Application manual

ProtectIT Transformer protection terminal

RET 521*2.5

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ProtectIT Transformer protection terminal

RET 521*2.5

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DocID: 1MRK 504 037-UEN
Issue date: December 2003
Revision: -

Copyright 2003 ABB. All rights reserved.

COPYRIGHT
WE RESERVE ALL RIGHTS TO THIS DOCUMENT, EVEN IN THE EVENT THAT A PATENT IS ISSUED AND A DIFFERENT
COMMERCIAL PROPRIETARY RIGHT IS REGISTERED. IMPROPER USE, IN PARTICULAR REPRODUCTION AND DISSEMINATION TO THIRD PARTIES, IS NOT PERMITTED.
THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN CAREFULLY CHECKED. HOWEVER, IN CASE ANY ERRORS ARE DETECTED, THE
READER IS KINDLY REQUESTED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AT THE ADDRESS BELOW.
THE DATA CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR THE CONCEPT OR PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AND
IS NOT TO BE DEEMED TO BE A STATEMENT OF GUARANTEED PROPERTIES. IN THE INTERESTS OF OUR CUSTOMERS, WE CONSTANTLY SEEK TO ENSURE THAT OUR PRODUCTS ARE DEVELOPED TO THE LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL STANDARDS. AS A RESULT, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE MAY BE SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HW/SW
PRODUCT AND THIS INFORMATION PRODUCT.

IndustrialIT
Industrial IT enabled products from ABB are the building blocks for greater productivity, featuring all the
tools necessary for lifecycle product support in consistent electronic form.

Manufacturer:
ABB AutomationTechnology Products AB
Substation Automation
SE-721 59 Vsters
Sweden
Telephone: +46 (0) 21 34 20 00
Facsimile: +46 (0) 21 14 69 18
www.abb.com/substationautomation

Contents

Chapter
Application

Requirements

201

Configuration and settings

209

References

229

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Customer feedback report

235

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1MRK 504 037-UEN

Page

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1MRK 504 037-UEN

Application

Chapter

Page

Application of RET 521 ......................................................................................... 11

Introduction ........................................................................................................ 11
2-winding applications................................................................................... 12
3-winding applications................................................................................... 13
Service value reading......................................................................................... 14
Terminal identification ........................................................................................ 15
General ......................................................................................................... 15
Terminal identification settings...................................................................... 15
Setting the terminal clock .............................................................................. 16
Displaying terminal identification numbers.................................................... 16
I/O module identification ............................................................................... 17
User configurable module identification ........................................................ 17
Time synchronization ......................................................................................... 18
General ......................................................................................................... 18
Synchronization via the serial ports .............................................................. 18
Synchronization from SCS....................................................................... 18
Synchronization from SMS ...................................................................... 18
Synchronization via a binary input ................................................................ 18
Activation of setting groups ................................................................................ 19
General ......................................................................................................... 19
Restricted settings.............................................................................................. 19
General ......................................................................................................... 19
Installation and setting instructions ............................................................... 20
Application of functions ....................................................................................... 22
Tripping Logic..................................................................................................... 22
General ......................................................................................................... 22
Functionality .................................................................................................. 22
Setting ........................................................................................................... 23
Terminal HW structure (THWS) ......................................................................... 25
General ......................................................................................................... 25
Functionality .................................................................................................. 25
Configuration................................................................................................. 26
Setting ........................................................................................................... 27

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Application

Activation of setting groups (GRP) .....................................................................28

General .........................................................................................................28
Functionality ..................................................................................................29
Activation by using binary inputs..............................................................29
Using the HMI .......................................................................................... 29
Using SMS/SCS.......................................................................................29
Configurable logic (CL) ......................................................................................30
General .........................................................................................................30
Function ........................................................................................................30
Inverter (INV) ...........................................................................................30
OR............................................................................................................30
AND .........................................................................................................31
Timer ........................................................................................................32
Pulse ........................................................................................................34
Set-Reset with/without memory (SM) ......................................................35
MOVE ......................................................................................................36
Setting ...........................................................................................................37
Configuration................................................................................................. 37
Command function (CM/CD) ..............................................................................38
General .........................................................................................................38
Single Command function ............................................................................. 38
Multiple Command function...........................................................................40
Communication between terminals ...............................................................40
Commands from built-in HMI ........................................................................40
Setting ...........................................................................................................41
Frequency measurement function (FRME) ........................................................42
General .........................................................................................................42
Settings .........................................................................................................43
Transformer differential protection (DIFP).......................................................... 43
General .........................................................................................................43
Magnetizing inrush current............................................................................45
Inrush restraint methods ..........................................................................46
Overexcitation magnetizing current...............................................................47
Overexcitation restraint method ...............................................................47
Cross-Blocking between Phases ..................................................................48
Normal service ..............................................................................................48
Tap changer position adaption.................................................................49
External faults ...............................................................................................49
Restrained differential protection .............................................................49
Elimination of zero sequence currents .....................................................51
Internal faults................................................................................................. 53
Three-phase time overcurrent protection (TOC) ................................................54

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Application

General ......................................................................................................... 54
Short-circuit protection .................................................................................. 55
Settings ......................................................................................................... 58
Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF) ................................................ 60
General ......................................................................................................... 60
Measured Quantities ..................................................................................... 61
Current and Voltage Base Values for GF Function....................................... 66
Non-directional Overcurrent Feature ............................................................ 68
Current Restraint Feature ............................................................................. 75
Voltage Control/Restraint Feature ................................................................ 77
Directional Feature........................................................................................ 78
Over/Under Voltage Feature ......................................................................... 82
Impedance Based Application Possibilities with GF Function....................... 82
Non-directional underimpedance protection with circular characteristic .. 82
Underimpedance protection with mho characteristic ............................... 85
Application Possibilities with GF Function and
Additional Configuration in CAP 531 Tool..................................................... 88
Restricted earth fault protection (REF)............................................................... 88
General ......................................................................................................... 88
Magnitude of the earth fault current .............................................................. 89
Earth Fault current distribution ...................................................................... 90
Measured Quantities ..................................................................................... 92
Settings ......................................................................................................... 93
Earth fault time current protection (TEF)............................................................ 93
General ......................................................................................................... 93
Direction and magnitude of the fault current ................................................. 94
Earth-faults on a phase conductor ........................................................... 94
Earth-faults in transformer windings ........................................................ 97
Faults in delta connected windings ..................................................... 97
Faults in Y-connected windings (neutral not earthed) ........................ 98
Faults in windings (neutral earthed).................................................... 98
Measured quantities...................................................................................... 98
Settings ......................................................................................................... 99
Delta connected windings ........................................................................ 99
Y-connected windings.............................................................................. 99
Y0-connected windings............................................................................ 99
External feeders..................................................................................... 100
Single/three-phase time overvoltage protection (TOV) .................................... 101
General ....................................................................................................... 101
Phase overvoltage ................................................................................. 101
Residual voltage .................................................................................... 101
Magnitude of the residual fault voltage ............................................. 102
Measured quantities.................................................................................... 103
Settings ....................................................................................................... 103
1MRK 504 037-UEN

Application

Settings for phase overvoltage protection..............................................103

Settings for neutral voltage protection ...................................................104
Setting example: ....................................................................................104
Phase overvoltage protection ...........................................................104
Using TOV as a neutral voltage protection .......................................105
Single/three-phase time undervoltage protection (TUV) ..................................106
General .......................................................................................................106
Measured quantities....................................................................................107
Settings .......................................................................................................107
Setting example .....................................................................................107
Thermal overload protection (THOL) ...............................................................108
General .......................................................................................................108
Measured quantities....................................................................................110
Fault conditions ...........................................................................................110
Settings .......................................................................................................110
Setting example .....................................................................................111
Overexcitation protection (OVEX) ....................................................................113
General .......................................................................................................113
Measured quantities....................................................................................114
Fault conditions ...........................................................................................115
Settings .......................................................................................................115
Setting example .....................................................................................115
Frequency Protection Function (FRF) .............................................................. 117
General .......................................................................................................117
Measured Quantities .................................................................................. 119
Settings and configuration........................................................................... 119
Control functions ................................................................................................121
Voltage control for power transformers (VCTR) ...............................................121
General .......................................................................................................121
Control mode .........................................................................................122
Manual control.............................................................................................122
Selection of control location ...................................................................123
Automatic control ........................................................................................ 125
Automatic control for a single transformer .............................................125
Measured quantities..........................................................................125
Regulation principle ..........................................................................127
Time characteristic............................................................................128
Line voltage drop ..............................................................................130
Load voltage adjustment...................................................................132
Automatic control for parallel transformers ............................................133
Parallel control with the Master-Follower Method .............................133

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Application

Parallel control with the Reverse Reactance Method ....................... 134

Parallel control with the circulating current method .......................... 134
Homing ............................................................................................. 140
Substation topology logic ....................................................................... 141
Line voltage drop compensation for parallel control .............................. 142
Communication between terminals........................................................ 142
Exchanged information .......................................................................... 144
Manual control of a parallel group (adapt mode) ........................................ 145
Blocking conditions ..................................................................................... 145
Total block ............................................................................................ 146
Partial block.......................................................................................... 147
Automatic mode block ........................................................................ 147
Automatic blocking in parallel mode ...................................................... 150
Mutual blocking ...................................................................................... 150
Autoblock, total block and mutual block disconnection possibilities ...... 151
Tap changer monitoring .............................................................................. 152
Tap changer position detection.............................................................. 152
Tap changer extreme positions.............................................................. 152
Monitoring of tap changer operation ...................................................... 152
Hunting detection ................................................................................... 153
Wearing of the tap changer contacts ..................................................... 153
Power Monitoring ........................................................................................ 155
Settings ....................................................................................................... 157
Monitoring............................................................................................................ 159
LED indication function (HL, HLED)................................................................. 159
Application .................................................................................................. 159
Functionality ................................................................................................ 159
Calculations ................................................................................................ 169
Event function (EV) .......................................................................................... 169
General ....................................................................................................... 169
Functionality ................................................................................................ 170
Single and double indications ..................................................................... 170
Communication between terminals ............................................................. 170
Setting ......................................................................................................... 171
Disturbance Report (DRP) ............................................................................... 172
General ....................................................................................................... 172
Functionality ................................................................................................ 172
General disturbance information............................................................ 173
Disturbance overview ....................................................................... 173
Disturbance data............................................................................... 173
Indications.............................................................................................. 173
Event recorder ....................................................................................... 173
Trip values ............................................................................................. 173

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Application

Disturbance recorder .............................................................................173

Settings .......................................................................................................173
Signals ...................................................................................................173
Binary signals....................................................................................173
Analogue signals...............................................................................174
Triggers ..................................................................................................174
Manual trig ........................................................................................ 174
Binary signal trig ...............................................................................174
Analogue signal trig ..........................................................................174
Recording times .....................................................................................174
Monitoring of DC analog measurements..........................................................175
Application...................................................................................................175
Functionality ................................................................................................176
Design .........................................................................................................184
Calculations.................................................................................................185
Data communication ...........................................................................................189
Remote communication (RC) ........................................................................... 189
General .......................................................................................................189
Functionality ................................................................................................190
SPA operation........................................................................................ 190
LON operation........................................................................................ 190
Settings .......................................................................................................191
Enhancing functionality......................................................................................192
Tap position measuring ....................................................................................192
Tap changer position measuring via mA card.............................................192
Necessary MIM settings..............................................................................195
Direct contact position indication.................................................................195
Converting binary data ................................................................................195
Tap position reading for voltage control ......................................................196
Tap position reading for differential protection ............................................196
Practical example........................................................................................ 197
Settings for MIM card .............................................................................198
Settings for voltage control function .......................................................199
Settings for differential function.............................................................. 199

10

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Introduction
Application of RET 521

Application of RET 521

Introduction
The numerical transformer terminal RET 521 is designed for fast and selective protection and control of two- and three-winding transformers, auto-transformers,
generator-transformer blocks and shunt reactors.
The RET 521 has low requirements on the main Current Transformers and no interposing CTs are necessary.
Flexibility is provided to cover for different applications in form of transformer size,
vector groups, system neutral earthing and extension of protection functions according
to the users preference. The selection of functionality from the modular hardware and
software is made according to the requirements for selectivity and reliability and following the users preference. Big and important transformers such as generator-transformer blocks or large network transformers can use two RET 521 and include the
modular protection software selectively to obtain redundancy.
Smaller transformers and shunt reactors can include the modular software in one
RET 521 and can also use the programmable logic to provide trip or indication for
external protections (e.g. Buchholz). Thus providing a very compact design for protection and control.
The RET 521 optionally includes a voltage control function for transformers with onload tap changers, thus providing a very versatile modular unit for protection and control of the major number of power transformers.
The RET 521 includes setting adaptation to power transformer rating and instrument
transformer ratios to allow protection settings in per unit (p.u.) or percent (%), of the
power transformer rating, thus facilitating the protection settings to an optimum.
The RET 521 is supplied for 2-winding applications and 3-winding applications as
indicated below in paragraph 1.1 and 1.2.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

11

Introduction
Application of RET 521

1.1

12

2-winding applications

Fig. 1

2-winding power transformer

Fig. 2

2-winding power transformer with unconnected delta tertiary winding

Fig. 3

2-winding power transformer with 2 circuit breakers on one side

Fig. 4

2-winding power transformer with 2 circuit breakers and 2 CT-sets on both

sides

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Introduction
Application of RET 521

1.2

1MRK 504 037-UEN

3-winding applications

Fig. 5

3-winding power transformer with all three windings connected

Fig. 6

3-winding power transformer with 2 circuit breakers and 2 CT-sets on one

side

Fig. 7

3-winding power transformer with 2 circuit breakers and 2 CT-sets on 2 out

of 3 sides

13

Service value reading

Application of RET 521

Service value reading

The Service report menu lets you display information about the:
measured values from protection functions.
operation conditions for protected objects in the power system.
terminal.
The amount of available information depends on the number of basic and optional
functions in a RET 521 terminal.
A certain subgroup is displayed on the local HMI if the corresponding function is
installed in the terminal. These subgroups describe possible types of information:
Analog Input Module (AIM)
Binary Outputs
Differential currents
DisturbReport
EarthFault
Frequency Measurement
MIM
OverCurrent
General Function
Overexcitation
OverVoltage
Thermal Overload
UnderVoltage
Voltage Control
Frequency Protection
Active Group
Internal time

14

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Terminal identification
Application of RET 521

Terminal identification

3.1

General
You can store the identification names and numbers of the station, the transformer, and
the terminal itself in the terminal. This information can be read on the built-in HMI or
when communicating with the terminal through a PC using SMS or SCS.
The internal clock is used for time tagging of:
Internal events
Disturbance reports
Events in a disturbance report
Events transmitted to the SCS substation control system
This implies that the internal clock is very important. The clock can be synchronized,
(see the section Time synchronization), to achieve higher time tagging correlation
accuracy between terminals. Without synchronization, the internal clock is only useful
for comparisons among events within the terminal.
The ordering number, serial number, software version and identity number of I/O modules are displayed on the local HMI. For each hardware module and for the frame there
is the possibility to store a user defined note.

3.2

Terminal identification settings

The user configurable identification settings can be set from the HMI menu branch:
Config
Ident
The following parameters can be set
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1MRK 504 037-UEN

Parameter

Setting range

Description

Unit No

(0 - 99999)

Unit No.

Unit Name

16 character string

Unit Name

Object No

(0 - 99999)

Object No.

Object Name

16 character string

Object Name

Station No

(0 - 99999)

Station No.

Station Name

16 character string

Station Name

15

Terminal identification
Application of RET 521

3.3

Setting the terminal clock

The internal clock are set from the HMI menu branch:
Set
Time
Time is set by modifying the following parameters:
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Parameter

Setting range

Description

Date

Date in the format

YYYY-MM-DD

Time

Time in the format

HH:MM:SS

The current internal time is read from:

ServRep
Time
Note: When time synchronization is enabled, time setting is not possible.

3.4

Displaying terminal identification numbers

The terminal serial number and software version and more can be displayed from the
HMI menu branch:
TermSt
IdentNo
Observe
General
The following terminal information are displayed:
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16

Parameter

Description

OrderingNo

RET 521 terminal ordering number

TermSerialNo

RET 521 terminal serial number

SW-version

SW version for main program

CPU-module

CPU-module

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Terminal identification
Application of RET 521

3.5

I/O module identification

The identity of each I/O module can be displayed on the HMI by following the menu
branch:
TermStat
IdentNo
Observe
I/O-mod
The present I/O module is identified by its parameter. However, these parameters are
configuration dependent. In the following table the mnemonic <iomodulename>
should be replaced by whatever type of module present, e.g. AIM1, BIM1, BOM2 etc.
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3.6

Parameter

Description

PCIP3-<iomodulename>

Identity number of module in HW SlotNo 3

PCIP7-<iomodulename>

Identity number of module in HW SlotNo 7

CANP9-<iomodulename>

Identity number of module in HW SlotNo 9

CANP10-<iomodulename>

Identity number of module in HW SlotNo 10

CANP11-<iomodulename>

Identity number of module in HW SlotNo 11

CANP12-<iomodulename>

Identity number of module in HW SlotNo 12

User configurable module identification

The identity of some modules can be user defined using the HMI menu branch:
TermStat
IdentNo
Noted
The following parameters can be edited to enter a custom text for description of each
module.
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1MRK 504 037-UEN

Parameter

Description

Trafo-module

Trafo-module

ADC-module

ADC-module

HMI-module

HMI-module

Frame

Mechanical frame

Power-module

Power-module

LON-module

LON-module

17

Time synchronization
Application of RET 521

Time synchronization

4.1

General
The terminal has a built-in real time clock and calender. The calendar starts with 1970
and lasts till 2038 and takes leap years into consideration. As with all real time clocks,
it has a certain inaccuracy. Thus, in order to have the correct time for time tagging of
events etc., it has to be synchronized. The terminal can accept synchronization via
either of the serial ports or via one of the binary inputs. Synchronization via the serial
ports will be done with absolute or relative time. Synchronization via a binary input is
done with minute pulses.

4.2

Synchronization via the serial ports

4.2.1

Synchronization from SCS

The SCS will broadcast the synchronization signals on the LON bus with absolute
time every minute and with relative time every second. In order to get the correct absolute time, the PC for SCS must be synchronized from a world wide source, e.g. from a
satellite or radio clock.
4.2.2

Synchronization from SMS

The SMS will broadcast the synchronization signals on the SPA bus with absolute time
every minute and with relative time every second. In this case a data communicator,
e.g. SRIO 500 or SRIO 1000 is required. For proper synchronization the data communicator should be synchronized from a world wide source, e. g. a satellite or radio
clock.

4.3

Synchronization via a binary input

The terminal accepts minute pulses to a binary input. These minute pulses can be generated from e.g. station master clock. In case the station master clock is not synchronized from a world wide source, time will be a relative time valid for the substation.
In case the objective of synchronization is to achieve a relative time within the substation and no station master clock with minute pulse output is available, a simple minute
pulse generator can be designed and used for synchronization of the terminals.The
minute pulse generator can be created using the logical elements and timers available
in the terminal.

18

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Activation of setting groups

Application of RET 521

Activation of setting groups

5.1

General
Different conditions in networks of different voltage levels require high adaptability of
the used protection and control units to best provide for dependability, security and
selectivity requirements. Protection units operate with higher degree of availability,
especially, if the setting values of their parameters are continuously optimized regarding the conditions in power system.
Therefore, the terminal has been equipped with four independent groups (sets) of setting parameters. These groups can be activated at any time in different ways:

Locally, by means of the local human-machine interface (HMI).

Locally, by means of a PC, using the Parameter Setting Tool (PST) in CAP 540 or
using the Station Monitoring System (SMS).
Remotely, by means of the Parameter Setting Tool (PST) in the Station Control
System (SCS).
Remotely, by means of the Station Monitoring System (SMS).
Locally, by means of up to four programmable binary inputs.

Restricted settings
Do not set this function in operation before carefully reading these instructions and
configuring the HMI--BLOCKSET functional input to the selected binary input.
The HMI--BLOCKSET functional input is configurable only to one of the available
binary inputs. For this reason, the terminal is delivered with the default configuration,
where the HMI--BLOCKSET signal is connected to NONE-NOSIGNAL.

6.1

General
Setting values of different control and protection parameters and the configuration of
different function and logic circuits within the terminal are important not only for reliable and secure operation of the terminal, but also for the entire power system.
Non-permitted and non-coordinated changes, done by unauthorized personnel, can
cause severe damages in primary and secondary power circuits. They can influence the
security of people working in close vicinity of the primary and secondary apparatuses
and those using electric energy in everyday life.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

19

Restricted settings
Application of RET 521

For this reason, the terminal include a special feature that, when activated, blocks the
possibility to change the settings and/or configuration of the terminal from the HMI
module.
All other functions of the local human-machine communication remain intact. This
means that an operator can read all disturbance reports and other information and setting values for different protection parameters and the configuration of different logic
circuits.
This function permits remote resetting and reconfiguration through the serial communication ports, when the setting restrictions permit remote changes of settings. The setting restrictions can be set only on the local HMI.

6.2

Installation and setting instructions

Fig. 8 presents the combined connection and logic diagram for the function.
Configuration of the HMI--BLOCKSET functional input signal under the submenu is
possible only to one of the built-in binary inputs:
Configuration
BuiltInHMI
Carefully select a binary input not used by or reserved for any other functions or logic
circuits, before activating the function.

SETTING RESTRICTION


HMI--BLOCKSET
SWITCH
WITH
KEY

Fig. 8

20

SettingRestrict=
Block

&
RESTRICT
SETTINGS

Connection and logic diagram for the BLOCKSET function.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Restricted settings
Application of RET 521

Set the setting restriction under the submenu:

Configuration
BuiltInHMI
SettingRestrict
to SettingRestrict = Block.
The selected binary input must be connected to the control DC voltage via a normally
closed contact of a control switch, which can be locked by a key. Only when the normally closed contact is open, the setting and configuration of the terminal via the HMI
is possible.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

21

Tripping Logic
Application of functions

Application of functions

Tripping Logic

7.1

General
Tripping logic blocks are provided where up to sixteen input signals can be gated
together in an or-gate and then connected to e.g. a trip output relay. Furthermore up to
twelve individual trip logic blocks exist so that twelve individual output relays can be
managed. Each block has been provided with possibility to set a minimum pulse length
of the trip signal.
When the trip signal is routed via the trip block the LED on the HMI shows that a
TRIP has occurred with a steady red light and the text TRIP is shown in the highest
menu window.

7.2

Functionality
The function block TRIP (TR) has got eighteen inputs and one output.
Sixteen inputs which are designated TRnn-INPUT01 to TRnn-INPUT16, are connected to an or-gate. The two remaining inputs are designated TRnn-BLOCK and
TRnn-SETPULSE.
The output designated TRnn-OUT is set to 1 when any of the sixteen inputs TRnnINPUTxx is set to 1 and that state is maintained as long as any input is active or as
long as the setting on input TRnn-SETPULSE states. This make sure that a minimum
duration of the output trip pulse can be achieved for a short activation of an input signal. The settable time can be set to zero seconds, if no extra delay at reset of an input
signal is allowed.
A blocking input TRnn-BLOCK is available which, when set to 1, will inhibit an eventual trip output. This blocking input does not reset the time pulse circuit if this did not
time out. Therefore to securely block the output, the TRnn-BLOCK must be activated
at least as long as the time setting on TRnn-SETPULSE and also at least as long as any
input signal is active.
When the output signal TRnn-OUT is set to 1 on any of the twelve TRIP function
blocks the right LED on the HMI is activated with a red steady light and the text TRIP
is shown in the highest menu window. To reset this LED do the following sequence on
the HMI.
Disturbances
Clear LEDs

22

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Tripping Logic
Application of functions

If a lockout is required for certain trip signals this can easily be achieved by feeding
back the output signal to an input. This signal of course has to be routed via some gate
which can a provide a reset of the feedback signal.

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7.3

Setting
The range of the setting is 0.00 - 60.00 s with the resolution 0.01 s and with the default
setting 0.15 s. The setting can only be done with the help of the CAP tool.

INPUT
INPUT
OUT
BLOCK
SETPULSE = 0.4s

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

1.1
en01000244.vsd

Fig. 9

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Example timing diagram

23

Tripping Logic
Application of functions

INPUT
INPUT
OUT
BLOCK
SETPULSE = 0.4s

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

1.1
en01000245.vsd

Fig. 10

24

Example timing diagram

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Terminal HW structure (THWS)

Application of functions

Terminal HW structure (THWS)

8.1

General
This section describes the terminal hardware structure of the I/O system that is used to
add, remove, or move I/O modules in the RET 521 transformer terminal.
Two different I/O-buses are used in the terminal. These are the PCI and the CAN busses.
AIM, Analog Input Modules with 10 analogue input channels will be connected to the
PCI bus, which can accommodate a maximum number of two slots, intended for the
AIM. The maximum number of AIM modules in a RET 521 is two.
Four different types of I/O modules can be connected to the CAN bus, which can
accommodate a maximum number of four slots, intended for I/O and analog input
modules.
Available I/O modules that can be connected to the CAN bus:
BIM, Binary Input Module with 16 binary input channels
BOM, Binary Output Module with 24 binary output channels
IOM, Input/Output Module with 8 binary input and 12 binary output channels
MIM, mA Input Module with 6 analogue input channels
To configure, connect the function blocks that represent each I/O module (AIM, BIM,
BOM, IOM, and MIM) to a function block for the I/O hardware positions (THWS).

8.2

Functionality
Each module can be placed in any I/O slot for the corresponding bus in the product. To
add, remove, or move modules in the product, reconfigure the product by using the
CAP 531 configuration tool. CAP 531 is included in the CAP 540 configuration and
setting tool.
Users refer to the I/O slots by the physical slot numbers, which also appear in the product drawings. Available slots on the PCI bus for AIM are P3 and P7. The slots for the
CAN bus are P9, P10, P11, and P12.
If the user-entered configuration does not match the actual configuration in the terminal, an error output is activated on the function block, which can be treated as an event
or alarm, the green LED starts to flash and a fail message is displayed on the HMI:

1MRK 504 037-UEN

25

Terminal HW structure (THWS)

Application of functions

Fail
RET 521 ver 2.5
C=Clear LEDs
E=Enter menu

Fig. 11

Fail display

The AIM module is represented by a function block AIMx (x = 1, 2). Only two AIMx
blocks can be used together in RET 521*2.5. The AIMx function block is connected to
the THWS block to define the slot position of the AIM module. The AIM modules can
be of three different types (9I+1U, 8I+2U or 7I+3U). The used type is defined by the
function block AIMx, which is chosen with a user-configurable function selector. As
for the BIM, BOM and IOM, the same communication addresses will be used for all
three types of AIM modules.
The BIM, BOM, and IOM share the same communication addresses for parameters
and configuration. So they must share I/O module 01-04 (IOxx), which are the same
function block. A user-configurable function selector per I/O module function block
determines which type of module it is.
All names for inputs and outputs are inputs on the function blocks and are set by using
the CAP 53l configuration tool.
I/O modules that are not configured are not supervised. When an I/O module is configured as a logical I/O module (AIM, BIM, BOM, IOM, or MIM), the logical I/O modules are supervised.
Each logical I/O module has an error flag that is set if anything is wrong with any signal or the whole module. The error flag is also set when there is no physical I/O module of the right type present in the connected slot. When the error flag is set, the fail
message (see Fig. 11) is displayed accompanied by the flashing green LED, and the
erroneous module is pointed out.

8.3

Configuration
The configuration is made in two steps by using the CAP 531 configuration tool:
1 Set the function selector for the logical I/O module to the type of I/O module
that is used, AIM, BIM, BOM, IOM or MIM.
2 Connect the POSITION input of the logical I/O module to a slot output of the
THWS function block.

26

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Terminal HW structure (THWS)

Application of functions

THWS

AIM1

HARDWARE
PCIP1
PCIP3
PCIP5
PCIP6
PCIP7
CANP9
CANP10
CANP11
CANP12

AIM
POSITION

ERROR
CI01+
CI01.
.
.
VI10+
VI10-

IO01
I/O-module
POSITION

ERROR
BI1
.
.
.
BI16

Fig. 12

8.4

Example of an I/O-configuration in the CAP 531 configuration tool for

RET 521 with one AIM and one BIM

Setting
You can set the input names for analogue input, binary input and output modules
(AIM, BIM, BOM, IOM or MIM) from the CAP 531 configuration tool.
The binary input module (BIM) has a suppression function that blocks oscillating
inputs on the module. You can set the oscillation blocking/release frequencies from the
PST or from the built-in HMI.
Refer to separate documents to set parameters from the PST or from the built-in HMI
for the analog input modules (AIM) and the mA input modules (MIM).

1MRK 504 037-UEN

27

Activation of setting groups (GRP)

Application of functions

Activation of setting groups (GRP)

9.1

General
Different conditions in networks of different voltage levels require high adaptability of
the used protection and control units to best provide for dependability, security and
selectivity requirements. Protection units operate with higher degree of availability,
especially, if the setting values of their parameters are continuously optimized regarding the conditions in power system.
The operational departments can plan different operating conditions for the primary
equipment. The protection engineer can prepare in advance for the necessary optimized and pre-tested settings for different protection functions. Four different groups
of setting parameters are available in the terminal. Any of them can be activated automatically through up to four different programmable binary inputs by means of external control signals.

The terminal have four independent groups (sets) of setting parameters. These groups
can be activated at any time in different ways:
Locally, by means of the local human-machine interface (HMI).
Locally, by means of a PC, using the Parameter Setting Tool (PST) in CAP 540 or
using the Station Monitoring System (SMS).
Remotely, by means of the Parameter Setting Tool (PST) in Station Control System (SCS).
Remotely, by means of the Station Monitoring System (SMS).
Locally, by means of up to four programmable binary inputs.

28

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Activation of setting groups (GRP)

Application of functions

9.2

Functionality

9.2.1

Activation by using binary inputs

The number of the signals configured must correspond to the number of the setting
groups to be controlled by the external signals (contacts).
The voltage need not be permanently present on one binary input. Any pulse, which
must be longer than 400 ms, activates the corresponding setting group. The group
remains active until some other command, issued either through one of the binary
inputs or by other means (local HMI, PST, SMS, SCS), activates another group.
One or more inputs can be activated at the same time. If a function is represented in
two different groups and both the groups are active, the group with lowest identity has
priority. This means that group 2 has higher priority than group 4 etc.

ACTIVATE GROUP 4
ACTIVATE GROUP 3
ACTIVATE GROUP 2
ACTIVATE GROUP 1

+RL2

IOx-Bly1

GRP--ACTGRP1

IOx-Bly2

GRP--ACTGRP2

IOx-Bly3

GRP--ACTGRP3

IOx-Bly4

GRP--ACTGRP4

Figure 13: Connection of the function to external circuits.

The above example includes four output signals as well, for confirmation of which
group that is active.
9.2.2

Using the HMI

Change active group by using the HMI menu branch:

Settings
ChangeAct Grp
9.2.3

Using SMS/SCS

Operating procedures for the PC aided methods of changing the active setting groups
are described in the corresponding SMS documents and instructions for the operators
within the SCS are included in the SCS documentation.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

29

Configurable logic (CL)

Application of functions

10

Configurable logic (CL)

10.1

General
Different protection, control, and monitoring functions within the REx 5xx protection,
control and monitoring terminals are quite independent as far as their configuration in
the terminal is concerned. You cannot enter and change the basic algorithms for different functions. You can configure different functions in the terminals to suit special
requirements for different applications.
For this purpose, you need additional logic circuits to configure the terminals to meet
your needs and also to build in some special logic circuits, which use different logic
gates and timers.

10.2

Function

10.2.1

Inverter (INV)

The INV function block is used for inverting boolean variables.

IVnn
INV
INPUT

OUT

The output signal from the INV function block is set to 1 if the input signal is 0 and is
set to 0 when the the input signal is 1. See truth table below.
Table 6: Truth table for the INV function block

10.2.2

INPUT

OUT

OR

OR function blocks are used to form general combinatory expressions with boolean
variables.
Onnn
OR
INPUT1
INPUT2
INPUT3
INPUT4
INPUT5
INPUT6

30

OUT
NOUT

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Configurable logic (CL)

Application of functions

The output signal (OUT) is set to 1 if any of the inputs (INPUT1-6) is 1. See truth table
below.
Table 7: Truth table for the OR function block

10.2.3

INPUT1

INPUT2

INPUT3

INPUT4

INPUT5

INPUT6

OUT

NOUT

...

...

...

...

...

...

AND

AND function blocks are used to form general combinatory expressions with boolean
variables.
Annn
AND
INPUT1
OUT
INPUT2
NOUT
INPUT3
INPUT4N

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31

Configurable logic (CL)

Application of functions

The output signal (OUT) is set to 1 if all the INPUT1-3 are 1 and INPUT4N is 0. See
truth table.
Table 8: Truth table for the AND function block

10.2.4

INPUT1

INPUT2

INPUT3

INPUT4N

OUT

NOUT

Timer

The configuration logic TM timer and TL timer have outputs for delayed input signal
at drop-out and at pick-up.

TLnn

TimerLong
INPUT
T

OFF
ON

T=0.00-60.00 sec.

99000896.VSD

TLnn

TimerLong
INPUT
T

OFF
ON

T=0.0-90000.0 sec.

99000896.VSD

32

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Configurable logic (CL)

Application of functions

The input variable to INPUT is obtained delayed a settable time T at output OFF when
the input variable changes from 1 to 0 in accordance with the time pulse diagram, Fig.
14. The output OFF signal is set to 1 immediately when the input variable changes
from 0 to 1.
T=3s
1
INPUT

0
1

OFF

Fig. 14

10

Example of time diagram for a timer delayed on drop-out with preset time
T=3s

The input variable to INPUT is obtained delayed a settable time T at output ON when
the input variable changes from 0 to 1 in accordance with the time pulse diagram, Fig.
15. The output ON signal returns immediately when the input variable changes from 1
to 0.
T=3s
1
INPUT

0
1

ON

Fig. 15

1MRK 504 037-UEN

10

Example of time diagram for a timer delayed on pick-up with preset time
T=3s

33

Configurable logic (CL)

Application of functions

If you need more timers than available in the terminals, you can use pulse timers with
AND or OR logics. Fig. 16 shows an application example of how to realize a timer
delayed on drop-out. Fig. 17 shows the realization of a timer delayed on pick-up. Note
that the resolution of the setting time corresponds to the execution cycle of the logic as
described in section Configuration on page 37.

FIXED-OFF

INV
INPUT OUT
0-60.0 s

Fig. 16

Pulse
INPUT
OUT
T

Realization example of a timer delayed on drop-out

FIXED-ON

Pulse
INPUT
OUT
T

0-60.0 s

Fig. 17

10.2.5

OR
OUT
INPUT1
INPUT2 NOUT
INPUT3
INPUT4
INPUT5
INPUT6

AND
OUT
INPUT1
INPUT2 NOUT
INPUT3
INPUT4N

Realization example of a timer delayed on pick-up

Pulse

The pulse function can be used, for example, for pulse extensions or limiting of operation of outputs.
TPnn
Pulse
INPUT
T

34

OUT

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Configurable logic (CL)

Application of functions

A memory is set when the input INPUT is set to 1. The output OUT then goes to 1.
When the time set T has elapsed, the memory is cleared and the output OUT goes to 0.
If a new pulse is obtained at the input INPUT before the time set T has elapsed, it does
not affect the timer. Only when the time set has elapsed and the output OUT is set to 0,
the pulse function can be restarted by the input INPUT going from 0 to 1. See time
pulse diagram, Fig. 18.

1
INPUT

0
1

OUT

Fig. 18

10.2.6

T=3s

10

Example of time diagram for the pulse function with preset pulse length
T=3s

Set-Reset with/without memory (SM)

The function block Set-Reset (SM) with/without memory has three inputs, designated
SMnn-SET, SMnn-RESET and SMnn-MemON, where nn presents the serial number
of the block. Each SM circuit has two outputs, SMnn-OUT and SMnn-NOUT
(inverted). The output (OUT) is set to 1 if the input (SET) is set to 1 and if the
(RESET) is 0. If the reset input is set to 1, the output is unconditionally reset to 0. The
memory input controls if the flip-flop after a power interruption or after a setting
change in the terminal will return to the state it had before the power interruption or
the setting change occurred.
An example of use can be if an information signal to the terminal logic is pulsed as can
be the case, when a signal comes from microSCADA and a multiple command block.
If the signal is describing a steady state condition, it will not be sent again via
microSCADA if a setting change is made in the RET terminal and the information will
then be lost unless it is maintained via an SM gate with MemOn set to 1.

SMnn

SRM
SET
OUT
RESET
NOUT
MemOn
en01000243.vsd

1MRK 504 037-UEN

35

Configurable logic (CL)

Application of functions

10.2.7

MOVE

The MOVE function blocks (may also be called copy-blocks) are used for synchronization of boolean signals sent between logics running with different execution cycle
times.
There are two types of MOVE function blocks - MOF located First in the slower logic
and MOL located Last in the slower logic. The MOF function blocks are used for signals coming into the slower logic and the MOL function blocks are used for signals
going out from the slower logic.
In the RET 521 terminal, the logic is running with three different execution cycle
times, maximum, medium and low speed. There are two MOVE blocks (one MOF and
one MOL) available for the medium speed and four MOVE blocks (two MOF and two
MOL) for the low speed.
Each MOVE block of 16 signals is protected from being interrupted by other logic
application tasks. This guarantees the consistency of the signals to each other within
each MOF and MOL function block.
Synchronization of signals with MOF should be used when a signal which is produced
outside the slower logic is used in several places in the logic and there might be a malfunction if the signal changes its value between these places.
Synchronization with MOL should be used if a signal produced in the slower logic is
used in several places outside this logic, or if several signals produced in the slower
logic are used together outside this logic, and there is a similar need for synchronisation.
Fig. 19 shows an example of logic, which can result in malfunctions on the output signal from the AND gate to the right in the figure.

Fast logic

Slow logic

Function 1

Fast logic

Function 2

&
Function 3

&

Fig. 19

36

Example of logic, which can result in malfunctions

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Configurable logic (CL)

Application of functions

Fig. 20 shows the same logic as in Fig. 19, but with the signals synchronized by the
MOVE function blocks MOFn and MOLn. With this solution the consistency of the
signals can be guaranteed.

Fast logic

Fast logic

Slow logic
MOFn

Function 1

MOVE

Function 2

Function 3

&

Fig. 20

10.3

MOLn
MOVE

&

Example of logic with synchronized signals

Setting
The time delays and pulse lenghts for Timer and Pulse function blocks are set from the
CAP 531 configuration tool. CAP 531 is included in the CAP 540 configuration and
setting tool.
Both timers in the same logic block (the one delayed on pick-up and the one delayed
on drop-out) always have a common setting value.
Setting values of the pulse length are independent on one another for all pulse circuits.

10.4

Configuration
The configuration of the logics is performed from the CAP 531.
Execution of functions as defined by the configurable logic blocks in RET 521 runs in
a fixed sequence in three different execution cycle times with maximum speed, mediate speed and low speed.
For each cycle time, the function block is given an execution serial number. This is
shown when using the CAP 531 configuration tool with the designation of the function
block and the cycle time, for example, TMnn-(1044, 20). TMnn is the designation of
the function block, 1044 is the execution serial number and 20 is the cycle time.
Execution of different function blocks within the same cycle time should follow the
same order as their execution serial numbers to get an optimal solution. Always
remember this when connecting in series two or more logical function blocks. When
you connect function blocks with different cycle times, see the use of MOVE function
blocks in the section MOVE on page 36.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

37

Command function (CM/CD)

Application of functions

So design the logic circuits carefully and check always the execution sequence for different functions. In the opposite cases, additional time delays must be introduced into
the logic schemes to prevent errors, for example, race between functions.

11

Command function (CM/CD)

11.1

General
The protection and control terminals may be provided with output functions that can
be controlled either from a Substation Automation system or from the built-in HMI.
The output functions can be used, for example, to control high-voltage apparatuses in
switchyards. For local control functions, the built-in HMI can be used. Together with
the configuration logic circuits, the user can govern pulses or steady output signals for
control purposes within the terminal or via binary outputs. In the REx 5xx terminals it
is also possible to receive data from other terminals via the LON bus.
Two types of command function blocks are available, Single Command and Multiple
Command.

11.2

Single Command function

The outputs from the Single Command function block can be individually controlled
from the operator station, remote-control gateway, or from the built-in HMI. Each output signal can be given a user-defined name.
The output signals are available for configuration to built-in functions or via the configuration logic circuits to the binary outputs of the terminal.
The command functions can be connected according to the application examples in
Fig. 21 to Fig. 23. Note that the execution cyclicity of the configured logic connected
to the command function block cannot have a cycle time longer than the command
function block.
Fig. 21 shows an example of how the user can, in an easy way, connect the command
function via the configuration logic circuit to control a high-voltage apparatus. This
type of command function is normally performed by a pulse via the binary outputs of
the terminal. Fig. 21 shows a close operation, but an open operation is performed in a
corresponding way without the synchro-check condition.

38

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Command function (CM/CD)

Application of functions

Single
Command
function
CDxx

Configuration logic circuits

SingleCmdFunc

Close CB1

CmdOuty

OUTy

2 (Pulse)

Fig. 21

MODE

200 ms
Userdefined
conditions
Synchrocheck

&

Application example showing a logic diagram for control of a circuit

breaker via configuration logic circuits

Fig. 22 and Fig. 23 show other ways to control functions, which require steady signals
On and Off. The output can be used to control built-in functions or external equipment.

Single
Command
function
CDxx

Function n

SingleCmdFunc

Function n

CmdOuty

OUTy

1 (Steady)

Fig. 22

1MRK 504 037-UEN

MODE

Application example showing a logic diagram for control of built-in functions

39

Command function (CM/CD)

Application of functions

Single
Command
function
CDxx

Configuration logic circuits

SingleCmdFunc

Device 1

CmdOuty

OUTy

1 (Steady)

Fig. 23

11.3

Userdefined
conditions

&

MODE

Application example showing a logic diagram for control of external equipment via configuration logic circuits

Multiple Command function

The Multiple Command function block has 16 outputs combined in one block, which
can be controlled from the operator station, that is, the whole block is sent at the same
time from the operator station. One common user-defined name can be given for the
whole block.
The output signals are available for configuration to built-in functions or via the configuration logic circuits to the binary outputs of the terminal.

11.4

Communication between terminals

The Multiple Command function block can also be used to receive information over
the LON bus from other terminals. The most common use is to transfer interlocking
information between different bays. That can be performed by an Event function block
as the send block and with a Multiple Command function block as the receive block.
The configuration for the communication between terminals is made by the
LON Network Tool.

11.5

Commands from built-in HMI

The outputs of the Single Command function block can be activated from the
built-in HMI. This can be performed under the menu:
Command
CDxx

40

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Command function (CM/CD)

Application of functions

Fig. 24 shows the dialogue box for the built-in HMI after the selection of the command
menu above. The display shows the name of the output to control (CmdOut1) and the
present status (Old) and proposes a new value (New).

