Applications and Characteristics Of Differential Relays (ANSI 87)

Applications and Characteristics Of Differential Relays ANSI 87 (on photo: VAMP

265 Generator, transformer and motor diferential protection relay)
Differential relays categories
Differential relays generally fall within one of two broad categories:
Current-differential and
High-impedance differential
Current-differential relays
Current-differential relays are typically used to protect large transformers, ge
nerators, and motors. For these devices detection of low-level winding-to-ground
faults is essential to avoid equipment damage. Current differential relays typi
cally are equipped with restraint windings to which the CT inputs are to be conn
ected.
For electromechanical 87 current differential relays, the current through the re
straint windings for each phase is summed and the sum is directed through an ope
rating winding. The current through the operating winding must be above a certai
n percentage (typically 15%-50%) of the current through the restraint windings f
or the relay to operate.
For solid-state electronic or microprocessor-based 87 relays the operating windi
ngs exist in logic only rather than as physical windings.
A typical application of current-differential relays for protection of a transfo
rmer is shown in figure 1 below. In figure 1, the restraint windings are labeled
as R and the operating windings are labeled as O. Because the delta-wye transformer
connection produces a phase shift, the secondary CTs are connected in delta to c
ounteract this phase shift for the connections to the relays.
Under normal conditions the operating windings will carry no current.
For a large external fault on the load side of the transformer, differences in C
T performance in the primary vs. the secondary (it is impossible to match the pr
imary and secondary CTs due to different current levels) are taken into account b
y the proper percentage differential setting.
Because the CT ratios in the primary vs. secondary will not always be able to ma
tch the current magnitudes in the relay operating windings during normal conditi
ons, the relays are equipped with taps to internally adjust the current levels f
or comparison.
The specific connections in this example apply to a delta primary/wye second
ary transformer or transformer bank only. The connections for other winding arra
ngement will vary, in order to properly cancel the phase shift.
Typical application of current-differential relays for delta-wye transformer pro
tection
Figure 1 Typical application of current-differential relays for delta-wye transf
ormer protection
For many solid-state electronic and microprocessor-based relays, the phase shift
is made internally in the relay and the CTs may be connected the same on the pri
mary and secondary sides of the transformer regardless of the transformer windin
g connections.

The manufacturers literature for a given relay make and model must be consulted w
hen planning the CT connections.
Percentage-differential characteristics are available as fixed-percentage or
variable percentage. The difference is that a fixed-percentage relay exhibits a
constant percentage restraint, and for a variable-percentage relay the percenta
ge restraint increases as the restraint current increases.
For an electromechanical relay, the percentage characteristic must be specified
for each relay; for solid-state electronic or microprocessor-based relays these
characteristics are adjustable. For transformers relays with an additional harmo
nic restraint are available. Harmonic restraint restrains the relay when certain
harmonics, normally the 2nd and 5th, are present.
These harmonics are characteristic of transformer inrush and without harmonic re
straint the transformer inrush may cause the relay to operate.
An important concept in the application of differential relays is that the relay
typically trips fault interrupting devices on both sides of the transformer. Th
is is due to the fact that motors and generators on the secondary side of the pr
otected device will contribute to the fault current produced due to an internal
fault in the device.
An example one-line diagram representation of the transformer differential prote
ction from 1 is given in figure 2 below:
Transformer differential relay application from figure 1 in one-line diagram for
mat
Figure 2 Transformer differential relay application from figure 1 in one-line di
agram format
Note that the secondary protective device is shown as a low voltage power circui
t breaker. It is important that the protective devices on both sides of the tran
sformer be capable of fault-interrupting duty and suitable for relay tripping.
In figure 2 a lockout relay is used to trip both the primary and secondary overc
urrent devices. The lockout relay is designated 86T since it is used for transfo
rmer tripping, and the differential relay is denoted 87T since it is protecting
the transformer. The wye and delta CT connections are also noted.
An important concept in protective relaying is the zone of protection. A zone of
protection is the area that a given protective relay and/or overcurrent device(
s) are to protect.
While the zone of protection concept applies to any type of protection (note the
term zone selective interlockingas described earlier in this section), it is es
pecially important in the application of differential relays because the zone of
protection is strictly defined by the CT locations.
In figure 2 the zone of protection for the 87T relay is shown by the dashed-line
box around the transformer. For faults within the zone of protection, the curre
nts in the CTs will not sum to zero at the relay operating windings and the relay
s will operate.
Outside the zone of protection the operating winding currents should sum to zero
(or be low enough that the percentage restraint is not exceeded), and therefore
the relays will not operate.
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High-impedance differential relays

The other major category of differential relays, high-impedance differential rel

ays, use a different principle for operation. A high-impedance differential rela
y has a high-impedance operating element, across which the voltage is measured.
CTs are connected such that during normal load or external fault conditions the c
urrent through the impedance is essentially zero. But, for a fault inside the di
fferential zone of protection, the current through the high-impedance input is n
on-zero and causes a rapid rise in the voltage across the input, resulting in re
lay operation.
A simplified schematic of a high-impedance differential relay is shown in figure
3 to illustrate the concept. Note that the relay only has one set of input term
inals, without restraint windings. This means that any number of CTs may be conne
cted to the relay as needed to extend zone of protection, so long as the CT curr
ents sum to zero during normal conditions.
Also note that a voltage-limiting MOV connected across the high-impedance input
is shown. This is to keep the voltage across the input during a fault from damag
ing the input.
High-impedance differential relay concept
Figure 3 High-impedance differential relay concept
High-impedance differential relays are typically used for bus protection.
Bus protection is an application that demands many sets of CTs be connected to th
e relays. It is also an application that demands that that relay be able to oper
ate with unequal CT performance, since external fault magnitudes can be quite la
rge. The highimpedance differential relay meets both requirements.
Figure 4 shows the application of bus differential relays to a primary-selective
system.
Note that in figure 4 the zones of protection for Bus #1 and Bus #2 overlap. Her
e the 86 relay is extremely useful due to the large number of circuit breakers t
o be tripped. Note that all circuit breakers attached to the protected busses ar
e equipped with differential CTs and are tripped by that busses respective 86 rela
y.
The 87 relays are denoted 87B since they are protecting busses. The same applies
for the 86B relays. Note also that the protective zones overlap; this is typica
l practice to insure that all parts of the bus work are protected.
The high-impedance differential relay is typically set in terms of voltage acros
s the input.
The voltage setting is typically set so that if one CT is fully saturated and th
e others are not the relay will not operate. By its nature, the high-impedance d
ifferential relay is less sensitive than the current-differential relay, but sin
ce it is typically applied to protect bussing, where fault magnitudes are typica
lly high, the additional sensitivity is not required.
High-impedance differential relaying applied to a primary-selective system
Figure 4 High-impedance differential relaying applied to a primary-selective sys
tem
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Reference: System Protection - Bill Brown, P.E., Square D Engineering Services