Protection Skills For

Electricians

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ......................................................................................................2

Learning Tasks

1 -Explain the Purpose of Targets ......................................................:.................3

2-Explain Current-Operated Targets and Their Operational Principles ................5

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 3-Explain Voltage-Operated Targets with Time Tagging .....................................8
4-Explain Micro-Processor Relay Targeting .........................................................9

Self Tests
Self Test Questions ...............................................................................................13
Self Test Answers ..................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
It is important for the electrician to be able to retrieve and interpret target
information. In some cases the electrician may have to pass on target
information to other departments. In other cases, the electrician may use
target information to analyze problems and decide on corrective action.
Target information is based on NEMA numbers.
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 LEARNING TASK 1

EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF TARGETS

Targets are included in relay systems in order to provide a record of relay operation that
can be examined following a system disturbance. By providing this record, targets serve
the purposes described below.
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1. System Restoration

Through identification of the protection zones involved, target information helps to

determine the extent of a fault and to identify the faulted equipment. As a result,
informed decisions can be made about restoring the system.

2. Analyze Operation of Protective Equipment

Target information is used to determine if the protection equipment operated

properly. If not, corrective action can be taken.

3. Analyze Operation of System Equipment

Target information may indicate which equipment (or part) is faulted and the
phases involved. As a result, corrective active can be taken sooner.

4. , Analyze Protection Performance

Relay target information provides a means of evaluating the performance of the

protection system during actual disturbances. Such an evaluation is not possible by
routine or simulated testing.

5. Improvement of System Reliability

Target information is used to diagnose system equipment failures and to assess

performance during disturbances. This process may lead to the modification of
equipment designs and system operating practice which improves system
reliability.

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6. Updating Statistical Records

Target data is entered into the System Disturbance Reporting System, along with
fault and protection performance analysis info oration to provide a database for
assessing protection, major equipment, system performance, and failure trends

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 LEARNING TASK 2
EXPLAIN CURRENT OPERATED TARGETS AND THEIR
OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLES

For many years BC Hydro installed DC current-operated mechanical targets to indicate

protective relay operation. Usually the target was an integral part of the relay. The
majority of the relays were manufactured by Westinghouse and used indicating
contactor switches (ICS) for targeting. Most were set to operate at 2 amps DC. Since
relays from other manufacturers were also installed, non-ICS targets are also currently
in service.

Current-operated targets were originally favored by BC Hydro because they proved the
integrity of more of the system than a voltage-operated target. For example, in a very
simple scheme where the protective relay contact directly initiates breaker tripping,
operation of a current-operated target not only indicates that the relay has operated but
also that the trip coil has drawn current. This type of protection scheme is illustrated
in Figure 1.

Normally BC Hydro does not use direct breaker tripping. Instead, the protective relay
operates a self-reset trip scheme made up of auxiliary relays and a loading resistor as
shown in Figure 2. This scheme:

initiates breaker tripping and other functions such as automatic reclosing

provides a current path via the loading resistor to operate up to two current-
operated targets.

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 Protection Skills for Electricians Page
7

maintains the trip signal for approximately 135 ms

self-resets after 135 ms

BC Hydro no longer favors current-operated targets because of the following

limitations:

The loading resistor is set to drop a maximum of two current-operated targets.

Therefore, the targeting system will not reflect the operation of more than two
relays.

When current-operated targets from different manufacturers are combined in the

same target scheme, the different coil resistances cause unequal division of
currents which may result in incomplete targeting.

Targets fail to drop due to mechanical problems.

Vibration causes erroneous targets to drop.

There is no time tagging. For a given fault, there is no indication of when the
various relays operated . If multiple faults occur before the targets can be
recorded, there is no indication of which targets resulted from which fault.

Unit B-6 Describe Target Schemes and

Limitations
 There is a delay in obtaining target information. Some remote substations are
visited infrequently which delays investigation and increases the probability of
other faults occurring before the initial targets are recorded.

The above limitations have resulted in lengthy and sometimes inconclusive

investigations of protection operations. However, many current-operated target
schemes remain in service.

In addition to current-operated targets, many electro-mechanical relays also have

mechanically operated targets. In the case of Westinghouse relays, these are referred to
as "indicating instantaneous trip" (IIT) elements. If there is sufficient fault current, the
IIT element will operate to initiate tripping. When the IIT element operates, a target
drops. Operation of the IIT target is not dependent upon DC current being drawn by
the loading resistor in the self reset trip scheme.

Target labels are normally applied to the target frame. The labels are bright yellow
with black lettering. The target designation shown on the labels are generally in
accordance with the information given in Unit B-4 on NEMA device numbers.

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Protection Skills for Electricians Page
9
LEARNING TASK 3
EXPLAIN VOLTAGE-OPERATED TARGETS WITH TIME TAGGING
Recent installations have incorporated voltage targeting along with a
sequence of events recorder (SER). The SER provides time tagging and
remote access to target information via modem. It is anticipated that SERs
will be connected to GPS (global positioning satellite system). This will
synchronize the SER clocks at all substations so that target information from
different stations can be correlated. A simple schematic of a voltage-
operated targeting scheme with an SER is shown in Figure 1.