CD 01 - CmdOut 1
Old:1 New: 0 ^
YES NO
Fig. 24

Command dialogue to control an output from the Single Command function

block

The dialogue to operate an output from the Single Command function block is performed from different states as follows:
1 Selection active; select the:
C button, and then the No box activates.
Up arrow, and then New: 0 changes to New: 1. The up arrow changes to the down
arrow.
E button, and then the Yes box activates.

2 Yes box active; select the:

C button to cancel the action and return to the CMD/CDxx menu window.
E button to confirm the action and return to the CMD/CDxx menu window.
Right arrow to activate the No box.

3 No box active; select the:

C button to cancel the action and return to the CMD/CDxx menu window.
E button to confirm the action and return to the CMD/CDxx menu window.
Left arrow to activate the Yes box.

11.6

Setting
The setting parameters for the Single Command function and Multiple Command function are set from the CAP 531 configuration tool.
Parameters to be set for the Single Command function are MODE, common for the
whole block, and CmdOuty - including the name for each output signal. The MODE
input sets the outputs to be one of the types Off(0) , Steady(1), or Pulse(2).
The Multiple Command function has a common name setting (CmdOut) for the block,
MODE as above and INTERVAL used for the supervision of the cyclical receiving of
data.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

41

Frequency measurement function (FRME)

Application of functions

12

Frequency measurement function (FRME)

12.1

General
The majority of protection and control functions in RET 521 are based on the fundamental frequency component of the analog input signals. Since the unwanted harmonic
components are generally present in the analog input signal, a Discrete Fourier Filter
(DFF) is implemented in order to extract the fundamental component out of it. As
implemented in RET 521 the DFF has a full cycle window with a window length
which is normally 20 samples per cycle, and it is pre-designed for nominal power system frequency (i.e. 50 Hz or 60 Hz). As a result of DFF calculation the magnitude and
phase angle of the fundamental component phasor of the analog input quantity are
obtained.
A DFF has excellent filter properties when the frequency of the fundamental component of the analogue input signal corresponds to the DFF window length. But when the
frequency of the fundamental component of the input signal deviates from the DFF
window length an additional error is introduced. This error can be tolerated for small
frequency deviation of the analogue input signal (i.e. 2Hz), but for larger deviations
of frequency this error can not be tolerated. It is therefore necessary to account for this
error in applications where the frequency of the analog input signal can vary considerably (i.e. generator step-up transformers, or network transformers close to the large
generating plants). The DFF in RET 521 is adaptive if FRME function is implemented.
Such a filter retains its good properties in a much wider frequency range.
In RET 521 a specially designed algorithm for frequency measurement is implemented. The algorithm is located within the FRME function block. This algorithm
enables all other protection and control functions within the RET 521 to be utilized
within the extended frequency range from 0,7 to 1,2 of nominal power system frequency (i.e. 50 Hz or 60 Hz). OVEX function uses FRME measured frequency directly
as an input.
In order to track the power system fundamental frequency the FRME function shall be
configured to process a voltage signal. Use one of the following two types of voltage
input signals:
Three phase-to-ground voltages (the measurement of frequency is based on positive sequence phasor which is internally calculated).
One phase-to-phase voltage (the frequency measurement is based on that phaseto-phase voltage phasor).
The connection with three phase-to-earth voltages is the best choice and should be
used whenever it is available. It gives the best performance on the frequency measurement with only a few mHz unaccuracy over the whole range. The phase to phase connection is the second best choice but with an unaccuracy in the range of 50 mHz
instead, over the whole range. A single phase-to-ground voltage can be used as well,
but this is not recommended.

42

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Transformer differential protection (DIFP)

Application of functions

Voltage input from any of the power transformer windings can be used for this measurement.
The choice of a suitable FRME function can be done by the CAP 531 configuration
tool.

12.2

Settings
The FRME function has only one setting parameter Operation which is used to set
this function ON or OFF.

13

Transformer differential protection (DIFP)

Differential protection is one of the most important and the most commonly used protection for transformers of approximately 10 MVA and above. The differential protection simplicity of comparing current into all terminals of the transformer gives it a very
high reliability. The differential protection does an excellent job of meeting a large
number of the protection requirements but must be combined with other protections to
provide full transformer protection.
RET 521 has two variants of transformer differential protections intended for twowinding and three-winding transformers. Up-to five restrained three-phase current
inputs are available for three-winding applications.

13.1

General
The transformer differential protection is a unit protection. It serves as the main protection of transformers in case of faults in the windings. The protective zone of a differential protection includes the transformer itself, the bus-work or cables between the
current transformer and the power transformer.
When bushing current transformers are used for the differential relay, the protective
zone does not include the bus-work or cables between the circuit breaker and the
power transformer. In some substations there is a current differential protection for the
busbar. Such a busbar protection will include the bus-work or cables between the circuit breaker and the power transformer.
Electrical internal faults are very serious and cause immediate serious damage. Shortcircuits and earth-faults on windings and terminals are generally detectable by the differential protection. Interturn fault, which is flashover between conductors within the
same physical winding, is also possible to detect if enough number of turns are shortcircuited. Interturn faults are the most difficult transformer winding faults to detect
with electrical protections.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

43

Transformer differential protection (DIFP)

Application of functions

A small interturn fault including just a few turns will result in an undetectable amount
of current until it has develop into an earth-fault. For this reason it is important that the
differential protection has a high sensitivity and that it is possible to use a sensitive setting without causing unwanted operations for external faults.
It is important that the faulted transformer should be disconnected as fast as possible.
As the differential protection is a unit protection it can be designed for fast tripping,
thus providing selective disconnection of the faulty transformer. The differential protection should never operate to faults outside the protective zone.
A transformer differential protection compares the current flowing to the transformer
with the current leaving the transformer. Power transformers introduce often not only a
change in magnitudes of voltages and currents but also a change in phase angle. These
effects must be considered in obtaining the correct analysis of fault conditions by the
differential protection.
Traditional transformer differential protection functions required auxiliary transformers for correction of the phase shift and ratio. Numerical microprocessor based differential algorithm as implemented by RET 521 compensate for both the turns-ratio and
the phase shift internally in the software. No auxiliary current transformers are necessary. The rated data and vector group for the power transformer and the rated currents
of the CTs have to be set from PST or built-in HMI. See the sections Power transformer data on page 219 and Current and voltage transformer data on page 225 for
details.
The differential current should theoretically be zero during normal load or external
faults if the turn-ratio and the phase shift are correctly compensated. However, there
are several different phenomena other than internal faults that will cause unwanted and
false differential currents. The main reasons for unwanted differential currents are:
mismatch due to different position of the tap changer
different characteristics, loads and operating conditions of the current transformers
zero sequence currents that only flow on one side of the power transformer
normal magnetizing currents
magnetizing inrush currents
overexcitation magnetizing currents
The following paragraphs describe how these reasons of unwanted differential currents
can be taken into consideration.

44

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Transformer differential protection (DIFP)

Application of functions

13.2

Magnetizing inrush current

The magnetizing inrush is a transient condition which occurs when a power transformer is energized. Similar inrush currents flow when the voltage return to normal
after the clearance of shunt faults. The magnetizing current appears as a differential
current to the transformer differential protection. It is not a fault condition and the protection must remain stable during the inrush transient, a requirement which is a major
factor in the design of differential protection for transformers. With improved modern
steels in the manufacture of power transformers, and application of very fast differential relays, magnetizing inrush phenomena came into more prominence.
The shape, magnitude and duration of the inrush current depend on the following characteristic factors:
the source impedance
the size of the transformer
the location of energized winding (inner or outer)
the connection of the windings
the point of wave when the breaker closes
the magnetic properties of the core
the remanence of the core
the use of pre-insertion resistors
The inrush current can appear in all three phases and in an earthed neutral. The magnitude of the inrush current to the inner winding is larger than the inrush current to the
outer winding. The magnitude of the inrush current is 10-20 times in the first case and
5-10 times the rated current in the second case. Usually, the high-voltage winding is
the outer winding and the low-voltage winding is the inner winding. The inrush current
decays relatively slowly. The time constant of the transient is relatively long, being
from perhaps 0.1 seconds for a 100 kVA transformer and up to 1.0 second for a large
unit. The magnetizing current has been observed to be still changing up to 30 minutes
after switching on.
The maximum inrush current develops if the switching occurs when the voltage is
close to zero and the new flux from the inrush current gets the same direction as the
remanent flux. The sum of the two fluxes can exceed the saturation flux. The inrush
current will be small when the new flux from the inrush current gets the opposite
direction as the remanent flux. The magnitude of the inrush current depends therefore
on the point on wave when we close the transformer switch.
The source impedance of the power system and the air-core reactance of the energized
winding determine the magnitude of the inrush current when the core saturates. The
probability that the maximum inrush current should occur is low. One out of 5-6 times,
the switching should generate an inrush current close to the maximum.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

45

Transformer differential protection (DIFP)

Application of functions

When the power system voltage is reestablished after a short circuit has been cleared
elsewhere in the power system, the recovery inrush currents will flow which fortunately are lower than initial inrush currents. Still, a differential relay which has been
stable during a heavy external fault may misoperate due to recovery inrush when the
fault is cleared. To prevent this, the recovery inrush must be recognized as well.
When a second power transformer is energized in parallel with another which was
already in operation, the sympathetic inrush currents will flow in the later, which are
lower than initial inrush currents. The phenomenon of sympathetic inrush is quite
complex. Although inrush current phenomena associated with the energizing of one
single power transformer are well understood, there are certain elements of uniqueness
encountered when one transformer is suddenly energized in parallel with another
which was already in operation.
13.2.1

Inrush restraint methods

The waveform of transformer magnetizing current contains a proportion of harmonics

which increases as the peak flux density is raised to the saturating condition. The
inrush current is an offset current with a waveform which is not symmetrical about the
time axis. The wave typically contains both even and odd harmonics. Typical inrush
currents contain substantial amounts of second and third harmonics and diminishing
amounts of higher orders. The presence of the bi-directional waveforms substantially
increases the proportion of the second harmonic, being up to more than 60% of the
fundamental harmonic.
It can also be observed that the inrush wave is distinguished from a fault wave by a
period in each cycle during which very low magnetizing currents flow, when the core
is not in saturation. This property of the inrush current can be exploited to distinguish
inrush condition from an internal fault.
Sensitive differential protections may operate incorrectly when a power transformer is
energized. To make a differential protection stable against inrush currents, measures
must be taken in order to make the algorithm capable to distinguish the inrush phenomena from a fault. It is necessary to provide some forms of detection of inrush conditions and restrain the differential protection.
Second harmonic restraint is an effective method to avoid unwanted operations when
energizing a power transformer, as the second harmonic always is present in the inrush
current. The second harmonic content of a differential current is compared to the fundamental harmonic of the same differential current and if the ratio is higher than a set
limit, then an inrush condition is assumed.
Normal primary fault currents do not contain second or other even harmonics. The secondary current of a current transformer which is energized into steady state saturation
will also contain odd harmonics but not even harmonics. However, should the current
transformer be saturated by the transient component of the fault current, the resulting
saturation is not symmetrical and even harmonics are introduced into the output current. This can have the disadvantage of increasing the fault clearance time for heavy
internal faults with current transformer saturation.

46

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Transformer differential protection (DIFP)

Application of functions

With a combination of the second harmonic restraint and the waveform restraint methods it is possible to get a protection with high security and stability against inrush
effects and at the same time maintain high performance in case of heavy internal faults
even if the current transformers are saturated.
Both these restraint methods are applied by RET 521. Two possible combinations are
available. The default or standard method (conditionally) is to let the harmonic and the
waveform methods operate in parallel only when the power transformer is not yet
energized, and switch off the second harmonic criterion when the power transformer
has been energized. The second harmonic method is also active a short time when
heavy external fault has been detected. The second method (always) is to let the second harmonic method be active all the time. The waveform method operates in parallel
all the time. The choice of combination of restraint method is done with a setting
parameter. Option Conditionally is recommended as the default setting. Option
Always can be used to increase the stability if the current transformers are sufficiently
large so that the harmonics produced by transient saturation do not delay normal operation of the protection.
The second harmonic restraint function has a settable level. If the ratio of the second
harmonic to fundamental harmonic in the differential current is above the settable
limit, the operation of the differential protection is restrained. It is recommended to use
the setting 15% as a default value in case no special reasons exist to choose an other
setting.

13.3

Overexcitation magnetizing current

Overexcitation results from excessive applied voltage, possibly in combination with
low frequency, as with generator-transformer units. The risk is greatest for generatortransformers, although overfluxing trouble has been known to occur for other transformers as well.
The overexcitation condition itself usually does not call for high speed tripping of the
power transformer, but relatively high magnetizing currents, which are seen as pure
differential currents by the differential protection, may cause a false trip of the differential protection.
Both excessive voltage and lower frequency will tend to increase transformer flux density. An overexcited transformer is not a transformer fault. It is an abnormal network
condition for which a transformer differential protection should not operate. The differential protection must remain stable during the overexcitation condition.

13.3.1

Overexcitation restraint method

Overexcitation current contains odd harmonics, because the waveform is symmetrical

about the time axis. As the third harmonic currents cannot possible flow into a delta
winding, the fifth harmonic is the lowest harmonic which can serve as a criterion for
overexcitation. The overexcitation on the delta side will produce exciting currents that
contain a large fundamental frequency component with little odd harmonics. In this
application the fifth harmonic limit must be set to a relatively low value.
1MRK 504 037-UEN

47

Transformer differential protection (DIFP)

Application of functions

RET 521 differential protection function is provided with a fifth harmonic restraint to
prevent the protection from operation during an overexcitation condition of a power
transformer. If the ratio of the fifth harmonic to fundamental harmonic in the differential current is above a settable limit the operation is restrained. It is recommended to
use the setting 25% as a default value in case no special reasons exist to choose an
other setting.
Transformers likely to be exposed to overvoltage or underfrequency conditions should
be provided with an overexcitation protection based on V/Hz to achieve trip before the
internal limit is reached.

13.4

Cross-Blocking between Phases

Basic definition of the cross-blocking is that one of the three phases can block operation (i.e. tripping) of the other two phases due to the properties of the differential current in that phase (i.e. waveform, 2nd or 5th harmonic content).
In DIFP algorithm the user can control the cross-blocking between the phases via the
setting parameter CrossBlock.
When parameter CrossBlock is set to On, cross blocking between phases will be
introduced. There is not any time settings involved, but the phase with the operating
point above the set bias characteristic will be able to cross-block other two phases if it
is self-blocked by any of the previously explained restrained criteria. As soon as the
operating point for this phase is below the set bias characteristic cross blocking from
that phase will be inhibited. In this way cross-blocking of the temporary nature is
achieved. In should be noted that this is the default (i.e. recommended) setting value
for this parameter.
When parameter CrossBlock is set to Off, any cross blocking between phases will
be disabled. It is recommended to use the value Off with caution in order to avoid
the unwanted tripping during initial energizing of the power transformer.

13.5

Normal service
During normal service a small differential current flows through the differential protection. The current is due to the excitation current of the power transformer, ratio
errors in the current transformers and changes of the position of the tap changer, if provided.
Normal magnetizing currents are of the order of 1% or less which is low in comparison
with the operate value of the differential protection and can be neglected.

48

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Transformer differential protection (DIFP)

Application of functions

The power transformer ratio changes as a result of changing the tap of an on-load tap
changer. This will cause false differential currents to the differential protection function if not the tap position is known. A tap changer in the end position gives a differential current of 10-20% of load current depending of the regulating range of the tap
changer. If the tap position is not known, the actual ratio will only match at one point
of the tap changing range. Therefore, the mismatch due to this must be taken care of by
setting a lower base sensitivity of the differential protection. A setting of 10-15%
higher than the mismatch is usual.
13.5.1

Tap changer position adaption

If the tap position is known and the differential function is supplied with regularly
updated information about the tap changer position an adaption to the actual turn ratio
can be done. In this case it is possible to set a much higher sensitivity of the differential
protection. RET 521 has this feature and it is recommended to set the parameter
Idmin around 15% - 20% for this applications.

13.6

External faults
For faults outside the protective zone a relatively large differential current can occur
due to the position of the tap changer and differences between the current transformers. At maximum through fault current the unwanted differential current produced by a
small percentage unbalance may be substantial. There is a risk for current transformer
saturation for heavy faults just outside the protective zone. The differential protection
should not operate for the differential current in these cases.

13.6.1

Restrained differential protection

To make a differential relay as sensitive and stable as possible, restrained differential

protections have been developed and are now adopted as the general practice in the
protection of power transformers. The protection should be provided with a proportional bias which makes the protection operate for a certain percentage differential current related to the current through the transformer. This stabilizes the protection under
through fault conditions while still permitting the system to have good basic sensitivity.
The bias current can be defined in many different ways. One classical way of defining
the bias current has been Ibias = (I1 + I2) / 2, where I1 is the magnitude of the power
transformer primary current, and I2 the magnitude of the power transformer secondary
current. However, it has been found that if the bias current is defined as the highest
power transformer current this will reflect the difficulties met by the current transformers much better.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

49

Transformer differential protection (DIFP)

Application of functions

The differential protection function in RET 521 uses the highest current of all restrain
inputs as bias current. The currents measured on all sides are converted in pu values
using the power transformer winding rated currents. After that the highest pu value is
taken as bias current in pu. For applications were the power transformer rated current
and the CT primary rated current can differs considerably, (applications with T-connections), measured currents in the T connections are converted to pu value using the
rated primary current of the CT, but one additional measuring point is introduced as
sum of this two T currents. This summed current is converted to pu value using the
power transformer winding rated currents. After that the highest pu value is taken as
bias current in pu. In this way best possible combination between sensitivity and security for differential protection function with T connection is obtained.
The main philosophy behind the principle with the operate bias characteristic is to
decrease the operate sensitivity when the current transformers have difficult operating
conditions. This bias quantity gives the best stability against an unwanted operation of
the overall differential protection. Fig. 25 shows the set of 5 operate-bias characteristics that are available in RET 521.

'LIIHUHQWLDOFXUUHQW,G
,G ,,LQSX


XQUHVWUDLQHGOLPLW,GXQUH

',RSHUDWH


VORSH

,GXQUH

 

'

ELDV



 ,

RSHUDWHDUHD

FKQR
VORSH
VORSH

 

 

 

 





,GPLQ

VORSH





]RQH

]RQH




UHVWUDLQDUHD





)LUVW%UHDN3RLQWZKHQELDVFXUUHQW SX
6HFRQG%UHDN3RLQWZKHQGLIIHUHQWLDOFXUUHQW SX

Fig. 25

ELDVFXUUHQWLQSHUXQLW

(98000067)

RET 521 set of operate-bias characteristics

The usual practice for transformer protection is to set the bias characteristic to a value
of at least twice the value of the expected spill current under through faults conditions.
These criteria can vary considerably from application to application and are often a
matter of judgment. The second slope is increased to ensure stability under heavy
through fault conditions which could lead to increased differential current due to saturation of current transformers.
50

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Transformer differential protection (DIFP)

Application of functions

Characteristic number 3 and the default sensitivity, ldmin set to 30% of the power
transformer rated current can be recommended as a default setting in normal applications. If the conditions are known more in detail, higher or lower sensitivity can be
chosen. The selection of suitable characteristic should in such cases be based on the
knowledge of the class of the current transformers, availability of information on the
on load tap changer (OLTC) position, short circuit power of the systems, etc. If the differential function is supplied with regularly updated information about the OLTC position it is possible to set a higher sensitivity.
Transformers can be connected to buses in such ways that the current transformers
used for the differential protection will be either in series with the power transformer
windings or the current transformers will be in breakers that are part of the bus, such as
a breaker-and-a-half or a ring bus scheme. For current transformers with primaries in
series with the power transformer winding, the current transformer primary current for
external faults will be limited by the transformer impedance.
When the current transformers are part of the bus scheme, as in the breaker-and-a-half
or the ring bus scheme, the current transformer primary current is not limited by the
power transformer impedance. High primary currents may be expected. In either case,
any deficiency of current output caused by saturation of one current transformer that is
not matched by a similar deficiency of another current transformer will cause a false
differential current to appear.
Differential protection can overcome this problem if the bias is obtained separately
from each set of current transformer circuits. It is therefore important to avoid paralleling of two or more current transformers for connection to a single restraint input. Each
current connected to RET 521 is available for biasing the differential protection function.
13.6.2

Elimination of zero sequence currents

A differential protection may operate unwanted due to external earth faults in cases
where the zero sequence current can flow only on one side of the power transformer
but not on the other side. This is the situation when the zero sequence current cannot
be properly transformed to the other side of the power transformer. Power transformer
connection groups of Yd or Dy type cannot transform the zero sequence current. If a
delta winding of a power transformer is earthed via an earthing transformer inside the
zone protected by the differential protection there will be an unwanted differential current in case of an external earth fault. Therefore it is necessary to eliminate the zero
sequence current from the delta side. It is possible to do it by setting the DIFP parameter ZSCSub (zero-sequence current subtraction) to On.
To make the overall differential protection insensitive to external earth faults in these
situations the zero sequence currents must be eliminated from the power transformer
terminal currents, so that they do not appear as the differential currents. This had once
been achieved by means of intermediate current transformers. The elimination of zero
sequence current is done numerically in RET 521 and no auxiliary transformers or
zero sequence traps are necessary.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

51

Transformer differential protection (DIFP)

Application of functions

It should be noted that this setting will not influence at all the differential current calculation on the side of power transformer where the difference between two individual
phase currents are used (i.e. for example on primary side of Yd connected power transformer).
The following table gives the summary of the recommended settings for ZSCSub
parameter for different power transformer vector groups and type applications:
Table 9: Settings for ZSCSub parameter

52

Set
Power
Transformer
Vector Group

Setting for
ZSCSub
Parameter

Typical Application

Yy
Yyy

On

Used when unloaded tertiary delta winding

exist or when at least one star winding is
earthed in the star point.

Yy
Yyy

Off

Used for differential protection of single phase

transformers and reactors or for three-phase
transformers without tertiary delta when all
star windings are not earthed.

Yd, Ydd, Yyd,

Ydy

On

Used when delta winding is earthed via separate earthing transformer which is located
inside of the differential zone.

Yd, Ydd, Yyd,

Ydy

Off

Used when there is no earthing transformer

on the delta winding which is located inside of
the differential zone.

Dy, Dyy, Ddy,

Dyd

On

Used when delta winding is earthed via separate earthing transformer which is located
inside of the differential zone.

Dy, Dyd, Dyy,

Ddy

Off

Used when there is no earthing transformer

on the delta winding which is located inside of
the differential zone.

Dd, Ddd

On

Used when at least one delta winding is

earthed via separate earthing transformer
which is located inside of the differential zone.

Dd, Ddd

Off

Used when there is no earthing transformer

on any of the delta windings inside of the differential zone or for differential protection of
single phase transformers and reactors.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Transformer differential protection (DIFP)

Application of functions

This feature enables the user to use DIFP algorithm in RET 521 for differential protection for some special applications listed below:
overall differential protection of common and serial winding for autotransformers
with included star point currents into the scheme (traditionally high-impedance
differential protection has been used for this application)
differential protection of railway power transformers (i.e. split-single-phase
transformers, Scott transformers etc.)
differential protection for shunt reactors and generators

13.7

Internal faults
For faults inside the protective zone, a current proportional to the fault current occurs
in the differential circuits and the transformer differential protection will operate.
The transformer differential protection is often provided with an unrestrained differential function. The unrestrained differential protection offers faster fault clearance for
heavy internal faults and it is not blocked for magnetizing inrush or overexcitation
magnetizing currents. The purpose of the unrestrained differential protection is also to
exclude the risk of excessive restraint resulting from the harmonic distortions of the
secondary currents from the current transformers in case of heavy internal faults.
The current setting for the unrestrained function has to be set above the maximum
inrush current when the transformer is energized. As the magnitude depends on several
factors it is difficult to accurately predict the maximum anticipated level of inrush current. The magnitude is normally within the range 5-20 times the rated current of the
power transformer (Ir).
RET 521 differential protection function is provided with an unrestrained differential
function, that measures the fundamental harmonic of the differential current. The differential current operate value can be set in the range 5 to 25 times the rated current of
the power transformer. The following settings can be recommended
Power transformer
connection

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Rated power
MVA

Recommended setting x Ir
when energizing from
High voltage
side

Low voltage
side

< 10

13

13

Yy

10-100

Yy

> 100

Yd

Dy

< 100

13

Dy

> 100

53

Three-phase time overcurrent protection (TOC)

Application of functions

The power transformers are assumed to be step-down transformers with power flow
from the high voltage side to the low voltage side.
A setting of 13 x Ir or higher can be required when very large through fault currents
may saturate the current transformers and cause a large differential current. This can
for example be the case when the bus is included in the protective zone of the differential protection or when a breaker-and-a-half arrangement is used.

14

Three-phase time overcurrent protection (TOC)

14.1

General
A breakdown of the insulation between phase conductors or a phase conductor and
earth results in a short-circuit or an earth fault. Such faults can result in large fault currents and may cause severe damage to the windings and the transformer core. Furthermore, a fault with high fault currents may cause a high gas pressure. If the pressure
gets too high, it will damage the transformer tank. Depending on the magnitude of the
fault current overcurrent protections can be used to clear these faults.
High fault currents may flow through a transformer when an external shunt fault
occurs on the network and may produce a relatively intense rate of heating of the transformer. This can result in damage to the transformer. The copper losses increase in
proportion to the square of the per unit fault current. If the current is limited only by
the reactance of the transformer, the duration of external short-circuits that a transformer can withstand without damage is relatively short. Phase overcurrent protection
is an important protection that can be used to clear the transformer before the transformer is damaged.
Transformer failures are seldom transient ones and the magnitude of the fault current
depends on:
the short-circuit capacity of the power networks
the system earthing of the connected networks
the leakage reactance of the transformer
the position of the fault along the winding
A short-circuits between the phases will cause a substantial fault current. The magnitude of the fault current depends mainly on the source impedance and the leakage
impedance of the transformer.

54

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Three-phase time overcurrent protection (TOC)

Application of functions

An earth fault is a metallic contact or flashover between a winding and an earthed part
such as the core or the tank. The actual value of the earth fault current will depend on
the way the system is earthed and the position of the fault along the winding. The
phase currents can be high enough to be detected by a phase overcurrent protection in
case of earth faults in solidly earthed systems. However, in many other situations the
individual phase currents may be relatively low and are not possible to be detected by
the phase overcurrent protection.
A metallic contact or flashover between conductors within the same physical winding
causes an interturn fault. An interturn fault short-circuits a small part of the winding.
The current in the short-circuited turns will become very high but the influence on the
phase currents of the transformer will be very small. Interturn faults are very difficult
to detect by protection equipment using electrical input quantities only, but can be
detected by using a Buchholz relay.
The phase overcurrent protection is mainly a protection for phase to phase faults but
can sometimes also operate for earth faults. The overcurrent protection has very small
possibility to detect interturn faults. This must be remembered when considering the
performance of a transformer protection scheme.
Depending on the size of the power transformer, the voltage level and the performance
of the overall protection scheme, the phase overcurrent protections for power transformers can have several different purposes.
Small power transformers often have an overcurrent protection as main protection
though overcurrent protections have inferior sensitivity and are slower than differential
protections.
Many large transformers have an overcurrent protection as back-up protection for
internal faults. The overcurrent protection will sometimes serve as main protection for
the busbar fed from the power transformer. It will often serve as a back-up protection
for the busbar and the outgoing power lines fed from the power transformer.
Generally, overcurrent phase protections provide some additional protection for
through fault withstand but do not provide adequate primary protection in many applications.

14.2

Short-circuit protection
The phase overcurrent protection is an inexpensive, rather simple, and reliable scheme
for fault detection and is used for some transformer protection applications. Sensitive
settings and at the same time fast operations are normally not possible with overcurrent protections. The protection will provide limited protection for internal transformer
faults. It suffers from having to be set high for transformer inrush, for coordination for
down line protections, and to allow transformer overloads that it is ineffective for low
magnitude internal transformer faults. Fast operation is often not possible since the
transformer protection should be coordinated with the protection for the feeders connected to the busbar.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

55

Three-phase time overcurrent protection (TOC)

Application of functions

It should be observed that the sensitivity of a phase overcurrent protection, applied on

one side of a Dy transformer, is changed during unsymmetrical faults on the other side
of the transformer. The table shows some examples of how the phase currents will be
influenced by the phase shift of transformers.
Transformer
connection

Fault on lowvoltage side

Low-voltage High-voltage current in phase

current
a
b
c

Dy0

ph-earth

1.0

0.58

0.58

Dy Yd

ph-ph

1.0

1.15

0.58

0.58

All types

three ph

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

For example only one of the phases on the high-voltage side of a Yd transformer carries full short-circuit current. The two other phases on the high-voltage side carry only
50 percent of the current. The sensitivity of an overcurrent protection that measures the
currents in just two phases on the high-voltage side may be only 50 percent of the sensitivity of an overcurrent protection that measures the currents in all three phases on
the high-voltage side. An overcurrent protection on the high-voltage side shall therefore be connected to three current transformers, one in each phase, and measure the
current in all three phases.
The overcurrent protections should have an inverse-time element whose pickup can be
adjusted to somewhat above maximum rated load current including the overload
capacities of the transformer, and with sufficient time delay to be selective with the
protections of adjacent power system components during external faults. When overcurrent protection is applied to the high voltage side of a transformer with three or
more windings, it shall have a set operate value that will permit the transformer to
carry its rated load. Locating phase overcurrent protections on the low voltage side of
each winding will increase the sensitivity since only the full load rating of an individual winding need to be considered.
The protection functions should also have a fast definite time delayed element whose
pickup can be slightly higher than either the maximum short-circuit current for an
external fault or the magnetizing inrush current. The main function of such a stage is to
obtain fast operations of heavy internal faults. Numerical overcurrent protections provide upgraded performance. The digital filters now remove the DC component and
harmonics from the inrush current.The transient overreach of a numerical overcurrent
protection function is very small. The protection functions can therefore be set more
sensitive than conventional types.
When a transformer is connected to more than one source of short-circuit current, it
may be necessary for at least some of the overcurrent protections to be directional to
obtain good protection as well as selectivity for external faults. In some applications
directional overcurrent protection functions are located on both the high voltage and
low voltage sides of the transformer. Both protections are set to see into the transformer. The transient overreach is less than 10 per cent.

56

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Three-phase time overcurrent protection (TOC)

Application of functions

Directional functions can also be valuable when transformers, that are connected to
only one source of short-circuit current, operate in parallel. Fast, sensitive and directional overcurrent protection functions monitoring the low voltage side, looking into
the transformers will achieve selective fault clearance of the transformers.
The terminal is provided with three three-phase time overcurrent protection modules.
The function measures the highest fundamental harmonic current of the phases. Each
module can be configured to any side of the transformer. It is also possible to configure
two or all three modules to the same side of the power transformer or to any feeder.
Each overcurrent module has got two stages working independently of each other. The
two stages have their own setting ranges for the start of the function. The lowset stage
function can be chosen to have either independent time setting or a current depending
inverse time characteristics according to IEC Normal Inverse, Very Inverse, Extremely
Inverse and Long Time Inverse. The highset stage function can only have independent
time delay setting.
Any of the two stages can be directional. The three-phase voltages from the same side
of the power transformer have to be connected to the terminal. The directional function
is achieved down to 1% of rated voltage. Below this voltage no direction is achieved
and the overcurrent protection will work either as a nondirectional function or be
blocked depending on the chosen setting for this situation.
The voltage that will be used as the directional reference depends on the actually highest current of the three-phase currents. If the current in phase a is highest, the reference
voltage will be the phase-to-phase voltage between phase b and c. The characteristic
angle of the relay (RCA) and the relay operate angle (ROA) are settable. The ROA is
set symmetrically from the maximum torque angle (MTA). The RCA is set with reference to the reference voltage. The RCA is defined to be negative if MTA leads the reference voltage. Fig. 26 shows an example. The RCA is set to +30 degree leading and
ROA is 90 degrees. The MTA direction represents a 60 degrees lagging fault current.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

57

Three-phase time overcurrent protection (TOC)

Application of functions

Ua
Operate

MTA
Ia

RCA
Block

Fig. 26

Ubc
ROA

Forward directional characteristic

The direction can be set to Reverse or Forward. The direction is defined to be Reverse
when the protection looks into and operates for faults in the power transformer or for
faults on the other side of the transformer. The direction Forward is set if the protection
shall operate for faults located in the network on the same side of the transformer.

14.3

Settings
In the CAP531 configuration tool it is possible to chose UserDef side as parameter setting for SIDE2W or SIDE3W. When UserDef is choose then the setting IrUserDef will
be used as "rated" current for TOC.
For directional TOC the setting UrUserDef also have to be set. The direction for UserDef side is the same as for the primary side. Observe that for secondary and tertiary
side Reverse direction means currents from power transformer and Forward direction
means currents to power transformer.
The operating current is normally set in per cent of the rated load current Ir of the
power transformer. However, if an overcurrent protection module is configured to
another object it is possible to define another base current not related to the power
transformer.

58

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Three-phase time overcurrent protection (TOC)

Application of functions

The lowset stage must be given a setting so that the highest possible load current does
not cause operation. The highest possible load current of the transformer is given of
the overload capacity of the transformer. The overload capacity is dependent on for
example the ambient temperature and the load cycle of the transformer. Often the overload capacity of a transformer can be up to 1.4 times the rated power. The corresponding settings of the lowset stage are 13% to 170% of the overload capacity of the
transformer. This setting includes a safety factor and the reset ratio of the protection.
The time setting shall be coordinated with the protections of the outgoing feeders.
A power transformer can carry substantial overload during an hour or two. Many utilities want to utilize this capability temporarily. When two or more transformers are
operated in parallel to share a common load, the overcurrent protection settings should
consider the short time overload on one transformer upon loss of the other transformer
and maybe set the operate value even higher than the recommendation above. In such a
case it is recommended that the transformer is provided with a thermal overload protection.
As the overcurrent protection normally shall provide back-up protection functions for
outgoing feeders, it should be checked that the overcurrent protection has the possibility to operate at minimum fault current within the back-up protection zone. The backup function is not always possible to fulfill for example in case of a large transformer
and long feeders. In such cases other measures have to be considered.
The highset stage with a short or no time delayed operation must be set so that the protection is selective to other protections in the power system. For an overcurrent protection at the high voltage side, from where the fault current is fed, it is wanted to have
fast clearing of as many faults as possible within the transformer. The protection must
not operate for a fault on the low voltage side busbar. The highset stage is recommended to be set at about 30% above the maximum fault current on the low voltage
side busbar. This setting includes a safety factor and the transient overreach factor of
the protection. The setting should also be above the transformer inrush current. This
should normally not be any problem to fulfill. However, if problems with inrush
should arise there is also a possibility to use the inrush block signals from the differential protection function to block the phase overcurrent function.
With this setting fast tripping is only obtained for severe faults on the feeding side of
the transformer. The protection operates delayed for faults on the remaining parts of
the winding and for faults on the load side of the transformer if the fault current and
the duration exceed the set value of the protection.
The highset stage of an overcurrent protection at the low voltage side must be time
delayed to prevent unwanted tripping of the transformer in case of faults on the outgoing feeders. The current set value must be coordinated to the settings for the protections of the outgoing feeders. If the transformer is connected to more than one source
of short-circuit current these restrictions are valid also for the highset stage at the high
voltage side.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

59

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

When the directional overcurrent function is used it is recommended to set the characteristic angle of the relay RCA = -45 degrees and the relay operate angle
ROA = 75 degrees.

15

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

15.1

General
A breakdown of the insulation between phase conductors or a phase conductor and
earth results in a short-circuit or an earth fault. Such faults can result in large fault currents and may cause severe damage to the power system primary equipment. Depending on the magnitude and type of the fault different overcurrent protections, based on
measurement of phase, ground or sequence current components, can be used to clear
these faults. Additionally it is sometimes required that these overcurrent protections
shall be directional and/or voltage controlled/restrained.
The over/under voltage protection is applied on power system elements such as generators, transformers, motors and power lines in order to detect abnormal voltage conditions. Depending on the type of voltage deviation and type of power system abnormal
condition different over/under voltage protections based on measurement of phase-toground, phase-to-phase, residual or sequence voltage components can be used to
detect and operate for such incident.
The RET 521 terminal can be provided with up to twelve multipurpose general function (GF) protection modules. All general function protection modules are executed in
RET 521 in the fastest internal execution cycle (i.e. five times in each fundamental
power system cycle). The function is always connected to three-phase current and
three-phase voltage input in the configuration tool, but it will always measure only the
single current and the single voltage quantity selected by the end user in the setting
tool (i.e. selected current quantity and selected voltage quantity). Each module can be
configured to any side of the power transformer. It is also possible to configure any
number of modules to the same side of the power transformer. Each multipurpose general function module has got the following protection elements built into it:
Two non-directional overcurrent stages working completely independently from
each other but measuring the same quantity. The lowset stage can be set to have
either definite time delay or a user programmable inverse time delay characteristic. Therefore any inverse curve according to IEC, IEEE or ANSI standard can be
obtained. Additionally the inverse time characteristic can have instantaneous or
time delayed reset. The highset stage can only have definite time delay. Second
harmonic blocking feature is available for both stages, however it is not possible
to use this with all possible choices of measured current quantities.

60

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

Current restrained feature is available in order to restrain (i.e. prevent) non-directional overcurrent stages from starting if the measured current quantity is not bigger than the set percentage of the current restrain quantity. This feature can be
switched off by a setting parameter.
Voltage restrained/controlled feature is available in order to modify the pick-up
level of the lowset and/or highset non-directional overcurrent stage in proportion
to the magnitude of the measured voltage. This feature can be switched off by a
setting parameter.
A directional criterion is available in order to prevent starting of the non-directional overcurrent stage/s if the fault location is not in the set direction (i.e. forward/reverse)
One overvoltage and one undervoltage stage. Both stages only have definite time
delay. These features work completely independently from the overcurrent
stages.
All these general protection function features can be individually enabled/disabled. It
is as well possible to simultaneously enable more than one feature (even all at the same
time).

15.2

Measured Quantities
A multipurpose general function in RET 521 shall be configured to a three-phase current input and a three-phase voltage input. However the general function always measures only one current and one voltage quantity. The user can define these measured
quantities by two setting parameters in the setting tool.
The user can select one of the following available current quantities shown in Table 10
for measurement, when three-phase currents are connected to the general function in
sequence IL1, IL2 & IL3.

Table 10: Current Selection with three-phase currents as inputs

Set value for
parameter
CurrentInput

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Comment

L1

GF function will measure the magnitude of the first connected current input (i.e. IL1)

L2

GF function will measure the magnitude of the second connected current input (i.e. IL2)

L3

GF function will measure the magnitude of the third connected current input (i.e. IL3)

61

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

Table 10: Current Selection with three-phase currents as inputs

Set value for
parameter
CurrentInput

62

Comment

PS

GF function will measure the magnitude of the positive

sequence current phasor internally calculated from the three
input currents

NS

GF function will measure the magnitude of the negative

sequence current phasor internally calculated from the three
input currents

3ZS

GF function will measure the magnitude of the three times

the zero sequence current phasor internally calculated from
the three input currents (i.e. 3Io)

MAX

GF function will measure the magnitude of the current phasor with maximum magnitude from the three input currents

MIN

GF function will measure the magnitude of the current phasor with minimum magnitude from the three input currents

UNB

GF function will measure unbalance current, which is internally calculated as the algebraic difference between the current input with maximum magnitude and the current input
with minimum magnitude from the three input currents

10

L1L2

GF function will measure the magnitude of the current phasor internally calculated as the vectorial difference between
the first and the second current inputs (i.e. IL1-IL2)

11

L2L3

GF function will measure the magnitude of the current phasor internally calculated as the vectorial difference between
the second and the third current inputs (i.e. IL2-IL3)

12

L3L1

GF function will measure the magnitude of the current phasor internally calculated as the vectorial difference between
the third and the first current inputs (i.e. IL3-IL1)

13

MAX2

GF function will measure the magnitude of the current phasor with maximum magnitude among the three difference
current phasors calculated (see rows 10, 11, 12)

14

MIN2

GF function will measure the magnitude of the current phasor with minimum magnitude among the three difference
current phasors calculated (see rows 10, 11, 12)

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

The user can select one of the following available voltage quantities shown in Table 11
for measurement, when three phase-to-ground voltages are connected to the general
function in sequence UL1, UL2 & UL3.

Table 11: Voltage Selection with phase-to-ground voltages as inputs

Set value for

parameter
VoltageInput

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Comment

L1

GF function will measure the magnitude of the first

connected voltage input (i.e. UL1)

L2

GF function will measure the magnitude of the second

connected voltage input (i.e. UL2)

L3

GF function will measure the magnitude of the third

connected voltage input (i.e. UL3)

PS

GF function will measure the magnitude of the positive

sequence voltage phasor internally calculated from the
three input voltages

-NS

GF function will measure the magnitude of the negative sequence voltage phasor internally calculated from
the three input voltages. This voltage phasor will be
intentionally inverted in order to enable easier settings
when the directional feature is used.

-3ZS

GF function will measure the magnitude of three time

the zero sequence voltage phasor internally calculated
from the three input voltages. This voltage phasor will
be intentionally inverted in order to enable easier settings when the directional feature is used (i.e. -3Uo).

MAX

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage

phasor with maximum magnitude from the three input
voltages

MIN

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage

phasor with minimum magnitude from the three input
voltages

63

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

Table 11: Voltage Selection with phase-to-ground voltages as inputs

Set value for

parameter
VoltageInput

64

Comment

UNB

GF function will measure unbalance voltage, which is

internally calculated as the algebraic difference
between the voltage input with maximum magnitude
and the voltage input with minimum magnitude from
the three input phase voltages

10

L1L2

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage

phasor internally calculated as the vectorial difference
between the first and the second voltage inputs (i.e.
UL1-UL2)

11

L2L3

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage

phasor internally calculated as the vectorial difference
between the second and the third voltage inputs (i.e.
UL2-UL3)

12

L3L1

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage

phasor internally calculated as the vectorial difference
between the third and the first voltage inputs (i.e. UL3UL1)

13

MAX2

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage

phasor with maximum magnitude among the three differences voltages calculated (see rows 10, 11, 12)

14

MIN2

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage

phasor with minimum magnitude among the three difference voltages calculated (see rows 10, 11, 12)

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

The user can select one of the following available voltage quantities shown in Table 12
for measurement , when three phase-to-phase voltages are connected to the general
function in sequence UL1L2, UL2L3 & UL3L1.
.
Table 12: Voltage Selection with phase-to-phase voltages as inputs
Set value for
parameter
VoltageInput

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Comment

L1

GF function will measure the magnitude of the first connected voltage input (i.e. UL1L2)

L2

GF function will measure the magnitude of the second connected voltage input (i.e. UL2L3)

L3

GF function will measure the magnitude of the third connected voltage input (i.e. UL3L1)

PS

GF function will measure the magnitude of the positive

sequence voltage phasor internally calculated from the three
input voltages

-NS

GF function will measure the magnitude of the negative

sequence voltage phasor internally calculated from the three
input voltages. This voltage phasor will be intentionally
inverted in order to enable easier settings when the directional feature is used.

