P544/6 (with Distance) Chapter 18 - Supervision

2.1.2 CURRENT DIFFERENTIAL START LOGIC

The Permit Cdiff internal signal interacts with the Current Differential function to control the Current Differential
start signals. the following figure shows how this is achieved for the line differential currents. The same principle
applies to neutral differential current.

Permit Cdiff SD
Q
1 R

ID iff>Start A
Phase A Current Differential threshold reached

ID iff>Start B
Phase B Current Differential threshold reached

ID iff>Start C
Phase C Current Differential threshold reached

V02601

Figure 260: Current Differential function Start logic

2.2 SWITCHED COMMUNICATION PATH SUPERVISION

A feature is included in this product to supervise the operation of the Current Differential protection in the event of
communications paths being switched. The Ping-Pong method of time alignment requires symmetry of
communications paths. The absolute value of propagation delay is not important, but the symmetry is. Many
telecommunication systems feature self-healing mechanisms so that if a particular link fails, the integrity of the
system can be maintained by re-routing of traffic via unaffected links. Careful system management can ensure
that the reconfiguration of the system to bypass the failed link can respect the communications symmetry
requirements. Whilst the reconfiguration is in progress, however, there may be a temporary violation of the
symmetry requirements. The Switched Communications Paths Supervision function protects against incorrect
tripping during the period of transient symmetry violation.
The settings for the Switched Communications Paths Supervision reside in the CURRENT DIFF column.
The Current Differential protection continually monitors the communications propagation delay time. With
reference to the following figure, if the differences between 2 successive calculated propagation times exceed the
Comm Delay Tol setting in the PROT COMMS/ IM64 column, then the operating characteristic is modified from the
blue line to the red line.

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Chapter 18 - Supervision P544/6 (with Distance)

Idiff Normal Tripping Characteristic

Supervised Tripping Characteristic

Operate
Region
K2 slope
Supervise
Region

Restrain
K1 Slope
Region

IS1

IS2 Ibias
V02603

Figure 261: Switched Communication Path supervision

The change to the characteristic is determined by two timers (Char Mod Time, and Char Mod RstTime) found in
the PROT COMMS/IM64 column. These timers start when the switched communication path condition is
recognised. These timers define how long the modification to the tripping characteristics is applied for. A
communications delay alarm (Comm Delay Alarm) is also raised at the same time.
When the Comm Delay Tol setting has been exceeded for two consecutive calculations, the K1 slope is increased
to 200 . When the 200 slope reaches the IS2 setting, the characteristic tracks a horizontal line until it meets
with the K2 slope which the characteristic then follows.
The characteristic normally returns to normal when the Char Mod Time expires, but a mechanism is provided to
accelerate the reset if system conditions permit by using an additional timer Char Mod RstTime which is set to a
value less than the Char Mod Time.
The Char Mod RstTime can be enabled or disabled. If it is enabled, then it starts when the Char Mod Time starts. If
the Char Mod RstTime has expired, but the Char Mod Time is still running, AND IF the bias current is above 5 In,
AND IF the differential current is below 10 of bias current on all phases, then the Char Mod Time is reset and the
characteristic returns to normal. If these conditions are not met, then the characteristic remains increased for the
duration of the Char Mod Time. The Char Mod RstTime should be set greater than the minimum switching delay
expected, and less than the Char Mod Time.
We don’t recommend it, but If you don’t want the tripping characteristic to be changed during communications
switching operations, you should set Char Mod Time to 0.

2.3 COMMUNICATIONS ASYMMETRY SUPERVISION

The settings for this function reside under the DIFF SUPERVISON sub-heading of the SUPERVISION column.
The Communications Asymmetry Supervision function is included to supervise the Current Differential protection
on applications where communications path switching is expected. It is particularly intended to identify a situation
where communications switching has occurred and the communications has been re-established onto paths
where the symmetry requirements are not fully respected, but where the arising apparent differential current is
insufficient to cause tripping. It is usually used to indicate that the telecommunications network is not configured
as expected. It can also be used to block operation of the Current Differential protection until the issue has been
resolved. If the communications paths between a pair of devices are running on different paths, the protection will
calculate an apparent differential current even though the currents entering and leaving the protected zone
balance. If this pseudo-differential current exceeds the criteria for tripping, maloperation will occur. If the level is
less, it can be assumed to be caused by asymmetric communications paths and the restraint characteristic can be
changed to prevent tripping should the effect of increasing load current with communications asymmetry take the
apparent differential current above the operate threshold.

480 P544 6Z-EN-TM-N