EPSY

Earthfault Protection System

Electronic-Components

Basic Units

Introduction

EPSY (Earthfault Protection System) is a new and comprehensive earthfault protection system
designed for compensated
networks. As compared to other
methods of neutral point
treatment, earthfault compensation shows clear advantages
in ensuring both the safety of
personnel and supply as well as
limiting possible consequential
damages during an earthfault.
In comparison with low
impedance neutral point
grounding, the reduction of the
fault currents during earthfault
compensation places high requirements on the reliability and the
selectivity of the protection

devices for the recognition and

detection of earthfaults. Devices
and systems of traditional earthfault protection engineering do
not meet or only meet these
requirements in a limited way.
The protection system EPSY
essentially consists of a continuously adjustable arc suppression coil combined with an
automatic compensation control device and a selective,
highly sensitive earthfault
detection device. In particular,
the newly developed method for
selective detection of high-impedance earthfaults, which is
integrated in EPSY, offers the
possiblity of early fault detection

to the operators of mediumvoltage networks. This is not

available using the traditional
methods and devices.
The electronic components of
the new earthfault protection
system (EPSY) and their configurations are summarized as
follows.

Earthfault Compensation Controller EFC30

Fig. 1 Front view EFC30

The controller EFC30, available since 1991, determines the resonance point using a short detuning of the
ASC-coil. Remarks: For details see page 9 and EFC30/EFC40 brochure.
2

Earthfault Compensation Controller EFC40

Fig. 2 Front view EFC40

For determination of the

resonance point, the new
method of the earthfault compensation controller EFC40 uses
the current injection into the
zero-phase sequence system and
therefore detuning of the arc
suppression coil is not necessary.
The EFC40 calculates the zerosequence impedance by measuring
the vectors of both the neutralto-ground voltage and the
current injected into the zerosequence system of the network
(according to the EDF licence)
before and during the injection.

If the network is very symmetric,

the neutral to ground voltage is
extremely low and there is no
marked resonance curve which
could be used as a control criterion.
In this case it is possible to increase
the neutral-to-ground voltage,
by using a permanent injection
of a current into the zero sequence
network, so that changes of the
network configuration lead to a
reliable trigger of the EFC40
controller. Furthermore, the
EFC40 is able to tune on-load
adjustable step-coils s.

Remarks:
The operation mode of the
EFC40 necessarily requires the
installation of the current
injecting device ECI.
Without the current injecting
device ECI, the EFC40 can be
used in the EFC30 operation
mode.
For details see page 9 and the
EFC30/EFC40 brochure.

Earthfault Detection Device EFD10

Fundamentals in
the Detection of the
Faulty Feeder
If an earth fault appears in a network, it leads to a steady-state
asymmetry of the network after
the decay of the transient processes. The zero-sequence voltage
(Uo) as well as the zero-sequence
currents of all feeders which are
supplied by the same busbar
( Iol .... Ion ) are available as
measurement variables for the
detection of the feeder in which
the earth fault occurs. In the
case of an earthfault, the highest
zero-sequence current does not
flow in the faulty feeder but in
the one that has the highest line
to earth capacitance. Thus the
amplitude of the zero-sequence
current cannot be used as a criterion for detecting the faulty feeder. Traditional earthfault detection relays have problems to
achieve a reliable and selective
detection of low and high impedance earthfaults. This is due to
a combination of the measurement principles used, the effects
of instrument transformer errors
and implications of fault evaluation in a single relay mode.

Earth Fault Detection

System EFD
The core of the electronic part of
EPSY is the earth fault detection
device EFD, which is used both
in the separate earthfault detection device EFD10 and in the combined control and detection unit
EFD40 (compact device). The
difference in the new earth fault
detection method compared to
previous relay methods available
is that the measuring signals of
the zero-sequence currents are
periodically recorded and combined in a central unit for further
processing. The zero-sequence
admittances of the feeders (admittance method) are determined by the vectorial measurement of the zerosequence
currents (Iol .... Ion) and of the
zero-sequence voltage (Uo) before and during a defined modification of the zero-sequence system. The modifica-tion of the
zero-sequence system is caused
by a current injection, i.e., with
the assistance of the current injection, in the healthy network,
the EFD system determines the
reference values of admittance
against earth and their natural
asymmetry per feeder by vectorial measurement of Uo and Io.

After this initial phase, a check

without current injection is made
periodically to identify the feeder
in which the asymmetry changes.The calculations of this change are made by using the vectorial measurements of the actual values of Uo and Io and
their reference values recorded
during the initial phase. The feeder
indicating the greatest change of
asymmetry is recognized as the
faulty feeder. Using this method
it is possible to detect highohmic faults up to 100 kOhm.
This selectivity and sensitivity can
not be achieved by using any device or system of the traditional
earth fault protection technique.

Fig. 3 Front view EFD10-16

EFD10-Types
(for details see page 9):
EFD10-8 (Earth fault detection
device for a maximum of
8 feeders)
EFD10-16 (Earth fault detection
device for a maximum of
16 feeders)
Remarks:
If there are more than 16
feeders, the expansion unit
EFX10 is required.
The EFD requires the
installation of the current injecting device ECI.