-3ZS

GF function will measure the magnitude of three times the

zero sequence voltage phasor internally calculated from the
three input voltages (i.e. -3Uo). This voltage phasor will be
intentionally inverted in order to enable easier settings when
the directional feature is used. However, with this type of
voltage inputs this calculation shall always be zero and
therefore it is NOT recommended to use this setting
when phase-to-phase voltages are connected to the
general function

MAX

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage phasor with maximum magnitude from the three input phase-tophase voltages

MIN

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage phasor with minimum magnitude from the three input phase-tophase voltages

UNB

GF function will measure unbalance voltage, which is internally calculated as the algebraic difference between the voltage input with maximum magnitude and the voltage input
with minimum magnitude from the three input phase-tophase voltages

65

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

Table 12: Voltage Selection with phase-to-phase voltages as inputs

Set value for
parameter
VoltageInput

15.3

Comment

10

L1L2

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage phasor internally calculated as the vectorial difference between
the first and the second voltage inputs (i.e. UL1L2-UL2L3)

11

L2L3

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage phasor internally calculated as the vectorial difference between
the second and the third voltage inputs (i.e. UL2L3-UL3L1)

12

L3L1

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage phasor internally calculated as the vectorial difference between
the third and the first voltage inputs (i.e. UL3L1-UL1L2)

13

MAX2

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage phasor with maximum magnitude among the three difference
voltages calculated (see rows 10, 11, 12)

14

MIN2

GF function will measure the magnitude of the voltage phasor with minimum magnitude among the three difference
voltages calculated (see rows 10, 11, 12)

Current and Voltage Base Values for GF Function

All current and voltage pickup values for GF functions are entered in percents of the
base values. Current and voltage base values are defined, for each GF function, by the
setting applied to the parameter SIDE which is located on the GF function block in
the configuration tool (see next figure).

GF04-(224,4)

GF04-(224,4)

*)

*)

#3

BLKOCLS
BLKOCHS
BLKOV
BLKUV
SIDE2W
G3I
G3U

ERROR
TROC
TROCLS
STOCLS
TROCHS
STOCHS
I2BLK
TROV
STOV
TRUV
STUV
en03000136.vsd

Fig. 27

66

#4

BLKOCLS
BLKOCHS
BLKOV
BLKUV
SIDE3W
G3I
G3U

ERROR
TROC
TROCLS
STOCLS
TROCHS
STOCHS
I2BLK
TROV
STOV
TRUV
STUV
en03000137.vsd

GF04 function for 2-winding (left) and 3-winding (right) terminal transformer protection

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

The following table defines the possible values of the SIDE parameter in case of
two-winding terminals:

Table 13: Base Values for 2-winding RET 521 terminal

Value for
SIDE2W

Base Value Definition

Base_Current=Ir1 (rated phase current of the first winding, entered in

the setting tool under Power Transformer Rated Data)
Base_Voltage=Ur1 (rated phase-to-phase voltage of the first winding,
entered in the setting tool under Power Transformer Rated Data)

Base_Current=Ir2 (rated phase current of the second winding,

entered in the setting tool under Power Transformer Rated Data)
Base_Voltage=Ur2 (rated phase-to-phase voltage of the second winding, entered in the setting tool under Power Transformer Rated
Data)

Base_Current=IrUserDef (User can define the base value independently from any winding rated data. This value is entered in the setting
tool under GFxx/SelectAnalogue)
Base_Voltage=UrUserDef (User can define the base value independently from any winding rated data. This value is entered in the setting
tool under GFxx/SelectAnalogue. Either phase-to-phase or phaseto-ground voltage value can be given as a base value.)

The following table defines the possible values of the SIDE parameter in case of
three-winding terminals:

Table 14: Base Values for 3-winding RET 521 terminal

Value for
SIDE3W

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Base Value Definition

Base_Current=Ir1 (rated phase current of the first winding, entered in

the setting tool under Power Transformer Rated Data)
Base_Voltage=Ur1 (rated phase-to-phase voltage of the first winding,
entered in the setting tool under Power Transformer Rated Data)

Base_Current=Ir2 (rated phase current of the second winding,

entered in the setting tool under Power Transformer Rated Data)
Base_Voltage=Ur2 (rated phase-to-phase voltage of the second
winding, entered in the setting tool under Power Transformer Rated
Data)

67

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

Table 14: Base Values for 3-winding RET 521 terminal

Value for
SIDE3W

Base Value Definition

Base_Current=Ir3 (rated phase current of the third winding, entered in

the setting tool under Power Transformer Rated Data)
Base_Voltage=Ur3 (rated phase-to-phase voltage of the third winding, entered in the setting tool under Power Transformer Rated
Data)

Base_Current=IrUserDef (User can define the base value independently from any winding rated data. This value is entered in the setting
tool under GFxx/SelectAnalogue)
Base_Voltage=UrUserDef (User can define the base value independently from any winding rated data. This value is entered in the setting
tool under GFxx/SelectAnalogue. Either phase-to-phase or phaseto-ground voltage value can be given as a base value.)

Please note the following:

Current base value is always entered in primary amperes
Voltage base value is always entered in primary kV
If the base values are associated to a transformer winding, setting parameters
IrUserDef & UrUserDef for this GF function have no effect on function
operation
When the base values are associated to a transformer winding, the base value for
the voltage is always phase-to-phase voltage

15.4

Non-directional Overcurrent Feature

Two non-directional overcurrent stages are always available in each GF function.
These two stages are called LowSet and HighSet in further text. The two stages have
independently settable current pickup level. The LowSet stage can have definite time
delay or inverse time delay. The HighSet stage can have only definite time delay. The
inverse time delay for LowSet is done by using a general formula. By doing so it is
possible to use any type of inverse time delay with GF functions (i.e. IEC, IEEE,
ANSI, I2t etc.). The general formula for the LowSet inverse time delay operating time
has the following form:

A
t op k ---------------------------------------+B
P
Measured
I-------------------- I pickup C
where:

68

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Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

top is operating time of the LowSet stage when inverse operating time is selected
k is the time multiplier (parameter settings)
A, B, C & P are specific constants for any type of curve (parameter settings)
IMeasured is the selected current to be measured by the GF function (see section 15.2
Measured Quantities)
Ipickup is the set current pickup value for the LowSet stage
The pickup current value for the LowSet stage is defined by the following formula:

IsetLow
I pickup = --------------------- I Base
100

where:
IsetLow is the pickup setting in percent for the LowSet stage
IBase is the base current used by the GF function (see section 15.3 Base Values)
Please note that the above equation is more complicated if the Voltage Restrained/
Controlled feature of the GF function is enabled. Please refer to section 15.6 Voltage
Controll/Restraint to see how the pickup value is calculated in that case.
Therefore in order to get the desired inverse curve type the end user has to set appropriate values for the curve constants A, B, C & P. Values for these constants for the
standard IEC/IEEE curve types can be found in the following table:

Table 15: A, B C & P Constant Values for the Standard Curves

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Curve Type

IEC/Normal Inverse

0.14

0.0

1.0

0.02

IEC/Very Inverse

13.5

0.0

1.0

1.0

IEC/Extremely Inverse

80.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

IEC/Long Time Inverse

120.0

0.0

1.0

1.0

IEC/Short Inverse

0.05

0.0

1.0

0.04

69

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

Table 15: A, B C & P Constant Values for the Standard Curves

Curve Type

IEEE/Very Inverse

19.61

0.491

1.0

2.0

IEEE/Moderately Inverse

0.0515

0.1140

1.0

0.02

ANSI/Inverse

0.0086

0.0185

1.0

0.02

ANSI/Very Inverse

2.855

0.0712

1.0

2.0

ANSI/Extremely Inverse

6.407

0.025

1.0

2.0

ANSI/Short Time Inverse

0.0017

0.0037

1.0

0.02

ANSI/Short Time Extremely

Inverse

1.281

0.005

1.0

2.0

ANSI/Long Time Inverse

0.086

0.185

1.0

0.02

ANSI/Long Time Very Inverse

28.55

0.712

1.0

2.0

ANSI/Long Time Extremely

Inverse

64.07

0.250

1.0

2.0

Please note that the setting for the time multiplier k shall be done in the usual way.
However the user shall observe that k typically has values in the following ranges:
from 0.05 to 1.10 for IEC curves
from 1 to 10 for IEEE curves
for ANSI curves k shall be calculated in accordance with the following formula

14 n 5
k = ---------------------9
where n can have values in the range from 1.0 to 10.0 in steps of 0.1.
Therefore with the GF function it is possible to obtain almost any type of inverse
curve. It should as well be noted that it is possible to use all these inverse curves with
any measured input current (i.e. maximum phase current, minimum phase current,
unbalance current, positive sequence current, negative sequence current, etc.). The end
user can also apply user-specific inverse curves by entering the appropriate setting values for the A, B, C & P constants.
RET 521 calculates the operating time for the entered inverse curve by an integration
technique. This insures proper operation for changing magnitude of the input current.
For more information about this feature please refer to the Technical Reference Manual.

70

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Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

When the inverse time setting is used it is also possible to change from instantaneous
reset time to a user settable exponential reset time. This means that the GF function
will not reset the accumulated integration register instantaneously when the start condition disappears, but will instead reset the accumulated integration value exponentially according to the value of the setting parameter tReset which actually
represents the exponential function time constant. Formula used is

t
e -------------tReset
This will ensure secure operation of the GF function in case of intermittent faults and
easier time coordination with existing downstream electromechanical overcurrent
relays. Please note that this exponential reset feature is only available for the inverse
time characteristics and not for the definite time delay characteristics.
Both non-directional overcurrent protection stages can be individually restrained by a
second harmonic component in the input current. However it shall be noted that this
feature is not applicable when one of the following three measured currents is selected:
positive sequence current
negative sequence current
unbalance current
The inverse curve in the LowSet stage of the GF function can be used, with appropriate settings for the A, B, C & P constants, as I2t type of curve as well. In the following
examples use of the LowSet inverse characteristic for two such applications will be
explained:
Example #1 / Question: Can the GF function be used as negative sequence inverse
overcurrent protection for a generator with capability constant of 20s, and minimum
operating current of 7%?
Example #1 / Answer: Yes it can.
The capability curve for a generator negative sequence overcurrent protection, often
used world-wide, is defined by the ANSI standard in accordance with the following
formula:

k
t op = ---------------------2
I
NS
----------- I Rated
where:

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71

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

top is the operating time of the negative sequence overcurrent relay

k is the generator capability constant
INS is the measured negative sequence current
IRated is the generator rated current
This formula is applicable only when negative sequence current exceed a pre-set value
(typically in the range from 6% to 35% of generator rated current).
The above formula can be re-written in the following way without changing the value
for the operate time of the negative sequence inverse overcurrent relay:

t op

1
k ----2x
= ------------------------------2
I NS
-------------------- x I Rated

where:
x is the per unit value of the desired pickup for the negative sequence overcurrent
relay.
When the above equation is compared with the general equation for the inverse time
characteristic of the GF LowSet stage it is obvious that if the following rules are followed:
set k equal to the generator negative sequence capability value
set A constant equal to the value 1/x2
set B = 0.0, C=0.0 and P=2.0
set IsetLow equal to the value x
then the GF LowSet stage can be used for generator negative sequence inverse overcurrent protection.

72

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Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

For this particular example the following shall be done to insure proper function operation:
select negative sequence current as measuring quantity for this GF function
make sure that the base current value for the GF function is equal to the generator
rated current
set k = 20
set A = 1/0.072 = 204.0816
set B = 0.0, C = 0.0 and P = 2.0
set IsetLow = 7%
set tReset = k = 20s (to insure proper operation of the negative sequence overcurrent relay in case of repeated negative sequence overcurrent conditions)
set minimum operating time tMin = k/2 =10s (just to prevent this function from
operating too quickly in case of a nearby heavy external fault)
Proper timing of a function made in this way can easily be verified by secondary injection.
Example #2 / Question: Can the GF function be used as generator stator overload
protection in accordance with IEC or ANSI standard and minimum operating current
of 116%?
Example #2 / Answer: Yes it can.
The generator stator overload protection is defined by IEC or ANSI standard in accordance with the following formula:

k
t op = -----------------------------I PS 2
----------- I Rated 1
where:
top is the operating time of the generator stator overload relay
k is the generator capability constant in accordance with the relevant standard
IPS is the measured positive sequence current
IRated is the generator rated current
This formula is applicable only when positive sequence current exceeds a pre-set value
(typically in the range from 105 to 125% of the generator rated current).

1MRK 504 037-UEN

73

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

The above formula can be re-written in the following way without changing the value
for the operate time of the generator stator overload relay:

t op

1
k ----2x
= ----------------------------------------I PS 2 1
--------------------- ----2 x I Rated
x

where:
x is the per unit value for the desired pickup value of the overload relay
When the above equation is compared with the general equation for the inverse time
characteristic of the GF LowSet stage it is obvious that if the following rules are followed:
set k equal to the IEC or ANSI standard generator capability value
set A constant equal to the value 1/x2
set B = 0.0
set C constant equal to the value 1/x2
Set P = 2.0
set IsetLow equal to the value x
then the GF LowSet stage can be used for generator stator overload protection.
For this particular example the following shall be done to insure proper operation:
select positive sequence current as measured quantity for this GF function
make sure that the base current value for the GF function is equal to the generator
rated current
set k = 37.5 for the IEC standard or k = 41.4 for the ANSI standard
set A = C = 1/1.162 = 0.7432
set B = 0.0
set P = 2.0

74

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

set IsetLow = 116%

set tReset = 50s (to insure proper operation of the overload relay in case of
repeated overload condition)
set tMin = 20s (just to prevent this function from operating too quickly in case of
a nearby heavy external fault)
Proper timing of a function made in this way can easily be verified by secondary injection.

15.5

Current Restraint Feature

The start of the (non-directional) LowSet and HighSet overcurrent stages can be made
dependent on a measured value of a restraint current. This feature will not effect the
pickup value of the (non-directional) overcurrent stage, but will instead pose an additional criterion for its starting. Neither the LowSet or the HighSet overcurrent stage
will be able to start unless the magnitude of the measured current is bigger than the
pre-set percentage of the restraining current magnitude. This feature can be switched
on or off by a parameter setting. The current restraint characteristic is shown in the following figure:

pe
r

at
e

ar

ea

IMeasured

Re
I>

IsetHigh

Co
st r

eff

n
rai
t
s
e
*I r

IsetLow

atan(RestrCoeff)
Restraint
Fig. 28

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Current Restraint Characteristic

75

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

It shall be noted that the restraint coefficient is the same for both (non-directional)
stages. The restraint current can be separately selected in accordance with the following table:
Table 16: Restraint Current Selection with three-phase currents as inputs
Set value for parameter
RestrCurr

Comment

PS

GF function will use the magnitude of the internally

calculated positive sequence current phasor as
the current restraint quantity

NS

GF function will use the magnitude of the internally

calculated negative sequence current phasor as
the current restraint quantity

3ZS

GF function will use the magnitude of the internally

calculated three times zero sequence current phasor as the current restraint quantity

MAX

GF function will use the magnitude of the input

current phasor with maximum magnitude as the
current restraint quantity

Two possible applications for this current restraint feature are presented below:
Example 1: A sensitive setting for negative or zero sequence overcurrent protection is
often required. This can cause unwanted operation of such a function under certain circumstances (i.e. light load condition or heavy fault followed by main CT saturation).
In order to make such function more secure it is possible to restrain it by requiring that
at the same time the measured negative or zero sequence current must be bigger than 5
to 10% of the positive sequence current or maximum phase current of the protected
object. This is now easy to obtain in the GF function by enabling this built-in feature.
Example 2: Pole disagreement protection is often required. This can be achieved by
using the GF function by comparing the unbalance current with a pre-set level. In
order to make such a function more secure it is possible to restrain it by requiring that
at the same time the measured unbalance current must be bigger than 95% of the maximum phase current. Such an arrangement is easy to obtain in the GF function by
enabling the current restraint feature.

76

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

15.6

Voltage Control/Restraint Feature

When enabled, this feature makes the pickup level of the (non-directional) GF overcurrent stages variable in accordance with the magnitude of the measured voltage.
Once the correct pickup level is determined for every function execution, the function
continue to work as described earlier. This feature has separate setting parameters for
the LowSet and HighSet stages. Here it is of the outmost importance to understand that
the selected voltage will be used for this feature. Therefore it is the sole responsibility
of the end user to select the appropriate voltage and current signals in order to get
proper functionality. Figure 29 gives an example how current pickup levels can vary
with measured voltage magnitude:

IsetHigh
IsetLow

IFactorHigh*IsetHigh

IFactorLow*IsetLow

UFactor*ULevel

Fig. 29

ULevel

Voltage

Current Pickup variation with Measured Voltage Magnitude

The setting parameters ULevel, UFactor, IFactorLow & IFactorHigh (see Figure 29)
are the relevant parameters which influence the pickup value of the two (non-directional) overcurrent stages.
A traditional voltage controlled functionality is obtained when the following settings
are applied:
set ULevel to the desired voltage level at which the overcurrent stages shall drop
their pick-up value (i.e. 60%)
set UFactor to the default value of 0.99
set IFactorLow or IFactorHigh to values less than 1.00 (i.e. 0.5)

1MRK 504 037-UEN

77

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

When these settings are implemented the mid portion of the characteristic from Figure
29 practically disappears and only first and third part of the characteristic are used by
the GF function. Therefore the voltage controlled overcurrent relay is obtained.
In this way the traditional voltage restrained functionality is obtained with the following settings:
set ULevel to 100% (i.e. rated voltage)
set UFactor to 0.25 (i.e. 25%)
set IFactorLow or IFactorHigh to 0.25 (i.e. 25%)
When these settings are applied the traditional voltage restrained overcurrent relay is
obtained. However it should be noted that the setting ranges for the voltage restraint
feature are quite wide. This offers some additional application possibilities (see Last
Chapter for more information).

15.7

Directional Feature
The operation of the two overcurrent stages in the GF function can be made directional
by enabling the directional feature built-into this function. This feature has separate
setting parameters for LowSet and HighSet stages. The setting for relay characteristic
angle (i.e. rca in Figure 30) can be set from -180o to +180o. Negative rca value means
that the maximum tork angle (i.e. mta in Figure 30) line lags the reference voltage.
Positive rca value means that the mta line leads the reference voltage. For this feature
it is of the outmost importance to understand that the selected voltage and current will
be used for directional decision. Therefore it is the sole responsibility of the end user to
select the appropriate current and voltage signals in order to get a proper directional
decision. The GF function will NOT do this automatically. It will just simply use the
current and voltage phasors selected by the end user to check the directional criteria.
The following table gives an overview of the typical choices (but not the only possible
ones) for these two quantities for traditional directional relays:

Table 17: Typical current & voltage choices for directional function

78

Set value for

parameter
CurrentInput

Set value for

parameter
VoltageInput

Comment

PS

PS

Directional positive sequence overcurrent

function is obtained. Typical setting for rca is
from -45o to -90o depending on the power
system voltage level (i.e. X/R ratio)

NS

-NS

Directional negative sequence overcurrent

function is obtained. Typical setting for rca is
from -45o to -90o depending on the power
system voltage level (i.e. X/R ratio)

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

Table 17: Typical current & voltage choices for directional function
Set value for
parameter
CurrentInput

Set value for

parameter
VoltageInput

Comment

3ZS

-3ZS

Directional zero sequence overcurrent function is obtained. Typical setting for rca is from
0o to -90o depending on the power system
earthing (i.e. solidly earthed, earthed via
resistor, etc.)

L1

L2L3

Directional overcurrent function for the first

phase is obtained. Typical setting for rca is
+30o or +45o

L2

L3L1

Directional overcurrent function for the second phase is obtained. Typical setting for rca
is +30o or +45o

L3

L1L2

Directional overcurrent function for the third

phase is obtained. Typical setting for rca is
+30o or +45o

Unbalance current or voltage measurement shall not be used when the directional feature is enabled.
It shall be noted that the GF directional feature has two different operating principles
selectable by a parameter setting. The first principle, referred as I & U in the
parameter setting tool, checks the following:
that the magnitude of the measured current is bigger than the set pick-up level
that the phasor of the measured current is within the operating region (defined by
the relay operate angle, roa parameter setting; see Figure 30)

1MRK 504 037-UEN

79

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

8 8

UFD
URD

, ,R

,SLFNXS

2SHUDWHUHJLRQ

mta line

Fig. 30

I & U directional operating principle for GF (rca=-75o, roa=50o)

The second principle, referred as Icos() & U in the parameter setting tool,
checks the following:
that the product I*cos() is bigger than the set pick-up level, where is angle
between the current phasor and the mta line
that the phasor of the measured current is within the operating region (defined by
the Icos() straight line and the relay operate angle, roa parameter setting; see
Figure 31)

8 8

UFD
,SLFNXS

URD

2SHUDWHUHJLRQ

Fig. 31

, ,R

mta line

Icos() 8 directional operating principle for GF (rca=-75o,

roa=50o)

80

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

It shall be noted that the directional feature does NOT incorporate voltage memory.
However, it is possible to decide by a parameter setting how the individual stage shall
behave when the magnitude of the reference (i.e. polarizing) voltage falls below the
pre-set value. It can be:
blocked (i.e. operation prevented for low magnitude of the reference voltage)
non-directional (i.e. operation allowed for low magnitude of the reference voltage)
The direction of the operation is individually settable for both LowSet and HighSet
overcurrent stages (i.e. Non-directional/Forward/Reverse). However it shall be noted
that the following convention has been used within the GF function:
the setting Forward means that the GF function will operate for faults in the connected power system
the setting Reverse means that the GF function will operate for faults in the protected transformer and for faults in the power system connected on the other side
of the transformer
As an example, this convention is shown for the two GF functions located on two different sides of the power transformer in the following figure:

High Voltage Side

HighSet
Forward

GF

LowSet
Reverse

GF

HighSet
Reverse
LowSet
Forward
Low Voltage Side

Fig. 32

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Forward & Reverse convention for GF function in RET 521

81

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

15.8

Over/Under Voltage Feature

The GF function has one overvoltage and one undervoltage protection stage built-in.
These stages have a fixed hysteresis (i.e. reset ratio) of 99% and 101% respectively.
These two voltage stages use the selected measured voltage for the operating quantity.
The setting parameters are completely independent for these two stages. However, it is
possible to use only definite time delay for both of them. There is not any correlation
or influence between operation of the overcurrent and over/under voltage stages within
the GF function. If such correlation is desired (i.e. fuse-failure or inadvertant energising functionality), it have to be performed externally in the terminal configuration, utilizing internal logical gates and individual stages blocking inputs which are available
on every GF function.

15.9

Impedance Based Application Possibilities with GF Function

By combining different built-in GF function features it is possible to achieve the following functionality
Non-directional underimpedance protection with circular characteristic centred
around the origin in the impedance plain
Underimpedance protection with mho characteristic
These two applications will be explained in next two paragraphs.

15.9.1

Non-directional underimpedance protection with circular characteristic

It is possible to form such a protection with the GF function by simultaneously

enabling the non-directional overcurrent stages and voltage restrain feature. The possible application will be explained with a practical example:
Example #1 / Question: Can the GF function be used for generator-transformer block
backup underimpedance protection? Two underimpedance zones are required. One
which should not overreach through the transformer and the second one which should
start when the measured impedance drops below 60% of generator nominal load
impedance? See Figure 33 for relevant power system details.
Example #1 / Answer: Yes it can.
To achieve this functionality three GF modules shall be used (i.e. GF01, GF02 and
GF03). Each module will measure the current and voltage signal from one of the three
phases (i.e. IL2 & UL2). The HighSet will be used as the fast zone 1 and the LowSet
as the slow zone 2.
In order not to overreach through the power transformer, the zone 1 shall be set to
75% of the power transformer impedance. The transformer impedance on the 10.5kV
side is equal to:
XT=0.12*(10.52/55)=0.241 Ohms/phase

82

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

Therefore the setting for the zone 1 shall correspond to ZZ1=0.75*0.241=0.181

Ohms/phase in primary ohms. In order to obtain this impedance setting, the corresponding current pickup of the HighSet stage shall be calculated in accordance with
the following formula:

U Base 100 10500 ( 3 ) 100

ISetHigh = -------------- ----------- = ------------------------------- ------------ = 1116percent
Z Z1
I Base
0, 181
3002

where
UBase is nominal phase-to-ground voltage given as base value to the GF function
IBase is nominal generator current given as base value to the GF function
A definite time delay of 10-30 ms shall be used for the HighSet stage in order to coordinate with possible fuse-failure function operation.

RET 521 2p5

IL1, IL2 & IL3

$,0&K 
55 MVA
55/10.5kV
Yd11
XT=12%

Y
IN

$,0&K

DIFP
11000/110V

54.6 MVA
10.5kV
3002A

1MRK 504 037-UEN

$,0&K 

GS

3500/5A

Fig. 33

UL1, UL2 & UL3

IL1, IL2 & IL3

$,0&K 

GFxx

Power system setup for Example 1

83

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

Zone 2 shall be set to 60% of the nominal generator load impedance. Therefore:
ZZ2= 0.60*(10.52/54.6)=0.60*2.019=1.212 Ohms/phase in primary ohms. In order to
obtain this impedance setting, the corresponding current pickup of the LowSet stage
shall be calculated in accordance with the following formula:

U Base 100 10500 ( 3 ) 100

ISetLow = -------------- ----------- = ------------------------------- ------------ = 167percent
Z Z2
I Base
1, 212
3002

A definite time delay of at least 400ms-800ms should be used for the LowSet stage in
order to coordinate with other relays in the system. Second harmonic blocking can be
used to restrain operation during power transformer inrush.
The above calculated values for ISetHigh & ISetLow are the current pickups for nominal phase-to-ground voltage. In order to obtain the underimpedance characteristic, the
voltage restraint feature shall be enabled and set as well. For this application the following settings are recommended:

Table 18: Voltage Restraint Feature Settings

Parameter
Name

Set Value

Comment

OperUrestr

On

In order to enable voltage restraint feature

ULevel

100%

This is the voltage level for which ISetLow & ISetHigh

are calculated (i.e. 100% of UBase)

UFactor

0.05

Voltage level when the voltage restraint feature stops

working

IFactorLow

0.05

Current level below which LowSet (i.e. Zone 2) will

stop operating regardless of the magnitude of the measured voltage
[i.e. 0.05*(ISetLow/100)*IBase=250A Primary or 8.3% of
the generator rating]

IFactorHigh

0.05

Current level below which HighSet (i.e. Zone 1) will

stop operating regardless of the magnitude of the measured voltage
[i.e. 0.05*(ISetHigh/100)*IBase=1675A Primary or 56%
of the generator rating]

The corresponding underimpedance characteristic in primary ohms is shown in Figure

34.
84

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

It shall be noted that this type of underimpedance function can as well be obtained in a
similar way for other types of measured voltage and current (i.e. positive sequence,
phase-to-phase, etc.).
In order to prevent unwanted operation of such underimpedance functions, it is necessary to block these GF modules in the configuration tool in case of loss of VT potential
(i.e. fuse failure). This can be achieved externally via binary input or by using another
GF function as the fuse-failure function.

X
==

==

ZZ1
R

Fig. 34

15.9.2

Underimpedance Characteristic with GF function

Underimpedance protection with mho characteristic

It is possible to form such protection with the GF function by simultaneously enabling

the overcurrent stage, the directional feature with Icos() & U characteristic with
roa set to 90o, and the voltage restraint feature. The operating characteristic of one
such LowSet element is shown in Figure 35.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

85

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

UFD R
8//

rca
,6HW/RZ
3

,//

2SHUDWLQJ5HJLRQ

Fig. 35

Operating region of the directional LowSet element with Icos() 8

FKDUDFWHULVWLF

By simple mathematics it can be shown that this operating region from U,I plane is
transferred to a circular mho operating region in the corresponding R,X plain as shown
in Figure 36:

2SHU
DW

LQJ5
H

JLRQ

=3

=rca
R
Fig. 36

86

Corresponding characteristic to Figure 35 in the impedance plain

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Multipurpose General Protection Function (GF)

Application of functions

It is interesting to notice the following properties of this transformation:

point P from the U,I plane transfers to point ZP in the impedance plain
ZP magnitude in primary only can be calculated as UBase/((ISetLow/100)*IBase)
and it represents the characteristic impedance of the mho circle
Characteristic angle of the mho circle is equal to the negative value of the set
rca value for the GF directional criterion.
In order to obtain underimpedance mho characteristic with the fixed diameter in the
impedance plain, the voltage restraint feature shall be enabled and set as well. These
settings shall be done in exactly the same way as explained for the circular underimpedance function (see Table 18 for more details).
It shall be noted that this type of underimpedance mho function can as well be
obtained in a similar way for other types of measured voltage and current input (i.e.
positive sequence component, phase-to-phase quantity, phase quantity, etc.).
In a similar way a mho circle with a different characteristic impedance can be obtained
from the HighSet stage. It is also possible to use one stage (i.e. LowSet) as mho and
the other (i.e. HighSet) with a circular, non-directional impedance characteristic. The
result in the impedance plain will be an eight shape as shown in the Figure 37.

Fig. 37

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Possible overall characteristic of one GF function

87

Restricted earth fault protection (REF)

Application of functions

However it shall be noted that GF function(s) can not provide complete distance protection functionality. For example the phase selection logic, typically found in distance
protection, is not available. Therefore all configured and enabled measuring underimpedance loops will be simultaneously active all the time irrespective of the measured quantities (i.e. existence of zero sequence current or zero sequence voltage).

15.10

Application Possibilities with GF Function and Additional

Configuration in CAP 531 Tool
The GF function has very flexible and commonly used features. By combining these
feature and some additional logic in the configuration, it is possible to obtain many different applications. Some of these are listed here:
circuit breaker failure protection (reset time of the current measurement is in the
range 25-30ms)
VT fuse failure protection (negative sequence or zero sequence based measurement)
loss of excitation
inadvertent energising
positive, negative and zero-sequence directional comparison accross protected
object (i.e. power transfomer)
etc.

16

Restricted earth fault protection (REF)

Break-down of the insulation between a phase conductor and earth in an effectively or
low impedance earthed power system results in a large fault current. A breakdown of
the insulation between a transformer winding and the core or the tank may result in a
large fault current which causes severe damage to the windings and the transformer
core. A high gas pressure may developed, damaging the transformer tank.
Fast and sensitive detection of earth faults in a power transformer winding can be
obtained by the restricted earth fault protection in solidly earthed or low impedance
earthed networks. The only requirement is that the power transformer winding is connected to earth in the star point (in case of star-connected windings) or via separate
earthing transformer (in case of delta-connected windings).

16.1

General
The restricted earth fault function is used as a unit protection function. It protects the
power transformer winding against the faults involving earth. However, it should be
noted that the earth faults are the most likely and common type of fault.

88

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Restricted earth fault protection (REF)

Application of functions

Overall transformer differential protection (DIFP) may not be sensitive enough to

operate for:
earth faults in the transformer winding when the network is earthed through an
impedance,
earth faults in the transformer winding in solidly earthed network when the point
of the fault is close to the winding star point.
For these type of faults the restricted earth fault protection is the fastest and the most
sensitive protection a power transformer winding can have. At the same time REF is
not affected, as differential protection, with the following power transformer related
phenomena:
magnetizing inrush currents,
overexcitation magnetizing currents,
on load tap changer,
external and internal phase faults which do not involve earth,
symmetrical overload conditions.
Because of its properties the restricted earth fault protection may be used as main protection of the transformer winding for faults involving earth.
Traditionally restricted earth fault protection was based on high impedance differential principle. However, REF function available in RET 521 transformer protection terminal is a low impedance type. It can be shortly described as an earth (i.e. zerosequence) differential function with supplementary directional check feature.

16.2

Magnitude of the earth fault current

The magnitude of the earth fault current in the transformer winding is not only controlled by the source impedance and neutral earthing impedance but also by the leakage reactance of the power transformer and the fact that the fault voltage may differ
from the full system voltage according to the position of the fault in the winding.
For delta connected windings earth fault current will have its maximum value when
the fault is on the winding terminal. This maximum fault current magnitude will
mostly depend on the type of power network earthing.The minimum earth fault current, for delta connected windings, will appear for the fault in the midpoint of the
winding. This fault current will be approximately 50% of the maximum earth fault current.
For solidly earthed, star connected windings earth fault current will have its maximum
value when fault is on the winding terminal. The fault current will remain quite large
for faults down to few percent off the transformer neutral, but fault current distribution
will very much depend on the point of the fault. As the fault point moves closer to the
star point, fault current contribution from the power system will be smaller, but the
neutral current will be all the time quite large.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

89

Restricted earth fault protection (REF)

Application of functions

For low impedance earthed, star connected windings earth fault current will have its
maximum value when the fault is on the winding terminal. This maximum fault current will be limited by the earthing impedance. The earth fault current will be almost
zero for fault close to the star point. For faults in between the fault current will be
directly proportional to the position of the fault in the winding.

16.3

Earth Fault current distribution

To successfully detect earth faults in earthed Y-connected or D-connected transformer
windings the REF function shall discriminate between internal and external earth
faults to the protected zone. REF function in RET 521 do this in two different ways:
by diff-bias operating characteristics
by the directional element

Earth fault current distribution in case of star connected windings for internal and external fault are shown in Fig. 38 and Fig. 39 respectively.
power system
contribution to
fault current

zone of protection

$/

IL1

,D 

%/

IL2

,E 

IL3

,F 

&/

IFAULT
IN_SEC

3*IZS_SEC
Return path for 3*IZS

IN

D/
E/
F/

Current in the neutral (IN)

serves as a directional
reference because it has
the same direction for both
internal and external faults.

Return path for IN

currents IN_SEC and IZS_SEC are of approximately

opposite directions for an internal earth fault

for internal fault

IZS_SEC

52$

Idiff = mod(,1B6(&,=6B6(&)=mod(,)$8/7)

MTA

IN_SEC
52$
operate for
internal fault

Fig. 38

90

restrain for
external fault

reference is
neutral current

Internal Earth Fault

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Restricted earth fault protection (REF)

Application of functions

power system
contribution to
fault current

zone of protection

$/
%/
&/

IL1

,D



IL2

,E

D/



IL3

,F

E/



F/

IFAULT
IN_SEC

3*IZS_SEC

IN

Current in the neutral (IN)

serves as a directional
reference because it has
the same direction for both
internal and external faults.

Return path for IN

for external fault

currents IN_SEC and IZS_SEC are approximately
in phase for an external earth fault

52$

IZS_SEC

Idiff = mod(,N_SEC - ,ZS_SEC ) zero

MTA

IN_SEC
52$
operate for
internal fault

Fig. 39

restrain for
external fault

reference is
neutral current

External Earth Fault

As all differential protection, REF calculates the differential and the bias currents. The
differential current is equal to the vectorial difference between the neutral current and
residual current at the transformer winding terminal. The bias current is calculated as
the relatively highest of the four currents used by REF function (i.e. three-phase currents and one neutral current). If protected winding has T configuration (i.e. oneand-a-half breaker station) than bias current is calculated as the relatively highest of
the seven currents used by REF function (i.e. two sets of three-phase currents and one
neutral current).
The REF has only one operate-bias characteristic which is shown in Fig. 40. By changing the minimum base sensitivity, REF bias characteristic in moved in the operating
plain. First and second slopes are fixed to 70% and 100% respectively. First break
point corresponds to a bias current of 1,25 pu. Second break point corresponds to a
bias current for which the required differential current for REF function operation is
1,0 pu.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

91

Restricted earth fault protection (REF)

Application of functions

2SHUDWLQJ&KDUDFWHULVWLF
GLIIFXUUHQWLQSX





RSHUDWHDUHD





VHFRQGVORSH 

]RQH]RQH



UHVWUDLQDUHD

minimum base sensitivity 50 %

default base sensitivity 30 %
maximum base sensitivity 5 %
Step : 1 % transformer rated current

ILUVWVORSH


SX

Fig. 40



ELDVFXUUHQWLQSHUXQLW

Operate - bias characteristic of the restricted earth fault protection REF.

Differential and bias current from REF function are available as service values.
Additional directional criteria in REF function is pre-set to operate only for internal
earth faults (See Fig. 38 and Fig. 39 for more details). However, it should be noted that
is extremely important to properly set phase and neutral CT earthings (i.e. parameter
CTearth) to enable REF directional criteria to work properly. All CT settings can be
found under Configuration menu on built in HMI and in PST.
The second harmonic content of a neutral point current is compared to the fundamental
current component. If the ratio is higher than a pre-set limit in the REF algorithm then
the operation of the function is prevented. However this second harmonic blocking
feature is adaptivly enabled or disabled within REF internal algorithm by monitoring,
among other quantities, the level of neutral point current and status of the protected
object (i.e. energised, not energised). Such solution offers increased security when protected object is energised and dependable operation in case of an internal fault.

16.4

Measured Quantities
REF is usually configured to measure one neutral current and one three-phase set of
currents. If protected winding has T configuration (i.e. one-and-a-half breaker station) than REF should be configured to measure one neutral current and two sets of
three-phase currents.

92

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Earth fault time current protection (TEF)

Application of functions

16.5

Settings
The REF is a unit protection and it is based on zero sequence currents, which only
exist in case of an earth fault. Therefore the REF can be made very sensitive because
no load currents need to be considered. For each REF protection module there is only
three settings.
Parameter Operation sets the REF function ON or OFF. The parameter Idmin
defines the operating characteristic of the REF function. It is set as percentage of the
rated current of the protected winding. It is therefore very important to properly set
rated winding current. The parameter roa defines the operate area for the directional
criteria.
It is recommended to set Idmin to 30% when solidly earthed power transformer windings should be protected. For low impedance earthed winding it should be set to on
third of the value of the maximum earth fault current for delta connected windings and
to 5% to 10% in case of star connected windings.

17

Earth fault time current protection (TEF)

17.1

General
Break-down of the insulation between a phase conductor and earth in an effectively or
low impedance earthed system results in a large fault current. A breakdown of the
insulation between a transformer winding and the core or the tank may result in a large
fault current which causes severe damage to the windings and the transformer core.
Furthermore, a high gas pressure may develop, damaging the transformer tank.
The magnitude of the winding fault current depends both on the earth-fault level, the
connection group of the transformer and the location of the fault.
A sensitive earth-fault current protection, measuring the residual current (3Io) in the
connection between the power transformer windings and the bus and the current
between YN-connected winding neutrals and earth will detect earth-faults both on the
phase conductors and a large part of the windings. The coverage depends on the earthing of the system and also the connection diagram of the power transformer.
When used for protection of the power transformer circuits, input currents used for the
earth-fault protection function in the terminal are either:
measured residual current or calculated residual current from current transformers in the connection between the power transformer and bus.
the measured current in the connection between the neutral point of a winding
and earth.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

93

Earth fault time current protection (TEF)

Application of functions

The earth-fault current protection function in RET 521 can also be used for other feeders connected to the transformer bus. Input current will then be the measured or calculated residual current in the actual feeder. Another possible application is to use TEF as
a tank protection.
Measured residual current is obtained by summation of the secondary phase currents
from the current transformer group or from one current transformer encompassing all
three-phase conductors. The residual current can also be obtained by summing up the
three-phase current vectors mathematically.
The residual current 3Io gives rise to a residual voltage 3Uo. The residual voltage can
be measured using
a single voltage input from the open delta windings of a three-phase voltage
transformer group
a single voltage input from a voltage transformer connected between the neutral
point of a winding and earth in a high impedance earthed or unearthed network.
Note that the input voltage in this case will be 1 x Uo!
a three-phase voltage input and summing up the three-phase voltage vectors
internally
The current lags the voltage -3Uo by a phase angle that is equal to the angle of the
zero-sequence source impedance. An example is shown in Fig. 42, where the residual
current flowing towards the faulted power transformer lags the voltage UA with a
phase angle equal to the impedance angle of the source impedance ZOA.
Directional function and hence selectivity for internal and external faults can be
obtained by measuring the angle between the residual current and voltage.
Residual currents due to imbalance in the network can appear in the circuits of a winding with neutral connected to earth.
The magnetizing inrush current can contain a large dc component and the magnitude is
generally different in the three phases. A false residual current can result due to different saturation of the line current transformer cores. If the power transformer winding
neutral is earthed, the magnetizing inrush current can have a residual current component which is measured both in the neutral connection to earth and by the line current
transformers. To prevent an unwanted operation, a second harmonic current blocking
function is therefore available in the earth-fault current protection.

17.2

Direction and magnitude of the fault current

17.2.1

Earth-faults on a phase conductor

Earth-fault current can only flow from a part of the network which is connected to
earth. Any appreciable earth fault current can only flow towards the Y- and delta windings connected to bus B respectively C in Fig. 41. In case of an external fault, only a
small capacitive earth-fault current will flow from the winding towards the fault.
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Earth fault time current protection (TEF)

Application of functions

Hence, an earth-fault relay connected to the current transformer groups b) or c) in Fig.

41 will be selective and only operate in case of internal faults.
In case of an earth-fault in network A, part of the fault current will flow via the neutral
connection of the YN-connected winding and out towards the fault. Hence, an
earth-fault relay connected to current transformer group a) must be directional if selective function for internal or external earth-fault is requested.
A relay measuring the current in the connection between the winding neutral and earth
can not be selective, since the fault current flows in the same direction for faults in the
transformer and faults in the network, compare Fig. 38 and Fig. 39.

ZOC

c)
A

ZOA

Fig. 41

a)

b)

ZOB

Three-winding transformer with connected networks

If the positive and negative sequence impedances can be assumed equal, which normally is the case for faults in the network, the single-phase fault current can be calculated from the formula:

3Uph
IF = ------------------------------------2Zs + Zo + 3Rf
where:
Uph = phase voltage
Rf = fault resistance in ohms
Zo = zero-sequence source impedance of the faulted network in ohms per phase
Zs = three-phase short circuit impedance in ohms per phase at the faulted spot
When the three-phase short-circuit current (Isc) or the fault level MVA (S) is
known, Zs is calculated from the formula:
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Earth fault time current protection (TEF)

Application of functions

Uph
U2
Zs = ----------- = -----Isc
S

where U = rated voltage between phases (kV).

For a fault close to buses B or C in Fig. 41, Zo = ZoB respectively ZoC.
For a fault close to bus A, Zo is equal to the impedance of the parallel connected zerosequence impedances ZoT of the transformer and the source impedance ZoA of network A when the transformer is disconnected.

ZoA ZoT
Zo = --------------------------ZoA + ZoT

The residual fault current IFA flowing from bus A towards the transformer is calculated from the formula:

ZoT
IFA = IF --------------------------ZoA + ZoT

For the transformer in Fig. 41, with the neutral directly connected to earth, the impedance ZoT on the transformer side is equal to the zero-sequence impedance XoT of the
transformer winding. If an earthing impedance Zn is connected between the winding
neutral and earth, the zero sequence impedance ZoT = XoT + 3 x Zn.
The residual fault current flowing from the bus towards the transformer in case of a
transformer fault is lagging the voltage -3Uo by an angle equal to the impedance angle
of the source impedance of the network (For example impedance angle of ZoA for a
relay connected to current transformers a) in Fig. 41).
The residual fault current flowing from the transformer towards the bus in case of an
external fault is calculated from the equation

ZoA
IFF = IF --------------------------ZoA + ZoT

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Earth fault time current protection (TEF)

Application of functions

The residual fault current flowing towards the bus is lagging the voltage -3Uo with an
angle equal to the impedance angle of the zero-sequence impedance ZoT on the transformer side.
Fig. 42 shows the simplified diagram with the zero-sequence impedance diagram of
the 3-winding transformer according to Fig. 41. The full lines show the connection
when calculating the current for a fault on a terminal of the Yo-connected winding.
The dotted lines indicate the corresponding connection when calculating faults on the
terminal of the Y resp. delta windings.
For further details, see standard zero-sequence impedance diagrams for power transformers.

