Application Note

PRO-N
PROTECTION RELAY
VIRTUAL INPUT/OUTPUTS

PreFACE
By ThyVisor software tool the type of operation and links between sixteen outputs (Virtual Output -
VOUT1 ... 16) and thirty-two virtual inputs (Virtual Inputs - VIN1 ... VIN32) may be defined using RPC or
IEC 61850 communication protocols over Ethernet network.
The virtual I / O can be enabled on devices with 3.01 and later firmware version.
The system allows:
• Availability of eight inputs and ten outputs independently programmable by the user
• Simplify wiring using one channel as the Ethernet
• Eliminate the need to install communication devices and / or external conversion
• Significantly reduce costs
• Dynamically change from sw connections and associated functions.

Pro-N Pro-N
PROTECTION RELAY PROTECTION RELAY

IN1 IN1

IN2 IN2

IN3 IN3

IN... IN...

IN32 IN32

OUT1 OUT1

OUT2 OUT2

OUT... OUT...

OUT16 OUT16

Applications
Over Pro-N relay the virtual I / O can be usefully employed for:
• Transmit information between protections installed in significant distance where the traditional con-
nections are critical in terms of reliability.
• Making OR logic for opening control of multiple DDI (simultaneous control of all DDI operated by
each SPI) in cases of multiple interface protections (Smart Grids)
• Achieve accelerated logic discrimination in which some protection elements can be blocked by the
activation of the downstream protection start; this allows to reduce the clearing time that, in time
logic systems require trip time significantly long in correspondence of the power source.
• Circuit breaker commands
• Selection of setting profiles
• Remote trip, etc. ...
In the examples presented below the 1) and 2) applications are described made ​​with traditional wiring
and with the virtual I/O circuits.

AN018 - Virtual Input-Output Pro-N - 12-2022

- Funzioni di protezione e controllo
 Example 1
The application with NV10P protective relay in which the measurement of residual voltage is not avail-
able on the relay interface due to the high distance from NV10P relay to VTs is proposed.

NV10P

The diagram shows a solution that uses relays, logic inputs and connections pilot wires to transmit
59N start and trip information to the interface relay (S2) from a relay (S1) installed in MV.

L1
L2
L3
A 59N external protection +UAUX

N A3
OUTPUT RELAYS A4
dn K1 A5 TRIP - UE>>

A6 +UAUX
da
B7 A7
K2 A8 START UE>>
Raf(*) B8 UE
(59N)

(*) Raf - antiferroresonance

Distance from VT to NV10P

considered excessive

NV10P
B1 A3
A4
U L1
B2 K1 A5 Trip - DI
B3 A6
U L2 A7
B4 K2 A8
Trip DI (K1)
B5
A9
DI B6
U L3 K3
A10
K4
Consenso f<-f>
-UAUX A19 A11
-UAUX A20 IN1
K5 A12
+UAUX A1 A13
≅ K6
A2 UAUX
-UAUX
G~ A14

Phase-to-phase voltage measurement input with direct connection in the LV side (UR = 400 V versions) with 59N detection and processing
by means of the device away from the NV10P relay and transmission of 59N start via a digital signal connected to IN1 input of NV10P

2 AN018 - Virtual Input-Output Pro-N - 12-2022

 Alternatively to the method where relays, logic inputs and connections pilot wires are employed to
transmit the information of 59N start and trip between the relays S1 and S2, the diagram below shows
the solution that utilizes the I / O virtual circuitry by means of messages on Ethernet network.

NV10P
PROTECTION RELAY

VOUT1
START UE>> D1
Ethernet
VOUT2
TRIP - UE>> START - UE>>
TRIP - UE>>

Indirizzo IP: 222.2.2.100 S1

Supervisione

NV10P
PROTECTION RELAY
START - UE>>
DDI VIN1 TRIP - UE>>
UE>>
(Abilita f<,f>) D1
VIN2
Remote trip

Indirizzo IP: 222.2.2.101 S2

S1 outputs
Two outputs are programmed as:
• VOUT1, used in the example as start signal of the second threshold of 59N protection of S1 (Start UE>>)
in order to activate the first threshold of minimum and maximum frequency (restrictive thresholds) of
the S2 protection
• VOUT2, used in Example as trip signal of the second threshold of 59N protection of S1 (Trip UE>>) in
order to control the opening of the interface device by means of remote tripping of the S2 protec-
tion.
The outputs are activated by the input signal (UE >> start and / or remote trip) and stay active (also in
case of drop of the input signal) for the duration of an adjustable time (t V and t Trip).

Input signal
over the threshold

Start
voltage protection
or remote trip
with tV and tTrip = 0
Start
voltage protection
or remote trip
with tV and tTrip ≠ 0 t
tV and tTrip tV and tTrip

Virtual output (VOUT1...VOUT8)

S2 inputs
For each of the eight virtual inputs one function may be associated that can be activated by the select-
ed input; in the example the enable of the first threshold of under and over frequency is programmed
when an earth fault in MT arises (UE>> start active on the S1 protection) at the input virtual VIN1 and
remote trip connected to the VIN2 virtual input of the S2 protection relay.

Links (virtual pilot wires)

After defining the input and output circuits the virtual links must be created.

