International Research Journal of Power and Energy Engineering

IRJPEE
Vol. 3(2), pp. 092-098, November, 2017. www.premierpublishers.org, ISSN: 3254-1213x

Conference Paper

Dynamic Performance of Distance Relayson Series

Compensated Transmission Lines using RTDS
1Anil Kumar and 2Meera KS*
1,2
CPRI, Bangalore, India

Series compensation is installed in power system networks to increase power transfer capacity,
improve the system stability, reduce system losses, improve voltage regulation and for achieving
flexible power flow control. Distance relays are widely used as main or backup protection of
transmission lines including series-compensated transmission lines. The performance of
conventional distance relays is affected by series capacitors and cause certain protection issues.
This paper briefly discusses the problems like voltage inversion, current inversion, overreach and
under reach during the fault conditions specific to series compensated lines. The behavior of
capacitor protection techniques is discussed with simulations performed using Real Time Digital
Simulator (RTDS) simulator for a typical 400 kV system having series compensation. The analysis
is based on Transmission Line fault simulations, internal and external to the 400-transmission
line where the Fixed Series Compensation (FSC)is installed.

Keywords: Distance relay, series capacitor, MOV (Metal oxide varistor), voltage inversion, current inversion,
overreach, Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDSTM).

INTRODUCTION

To meet the increased demand on the consumption of
electric power, it is required to construct new transmission
lines. But construction of new transmission line is not much
appreciable due to cost and environmental constraints. It is
possible to meet the excess power demand with the
existing lines by installing the series compensation. The
Fixed Series Compensation (FSC) uses series capacitors
to cancel a portion of the inductive reactance of the
transmission line, and thereby reduce the overall
impedance of the line, resulting in increased power flow.
The power flow in the system can be regulated by switching
these series capacitors in and out.
Series capacitors are installed at one or both line ends. Line
ends are typical capacitor locations, as it is possible to use
space available in the substations. Another possibility is to
install the series capacitors at some midpoint location on
the transmission line. Series capacitors located at the line
ends cause more protection problems than those installed
at the midpoint of the line. The compensation levels
adopted are generally in the range of 30 to 70 percent. As
the transient response of the series capacitors are not
predictable, they present unique challenges for directional,
distance, and differential elements. Capacitors will normally
be associated with the metal oxide varistors (MOVs)to
reduce the overvoltage and spark gaps and bypass switch
across the MOV to bypass the capacitor when the MOV
energy level exceeds a threshold.
Distance protection relays have been widely used for
protecting transmission lines due to their simple operating
principle and operate independently under most
circumstances (Network Protection & Automation Guide
third ed. ALSTOM, 2002). The line protection scheme must
perform correctly with the series capacitor still in operation.
The impedance as seen by the relay will depend on the
series capacitor and its associated protection depending on
factors like conduction or non-conduction of MOV,
operation or non-operation of bypass switch.
*Corresponding author: T Meera KS, CPRI, Bangalore,
India. Email: meera@cpri.in
Kumar and Meera 093
The capacitor, MOV or bypass switch coming in the fault
loop depends on the ratings of capacitor and energy limits
of MOV. Some of the problems that distance relay
encounters in the presence of series capacitors are current
inversion, voltage inversion, overreach and under reach.
Thus, it is required to evaluate the performance of the relay
for these conditions. The power system is modeled with the
series capacitor at one end of the transmission line on
RTDSTM and by simulating various fault conditions, tests
are carried out. The faulted voltage and current signals at
the relay location is fed to the relay (also modeled on
RTDS) and the performance analyzed.
Voltage and current Inversion
The first challenge that a distance relay located on a series
compensated line faces is the dynamic changes that occur
in the total impedance presented by the series capacitor
and its protection devices. The state of the series capacitor,
whether it is in service/by-passed, or partly in service and
partly by-passed, complicates the reach settings of zone 1
elements.
Series capacitors located at line ends are more likely to
create voltage and current inversions because of the
absence of line impedance between the relay location and
series capacitor (R.J. Marttila, 1992).
Voltage inversion: This phenomenon is experienced on
series compensated lines, if the impedance between the
fault point and the relaying point is capacitive but the overall
impedance between the power system source and fault
point is still inductive i.e. the reactance of the capacitor is
greater than the reactance of the line section up to fault
point. During voltage inversion the voltage at the relaying
point will be of the opposite sign with the source voltage,
causing the voltage inversion. A voltage inversion on the
power system results in a distance element (polarized by
voltage) to incorrectly identify the fault direction.
Current inversion: For a fault on series compensated line
the impedance between the source and fault point can be
capacitive. Under this circumstance, the fault current will be
capacitive instead of inductive. This phenomenon is known
as a current inversion and leads to false directional decision
in distance relays.
The presence of series compensation also generates sub
harmonics that can cause distance elements to overreach.
System Model
The real time digital simulator used in the tests reported in
this paper is supplied by RTDS Technologies, Inc. Canada.
The simulator performs fully digital electromagnetic
transient power system simulation in real time, utilizing the
Dommel Algorithm (Hermann W. Dommel, 1968) similar to
non-real time EMTP-type programs. The RTDS has an
Electromagnetic Transient type representation and so can
provide a very detailed and realistic model of the system,
including all nonlinearities. The simulator with parallel
processing architecture is specifically designed for power
system simulations and ensures continuous real-time
operation. This type of simulator is an ideal tool for
designing, studying, and testing protection schemes (Real
Time Digital Simulator (RTDS TM) users Hardware and
Software manual set, RTDS Technologies, Canada).
A. Power System Network model
The power system network chosen for simulation is based
on recommendations of CIGRE Working Group 04 of Study
Committee 34 (Evaluation of characteristics and
performance of power system protection relays and
protective systems, CIGRE Working Group 04 of Study
Committee 34 (Protection), 1986). Fig 1 shows the 400 kV
power system network simulated on RTDS, with source at
either ends of the line. The parallel line is kept open by the
circuit breakers at either end of the line. The data used for
the system simulation are given in Appendix I. The
transmission line is modeled using the distributed
parameter Bergeron line model. The network behind the
buses at either end are represented by voltage sources
behind the impedance calculated based on the short circuit
contribution from the network. The series capacitor on
RTDS is modeled as shown in Fig 2. A compensation level
of 40 % has been chosen. The Lightning arrester across
the series capacitor has been modeled with its nonlinear
characteristics and providing of the discharge voltage at
@10 kA and the associated decay factor.
a. Relay model
Fig 3 (a) and 3(b) shows the sampling, extraction of
fundamental component of voltage and computation of line-
to-line voltages. The currents are computed similarly. The
Fig.1: System modeled on RTDS
Fig. 2 MOV protected series capacitor