3Uf

2Zs

<

ZOA

ZOC

UA
1 XOT

ZOB
c)

a)
IF
b)
3Rf
Uo = -Io x ZoIF = 3 x Io Zo = ZoA x XoT / ZoA + XoT Hence UA = - 3Uo
Fig. 42

Simplified circuits for calculation of residual fault currents

17.2.2

Earth-faults in transformer windings

17.2.2.1

Faults in delta connected windings

An earth-fault at the midpoint of one phase winding gives the minimum fault current,
approximately 50% of the fault current resulting from an earth-fault on the phase conductor. The fault current increases gradually when the fault is moved towards the end
of the winding. Hence, the entire winding can normally be protected.

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Application of functions

17.2.2.2

Faults in Y-connected windings (neutral not earthed)

A winding earth-fault, close to the terminal, results in a voltage per turn far beyond the
core saturation level for the part of the winding between the terminal and the fault. The
magnitude of the fault current will be approximately the same as for an earth-fault on
the phase conductor. The magnetizing current will normally contain a basic frequency
component of more than 70%.
If the transformer also has a delta- or a YN-connected winding with direct earthed neutral in a solidly earthed system, a fault current of about 10% of the phase conductor
fault current can be expected for a fault 20% off the neutral. However, if the transformer has no delta- or YN-connected winding, the earth fault current will decrease
and can be expected to be about 10% of the phase conductor fault current for a fault
50% off the neutral.
The magnitude of the winding fault current can vary substantially from the stated figures depending on the magnetizing characteristics of the power transformer and other
design factors.
17.2.2.3

Faults in windings (neutral earthed)

The fault current will have its maximum value when the fault is on the winding terminal. The fault current remains quite large for faults down to some few per cent off the
transformer neutral, but the part of the fault current seen by an residually connected
earth-fault relay decreases when the fault moves towards the neutral point of the winding. A relay measuring the current in the connection between the neutral point and
earth will see practically all the fault current when the fault is close to the neutral point.
This relay, however, must normally have a long time delay to be selective against other
earth-fault relays in the network.
The best coverage will be achieved by the restricted earth-fault scheme.

17.3

Measured quantities
All three earth-fault time current functions in RET 521 can be configured to any single-phase or three-phase current input.The directional function can be configured to
any single-phase or three-phase voltage input. The protection uses the fundamental
frequency component of the currents and voltages.
When connected to a three-phase input, the residual current or voltage is calculated
mathematically within RET 521.

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Application of functions

17.4

Settings
In the CAP531 is possible to chose UserDef side as parameter setting for SIDE2W or
SIDE3W. When UserDef is choose then the setting IrUserDef will be used as "rated"
current for TEF.
For directional TEF the setting UrUserDef also have to be set. The direction for UserDef side is the same as for the primary side. Observe that for secondary and tertiary
side Reverse direction means currents from power transformer and Forward direction
means currents to power transformer.

17.4.1

Delta connected windings

The high set stage, set to 1/3 of minimum fault current for an earth fault on the winding
terminal will protect the phase conductors between the current transformers and the
winding and also the entire winding.
A low set stage, with setting 10% of minimum fault current for an earth fault on the
winding terminal, can be used to detect developing faults. A long inverse time delay is
recommended.
Second harmonic blocking, with typical setting 20% second harmonic to first harmonic ratio should be selected for both stages if the winding is connected to a network
with power generation.
17.4.2

Y-connected windings

With the same settings as for delta windings according to above, the high current stage
will normally cover more than 50% of the winding and the low set stage will normally
cover about 80% of the winding if the power transformer also has a delta-connected or
direct earthed YN-connected winding.
For a YY-connected transformer, about 50% of the winding will normally be protected.
Second harmonic blocking, with typical setting 20% second harmonic to first harmonic ratio should be selected for both stages if the winding is connected to a network
with power generation.
17.4.3

Y0-connected windings

Residual currents flowing in the winding circuits due to imbalance in the network must
be taken into consideration when setting the protection.
Directional function should be selected when the relay is connected to residually connected current transformers between the bus and the winding.

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Earth fault time current protection (TEF)

Application of functions

When directional setting Forward is selected, the relay operates for faults in the network. The current and time delay settings must be coordinated with the setting of other
earth-fault relays in the network. The characteristic angle (rca) is set to match the
impedance angle of the zero-sequence impedance XoT of the transformer if the winding neutral is direct earthed. If an earthing impedance Zn is inserted between the neutral and earth, the characteristic angle is set to match the impedance angle of XoT + 3
x Zn.
Due to the bandpass filtering, a polarizing voltage down to 1 per cent of the rated voltage will provide correct directional operation. This is also valid when the protection is
connected to capacitive voltage transformers.
The minimum polarizing voltage to the protection is calculated from the formula

Usec
Umin = IFmin Zo ----------------Uprim

where:
IFmin = minimum primary fault current
Zo = Zero-sequence impedance of network
Usec, Uprim = rated phase voltages of the open delta-connected voltage transformers.
The rated transformer phase-to phase voltage is seen as 100% of Ur.
Directional setting Reverse is used when the protection shall operate for faults in the
transformer. The characteristic angle (rca) is set to match the impedance angle of the
zero-sequence source impedance of the network (For example the characteristic angle
of impedance ZoA when connected to current transformers a) in Fig. 42).
As a non-directional protection function, measuring the current in the connection
between the neutral point and earth, the time/current settings must be coordinated with
the other earth-fault relays in the network.
17.4.4

External feeders

When used as earth-fault current protection in other feeders connected to the transformer bus, the time/current settings must be coordinated with the setting of the other
relays in the network.

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Single/three-phase time overvoltage protection

Application of functions

18

Single/three-phase time overvoltage protection

(TOV)

18.1

General

18.1.1

Phase overvoltage

The overvoltage protection is applied on power system elements, such as generators,

transformers, motors and power lines in order to prevent excessive voltages that can
damage the insulation. Overvoltage at network frequency may also cause damage to
power transformers and electric machines due to overfluxing.
Overvoltage at or close to power system frequency can occur as a result of:
1 Incorrect operation of a voltage regulator or wrong settings under manual voltage
control

2 Sudden loss of load, e.g. disconnection of a heavily loaded power line

3 Low active load in transmission systems with lines with large capacitance to earth.
4 Overspeed of generator when disconnected from the network and incorrect operation of the machine AVR
5 Phase to earth faults in unearthed or high impedance earthed systems
Overvoltages in the form of transients can also occur in the network. Protection against
transient voltages is basically provided by surge arrestors connected to incoming lines
and busbars.
18.1.2

Residual voltage

Earth fault in the network results in a residual voltage 3Uo which can be measured by
summing up the three-phase voltages vectorially:
3Uo = UL1 + UL2 + UL3
The residual voltage can be measured using:
a single voltage input from the broken secondary windings of a three-phase voltage transformer group.
a single voltage input from a voltage transformer connected between the neutral
point of a winding and earth in a high impedance earthed or unearthed network.
Note that the input voltage in this case will be 1 x Uo!
a three-phase voltage input and summing up the three-phase voltage vectors
mathematically.

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Single/three-phase time overvoltage protection

Application of functions

The residual voltage is transferred to all parts of the network which are galvanically
interconnected with the faulted spot. It is also transmitted through power transformers
with two Y-connected windings with the neutrals connected to earth, and, to a small
extent, through the capacitances between the high and low voltage windings of power
transformers.
The residual voltage is highest at the faulted spot. In a high impedance earthed system,
most of the voltage is generated across the earthing impedance, and the residual voltage will be approximately the same in the whole network. If the system is solidly
earthed, the residual voltage is reduced towards the source (earthing point).
A residual voltage, normally limited to some few per cent of rated phase voltage, can
be present under normal service conditions due to imbalances in the network.
The TOV protection is generally used as a backup function for the selective earth-fault
protections in a network.
18.1.2.1

Magnitude of the residual fault voltage

If the positive and negative sequence impedances can be assumed equal, which normally is the case for faults in the network, the residual voltage in case of a single-phase
earth-fault can be calculated from the formula:

3Uph Zo
3Uo = ------------------------------------2Zs + Zo + 3Rf

where:
Uph = phase voltage
Rf = fault resistance in ohms
Zo = zero-sequence impedance in ohms per phase at the faulted spot.
Zs = three-phase short circuit impedance in ohms per phase at the faulted spot
When the three-phase short-circuit current (Isc) or the fault level MVA (S) is known,
Zs is calculated from the formula:

Uph
U2
Zs = ----------- = -----S
Isc

where U = rated voltage between phases (kV).

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Single/three-phase time overvoltage protection

Application of functions

If the positive and negative impedances are assumed equal, the residual voltage in case
of a phase-phase-earth fault without fault resistance can be calculated from the formula:

3Uph Zo
3Uo = --------------------------Zs + 2Zo

For this type of fault, the residual voltage rapidly decreases when the fault resistance
between phases and earth increases.
Generally, the function of the neutral point voltage protection in case of single-phase
earth faults is considered when determining the settings. Two-phase faults with connection to earth will be detected by the phase short-circuit protection.

18.2

Measured quantities
The time overvoltage protection TOV can be configured to any three-phase or singlephase voltage input. It calculates the fundamental frequency component of the voltage.
With Function Selector setting 1 = SU for single-phase voltage input, the TOV protection is normally used to measure a phase-to-phase voltage or the residual voltage (neutral voltage protection).
The three-phase voltage input function can be set to measure the phase-to-earth voltages or the residual voltage 3Uo. The selection is made with the CAP 531 configuration tool, with Function Selector setting 2 = G3U for measuring the phase-to-earth
voltages. Setting 3= G3URES is used for measuring the residual voltage 3Uo when
TOV is used as an earth-fault protection.

18.3

Settings
The TOV protection has two voltage stages, the low set stage and the high set stage.
Definite time or very inverse time delay can be selected for the low set stage. The high
set stage has a definite time delay.
The operate voltage of the TOV protection is set in per cent of the rated phase-to-phase
voltage of the transformer winding. The operate voltage on the relay terminals is equal
to the set primary voltage multiplied by the set ratio of the voltage transformers.

18.3.1

Settings for phase overvoltage protection

The low set voltage stage is normally, with some margin, set higher than maximum
voltage under service conditions and with sufficient time delay to override transient
overvoltages. The high voltage stage with short time delay can be set slightly higher
than transient overvoltages due to load rejection etc.

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Single/three-phase time overvoltage protection

Application of functions

18.3.2

Settings for neutral voltage protection

The operate value of the neutral time voltage function must - with a margin - be set
higher than the maximum residual voltage to the protection when there is no fault in
the network. The time/voltage settings must be coordinated with the setting of other
earth-fault relays in the network.
The minimum residual voltage to the protection in case of a single-phase earth fault is
calculated from the formula:

Usec
Umin = IFmin Zo ----------------Uprim

where:
IFmin = minimum primary earth fault current.
Usec, Uprim = rated phase voltages of the open delta-connected voltage transformers.
Zo = zero sequence impedance at the faulted spot
18.3.3

Setting example:

Rated voltage of the transformer winding: 10 kV

Rated VT ratio:

11 0, 11 0, 11
------- ------------ -----------3
3
3
18.3.3.1

Phase overvoltage protection

Assume that stage UsetLow shall be set to operate at 120% of rated transformer voltage.
1) Settings for three-phase voltage input:
Function Selector 2=G3U
VTprim = 11,0 kV VTsec = 110V
Uset Low = 120/root3 = 69%.
The operate phase-to-earth voltage on the relay terminal is equal to 10 000 x 0,11/11 x
69/100 = 69 V.

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Single/three-phase time overvoltage protection

Application of functions

2) Settings for single input of phase-to-phase voltage:

Function Selector 1=SU
VTprim = 11,0 kV VTsec = 110V
Uset Low = 120%.
The operate phase-to-phase voltage on the relay input terminal is equal to 10 000 x
0,11/11 x 120/100 = 120 V
18.3.3.2

Using TOV as a neutral voltage protection

Assume setting UsetLow = neutral point voltage Uo = 10% of rated phase voltage of
the transformer winding.
1) With three-phase voltage input and Function Selector setting 3=G3URES, the protection measures the voltage 3Uo. Settings:
VTprim = 11,0 kV VTsec = 110 V
UsetLow = 10/root3 x 3 = 17%
The operate voltage on the relay side, measured by injection between one phase terminal and neutral, is
10 000 x 0,11/11 x 17/100 = 17 V.
2) Single voltage input from the broken delta windings with rated secondary voltage
110/3 V. The input voltage to the protection is 3Uo and the setting becomes
Function Selector 1=SU
VTprim = 11,0 kV VTsec = 63 V (see Note below)
UsetLow = 10/root3 x 3 = 17% like above.
Note: The VT transformer ratio for the broken delta windings must be correctly set.
The set values in RET 521 are primary and secondary phase-to-phase voltages in a
three-phase system. In the example above, the VT ratio of the broken delta windings is
set as VTprim = 11 kV and VTsec = 110 x root3/3 = 63 V.
The operate voltage, measured on the relay terminals, is
10 000 x 0,063/11 x 17/100 = 9,7 V.
3) Single-phase input from VT with ratio 11/0,11 kV connected between transformer
neutral and earth. The input voltage to the protection is 1 x Uo, and the setting
becomes

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Single/three-phase time undervoltage protection

Application of functions

Function Selector 1=SU

VTprim = 11,0 kV VTsec = 110V
UsetLow = 10/root3 = 6%.
The operate voltage, measured on the relay terminals is
10 000 x 0.11/11 x 6/100 = 6 V.

19

Single/three-phase time undervoltage protection

(TUV)

19.1

General
The undervoltage protection is applied on power system elements, such as generators,
transformers, motors and power lines in order to detect low voltage conditions.
Low voltage conditions are caused by abnormal operation or fault in the power system.
The undervoltage protection can be used in combination with overcurrent protections,
either as restraint or in logic and gates of the trip signals issued by the two functions.
Other applications are the detection of "no voltage" condition, e.g. before the energisation of a HV line or for automatic breaker trip in case of a blackout.
The undervoltage protection is also used to initiate voltage correction measures, like
insertion of shunt capacitor batteries to compensate for reactive load and thereby
increasing the voltage. The undervoltage protection can be used to disconnect from the
network apparatuses, like electric motors, which will be damaged when subject to service under low voltage conditions, .
The time undervoltage protection TUV deals with low voltage conditions at power
system frequency, which can depend on:
1 Malfunctioning of a voltage regulator or wrong settings under manual control.

2 Overload.
3 Short circuits, often as phase to earth faults (unsymmetrical voltage decrease).
1 and 2 cause symmetrical voltage decrease.

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Single/three-phase time undervoltage protection

Application of functions

19.2

Measured quantities
The time undervoltage protection TUV protection can be configured to any threephase or single-phase voltage input. It calculates the fundamental frequency component of the voltage.
The three-phase undervoltage function calculates the three phase-to-earth voltages.With the CAP531 configuration tool one can select whether one phase voltage
below set operating value is sufficient for tripping or if all three-phase voltages need
be below set value.
When tripping for one phase below set value is selected, the undervoltage protection
can also detect earth faults.
When single-phase voltage input is used, the phase-to-phase application is somehow
limited; only symmetrical voltage drops can certainly be detected. An earth fault in an
unearthed or high impedance earthed system will not be seen by the protection.
The same applies to the phase-to-earth measuring version which can only detect a voltage drop in the monitored phase; this last version is used in special applications.

19.3

Settings
The operate voltage of the TUV protection is set in per cent of the rated phase-to-phase
voltage of the transformer winding. The operate voltage on the relay terminals is equal
to the set primary voltage multiplied by the set ratio of the voltage transformers.
When using the three-phase voltage input, the setting figure must take into consideration that the operate phase-to-earth voltage is set in per cent of the phase-to-phase
voltage.
The TUV function has two independent voltage stages, a high set stage and a low set
stage. Both stages have definite time delay.

19.3.1

Setting example

Assume:
Rated voltage of transformer winding: 10 kV
Rated VT ratio: 11/0,11

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Thermal overload protection (THOL)

Application of functions

Assume that stage UsetHigh shall be set to operate at 80% of rated transformer voltage.
1 Settings for single input of phase-to-phase voltage:
Function Selector 1=SU
VTprim = 11,0 kV VTsec = 110V
UsetLow = 80%
The operate phase-to-phase voltage on the relay input terminal is equal to
0.11 80
10000 ---------- --------- = 80 V .
11 100

2 Settings for three-phase voltage input:

Function Selector 2=G3U
VTprim = 11,0 kV
VTsec = 110V
80
UsetLow = ------ = 46 %
3

The operate phase-to-neutral voltage on the relay terminal is equal to

0.11 46
10000 ---------- --------- = 69 V .
11 100

20

Thermal overload protection (THOL)

20.1

General
The insulating material surrounding the phase current conductors in transformers,
reactors, cables and other electrical equipment ages too rapidly if the temperature
exceeds the design limit value.
All electrical conductors have a certain resistance, and the active power loss I2R gives
rise to a temperature increase which is proportional to the square of the current. Heat
energy is carried off in proportion to the temperature difference between the conductor
and the surrounding material and the temperature increase of the conductor can be
defined as a function of time by the so called thermal time constant T, as shown in
Fig. 43.

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Thermal overload protection (THOL)

Application of functions

/s
1.0

0.8

In

0.7 x In

0.6

0.4

0.2

t/T

(98000050)

Fig. 43

Temperature rise as function of time

After a time equal to T, the temperature increase has reached 63% of the final value.
Since the increase is proportional to the square of the current, a current equal to 1,26 x
rated value will after time T give a temperature increase equal to the rated final temperature increase (1,262 x 0,63 = 1) and the final temperature rise will be 1,262 = 1,6
times rated value.
After a time equal to 4 x T, the temperature increase is about 98% of the final value.
If the current is reduced, the temperature decreases exponentially towards the new
steady state value. The dotted line in Fig. 43 shows how the temperature decreases
towards 0,72 = 0,49 times rated temperature increase when the current after a time
equal to 2 x T is reduced from 100% to 70% of rated value. The time constant T
remains unaltered as long as the cooling is unaltered.
Power transformers and cables are often required to permit short-time overloads up to
1,5 x rated current. The phase short-circuit overcurrent relays will normally be set with
an operating value far too high to provide any thermal protection.
Temperature and overload monitoring of oil-filled transformers is carried out with
indicating thermostats which are standard accessories.The oil thermometer, which
measures the top oil temperature, can not be relied upon to detect short-time overloads
beyond permissible limits.
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Thermal overload protection (THOL)

Application of functions

Large transformers often have a so-called winding thermometer, which measures the
oil temperature and also is provided with a heater element fed from the load current.
This device provides a good monitoring of the temperature of the winding.
Transformers without winding thermometer should have a thermal current protection with an operating current/time characteristic that corresponds to the current overload characteristic of the transformer windings. For transformers with winding
thermometer, a thermal current protection will provide a back-up function for this
monitoring device.
A power transformer can have two different MVA ratings, one basic rating and one
higher rating with forced cooling. The thermal current function in RET521 therefore
has two different load current and thermal time constant settings. The high current setting is activated by activating a binary input on the protection.
The thermal current protection function can also be used to protect feeder cables connected to the transformer.
Electrical cables which can be loaded up to the permissible thermal load current
should be provided with both thermal and short-circuit protection. The thermal time
constant is normally shorter for cables surrounded by air than for cables placed in the
ground.This should be taken into consideration if part of the cable is surrounded by air.

20.2

Measured quantities
The thermal overload function can be configured to any three-phase current input. It
uses the fundamental frequency component of the largest of the three-phase currents.

20.3

Fault conditions
A short-time increment of the load current beyond maximum permitted continuous
value is not a fault condition as such. It is, however, a condition which must be
detected and action must be taken before it results in thermal damages.

20.4

Settings
The thermal overcurrent function in RET521 has time-current characteristics which
follows the equation:

I 2 Ip 2
t = T ln ------------------I 2 Itr 2

110

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Thermal overload protection (THOL)

Application of functions

where:
T= thermal time constant
I = overload current
Ip= current previous to the overload, assuming sufficient long time to reach
steady-state temperature
Itr = thermal overload steady state trip current
The thermal protection has two current stages with settable time constant:
normal base current Ib1, set in per cent of rated current Ir, with Time Constant1
base current Ib2, set in per cent of rated current Ir, with Time Constant2.
Current stage Ib2 is activated and replaces stage Ib1 when the assigned binary input
signal is activated.The thermal characteristics of the protection is then adapted to the
conditions set to correspond to forced cooling. The thermal content in per cent of the
operate value is kept unchanged when switching over between the stages.
The trip level is determined by the setting of the steady state trip current Itr. The setting
is made in per cent of the set base current and the percentage setting is common for
both current stages.
20.4.1

Setting example

Assume the following settings:

Stage 1: Base current Ib1= 90% of Ir. Time Constant 1 = 10 minutes.
Stage 2: Base current Ib2 = 100% of Ir. Time Constant 2 = 10 minutes.
Trip level current Itr = 102% of the base currents.
Assume an overload current of 135% of Ir, equal to 135/90 = 1,5 x Ib1 and 135/100 =
1,35x Ib2
The operate time from cold load is for stage 1:

1, 5 2
t = 10 ln ------------------------------- = 6, 2min
1, 5 2 1, 02 2
and for stage 2:

1, 35 2
t = 10 ln ---------------------------------- = 8, 5min
1, 35 2 1, 02 2

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Thermal overload protection (THOL)

Application of functions

The value of the preheat current Ip must, when inserted into the above formula, be
expressed as a per unit value of the base current of the actual stage.
Fig. 44 shows the current/time characteristics for currents up to 8 times the set base
current when the trip current level is set to Itr = 101%.

t/
10

I 2 I p2
-)
t = ln(--------------------------------------------I 2 + ( 1.01 I base 2 )
1

Ip=0.0
Ip=0.5
0.1

Ip=0.6
Ip=0.7
Ip=0.8

0.01

Ip=0.9
Ip=1.0

I/Ibase
99001077.vsd

Fig. 44

Some times the time-current capability curve of the object is given instead of the thermal time constant. The time constant can then be determined using the time curves in
Fig. 44. Assume, e.g. that the permissible time for 2 times rated current starting from
no load is 3 minutes. From Fig. 44 it is seen that this point corresponds to 0,3 T if
Itr = 101% of base current. Hence, T is equal to 3 min/ 0,3 = 10 minutes. If the permissible time is 0,5 min at 5 times rated current, this corresponds to 0,04 T. Hence, the
time constant will be 0,5 / 0,04 = 12,5 minutes.
If different values are calculated for different points on the time-current capability
curve, the shortest calculated time constant should be used for the thermal function.

112

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Overexcitation protection (OVEX)

Application of functions

The influence of the Itr setting on the operate time is moderate. Settings Itr = 101%
gives operate time 6,0 minutes for stage 1 instead of 6,2 minutes with setting
Itr = 102% according to Example 1 above.

21

Overexcitation protection (OVEX)

21.1

General
When the laminated core of a power transformer is subjected to a magnetic flux density beyond the design limits, stray flux will flow into non-laminated components not
designed to carry flux and cause eddy currents to flow. The eddy currents can cause
excessive heating and severe damage to the insulation in adjacent parts in a relatively
short time.
The general equation for the induced rms voltage in a coil:

E = 4, 44 f A N B max
where:
f = frequency (Hz)
A = cross-sectional area of the core (square meters)
N = number of winding turns
Bmax = peak value of flux density (Tesla)
can be written Bmax = K x E / f, where K is a constant
Hence, the flux density is proportional to the ratio between the voltage and the frequency.
Overvoltage, or underfrequency, or a combination of both, will result in an excessive
flux density level, which is denominated overfluxing or over-excitation.
The overexcitation capability curve is influenced by the design of the object and it is
generally different for generators and transformers.
According to the IEC standards, the power transformers shall be capable to deliver
rated load current continuously at an applied voltage of 105% of rated value (at rated
frequency). For special cases, the purchaser may specify that the transformer shall be
capable to operate continuously at an applied voltage 110% of rated value at no load,
reduced to 105% at rated secondary load current.

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Overexcitation protection (OVEX)

Application of functions

According to ANSI/IEEE standards, the transformers shall be capable to deliver rated

load current continuously at an output voltage of 105% of rated value (at rated frequency) and operate continuously with output voltage equal to 110% of rated value at
no load.
The capability of a transformer (or generator) to withstand overexcitation can be given
in the form of a thermal capability curve, i.e. a diagram which shows the permissible
time as a function of the level of over-excitation.
When the transformer is loaded, the induced voltage and hence the flux density in the
core can not be read off directly from the transformer terminal voltage. Normally, the
leakage reactance of each separate winding is not known and the flux density in the
transformer core can then not be calculated.
In two-winding transformers, the low voltage winding is normally placed close to the
core and the voltage across this winding gives a good representation of the flux density
in the core. However, depending on the design, the flux flowing in the yoke may be
critical for the overfluxing capability of the transformer.
For power transformers with fixed direction of the load flow, the voltage to the V/Hz
protection function should therefore be taken from the feeder side.
Heat accumulated in critical parts during a period of overexcitation will be reduced
gradually when the excitation retains the normal value. If a new period of overexcitation occurs after a short time interval, the heating will start from a higher level. The
overexcitation protection function should therefore have a thermal memory. In
RET 521, the cooling time constant is settable within a wide range.
The general experience is that the overexcitation characteristics for a number of power
transformers are not in accordance with standard inverse time curves. In order to make
optimal settings possible, a transformer adapted characteristic is available in RET521.
The operate characteristic of the protection function can be set to correspond quite
well with any characteristic by setting the operate time for six different figures of overexcitation in the range from 100% to 180% of rated V/Hz.

21.2

Measured quantities
The V/Hz function can be configured to any single-phase or three-phase voltage input
and any three-phase current input. It uses the fundamental frequency component of
current and voltages.
When configured to a single phase-to-phase voltage input, a single-phase current is
calculated which has the same phase angle relative the phase-to-phase voltage as the
phase currents have relative the phase voltages in a symmetrical system.
The function should in the first place be configured to a three-phase voltage input if
available. It then uses the positive sequence quantities of voltages and currents.

114

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Overexcitation protection (OVEX)

Application of functions

It should be noted that analogue measurements should not be taken from any winding
where OLTC is located

21.3

Fault conditions
The greatest risk for overexcitation exists in a thermal power station when the generator-transformer block is disconnected from the rest of the network. Overexcitation can
occur during start-up and shut-down of the generator if the field current is not properly
adjusted. Loss-of load or load-shedding can also result in overexcitation if the voltage
control is not functioning properly.
Loss of load or load-shedding at a transformer substation can result in overexcitation if
the voltage control is insufficient or out of order.
Low frequency in a system isolated from the main network can result in overexcitation
if the voltage regulating system maintains normal voltage.

21.4

Settings
Sufficient information about the overexcitation capability of the protected object(s)
must be available when making the settings. The most complete information is given
in an overexcitation capability diagram like Fig. 45.
The settings Emax and Emaxcount are made in per unit of the rated voltage of the
transformer winding at rated frequency.

21.4.1

Setting example

Set the transformer adapted curve for a transformer with over-excitation characteristics
in according to Fig. 45.
Emaxcont for the protection is set equal to the permissible continuos overexcitation
acc. to Fig. 45= 105%.When the overexcitation is equal to Emaxcount, tripping is
obtained after a time equal to the setting of t1.
When the overexcitation is equal to the set value of Emax, tripping is obtained after a
time equal to the setting of t6. A suitable setting would be Emax=140% and t6=4 s.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

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Overexcitation protection (OVEX)

Application of functions

The interval between Emax and Ecountmax is automatically divided up in five equal
steps, and the time delays t2 to t5 will be allocated to these values of overexcitation. In
this example, each step will be (140-105) /5=7%. The setting of time delays t1 to t6 ar
listed in the table below.
Table 19: Settings
U/f op (%)

Timer

Time set (s)

105

t1

7 200 (max)

112

t2

600

119

t3

60

126

t4

20

133

t5

140

t6

Information on the cooling time constant Tcool should be collected from the power
transformer manufacturer.

V/Hz
%

150
transformer capability curve
relay operate characteristic
140

130

120

110
Continous
100
0.05 0.1
t6

Fig. 45

116

0.2
t5

0.5
t4

1
t3

10
t2

20

50 100
t1

200

Time
(minutes)
(98000052)

Example on overexcitation capability curve and V/Hz protection settings

for power transformer

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Frequency Protection Function (FRF)

Application of functions

22

Frequency Protection Function (FRF)

Over/under frequency protection can be used for several power system protection and
control applications. Two examples are underfrequency load shedding and power generation unit protection.
In RET 521 up to three FRF modules can be ordered. Each module has one overfrequency and one underfrequency stage with independently settable frequency pickup
and definite time delay.

22.1

General
Frequency relays are used whenever deviations from nominal system frequency need
to be detected. Frequency deviations can be harmful to connected objects, such as generators and motors, or when abnormal frequency creates inconvenience for power consumers and may cause failures of electrical apparatuses. Frequency relays are also
used where detection of high or low frequency indicates system abnormalities, such as
faults in speed regulation units or system overload. Underfrequency relays should be
considered for applications where the detection of under-speed conditions for synchronous motors and condensers is required. On lines where reclosing of the source
breaker is utilized, damage to large synchronous motors can be avoided by disconnecting the motors from the system. Likewise, disconnection of synchronous condensers
can be initiated upon loss of power supply. The overfrequency relay is generally utilized for the protection of ac machines from possible damage due to over-speed conditions. These conditions can occur, for example, on machines with no mechanical
governor or on those with the machine shaft linked to a prime mover or to another
machine, either one of which could accelerate the combination to a hazardous overspeed condition (e.g. a hydro generator).
Protection of generating units

Different types of power generating units have different capability to withstand network frequency deviations from the rated power system frequency (i.e. 50Hz or
60Hz). High frequency can be the consequence of unintentional disconnection of the
generator from the grid while the primary mechanical power is not cut off. Another
reason for high frequency can be separation of the power system where one part of the
system, where the generator is connected, has excessive generation capacity resulting
in high network frequency in this network island. Low frequency can be the consequence of separation of the power system where the part of the system, connecting the
generator to be protected, has a lack of active power generation.

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117

Frequency Protection Function (FRF)

Application of functions

Hydro power plants are normally very robust with a capability to withstand significant
frequency deviations. There are however events when the detection of overfrequency
is essential in order to avoid damages on the generator and the turbine. This can be the
case if the generator is unintentionally disconnected from the grid, without shutting
down the hydro primary power. In case of overfrequency the mechanical primary
hydro-power must be forced down to zero as rapidly as possible. In the contrary the
thermal power plants must normally be operated within quite a narrow frequency band
around network rated frequency. In case of high or low frequency there is a risk of
damages to the steam turbine, due to vibrations.
In the case of a severe power system disturbance there can be significant changes of
the voltage and/or frequency. If there is a total or partial collapse of the system, it is of
great value if the thermal generating units can transfer to household operation. This
will enable a quick re-establishment of the power system, as the generating units can
be producing power to the network without any long delay. If the generating unit fail to
transfer to household operation, their starting time can be very long (several hours). To
enable the transition to household operation, during the event of a power system collapse, it is important to have a well coordinated frequency protection of the generating
unit. This means that the unit shall be disconnected from the external network before
the trip of equipment within the plant. At the same time it is of value to keep the generator connected to the system as long as possible to, in order to avoid total power system collapse. As we cannot predict the voltage and frequency during all possible
events, we cannot guarantee that even a well coordinated protection will give successful transition to household operation. It is however of great importance to have frequency relays with good performance for such applications.
Underfrequency load shedding application

Most power systems are designed to withstand the loss of a single generating unit.
During such normal disturbances the spinning active reserve, in the power system, is
activated. The network frequency will be regulated back to an acceptable value.
Simultaneous loss of several power system components, as a result of a more severe
disturbance, may cause a severe deficit in active and reactive power. Such infrequent
events may cause severe drop in system frequency. The spinning power reserve, in the
power system, is normally not sufficient to restore acceptable network frequency, after
such a severe disturbances. Other additional actions must be activated. Such activations are:
Underfrequency controlled load shedding
Trip of load with low priority
Activation of HVDC emergency power
This is only of interest if the HVDC link is connected to another power system. All
these actions are normally initiated from detection of low frequency. An underfrequency relay can be used for this detection and initiations of different kinds of protective actions. Frequency relays for HVDC emergency power activation, load shedding
and power generator islanding must operate correctly even if the voltage magnitude
decays rapidly at the same time as the system frequency decays.
118

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Frequency Protection Function (FRF)

Application of functions

Complete load shedding and load restoration schemes have been developed using several different frequency set points and time delays. They are typically a customer specific applications designed in accordance with the power system requirements.
However, in general, higher requirements are imposed on accuracy of setting and frequency measuring capabilities in load-shedding and load restoration applications than
in rotating machine protection applications.
Industrial application

Another over/under frequency application is typical to large industrial plants which

might have some local generation. Normally, the industry depends on a tie line with a
utility for some portion of their power needs. If the tie breaker at the utility end should
open, the generator in the plant would be overloaded, especially if it also tries to pick
up utility load on the tie line. The overload then causes an underfrequency condition
on the industrial system.The underfrequency protection can be used to open the tie to
the utility system and disconnect nonessential load. Essential loads can then be maintained to the limit of the generator capability. In local, independent power producer
network applications, a typical protection scheme may include a two-step frequency
relay with one underfrequency and one overfrequency function. Another protection
(i.e. TOV/TUV function modules) can provide an undervoltage and an overvoltage
function.

22.2

Measured Quantities
A FRF module obtains the measured frequency value from the FRME function. Therefore the FRF function in itself is just one over-trigger and one under-trigger level with
the integrated respective time delays. Please refer to frequency measurement function
(i.e. FRME) for more information.

22.3

Settings and configuration

The frequency measurement function is blocked when the measured voltage is less
than the 40% of the rated voltage. In order to prevent over/under frequency stages
operation during this condition it is advisable to connect FRME/ERROR output to the
blocking inputs of FRFn functions in the terminal configuration. The settings limitations for overfrequency or underfrequency stages are:
the pick-up setting for overfrequency and underfrequency stages can be set
between 30Hz and 75Hz in step of 0.001Hz
the time delay for overfrequency and underfrequency stages can be set between
0s and 300s in step of 0.01s

1MRK 504 037-UEN

119

Frequency Protection Function (FRF)

Application of functions

Overfrequency and underfrequency stages within FRF functions has no hysteresis.

However the timing is implemented by integration method. When the frequency is outside the set value the function will start to count up towards the preset delay time. If
before the delay time is reached the frequency returns inside the set value, than the
FRF function will count down with preset rate. The default reset value rate (i.e.setting
parameter kResetUnder) is 1.0 for all reset parameters in FRF function, which
means that the FRF function will count down by one second, for each second that the
frequency was outside set frequency limit during previous start condition. If the reset
value rate is set to higher value (i.e. 5.0) it means that the relevan stage will reset five
times faster. If in the countrary the reset value rate is set to lower value (i.e. 0.1) it
means that the relevan stage will reset ten times slower.
It is as well possible to externally block FRF stage operation via block input in the
configuration. Therefore it is possible to prevent operation of individual FRF stages if
for example rotating machine has under current condition (i.e. machine not connected
to the power system).

120

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Voltage control for power transformers (VCTR)

Control functions

Control functions

23

Voltage control for power transformers (VCTR)

23.1

General
When the load in a power network is increased the voltage will decrease and vice
versa. To maintain the network voltage at a constant level, power transformers are usually equipped with an on-load tap changer (OLTC). This alters the power transformer
ratio in a number of predefined steps and in that way changes the voltage. Each step
usually represents a change in voltage of approximately 0.5-1.7%.
The voltage control function (VCTR) is intended for control of power transformers
with a motor driven on-load tap changer. The function is designed to regulate the voltage at the secondary side of the power transformer (winding No 2 under settings on the
HMI). The control method is based on a step-by-step principle which means that a
control pulse, one at a time, will be issued to the tap changer mechanism to move it up
or down for one position. The length of the control pulse can be set within a wide
range to accommodate different types of tap changer mechanisms. The pulse is generated by the VCTR whenever the measured voltage, for a given time, deviates from the
set reference value by more than the preset deadband (i.e. degree of insensitivity).
Time delay is used to avoid unnecessary operation during short voltage deviations
from the set value.
The VCTR function in RET 521 is designed in such a way that it always issues RAISE
command in order to increase the voltage, and LOWER command in order to decrease
the voltage.
The VCTR function block can be used in the logic scheme together with AND, OR,
Timers, Command block, Event blocks etc.
Parallel control of power transformers with the VCTR function, can be made in three
alternative ways:
Using the single VCTR function together with available configuration logic (i.e.
AND gates, OR gates, Timers, Command block, Event blocks etc.) in order to
achieve the Master-Follower control scheme for the parallel control of identical
power transformers.
Using the reverse reactance method.
Using the circulating current method, with terminal-to-terminal communication
via the LON bus for parallel control of up to eight power transformers.

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121

Voltage control for power transformers (VCTR)

Control functions

23.1.1

Control mode

The control mode of the VCTR can be:

Manual
Automatic
The control mode can be changed via the command menu in the built-in HMI when the
operation mode is IntMMI or remotely via binary signals connected to the EXTMAN,
EXTAUTO inputs on VCTR function block when the operation mode is ExtMMI.
Commands
VoltageControl
Manual/Auto
The current control mode (Manual/Auto) is retained when the operation mode (IntMMI/ExtMMI) is changed.

23.2

Manual control
In manual control mode it is possible to issue RAISE and LOWER commands to the
tap changer locally from the built-in HMI under the menu
Commands
VoltageControl
RaiseVoltage/LowerVoltage
or remotely via binary signals connected to corresponding inputs to the VCTR function block.
It should be noted that the VCTR function still supervises the manual commands in the
following way:
manual RAISE commands are blocked when the busbar voltage exceeds Umax
manual LOWER commands are blocked when the busbar voltage falls to a level
between Ublock and Umin
any manual command is blocked when the primary current exceeds the preset
value
the respective manual command is blocked when the tap changer is in one of the
extreme positions
It should be noted that the VCTR function will not automatically regulate the power
system voltage while manual control mode is selected.

122

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Voltage control for power transformers (VCTR)

Control functions

23.2.1

Selection of control location

Operation mode defines the location from where the tap changer can be manually
operated. When operation mode is selected, it is as well important to select manual
control mode to enable VCTR function to issue manual commands (see section
23.1.1).
It is possible to have the following human-machine-interfaces (i.e. HMI) and four
operation modes (i.e. locations from where tap changer can be manually operated) for
VCTR function in RET 521:
1 Internal HMI with operation mode (i.e. operation location)
- RET 521 built-in HMI

2 External HMI with operation modes (i.e. operation location)

- Local control panel (usually traditional control panel with selector switches)
- Station Control (station control system i.e. SCS)
- Remote Control (SCADA system)
It is possible to chose between Internal HMI and External HMI via one command from
RET 521 built-in HMI under the menu
Command
VoltageControl
Int/Ext
When Internal HMI is selected, only the built-in HMI can be used for manual RAISE
and LOWER commands, i.e. VCTR rejects all terminal remote manual commands.
On the other hand, when External HMI is selected, the operation mode has to be chosen amongst the three possible options given above.
Normal control philosophy for External HMI is that the control location closer to the
tap changer has the higher priority (i.e., local control panel has higher priority than
station control etc.), but in RET 521 it is possible to choose between two different control philosophies.
The first possibility is that the external operation mode can be selected to be with priority. This means that the signal LOCCMD has higher priority than STACMD, and
STACMD has higher priority than the REMCMD signal (see figure 46). In this case,
the operation mode is stored in a non-volatile memory to ensure correct function even
after a power failure. (Signals connected to REMCMD and STACMD inputs shall be
pulses). It should be noted that once the LOCCMD signal is set back to zero, a new
pulse is required to STACMD or REMCMD input in order to set the VCTR control
back to station or remote level.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

123

Voltage control for power transformers (VCTR)

Control functions

Commands via LON

from External HMI

9&75

0XOWL&PG)XQF
Outxx
Outyy

REMCMD
STACMD
LOCCMD

In Pulse Mode
REMOTE
STATION
LOCAL
LOCALMMI

From local switch

Pulses from SCADA

REMRAISE
REMLOWER

Pulses from station MMI

STARAISE
STALOWER

Pulses from local panel

LOCRAISE
LOCLOWER

Fig. 46

Operation Mode Indication

External HMI Operation Mode selection with priority

The second possibility is that the external operation mode can be selected to be without priority. This means that one or more external HMI can be selected at the same
time without any restrictions. In this case signals connected to REMCMD and
STACMD inputs shall be steady signals (see figure 47). If all of the inputs REMCMD,
STACMD and LOCCMD are set to zero, the REMOTE operation mode is selected as
default.
Selection between Priority and NoPriority is made by one of the settings for the VCTR
function. This setting can be changed via the built-in HMI or the Parameter Setting
Tool (PST) See SMS on page 208.
From External HMI, RAISE and LOWER commands are issued to the RET 521 as
binary signals via a binary input card or LON communication and command blocks
(see figures 46 & 47).
Actual operation mode is indicated by the output binary signals REMOTE, STATION, LOCAL and LOCALMMI from VCTR function.

124

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Voltage control for power transformers (VCTR)

Control functions

Commands via LON

from External HMI

9&75

0XOWL&PG)XQF
Outxx
Outyy

REMCMD
STACMD
LOCCMD

In Steady Mode
REMOTE
STATION
LOCAL
LOCALMMI

From local switch

Pulses from SCADA

REMRAISE
REMLOWER

Pulses from station MMI

STARAISE
STALOWER

Pulses from local panel

LOCRAISE
LOCLOWER

Fig. 47

23.3

Operation Mode Indication

External HMI Operation Mode selection without priority

Automatic control
In automatic control mode the VCTR function will regulate the voltage according to
the active settings and check if any of the blocking conditions are fulfilled. When
ordering, it must be specified if the terminal should be equipped with a single transformer automatic control function, or a parallel transformer automatic control function.

23.3.1

Automatic control for a single transformer

The VCTR for single transformer assumes that the configuration consists of one single
power transformer, thus any other transformers are not taken into account for automatic control.
23.3.1.1

Measured quantities

The secondary side of the transformer is used as the voltage measuring point. If necessary, the secondary side current is used as load current to calculate the line-voltage
drop to the regulation point (see section 23.3.1.4 for more details). It is possible to use
one of the following three different sets of analogue input quantities.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

125

Voltage control for power transformers (VCTR)

Control functions

1 Three phase-to-earth voltages and all three-phase currents from the power transformer secondary side. In this case the VCTR will use internally calculated positive
sequence voltage and current quantities for all calculations.

2 One phase-to-phase voltage and the corresponding two phase currents from the
power transformer secondary side.
3 One phase-to-ground voltage and the corresponding phase current from the power
transformer secondary side (this option should only be used in solidly earthed systems).
See Figure 48 for more details about different analogue input possibilities.

