Digital relay protection for Busbar

Name: Rahaf Emad Waheib

High voltage
ID:202210237
EPM 654
Contents
Digital relay protection for Busbar.............................................................................................................1
1. Bus-Bar Protection:.............................................................................................................................4
1.1 Basic principles of busbar protection operation........................................................................4
1.2 Dynamic Zone Selection for Complex Station Layouts...............................................................4
2. Busbar protection techniques............................................................................................................4
2.1 Differential protection......................................................................................................................4
2.1.1 High impedance differential.......................................................................................................5
2.1.2 Low impedance differential........................................................................................................5
2.2 Percent Differential...........................................................................................................................7
2.3 Interlocking Schemes........................................................................................................................8
2.3.1 UCA and GOOSE..........................................................................................................................8
References..................................................................................................................................................9

SUMMARY
For electrical utilities, busbar failures are critical to the stability and safety of the transmission
system, so the engineering and management of busbar protection are essential. Fast busbar
fault elimination is essential to preventing severe damage to the transmission system, since
busbar protection has the ability to trip many bus segments or even a substation's entire
busbar at once. A transmission system gets severe damage from a protective mechanism failure
to operate or from any undesired tripping. Considering its high cost and complexity, busbar
protection measures have the potential to save lives and even equipment. .[1]

The bus topology should be dynamically replicated by a busbar protection system, and it should
have flexible architecture to protect all current bus configurations. In general, the main
requirements for busbar protection include security, dependability, speed, sensitivity, and
selectivity. All these requirements are interrelated; therefore, it is not possible to satisfy one
without affecting the other. The design solution should meet the requirements that correspond
to the importance of the substation within the network and the layout of the substation .[1]

The differential principle is the main protective concept of busbar protection. Low-impedance
and high-impedance differential protection are the two basic types of differential current
protection relays. The low-impedance differential principle is mostly used, although the high-
impedance differential principle is still used by some system operators. Both types of
differential current protection relays have advantages and disadvantages. The low-impedance
deferential protection relays are frequently numeric and more flexible, which allows them to
protect substations with complex schemes. Low-impedance deferential protection relays can
stay in operation even during the reconstruction of substations, when usually some temporary
operation is needed. .[1]

On the other hand, high-impedance relays can be more easily extended because there is no
need to add new analog inputs. They also need less mounting space and are less expensive.
Furthermore, the cost of these relays can be easily decreased because the hardware for low-
impedance differential relays can also be shared with breaker failure protection. Each end user
should evaluate the advantages and disadvantages and choose the best solution based on the
intended application and installation. .[1]

The design and configuration of the breaker failure protection must consider additional busbar
arrangements, reliability principles, and tripping criteria that support the functionality of busbar
protection (such as check zone logic, the directional principle, saturation detection, voltage and
current release criteria, and built-in circuit breaker failure). .[1]

Components of the protection system (bay unit or central unit) may fail as with other
protection devices. For this reason, it is advisable to have spares in case of failure, the spares
must also be checked periodically. If applicable, spares for several substations can be stored
centrally. [1]
 1. Bus-Bar Protection:
1.1 Basic principles of busbar protection operation
Busbar protection systems protect against the effects of earth faults and short circuits on
substation busbars and related equipment. In the early days of power system development, no
separate protection device was used for busbar protection. Remote end-line protection served
as the main protection for busbar faults. As a result of increased network short-circuit capacity,
dedicated differential relays for busbar protections have been applied to limit the damage
caused by high fault currents. [4]
Busbar protection shall also be able to dynamically include and/or exclude individual bay
currents from differential zones. Therefore, it must contain so-called dynamic zone selection to
adapt the changing topology of the substation for multi-zone applications. [3]
1.2 Dynamic Zone Selection for Complex Station Layouts
Efficient dynamic zone selection, referred also sometimes in the relay literature as busbar
replica, is a key function for complex busbar arrangements where one bay can be dynamically
associated with several differential protection zones. In such installations CT connections
towards the protection zones will vary over time. Therefore, it is important that CT connections
towards the protection zones are properly selected. Many methods have been developed to
provide advanced dynamic zone selection to cope with the increased complexity and flexibility.
[3]