AN018 - Virtual Input-Output Pro-N - 12-2022 3

 Example 2
The diagram shows the traditional solution that uses relays, logic inputs and pilot wires connections to
realize the logical OR for the opening command of two DDI (simultaneous control of both DDI operated
by each interface relay).
The logical OR is realized driving each circuit breaker by the series connection of two output relays (a
relay for each CB); can easily understand the added complication for implementation of the logic when
further protection interfaces are mounted, (in addition the need to implement the logic concerning the
measurement of residual voltage, as described in Example 1, must be considered).

Trip - DI-A
NV10P
A3
A4
UL1 UL2 UL3 K1 A5
A6 +UAUX
UE A7
Trip - DI-A A8
K2

DI-A A9
RELE’ FINALI K3
A10
K4
A11
-UAUX
A19
IN1
K5 A12
A20
A13
A1 K6
+UAUX ≅
-UAUX A2 UAUX A14

NV10P
A3
UL1 UL2 UL3 A4
K1 A5 +UAUX
A6
UE
A7
Trip - DI-B K2 A8 Trip - DI-B

DI-B A9
RELE’ FINALI

K3
A10
K4

-UAUX
A11
A19
IN1
K5 A12
A20
A13
A1 K6
~ ~ +UAUX
A2
≅
UAUX A14
-UAUX

Block diagram for the simultaneous opening of two interface Circuit Breaker (DI-A and DI-B) made by one or both NV10P relays

4 AN018 - Virtual Input-Output Pro-N - 12-2022

 The diagram shows an example that uses the virtual I / O circuits where the S1 relay transmits the
information relating to the 59N function to relay S2, S3 and S4 and simultaneously the OR logic for the
command of the interface devices is achieved.

NV10P
PROTECTION RELAY
Supervisione
D1
Ethernet
VOUT1
START - UE>>
START UE>>
VOUT2
TRIP - UE>>
TRIP - UE>>

IP address: 222.2.2.100
S1

START - UE>>
TRIP - UE>>
Remote trip

NV10P NV10P NV10P

PROTECTION RELAY PROTECTION RELAY PROTECTION RELAY
VIN1 VIN1 VIN1
UE>> UE>> UE>>
(Enable f<,f>) D1 (Enable f<,f>) D1 (Enable f<,f>) D1
DDI DDI DDI
VIN2 VIN2 VIN2
Remote trip Remote trip Remote trip

VOUT2 VOUT2 VOUT2

Trip NV10P Trip NV10P Trip NV10P

IP address: 222.2.2.101 S2 IP address: 222.2.2.102 S3 IP address: 222.2.2.103 S4

S1 outputs
The VOUT1 and VOUT2 outputs must be programmed as in Example 1 to transmit information about to
the 59N protection, processed by the S1 relay to relay S2, S3 and S4 where the measure of residual
voltage is missing:
• Start, used as a start signal of the second threshold of 59N protection (S1) in order to activate the first
threshold of under and over frequency (81U and 81O) of the protections S2, S3 and S4.
• Trip, used in Example as trip signal of the second threshold of 59N protection (S1) in order to control
the opening of the interface device by means of remote tripping of protections S2, S3 and S4

S2, S3 e S4 inputs
The enable of the first threshold of under and over frequency (81U and 81O) is set to the occurrence of
an earth fault (start UE >> active on S1 protection) on the VIN1 virtual input and the remote trip on the
VIN2 virtual input protection on S2, S3 and S4 relays that drive the circuit breaker interface.

S2, S3 and S4 outputs

The output VOUT2 must be set to carry out the logical OR for the opening command of all the circuit
breaker interfaces (simultaneous control of all the CBs function from each NV10P):
• Trip, used in the example as a trip signal of the protection functions of S1 in order to control the open-
ing of the interface device by means of remote tripping of protections S2, S3 and S4

Links (virtual pilot wires)

After defining the input and output circuits the virtual links must be created.

Final remarks
Compared to the method with inputs and outputs and connections between relay made ​​with pilot
wires, the method that uses the virtual inputs and outputs, in addition to the simplicity of the wiring
and the possibility of making connections over long distances (Ethernet network) is able to realize
interactive logics by means of tens of pilot wires whose wiring can be programmed and changed as
desired.
AN018 - Virtual Input-Output Pro-N - 12-2022 5
Ethernet ports
The virtual I / O make use of RPC or IEC 61850 communication protocols over Ethernet network, there-
fore, the Pro_N and Pro-Next relays must be equipped with RJ45 interface for connection to copper
local area network or FX interface for connection to fiber-optic local network.
Connections to the TX (RJ45) port must be made with shielded cable FTP Cat.5e or higher category.

TX connector (RJ45 copper)

shielded cable - FTP Cat.5e

Jacket
Shielded foil

Drain wire
FX connector (optical fiber)
RX
Twisted pair

TX

Pro-N Ethernet connections

NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK

TX TX TX connector (RJ45 copper)

shielded cable - FTP Cat.5e

TX FX FX
RX
FX connector (optical fiber)
TX
3V3 3V3 3V3
LINK1
LINK2
LINK1
LINK2
LINK1
LINK2
Jacket
1 1 1 Shielded foil
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5 Drain wire
6 6 6

x x x
Twisted pair

Pro-N Ext Ethernet connections

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