High Voltage Side

IA,IB,IC

OLTC

RET 521
raise,lower
signals/alarms
position

(Load Current) IL
Ia,Ib,Ic or Ii,Ij or Ii
Ua,Ub,Uc or Uij or Ui

Low Voltage Side

BOM
BIM
MIM

AIM

UB (Busbar Voltage)
Line Impedance R+jX
Load Center

UL (Load Point Voltage)

en99001083.vsd

Fig. 48

Signal flow for a single transformer with voltage control function

Which of these three options that will be used, can be selected via the Function Selector for the VCTR function in the CAP configuration tool.
In addition, all three-phase currents from the primary winding (i.e. usually the winding
where the tap changer is situated) are used by the VCTR function for overcurrent
blocking. These analogue input signals can be shared with other functions in the terminal, such as the differential protection function.

126

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Voltage control for power transformers (VCTR)

Control functions

In figure 48, the busbar voltage UB is a shorter notation for the measured voltage
regardless of the type of analogue input. Therefore notation UB will be used from here
on. Similarly notation IL for load current and UL for load point voltage will be used in
the text to follow.
Other inputs to the VCTR function is the actual position of the tap changer that can be
monitored either by using a mA-input or binary inputs. Alarms and signals from the
tap changer can also be connected to binary inputs, e.g. thermal overload switch for
motor, oil pressure relay, tap changer in progress etc. The RAISE and LOWER commands to the tap changer are issued via two binary outputs that will be activated during
a time corresponding to the output pulse duration time.
23.3.1.2

Regulation principle

The VCTR measures the magnitude of the busbar voltage UB. If no other additional
features are enabled (i.e. line voltage drop compensation, control of parallel transformers etc.) this voltage is further used for voltage regulation.
The VCTR function then compares this voltage with the set voltage, Uset and decides
which action should be taken. To avoid unnecessary switching around the setpoint, a
deadband (i.e. degree of insensitivity) is introduced. The deadband is symmetrical
around Uset (see figure 49). The deadband is arranged in such a way that there is an
outer and an inner deadband. Measured voltages outside the outer deadband starts the
timer to initiate tap commands, whilst the sequence resets when the measured voltage
is once again back inside the inner deadband. One half of the outer deadband will be
denoted as U from here on. The setting of U, (i.e. setting parameter Udeadband
in the setting tool under VCTR function) should be set to a value near to the power
transformers tap changer voltage step (typically 75% of the tap changer step).

Security Range

Auto mode
is Blocked

Lower Cmd
is Blocked

Ublock

U
U
Uin Uin

Raise Cmd

Umin

U1

Uset

Lower Cmd

U2

Fast Lower Cmd

Raise Cmd is Blocked

Umax

Voltage Magnitude

en99001084.vsd

Fig. 49

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Voltage Scale

127

Voltage control for power transformers (VCTR)

Control functions

During normal operating conditions the busbar voltage UB, stays within the outer
deadband (i.e. interval between U1 and U2 in figure 49). In that case no actions will be
taken by the VCTR. However, if UB becomes smaller then U1 or larger than U2, an
appropriate lower or raise timer will start. The timer will run as long as the measured
voltage stays outside the inner deadband. Two output binary signals (i.e. URAISE and
ULOWER) are provided from the VCTR function block indicating that the VCTR has
a start condition for its time delays. If this condition persists longer than a preset time
by the voltage/time characteristics (see section 23.3.1.3) the appropriate LOWER or
RAISE command will be issued. If necessary, the procedure will be repeated until the
magnitude of the busbar voltage again falls within the inner deadband. One half of the
inner deadband will be denoted as Uin from here on. The inner deadband Uin, (i.e.
parameter UdeadbandInner in the setting tool under VCTR function) should be set
to a value smaller than U. It is recommended to set the inner deadband to 25-70% of
the U value.
This way of working is used by the VCTR while the busbar voltage is within the security range [Umin, Umax]. A situation where UB falls outside this range will be regarded
as an abnormal situation and the following will happen:
When the busbar voltage falls below Umin, but still above Ublock, no further manual or
automatic LOWER commands will be executed.
When the busbar voltage falls below the undervoltage limit Ublock, automatic control
will be blocked, but manual commands in both directions can be executed.
If the busbar voltage rises above Umax, no further RAISE commands are allowed. In
this case the VCTR function can execute one or more fast step down commands (i.e.
LOWER commands) in order to bring the voltage back into the security range, [Umin,
Umax]. The fast step down (FSD) function operation can be activated in one of the following three ways: off / auto / auto&manual, according to the setting of FSDMode
parameter. The lower command, in fast step down mode, is always issued with the
shortest permissible time delay t2.
The measured RMS magnitude of the busbar voltage UB is shown on the HMI as a service value under the menu
Service Report
Functions
VoltageControl
Measurands
BusbarVoltage
23.3.1.3

Time characteristic

The time characteristic defines the amount of time that should elapse between the
moment when measured voltage exceeds the deadband interval until the appropriate
RAISE or LOWER command is issued to the tap changer.

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The main purpose of the time delay is to prevent unnecessary OLTC operations due to
temporary voltage fluctuations. The time delay may also be used for OLTC co-ordination in radial distribution networks in order to decrease the number of unnecessary
OLTC operations. This can be done by setting a longer time delay closer to the consumer and shorter time delays higher up in the system.
First time delay, t1, is used as a time delay (usually long delay) for the first command
in one direction. It can have a constant or inverse time characteristic, according to the
setting t1Use (=Const./Inverse). For inverse time characteristics larger voltage deviations from the Uset value will result in shorter time delays, limited by the shortest time
delay equal to the tMin setting. This setting should be coordinated with the tap
changer mechanism operation time. Constant time delay is independent of the voltage
deviation.
The inverse time characteristic for the first time delay follows the formulas:

DA = U B U set

DA
D = -------U
t
t 1_delay = ---1D

Where:
DA = absolute voltage deviation from the set point
D

= relative voltage deviation in respect to set deadband value

For the last equation, the condition t 1_delay > t min shall also be fulfilled
This practically means that t1_delay will be equal to set t1 value when absolute voltage
deviation DA is equal to U (i.e. relative voltage deviation D is equal to 1). For other
values see figure 50. It should be noted that operating times shown in this figure are for
30, 60, 90, 120, 150 & 180 seconds settings for t1 and 10 seconds for tMin.

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t1=180
t1=150

t1=120
t1=90
t1=60
t1=30

Fig. 50

Inverse time characteristic for VCTR

Second time delay, t2, will be used for consecutive commands (i.e. command in the
same direction as the first command) and for the fast step down function when the busbar voltage exceeds the Umax value. It can be constant or inverse according to the setting t2Use (=Const./Inverse). Inverse time characteristic for the second time delay
follows the similar formulas as for the first time delay, but t2 setting is used instead of
t 1.
23.3.1.4

Line voltage drop

The purpose with the line voltage drop compensation is to control the voltage, not at
the power transformer low voltage side, but at a point closer to the load point.
Figure 51 shows the vector diagram for a line modeled as a series impedance with the
voltage UB at the LV busbar and voltage UL at the load center. The load current along
the line is IL, the line resistance and reactance from the station busbar to the load point
are RL and XL. The angle between the load point voltage and the current, is L. If all
these parameters are known UL can be obtained by simple vectorial calculation.

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Values for RL and XL are given as settings in primary system ohms. If more than one
line is connected to the LV busbar an equivalent impedance should be calculated and
given as a parameter setting.
The LDC feature can be turned On/Off by the setting parameter OperationLDC.
When it is enabled, voltage UL will be used by the VCTR function for voltage
regulation instead of voltage UB (see section 23.3.1.2). However, the VCTR function
will still perform the following two checks:
1 The magnitude of measured busbar voltage UB, shall be within the security range,
[Umin, Umax]. If the busbar voltage falls-out of this range the LDC calculations will
be temporarily stopped until voltage UB comes back within the range.
2 The magnitude of the calculated voltage UL at the load point, can be limited such
that it is only allowed to be equal to or smaller than the magnitude of UB, otherwise
UB will be used. However, a situation where UL>UB can be caused by a capacitive
load condition, and if the wish is to allow for a situation like that, the limitation can
be taken away by the setting parameter OperCapaLDC to on.

RL

XL

UB

Load

IL

UL

,P

UB

jXL IL

UL

5H

R LI L
IL

Fig. 51

Vector diagram for line voltage drop compensation

The calculated load voltage UL is shown on the HMI as a service value under menu
Service Report
Functions
VoltageControl
Measurands
CompVoltage

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23.3.1.5

Load voltage adjustment

Due to the fact that most loads are proportional to the square of the voltage, it is possible to provide a way to shed part of the load by decreasing the supply voltage for a
couple of percent.
It is possible to do this voltage adjustment in two different ways in RET 521:
1 Automatic load voltage adjustment, proportional to the load current
2 Constant load voltage adjustment with four different preset values.
For the first principle the voltage adjustment is dependent on the load and maximum
voltage adjustment should be obtained at rated load of the transformer.
The second principle is a constant voltage adjustment of the setpoint voltage (positive
or negative) activated with a binary signal connected to the VCTR function block
inputs LVA1, LVA2, LVA3 & LVA4. The corresponding voltage adjustment factors are
given as setting parameters LVAConst1, LVAConst2, LVAConst3 &
LVAConst4. The VCTR function will accept only one active input at a time, and
this is the input that was activated first. Activation of input LVARESET in the VCTR
block, brings the voltage setpoint back to Uset.
With these factors, VCTR function, in fact, just temporarily adjusts the value of the set
voltage Uset as per the following formula:

IL
U set, adjust = Uset + S a ------ + S ci
I r2
Where the symbols have the following meanings:
Uset,adjust
Uset

Adjusted set voltage in per unit

Original set voltage: Base quantity is Ur2

Sa

Automatic load voltage adjustment factor, VRAuto

IL

Load current

Ir2

Rated current, secondary winding

Sci

Constant load voltage adjust. factor for active input i (corresponds to

LVAConst1, LVAConst2, LVAConst3 & LVAConst4)

It shall be noted that the adjustment factor is negative in order to decrease the load
voltage and positive in order to increase the load voltage. After this calculation
Uset,adjust will be used by the VCTR function for voltage regulation instead of the original value Uset (see section 23.3.1.2).

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The calculated set point voltage Uset,adjust is shown on the HMI as a service value
under the menu
Service Report
Functions
VoltageControl
Measurands
ActualUsetSngl
The active Constant Load Voltage Adjustment Factor is shown on the HMI as a service
value under the menu
Service Report
Functions
VoltageControl
Measurands
LVAInput

23.3.2

Automatic control for parallel transformers

Parallel control of power transformers means control of two or more power transformers connected to the same busbar on the LV side, and in most cases also on the HV
side. As was mentioned previously, different methods can be used for parallel control
with the RET 521.
23.3.2.1

Parallel control with the Master-Follower Method

This method for parallel control of power transformers is very much similar to the
voltage control of a single transformer. One of the transformers is selected to be master, and will regulate the voltage in accordance with the principles described in section
23.3.1. In addition to this, it will issue tap commands (LOWER/RAISE) to the other
transformers in the parallel group one by one, after first having issued the proper commands to its own tap changer. The logic for this is arranged by configuration (i.e. AND
gates, OR gates, Timers, Command block, Event blocks etc.) with the CAP 540 configuration tool.
The parallel transformers should be identical, and each transformer must be equipped
with a RET 521 terminal. Communication between the terminals must exist (LON or
galvanic). Apart from the LOWER/RAISE commands sent from the master, the tap
positions from the followers should also be communicated back to the master, as it is a
requirement that differing tap positions shall be avoided.

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23.3.2.2

Parallel control with the Reverse Reactance Method

Consider the two parallel transformers in figure 52. Transformer T1 has higher no load
voltage (i.e. higher tap position) and will drive a circulating current which adds to the
load current in T1 and subtracts from the load current in T2, changing both amplitude
and phase angle of the transformer currents. Increasing load will decrease the busbar
voltage at the same time as the difference between the transformer currents will
increase. At some stage, the decreased busbar voltage will require a tap RAISE command. As transformer T1 already is in a higher tap position, it must be avoided that T1
taps first. To achieve this, the higher current through T1 can be used to calculate a voltage which is lower than UB, and let VCTR use this voltage instead of UB for the regulation. The converse way of reasoning can be applied to T2 which has a decreasing
current.
In fact, the method described above, can be achieved by using the same method as for
line voltage drop compensation (see section 23.3.1.4). By inserting a negative reactance compensation, an increased current in one transformer will give a decreased
voltage UL, and vice versa.
Line voltage drop compensation and parallel control of power transformers with the
reverse reactance method have completely different objectives, although set by the
same RL and XL parameters. They can be used one without the other or combined.
Thus, to apply the reverse reactance method, the LDC function must be activated by
setting parameter OperationLDC to On. When enabled, voltage UL will be used
by VCTR functions for voltage regulations instead of voltage UB (see sections
23.3.1.2 and 23.3.1.4).
The voltage UL is shown on the HMI as a service value under the menu
Service Report
Functions
VoltageControl
Measurands
CompVoltage
The calculation of suitable RL and XL parameters for reverse reactance compensation
must take into account the power factor of the load. This also means that the performance of the method is sensitive to changing power factors.
The reverse reactance method for parallel control, does not require communication
between the terminals.
23.3.2.3

Parallel control with the circulating current method

This method requires that each transformer is controlled by a RET 521 terminal with
VCTR function for parallel control and that there exists a LON communication link
between the terminals.

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The same input quantities as for single control will be used for parallel voltage control.
However, the measured voltages UB for the transformers in parallel will be treated in a
special way. The RET terminals for the transformers in parallel will exchange their
measured UB values. In each terminal, the mean value of all UB values will then be
calculated, and this value UBmean will be used in each terminal instead of UB. The calculated mean busbar voltage UBmean is shown on the HMI as a service value under the
menu
Service Report
Functions
VoltageControl
Measurands
BusVoltParl
The exchange of measured voltages is made on the LON-bus cyclically at a pre-set
rate (parameter TXINT, parameter setting in VCTR Function Block through CAP
540 configuration tool). At the same time, supervision of the VT mismatch is also performed. This works such that, if the measured voltages UB, differ from UBmean with
more than a preset value (setting parameter VTmismatch) and for more than a preset time (setting parameter tVTmismatch), an alarm ("VTALARM") will be generated.
This section will describe the parallel control when all RET 521 terminals in the group
are in automatic control mode and parallel operation has been configured and selected
by the user. Other situations will be discussed later.
Two main objectives of the circulating current method for parallel voltage control are:
1 Regulate the busbar or load voltage to the preset target value.
2 Minimize the circulating current in order to achieve optimal sharing of the reactive
load between parallel transformers.
The first objective is the same as for the voltage control of a single transformer while
the second objective tries to bring the circulating current, which appears due to
unequal LV side no load voltages in each transformer, into an acceptable value. Figure
52 shows an example with two transformers connected in parallel. If transformer T1
on this picture has higher no load voltage it will drive a circulating current which adds
to the load current in T1 and subtracts from the load current in T2. It can be shown that
the magnitude of the circulating current in this case can be approximately calculated
with the following formula:

U T1 U T2
I cc_T1 = I cc_T2 = -----------------------Z T1 + Z T2

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Because a transformer impedance is dominantly inductive, it is possible to use just the

transformer reactances in the above formula. At the same time this means that T1 circulating current lags the busbar voltage almost 90o, whilst T2 circulating current leads
the busbar voltage by almost 90o (see figure 53 for complete phasor diagram). This
also demonstrates that the circulating current is mainly of reactive nature.
Therefore by minimizing the circulating current flow through transformers, the total
reactive power flow is optimized as well. In the same time, at this optimum state the
apparent power flow is distributed among transformers in the group in proportion to
their rated power.
Important for the VCTR function for parallel control is the calculation of the circulating current. To achieve this, certain information and measurements have to be
exchanged via the station bus (i.e. LON bus) between the terminals.
It should be noted that the Fourier filters in each RET terminal run asynchronously,
which means that current and voltage phasors cannot be exchanged and used for calculation directly between the terminals. In order to synchronize measurements within
all terminals in the parallel group, a common reference must be chosen. The most suitable reference quantity for all transformers, belonging to the same parallel group, is
the busbar voltage. This means that the measured busbar voltage is used as a reference
phasor in all terminals, and the position of the current phasors on a complex plane is
calculated in respect to it. This is a simple and effective solution, which eliminates any
additional need for synchronization between terminals regarding the VCTR function.

Icc_T2 U
T2

UT1

Icc_T2

7

7

<=>

ZT1

IT1

ZT2

Icc_T1

IT2

Icc_T1

IT1

IT2

UB

UB

IL

IL

UL

Load
Fig. 52

136

UL

Load

Parallel group of two power transformers and its electrical model

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At each transformer bay, the real and imaginary parts of the current on the secondary
side of the transformer are calculated from measured values, and distributed on the station LON bus to the terminals belonging to the same parallel group.
As mentioned before, only the imaginary part (i.e. reactive current component) of the
individual transformer current is needed for the circulating current calculations. The
real part of the current will, however, be used to calculate the total through load current
and will be used for the line voltage drop compensation, (see sections 23.3.1.4 and
23.3.4).
The total load current is defined as the sum of all individual transformer currents:
k

IL =

Ii
i=1

where subscript i signifies the transformer bay number and k the number of parallel
transformers in the group (k 4). Next step is to extract the circulating current Icc_i
that flows in bay i. It is possible to identify a term in the bay current which represents
the circulating current. The magnitude of the circulating current in bay i, Icc_i , can be
calculated according to:

I cc_i = Im(I i K i I L)
where Im signifies the imaginary part of the expression in brackets and Ki is a constant
which depends on the number of transformers in the parallel group and their short-circuit reactances. The VCTR function automatically calculates this constant. Transformer reactances shall be given in primary ohms, calculated from each transformer
rating plate.

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The minus sign is added in the above equation in order to have positive value of the
circulating current for the transformer that generates it.

UT1

&7 ,FFB7 =7

UB
UT2

&7 ,FFB7 =7

IL
IT1

IT2
2*Udeadband

Icc_T2
T2 Receives Cir_Curr

Icc_T1
T1 Produces Cir_Curr

IL = IT1 + IT2
Icc_T1 = Imag {IT1- (ZT2/(ZT1+ZT2)) * IL}
Icc_T2 = Imag {IT2- (ZT1/(ZT1+ZT2)) * IL}
Fig. 53

Vector Diagram for two power transformers working in parallel.

In this way each VCTR function calculates the circulating current of its own bay.
The calculated circulating current Icc_i is shown in the HMI as a service value under
menu
Service Report
Functions
VoltageControl
Measurands
CircCurrent
Sign is available as well (i.e. + sign means that the transformer produces circulating
current and - sign means that the transformer receives circulating current).

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Now it is necessary to estimate the value of the no-load voltage in each transformer. To
do that the magnitude of the circulating current, in each bay, is first transferred to a
voltage deviation, Udi, as per the following formula:

U di = C i I cc_i X i
where Xi is the short-circuit reactance for transformer i and Ci, is a setting parameter
called Comp which can increase/decrease the influence of the circulating current on
the VCTR function. It should be noted that Udi will have positive values for transformers that produce circulating current and negative values for transformers that receive
circulating current.
Now for each transformer the magnitude of the no-load voltage can be approximated
with:

U i = U Bmean + U di
This value for the no-load voltage is then simply put into the voltage control function
for single transformer, that treats it as the measured busbar voltage, and further control
actions are taken as described in section 23.3.1. By doing this, the overall control strategy is simple and can be summarized as follows.
For the transformer producing/receiving the circulating current, calculated no-load
voltage will be greater/lower than measured voltage UBmean. This calculated no-load
voltage is thereafter compared with the set voltage Uset. A steady deviation which is
outside the outer deadband will result in a LOWER / RAISE voltage command to the
tap changer. In this way the overall control action will always be correct since the position of a tap changer is directly proportional to the transformer no-load voltage. The
sequence resets when UBmean is inside the inner deadband at the same time as the calculated no-load voltages for all transformers in the parallel group are inside the outer
deadband.
Complete phasor diagram for the case with two transformers connected in parallel, is
shown in figure 53.

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In parallel operation with the circulating current method, different Uset values for individual transformers can cause the voltage regulation to be unstable. For this reason, the
mean value of Uset for parallel operating transformers can be automatically calculated
and used for the voltage regulation. This is set On/Off by setting parameter OperUsetPar. The calculated mean Uset value is shown on the HMI as a service value
under the menu
Service Report
Functions
VoltageControl
Measurands
ActualUsetParl
The use of mean Uset is recommended for parallel operation with the circulating current method, specially in cases when Load Voltage Adjustment is also used.
Avoidance of simultaneous tapping

For some types of tap changers, especially older designs, an unexpected interruption of
the auxiliary voltage in the middle of a tap manoeuvre, can jam the tap changer. In
order not to expose more than one tap changer at a time, simultaneous tapping of parallel transformers (regulated with the circulating current method) can be avoided. This
is done by setting parameter OperSimTap to On. Simultaneous tapping is then
avoided at the same time as tapping actions (in the long term) are distributed evenly
amongst the parallel transformers.
The algorithm in RET 521 will select the transformer with the greatest voltage deviation Udi to tap first. That transformer will then start timing, and the output TIMERON
on the VCTR function block will be activated. After time delay t1 the appropriate
RAISE or LOWER command will then be issued. If now further tapping is required to
bring the busbar voltage inside deadband 2, the process will be repeated, and the transformer with the then greatest value of Udi amongst the remaining transformers in the
group will tap after a further time delay t2, and so on. This is made possible as the calculation of Icc is updated every time the measured values are exchanged on the LON
bus between the RET terminals. If two transformers have equal magnitude of Udi then
there is a predetermined order governing which one is going to tap first.
23.3.2.4

Homing

This function can be used with parallel operation of power transformers using the circulating current method. It makes possible to keep a transformer energized from the
HV side, but open on the LV side (hot stand-by), to follow the voltage regulation of
loaded parallel transformers, and thus be on a proper tap position when the LV circuit
breaker is closed.
For this function, it is needed to have the LV VTs for each transformer on the cable
(tail) side (not the busbar side) of the CB, and to have the LV CB position hardwired to
the RET terminal.

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In the RET 521 terminal, the state "Homing" will be defined as the situation when the
transformer has information that it belongs to a parallel group (e.g. information on
T1INCLD=1 or T2INCLD=1 ...etc.), at the same time as the binary input DISC on
the VCTR block is activated by open LV CB. If now setting parameter "Homing =
On" for that terminal, the terminal will act in the following way:
The algorithm calculates the true busbar voltage, by averaging the voltage measurements of the other transformers included in the parallel group (voltage measurement of the disconnected transformer itself is not considered in the
calculation).
The value of this true busbar voltage is used in the same way as Uset (see section
23.3.1.2) for control of a single transformer. The disconnected transformer will
then automatically issue RAISE or LOWER commands (with appropriate t1 or t2
time delay) in order to keep the LV side of the transformer within the deadband of
the busbar voltage.
23.3.3

Substation topology logic

The switchyard topology (connections between transformers) within a parallel group

is crucial for the parallel control module when the circulating current method is used.
This information is used by the VCTR functions in order to incorporate those transformers that are in the parallel group in the calculations. When a transformer is disconnected, e.g. T3 in figure 54, and the corresponding signal is connected to the VCTR
function of transformer T3, it will notify the other two parallel control modules (T1
and T2) in the group by sending a DISC=1 message to the T1 and T2 terminals (see
section 23.3.6 for more details).

T1

T2

T3

U3

U2

U1

=>
Z1

,

Z2

,

Z3
, 

,/ ,,

Fig. 54

Disconnection of one transformer in a parallel group.

However, this information might not be enough when the switchyard is complex (e.g.
double busbar on one or both sides of the transformer, bus section and bus coupler bays
etc.). For these cases the user has to engineer station topology specific logic which will
decide which transformers belong to the parallel group(s). For this purpose the VCTR
function block is fitted with eight binary inputs signals (T1INCLD,..., T8INCLD)
which should be used to indicate which transformers are included in the parallel group.
This information has to be passed to all group members. The user is free to connect any
signal to these inputs.
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In case of very complex substations, when the configuration logics available within
RET 521 is not enough, one solution can be to use an external control terminal type
REC 561 which produces/calculates necessary signals (T1INCLD,..., T8INCLD &
DISC) for all RET 521 terminals working in the parallel group. All information
necessary can be exchanged via the LON bus between RET 521 terminals and REC 561
terminal.
The VCTR function block is also fitted with eight outputs (T1PG,..., T8PG) for indication of the actual composition of the parallel group that it itself is part of. If parallel
operation mode has been selected in the terminal with TRFID=Tx, the TxPG signal
will always be set to 1.
The parallel module will consider communication messages only from the voltage
control functions working in parallel (i.e. according to the current station configuration). When the parallel voltage control module detects that no other transformers
work in parallel it will behave as a single voltage control module in automatic mode.
23.3.4

Line voltage drop compensation for parallel control

The line voltage drop compensation for single transformer is described in section
23.3.1.4. The same principle is used for parallel control with the circulating current
method except that total load current, IL, is used in the calculation instead of the individual transformer current. See Fig. 52 for details. The same values for Rline and
Xline parameters should be given in all terminals. There is no automatic change of
these parameters due to change in the substation topology, thus they should be changed
manually if needed.
23.3.5

Communication between terminals

Communication between different parallel voltage control modules is managed by the

station bus, LON. A special network variable, that is adapted for the parallel voltage
control, is implemented in the RET terminal. The variable is updated in the receiver
terminal, by cyclic sending of data from the source terminal under normal operation.
However, when some important changes are detected by the VCTR function in the
source terminal the message will be sent immediately.
The configuration parameter TXINT, on the VCTR function block, specifies the
period of time between two sendings of data. There is a corresponding parameter,
RXINT, that specifies the maximum time between two updates of data from other
terminals. If the updated message is not received within the time determined by parameter RXINT the communication error is set.
The communication configuration can be divided in two parts:
Configuration of the voltage control parallel module
Configuration of the LON Network

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The parallel modules have to have unique identities in order to simplify the network
configuration and the functional overview. This identity concerns exclusively the parallel voltage control (with the circulating current method). For RET 521 these identifiers are predefined as T1, T2, T3,..., & T8 (i.e. transformers 1 to 8). In figure 54 there
are three RET terminals with the parameter TRFID set to T1, T2 and T3, respectively. The identity will follow the information if, e.g., the SEND-block in T1 is connected to T1Recv in terminal T2 and T3. Enabling receive blocks for each terminal in
the parallel group is done with the parameters T1RXOP=Off/On,..., T8RXOP=Off/
On. Settings in the three terminals, shown in figure 54, should be:
Table 20: Identification example for RET terminals (as supposed in Fig. 54)
TRFID=
T1

T1RXOP
=Off

T2RXOP
=On

T3RXOP
=On

T4RXOP
=Off

T5RXOP
=Off

T6RXOP
=Off

T7RXOP
=Off

T8RXOP
=Off

TRFID=
T2

T1RXOP
=On

T2RXOP
=Off

T3RXOP
=On

T4RXOP
=Off

T5RXOP
=Off

T6RXOP
=Off

T7RXOP
=Off

T8RXOP
=Off

TRFID=
T3

T1RXOP
=On

T2RXOP
=On

T3RXOP
=Off

T4RXOP
=Off

T5RXOP
=Off

T6RXOP
=Off

T7RXOP
=Off

T8RXOP
=Off

It should be noted that it is absolutely necessary to set this parameter to off for the
own terminal.(i.e. for transformer with identity T1 parameter T1RXOP must be set to
off etc.).
The LON network is configured by using the LNT 505 LON Configuration Tool where
variable bindings between the terminals are specified and connected.
The parallel operation must be activated by setting the parameter OperationPAR
before the VCTR function sends any data on the LON bus. Figure 55 shows the LON
connections for the parallel group of three transformers from figure 54.

Fig. 55

1MRK 504 037-UEN

75),' 7

75),' 7

75),' 7

7

7

7

LON network connections between terminals in the parallel group.

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23.3.6

Exchanged information

The information exchanged between the modules can be expressed as a data set. All
data in the data set will be updated at the same time broadcast which guarantees data
consistency. Each data set has its own database object in the terminal database which
accomplish the connection between the network and the code.
The status of TxRXOP (=Off/On) decides whether the data set should be supervised
by the receive time interval parameter or not. The data set contains the following
items, where Tx is the Terminal no. x:
Table 21: Exchanged data set
NAME

COMMENT

CMODE

= 1, Txs control mode is automatic,

= 0, Txs control mode is manual.

MBLK

= 1, Txs VCTR module is blocked,

= 0, Txs VCTR module is not blocked.

TXID

Terminal identification (T1,..., T8)

DISC

= 1, Tx is disconnected from busbar and/or does not participate in the parallel group,
= 0, Tx is connected to busbar and is a member of the parallel group.

ILOADRE

Txs load current, real part value.

ILOADIM

Txs load current, imaginary part value.

TIMERON

Txs timeron value. Output to be set when either t1 or t2 timers are running.

UBUS

Txs BusbarVoltage

USET

Txs AcutalUsetSngl value

MASTER

= 1, Tx is Master. (future use)

= 0, Tx is Slave.

SLAVE

Select slave to receive message. (future use)

TCPOS

Txs tap changer position. (future use)

RAISE

= 1, Tx issues a raise command, (future use)

= 0, no command.

LOWER

= 1, Tx issues a lower command. (future use)

= 0, no command.

Note: The data set cannot be modified by the user.

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23.4

Manual control of a parallel group (adapt mode)

In the previous section automatic control of a parallel group using the circulating current method was described. In manual control mode for parallel transformers (using
circulating current method) the operator can choose to operate each tap changer individually. Each terminal control mode must then be set to Manual.
It is also possible to control the transformers as a group. The control mode for one terminal is then set to Manual whereas other terminals are left in Automatic. Terminals in the automatic mode will be automatically put in the adapt mode. As the name
indicates they will be ready to adapt to the manual tapping of the selected transformer.
The VCTR function in manual mode will send the adapt message via the LON bus to
the rest of the group. It is of no importance for the group members to know from which
transformer bay the adapt message was sent.
The VCTR function in adapt mode will continue the calculation of Udi, but instead of
adding Udi to the measured busbar voltage, it will compare it with the deadband U.
The following rules are used:
Rule 1: If Udi is positive and its modulus is greater than U, then initiate a LOWER
command. Tapping will then take place after appropriate t1/t2 timing.
Rule 2: If Udi is negative and its modulus is greater than U, then initiate a RAISE
command. Tapping will then take place after appropriate t1/t2 timing.
Rule 3: If Udi modulus is smaller than U, then do nothing.
The binary output signal ADAPT on the VCTR function block will be set high to
indicate that this terminal is adapting to another RET terminal in the parallel group.
However, it should be noted that correct behavior of all transformers in the parallel
group can be guaranteed only when one and only one of the transformers is set to the
manual mode.

23.5

Blocking conditions
The purpose of blocking is to prevent the tap changer from operating under conditions
that can damage the tap changer, or exceed other power system related limits.
For VCTR function three types of blocking are defined:
Total block
Partial block
Automatic block

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The following is an overview of all blocking conditions sorted under the above defined
blocking types.The actual blocking condition (i.e. None, Total, Automatic, Partial) is
shown on the HMI as a service value under the menu
Service Report
Functions
VoltageControl
Measurands
BlockCond
23.5.1

Total block

Total block prevents any tap changer operation independent of the control mode (auto
or man). The following conditions will cause the total block.
Table 22: Total block conditions
Overcurrent (IBLK)
(Temporary blocking)

When any one of the three HV currents exceed the

preset value, the VCTR function will be temporarily
totally blocked. The outputs IBLK and TOTBLK will
be set.

Total block via settings (TOT- VCTR function can be totally blocked via setting
BLK)
parameter TotalBlock, which can be changed
(Manual reset)
from the HMI or PST. The output TOTBLK will be
set.

146

Total block via configuration

(TOTBLK)
(Manual deblocking)

Voltage control function can be totally blocked via

any binary signal connected in the CAP 540 configuration tool to the binary input ETOTBLK on the
VCTR function block. The output TOTBLK will be
set.

Analog input error

(Manual correction needed)

Binary output signal ERROR from the VCTR function indicates a configuration error of the analogue
channels, that is, if the connection is missing
according to the selected VCTR function block
type. This error is considered as a fatal error and
results in total block of the VCTR function. This
error can be reset by downloading a correct configuration from the CAP 540 configuration tool.

Tap changer error (TCERR)

(Manual deblocking by auto/
man sequence)
See also point 23.5.6

If the TCINPROG input of VCTR, is connected from

the tap changer mechanism for supervision the
VCTR operation is controlled from this input. If the
TCINPROG signal will appear undue the VCTR
output TCERR is shown and VCTR function is
totally blocked and TOTBLK is shown as well. For
proper operation the TCINPROG shall appear during the RAISE/LOWER output pulse and disappear
before the tTCTimeout time has elapsed.

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Control functions

23.5.2

Partial block

Partial block prevents operation of the tap changer only in one direction (i.e. only
RAISE or LOWER command is blocked) in manual and automatic control mode. The
following conditions will cause the partial block.
Table 23: Partial block conditions
Maximum voltage limit
(UMAX)
(Limitation in one direction)

If the busbar voltage UB (not the compensated load

point voltage UL) exceeds Umax (see figure 49), further RAISE commands will be blocked and, if allowed
by settings, a fast step down action will be performed
in order to re-enter the permitted range Umin < UB <
Umax.
The Fast Step down function is blocked when the
lowest voltage tap position is reached.
The output UMAX will be set.

Minimum voltage limit

(UMIN)
(Limitation in one direction)

If the busbar voltage UB (not the calculated load point

voltage UL) is between Ublock and Umin level (see figure 49), further LOWER commands will be blocked
independent of the control mode.
The output UMIN will be set.

Extreme tap changer

This blocking function supervises the extreme posipositions (LOPOS or HIPOS) tions of the tap changer according to the setting
(Limitation in one direction) parameters LowVoltTap and HighVoltTap. When
the tap changer reaches one of these two positions
further commands in the corresponding direction will
be blocked. The output LOPOS or HIPOS will be set.

23.5.3

Automatic mode block

Automatic block prevents automatic voltage regulation, but the tap changer can still be
controlled manually. The following conditions will cause the automatic block.
Table 24: Automatic mode block conditions

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Automatic block via settings

(AUTOBLK)
(Manual deblocking)

Automatic operation of VCTR function can be

blocked via setting parameter AutoBlock, which
can be changed from the HMI or PST.
The output AUTOBLK will be set.

Automatic block via

configuration (AUTOBLK)
(Manual deblocking)

Automatic operation of voltage control function can

be blocked via any binary signal connected in the
configuration to binary input EAUTOBLK on the
VCTR function block.
The output AUTOBLK will be set.

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Table 24: Automatic mode block conditions (Continued)

Undervoltage (UBLK)
(Temporary blocking)

If the busbar voltage UB falls below Ublock the automatic voltage control is blocked. Operations in manual mode is not blocked under these circumstances
because it usually corresponds to a disconnected
power transformer. This allows the tap changer to
be operated before reconnecting the power transformer. The outputs UBLK and AUTOBLK will be
set.

Command error (CMDERR) Typical operating time of the tap changer mecha(Needs manual deblocking) nism is around 3-8 seconds. Therefore, the function
should wait for a position change before a new
command is issued. The command error signal,
CMDERR, will be set if the tap changer position
does not change one step in correct direction within
the time given in the parameter tTCTimeout. The
tap changer module will then indicate the error until
a successful command has been carried out. As
well, this error condition can be reset by changing
control mode of the VCTR function to Manual and
then back to Automatic. The outputs CMDERR and
AUTOBLK will be set.
For additional information see Section 23.6.3.
Position indication error
(POSERR)
(Needs manual deblocking)

Two types of errors can occur:

the input hardware module failure (BIM/IOM or
MIM)
the input signal itself is corrupted
Supervision of the input hardware module is provided by connecting the corresponding error signal
to the INERR input (input module error) on the
VCTR function block.
Supervision of the input signal for binary converter
is provided by its output signal CNV-ERROR which
takes care of both the parity check and binary input
module error.
Supervision of the input signal for MIM can be done
in the standard way. For example, the measurement
range can be supervised by setting the MIM parameters I_Max and I_Min to desired values, e.g.,
I_Max = 20mA and I_Min = 4mA. Signals will be
generated if these values are exceeded.
The VCTR automatic control will be blocked if position indication error is detected. This error condition
can be reset by changing control mode of the VCTR
function to Manual and then back to Automatic. The
outputs POSERR and AUTOBLK will be set.

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Table 24: Automatic mode block conditions (Continued)

Disconnected transformer
(TFRDISC)
(Temporary deblocking)

When the transformer has been disconnected from

LV busbars, the tap changer automatic control can
be blocked. The binary input signal DISC into the
VCTR function should be set to one to indicate that
the transformer is disconnected. The outputs TFRDISC and AUTOBLK will be set.
Blocking will be removed when the transformer is
reconnected (i.e. input signal set back to zero).

Reversed Action
(REVACBLK)
(Temporary blocking)

The risk of voltage instability increases as transmission lines become more heavily loaded in an
attempt to maximize the efficient use of existing
generation and transmission facilities.
In the same time lack of reactive power may move
the operation point of the power network to the
lower part of the P-V-curve (unstable part). Under
these conditions, when the voltage starts to drop, it
might happen that a RAISE command can give
reversed result i.e. a lower busbar voltage.
Tap changer operation under voltage instability conditions makes it more difficult for the power system
to recover. Therefore, it might be desirable to block
the VCTR function temporarily.
Requirements for this blocking are:
The load current must exceed 95% of Irated.
After a RAISE command, measured busbar voltage has lower value than its previous value
The second requirement has to be fulfilled for
two consecutive RAISE commands
If all three requirements are fulfilled, VCTR automatic control will be blocked for a period of time
given by the setting parameter tREVACT and the
output signal REVACBLK will be set.
The reversed action feature can be turned off/on
with the setting parameter OperationRA.

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Control functions

23.5.4

Automatic blocking in parallel mode

Automatic block prevents automatic voltage regulation, but the tap changer can still be
controlled manually. There are two additional automatic blocking conditions for parallel voltage control:
Table 25: Parallel blocking conditions

23.5.5

Communication error (COMMERR)

(Automatic deblocking)

If the LON communication from any one of the terminals in the group fails it will cause the automatic block
in all VCTR functions which belong to that parallel
group (see section 23.5 for more details).This error
condition will be reset automatically when the communication is re-established. The outputs COMMERR
and AUTOBLK will be set.

Circulating current (ICIRC)

(automatic deblocking)

When the magnitude of the circulating current

exceeds the preset value (setting parameter CircCurrLimit) for longer time than the set time delay
(setting parameter tIcircBlock) it will cause the
auto block condition of the VCTR function. The user
can enable this feature via On/Off setting parameter
OperationCC from the HMI or PST. This error condition will be reset automatically when the circulating
current decreases below the preset value. This usually can be achieved by manual control of the tap
changers. The outputs ICIRC and AUTOBLK will be
set.

Mutual blocking

When one voltage control module blocks its operation, all other voltage control modules working in parallel with that module, should block their operation as well. To
achieve this the affected VCTR function broadcasts a mutual block to other group
members via the LON communication. When mutual block is received from any of the
group members, automatic VCTR operation is blocked in the receiving terminal, i.e.
all units of the parallel group.
The following conditions in any one of the terminals in the group will cause mutual
blocking:
Over-Current
Total block via settings
Total block via configuration
Analogue input error
Automatic block via settings
Automatic block via configuration
Under-Voltage
Command error
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Control functions

Position indication error

Reversed Action
Circulating current
Communication error
It should be noted that partial blocking condition in any one of the terminals will not
cause the mutual blocking (see section 23.5.2 for more details).
The terminal which is the source of the mutual blocking will set its AUTOBLK output as well as the output which corresponds to the actual blocking condition (e.g.
IBLK for over-current). The other terminals which receive mutual block will only set
its AUTOBLK output.
The mutual blocking persists until the terminal that dispatched the block signal cancels
it. Another way to release the mutual blocking is to force the terminal which caused
mutual blocking to Single mode operation. This is done by setting the binary input
SNGLMODE on the VCTR function to high or setting the parameter OperationPAR
to off from the built-in HMI or PST.
The VCTR function can be forced to single mode at any time.It will then behave
exactly the same way as described in section 23.3.1, except that LON communication
messages are still sent and received, but the received messages are ignored. The terminal is at the same time also automatically excluded from the parallel group.
23.5.6

Autoblock, total block and mutual block disconnection possibilities

When the VCTR is connected to read back information (tap position value and tap
changer in progress signal) for cooperation it may sometimes be difficult to find timing
data to be set in VCTR for proper operation. Especially at commissioning of eg older
transformers the sensors can be worn and may be the contacts are bouncing etc. Before
the right timing data is set it may then happen that the VCTR becames totally blocked
or blocked in auto mode due to incorrect setting and frequently has to be manually
reset before the exact reason is concluded. In this case it can be better if the blocking
by uncertain monitoring signals can be disconnected until the commissioning of all
main items are OK and working as espected.
The influence from the tap changer in progress signal (TCIP) can be excluded simply
by disconnection of the signal or by blocking its way by other means in eg the CAP
configuration.
IF the LowVoltTap or HighVoltTap parameter is set equal to zero, which is a specifically handled case, the position error and/or the command error will only set their
alarm outputs POSERR and CMDERR. No autoblock or mutual block is achieved any
longer. The VCTR can therefore continue to operate during such conditions and only
give warnings. Why the warnings are coming might then be much easier to investigate.
If the LowVoltTap or HighVoltTap parameter is set to zero the value of lowest (or
highest) position is kept to one.
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Control functions

23.6

Tap changer monitoring

The VCTR function has built-in extensive supervisory and monitoring features which
are explained further in more details.

23.6.1

Tap changer position detection

Actual tap changer position can be measured via binary signals (BI) or by an analogue
signal (AI). The configuration parameter POSTYPE on the VCTR function block
shall be correspondingly set to None, BI or AI. When the tap changer position
indication is not available the POSTYPE parameter shall be set to None.
Measured tap changer position is shown on the HMI as a service value under the menu
Service Report
Functions
VoltageControl
Measurands
TapPosition
23.6.2

Tap changer extreme positions

This feature supervises the extreme positions of the tap changer according to the settings HighVoltTap and LowVoltTap. When the tap changer reaches its highest/
lowest position, corresponding RAISE/ LOWER command is prevented in both automatic and manual mode.
23.6.3

Monitoring of tap changer operation

Output signal RAISE or LOWER are set high when VCTR function has decided that
it is necessary to operate the tap changer. These outputs should be connected to a
binary output module, BOM in order to give the commands to the tap changer mechanism. The length of the output pulse can be set via the setting parameter tPulseDur.
Usually the tap changer mechanism can give a signal, Tap change in progress, when
they are busy. This signal from the tap changer mechanism can be connected via a
BIM card to the VCTR input TCINPROG. This signal is used by the VCTR function
in three ways.
The first use is to reset the VCTR signal TCOPER to low as soon as the tapchanger is
ready after a tapchange and the TCINPROG disappears. Then VCTR is immediately
ready to eg make a consecutive command if necessary. If the TCINPROG input signal
is not used or does not exist, the TCOPER signal will be set for a time, equal to tTCTimeout setting, every time when a RAISE/LOWER command is issued.
The second use is to detect a jammed tap changer. A delay-on-pick-up timer is activated (set time equal to tTCTimeout setting) while the TCINPROG signal is
active. If this timer times out before the TCINPROG signal is set back to zero the output signal TCERR is set high and the VCTR function is blocked.

