10

TOP
QUESTIONS
from the Tech Talk
Fundamentals of Bus
Differential Protection
In our Tech Talk, Fundamentals of Bus Differential Protection, we reviewed
basic principles – from typical bus arrangements to protection techniques
including methods to manage CT saturation conditions – and how this critical
protection can minimize equipment damage, improving site safety. We also
explored the evolution of common bus arrangements and components,
protection techniques to ensure system stability, and advanced algorithms to
handle CT saturation.
Need a recap of the webinar Q&A? Scan the top questions and answers from
the session …

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 Top Questions from the Tech Talk

Fundamentals of Bus Differential Protection

Question Answer

What is the best type of relay to implement bus GE offers centralized and decentralized bus protection schemes in the B30/B90 UR and the P74x MiCOM families of relays.
differential protection?
Here are a few of GE’s bus protection relays:
• Low impedance bus protection: Multilin B90
• Low impedance busbar protection: Multilin B30
• MiCOM Agile P74x Series

What are the different bus protection schemes? There are several schemes that are available including zone interlocking, overcurrent differential, high impedance, and low impedance. They are
described in more detail below.

What is a zone Interlocking bus differential This is a simple scheme that uses overcurrent relays placed on the incoming circuits and at all outgoing feeders. The feeder overcurrent relays
protection scheme? are set to sense faults on the feeders and send a blocking signal to the incoming circuit overcurrent relay. The overcurrent relay on the incoming
circuit is set to trip the busbar unless blocked by any of the feeder overcurrent relays. A short coordination timer is typically required. When
using microprocessor based multi-functional relays, it is possible to integrate all the required overcurrent functions in one or a few relays. This
not only reduces the wiring but also shortens the coordination time and speeds up the operation of the scheme. Modern relays provide for fast
peer-to-peer communications using IEC 61850 GOOSE messaging to replace all wiring typically needed for the blocking signals. Although easy to
apply and economical, the scheme is limited to simple busbar configurations.

What is an overcurrent bus differential protection Typically, a differential current is created externally to an overcurrent relay by summation of all the CTs from each circuit. Preferably the CTs
scheme? should be of the same ratio. If they are not the same, a matching CT (or several CTs) is/are needed. This in turn may increase the burden of the
main CTs and most likely push the CT(s) into saturation much sooner. To deal with the CT saturation problem, typically definite time or inverse-
time overcurrent characteristics are needed, slowing down the scheme. Although economical and applicable to distribution busbars, this
solution does not match the performance of more advanced schemes and should not be applied to transmission-level busbars. The principle,
however, is used as a protection function in an integrated microprocessor-based busbar relay. If this is the case, such unrestrained differential
elements should be set above the maximum spurious differential current and may speed up operation on heavy internal faults as compared to a
percent (restrained) bus differential element.

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 Top Questions from the Tech Talk

Fundamentals of Bus Differential Protection

Question Answer

What is a high impedance bus differential In this scheme, CTs are paralleled together into a sensing relay or circuit, called a high impedance relay. Under normal conditions, currents
protection scheme? going into and out of the bus will be equal and no current flows through the high impedance relay’s coil. When an internal bus fault occurs,
current is forced to flow through the high impedance relay’s coil, creating a voltage drop and allowing the relay to operate. A stabilizing resistor
(typically approximately 2,000 Ohms) is usually installed to avoid (external faults) or to increase differential (internal fault) current into the
high impedance relay circuit. It is a simple technique which requires that all CTs used in the protection scheme have relatively high knee-point
voltage, similar magnetizing characteristics, and the same ratio.

What is a low impedance bus differential The low impedance bus relay differential vectorially sums the currents from all CT inputs to detect the difference or differential current resulting
protection scheme? from an internal fault. This is done internally in the relay, so paralleling of CTs is not required. Unlike high impedance, this allows the use of CTs
with different ratios and magnetizing characteristics. In the B30/B90 and P74x relays, each CT is monitored individually, allowing the CT to be
used for multiple protection elements including backup overcurrent and breaker failure. This also allows easier troubleshooting of CT issues.

What is a check zone and why is it needed? A check zone is an additional security measure to ensure there is an internal fault in the substation or bus arrangement, usually employed with
dynamic buses. It is usually independent of isolation status and uses independent CTs (if available). It gives a permissive signal to the main bus
differential zone to operate.

Can a bus protection relay be used when there are For a high impedance bus protection scheme, the primary and secondary rating of all CTs should be the same. Low impedance bus protection
different CT ratios (either primary rating or secondary schemes do not require all CTs to have the same primary or secondary rating. The low impedance relay accomplishes this by establishing a
rating)? common per-unit base and performs the differential calculations in per-unit. Both the UR and MiCOM relays allow combinations of 5A or 1A
secondary rated CTs and do not need to be specified ahead of time or selected in the order code.

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 Top Questions from the Tech Talk

Fundamentals of Bus Differential Protection

Question Answer

For dynamic bus configuration, what happens if the It depends on the protection philosophy; our recommendation is not to block any critical protection function, especially if there is no backup.
disconnect state is unknown or erroneous? Should the Another option is to default to protect the bus as a whole. However, a fault on one bus will also trip multiple buses.
bus differential be blocked?

Can bus relays detect an open or grounded CT condition The GE UR and MiCOM family of bus differential relays include a CT Trouble element which is essentially a low set or sensitive bus differential
and alarm? zone. This element will pick up on CT issues since a low differential current will be established if a CT is opened or grounded. This function can be
set to trigger an alarm.

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