Compact Device EFD40

(Earth Fault Compensation Controller and Detection)

Fig. 4 Front view EFD40-16

The compact device EFD40

combines all the functions of the
earth fault compensation
controller EFC40 and the earth
fault detection device EFD10.

EFD40-Types
(for details see page 9):
EFD40-8 (earth fault controller
and detection device for a
maximum of 8 feeders)
EFD40-16 EFD40-16 (earth fault
controller and detection device
for a maximum of 16 feeders)

Remarks:
If there are more than 16
feeders, the expansion unit
EFX10 is required.
The EFD necessarily requires
the installation of the current
injecting device ECI.

Expansion Unit EFX10

Fig. 5 Front view EFX10

In case it is necessary to monitor

more than 16 feeders in one
substation, the devices EFD10
and EFD40 have to be extended
with one expansion unit EFX10.

In addition, the expansion unit

EFX10 can be used to increase
the number of the digital inputs/
outputs which are required, for
example, for the replica of the
switching state of the circuitbreakers in multiple bus-bar
operation.

EFX10-Types
(for details see page 9):
EFX10-8 (earth fault detection
expansion unit for 8 additional
feeders)
EFX10-16 (earth fault detection
expansion unit for 16 additional
feeders)

Current Injection Device ECI

The current injection device ECI
is used to change the zerosequence voltage by injecting a
current into the zero-sequence
system. This change of the zerosequence voltage is required
both for the earth fault compensation controller EFC40 (see
page 3) and for the earth fault
detection device EFD (see page 4).

The current injection into the

zero-phase sequence system is
usually done on the low-voltage
side via a secondary auxiliary
winding and a sufficient dimensioned voltage winding of the
arc suppression coil.

The current injection device ECI

essentially consists of a transformer, capacitors for current-limiting,
relays, control- and signal
contacts.

ECI - Technical Data

Voltage supply
voltage
current
inrush current

230 V AC, 50 Hz
7 A at healthy network condition
max. 23 A in case of an earth fault
approx. 140 A

Control contacts
voltage range
current
power consumption

24...240 V AC oder V DC
max. 40 mA
max. 2 W

Output to the ASC

injection voltage
injection current

230 V AC, 50 Hz
approx. 7 A (max. 23 A))

Output to the controller

current transformer
potential-free signal contacts

1A
5 A / 250 V AC

Dimensions
width / height /depth
mass

640 / 800 / 250 mm

approx. 75 kg

Technical Data for Basic Devices

EFC40

EFD10-8

EFD10-16

EFD40-8

EFD40-16

EFX10-8

EFX10-16

Data

Controller Detection Controller & Expansion

Detection
EFC30

Basic Device

Hardware
CPU: 32 bit Transputer (RISC Prozessor)
with floating point unit
ROM
RAM
Display: double supertwist LCD 640 x 200 Pixel
with back-light
Film designed keyboard
Power supply: 110-220 V DC, 230 V AC, 50 Hz, 50 W
Optional: 24, 48, 60 V DC
Analogue inputs for voltage (amplitude):
3 mV...230 V AC
Analogue inputs for voltage (amplitude and phase):
3 mV...110 V AC
Analogue inputs for current injection (ECI):
0...1 A AC
Analogue inputs for zero-sequence currents:
0...1 A AC oder 0...5 A AC
Analogue input for coil position:
linear potentiometer 0...200 bis 0...2 k
or current imput 0...20 mA
Analogue output (for Uo, coil position, distance location):
0...20 mA, programmable
Digital inputs: potential free contacts
24...250 V AC od. DC
Digital inputs: potential free contacts
24 V DC, 60 mA
Digital inputs: potential free contacts
24...250 V AC od. DC
Digital autputs: potential free change over contacts
max: 250 V AC 1000 VA or 250 V DC 100 W
Digital autputs: potential free make contacts
max: 250 V AC 1000 VA or 250 V DC 100 W
Serial Interface: 3 x RS232
Expansion with controller possible
Expansion with detection possible
Upgradeable for up to 24 feeders
Replica of the substations switching condition by means of groups
Replica of the substations switching board
100 V AC reference voltage necessary

1 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2MB
1 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 4 MB 4 MB
x

16

16

16

16

32

32

32

32

16

16

12

24

24

24

24

12

12

opt.

opt.

opt.
x

opt.
x

x
x
x
x
x

x
x
x
x

x
x

x
x

x
x

x
x

4
2

opt. opt.

x
x
x
x

x
x
x
x

Software
Control operation by tuning of the ASC
Control operation by means of current injection
Control operation at very low neutral-to-ground volt.
Detection of high- and low-ohmic earth faults
Dual bus bar operation possible
SCADA system (SPABus, IEC/VDEW 6)

x
x
x

opt.
opt.

x
opt.

x
x
opt.

8,2
3
483
132,5
252
opt.

13,5
6
483
266
300
opt.

18,0 19,5 18,0

6
6
6
483 483 483
266 266 266
300 300 300
opt. opt. opt.

x
x
opt.

x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
opt. opt.