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Control functions

The third use is to check the proper operation of the tap changer mechanism. As soon
as input signal TCINPROG is set back to zero the VCTR function expects to read a
new and correct value for the tap position. If this does not happen the output signal
CMDERR is set high and VCTR function is blocked.
This feature can sometimes cause some practical problems at site during commissioning which can be solved by introducing delay on drop-off timer in the configuration
(set from 1 to 3 seconds) between binary input for the tap changer in progress signal
and the VCTR input TCINPROG. This time should be considered when setting tTCtimeout. It is also important to time the reading of the mA inputs so that a newly measured tap position reaches the VCTR within the period of which TCINPROG is set.
This can be obtained by setting a 2 s interval (approximately) periodic reading of the
mA input and/or enable deadband supervision.
Both the MIM input 1 (MI11-) and the CNV (primary counter) function blocks are fitted with a delay parameter input. The value applied (e.g. 1 s) will also add up to the
total delay that must be covered by the TCINPROG signal. The delay parameter input
of the MIM and CNV function blocks is meant to avoid fluctuations of the tap position
to be transferred into the VCTR function.
This additional logical timer in the configuration will as well enable the VCTR function to detect run-away of the tap changer mechanism.
23.6.4

Hunting detection

Hunting detection is provided in order to generate an alarm when the voltage control
gives an abnormal number of commands or abnormal sequence of commands within a
pre-defined period of time.
There are two hunting functions:
1 The VCTR function will activate the output signal HUNTING when the number of
tap changer operations exceed the number given by the setting DayHuntDetect
during 24 hours, or by the setting HourHuntDetect during one hour.

2 The VCTR function will activate the output signal :,1+817 when the total
number of contradictory tap changer operations (i.e. RAISE, LOWER, RAISE,
LOWER etc.) exceed the pre-set value given by the setting 1R2S:LQGRZ
within the time window specified via the setting parameter W+XQW'HWHFW.
Hunting can be the result of a narrow deadband setting or some other abnormalities in
the control system. Hunting detection according to 1 is active in both manual and automatic control mode whereas hunting detection according to 2 only is active in automatic control mode.
23.6.5

Wearing of the tap changer contacts

Two counters, ContactLife and NoOfOperations are available within the VCTR
function. They can be used as a guide for maintenance of the tap changer mechanism.

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Control functions

The ContactLife counter represents the remaining number of operations (decremental counter) at rated load

I load
ContactLife n + 1 = ContactLife n ------------
I rated
where n is the number of operations and is an adjustable setting parameter, CLFactor, with default value is set to 2. With this default setting an operation at rated load
(current measured on primary side) decrements the ContactLife counter for one.
The NoOfOperations counter simply counts the total number of operations (incremental counter).
Both counters are stored in a non-volatile memory as well as the times and dates of
their last reset. These dates are stored automatically when the command to reset the
counter is issued. It is therefore necessary to check that the terminal internal time is
correct before these counters are reset. The counter value can be reset from the HMI
menu branch:
Commands
VoltageControl
CLReset
or...
OCReset
Both counters and their last reset dates are shown on the HMI as a service values under
the menu
Service Report
Functions
VoltageControl
Measurands
NoOfOperations/OCResetDate
or...
ContactLife/CLResetDate

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Control functions

23.7

Power Monitoring
The level (with sign) of active and reactive power flow, through the transformer, can
be monitored. This function can be utilised for different purposes, e.g. to block the
voltage control function when active power is flowing from the LV side to the HV side
or to initiate switching of reactive power compensation plant etc.
There are four setting parameters Pforw, Prev, Qforw and Qrev. When passing the
pre-set value, anyone of them alone (via an or-gate) will activate the output POWERMON in the VCTR function block. This function can be time delayed, and in that
way, passing the pre-set level of one of them can be indicated, if the rest of the parameters are set on the extreme high values.
The setting ranges for the power levels are from -9999,99 to +9999,99 Mw/MVAr.
This makes it possible to combine the settings in such a way that a level of one of them
is monitored as described above. It is also posssible to cover intervals as well as areas
in the P-Q plane.
The power monitoring function works in both single and parallel operating versions of
VCTR.

3!3IRUZ
33UHY
4!4IRUZ
44UHY

Fig. 56

1MRK 504 037-UEN

W3RZHU

32:(5021

Logic diagram for power monitoring function

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Control functions

HV Bus

Pforward
winding 1

Qforward
inductive

winding 2
VCTR

LV Bus
Fig. 57

Referense diagram for positive power direction

The active power P has positive value when power flow from the winding No 2 to the
network as shown in the figure. The reactive power Q has positive value when the
total load of the secondary winding is inductive (i.e. reactance) as shown on the figure.

2SHUDWH$UHD
4IRUZ

3UHY

1R
Q2
S

HUD

WH 
$U
HD

3IRUZ

4UHY
2SHUDWH$UHD

Fig. 58

156

Operate characteristic for power monitoring function

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Voltage control for power transformers (VCTR)

Control functions

23.8

Settings
When parallel operation with the circulating current method is used, a setting value for
the Comp parameter shall be calculated (see section 23.3.2.3). This parameter is
used to increase or decrease the influence of the circulating current on the VCTR function.
Consider the two parallel transformers T1 and T2 in figure 52. If their taps differ with
one position and we denote the corresponding no-load voltage difference Utap_1 (line
voltage), the circulating current can be calculated as:

U tap_1
I cc_tap_1 = ----------------------------------------3 ( X T1 + X T2 )
Comp for transformer i (Ci in %) can be calculated in the following way:

U Ur2 10 3 3
C i = ---------------------------------------------------n I cc_tap_1 X Ti
where:
Ur2 is the rated phase to phase voltage for winding 2 (in kV).
U is the deadband setting in percent.
n denotes the desired number of difference in tap position, between the transformers, that shall give a voltage deviation Udi which corresponds to the deadband setting.
This calculation yields a setting of Comp that will always initiate an action (start
timer) when the transformers have n tap positions difference. Of course the number n
can also be chosen a non integer which then gives a possibility to tune the voltage regulation.
If the two transformers are equal, the formula can be simplified:

2 U
C i = ----------------- 100
np
where p is the tap step (in % of transformer nominal voltage).
For more than two transformers in parallel, the simplified formula for the two-transformer case will still be valid if the transformers are equal with similar tap changers. In
other cases, the first of the two formulas given above shall be used.

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Please note that the above Ci setting is the theoretical value where the operation in the
most unfavorable condition is achieved exactly on the deadband limit. In practice the
transformer reactances changes from rated value at the ends of the regulation range.
Therefore it is recommended to have a margin (increase Ci setting) with about 25 to
30% from the theoretical value.

158

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LED indication function (HL, HLED)

Monitoring

Monitoring

24

LED indication function (HL, HLED)

24.1

Application
The LED indication module is an additional feature for the REx 500 terminals for protection and control and consists totally of 18 LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). It is
located on the front of the protection and control terminal. The main purpose is, to
present on site an immediate visual information on:
actual signals active (or not active) within the protected bay (terminal).
alarm signals handled as a simplified alarm system.
last operation of the terminal. Here we understand the presentation of the signals
appeared during the latest start(s) or trip(s) since the previous information has
been reset.
The user of this information is the technician in substation or the protection engineer
during the testing activities. The protection engineer can also be able to read the status
of all LEDs over the SMS in his office as well as to acknowledge/reset them locally or
remotely.

24.2

Functionality
Each LED indication can be set individually to operate in six different sequences; two
as follow type and four as latch type. Two of the latching types are intended to be used
as a protection indication system, either in collecting or re-starting mode, with reset
functionality. The other two are intended to be used as a signaling system in collecting
mode with an acknowledgment functionality.
Priority

Each LED can show green, yellow or red light, each with its own activation input. If
more than one input is activated at the time a priority is used with green as lowest priority and red as the highest.
Operating modes
Collecting mode

LEDs which are used in collecting mode of operation are accumulated continuously
until the unit is acknowledged manually. This mode is suitable when the LEDs are
used as a simplified alarm system.

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LED indication function (HL, HLED)

Monitoring

Re-starting mode

In the re-starting mode of operation each new start resets all previous active LEDs and
activates only those which appear during one disturbance. Only LEDs defined for restarting mode with the latched sequence type 6 (LatchedReset-S) will initiate a reset
and a restart at a new disturbance. A disturbance is defined to end a settable time after
the reset of the activated input signals or when the maximum time limit has been
elapsed.
Acknowledgment/reset
From local HMI

The active indications can be acknowledged/reset manually. Manual acknowledgment

and manual reset have the same meaning and is a common signal for all the operating
sequences and LEDs. The function is positive edge triggered, not level triggered. The
acknowledgment/reset is performed via the C-button on the Local HMI according to
the sequence in figure 59.

Screen scrolling
disturbance
indications

Dark
screen

Press button:

&

&

Text on HMI:
C=Clear LEDs
E=Enter menu

&

Clear HMI-LCD LEDs

Go to menu

If any HMI-LEDs active,

text on HMI:
C=HLED_ ACK_RST
E=Enter menu
&

Acknowledge/Reset
HMI-LEDs

Go to menu
en01000226.vsd

Fig. 59

160

Acknowledgment/reset from local HMI

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LED indication function (HL, HLED)

Monitoring

From function input

The active indications can also be acknowledged/reset from an input (ACK_RST) to

the function. This input can for example be configured to a binary input operated from
an external push button. The function is positive edge triggered, not level triggered.
This means that even if the button is continuously pressed, the acknowledgment/reset
only affects indications active at the moment when the button is first pressed.
From SMS/SCS

It is also possible to perform the acknowledgment/reset remotely from SMS/SCS. To

do that, the function input (ACK_RST) has to be configured to an output of a command function block (CD or CM). The output from these command function blocks
can then be activated from the SMS/SCS.
Automatic reset

The automatic reset can only be performed for indications defined for re-starting mode
with the latched sequence type 6 (LatchedReset-S). When the automatic reset of the
LEDs has been performed, still persisting indications will be indicated with a steady
light.
Operating sequences

The sequences can be of type Follow or Latched. For the Follow type the LED follow
the input signal completely. For the Latched type each LED latches to the corresponding input signal until it is reset.
The figures below show the function of available sequences selectable for each LED
separately. For sequence 1 and 2 (Follow type), the acknowledgment/reset function is
not applicable. Sequence 3 and 4 (Latched type with acknowledgement) are only
working in collecting mode. Sequence 5 is working according to Latched type and collecting mode while sequence 6 is working according to Latched type and re-starting
mode. The letters S and F in the sequence names have the meaning S = Steady and F =
Flash.
At the activation of the input signal, the indication obtains corresponding color corresponding to the activated input and operates according to the selected sequence diagrams below.
In the sequence diagrams the LEDs have the following characteristics:

= No indication
G=

Green

= Steady light
Y=

Yellow

= Flash
R=

Red

en01000227.vsd

Fig. 60

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Symbols used in the sequence diagrams

161

LED indication function (HL, HLED)

Monitoring

Sequence 1 (Follow-S)

This sequence follows all the time, with a steady light, the corresponding input signals.
It does not react on acknowledgment or reset. Every LED is independent of the other
LEDs in its operation.

Activating
signal

LED
en01000228.vsd

Fig. 61

Operating sequence 1 (Follow-S)

If inputs for two or more colors are active at the same time to one LED the priority is
as described above. An example of the operation when two colors are activated in parallel is shown in figure 62.

Activating
signal GREEN
Activating
signal RED

LED

en01000230.vsd

Fig. 62

Operating sequence 1, two colors

Sequence 2 (Follow-F)

This sequence is the same as sequence 1, Follow-S, but the LEDs are flashing instead
of showing steady light.
Sequence 3 (LatchedAck-F-S)

This sequence has a latched function and works in collecting mode. Every LED is
independent of the other LEDs in its operation. At the activation of the input signal,
the indication starts flashing. After acknowledgment the indication disappears if the
signal is not present any more. If the signal is still present after acknowledgment it gets
a steady light.

162

1MRK 504 037-UEN

LED indication function (HL, HLED)

Monitoring

Activating
signal

LED

Acknow.
en01000231.vsd

Fig. 63

Operating sequence 3 (LatchedAck-F-S)

When an acknowledgment is performed, all indications that appear before the indication with higher priority has been reset, will be acknowledged, independent of if the
low priority indication appeared before or after acknowledgment. In figure 64 is
shown the sequence when a signal of lower priority becomes activated after acknowledgment has been performed on a higher priority signal. The low priority signal will be
shown as acknowledged when the high priority signal resets.

Activating
signal GREEN
Activating
signal RED

LED

Acknow.
en01000232.vsd

Fig. 64

Operating sequence 3, two colors involved

If all three signals are activated the order of priority is still maintained. Acknowledgment of indications with higher priority will acknowledge also low priority indications
which are not visible according to figure 65.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

163

LED indication function (HL, HLED)

Monitoring

Activating
signal GREEN
Activating
signal YELLOW
Activating
signal RED

LED

Acknow.
en01000233.vsd

Fig. 65

Operating sequence 3, three colors involved, alternative 1

If an indication with higher priority appears after acknowledgment of a lower priority

indication the high priority indication will be shown as not acknowledged according to
figure 66.

Activating
signal GREEN
Activating
signal YELLOW
Activating
signal RED

LED

Acknow.
en01000234.vsd

Fig. 66

Operating sequence 3, three colors involved, alternative 2

Sequence 4 (LatchedAck-S-F)

This sequence has the same functionality as sequence 3, but steady and flashing light
have been alternated.

164

1MRK 504 037-UEN

LED indication function (HL, HLED)

Monitoring

Sequence 5 (LatchedColl-S)

This sequence has a latched function and works in collecting mode. At the activation
of the input signal, the indication will light up with a steady light. The difference to
sequence 3 and 4 is that indications that are still activated will not be affected by the
reset i.e. immediately after the positive edge of the reset has been executed a new reading and storing of active signals is performed. Every LED is independent of the other
LEDs in its operation.

Activating
signal

LED

Reset
en01000235.vsd

Fig. 67

Operating sequence 5 (LatchedColl-S)

That means if an indication with higher priority has reset while an indication with lower
priority still is active at the time of reset, the LED will change color according to figure
68.

Activating
signal GREEN
Activating
signal RED

LED

Reset
en01000236.vsd

Fig. 68

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Operating sequence 5, two colors

165

LED indication function (HL, HLED)

Monitoring

Sequence 6 (LatchedReset-S)

In this mode all activated LEDs, which are set to sequence 6 (LatchedReset-S), are
automatically reset at a new disturbance when activating any input signal for other
LEDs set to sequence 6 (LatchedReset-S). Also in this case indications that are still
activated will not be affected by manual reset, i.e. immediately after the positive edge
of that the manual reset has been executed a new reading and storing of active signals
is performed. LEDs set for sequence 6 are completely independent in its operation of
LEDs set for other sequences.
Definition of a disturbance

A disturbance is defined to last from the first LED set as LatchedReset-S is activated
until a settable time, tRestart, has elapsed after that all activating signals for the LEDs
set as LatchedReset-S have reset. However if all activating signals have reset and some
signal again becomes active before tRestart has elapsed, the tRestart timer does not
restart the timing sequence. A new disturbance start will be issued first when all signals have reset after tRestart has elapsed. A diagram of this functionality is shown in
figure 69.

From
disturbance
length control
per LED
set to
sequence 6

New
disturbance

tRestart
t

&

&
1

&

en01000237.vsd

Fig. 69

Activation of new disturbance

In order not to have a lock-up of the indications in the case of a persisting signal each
LED is provided with a timer, tMax, after which time the influence on the definition of
a disturbance of that specific LED is inhibited. This functionality is shown i diagram in
figure 70.

166

1MRK 504 037-UEN

LED indication function (HL, HLED)

Monitoring

Activating signal
GREEN
Activating signal
YELLOW
Activating signal
RED

To LED

&
tMax

To disturbance
length control

t
en01000238.vsd

Fig. 70

Length control of activating signals

Timing diagram for sequence 6

Figure 71 shows the timing diagram for two indications within one disturbance.

Disturbance
t Restart
Activating
signal 1
Activating
signal 2

LED 1

LED 2
Automatic
reset
Manual
reset

Fig. 71

en01000239.vsd

Operating sequence 6 (LatchedReset-S), two indications within same disturbance

Figure 72 shows the timing diagram for a new indication after tRestart time has
elapsed.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

167

LED indication function (HL, HLED)

Monitoring

Disturbance
t Restart

Disturbance
t Restart

Activating
signal 1
Activating
signal 2

LED 1

LED 2
Automatic
reset
Manual
reset

Fig. 72

en01000240.vsd

Operating sequence 6 (LatchedReset-S), two different disturbances

Figure 73 shows the timing diagram when a new indication appears after the first one
has reset but before tRestart has elapsed.

Disturbance
t Restart
Activating
signal 1
Activating
signal 2

LED 1

LED 2
Automatic
reset
Manual
reset
en01000241.vsd

Fig. 73

168

Operating sequence 6 (LatchedReset-S), two indications within same disturbance but with reset of activating signal between
1MRK 504 037-UEN

Event function (EV)

Monitoring

Figure 74 shows the timing diagram for manual reset.

Disturbance
t Restart
Activating
signal 1
Activating
signal 2

LED 1

LED 2
Automatic
reset
Manual
reset
en01000242.vsd

Fig. 74

24.3

Operating sequence 6 (LatchedReset-S), manual reset

Calculations
The parameters for the LED indication function are set via the local HMI or PST
(Parameter Setting Tool). Refer to the Technical reference manual for setting parameters and path in local HMI.

25

Event function (EV)

25.1

General
When using a Substation Automation system, time-tagged events can be continuously sent or polled from the terminal. These events can come from any available signal in the terminal that is connected to the Event function block. The Event function
block can also handle double indication, that is normally used to indicate positions of
high-voltage apparatus. With this Event function block in the REx 5xx terminal, data
can be sent to other terminals over the LON bus.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

169

Event function (EV)

Monitoring

25.2

Functionality
The events that are sent from the terminal can come from both internal logical signals
and binary input channels. The internal signals are time-tagged in the main processing
module, while the binary input channels are time-tagged directly on each I/O module.
The events are produced according to the set-event masks. The event masks are treated
commonly for both the LON and SPA channels. All events according to the event
mask are stored in a buffer, which contains up to 1000 events. If new events appear
before the oldest event in the buffer is read, the oldest event is overwritten and an overflow alarm appears.
The outputs from the Event function block are formed by the reading of status and
events by the station HMI on either every single input or double input. The userdefined name for each input is intended to be used by the station HMI.
The time-tagging of the events that are emerging from internal logical signals have a
resolution corresponding to the execution cyclicity of the Event function block. The
time-tagging of the events that are emerging from binary input signals have a resolution of 1 ms.
Two special signals for event registration purposes are available in the terminal, Terminal restarted and Event buffer overflow.

25.3

Single and double indications

The inputs can be used as individual events or can be defined as double indication
events.
Double indications are used to handle a combination of two inputs at a time, for example, one input for the open and one for the close position of a circuit breaker or disconnector. The double indication consists of an odd and an even input number. When the
odd input is defined as a double indication, the next even input is considered to be the
other input. The odd inputs has a suppression timer to suppress events at 00 states.

25.4

Communication between terminals

The Event function block can also be used to send data over the LON bus to other terminals. The most common use is to transfer interlocking information between different
bays. That can be performed by an Event function block used as a send block and with
a Multiple Command function block used as a receive block. The configuration of the
communication between control terminals is made by the LON Network Tool.

170

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Event function (EV)

Monitoring

25.5

Setting
The inputs can be set individually from the Parameter Setting Tool (PST) or from the
Station Monitoring System (SMS) under the Mask-Event function as:
No events
OnSet, at
OnReset, at
OnChange, at
To be used as double indications the odd inputs are individually set from the PST or
SMS under the Mask-Event function as:
Double indication
Double indication with midposition suppression
Here, the settings of the corresponding even inputs have no meaning.
The event reporting can be set from PST or SMS as:
Use event masks
Report no events
Report all events
Use of event masks is the normal reporting of events, that is, the events are reported as
defined in the database.
An event mask can be set individually for each available signal in the terminal. The
setting of the event mask can only be performed from PST or SMS.
All event mask settings are treated commonly for all communication channels of the
terminal.
Report no events means blocking of all events in the terminal.
Report all events means that all events, that are set to OnSet/OnReset/OnChange are
reported as OnChange, that is, both at set and reset of the signal. For double indications when the suppression time is set, the event ignores the timer and is reported
directly. Masked events are still masked.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

171

Disturbance Report (DRP)

Monitoring

Parameters to be set for the Event function block are:

NAMEyy including the name for each input.

T_SUPRyy including the suppression time for double indications.
INTERVAL used for the cyclic sending of data.
BOUND telling that the block has connections to other terminals over the
LON bus.

These parameters are set from the CAP 531 configuration tool. When the
BOUND parameter is set, the settings of the event masks have no meaning.

26

Disturbance Report (DRP)

26.1

General
The aim of the Disturbance Report is to contribute to the highest possible quality of
electrical supply. This is done by continuous collection of system data and, upon
occurrence of fault, sorting and presenting a certain amount of pre-fault, fault and
post-fault data.
The stored data can be used for analysis and decision making to find and eliminate
possible system and equipment weaknesses.

26.2

Functionality
The Disturbance Report is a common name for several facilities to supply the operator
with more information about the disturbances and the system. Some of the facilities
are basic and some are optional.
The facilities included in the Disturbance Report are:
Disturbance overview
Indications
Event recorder
Trip values
Disturbance recorder
The whole Disturbance Report can contain information for up to 10 disturbances each
with the data coming from the parts mentioned above, depending on the options
installed. All information in the Disturbance Report is stored in non-volatile flash
memory. This implies, that no information is lost in case of loss of the power supply.
The memory employs the FIFO principle, i.e. when the memory is full, the oldest disturbance will be overwritten.

172

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Disturbance Report (DRP)

Monitoring

On the built-in HMI the indications and the trip values are available. For a complete
disturbance report SMS is required.
26.2.1

General disturbance information

26.2.1.1

Disturbance overview

is a summary of all the stored disturbances. The overview is only available via the Station Monitoring System (SMS). It contains:
Disturbance index
Date and time
Trig signal (one, that activated the recording)
26.2.1.2

Disturbance data

Disturbance data can be accessed via the built-in HMI or via SMS. The date and time
of the disturbance, the trig signal, the indications and the trip values are available provided, that the corresponding functions are installed.
26.2.2

Indications

Indications is a list of signals that were activated during the fault time of the distrubance.
26.2.3

Event recorder

The event recorder contains a list of up to 150 time tagged events, i.e. change of status
of binary signals, for each disturbance.
26.2.4

Trip values

This function presents the phasors of selected currents and voltages before and during
a disturbance.
26.2.5

Disturbance recorder

The disturbance recorder records analogue and binary signal data during the whole
disturbance.

26.3

Settings

26.3.1

Signals

26.3.1.1

Binary signals

The Disturbance Report can be programmed to accept up to 48 binary signals. The

Event Recorder and the Indication functions will use these binary signals for its function. In case the Disturbance Recording function is installed, the signals will be
recorded as binary signals in this function.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

173

Disturbance Report (DRP)

Monitoring

26.3.1.2

Analogue signals

When the Disturbance Recorder is installed, up to 10 analogue signals can be selected

for recording.
26.3.2

Triggers

The Disturbance Report function must be activated by a trigger in case of a disturbance. The trig conditions affect the entire disturbance report. As soon as a trig condition is fulfilled, a complete disturbance report is recorded. On the other hand, if no trig
condition is fulfilled, there is no disturbance report. This implies the importance of
choosing the right signals as trig conditions.
The following types of triggers are available:
Manual trig
Binary signal trig
Analogue signal trig (over/under function)
26.3.2.1

Manual trig

Manual trig can be made either from the built-in HMI or via SMS. The possibility has
been included to facilitate easy and convenient test of the Disturbance Report function.
26.3.2.2

Binary signal trig

Any of the 48 signals can be selected as a trigger for the Disturbance Report function.
Thus, it is necessary to consider which signals should be included in the set of 48 signals and out of these, which should be used as a trigger. Incorrect choice may result in
failure in initiating a recording in case of disturbance or unnecessary recording.
26.3.2.3

Analogue signal trig

Any analogue signal can be programmed to act as a trigger. The analogue signals are
provided with level detectors both for under and over function. Selection of these signals and the operating level should be done with great care to avoid undue recordings.
Specially under-current and under-voltage detectors should be used with great care.
26.3.3

Recording times

The recording time is valid for whole Disturbance Report, except for Indications. Indications are only recorded during the fault time.
The total recording time comprises the following parts:
tPre, this is the so called pre-fault time. In fact it also includes a part of the fault
condition due to the operating time of the trigger. The setting should be done so
that this fact is taken into consideration. Thus the setting should cover the operating time for the slowest trigger and a few cycles of the true pre-fault condition.
tFault is the fault duration time. In fact it includes a small part of the post fault
condition, due to the reset time of the triggers. This time can not be set.

174

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

tPost is the so called post-fault time. This time is settable and starts when all triggers have reset. The time should be set so that sufficient amount of post-fault data
is recorded.
tLim is the limit time. This setting will limit the recording time after the triggering. This parameter has been introduced to eliminate the risk of unwanted overwriting of valuable data. Since the recording memory employs the FIFO
principle, this would be the case for the Disturbance Recording function, should a
trigger not reset for one reason or another. The setting should be done considering
the expected fault duration and set post-fault time.

27

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

27.1

Application
Fast, reliable supervision of different analog quantities is of vital importance during
the normal operation of a power system. Operators in the control centres can, for
example:
Continuously follow active and reactive power flow in the network
Supervise the busbar voltages
Check the temperature of power transformers, shunt reactors
Monitor the gas pressure in circuit breakers
Monitor tap changer position
Different measuring methods are available for different quantities. Current and voltage
instrument transformers provide the basic information on measured phase currents and
voltages in different points within the power system. At the same time, currents and
voltages serve as the input measuring quantities to power and energy meters.
Different measuring transducers provide information on electrical and non-electrical
measuring quantities such as voltage, current, temperature, and pressure. In most
cases, the measuring transducers change the values of the measured quantities into the
direct current. The current value usually changes within the specified mA range in proportion to the value of the measured quantity.
Further processing of the direct currents obtained on the outputs of different measuring
converters occurs within different control, protection, and monitoring terminals and
within the higher hierarchical systems in the secondary power system.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

175

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

27.2

Functionality
The RET 521 control, protection and monitoring terminal have a built-in option to
measure and further process information from up to 6 different direct current information from different measuring transducers. Six independent measuring channels are
located on each independent mA input module and the RET 521 terminals can accept
from one up to six independent mA input modules, depending on the case size. Refer
to the technical data and ordering particulars for the particular terminal.
Information about the measured quantities is then available to the user on different
locations:
Locally by means of the local human-machine-interface (HMI)
Locally by means of a front-connected personal computer (PC)
Remotely over the LON bus to the station control system (SCS)
Remotely over the SPA port to the station monitoring system (SMS)
User-defined measuring ranges

The measuring range of different direct current measuring channels is settable by the
user independent on each other within the range between -25 mA and +25 mA in steps
of 0.01 mA. It is only necessary to select the upper operating limit I_Max higher than
the lower one I_Min.
The measuring channel can have a value of 2 of the whole range I_Max - I_Min above
the upper limit I_Max or below the lower limit I_Min, before an out-of-range error
occurs. This means that with a nominal range of 0-10 mA, no out-of-range event will
occur with a value between -0.2 mA and 10.2 mA.
User can this way select for each measuring quantity on each monitored object of a
power system the most suitable measuring range and this way optimize a complete
functionality together with the characteristics of the used measuring transducer.
Continuous monitoring of the measured quantity

The user can continuously monitor the measured quantity in each channel by means of
six built-in operating limits (figure 75). Two of them are defined by the operating
range selection: I_Max as the upper and I_Min as the lower operating limit. The other
four operating limits operate in two different modes:
Overfunction, when the measured current exceeds the HiWarn or HiAlarm preset values
Underfunction, when the measured current decreases under the LowWarn or
LowAlarm pre-set values

176

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

<
,B0D[
+L$ODUP

RMAXAL = 1
RMAXAL = 0

HIALARM = 1

HIALARM = 0
Hysteresis

HIWARN = 1

+L:DUQ

HIWARN = 0

/RZ:DUQ

LOWWARN = 1
LOWALARM = 0

/RZ$ODUP

LOWALARM = 1

,B0LQ

RMINAL = 1
RMINAL = 0

Fig. 75

LOWWARN = 0

99000532.vsd

Presentation of the operating limits

Each operating level has its corresponding functional output signal:

RMAXAL
HIWARN
HIALARM
LOWWARN
LOWALARM
RMINAL

The logical value of the functional output signals changes according to figure 75.
The user can set the hysteresis, which determines the difference between the operating
and reset value at each operating point, in wide range for each measuring channel separately. The hysteresis is common for all operating values within one channel.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

177

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

Continuous supervision of the measured quantity

The actual value of the measured quantity is available locally and remotely. The measurement is continuous for each channel separately, but the reporting of the value to
the higher levels (control processor in the unit, HMI and SCS) depends on the selected
reporting mode. The following basic reporting modes are available:
Periodic reporting
Periodic reporting with dead-band supervision in parallel
Periodic reporting with dead-band supervision in series
Dead-band reporting
Users can select between two types of dead-band supervision:
Amplitude dead-band supervision (ADBS).
Integrating dead-band supervision (IDBS).
Amplitude dead-band supervision

If the changed value compared to the last reported value is larger than the +/- Y
predefined limits that are set by users, and if this is detected by a new measuring sample, then the measuring channel reports the new value to a higher level. This limits the
information flow to a minimum necessary. Figure 76 shows an example of periodic
reporting with the amplitude dead-band supervision.
The picture is simplified: the process is not continuous but the values are evaluated at
time intervals depending on the sampling frequency chosen by the user (SampRate setting).
After the new value is reported, the new +/- Y limits for dead-band are automatically
set around it. The new value is reported only if the measured quantity changes more
than defined by the new +/- Y set limits.

178

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

Value Reported

<
Value Reported
(1st)

Value Reported

<
<

<

Value Reported
Y
Y

Y
Y

Y
Y

W
99000529.vsd

Fig. 76

Amplitude dead-band supervision reporting

Integrating dead-band supervision

The measured value is updated if the time integral of all changes exceeds the pre-set
limit (figure 77), where an example of reporting with integrating dead-band supervision is shown. The picture is simplified: the process is not continuous but the values
are evaluated at time intervals depending on the sampling frequency chosen by the
user (SampRate setting).
The last value reported (Y1 in figure 77) serves as a basic value for further measurement. A difference is calculated between the last reported and the newly measured
value during new sample and is multiplied by the time increment (discrete integral).
The absolute values of these products are added until the pre-set value is exceeded.
This occurs with the value Y2 that is reported and set as a new base for the following
measurements (as well as for the values Y3, Y4 and Y5).
The integrating dead-band supervision is particularly suitable for monitoring signals
with low variations that can last for relatively long periods.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

179

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

<
A >=
pre-set value

A1 >=
pre-set value

A2 >=
pre-set value
<

<
Value Reported
(1st)

$

Value
Reported

A3 + A4 + A5 + A6 + A7 >=
pre-set value

$
Value
Reported

<

<

$

$

$

$

$

<

Value
Reported

Value
Reported
W
99000530.vsd

Fig. 77

Reporting with integrating dead-band supervision

Periodic reporting

The user can select the periodic reporting of measured value in time intervals between
1 and 3600 s (setting RepInt). The measuring channel reports the value even if it has
not changed for more than the set limits of amplitude or integrating dead-band supervision (figure 78). To disable periodic reporting, set the reporting time interval to 0 s.

<
Value Reported
(1st)

Value Reported

<

<

Value Reported

Value Reported

Value Reported

<

<

<

 6HWYDOXHIRUW5HS,QW

Fig. 78

180

Value 5

t (*)

Value 4

t (*)

Value 3

t (*)

Value 2

Value 1

t (*)

99000528.vsd

Periodic reporting

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

Periodic reporting with parallel dead-band supervision

The newly measured value is reported:

After each time interval for the periodic reporting expired, OR;
When the new value is detected by the dead-band supervision function.
The amplitude dead-band and the integrating dead-band can be selected. The periodic
reporting can be set in time intervals between 1 and 3600 seconds.

Value Reported
Value Reported
(1st)

Value Reported

Value
Reported

Value
Reported

Value Reported
Y
Y

Value Reported

Y
Y

Y
Y

Y
Y

t (*)

t (*)

Value 4

t (*)

Value 2

Value 1

t (*)

Value 3

<

Value
Reported

Value 5

<

W
99000531.vsd

 6HWYDOXHIRUW5HS,QW

Fig. 79

Periodic reporting with amplitude dead-band supervision in parallel.

Periodic reporting with serial dead-band supervision

Periodic reporting can operate serially with the dead-band supervision. This means
that the new value is reported only if the set time period expired AND if the dead-band
limit was exceeded during the observed time (figures 80 and 81). The amplitude deadband and the integrating dead-band can be selected. The periodic reporting can be set
in time intervals between 1 and 3600 seconds.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

181

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

Value QRW
Reported

<
Value Reported
(1st)

Value Reported

Value QRW
Reported

Value Reported

Y
Y

<
Y
Y

<
t (*)

Value 5

t (*)

Value 4

t (*)

Value 2

Value 1

t (*)

Value 3

<

W
99000508.vsd

 6HWYDOXHIRUW5HS,QW

Periodic reporting with amplitude dead-band supervision in series

A1 <
pre-set value
<
Value Reported
(1st)

A1 + A2 >= preset value

Value QRW
Reported

$

<

Value
Reported

$
<

t (*)
Value 2

Value 1

t (*)

Value 3

Fig. 80

W
99000509.vsd

 6HWYDOXHIRUW5HS,QW

Fig. 81

182

Periodic reporting with integrating dead-band supervision in series

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

&RPELQDWLRQRISHULRGLFUHSRUWLQJV

The reporting of the new value depends on setting parameters for the dead-band and for
the periodic reporting. Table 26 presents the dependence between different settings and
the type of reporting for the new value of a measured quantity.
Table 26: Dependence of reporting on different setting parameters:
(Q'HDG% (Q,'HDG% (Q'HDG%3

5HS,QW 5HSRUWLQJRIWKHQHZYDOXH

Off

Off

Off

No measured values is reported

Off

On

On

t>0

The new measured value is

reported only if the time t period
expired and if, during this time, the
integrating dead-band limits were
exceeded (periodic reporting with
integrating dead-band supervision in
series)

On

Off

On

t>0

The new measured value is

reported only if the time t period has
expired and if, during this time, the
amplitude dead-band limits were
exceeded (periodic reporting with
amplitude dead-band supervision in
series)

On

On

On

t>0

The new measured value is

reported only if the time t period
expired and if at least one of the
dead-band limits were exceeded
(periodic reporting with dead-band
supervision in series)

Off

On

Off

The new measured value is

reported only when the integrated
dead-band limits are exceeded

On

Off

Off

The new measured value is

reported only when the amplitude
dead-band limits were exceeded

On

On

Off

The new measured value is

reported only if one of the deadband limits was exceeded

Off

t>0

The new measured value is updated

at least after the time t period
expired. If the dead-band supervision is additionally selected, the
updating also occurs when the corresponding dead-band limit was
exceeded (periodic reporting with
parallel dead-band supervision)

* Please see the setting parameters in the Technical reference manual for further
explanation

1MRK 504 037-UEN

183

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

27.3

Design
The design of the mA input modules follows the design of all REx 5xx-series protection, control, and monitoring terminals that have distributed functionality, where the
decision levels are placed as closely as possible to the process.
Each independent measuring module contains all necessary circuitry and functionality
for measurement of six independent measuring quantities related to the corresponding
measured direct currents.
On the accurate input shunt resistor (R), the direct input current (from the measuring
converter) is converted into a proportional voltage signal (the voltage drop across the
shunt resistor is in proportion to the measured current). Later, the voltage signal is processed within one differential type of measuring channel (figure 82).

REx 5xx Terminal

Measuring
Converter

Udc

DC
DC

99000533.vsd

Fig. 82

Simplified diagram for the function

The measured voltage is filtered by the low-pass analog filter before entering the analog to digital converter (A/D). Users can set the sampling frequency of the A/D converter between 5 Hz and 255 Hz to adapt to different application requirements as best
as possible.
The digital information is filtered by the digital low-pass filter with the (sinx/x)3
response. The filter notch frequency automatically follows the selected sampling frequency. The relation between the frequency corresponding to the suppression of -3 dB
and the filter notch frequency corresponds to the equation:

f 3dB = 0, 262 fnotch

184

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

Using optocouplers and DC/DC conversion elements that are used separately for each
measuring channel, the input circuitry of each measuring channel is galvanically separated from:
The internal measuring circuits
The control microprocessor on the board
A microprocessor collects the digitized information from each measuring channel. The
microprocessor serves as a communication interface to the main processing module
(MPM).
All processing of the measured signal is performed on the module so that only the minimum amount of information is necessary to be transmitted to and from the MPM. The
measuring module receives information from the MPM on setting and the command
parameters; it reports the measured values and additional informationaccording to
needs and values of different parameters.
Each measuring channel is calibrated very accurately during the production process.
The continuous internal zero offset and full-scale calibration during the normal operation is performed by the A/D converter. The calibration covers almost all analog parts
of the A/D conversion, but neglects the shunt resistance.
Each measuring channel has built in a zero-value supervision, which greatly rejects the
noise generated by the measuring transducers and other external equipment. The value
of the measured input current is reported equal to zero (0) if the measured primary
quantity does not exceed +/-0.5% of the maximum measuring range.
The complete measuring module is equipped with advanced self-supervision. Only the
outermost analog circuits cannot be monitored. The A/D converter, optocouplers, digital circuitry, and DC/DC converters, are all supervised on the module. Over the CAN
bus, the measuring module sends a message to the MPM for any detected errors on the
supervised circuitry.

27.4

Calculations
The PST Parameter Setting Tool has to be used in order to set all the parameters that
are related to different DC analog quantities.
Users can set the 13 character name for each measuring channel.
All the monitoring operating values and the hysteresis can be set directly in the mA of
the measured input currents from the measuring transducers.

The measured quantities can be displayed locally and/or remotely according to the corresponding modules that are separately set for each measuring channel by the users
(five characters).

1MRK 504 037-UEN

185

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

The relation between the measured quantity in the power system and the setting range
of the direct current measuring channel corresponds to this equation:

ValueMax ValueMin
Valu e = ValueMin + ( I IMin ) -------------------------------------------------------------IMax IMin

Where:

I_Min

is the set value for the minimum operating current of a channel in mA.

I_Max

is the set value for the maximum operating current of a channel in mA.

ValueMin

is the value of the primary measuring quantity corresponding to the set value of
minimum operating current of a channel, I_Min.

ValueMax

is the value of the primary measuring quantity corresponding to the set value of
maximum operating current of a channel, I_Max.

Value

is the actual value of the primary measured quantity.

Figure 83 shows the relationship between the direct mA current I and the actual value
of the primary measured quantity, Value.

186

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

9DOXH

9DOXH0D[

9DOXH0LQ,0D[9DOXH0D[,0LQ
,0D[,0LQ
,0LQ
,0D[

9DOXH0LQ

99000534.vsd

Fig. 83

Relationship between the direct current (I) and the measured quantity primary value (Value)

The dead-band limits can be set directly in the mA of the input direct current for:
Amplitude dead-band supervision ADBS
Integrating dead-band supervision IDBS
The IDBS area [mAs] is defined by the following equation:

I DeadB
IDBS = ------------------------------ = IDeadB t s
SampRate

1MRK 504 037-UEN

187

Monitoring of DC analog measurements

Monitoring

where:
IDeadB

is the set value of the current level for IDBS in mA.

SampRate

is the sampling rate (frequency) set value, in Hz.

ts = 1/SampRate is the time between two samples in s.

If a 0.1 mA variation in the monitored quantity for 10 minutes (600 s) is the event that
should cause the trigger of the IDBS monitoring (reporting of the value because of
IDBS threshold operation) and the sampling frequency (SampRate) of the monitored
quantity is 5 Hz, than the set value for IDBS (IDeadB) will be 300 mA:

IDBS = 0.1 600 = 60 [ mA s ]

IDeadB = IDBS SampRate = 60 5 = 300 [ mA ]

The polarity of connected direct current input signal can be changed by setting the
ChSign to On or Off. This way it is possible to compensate by setting the possible
wrong connection of the direct current leads between the measuring converter and the
input terminals of the REx 5xx series unit.
The setting table lists all setting parameters with additional explanation.

1RWH
,WLVLPSRUWDQWWRVHWWKHWLPHIRUSHULRGLFUHSRUWLQJDQGGHDGEDQGLQDQRSWLPL]HGZD\
WRPLQLPL]HWKHORDGRQWKHVWDWLRQEXV

188

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Remote communication (RC)

Data communication

Data communication

28

Remote communication (RC)

28.1

General
The remote communication can be used for different purposes to enable better access
to the information stored in the terminals.
The remote communication can be used with a station monitoring system (SMS) or
with computerized substation control system (SCS). Normally, SPA communication is
used for SMS and LON communication for SCS. SPA communication is also applied
when using the front communication port, but for this purpose, no special Remote
communication function is required in the terminal. Only the software in the PC and a
special cable for front connection is needed.

SMS-BASE
SM/REL 511
SM/RET 521
SM/REC 561
SM/REOR 100
RECOM
REVAL

Bus connection units

REL 511

SPA bus
Optical fibre
loop

RET 521

REC 561
Telephone
modem
REOR 100

Telephone
modem

Opto/electrical
converter
(Minute pulse
from station clock)

Fig. 84

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Example of SPA communication structure for SMS

189

Remote communication (RC)

Data communication

LON-bus
REL 531
Micro SCADA

Gateway

RET 521

REC 561

REL 511

Fig. 85

28.2

Example of LON communication structure for SCS

Functionality
All remote communication to and from the terminal (including the front PC port communication) uses either the SPA-bus V 2.4 protocol or the LonTalk protocol.
The remote communication use optical fibres for transfer of data within a station.The
principle of two independent communication ports is used. For this reason, two serial
ports for connection of optical fibres are optionally available in the terminal, one for
LON communication and one for SPA communication.

28.2.1

SPA operation

The SPA protocol is an ASCII-based protocol for serial communication. The communication is based on a master-slave principle, where the terminal is a slave, and the PC
is the master. Only one master can be applied on each application. A program is
needed in the master computer for interpretation of the SPA-bus codes, and for translation of the settings sent to the terminal.
28.2.2

LON operation

The LON protocol is specified in the LonTalkProtocol Specification. This protocol is

designed for communication in control networks and is a pier-to-pier protocol where
all the devices connected to the network can communicate with each other directly.
Also see the references page.