2. Busbar protection techniques

2.1 Differential protection
The basic concept behind any bus differential relay is Kirchhoff’s first law, which states that all
currents connected to a single differential protection zone must be zero. otherwise, internal
fault has occurred. However, in actual applications, bus differential relays can accidentally
operate when there is no fault on the protected bus.
This might occur when high currents from power system faults flow through the protected bus,
saturating the iron cored CTs that indicate the relay the amount of current is passing through
them. Saturated CTs will provide false information, reporting smaller current magnitudes than
there actually are. As a result, the relay will derive differential current that does not exist. To
avoid unnecessary operation, manufacturers use different algorithms to achieve relay stability
during CT saturation.[4]
In other words, as seen by the busbar differential protection, the sum of all currents that flow
into the protection zone (i.e., currents with a positive value) must be equal to the sum of all
currents that flow out of the protection zone (i.e., currents with a negative value) at any instant
in time. Such interpretation enables the quite efficient implementation of a numerical bus
differential relay algorithm because any differential zone can be represented by just three
quantities, as shown in Fig. 1, regardless of the number of connected feeders.[5]
In numerical busbar protection relays, all CT and VT inputs are galvanically separated from each
other. All analog input quantities are sampled with a constant sampling rate and these discreet
values are then transferred to corresponding numerical values (i.e., AD conversion).

Fig. 1 Representation of the bus differential protection zone

2.1.1 High impedance differential

High-impedance protection responds to a voltage across the differential junction points. The
CTs are required to have low secondary leakage impedance (completely distributed windings or
toroidal coils). During external faults, even with severe saturation of some of the CTs, the
voltage does not rise above certain level, as the other CTs will provide a lower impedance path
as compared with the relay input impedance. The principle has been used for more than half a
century because is robust, secure, and fast. However, the technique is not free from
disadvantages. The most important ones are:

 The high-impedance approach requires dedicated CTs (a significant cost associated).

 It cannot be easily applied to re-configurable buses (current switching using bistable
auxiliary relays endangers the CTs, jeopardizes security and adds an extra cost).
 It requires a voltage limiting varistor capable of absorbing significant energy during
busbar faults.
 The scheme requires only a simple voltage level sensor. From this perspective the high-
impedance protection scheme is not a relay. If BF, event recording, oscillography,
communications, and other benefits of microprocessor-based relaying are of interest
extra equipment is needed (such as a Digital Fault Recorder or dedicated BF relays).
2.1.2 Low impedance differential
The low-impedance approach used to be perceived as less secure when compared with high-
impedance protection.
This is no longer true as microprocessor-based relays apply sophisticated algorithms to match
the performance of high-impedance schemes, and at the same time, the cost considerations
make the high-impedance scheme less attractive, this is particularly relevant for large (cost of
extra CTs) and complex (dynamic) bus replica buses that cannot be handled well by high-
impedance schemes. Microprocessor-based low-impedance busbar relays are developed in one
of two architectures:

 Distributed busbar protection uses DAUs 1installed in each bay to sample and pre-
process the signals and provide trip rated output contacts (Fig. 2). It uses a separate
Central Unit (CU) for gathering and processing all the information and fiber-optic
communications between the CU and DAUs to deliver the data. Sampling
synchronization and/or time-stamping mechanisms are required. This solution brings
advantages of reduced wiring at the price of more complex, thus less reliable,
architecture.

Fig. 2 Distributed busbar protection.

 Centralized busbar protection requires wiring all the signals to a central location, where
a single “relay” performs all the functions (Fig. 3). The wiring cannot be reduced, and
the calculations cannot be distributed between plurality of DAUs imposing more
computational demand for the central unit. On the other hand, this architecture is
perceived more reliable and suits better retrofit applications.

Fig. 3 Centralized busbar protection.