Relay logic diagram implemented on RTDS for computing
the line-to ground impedance and line-to-line impedance is
shown in Fig 3(c) and Fig 3(d).
The impedance computed by the relay model is plotted on
the operating characteristic (mho and quadrilateral
characteristic) of the relay model. The impedance locus in
the complex plane directly indicates whether the fault is
within or outside the protected zone. Under normal
operating conditions, the impedance locus remains outside
the operating characteristic. For internal faults, the
measured impedance locus moves into the operating
characteristic and there lay (model) is expected to issue a
trip command to the circuit breaker modeled in RTDS.
Fig 3(a) Voltage sampling for Relay model
Fig 3(b): Line to line Voltage computationsfor Relay model
Fig. 3(c): Line-to-Ground positive sequence impedance
computation
Int. Res. J. Power Energy Engin. 094
Fig 3(d): Line-to-Line positive sequence impedance
computation
Simulation Results and Analysis
The dynamic performance of the distance relay model is
studied for various fault locations. The relay model is first
validated by comparing the measured reactance and
resistance (without series compensation) with the
transmission line reactance and resistance from the relay
location to the fault position. It was observed that after
decaying oscillations in the reactance and resistance the
values settled to the desired values, thereby validating the
relay model.
A. Single Line to Ground fault (SLG) 0 % line length
An SLG fault (R-phase) was created at 0 % of the line
length, with a fault resistance of 20 ohms. Figure 4 (a)
shows pre-fault and post-fault voltage and current
waveforms at the relay location, Arrester currents &
energies and also the status of the bypass switch as
obtained from the real-time simulation tests. Fig 4(b) shows
the Impedance seen by the relay with series capacitor in
the fault loop.
The results show that the fault current is 16.41 kA and the
energy dissipation across MOV is 38.8 MJ which is less
than the threshold energy limit of the MOV. So, the bypass
switch will not operate resulting in the capacitor as well as
MOV to remain in the fault loop. Due to the combination of
MOV and the series capacitor branch in the fault loop, the
impedance seen by relay is slightly capacitive as seen in
figure 4(b). It can also be observed from fig 4(a) that voltage
inversion is occurring in this case due to which, the locus of
the impedance seen by the relay lies outside the zone (mho
characteristic) leading to mal-operation of the relay.
Kumar and Meera 095
Fig 4 (a): Voltages and currents at relay location for a SLG
fault at 0% of the transmission line
Fig 4(b): Impedance seen by the relay with series
capacitor in the fault loop
Fig 4(c): Locus of Impedance seen at the relaylocation
forfault at 0 % along the line.
However, a relay with Quadrilateral characteristic having
memory polarization and also higher resistive reach setting
(Appendix II gives the settings calculations (Sub-committee
on relay/protection under task force for power system
analysis under contingencies, 2014), the locus of the
impedance lies in zone 1 of the relay as shown in figure
4(d). Therefore, the relay picks up and trips in zone 1.
Fig 4(d): Locus of Impedance seen by the relay for a fault
at 0% 0 % along the line
 Int. Res. J. Power Energy Engin. 096

a. Three-phase bus fault (3 Phase)

Figure 5 (a) shows the CVT voltages, CT currents, MOV

currents & voltages and its energy dissipation, for a 3 phase
fault at sending end bus terminals. This is seen as a
forward fault by the relay leading to its mal-operation. Like
a normal fault in forward direction a phase shift in CT
currents which lags the CVT voltages is observed in figure
5(a). Locus of impedance as seen by i.e. shown in figures
5(b) and 5(c) respectively.