The limitations of the current-operated targeting scheme have largely been

eliminated by the voltage-operated scheme with SERs. On small installations
however, the SER may not be justified.

Targets are shown in a common display which shows the targets for
the entire protection. The target readout consists of LEDs as shown
in Figure 2.

Unit B-6 Describe Target Schemes and

Limitations
EXPLAIN MICRO-PROCESSOR RELAY TARGETING

Schweitzer micro-processor relays are becoming quite common in line and feeder
protections. The target information is displayed on the front of the relay and is also
available via the relay event record and the relay history report. Each of these is
described in this learning task.

RELAY TARGET DISPLAY

Schweitzer relays provide target information via an LED display on the front panel of
the relay. The front view of the Schweitzer 121H Line Relay is shown in Figure 1.
Although the LED display does provide some information, it does not provide nearly
as much information as the relay event record or the relay history report. In the case of
SEL 121/221 line relays, we ask that any of the LEDs be reported as 21L.

RELAY EVENT RECORDS

Schweitzer relays generate event records for each fault. P&C personnel can obtain
more thorough information regarding the fault and protection performance by
analyzing these records. Event records provide data on pre-fault and fault voltages
and currents, and an indication of when relay elements operated.

Note If DC power is removed from a Schweitzer relay, all events stored in

memory will be lost. Consult with Protection and Control before
removing DC power from these relays.

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Protection Skills for Electricians Page
11

RELAY HISTORY REPORT

As shown in Table 1, the relay history report provides a summary of the 12 most
recent faults. The information given for each fault includes:

the fault type, including the relay zone that operated and the phases involved in
the fault.

the distance to the fault

the fault duration

the magnitude of the fault current

HIS

L32 SFL 60L17 PYPN 21L S/N 24082 Date: 9/17/93 Time: 10:24:27

# Date Time Type Dist Dur Curr

(Km)
1. 9/11/93 16:22:42.675 3ABC 121.08 7.25 624.9

2. 9/11/93 16:17:28.808 3ABC 119.03 6.75 628.3

3. 9/11/93 16:16:56.108 5BCG 232.74 1.25 208.0

4. 8/28/93 18:11:11:983 1CG 0.04 7.25 6316.1

5. 8/28/93 17:15:43.975 1CG 0.08 7.00 5902.5

6. 8/3/93 17:17:01.741 4ABC 104.43 0.50 382.5

7. 6/24/93 14:23:12.650 1BC 17.70 6.75 1910.7

8. 6/22/93 18:33:06.420 4ABC -13.80 4.75 1126.0

9. 4/14/93 22:38:56.383 3ABC 104.67 0.50 518.1

10. 3/12/93 15:46:10.904 3ABC 121.60 2.00 383.8

11. 3/11/93 09:33:22.487 3BCG 210.59 7.25 331.0

Table 1

Unit B-6 Describe Target Schemes and

Limitations
 Operators can access a version of the relay history report via modem to determine the
location of the fault and to obtain information about the outage so that informed
decisions can be made about restoration procedures. Table 2 shows the operators
version of the SEL History.

DTA UNIT

History information is also available locally on the DTA unit associated with SEL line
protection relays. A summary of the last 30 events are accessible by operating the
"faults" switch and using the "scroll up" and "scroll down" keys. The DTA unit and an
example of the output is shown in Figure 2.

RD UNIT

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 Protection Skills for Electricians Page
13
History information is also available locally on the RD unit associated with the SEL
feeder protection relays. The RD unit, see Figure 3, can access up to four relays. The
"port" key is used to select the appropriate relay. By pushing the "fault" key, the last
12 events for that relay can be accessed. The "scroll" key can be used to view the
entire fault history.

SEL 321 RELAY DISPLAY

The SEL 321 line relay has the display unit incorporated on the front panel of the
relay. To obtain event history, press the "Fault" push button. The () and ()buttons are
used to scroll between event records and the ( ) and ( ) buttons are used to
scroll between fields with a record.

Unit B-6 Describe Target Schemes and

Limitations
 SELF TEST QUESTIONS
1. List the six purposes that targets are used for.

2. What are some of the disadvantages of current-operated targets?

3. What features does the SER provide when used with a voltage-operated target
scheme??

4. Name the devices associated with:

a. SEL 121/221 line relays that give history information locally.
b. SEL 151/251 feeder relay that give history information locally

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 SELF TEST ANSWERS
1. System Restoration
Analyze Operation of Protective Equipment
Analyze Operation of System Equipment
Analyze Protection Performance
Improvement of System Reliability
Updating Statistical Records

2. maximum of two ICS targets

no time tagging
failure to operate due to mechanical problems
erroneous targets due to vibration
targets from various manufacturers have different characteristics
delay in obtaining target information.
3. time tagging and remote access to target information via modem.

4. a. DTA unit on line protection b.

RD unit on feeder protections

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