1
Data Acquisition Units
Algorithms for low-impedance relays are aimed at:
1) Improving the main differential algorithm by providing better filtering, faster response,
better restraining technique, robust switch-off transient blocking, etc.
2) Incorporating a saturation detection mechanism that would recognize CT saturation on
external faults in a fast and reliable manner.
3) Applying a second protection principle such as phase directional (phase comparison) for
better security. Digital relays for large busbars dominating the market till recently provide
for a trip time in the range of 0.75 to 1.5 power cycles and use either phase comparison
principle or decaying restraining current for increased security on external faults. They were
designed several years ago based on technology that since then was outdated by several
generations of microprocessors.
2.2 Percent Differential
Percent differential relays are a type of protective device that work by creating a restraining
signal in addition to the differential signal. This signal applies a percent (restrained)
characteristic to the system. The choices for the restraining signal include “sum”, “average”,
and “maximum” of the bus currents. Similarly, the characteristic can be single-slope or double-
slope.

 One of the advantages of this low-impedance approach is that it does not require dedicated
CTs and can tolerate substantial CT saturation. This means that comparatively high-speed
tripping can be achieved.
 In addition, many integrated relays perform CT ratio compensation, which eliminates the
need for matching CTs. The use of microprocessor-based relays has made this approach
even more attractive due to advanced algorithms that supplement the percent differential
protection function, making the relay very secure.
 Additionally, the protection of re-configurable busbars is easier as the dynamic bus replica
(bus image) can be accomplished without switching secondary currents.
 An integrated Breaker Fail (BF) function can also provide for optimum tripping strategy
depending on the actual configuration of a busbar.
 Finally, distributed architectures could be used that place Data Acquisition Units (DAU) in
bays and replace current wires by fiber optic communications.
2.3 Interlocking Schemes
An interlocking system can be designed as an essential type of protection for distribution
busbars. Relays for overcurrent protection (OC) are installed at all outgoing feeders and on
incoming circuits. Feeder faults are detected by the feeder OCs. Fig. 4 shows that if none of the
feeder OC relays block the incoming circuit's OC, it will trigger the busbar. A short coordination
timer is required to avoid race conditions. It is possible to combine all necessary OC functions
into one or a few relays by employing microprocessor-based multi-function relays. This
provides not just a reduction in wiring but also a reduction in coordination time and a speed-up
in the operation of the scheme. Modern relays provide for fast pee
Fig. 4 illustration of the interlocking scheme.

r-to-peer communications using protocols such as the UCA2 with the GOOSE3 mechanism. This
allows for eliminating wiring and sending the blocking signals over digital communications. The
scheme, although easy to apply and economical, is limited to the simple distribution of busbars.
[2]

2.3.1 UCA and GOOSE

The UCA International Users Group is a not-for-profit corporation consisting of utility user and
supplier companies that is dedicated to promoting the integration and interoperability of
electric/gas/water utility systems through the use of international standards-based technology.
It is a User Group for IEC 61850, the Common Information Model – Generic Interface Definition
(CIM/GID as per IEC 61970/61968).[6]
Substation Configuration Language (SCL) This is a common language which can be used to
exchange information, independent of manufacturer. This includes representation of modeled
data and communication services specified by IEC 61850 standard documents. [6]
A GOOSE message is used to exchange data between IED’s4. GOOSE is a mechanism for fast
transmission of substation events, such as commands and alarms. A single GOOSE message sent
by an IED can be received and used by several receivers. One device (sender) publishes
information, while only the subscriber devices are receiving it. The reaction of each receiver
depends on its configuration and functionality.[6]

References
[1] Busbar protection - busbar differential: best practice and recommendations [European Network of
Transmission System Operators for Electricity]

[2] Kasztenny, B., Sevov, L., & Brunello, G. (2018, March 21). DIGITAL LOW-IMPEDANCE BUS DIFFERENTIAL
PROTECTION-REVIEW OF PRINCIPLES AND APPROACHES.

[3] Z. Gajic, “Modern Design Principles for Numerical Busbar Differential Protection”

2
The Utility Communications Architecture
3
Generic Object-Oriented Substation Event
4
Intelligent Electronic Devices
[4] CIGRE No 431 Technical Brochure (2010). Modern Techniques for Protecting Busbars in HV Networks.

[5] Z. Gajic, “Design principles of high-performance numerical busbar differential protection”, Relay Protection
and Substation Automation of Modern Power Systems, Cheboksary-Russia, September 9-13, 2007.

[6] IEC 61850 Power Industry Communications Standard; “https://www.automation.com/en-us/articles/2003-

1/iec-61850-power-industry-communications-standard”