190

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Remote communication (RC)

Data communication

28.3

Settings
The following settings are provided for the SPA communication:
On the front port:
slave number
baud rate
On the rear port:
slave number
baud rate
active group restriction
setting restriction
The parameters for the LON communication are set with a special tool called LNT,
LON Network Tool.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

191

Tap position measuring

Enhancing functionality

Enhancing functionality

29

Tap position measuring

The actual tap changer position can be measured via binary input signals or via miliamp input signal. Differential Protection function (DIFP) and Voltage Control function
(VCTR) can use this measured tap changer position value to enhance their functionality.

29.1

Tap changer position measuring via mA card

Only the first input on mA card (i.e. MIM) is adapted for measuring, converting and
presentation of the tap changer position. This MIM input will act as a tap position
reading input when the parameter input OLTCOP of the MIM function block is set to
On. When parameter input OLTCOP is set to Off the normal MIM functionality will be
active and the tap position value is undefined (i.e. equal to 0).
The measurement of the tap changer position via MIM card is based on the principle
that the specified mA input signal range (usually 4-20 mA) is divided into N intervals
corresponding to the number of positions available on the tap changer. All mA values
within one interval are associated with one tap changer position value. See figure 86
for more details.

Fig. 86

LEVPOS1

/
$
9
5
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7
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,

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*$3%(7:((1
7:2,17(59$/6

LEVPOSN

}
}

}
}
}
}

Tap Position
mA

Principle of tap position measuring via mA input signal

The number of available tap changer positions N is defined by setting the parameter
input NOOFPOS of the MIM function block. Setting range for this parameter is
between 1 and 39.
The mid point of the mA interval which correspond to tap position 1 is defined by setting the parameter input LEVPOS1 of the MIM function block. Setting range for this
parameter is from 0.0 to 4.0 mA.
192

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Tap position measuring

Enhancing functionality

The mid point of the mA interval which correspond to tap position N=NOOFPOS is
defined by setting the parameter input LEVPOSN of the MIM function block. Setting
range for this parameter is from 10.0 to 20.0mA.
Difference (i.e. the step) between two mid points of the two neighboring intervals is
calculated as per the following formula:

LEVPOSN LEVPOS1
Step = ---------------------------------------------------------N1

[mA]

To ensure secure reading of tap position, the size of the interval is smaller than the step
between two interval midpoints. Interval size is calculated as per the following formula:

INTERVAL SIZE = 0.9 STEP

[mA]

Because the interval is symmetrical around its midpoint it is more important to calculate one half of its value as per the following formula:

INTERVAL SIZE
HALF OF INTERVAL SIZE = -------------------------------------------2

Fig. 87

[mA]

The MIM/Input 1 function block representation in the CAP 531 configuration tool

If the mA input signal value is somewhere in between two intervals, i.e. in the gap, the
tap position is undefined (i.e. equal to 0).

1MRK 504 037-UEN

193

Tap position measuring

Enhancing functionality

The output OLTCVAL shall be connected to the VCTR and DIFP function blocks as a
tap changer position input. Output INPUTERR can be connected to the DIFP and
VCTR function blocks to indicate faulty reading of tap position.
When MIM input No 1 is used for tap position measuring than the following two values are available as service report:
Measured mA input signal is shown on the HMI as a service value under menu
Service Report
MIM1
Measured tap changer position is shown on the HMI as a service value under menu
Service Report
MIM1
Practical Example:
For an tap changer with 17 steps and with mA input signal range of 4-20 mA the following can be calculated:

20 4
STEP = --------------- = 1.0 mA
17 1
INTERVAL SIZE = 0.9 1.0 = 0.9 mA
0.9
HALF OF INTERVAL SIZE = ------- = 0.45 mA
2
From above data the following table can be produced for conversion of mA values to
corresponding tap position numbers:
Table 27: mA interval vs. tap position
mA Interval 4.00.45 5.00.45 6.00.45 7.00.45
Tap Position

...
...

19.00.45 20.00.45
16

17

The tap position value will be 0 to indicate an undefined value, i.e., when the signal is
found between two intervals or when the signal is out of specified input range,
e.g. >0.0 mA.
To avoid any possibility that a fluctuating mA input signal can cause problem to the
VCTR or DIFP functions, a settable time delay will be used before the tap changer
value is reported. The parameter input TSTABLE of the MIM function block is used
for this purpose. Setting range for this parameter is from 0 to 10 seconds.

194

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Tap position measuring

Enhancing functionality

29.2

Necessary MIM settings

To enable MIM card to report measured values to the main processing card it is
important to set the parameter Operation to On and the parameter RepInt to a nonzero
value (for example 1 second).
1RWH Settings in PST are not used to convert mA input signal into tap position value.
Therefore it is important to set a scaling factor in PST as shown below in order not to
interfere with tap position reading:
MaxValue = 20; I_Max = 20; MinValue = 0; I_Min = 0;
If these four parameters are set as shown above they will insure that the scaling factor
is one and that tap position will be measured according to the settings in the the
configuration.
Finally the tap changer position reporting shall be set as shown in the last row of table
26, page 183.

29.3

Direct contact position indication

If the positions are not to many and there exists enough not otherwise used logic ORgates, it is possible to use this OR-gates to create a binary coded signal of all the direct
contact inputs. Then this coded signal can be connected to the CNV block described in
the paragraph below.

29.4

Converting binary data

The binary converter function block (CNV) decodes binary data from up to six binary
inputs to an integer value. The input pattern may be decoded either as binary format or
BCD format depending on the setting of the parameter Codetype of the CNV function
block. If this parameter is set to zero then binary decoding will be used or if it is set to
one then BCD decoding will be used. See the description of CNV block in the RET
521 technical description manual for details on BCD and binary conversion.
To avoid any possibility that a bouncing binary input signal can cause problem to the
VCTR or DIFP functions a settable time delay will be used before the tap changer
value is reported. The parameter Tstable of the CNV function block is used for this
purpose. Setting range for this parameter is from 0 to 10 seconds.
It is also possible to use even parity check of the input binary signal. The parity is
checked if the parameter Paruse of the CNV function block in the configuration is set
to On.
The input BIERR of the CNV function block in can be used as supervisory input for
indication of any external error in the system for reading of tap changer position.
Error check is implemented in the CNV function block. If an error is detected in the
binary input signal, the ERROR output is set to one and the output VALUE is forced to
zero.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

195

Tap position measuring

Enhancing functionality

The output VALUE shall be connected to the VCTR and DIFP function blocks as a tap
changer position input. The ERROR output can be connected to DIFP and VCTR
functions to indicate faulty reading of tap position.

29.5

Tap position reading for voltage control

The actual tap changer position can be measured via binary input signals or via miliamp input signal. To give the information about tap position to the VCTR function the
following needs to be done:
Outputs from the CNV or MI11 function blocks which holds actual tap position shall
be connected to the input TCPOS of the VCTR function block. The ERROR output is
connected to the corresponding input INERR of the VCTR function block to indicate
an error in reading of tap position.
The parameter Postype of the VCTR function block can be set to None, BI (binary
input) or AI (analog mA input). The input TCPOS has to be connected to the MI11
function block when AI is selected, or to the CNV function block when BI is selected.
When the tap changer position indication is unavailable the Postype parameter should
be set to None. This means that no supervision of the tap changer position and its operation is performed.
The lower and upper tap position settings under VCTR function LowVoltTap and
HighVoltTap should be interpreted as following:
The Lowvolttap means the tap position (e.g. usually position 1) with maximum number of turns in the primary winding, that gives minimum busbar voltage on secondary
side of the power transformer.
The HighVoltTap means the tap position (e.g. usually position N) with minimum number of turns in the primary winding, that gives maximum busbar voltage on secondary
side of the power transformer.

29.6

Tap position reading for differential protection

The actual tap changer position can be measured via binary input signals or via mA
input signal.
Under the menu Edit/Function Selector in the CAP 531 configuration tool, the function selector for the DIFP function block can be set to NoOLTC or OLTC. When the
tap changer position indication is not available, the function selector shall be set to
NoOLTC. In this way inputs and parameters related to reading of tap changer position,
will not be visible on the function block.
When the tap changer position indication is available, The DIFP function selector shall
be set to OLTC. Then to give the necessary information about tap position to the DIFP
function the following need to be done:

196

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Tap position measuring

Enhancing functionality

Outputs from the CNV or MI11 function blocks which holds actual tap position shall
be connected to the input TCPOS of the DIFP function block. The ERROR output is
connected to the corresponding input OLTERR of the DIFP function block to indicate
an error in reading of tap position.
The parameter Postype of the DIFP function block, can be set to BI or AI. The input
TCPOS must be connected to the MI11 function block when AI is selected and to the
CNV function block when BI is selected.
The parameter Oltc2w (two winding protection), or Oltc3w (three winding protection),
of the DIFP function block, shall be set in accordance with physical location of the tap
changer mechanism (i.e. tap changer mechanism located on primary, secondary or tertiary side). This setting is used to indicate to the differential function which winding
will change number of turns when the tap changer position is changed.
The following settings for DIFP function are relevant for reading of tap changer position:
The setting NoOfTaps means the total number of tap positions.
The setting RatedTap means the tap number which corresponds to rated voltages set
under settings for transformer data. In the same time these voltages will be used to calculate nominal turns ratio. This nominal turns ratio will be used when for any reason
tap position reading is not available (i.e. tap value is 0 or tap position reading error is
set to 1).
The setting MinTapVoltage means the tap 1 voltage, from the transformer name plate,
of the winding with tap changer mechanism.
The settings MaxTapVoltage means the tap N (i.e. for maximum tap position) voltage,
from the transformer name plate, of the winding with tap changer mechanism.
It should be noted that all above data can be easily found on the transformer name
plate.

29.7

Practical example
For a two winding transformer with the following basic data

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Rated Voltages:

132/11kV

Rated Power:

40MVA

Rated Currents:

175/2100A

Rated Impedance:

X=10,6%

Vector Group:

Yd11

197

Tap position measuring

Enhancing functionality

and the following data about tap changer mechanism:

TAP
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

HV [kV]
138,6
136,96
135,33
133,71
132,07
130,45
128,79
127,17
125,4
123,78
122,14
120,5
118,88
117,25
115,61
113,97
112,2

LV [kV]

11

for which the tap changer position measuring is performed via mA input, with 4-20mA
input signal the following settings are necessary to properly measure tap changer position:
29.7.1

Settings for MIM card

MIM card/input 1 settings:

OLTCOP = 1
NOOFPOS = 17
TSTABLE = 2.0
LEVPOS1 = 4.0mA
LEVPOSN = 20.0mA

MIM card/input 1 settings in PST:

MaxValue = 20
I_Max = 20
MinValue = 4
I_Min = 4;
198

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Tap position measuring

Enhancing functionality

29.7.2

Settings for voltage control function

VCTR settings in the configuration:

POSTYPE = 2 (i.e. mA Card)
VCTR settings in PST:
LowVoltTap = 1
HighVoltTap = 17

29.7.3

Settings for differential function

DIFP settings in the configuration:

POSTYPE = 2 (i.e. mA Card)
OLTC2W = 1 (i.e. Primary)

DIFP settings in PST or from HMI:

NoOfTaps = 17
RatedTap = 5
MinTapVoltage = 138.6kV
MaxTapVoltage = 112.2kV

1MRK 504 037-UEN

199

Tap position measuring

Enhancing functionality

200

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Requirements

The chapter Requirements

This chapter deals with the requirements for external equipment and functionality that
RET 521 demands in order to work as intended.

CT requirements .............................................................................................. 203

Classification ............................................................................................... 204
Current transformer requirements for CTs according to the
IEC 60044-6 standard................................................................................. 204
Current transformer requirements for CTs according to other standards ... 205
Remote communication ................................................................................... 207
Hardware requirements .............................................................................. 207
Front port ............................................................................................... 207
Ports at the rear of the terminal ............................................................. 207
Software requirements ................................................................................ 208
Product engineering tools ...................................................................... 208
SMS ....................................................................................................... 208
Time synchronisation ....................................................................................... 208

1MRK 504 037-UEN

201

Requirements

202

CT requirements

Requirements

CT requirements
The main CTs are always supposed to be star connected. The staring of all CTs connected to the terminal have to be set under Configuration menu in the HMI or SMS.
These settings are very important in order to enable RET 521 to measure and display
the currents in accordance with its internal reference directions as shown on. From this
figure is obvious that all currents has a reference value towards the protected power
transformer.
The other settings for CTs and VTs under the same Configuration menu should be
properly set as well to enable RET 521 to use proper scaling factors for current and
voltage magnitude measurements.

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Fig. 1

RET 521 Internal Reference Directions for Current Transformers

The performance of the RET 521 terminal will depends on the conditions and the quality of the current signals fed to it. The protection terminal RET 521 has been designed
to permit relatively heavy current transformer saturation with maintained correct operation. To guarantee correct operation the CTs must be able to correctly reproduce the
current for a minimum time before the CT will begin to saturate. To fulfil the requirement on a specified time to saturation the CTs must fulfil the requirements of a minimum secondary e.m.f. that is specified below.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

203

CT requirements

1.1

Requirements

Classification
There are several different ways to specify CTs. Conventional magnetic core CTs are
usually specified and manufactured according to some international or national standards, which specify different protection classes as well. However, generally there are
three different types of current transformers:
high remanence type CT
low remanence type CT
non remanence type CT
The high remanence type has no limit for the remanent flux. This CT has a magnetic
core without any airgap and a remanent flux might remain for almost infinite time. In
this type of transformers the remanence flux can be up to 70-80 % of the saturation
flux. Typical examples of high remanence type CT are class P, TPS, TPX according to
IEC, class P, X according to BS (British Standard) and nongapped class C, K according to ANSI/IEEE.
The low remanence type has a specified limit for the remanent flux. This CT is made
with a small airgap to reduce the remanent flux to a level that does not exceed 10 % of
the saturation flux. The small airgap has only very limited influence on the other properties of the CT. Class TPY according to IEC is a low remanence type CT.
The non remanence type CT has practically negligible level of remanent flux. This
type of CT has relatively big airgaps in order to reduce the remanent flux to practically
zero level. In the same time, these airgaps minimize the influence of the DC-component from the primary fault current. The airgaps will also reduce the measuring accuracy in the non-saturated region of operation. Class TPZ according to IEC is a non
remanence type CT.
The rated equivalent limiting secondary e.m.f. Eal according to the IEC 60044-6 standard is used to specify the CT requirements for RET 521. The requirements are also
specified according to other standards.

1.2

Current transformer requirements for CTs according to the

IEC 60044-6 standard
All current transformers of high remanence and low remanence type that fulfil the
requirements on the rated equivalent secondary e.m.f. Eal below can be used. The characteristic of the non remanence type CT (TPZ) is not well defined as far as the phase
angle error is concerned, and should not be used.

204

1MRK 504-037-UEN

CT requirements

Requirements

To avoid maloperation on energization of the power transformer and in connection

with fault current that passes through the power transformer, the rated equivalent limiting secondary e.m.f. Eal must be larger than or equal to the maximum of the required
secondary e.m.f. Ealreq below:
Eal Ealreq =30 Int (Rct+ k Rl+Zr)

(a)

Here Int is the main CT secondary current corresponding to rated primary current of
the power transformer, Rct is the secondary resistance of the main CT, Rl is the resistance of a single secondary wire from the main CTs to the relay, Zr is the burden of the
relay, and k is a constant which depends on power system grounding
k = 1 for isolated or high impedance grounding system
k = 2 for low impedance or solidly grounded system
To avoid maloperation in connection with fault current that passes through the power
transformer, the rated equivalent limiting secondary e.m.f., Eal, should also satisfy
requirement (b) below:
Eal Ealreq =2 Itf (Rct+ k Rl+Zr)

(b)

Here Itf is the maximum secondary side fault current that pass two main CTs and the
power transformer. Requirement (b) relates to the case when the transformation ratios
are unequal and the case when the magnetisation characteristics are not equal.
In substations with breaker-and-a-half or double-busbar double-breaker arrangement,
the fault current may pass two main CTs for the transformer differential protection
without passing the power transformer. In such cases, the CTs must satisfy requirement
(a) and the requirement (c) below:
Eal Ealreq =If (Rct+ k Rl+Zr)

(c)

Here If is the maximum secondary side fault current that passes two main CTs without
passing the power transformer. Requirement (c) applies to the case when both main
CTs have equal transformation ratio and magnetisation characteristics.

1.3

Current transformer requirements for CTs according to other

standards
All kinds of conventional magnetic core CTs are possible to be used with RET 521 terminals if they fulfil the requirements that correspond to the above specified according
to the IEC 60044-6 standard. From the different standards and available data for relaying applications it is possible to approximately calculate a secondary e.m.f. of the CT.
It is then possible to compare this to the required secondary e.m.f. Ealreq and judge if
the CT fulfils the requirements. The requirements according to some other standards
are specified below.

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205

CT requirements

Requirements

Current transfomer according to IEC 60044-1

A CT according to IEC 60044-1 is specified by the secondary limiting e.m.f. E 2max.

The value of the E2max is approximately equal to Eal according to IEC 60044-6.
Eal E2max
The current transformers must have a secondary limiting e.m.f. E2max that fulfills the
following:
E2max > maximum of Ealreq
Current transformer according to British Standard (BS)

A CT according to BS will often be specified by the rated knee-point e.m.f. EkneeBS.

The value of the EkneeBS is lower than Eal according to IEC 60044-6. It is not possible
to give a general relation between the EkneeBS and the Eal but normally the EkneeBS is
80 to 85 % of the Eal value. Therefore, the rated equivalent limiting secondary e.m.f.
EalBS for a CT specified according to BS can be estimated to:
EalBS 1.2 E2max
The current transformers must have a rated knee-point e.m.f. EkneeBS that fulfills the
following:
1.2 EkneeBS > maximum of Ealreq
Current transformer according to ANSI/IEEE

A CT according to ANSI/IEEE is specified in a little different way. For example a CT

of class C has a specified secondary terminal voltage UANSI. There is a few standardized value of UANSI (e.g. for a C400 the UANSI is 400 V). The rated equivalent limiting secondary e.m.f. EalANSI for a CT specified according to ANSI/IEEE can be
estimated as follows:
EalANSI=| 20 Isn RCT + UANSI | = | 20 Isn RCT + 20 Isn ZbANSI
where
ZbANSI

The impedance (i.e. complex quantity) of the standard ANSI burden for the
specific C class ()

UANSI

The secondary terminal voltage for the specific C class (V)

The CT requirements are fulfilled if:

EalANSI > maximum of Ealreq

206

1MRK 504-037-UEN

Remote communication

Requirements

Often an ANSI/IEEE CT also has a specified knee-point voltage UkneeANSI. This is

graphically defined from the excitation curve. The knee-point according to ANSI/
IEEE has normally a lower value than the knee-point according to BS. The rated
equivalent limiting secondary e.m.f. EalANSI for a CT specified according to ANSI/
IEEE can be estimated to:
EalANSI 1.3 UkneeANSI
The current transformers must have a knee-point voltage UkneeANSI that fulfills the following:
1.3 UkneeANSI > maximum of Ealreq

Remote communication
The terminal is provided with the following three serial ports:
serial port on the front of the terminal. This port is always included in the
delivery.
serial SPA port (optional) at the rear of the terminal, intended for connection to
SMS.
serial LON port (optional) at the rear of the terminal, intended for connection to
SCS.

2.1

Hardware requirements

2.1.1

Front port

This port is intended for temporary connection of a PC. For this connection a special
interface cable intended for this purpose must be used. For ordering No please refer to
the for RET 521 technical overview brochure.
2.1.2

Ports at the rear of the terminal

These ports are intended for connection of optical fibres and can be delivered for plastic or glass fibre.
Plastic fibre:
Connector: snap-in type
Glass fibre:
Connector: bayonet type ST

1MRK 504 037-UEN

207

Time synchronisation

2.2

Software requirements

2.2.1

Product engineering tools

Requirements

CAP 540*1.2 or later

2.2.2

SMS

SMS 510*1.0 or later + service pac 1 or later

RECOM*1.4 or later
REVAL*2.0 or later

Time synchronisation
The real time clock in the RET 521 terminal can be synchronised in three different
ways:
via the SPA communication link normally from SMS
via the LON communication link normally from SCS
via minute pulses to a binary input.
Since the synchronisation via the serial buses is part of SCS and SMS and is harmonised with the terminal, the requirements on this synchronisation are not dealt with here.
The requirements on the minute pulses are:
correct voltage according to the rating of the binary input
the pulse must have a duration of minimum 5 ms and maximum 100 ms
rise time maximum 1ms
absolute bounce free pulse

208

1MRK 504-037-UEN

Configuration and settings

The chapter Configuration and settings

This chapter deals with how the terminal can be configurated and how to generate setting values. The different software tools that can be used is also presentated.

Introduction ......................................................................................................... 211

Configuration....................................................................................................... 212
CAP 531........................................................................................................... 212
Product overview ........................................................................................ 212
Operating environment ............................................................................... 212
IEC 1131 programming ............................................................................... 212
CAP 531 documentation ............................................................................. 214
Setting .................................................................................................................. 215
PST .................................................................................................................. 215
Product overview ........................................................................................ 215
Operating environment ............................................................................... 215
Functionality ................................................................................................ 215
PST documentation .................................................................................... 216
HV/RET 521 ..................................................................................................... 216
Product overview ........................................................................................ 216
Operating environment ............................................................................... 216
Functionality ................................................................................................ 217
HV/RET 521 documentation ....................................................................... 217
HV/Control........................................................................................................ 217
Product overview ........................................................................................ 217
Operating environment ............................................................................... 218
Functionality ................................................................................................ 218
HV/Control documentation .......................................................................... 218
Human machine interface (HMI) ...................................................................... 219
General ....................................................................................................... 219
Functionality ................................................................................................ 219
Power transformer data.................................................................................... 219
Basic transformer data ................................................................................ 220
Vector group setting strings ................................................................... 221
Two winding transformer system ................................................................ 223
Three winding transformer systems ............................................................ 223
Current and voltage transformer data .............................................................. 225
1MRK 504 037-UEN

209

Configuration and settings

210

Configuration and settings

Introduction

Introduction
The CAP 540 configuration and setting tool contains:
CAP 531 v1.5 configuration tool. Use CAP 531 to configure the functions and
logics of the terminal.
PST parameter setting tool. Use PST to set parameters (settings) of the terminal.
All parameter settings can be made in these ways:

Locally, by means of the local human-machine interface (HMI).

Locally, by means of a PC, using the Parameter Setting Tool (PST) in CAP 535 or
using the Station Monitoring System (SMS) .
Remotely, by means of the Parameter Setting Tool (PST) in the Station Control
System (SCS).
Remotely, by means of the Station Monitoring System (SMS).
These software modules for configuration and setting are available for RET 521:
The CAP 540 software package is used to configure the terminal regarding function block and logic connections and for parameter setting. CAP 540 is common
for the REx 5xx and RET 521 terminals.
The HV/REx 5xx, included in the LIB 520 library, is used for parameter setting
and event handling, in MicroSCADA applications, of the terminal RET 521.
The HV/Control software module, included in the MicroSCADA library LIB 520, is
intended to be used for control functions in REx 5xx terminals. The software module
includes a part regarding voltage control, which is intended to be used together with
the voltage control function in RET 521. That part contains the process picture, dialogues and process database for the voltage control application in the MicroSCADA.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

211

CAP 531

Configuration and settings

Configuration

Configuration

CAP 531

1.1

Product overview
The Configuration and Programming tool CAP 531 enables configuration management, programming, and error detection and correction for REx 5xx terminals.

1.2

Operating environment
CAP 531, v1.5 which is part of CAP 535, runs under MS Windows 95/98 or NT. For
Windows 95 and NT, version 4 or later is recommended. You should be familiar with
these programs, which let you perform actions such as drag and drop, zoom, and
scroll.

1.3

IEC 1131 programming

The IEC 1131 standard includes several graphical and textual programming languages.
The CAP 531 function block diagram (FBD) is one of the IEC 1131 languages.
FBD is a graphical language. It is a widely used programming language that is used to
create complicated networks with functions or function blocks. Networks are created
with lines that connect or duplicate information.

Execution number.
Function block name.

Cycle time.
Type name.

Setting.
Output parameters.
Input parameter.

Fig. 1

Function block in the CAP 531 work sheet.

In CAP 531, all the functions in a terminal are called function blocks. A function block
includes input and output parameters, a type name, and function block name.
See Fig. 1 .

212

1MRK 504 037-UEN

CAP 531

Configuration and settings

Configuration

A function that is represented as a function block in CAP 531 can be a:

protection function
control function
monitoring function
logic function
The function block name makes the function block unique. Cycle time is the time
between executions (8 ms in Fig. 1 ).
Each function block has an execution number (986 in Fig. 1 ). The execution number
tells you in which order the function blocks are executed.
Example: Function blocks with cycle time 8 ms are executed in the terminal every
8 ms and execution number 986 is executed after execution number 985. All function
blocks with this cycle time are executed within a period of 8 ms.

Fig. 2

Function block diagram.

Some settings are done in CAP 531. They are presented as inputs with magenta colour.
In Fig. 2 the Timer function block has a setting of a delay time set to 1.000 seconds. A
setting can be both numbers (as for a timer) or names.

Note !

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Ensure that the function blocks in the configuration are executed consecutively to minimize delay. Select the logical function blocks (AND, OR etc.) in rising order, from left
to right in the work sheet.

213

CAP 531

Configuration and settings

Configuration

1.4

CAP 531 documentation

The CAP 531 users guide consists of these main parts:
Item:

Description:

Installation

Installation instruction.

Help

Instructions of how to use the help function.

Tutorial

Shows how to use CAP 531 with a mouse. Use this to learn how
a project is run with CAP 531. The Tutorial goes through the normal procedures of a project.

Keyboard

Shows how to use CAP 531 with a keyboard.

General
Project Tree
Work Sheet
Page Layout

Describes all parts of CAP 531. It contains the main topics in the
context-sensitive help.

There is also an on-line context-sensitive help in the program. Press <F1> from anywhere in CAP 531 to get detailed reference information about all of CAP 531.

214

1MRK 504 037-UEN

PST

Configuration and settings

Setting

Setting

PST

2.1

Product overview
The Parameter Setting Tool (PST) is a tool for managing parameters for protection and
control terminals and relays.You can read the parameters from the terminal, edit the
parameter values and write the parameter values to the terminal. You can also edit the
parameters in advance and later, when the terminal is available, write the parameters to
the terminal.
PST is delivered as a part of the selected navigation environment. Supported navigation environments are CAP 531, v.1.4 and MicroSCADA. The combination of CAP
531 and PST is denoted CAP 535.
Since PST also supports communication via telephone modems, it gives the possibility
to travel to the station by communication link, making physical presence in the station unnecessary.

2.2

Operating environment
PST is primarily a MS Windows NT application intended to run on a standard PC. The
application is also available for Windows 95/98. PST can also be installed as a oneplace application as well as a client-server application in a LAN network of computers.

2.3

Functionality
Terminal parameter setting and supervision, sometimes also called protection/control
monitoring, lets the user display information and change settings from a PC in the
same way as from the built-in HMI (Human-Machine-Interface) on the front of the terminal.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

215

HV/RET 521

Configuration and settings

Setting

2.4

PST documentation
The PST users manual consists of these main parts:
Table 1:
Item:

Description:

Instructions

Instructions for:
Installation.
Setup of conmmunication.
Change of parameter values
Compare PST parameters with terminal values
Read and write parameters to/from the terminal.
Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Appendix

Glossary and references to Users Manuals.

See also Reference publications on page 229.

HV/RET 521

3.1

Product overview
HV/RET 521 is intended for parameter setting and event handling, in MicroSCADA
applications, of the corresponding RET 521 terminal.
The HV/RET 521 software module is included in the LIB 520 high-voltage process
package, which is a part of the Application Software Library within MicroSCADA
applications. The information presented on the MicroSCADA screen is similar to the
presentation of the Station Monitoring System (SMS).
The HV/RET 521 software consists of three functional parts:
Read terminal information
Change terminal settings
Handling of spontaneous events for presentation in lists

3.2

Operating environment
The software runs on a PC system using operating system Windows/NT 4.0. To run the
HV/RET 521 software, also the MicroSCADA packages MicroSYS rev. 8.4.3, MicroTOOL rev. 8.4.3, LIB 500 rev. 4.0.3 and LIB 510 rev. 4.0.3 ( SPA-TOOL) or later must
be available.

216

1MRK 504 037-UEN

HV/Control

Configuration and settings

Setting

3.3

Functionality
Protection parameter setting and supervision, sometimes also called protection monitoring, lets the user display information and change settings from a MicroSCADA system in the same way as from the built-in HMI (Human-Machine-Interface) on the front
of the terminal.
There are also information available only by using HV/RET 521 and MicroSCADA,
such as time tagged disturbance reports.

3.4

HV/RET 521 documentation

The HV/RET 521 users manual consists of these main parts:
Item:

Description:

Instructions

Installation instruction.

Technical description

Describes the general functionality and graphical representation

for these functions:
Data groups
Password handling
Event tool

Appendix

Includes a complete file listing, list of process objects and

updated files.

See also Reference publications on page 229.

HV/Control

4.1

Product overview
The HV/Control software module is intended to be used for control functions in REx
5xx terminals. The software module includes parts intended to be used together with
the voltage control function in RET 521. These parts contain the process picture, dialogues and process database for the application in the MicroSCADA.
The HV/Control software module is included in the LIB 520 high-voltage process
package, which is a part of the Application Software Library within MicroSCADA
applications.

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217

HV/Control

Configuration and settings

Setting

The HV/Control software consists of these functional parts:

HV General bay
HV Breaker, Disconnector and Earthing switch
Overview Bay
HV Measurement
HV REx 5xx Supervision
HV Measurement and HV REx 5xx Supervision can be used for RET 521.

4.2

Operating environment
The software runs on a PC system using operating system Windows/NT 4.0. To run the
HV/Control software, also the MicroSCADA packages MicroSYS rev. 8.4.3, MicroTOOL rev. 8.4.3, LIB 500 rev. 4.0.3 or later must be available.

4.3

Functionality
HV/Control is mainly used to handle control and supervision functions via a process
picture in MicroSCADA applications. The control function consists of open/close
commands of high-voltage apparatuses including corresponding position indications.
The commands are performed from a control dialogue window, which is automatically
displayed when the device to be controlled is selected. Within the control dialogue also
other features are available such as e.g. blocking functions and remote/station handling.

4.4

HV/Control documentation
The HV/Control users manual consists of these main parts:
Item:

Description:

Instructions

Installation instruction.

Technical descriptionl

Describes the general functionality and graphical representation

for these functions:
HV General bay
HV Breaker, Disconnector and Earthing switch
Overview Bay
HV Measurement
HV REx 5xx Supervision

Appendix

Files, such as format pictures, dialogue pictures, text files and

help files are listed here.

See also Reference publications on page 229.

218

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Human machine interface (HMI)

Configuration and settings

Setting

Human machine interface (HMI)

5.1

General
The built-in human machine interface (HMI) provides local communication between
the user and the terminal.
The built-in HMI module is located on the front of the terminal and consists of three
LEDs, an LCD display with four lines, each containing 16 characters, six buttons and
an optical connector for PC communication.

5.2

Functionality
These main menus for status reading and parameter setting are available:
Disturbance report, gives the user all information recorded by the terminal for
the last 10 disturbances (optional).
Service report, displays information about the operating conditions and information about the terminal.
Settings, is used to set different parameters within the built-in functions.
Terminal status, displays self supervision information and terminal ID.
Configuration, is used to tailor the configuration of the terminal regarding e.g.
communication, time synchronisation, identifiers (IDs). Configuration of functions is performed from the CAP 531 configuration tool.
Command, is used to activate different output signals for performance of various
commands in the terminal.
Test, is used to make secondary injection testing of the terminal as easy as possible.
For more details, see Operators Manual.

Power transformer data

Because all protection algorithms in RET 521 do all calculations in primary system
quantities, and all settings are related to the rated quantities of the protected power
transformer it is extremely important to properly set the data about protected transformer. Required data can be easily found on transformer name plate. These data are
normally set by the commissioner using the built-in HMI or SMS/SCS.
Please note that all data need to be set. Rated voltage values, as an example, are
required even when there is no over-/undervoltage functions installed, because the
transformer differential protection function uses these values to calculate the turns
ratio of the power transformer.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

219

Power transformer data

Configuration and settings

Setting

Note: The power transformer data is part of the functions found under setting groups
1-4, functions that are managed in four separately configurable groups for extended
flexibilty. Depending on which group is used for setting, n ranges from 1-4. If the protection scheme requires more than one setting group, transformer data must be copied
to or set for each used setting group.

6.1

Basic transformer data

When using the built-in HMI, basic transformer data can be set using the menu branch:
Settings
Functions
Group n
TransfData
Basic Data
Table 2: Basic transformer data, two winding transformer
Parameter description

Parameter name Range

Default

Transformer Vector Group

VectorGroup 2W See Fig. 3 Yy00

Rated Transformer Power in MVA

Sr

0.1-9999.9 173.2

In a three winding transformer system, the rated power is set for each winding, thus
excluded from the basic data.
Table 3: Basic transformer data, three winding transformer

220

Parameter description

Parameter name Range

Default

Transformer Vector Group

VectorGroup 3W See Fig. 4 Yy00y00

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Power transformer data

Configuration and settings

Setting

6.1.1

Vector group setting strings

When setting the vector group, a number between 1 and 24 (two winding transformer)
or between 1 and 288 (three winding transformer) is entered, corresponding to a certain vector group. When viewing the set vector group a three or four character string,
constructed by combining the primary winding coupling (Y or D) with a vector code
for the secondary winding, is displayed instead of the number.The following illustrations displays the correspondance between entered number and vector groups.

: <
3ULPDU\:LQGLQJ

:6HFRQGDU\:LQGLQJ
y00

y02

y04

y06

y08

y10

d01

d03

d05

d07

d09

d11

10

11

12

6HWWLQJVIRU9HFWRU*URXS1RIRU7ZR:LQGLQJ3RZHU7UDQVIRUPHUVZLWK6WDU&RQQHFWHG3ULPDU\:LQGLQJ

: '
3ULPDU\:LQGLQJ

:6HFRQGDU\:LQGLQJ
y01

y03

y05

y07

y09

y11

d00

d02

d04

d06

d08

d10

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

6HWWLQJVIRU9HFWRU*URXS1RIRU7ZR:LQGLQJ3RZHU7UDQVIRUPHUVZLWK'HOWD&RQQHFWHG3ULPDU\:LQGLQJ
99000001.ppt

Fig. 3

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Vector group reference table for two winding systems

221

Power transformer data

Configuration and settings

Setting

: <
3ULPDU\:LQGLQJ
:
6HF
:
L
Q
G
L
Q
J

:7HUWLDU\:LQGLQJ
y00

y02

y04

y06

y08

y10

d01

d03

d05

d07

d09

d11

y00

10

11

12

y02

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

y04

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

y06

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

y08

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

y10

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

d01

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

d03

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

d05

97

98

99

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

d07

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

120

d09

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

130

131

132

d11

133

134

135

136

137

138

139

140

141

142

143

144

6HWWLQJVIRU9HFWRU*URXS1RIRU7KUHH:LQGLQJ3RZHU7UDQVIRUPHUVZLWK6WDU&RQQHFWHG3ULPDU\:LQGLQJ
99000002.ppt

: '
3ULPDU\:LQGLQJ
:
6HF
:
L
Q
G
L
Q
J

:7HUWLDU\:LQGLQJ
y01

y03

y05

y07

y09

y11

d00

d02

d04

d06

d08

d10

y01

145

146

147

148

149

150

151

152

153

154

155

156

y03

157

158

159

160

161

162

163

164

165

166

167

168

y05

169

170

171

172

173

174

175

176

177

178

179

180

y07

181

182

183

184

185

186

187

188

189

190

191

192

y09

193

194

195

196

197

198

199

200

201

202

203

204

y11

205

206

207

208

209

210

211

212

213

214

215

216

d00

217

218

219

220

221

222

223

224

225

226

227

228

d02

229

230

231

232

233

234

235

236

237

238

239

240

d04

241

242

243

244

245

246

247

248

249

250

251

252

d06

253

254

255

256

257

258

259

260

261

262

263

264

d08

265

266

267

268

269

270

271

272

273

274

275

276

d10

277

278

279

280

281

282

283

284

285

286

287

288

6HWWLQJVIRU9HFWRU*URXS1RIRU7KUHH:LQGLQJ3RZHU7UDQVIRUPHUVZLWK'HOWD&RQQHFWHG3ULPDU\:LQGLQJ
99000003.ppt

Fig. 4
222

Vector group reference table for three winding systems

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Power transformer data

Configuration and settings

Setting

6.2

Two winding transformer system

Primary winding data is set using the menu branch:
Settings
Functions
Group n
TransfData
Winding 1
Table 4: Primary winding transformer data
Parameter description

Parameter
name

Range

Default

Rated Current for Primary Winding in A

Ir1

1-99999

1000

Rated Phase to Phase Voltage for Primary

Winding in kV

Ur1

0.1-999.9

100.0

Secondary winding data is set using the menu branch:

Settings
Functions
Group n
TransfData
Winding 2
Table 5: Secondary winding data
Parameter description

Parameter
name

Range

Default

Rated Current for Secondary Winding in A

Ir2

1-99999

1000

0.1-999.9

100.0

Rated Phase to Phase Voltage for Secondary Ur2

Winding in kV

6.3

Three winding transformer systems

When the terminal is intended for protection of a three winding transformer, the
parameters are somewhat different. Primary winding data is set using the HMI menu
branch:
Settings
Functions
Group n
TransfData
Winding 1

1MRK 504 037-UEN

223

Power transformer data

Configuration and settings

Setting

Table 6: Three winding transformer data, primary winding

Parameter Description

Parameter
Name

Range

Default

Rated Power of Primary Winding in MVA

Sr1

0.1-9999.9 173.2

Rated Current for Primary Winding in A

Ir1

1-99999

1000

Rated Phase to Phase Voltage for Primary

Winding in kV

Ur1

0.1-999.9

100.0

Secondary winding data is set using the HMI menu branch:

Settings
Functions
Group n
TransfData
Winding 2
Table 7: Three winding transformer data, secondary winding
Parameter Description

Parameter
Name

Range

Default

Rated Power of Secondary Winding in MVA

Sr2

0.1-9999.9 173.2

Rated Current for Secondary Winding in A

Ir2

1-99999

1000

Rated Phase to Phase Voltage for Primary

Winding in kV

Ur2

0.1-999.9

100.0

Default

Tertiary winding data is set using the HMI branch:

Settings
Functions
Group n
TransfData
Winding 3
Table 8: Three winding transformer data, tertiary winding

224

Parameter Description

Parameter
Name

Range

Rated Power of Tertiary Winding in MVA

Sr3

0.1-9999.9 173.2

Rated Current for Tertiary Winding in A

Ir3

1-99999

1000

Rated Phase to Phase Voltage for Primary

Winding in kV

Ur3

0.1-999.9

100.0

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Current and voltage transformer data

Configuration and settings

Setting

Current and voltage transformer data

Because all protection algorithms in RET 521 are calculated using the primary system
quantities it is extremely important to properly set the data about connected current
and voltage transformers. These data are calculated by the system engineer and normally set by the commissioner from the built-in HMI or from SMS.
The following data need to be set for every voltage transformer connected to RET 521:
Table 9: Voltage transformer settings
Parameter description

Parameter
name

Range

Default

Rated VT primary voltage in kV

VTprim

0.1-999.9

100

Rated VT secondary voltage in Volts

VTsec

1-999

100

It should be noted that in case of phase to earth voltage measurement with the following VT data,

132 kV 3
----------------------------110 V 3
the following settings should be used:
VTprim = 132kV
VTsec = 110V
The following data need to be set for every current transformer connected to RET 521:
Table 10: Current transformer settings
Parameter Description

Parameter
name

Range

Default

Rated CT primary current

in A

CTprim

1-99999

1000

Rated CT secondary current in A

CTsec

1-5

Used input tap for CT on

AIM card

InputCTTap Input 1A or Input 5A

Input 1A

Current transformer staring (i.e. current direction)

CTstarpoint

ToObject

ToObject, FromObject

The first two parameters define the CT ratio.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

225

Current and voltage transformer data

Configuration and settings

Setting

The third parameter InputCTTap is used to determine to which tap, on RET 521 input
terminals, the wire from the main CT is connected. For more info about that see figure
5. It should be noted that this parameter can be only set from the built-in HMI.
RET 521
Terminals
Input 1A
Input 5A
Common

Fig. 5

CT Connections to RET 521

Parameter CTstarpoint determines in which direction current is measured. Internal

reference direction is that all currents are always measured towards the protected
object (i.e. towards the power transformer).
An example for setup of all CT parameters is shown in figure 6.

&RQQHFWLRQRI,QVWUXPHQW&XUUHQW7UDQVIRUPHUV
7ZR:LQGLQJ3RZHU7UDQVIRUPHU7\SH<G

200

CTsec

3

3

3

/D

/%

6

6

6

6

/E
/F

/&

CTstarpoint FromObj.

FromObject

G/9VLGH
VHFRQGDU\

<+9VLGH
SULPDU\
FromObject

200/5

6
6

HV Neutral CT
Param. name Settings

3

3

100

CTsec

CTstarpoint

FromObj.

Fig. 6

CTprim

1000

CTsec

CTstarpoint ToObj.
HDUWKLQJ

1000/1

WUDQVIRUPHU

6

3

6

3

ToObject

LV Neutral CT
Param. name Settings
InputCTTap Input5A

InputCTTap Input1A
CTprim

LV Phase CTs
Param. name Settings
InputCTTap Input1A

300/5

CTprim

3

ToObject

InputCTTap Input5A

/$

100/1

HV Phase CTs
Param. name Settings

N 5A 1A N 5A 1A N 5A 1A N 5A 1A

N 5A 1A N 5A 1A N 5A 1A N 5A 1A

5(7

CTprim

300

CTsec

CTstarpoint ToObj.

CT Setup Example

When the configuration parameters of the CTs are made according to these instructions, functions depending on the direction of the current, will automatically be set up
correctly. That means that the differential protection now is set up correctly.

226

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Current and voltage transformer data

Configuration and settings

Setting

Other directional protections as directional overcurrent protection or directional earth

fault protection also need to know on which side of the power transformer they are
configured. That information is given in the configuration parameter Side2w or
Side3w. Now the directionality is set up so that the setting forward means the
direction out from the transformer into the surrounding network and vice versa for the
reverse setting. The same directions apply as well when configuration parameter
Side2w or Side3w is set to UserDefined.

