signals capable of maintaining a correct directional response in the presence of voltage inversion.
2. Filtering of the incoming signals to arrive at the fundamental frequency components. Selection of Polarising The polarising has been designed to include a high proportion of synchronous polarising, set at 80% of nominal pre-fault voltage. This provides an effective memory voltage, which is intentionally selected to be larger than the maximum amount of voltage inversion that can occur at the voltage measuring point on the compensated line. This ensures that the composite polarising voltage, made up of 100% fault voltage and 8 0 % memory, can never invert its phase reference as a comparator input. This is a major design feature to maintain directionality. Ref 3 describes the memory aspects of the design in more detail. A small amount of sound phase voltage has been added as a third component of the composite polarising signal. This ensures that the relay can provide Zone 2 & 3 time delayed trips for zero voltage phase to ground and

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phase to phase faults. Under these conditions the memory may well be exhausted by the time that the time delayed zones are expected to operate. Analogue Filtering A study of typical fault waveforms for series compensated systems indicated that a relay with improved filtering capabilities could prove suitable for the application. This led to the decision to apply extra analogue filters to both the voltage and current channels of the relay. The choice of filter is known to be a trade off between an adequate transient performance and the filter's ability to attenuate non fundamental frequency components. Relay operating times can be impaired if the filter bandwidths are too narrow. For the voltage channel, the fault voltage will invariably be smaller than the pre-fault value; for close-in faults, several orders less. To avoid pre-fault energy stored in the filter, causing significant transient distortion in the small post-fault signal, the band-pass voltage filters are switched in after detection of a fault. This is controlled by under-voltage level detectors. For current channels, the problem of signals reducing under fault does not occur. Typically pre-fault currents will be low and fault currents high; it is then advisable to connect the filters permanently in circuit. A summary of the filters introduced into the relay are given in fig 4. ANALYSIS OF TEST RESULTS As part of a study, the series compensated power system of fig 1 has been tested using the methods described above. A total of 52 faults, involving 37 internal, 7 external and 8 developing faults were applied to a pair of relays, one located at Bus M, the second at Bus N. A communication link between the relays served to form a permissive overreach scheme. The results have shown that for all external faults the relay was stable. For internal faults, the relay operated correctly, giving correct phase selection and target information. For those high resistance internal phase to ground faults which fell outside the distance measuring element capabilities, the back up directional ground fault protection operated. Faults covered by Zone 1 elements were cleared with relay operating times in the range 9mS for close in faults, up to 25mS for fault locations near the reach point, with an average time of 13mS. The carrier aided scheme gave results for the end zone faults within the range of 24mS to 45mS with an average relaying time of 29mS, allowing for a carrier channel delay of 14mS.
Two

Zone 2, Carrier Send Carrier Aided Relay Trip END N

17mS 33mS

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No operation No operation No operation 19mS 31mS

Zone 1, Phase A Phase B Phase C

Zone 2, Carrier Send Carrier Aided Relay Trip Zone 2 A-G

Fault Location 2 A double phase to ground internal fault with 1 ohm of fault resistance to ground on the line side of the capacitor. The fault is a developing one, starting as a B-N fault which flashed over to phase A after 20mS. The relay trips the circuit breaker 3 pole. Fig 6 shows the waveforms.
END M

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Relay Trip Relay Trip No operation 33mS 12mS 15mS 56mS

Zone 1, Phase A Phase B Phase C Zone 2, Carrier Send Carrier Aided Relay Trip
END N

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No operation No operation No operation 45mS
4 5mS

Zone 1, Phase A Phase B Phase C

Zone 2, Carrier Send Carrier Aided Relay Trip Zone 2 A-G B-G CONCLUSION

The paper has shown that advanced methods of type testing protection for difficult series compensated lines applications are now available within the laboratory. The techniques, as such, are general, and can be applied to a wide range of power system protection problems. The anticipated protection problems arising from inserting a capacitor in the line were discussed. The modifications required to overcome the major difficulties of voltage inversion and signal distortion have been described for one design of distance protection. The paper records a summary of test results for a pair of these modified relays connected as a unit scheme and applied to protect a typical series compensated line. The ability to operate correctly for internal faults, while maintaining stability for external faults has been investigated. Developing faults were also tested. The correct results indicate that the features incorporated into the design of the relay have been successful, and no new, or unexpected effects have been recorded. This series of tests, employing an accurate model of the primary power system, has helped to prove that special designs of distance protection can be practically applied to series compensated lines.

particular internal faults have selected for further illustration.

been

Fault Location 1 A single phase to ground short circuit fault on phase A between the CT and the capacitor. The waveforms for this fault are given in fig 5. The A phase voltage has collapsed to 25%, but careful examination will show that it is inverted in phase to the pre-fault voltage. This fault point is exactly that described under the section on voltage inversion. Relay performance is as follows.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors acknowledge the support of GEC Measurements UK during the writing of this paper. Recognition is also given to those engineers who contributed during numerous discussions. REFERENCES
1.
BUS M BUS N

Maneatis J.A. et al, "500kV Series Capacitor Installation in California". IEEE EHV Conference, Los Angeles, July
1970.
E

2.

Newbould, A., "Series Compensated Lines Issues Relevant to the Application of Distance Protection". CEA Spring Meeting
1987

3.

Newbould, A . , and Hindle, P. , "Series Compensated Lines - Application of Distance Protection". 14th Western Protective Relay Conference, Spokane 1987

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