Fig 5(c): Locus of Impedance seen by the relay for a 3

Phase bus fault

b. Three-phase fault (3 Phase) 100 % line length

A 3-phase fault was created at 100 % of the line length with

zero fault resistance. Fig 6 (a), 6(b) and 6(c) shows the
plots of CT currents and CVT voltages and the impedances

Fig 5 (a): Voltages and Currents at Relay location for a 3

Phasebus fault at sending end

Fig 6 (a): Voltages and Currents at Relay location for a 3

Phase fault at 100% line length

As seen by relays located at the sending end with mho and

Fig 5(b): Locus of Impedance seen by the relay for a 3 quadrilateral characteristic. For this case, the fault was
Phase bus fault correctly identified by relays (mho as well as quadrilateral
characteristic) as a fault in Zone 2.
Kumar and Meera 097
Fig 6(a): Locus of Impedance seen by the relay for a fault
at 100 % line length
Fig 6(b) Locus of Impedance seen by the relay for a fault
at 100 % line length
CONCLUSIONS
The main objective of series compensation in transmission
lines is to increase power transfer capacity. Protection relay
application in series compensated networks is not straight
forward and hence a careful evaluation needs to be
performed. It is difficult to foresee the impact of dynamic
behavior of the series capacitor compensated transmission
network when setting distance protection schemes. The
setting of distance protection schemes using standard
practice is not adequate, without a clear understanding of
the behavior of the protected network itself. The dynamic
behavior of distance relays with a real-time digital simulator
(RTDS) is done in real time so as to study their
performance under actual power system conditions.
Few of the results of the performance of distance relays
evaluated for a typical system with series compensation
transmission network has been discussed. The impact of
the MOV protected series capacitor response on the relay
operation has also been highlighted. These studies clearly
show that detailed dynamic studies are required if distance
relays on series compensated lines are to be set with
confidence.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to thank the authorities of CPRI for
having permitted to publish the paper.
REFERENCES
Evaluation of characteristics andperformance of power
systemprotectionrelays and protective systems, CIGRE
Working Group 04 of Study Committee 34 (Protection),
January 1986.
Hermann W. Dommel (1968). Digital Computer Simulation
of ElectromagneticTransients in Single and Multi-
Phase Networks, Paper 68 TP 657-PWR presented at
IEEE Summer Power Meeting, Chicago, IL.
Network Protection & Automation Guidethird ed. ALSTOM,
2002.
R.J. Marttila, Member (1992). Performance of distance
relaymho elements on MOV-protected series-
compensated transmission lines. IEEE Transactions on
Power Delivery, Vol. 7. No. 3, pp 1168-1178.
Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS TM) users Hardware
and Software manual set, RTDS Technologies,
Canada.
Sub-committee on relay/protection under task force for
power system analysis under contingencies, Model
setting calculations for typical IEDs line protection
setting guide lines protection system audit check list
recommendations for protection management, 2014.
Accepted 23 October, 2017
Citation: Kumar A and Meera KS (2017). Scada Based
Remote Monitoring and Data Acquisition for Energy
Management. International Research Journal of Power
and Energy Engineering, 3(2): 092-098.
Copyright: 2017. Kumar and Meera. This is an open-
access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are cited.
 Int. Res. J. Power Energy Engin. 098

APPENDIX I

A. Source

VS = 400kV 0o, 50 Hz
Source Impedance ZS = 145.4586.18o

B. Transmission Line

Positive Sequence Resistance, (r1) = 0.02897 /Km

Positive Sequence Reactance, (x1) = 0.3072 /Km
Zero Sequence Resistance, (r0) = 0.2597 /Km
Zero Sequence Reactance, (x1) = 1.0223 /Km
Zero Sequence Susceptance (b0) = 2.347 mho/Km
Positive Sequence Susceptance (b1) = 3.630 mho/Km
Line length =117.85 Km

C. Load
Real Power, P = 1000 MW
Reactive Power, Q = 30 MVAR

D. Fixed Series Compensation: 40 %, Xc =14.48

APPENDIX II

Total positive sequence impedance, Z11 = 36.364 84.61

Total zero sequence impedance, Z01 = 124.30 75.74

Total positive sequence impedance (secondary)

Z1 = CT/PT ratio x Z11= 1084.61

Distance relay characteristics are set based on the NRPC guidelines for transmission line protection.

Zone1 protection = 0.8*Z1= 884.61

( )
Zero compensation factor, K0 = 0 1 =0.812
31

Time delay for zone1, td1 = 0 S

Total zero sequence impedance (secondary)
Z0 = 34.184 75.74
Zone2 protection = 1.2*Z1 = 1284.61
Time delay for Zone2, td2 = 0.35 S

Zone 3 protection = 2*Z1 = 2084.61

Time delay for Zone3, td3 = 1 S

Resistive reach, Rreach = 30

Directional angle for Distance protection zones,
rgDir = -30

Negative restraint angle for Distance protection zone,

ArgNeg Res= 115