Mechanical Data
Mass in kg
Height of the 19 rack in HE
W
Dimension in mm
H
D
Case

19,5
6
483
266
300
opt.

15,5 18,0
6
6
483 483
266 266
300 300
opt. opt.

Summary of the Electronic-Components

of EPSY (incl. Options)
EFC30
EFD10-UD-8
EFD10-UD-16

Basic device, earth fault compensation controller EFC30

EFC30-upgrade with the detection EFD10 for 8 feeders
EFC30-upgrade with the detection EFD10 for 16 feeders

EFC30-SIF
EFC30-AKL
EFC30-WAND
EFC30-ADAPT
EFC30-DC
EFC30-GEH
EFC30-HB
EFC30-SW-FIX
EFC30-SW-RC*
EFC30-SW-KN
EFC30-SW-LS
EFC30-SW-MR
EFC30-SW-UM
EFC30-SW-ZS*
EFC30-SW-U
EFC30-SW-LT

Serial interface option

Terminal strip option
Wall-mounting option
EZR2-adapter
Optional power supply voltage
Protective case for the EFC30
Additional user manual
Optional software for fixed coil control
Optional software for resistor control
Optional software for KNOSPE resistor control
Optional software for control by external power switch
Optional software for more than one controller in the same network
Optional software for control at U>Umax
Optional software for time synchronisation by means of impulse input
Optional software with special functions for large U0
Optional software for SCADA

EFC40
EFD40-UD-8
EFD40-UD-16

Basic device earth fault compensation controller EFC40

EFC40-upgrade by the detection for 8 feeders in the basic device
EFC40-upgrade by the detection for 16 feeders in the basic device

EFD10-8
EFD10-16
EFD40-UC

Basic device for earth fault detection EFD10 for 8 feeders

Basic device for earth fault detection EFD10 for 16 feeders
EFD10-upgrade by the controller EFC40 in the basic device

EFD40-8
EFD40-16

Compact device for 8 feeders, including controller and detection

Compact device for 16 feeders, including controller and detection

EFD40-GEH
EFD40-SIF
EFD40-SW-LT
EFD40-SW-STU
EFD40-SW-AWE

Protective case for EFC40, EFD10 and EFD40

Serial interface option for EFC40, EFD10 and EFD40
Optional software for SCADA
Optional software for control of a step adjustable ASC
Optional software for automatic reclosing function

EFX10-8
EFX10-16

Expansion device for additional 8 feeders

Expansion device for additional 16 feeders

EFX10-0
EFX10-UD-8
EFX10-UD-DI
EFX10-UD-DO

Expansion unit (empty)

EFX10 plug-in modul for additional 8 feeders
EFX10 plug-in modul for additional 16 digital inputs
EFX10 plug-in modul for additional 16 digital outputs

ECI-FL
ECI-IR

Current injection device (outdoor construction type)

Current injection device (indoor construction type)

EFD-EdC

Detuning capacitor for polygon-method (fault distance location) incl. software

Remark: For detailed information about hard- and software-options please inquire and see the
corresponding user manual.
* These software options are also available in the EFC40 operation mode.
10

Examples for Upgrading Basic Devices

.... Necessary units for the upgrade

Upgrading of the controller EFC30 by the earth fault detection:

requested
config.
actual
config.
EFC30

8 Feeder
EFC30
EFD10-8

16 Feeder
EFC30
EFD10-16

24 Feeder
EFC30
EFD10-16
EFX10-8

EFD10-UD-8

EFD10-UD-16

EFD10-UD-16
EFX10-8

Upgrading of the controller EFC40 by the earth fault detection:

requested
config.
actual
config.
EFC40

8 Feeder
EFD40-8

16 Feeder
EFD40-16

24 Feeder
EFD40-16
EFX10-8

EFD40-UD-8

EFD40-UD-16

EFD40-UD-16
EFX10-8

Upgrading of the earthfault detection EFD10 by additional feeders resp. by the controll function:
requested
config.
actual
config.
EFD10-16

detection
24 Feeder
EFD10-16
EFX10-8

detection, control
16 Feeder
EFD40-16

EFX10-8

EFD40-UC

Upgrading of the compact device EFD40-16 by additional feeders:

requested
config.
actual
config.
EFD40-16

24 Feeder
EFD40-16
EFX10-8

EFX10-8

11

Examples of System Configurations

Fig. 6 EFC30 in a one-busbar configuration

Fig. 7 EFC40 in a one-busbar configuration

12

Fig. 8 EFC40 in a two-busbar configuration

Fig. 9 EFD10 in a one-busbar configuration

13

Fig. 10 EFD10 in a two-busbar configuration

Fig. 11 Control and detection with EFD40 in a one-busbar configuration

14

Fig. 12 Control and detection with EFD40 in a two-busbar configuration with one tuneable and one fixed arc suppression coil

Fig. 13 Control and detection with EFD40 in a two-busbar configuration with two tuneable arc suppression coils

15

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Subject to change without notice

04.2000

E 665