1

Course 31745
Real-time digital simulation and test of
power system
Overcurrent Relay
Modeling Assignment
Ana Turk, Qiuwei Wu
June 2020
 Assignment introduction
• The system stays the same as in the exercise ‘Overcurrent relay’

• The changes to be made in the case ‘Overcurrent relay modeling’ are given in this presentation
 Assignment introduction
• CB can open with the activated TRIP signal once the fault happens

• Is the current magnitude high enough for relay to send a trip signal?

• We could calculate current …

 Determine magnitudes of sinusoidal waveforms from sampled data taken at discrete intervals

 Steps:

1. Current calculation

2. Trip signal
 Current calculation
1. Calculation of the magnitudes and phase of the voltage and the current can be achieved by using
derivatives

2. Alternative:
• Manipulate the two samples taken at discrete instances of time from the signal waveforms
• Avoid differentials

 Determine magnitudes of sinusoidal waveforms from sampled data taken at discrete intervals

 Prediction of peak(magnitude) values of signal waveforms

 Current calculation
• Why calculate current?

Overcurrent relay operates for a given values of current above the pickup level

Can we send relay signals from our system

• for example current measured at the breaker location?
 Current calculation
• Input to current calculation – input must come from CT – why?

• Protective relaying
• Primary system current may be several hundreds or thousands of amperes, while the required relay
input level would be only a few amperes (nominally 1 or 5 Amps).
• Monitor the current and/or voltage of the power system to detect problems with the power system.
Currents and voltages to relays are supplied via CT’s and VT’s

• Current transformer (CT) commonly used to transform a system (current) to some lower level
appropriate for a given application.
 Current calculation - CT
• Input to current calculation :

• Auxiliary device which picks up currents from the simulated system, applies them to a modelled CT
device and provides an output current signal which accurately represents that which would result in the
actual power system

• The output current (or burden current) can be displayed on the RSCAD RunTime.
 Current calculation - CT
• Usually designed and dimensioned such that its normal operation is within the
linear region of the flux−current plane

• Within linear region, the core loss and magnetizing losses though variable,
generally remain at values which do not appreciably effect the accuracy of the A typical flux (φ) current (I)
characteristic with losses ignored in
measurement device. order to illustrate the sections or
• Under abnormal operating conditions (FAULT) currents may rise to many times regions of operation

their steady state levels hence causing the CT operating point to reach and
exceed the saturation knee point.

• CT’s are normally designed to operate well below the saturation knee point to
allow plenty of vertical movement (i.e. in the flux direction) in the event of high
transient current conditions which may result when nearby faults occur. This
type of design philosophy ensures a maximum range over which the CT can
accurately reproduce primary system current conditions in its secondary circuit.
 Current calculation - CT

The current transformation ratio is defined by the ratio of secondary to primary turns, where in this
arrangement the number of primary turns is one

The magnetizing branch will draw very little current as long as the CT is operated in the linear region of the
flux−current characteristic. Under such operating conditions, the secondary side current which is presented
to the connected burden will be a good reproduction of the primary side current.
As the operating point moves towards the saturation knee point level, the magnetizing branch begins to
draw more current. The current which will now be available to flow through the burden:
 Current calculation
• Analog Sampler
 Determine magnitudes of sinusoidal waveforms from sampled data taken at discrete intervals

• 𝒊𝒌 and 𝒊𝒌+𝟏 are current samples measured at times 𝒕𝒌 and 𝒕𝒌+𝟏

• ∆𝒕 is sampling time interval

𝒊𝒌 = 𝑰 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝝎𝟎 𝒕𝒌 & 𝒊𝒌+𝟏 = 𝑰 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝝎𝟎 𝒕𝒌+𝟏 =𝑰 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝝎𝟎 (𝒕𝒌 +∆𝒕)

𝒊𝒌+𝟏 = 𝑰 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝝎𝟎 𝒕𝒌 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝝎𝟎 ∆𝒕 + 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝝎𝟎 𝒕𝒌 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝝎𝟎 ∆𝒕

𝟐 𝟐
𝟐
𝒊𝒌 + 𝒊𝒌+𝟏 − 𝟐𝒊𝒌 𝒊𝒌+𝟏 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝝎𝟎 ∆𝒕
𝑰 =
(𝒔𝒊𝒏𝝎𝟎 ∆𝒕)𝟐

Johns, A.T., Digital Protection for Power Systems, IEE Power Series 15, Peter Peregrins Ltd., Six Hills Way, Stevenage, UK, 1995
 Current calculation
• Decide the type sampling

• The protection algorithm for most relays operates usually at only four to eight times per cycle. If
the relay processes the protection algorithm 8 times per cycle, the algorithm operates in the 480
Hz thread and the sampled data is needed 8 times per cycle.
 Current calculation
Analog Signal Sampling

Sample the input

• sampled at 8 samples per cycle (480 Hz thread).
• Purpose of sampling the filtered data at 8 samples per cycle - provide a signal that is synchronous
with the 480 Hz thread where the protection algorithm operates
 Current calculation
• Analog Sampler
 Determine magnitudes of sinusoidal waveforms from sampled data taken at discrete intervals

• Buffer
• Single state buffer – obtains present and previous sampled data
 Current calculation
• Analog Sampler
 Determine magnitudes of sinusoidal waveforms from sampled data taken at discrete intervals

𝟐
𝒊𝟐𝒌 + 𝒊𝟐𝒌+𝟏 − 𝟐𝒊𝒌 𝒊𝒌+𝟏 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝝎𝟎 ∆𝒕
𝑰 =
(𝒔𝒊𝒏𝝎𝟎 ∆𝒕)𝟐
 Circuit breaker control – previous case
• Push button to open/close the CB1

• TRIP signal – when fault is activated

The CB status is only valid for load flow. Fault control block
Control of CB:
 Signal is high – close CB
 Signal is low – open CB
• Rename signal 'TRIP' in fault logic
 Assignment steps
• Current calculation
Getting around?
1. Analog sampling
• Library Master Controls
2. Buffer – obtain present and previous value
• Floating Point Constant
3. According to formula, obtain the value of current
• Wire label
• Wire
• Tripping signal
• Slider
1. Make a control where a tripping signal will be sent in a
• Math functions
situation when a fault happens and the calculated current
• Sum
is higher than a pick up value
• Multiplier
2. A pick up value of the relay is set to 1
• Square
• Root
• Gain
• Signal processing
• Down Sampler
• Buffer
• Logic functions
• AND
• Signal selectors
• If-Then-Else
 Runtime
• Prepare

 Depending on initial status of CB

 Close CB

 Prepare fault- select location and type of the fault ( type A and location 1)

 Press fault button

 Observe what happens with the breaker status, currents, voltages