1MRK 504 037-UEN

227

Current and voltage transformer data

Configuration and settings

Setting

228

1MRK 504 037-UEN

References

Reference publications
Users manual CAP 540*1.2, 1MRK 511 112-UEN
Users manual CAP 531*1.6, 1MRK 511 105-UEN
PST*1.2 Parameter Setting Tool, Users Manual 1MRK 511 114-UEN
REVAL*2.0, Users Manual 1MRK 002 203-AA
Users manual HV/Control*2.5, 1MRK 511 118-UEN
Users manual HV/REx 5xx*4.0, 1MRK 511 119-UEN
Technical Overview Brochure RET 521*2.5, 1MRK 504 035-BEN
LonTalk protocol specification, EIA-709.1
LNT 505, LON Configuration Tool, 1MRS 151 400
SLDT, LON configuration module REx 500, 1MRK 001 700-9

1MRK 504 037-UEN

229

References

230

Index

Numerics
2 circuit breakers on one side 12
2-winding applications 12

A
Active Group 14
additional logic circuits 30
Amplitude dead-band 178
Analog Input Module (AIM) 14
Analogue signal trig 174
Analogue signals 174
Application Software Library 216, 217
ASCII-based protocol 190
auto-transformers 11

B
Base Values 66
baud rate 191
Binary Input Module 25
Binary Output Module 25
Binary Outputs 14
Binary signal trig 174
Binary signals 173
built-in real time clock 18

C
CAN 25
CAN busses 25
CAP 531 212
CAP 531 configuration tool 27, 37, 172
CAP/RET 521 software module 211
Change terminal settings 216
Command 219
command dialogue 41
Command function 38
Commands from built-in HMI 40
communic. betw. ctrl. terminals 170
Communication between terminals 40, 170
Configurable logic 30
Configuration 219
Configuration and Programming tool CAP 531 212
configuration management 212
configuration tool CAP 531 25
configure different functions 30
connection to SCS 207
connection to SMS 207
control function 213
control functions in REx 5xx terminals 217
Current restrained 61

D
DC analog measurements 175
Delta connected windings 99
different logic gates 30
Differential currents 14
directional criterion 61
Directional Feature 78
directional operating principle 80
Disturbance data 173

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Disturbance overview 172

Disturbance recorder 172
Disturbance recording evaluation 215
Disturbance report 219
Disturbance Report (DRP) 172
Disturbance reports 15
DisturbReport 14

E
Earth fault time current protection (TEF) 88, 93
EarthFault 14
Earth-faults in transformer windings 97
Earth-faults on a phase conductor 94
Elimination of zero sequence currents 51
equipment weaknesses 172
Event buffer overflow 170
Event function (EV) 156
Event function block 172
Event handling 215
Event recorder 172
Events in a disturbance report 15
Events transmitted to the SCS 15
Example on overexcitation capability 116
execution cyclicity 38
External faults 49
External feeders 100

F
Fault conditions 110, 115
Faults in delta connected windings 97
Faults in windings 98
Faults in Y-connected windings 98
FIFO principle 172
Frequency 117
Frequency Measurement 14
Frequency Protection 14
Front port 207
function block 212

G
General Protection Function (GF) 60
generator 71
generator-transformer 11

H
Handling of spontaneous events 216
Hardware requirements 207
HLED 159
HMI (Human-Machine-Interface) 215, 217
Human machine interface (HMI) 219
HV Breaker, Disconnector and Earthing switch
218
HV General bay 218
HV Measurement 218
HV REx 5xx Supervision 218
HV/Control 217
HV/Control software module 211, 217
HV/RET 521 211, 216

231

Index

I/O system configuration 22

identifiers 15
IEC 1131 programming 212
Indications 172
Input/Output Module 25
Inrush restraint methods 46
Integrating dead-band 179
internal clock 15
Internal events 15
Internal faults 53
Internal time 14
inverse time delay 68
Inverter (INV) 30

on-line context-sensitive help 214

Operating environment 215
Operating sequences 161
Operation conditions 14
OR 30
OverCurrent 14
Overexcitation 14
Overexcitation magnetizing current 47, 48
Overexcitation protection (OVEX) 113
Overexcitation restraint method 47
Overfrequency 120
Overview Bay 218
OverVoltage 14

leakage reactance 54
leap years 18
LED indication 159
LIB 500 rev. 4.0.1 216, 218
LIB 510 rev. 4.0.1 216
LIB 520 high-voltage process package 216, 217
load shedding 118
logic function 213
LON and SPA channels 170
LON bus 169
LON communication 189
LON communication link 208
LON Network Tool 191
LON Network Tool. 170
LON operation 190
LonTalk protocol 190
LonTalkProtocol Specification Version 3 190

parameter setting and event handling 216

parameter setting and supervision 215
parameter settings 211
PCI bus 25
Periodic reporting 180
Ports at the rear of the terminal 207
position of the fault 54
positive sequence current 62
positive sequence voltage 63
protection function 213
Pulse 34

M
mA Input Module 25
mA input modules 184
Magnetizing inrush current 45
Manual trig 174
Measured quantities 61, 98, 104, 107, 110, 114,
119
Measured values 14
MicroSCADA 216, 217
MicroSCADA applications 211, 216
MicroSCADA library LIB 520 211
MicroSYS rev. 8.4.1A 216, 218
MicroTOOL rev. 8.4.1 216, 218
MIM 14
minute pulses 208
monitoring function 213
MOVE 36
Multiple Command function 40

N
negative sequence current 62
negative sequence voltage 63
network transformers 11
Neutral time voltage protection 101
Normal service 48

232

R
Read terminal information 216
real time clock 208
Recording times 174
Remote communication 207
remote communication 189
Remote communication (RC) 189
remote/station handling 218
Restrained differential protection 49

S
Service report 219
service report 14
Service value reading 14
setting restriction 20
Settings 219
short-circuit capacity 54
Short-circuit protection 55
shunt reactors 11
Single and double indications 170
Single Command function 38
Single/three-phase time overvoltage protection
(TOV) 101
Single/three-phase time undervoltage protection
(TUV) 101, 106
slave number 191
SM/RET 521 215
SMS 010 215
Software requirements 208
SMS 208
SPA communication 189
SPA communication link 208

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Index

SPA operation 190

SPA protocol 190
SPA-bus codes 190
SPA-bus V 2.4 protocol 190
SRIO 1000 18
SRIO 500 18
station HMI 170
station master clock 18
Station Monitoring System (SMS) 171, 215, 216
station monitoring system (SMS) 189
Substation Automation system 169
substation control system (SCS) 189
Synchronisation from SCS 18
Synchronization from SMS 18
system earthing 54

T
Tap changer position 49
Terminal identification 15
Terminal status 219
Test 219
Thermal Overload 14
Thermal overload protection 108
Three-phase time overcurrent protection (TOC)
54
Time synchronisation 18, 208, 215
Timer 32
time-tagged events 169

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Transformer differential protection (DIFP) 43

Triggers 174
trip logic block 22
Trip values 172
TRxx-(....,..) 22

U
unbalance current 71
unconnected delta tertiary winding 12
underfrequency 117
underimpedance protection 82
UnderVoltage 14

V
Voltage Control 14
Voltage Control/Restraint Feature 77
Voltage restrained/controlled 61

Y
Y-connected windings 99
Yo-connected windings 99

Z
zero sequence current 62
zero sequence voltage 63

233

Index

234

1MRK 504 037-UEN

Customer feedback report

Product:

ABB Automation Technology Products AB would appreciate your comments on this

product. Please grade the following questions by selecting one alternative per category. Your answer will enables us to improve our products.
How do you grade the quality of the product?
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Total impression
Useability
Functionality
Human-machine interface
Comments: __________________________________________________________
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Total impression
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Easy to find
Content structure

Comments: __________________________________________________________
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235

Customer feedback report

Suggestions for improvements:

_____________________________________________________________________
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Please send this report to:

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Substation Automation
ATCE/SA,Support Line
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Facsimile: +46 (0) 21 14 69 18

236

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1 (8)
Doc. no.

TACA-ZG-010327-01

'LIIHUHQWLDOSURWHFWLRQVFKHPHVIRUDXWRWUDQVIRUPHUV

 ,QWURGXFWLRQ

In modern HV and EHV networks is common to find (big) autotransformers that

interconnect two power system networks. They often have the tertiary delta winding in
order to balance the zero sequence current flow during the fault conditions. Sometimes, in
order to limit the physical size of the autotransformer, the three-phase autotransformer is
made from three single-phase units.
The protection requirements for these autotransformers may differ from utility to utility, but
it is often required to provide two independent differential protection schemes in order to
provide the best possible protection to the unit.
This document explains the different differential protection schemes which can be offered
by ABB Automation Products AB / Substation Automation Division in order to fulfill the
client requirements. Exactly which type of scheme will be offered depend on the client
requirements, availability of main CTs and available budget.
 2YHUDOOELDVHGGLIIHUHQWLDOSURWHFWLRQ
This differential protection is very similar to the normal transformer differential protection.
It is based on the ampere-turn balance of the currents of all three windings. The blocking
facility against inrush currents and over-excitation (i.e. 2nd & 5th harmonic blocking) is
definitely required for this type of differential protection. This application is shown in Fig. 1.
This functionality is easily obtained by the three-winding differential function (i.e. DIFP
function) in RET 521 terminal (Version 2p3). The care shall be taken where tertiary
winding CTs are located. They can be located in two locations:
1. outside the delta winding
2. in series with the delta winding (i.e. when bushing CTs are used in case of three
single-phase transformer units)
When the CTs are located outside the delta winding, the autotransformer vector group is
set as Yy00d?? (i.e. Yy00d01 or Yy00d11 depending on the delta winding connections)
and the data for autotransformer windings under settings for Power Transformer Data

2 (8)

HV Winding

MV Winding

CT located in series with delta winding

CT located outside delta winding

LV Winding

)LJXUH$SSOLFDWLRQRIELDVGLIIHUHQWLDOSURWHFWLRQIRUDQDXWRWUDQVIRUPHU

3 (8)

are set in the same way as for normal power transformer (i.e. directly from the transformer
nameplate). This means that the power for tertiary winding Sr3 is set to rated three-phase
power of the tertiary delta winding, the voltage for tertiary winding Ur3 is set to the rated
phase-to-phase voltage of the tertiary side and the current for tertiary winding Ir3 is set as
per the following formula:
Ir3=Sr3/(sqrt(3)*Ur3)
However, when the CTs are located in series with the delta winding, the autotransformer
vector group has to be set as Yy00y00 (i.e. measured primary secondary and tertiary
currents are in phase). In the same time under settings for Power Transformer Data the
data for the tertiary winding have to be change in the following way:
Sr3 same as above (i.e. no change)
Ur3 for 1.732 times higher than above (i.e. sqrt(3)*Ur3)
Ir3 for 1.732 times lower than above (i.e. Ir3/sqrt(3))

 &XUUHQWGLIIHUHQWLDOSURWHFWLRQIRUFRPPRQDQGVHULDOZLQGLQJVRIDQDXWRWUDQVIRUPHU
Traditionally three-phase high impedance differential relay was used for this application
(i.e. RADHA). This differential protection principle is similar to the busbar differential
protection. The differential protection is phase segregated and it is based on the First
Kirchhoffs Law (i.e. sum of all currents entering one electrical node is equal to zero).
In order to use this scheme the main CTs have to be located in all three phases at the
autotransformer neutral and in HV and MV terminals. Refer to the Fig. 2 for the application
principles. Second harmonic or fifth harmonic stabilization is not necessary with full
differential measurement as in this application. It shall be noted that a common CT in the
autotransformer neutral is not acceptable.
This scheme protects the serial and the common winding of the autotransformer against
all kinds of phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground faults. Actually it has much better
sensitivity for the ground faults close to the autotransformer neutral than the bias
differential scheme described above. However this scheme does not protect the serial and
common winding of the autotransformer against turn-to-turn faults. It as well does not
protect at all the tertiary delta winding of the autotransformer.
This functionality can be achieved with RED 521 terminal (Version 1p0) or by using the
three-winding differential protection function (i.e. DIFP) in RET 521 terminal (Version 2p3).
It shall be noted that for both solutions it is possible to have two CT inputs from HV and
MV autotransformer windings. Therefore one-and-half CB switchgear arrangement can be
easily accommodated on HV and MV side of the autotransformer (i.e. as shown in Fig 1).

4 (8)

HV Winding

MV Winding

LV Winding

)LJXUH$SSOLFDWLRQRIFXUUHQWGLIIHUHQWLDOSURWHFWLRQIRUFRPPRQDQGVHULDOZLQGLQJVRI
DQDXWRWUDQVIRUPHU
The advantage with the RED 521 terminal is the flexibility to accept different CT ratios,
insensitivity to turns correction in the main CTs and very fast operation in case of an
internal fault (less than one power system cycle).

5 (8)

The advantage with RET 521 is the flexibility to accept different CT ratios, insensitivity to
turns correction in the main CTs and possibility to include the additional protection
functions like overcurrent or earth fault as well as disturbance recording facilities. The
tripping times are in order of 1.5 to 2 power system cycles.
However, it shall be noted that when RET 521 is used, some special settings for the
power transformer data and for DIFP function have to be done in order to obtain required
functionality. The special settings required under Power Transformer Data are:
 Vector group have to be set as Dd00d00
 Rated power for all three windings have to be set to the same value
(i.e. Sr1=Sr2=Sr3=rated power of the autotransformer MV winding)
 Rated voltages for all three windings have to be set to the same value
(i.e. Ur1=Ur2=Ur3=rated phase-to-phase voltage of one of the three windings, when
some voltage function is used on one of the three sides then that side rated voltage
have to be entered)
 Rated currents for all three windings have to be set to the same value
(i.e. Ir1=Ir2=Ir3=rated current of MV autotransformer winding)
The required settings under Differential Protection/Basic are:
 Zero-sequence current deduction shall be set to Off.
 Cross-blocking feature shall be set to Off.
 Second harmonic blocking shall be set to 20%
 Fifth harmonic blocking shall be set to 50%
Due to these special settings for this type of application, it might be difficult to use some
other voltage functions in RET 521 terminal like overvoltage, undervoltage, overexcitation
and voltage control functions. Care shall be taken about pickup settings of overcurrent
and earth fault functions as well.
It should be noted that the RED 521 has different filtering and measuring technique than
RET 521. Therefore with RET 521 as bias differential protection and RED 521 as current
differential protection the requirement for two completely different measuring techniques
can be fulfilled.

6 (8)

 5HVWULFWHGHDUWKIDXOWSURWHFWLRQIRUFRPPRQDQGVHULDOZLQGLQJVRIDQDXWRWUDQVIRUPHU
Traditionally single-phase high impedance differential relay (i.e. RADHD) was used for this
application. This differential protection is based on the First Kirchhoffs Law applied to the
zero sequence currents only (i.e. sum of all zero-sequence currents entering one electrical
node shall be equal to zero).
In order to use this scheme only one common CT in the autotransformer neutral is
required, but still the three phase main CTs at the autotransformer HV and MV terminals

HV Winding

MV Winding

LV Winding

)LJXUH$SSOLFDWLRQRIUHVWULFWHGHDUWKIDXOWSURWHFWLRQIRUFRPPRQDQGVHULDOZLQGLQJVRI
DQDXWRWUDQVIRUPHU

7 (8)

are necessary. Refer to the Fig. 3 for the application principles. Second harmonic or fifth
harmonic stabilization is not necessary with full zero-sequence differential current
measurement as in this application.
This scheme protects the serial and the common winding of the autotransformer against
all kinds of phase-to-ground faults. It has very good sensitivity for the ground faults close
to the autotransformer neutral. However this scheme does not protect the serial and
common winding of the autotransformer against internal phase-to-phase or turn-to-turn
faults. It as well does not at all protect the tertiary delta winding of the autotransformer.
This functionality can be achieved with RET 521 terminal (Version 2p3) by utilizing one
restricted earth-fault function (i.e. REF1). The advantage with the REF function is the
flexibility to accept different CT ratios, insensitivity to turns correction in the main CTs and
very fast operation in case of an internal ground fault (usually around one power system
cycle).
However it shall be noted that for this application of RET 521 it is not possible to have two
CT inputs from either HV or MV autotransformer winding. Therefore if one-and-half CB
switchgear arrangement is used on any of these two sides of the autotransformers the
bushing CTs have to be used to achieve this functionality.
The advantage of this application with RET 521 is that the power transformer data should
be set in the usual way as already explained for bias differential functionality.
It is recommended to use the following settings for the restricted earth fault function:
 Set parameter SIDE on the REF function block in CAP tool to 2 (i.e. MV winding)
 Set parameter Idmin under settings for the REF function to 30%
 Set parameter roa under settings for the REF function to 60 degrees

8 (8)

 &RQFOXVLRQ
The following solutions can be offered by ABB when two differential functions are required
by the client for protection of an autotransformer:
1. Only one RET 521 terminal with three-winding DIFP function as bias differential
protection for the autotransformer and REF1 function as restricted earth fault
protection for serial and common windings of the autotransformer. Care shall be taken
that this protection scheme set-up can not be used when one-and-half switchgear is
used on HV and MV side of the autotransformer.
2. One RET 521 terminal with three-winding DIFP function as bias differential protection
for the autotransformer and second RET 521 terminal with REF1 function as restricted
earth fault protection for serial and common windings of the autotransformer. In this
case only bias differential function can use the CTs located in the switchgear for oneand-half CB stations, while the restricted earth fault terminal have to use the
autotransformer bushing CTs.
3. One RET 521 terminal with three-winding DIFP function as bias differential protection
for the autotransformer and second RET 521 terminal with three-winding DIFP
function as current differential protection for serial and common windings of the
autotransformer. No limitations regarding the one-and-half CB station exist for this
protection set-up.
4. One RET 521 terminal with three-winding DIFP function as bias differential protection
for the autotransformer and one RED 521 terminal as current differential protection for
serial and common windings of the autotransformer. No limitations regarding the oneand-half CB station exist for this protection set-up.

1 (5)
Doc. no.

TACA-ZG-010521-01

3URWHFWLRQVFKHPHVIRUVKXQWUHDFWRUVZLWK5(7
 ,QWURGXFWLRQ
In modern HV and EHV networks shunt reactors are more and more used. They are used
in order to compensate for the capacitive shunt reactance of transmission lines. Usually
they are solidly grounded in the star point. Sometimes, in order to limit the physical size of
the shunt reactor, the three-phase reactor is made from three single-phase units.
This document explains the possible protection schemes with RET 521 which can be
offered by ABB Automation Products AB / Substation Automation Division in order to fulfill
the client requirements for shunt reactor protection scheme.
 &XUUHQWGLIIHUHQWLDOSURWHFWLRQIRUVKXQWUHDFWRU
Traditionally three-phase high impedance differential relay was used for this application
(i.e. RADHA). This differential protection principle is similar to the busbar differential
protection. It is phase segregated and it is based on the First Kirchhoffs Law (i.e. sum of
all currents entering one electrical node is equal to zero).
In order to use this scheme the main CTs have to be located in all three phases at the
shunt reactor neutral and in HV terminals. Refer to the Fig. 1 for the application principles.
Second harmonic or fifth harmonic stabilization shall not be necessary with full differential
measurement as in this application. However it is often necessary to utilize 2nd harmonic
blocking in order to restrain DIFP function from possible maloperation when reactor is
energized, due to long lasting dc component in the primary current. It shall be noted that a
common CT in the shunt reactor neutral point cannot be used for the differential function.
This scheme protects the shunt reactor against all kinds of phase-to-phase and phase-toearth faults. However this scheme does not protect the shunt reactor against turn-to-turn
faults.
This functionality can be easily achieved by using the two-winding differential protection
function (i.e. DIFP) in RET 521 terminal.
It shall be noted that is possible to have two CT inputs from HV terminal side. Therefore
one-and-half CB switchgear arrangement can be easily accommodated.

2 (5)

HV Terminals

)LJXUH7\SLFDO&7ORFDWLRQVIRUFXUUHQWGLIIHUHQWLDOSURWHFWLRQRIVKXQWUHDFWRU
The advantage with RET 521 is the flexibility to accept different CT ratios, insensitivity to
turns correction in the main CTs and possibility to include the additional protection
functions like over-current, earth-fault, over-voltage etc. as well as disturbance recording
facilities. The tripping times are in order of 1.5 to 2 power system cycles.
However, it shall be noted that when RET 521 is used in this application, the following
settings are required for Power Transformer Data:
 Vector group have to be set as Dd00
 Rated power (i.e. Sr) should be set equal to the rated power of the shunt reactor
 Rated voltages for both windings have to be set to the same value
(i.e. Ur1=Ur2=rated phase-to-phase voltage of the shunt reactor)
 Rated currents for both windings have to be set to the same value
(i.e. Ir1=Ir2=rated current of the shunt reactor)

3 (5)

The recommended settings for Differential Protection/Basic are:

 CaractNo parameter shall be set to 3
 Idmin parameter shall be typically set to 15%
 Idunre shall be typically set to 200%
(much higher value is recommended for 1 CB stations)
 StandByOption parameter shall be set to Always
 Second harmonic blocking shall be set to 10%
 Fifth harmonic blocking shall be set to 50%
 Zero-sequence current deduction shall be set to Off.
 Cross-blocking feature shall be set to Off.

4 (5)

 5HVWULFWHGHDUWKIDXOWSURWHFWLRQIRUVKXQWUHDFWRU
Traditionally single-phase high impedance differential relay (i.e. RADHD) was used for this
application. This differential protection is based on the First Kirchhoffs Law applied to the
zero sequence currents only (i.e. sum of all zero-sequence currents entering one electrical
node shall be equal to zero).
In order to use this scheme only one common CT in the shunt reactor neutral is required,
but still the three-phase main CTs at the HV terminals are necessary. Refer to the Fig. 2
for the application principles.

HV Terminals

)LJXUH7\SLFDO&7ORFDWLRQVIRUUHVWULFWHGHDUWKIDXOWSURWHFWLRQRIVKXQWUHDFWRU
This scheme protects the shunt reactor against all kinds of phase-to-earth faults. However
this scheme does not protect the shunt reactor winding against internal phase-to-phase or
turn-to-turn faults.
The restricted earth-fault functionality can be achieved with RET 521 terminal (Version
2p3) by utilizing one restricted earth-fault function (for example REF1). The advantage
with the REF function is the flexibility to accept different CT ratios, insensitivity to turns
correction in the main CTs, very fast operation in case of an internal ground fault (usually
around one power system cycle) and ability to include the additional protection functions
like over-current or earth fault as well as disturbance recording facilities.

5 (5)

For this application the power transformer data should be set in the same way as already
explained for current differential function.
It is recommended to use the following settings for the restricted earth fault function:
 Set parameter SIDE on the REF function block in CAP tool to 1
 Set parameter Idmin under settings for the REF function to 20%
 Set parameter roa under settings for the REF function to 75 degrees

 $GGLWLRQDOSURWHFWLRQIXQFWLRQVIRUVKXQWUHDFWRU
As additional protections over-current, (directional) earth-fault and thermal overload relays
are often required. These functions can be easily included in RET 521 terminal.
In addition to these current based functions, often over-voltage and over-excitation
protections are as well specified. These voltage-based functions can be as well easily
accommodated within RET 521 terminal.

 &RQFOXVLRQ
With RET 521 terminal it is usually possible to meet the utility demands for protection of
HV & EHV shunt reactors. By using DIFP or REF functions (or even both simultaneously)
the main protection for phase-to-phase faults and earth faults is provided. In addition to
these functions a protective library with over-current, earth-fault, thermal overload, overvoltage & over-excitation functions is as well available. As a standard option RET 521
terminal offers the event recording for 48 binary signals. The disturbance recording for 10
analogue channels can be offered as an option.
For oil-immersed reactors the care shall be taken for the built-in protection devices like
Buchholz relay, sudden-pressure relay, winding and oil temperature sensors etc. Their
contacts should be connected to the RET 521 binary inputs in order to provide tripping,
alarming and recording.

Paper_2003-01

Protection Scheme for Special Railway Transformers

with RET 521
Z. Gaji, Senior Application Specialist
Introduction
With RET 521, it is possible to protect special types of railway transformers. However it should be noted that
RET 521 can be only used in 50Hz or 60Hz railway supply systems (i.e. it can not be used for protection in
railway supply system with frequency of 16 2 3 Hz ). The following picture gives an overview about different
railway electrical supply systems traditionally used in Europe.

50Hz or 60Hz railway supply system is used in other parts of the world as well (i.e. Russia, Turkey, China,
Korea, Australia etc.). It is often used in new railway electrification projects all over the world (for example
in Italy, Korea, France etc.).
It is important to understand that RET 521 can offer, not only transformer differential protection, but also
complete protection and control scheme for railway transformers.
It should be noted as well, that with 500 series of products (i.e. control terminal REC 561, railway distance
protection terminal REO 517, transformer protection terminal RET 521 & busbar protection terminal RED
521) ABB can offer complete Substation Automation Protection and Control System for 50Hz or 60Hz
railway supply system.

Paper_2003-01

Standard Features in RET 521

RET 521 is primarily designed for protection and control of three-phase power transformers in transmission
and distribution electricity power supply networks. Since its introduction in 1998, more than one thousand
units were supplied worldwide. It is used for protection of power transformers with rating of up to and
including 1000MVA, 500kV.
RET 521 is multifunctional power transformer protection and control terminal, which can include the
following protection, control and monitoring functions:
Differential protection for two or three winding power transformer with built-in 2nd harmonic block, 5th
harmonic block and wave-block features (ANSI No 87T, 87H)
Restricted earth fault protection functions (ANSI No 87N)
Three-phase time overcurrent protection functions (ANSI No 50, 51)
Single-phase time overcurrent protection functions (earth fault protection) (ANSI No 50N/51N,
50G/51G)
Thermal overload protection function (ANSI No 49)
Time overvoltage protection functions (ANSI No 59)
Time undervoltage protection functions (ANSI No 27)
Overexcitation (V/Hz) protection function (ANSI No 24)
Automatic voltage control function (automatic on-load tap-changer control) (ANSI No 90)
Disturbance recording for ten analogue signals with 1ms resolution
Disturbance recording for 48 binary signals with 1ms resolution

RET 521 is fully numerical protection terminal. Twenty samples in each power system cycle (i.e.
1000Hz sampling rate for 50Hz power system, 1200Hz sampling rate for 60Hz power system) are
used for all internal algorithms including transformer differential protection. By efficient digital
filtering, phasors of the fundamental frequency component are extracted and used in all protection
and control algorithms. Therefore any dc component and all higher order harmonics in the current
and voltage input signals are effectively suppressed. Hence they do not influence much on the
operation and the accuracy of any protection or control function in RET 521.
All calculations inside RET 521 are done in primary amperes and volts. Therefore it is of outmost
importance that all CT & VT data (i.e. ratios and grounding) are properly set. For the railway applications
CT and VT data need to be set in the same way as for the normal three-phase power transformer.
In RET 521 is necessary to set Power Transformer Rated Data. Under these settings the user have to enter
rated power, rated current and rated voltage for every winding of the three-phase power transformer. All
protection and control functions in RET 521 in one or another way use these set values. For all railway
application these data need to be set in a special way because the railway transformers are not of a threephase design. However in this document is clearly shown how this data need to be set for each specific
railway transformer type.

Protection Scheme for Three-Phase, Dd0d0 Power Transformer

First lets explain a protection scheme for normal three-phase power transformer in order to understand
how the differential currents are calculated within the RET 521 terminal. For this example it is possible to
use RET 521 for the complete transformer protection scheme as shown on the following figure:

Paper_2003-01
Protection of 3Ph Dd0d0 Power Transformer
RET 521 Version 2,3
THOL
IA, IB, IC

D
d
Ir, Is, It

Dd0d0
SPri / SSec / STer
UPri / USec / UTer

d
Iu, Iv, Iw

Set Vector Group as Dd0d0

Set ZSCSub to Off
S Pr i
S r1 = S Pr i ; U r1 = U Pr i ; I r1 =
3 U Pr i
S r 2 = S Sec ;U r 2 = U Sec ; I r 2

IA

AIM1-Input01

+
-

IB

IA
IB
IC

C3P1

C3P2

AIM1-Input02

+
-

IC

AIM1-Input03

Ir

Ir

+
-

Is
It

AIM1-Input04

+
-

Is

AIM1-Input05

+
-

It

AIM1-Input06

Iu

+
-

AIM1-Input07

Iv

+
-

AIM1-Input08

Iw

+
-

AIM1-Input09

+
-

Urs

AIM1-Input10

+
-

Iu

C3P3

Iv
Iw

I A
I
B
I C

Ir
I
s
I t

Iu
I
v
I w

TEF1
TOC1
G3IPRI

(U r1 = U Pr i )

DIFP

TEF2
TOC2
G3ISEC

(U r1 = U Sec )

G3ITER

(U r1 = U Ter )

TEF3
TOC3

S Sec
=
3 U Sec

S r 3 = STer ;U r 3 = U Ter ; I r 3 =

STer
3 U Ter

UT

V1P1

TOV1, TUV1,
FRME, OVEX
VCTR Single

In the same time this figure shows the required analogue quantities which needs to be measured as well as
the analogue part of the configuration which need to be made in the CAP tool for this particular application.
In this case the following functions can be included:

Function in RET

What-for the function is used in configuration

DIFP (3-winding)
TOC1
TEF1
TOC2
TEF2
TOC3
TEF3
THOL
FRME
TOV1
TUV1
OVEX
VCTR
DRxx

Bias differential function for the transformer (87T & 87H)

HV overcurrent (50/51)
HV earth-fault (50N/51N)
MV overcurrent (50/51)
MV earth-fault (50N/51N)
LV overcurrent (50/51)
LV earth-fault (50N/51N)
HV Thermal overload (49)
Frequency measurement
LV Overvoltage (59)
LV Undervoltage (27)
Overexcitation (not commonly used in railway applications) (24)
Voltage control for transformer with OLTC (90)
Disturbance Recorder function for 10 analogue & 48 binary channels

It can be shown that for this particular setup and settings for ZSCSub=Off, DIFP function will calculate
the three differential currents as per the following equations:

U
U r2
I r + r3 I u
U r1
U r1
U
U
Idiff _ L 2 = I B + r 2 I s + r 3 I v
U r1
U r1
U
U
Idiff _ L3 = I C + r 2 I t + r 3 I w
U r1
U r1
Idiff _ L1 = I A +

Paper_2003-01

Please note that in above equations, the three differential currents are related to HV transformer side (i.e.
primary side). However it should be noted that set values for rated powers of the windings (Sr1, Sr2 & Sr3)
under Power Transformer Data can influence on which side the differential currents will be transfered. The
differential currents will be transferred to the side with maximum rated power, where maximum rated power
is defined as maximum value of the three set values for Sr1, Sr2 & Sr3. If more than one winding has the
rated power equal to the maximum rated power than order of preference will be primary winding, then
secondary winding, then tertiary winding.

Protection Schemes for Railway Power Transformers

In addition to the features mentioned before it is as well possible to choose in RET 521 configuration tool in
which reference direction connected current will be measured internally (i.e. + & - outputs available from
AIM function blocks). This feature gives the user a possibility to measure the current in any direction he
needs, as well as to sum or subtract two sets of three-phase currents by C3Cx summation function blocks.
This feature enables user to perform current subtraction/summation in software, without any need for
galvanic connections between different CT secondary circuits.
As mentioned before, RET 521 was in the first place design for protection of three phase power transformers.
Therefore analogue quantities inside are very often treated in the three-phase manner (see previous figure for
more details), and the same rules must be used for these special railway applications as well. Because of that
it will be necessary to use some zero current (i.e. analogue input quantity with zero value) in order to build
the artificial three-phase quantities inside the railway protection terminal. This zero current will be obtained
from one RET 521 analogue CT input, which will not be connected (i.e. intentionally left unwired). The
configuration parameters for this CT input shall be set in the following way:
CTprim=1A, CTsec=1A, InputCTTap=1A
In this way any noise from that CT input will be effectively suppressed.
In all configurations that will be shown in this document analogue CT input AIM1/Input04 will be used as
zero current input.
Combination of all of these features gives the opportunity to use the RET 521 terminal as differential
protection for special railway power transformers without any external auxiliary current transformers.

Typically required hardware in RET 521 for railway applications

All railway applications shown in this document can be realized with the identical RET 521 hardware
configuration as listed bellow:
1 x AIM module (8I+2U) (eight current and two voltage inputs from the protected transformer)
1 x BIM module (16 binary inputs for connection of winding & oil contact thermometers, buchholz relay,
external tripping devices, etc.)
1 x BOM module (24 contact outputs for trip commands, alarms, SCADA indications, etc.)
1 x MIM module (six, 20mA input channels, which can be optionally used for on-load tap-changer position
reading and/or oil & winding temperature measurement)
1 x SLM (SPA & LON communication module, which can be optionally used for terminal connection to the
substation control system, substation monitoring system or remote interrogation of the terminal via
public telephone network)

Paper_2003-01

Protection Scheme for Single Phase Power Transformer

This type of transformer is commonly used in Europe in older types of railway installations. It is usually
connected as shown in the following figure:

L1
L2
L3

Protection of Single Phase Transformer

S=Power of HV winding
UHV = UPh-Ph

RET 521 Version 2,3

IA

IA

0
IB

IB

IA

IM

C3P1

IN

IA

AIM1-Input01

+
-

IB

AIM1-Input02

+
-

AIM1-Input03

+
-

AIM1-Input04

+
-

AIM1-Input05

+
-

Not Used AIM1-Input06

+
-

Not Used
Zero Input

ULV

IM

IN

C3P2

0
-IB
IM

C3P3

0
-IN

I A
0

I B

IA
0

I B

IM
0

I N

TOC1
TEF1

G3IPRI (U r1 = U HV )

DIFP
G3ISEC (U r 2 = U LV )

AIM1-Input07

+
-

Tank CT AIM1-Input08
Not Used
AIM1-Input09
Set Vector Group as Dd0
UM
AIM1-Input10
Set ZSCSub to Off
S
S r1 = S ;U r1 = U HV ; I r1 =
U HV

+
-

THOL

+
-

TOC2

UM

S r 2 = S ;U r 2 = U LV ; I r 2 =

S
U LV

+
-

TEF2
ITANK
UM

C1P1

TEF3
V1P1

TOV1, TUV1,
FRME, OVEX
VCTR Single

In the same time this figure shows the analogue quantities, which can be measured by RET 521. The Figure
shows as well the analogue part of the configuration which need to be made in the CAP tool for this
particular application. In this case the following functions can be included:

Function in RET

What-for the function is used in configuration

DIFP (2-winding)
TOC1
TEF1
TOC2
TEF2
TEF3
THOL
FRME
TOV1
TUV1
OVEX
VCTR (Single)
DRxx

Bias Differential function for the transformer (87T & 87H)

HV overcurrent (50/51)
HV earth-fault (50N/51N)
LV overcurrent (50/51)
LV winding earth-fault (50N/51N)
Tank earth-fault protection (used in some countries i.e. France)
LV Thermal overload (49)
Frequency measurement
LV Overvoltage (59)
LV Undervoltage (27)
Overexcitation (24)
Voltage control for transformer with OLTC (90)
Disturbance Recorder function for 10 analogue & 48 binary channels

Because the Dd0 vector group is used, the DIFP function will calculate the three differential currents as per
the following equations:

Idiff _ L1 = I A +

U LV
IM
U HV

Idiff _ L 2 = 0

Idiff _ L3 = I B

U LV
IN
U HV

Paper_2003-01

Therefore phase L1 & phase L3 will be used for differential protection, while phase L2 will measure zero
current all the time (i.e. phase L2 in DIFP function will not be used). Please note that differential currents
will be related to HV transformer side.
It should be observed that in practice very often only one HV CT & one LV CT are available. In that case it
is even possible to protect two such railway power transformers with one RET 521 terminal. This opening
gives possibility for more cost effective solutions.

Protection Scheme for Split-Single Phase Power Transformer

This type of transformer is commonly used in Europe for new railway installations (i.e. Italy & France). See
the following figure for more information:

L1
L2
L3

Protection of Split-Single Phase Transformer

S=Power of HV winding
UHV = UPh-Ph

RET 521 Version 2,3

IA

IA

IB

IN
ULV

IS
ULV

I A
0

I B

TOC1
TEF1

IB
IA

IM

C3P1

IA

AIM1-Input01

+
-

IB

AIM1-Input02

+
-

AIM1-Input03

+
-

AIM1-Input04

+
-

Not Used
Zero Input
IM

UM

AIM1-Input05

+
-

IS

AIM1-Input06

+
-

IN

AIM1-Input07

+
-

Tank CT AIM1-Input08
Not Used
AIM1-Input09
Set Vector Group as Dd0d0
UM AIM1-Input10
Set ZSCSub to Off
S
S r1 = S ;U r1 = U HV ; I r1 =
U HV
Sr 2 =

S
S
;U r 2 = U LV ; I r 2 =
2
2 U LV

Sr 3 =

S
S
;U r 3 = U LV ; I r 3 =
2
2 U LV

+
+
+
-

C3P2

0
-IB
IM

C3P3

0
IM
-IS

C3P4

0
-IS
IM
IN

C3P5

IA
0

I B

I M
0

I M

I S
0

I S

G3IPRI (U r1 = U HV )

DIFP
G3ISEC (U r 2 = U LV )

G3ITER (U r 3 = U LV )

I M
I
N
I S

THOL
TOC2

IS
ITANK
UM

TEF2
C1P1

TEF3
V1P1

TOV1, TUV1,
FRME, OVEX
VCTR Single

In the same time this figure shows the required analogue quantities which needs to be measured as well as
the analogue part of the configuration which need to be made in the CAP tool for this particular application.
In this case the following functions can be included:

Function in RET

What-for the function is used in configuration

DIFP (3-wndg)
TOC1
TEF1
TOC2
TEF2
TEF3
THOL
FRME
TOV1
TUV1
OVEX
VCTR
DRxx

Bias Differential function for the transformer (87T & 87H)

HV overcurrent (50/51)
HV earth-fault (50N/51N)
LV overcurrent (50/51)
LV winding earth-fault (50N/51N)
Tank earth-fault protection (used in some countries i.e. France)
LV Thermal overload (49)
Frequency measurement
LV Overvoltage (59)
LV Undervoltage (27)
Overexcitation (24)
Automatic Voltage control (90)
Disturbance Recorder function for 10 analogue & 48 binary channels

Paper_2003-01

Because the Dd0d0 vector group is used, the DIFP function will calculate the three differential currents as
per the following equations:

Idiff _ L1 = I A +

U LV
U
I M LV I S
U HV
U HV

Idiff _ L 2 = 0

Idiff _ L3 = I B +

U LV
U
I M LV I S
U HV
U HV

Therefore phase L1 & phase L3 will be used for differential protection, while phase L2 will measure zero
current all the time (i.e. phase L2 in DIFP function will not be used). For this application differential currents
will be related to HV transformer side.
Please note that, with some restriction, is as well possible to protect two of these transformers with one RET
521 terminal.

Protection Scheme for Autotransformer

Autotransformers are always used together with split-single phase transformer design (i.e.2x25kV railway supply
system). Autotransformer is located in paralleling or traction station and is often shared between two railway tracks.
Following figure shows typical installation layout:

F1
F2

Protection of Autotransformer

S=Autotransformer Power
UHV = ULV = 27.5kV (typically)

IF1

RET 521 Version 2,3

IC1

IF2

C3P1

IC2

I C1
I
C2
0

TOC3

UHV

0
0

C3P2

ULV

IC1

IF1

AIM1-Input01

+
-

IF2

AIM1-Input02

+
-

AIM1-Input03

+
-

AIM1-Input04

+
-

IC1

AIM1-Input05

+
-

IC2

AIM1-Input06

+
-

AIM1-Input07

+
-

Not Used

IC2

Zero Input

C1
C2

Not Used
UC1
UC2
Set Vector Group as Dd0d0
Set ZSCSub to Off
S
S r1 = S ;U r1 = U HV ; I r1 =
U HV
S r 2 = S ;U r 2 = U LV ; I r 2 =

S
U LV

Not Used

AIM1-Input08

+
-

UC1 AIM1-Input09

+
-

UC2 AIM1-Input10

+
-

IF1
0

C3C1

0
0

I F1 + I F 2

G3IPRI

DIFP

TOC1

C3P3

0
IF2
0

C3P4

IC1
0

C3C2

C3P5

0
0

I C1 + I C 2

(U r1 = U HV )

G3ISEC

(U r 2 = U HL )

TOC2

0
THOL

IC2
UC1
UC2

V1P1

V1P1

TOV1, TUV1,
FRME, OVEX
TOV2, TUV2

In the same time this figure shows the required analogue quantities which needs to be measured as well as
the analogue part of the configuration which need to be made in the CAP tool for this particular application.
In this case the following functions are included:

Paper_2003-01

Function in RET

What-for the function is used in configuration

DIFP (2-wndg)
TOC1
TOC2
THOL
TOC3
FRME
TOV1
TUV1
TOV2
TUV2
OVEX
DRxx

Bias Differential function for the autotransformer (87T & 87H)

Feeders side autotransformer overcurrent protection (50/51)
Catenary side autotransformer overcurrent protection (50/51)
Autotransformer thermal overload protection (49)
Catenary backup overcurrent protection
Frequency measurement
Catenary 1 Overvoltage protection (59)
Catenary 1 Undervoltage protection (27)
Catenary 2 Overvoltage protection (59)
Catenary 2 Undervoltage protection (27)
Overexcitation (24)
Disturbance Recorder function for 10 analogue & 48 binary channels

Because the Dd0d0 vector group is used, the DIFP function will calculate the three differential currents as
per the following equations:

Idiff _ L1 = 0
Idiff _ L 2 = 0

Idiff _ L3 = (I F 1 + I F 2 ) +

U LV
(I C 1 + I C 2 )
U HV

Therefore only phase L3 will be used for differential protection, while phases L1 & L2 will measure zero
current all the time (i.e. L1 & L2 phases in DIFP function will not be used). For this application differential
currents will be related to HV transformer side.
It should be noted that that backup overcurrent protection, for catenary is achieved by one RET function
TOC3. Therefore the pickup and the time delay is the same for both phases. If required by the client, it is
possible to use two earth-fault functions (i.e. TEF1 and TEF2) as independent overcurrent protections for
each catenary. This will provide separate setting possibilities for each catenary as well as possibility for
second harmonic restrain feature. It is as well possible to include autotransformer tank earth-fault protection
if required.
Please note that for solutions where in the same paralleling station there is more than one autotransformer, it
would be as well possible, with some restriction, to protect two or even three autotransformers with one RET
521 terminal.

Protection Scheme for Scott Power Transformer

This type of transformer is commonly used in Asia for railway installations (i.e. China & Korea). Its
main feature is the ability to transfer three-phase power supply system to two-phase railway supply system.
See the following figure for more information:

Paper_2003-01

L1
L2
L3

S=Three Phase Power of HV winding

UHV = UPh-Ph

Protection of Scott Transformer

RET 521 Version 2,3
IA

IA

IB

C3P1

IB

IC

ULV

C3P3

C3P2

AIM1-Input01

+
-

IB

AIM1-Input02

+
-

AIM1-Input03

+
-

IB

AIM1-Input04

+
-

IM

AIM1-Input05

+
-

IT

AIM1-Input06

+
-

AIM1-Input07

+
-

Not Used AIM1-Input08

+
-

Not Used AIM1-Input09

+
-

Zero Input
IT
ULV

Not Used

S
3
S
;U r 2 =
U HV ; I r 2 =
2
2
3 U HV
S
U
S
S r 3 = ;U r 3 = HV ; I r 3 =
2
2
3 U HV
Sr 2 =

IM
0
IT

IA

IC

Set Vector Group as Dd0d0

Set ZSCSub to Off
S
S
S r1 = ;U r1 = U LV ; I r1 =
2
2 U LV

TOC1
TEF1

IC

IM

UT

I A
I
B
I C

UT

AIM1-Input10

+
-

I M
0

I T

THOL
G3IPRI

DIFP

TOC2
IB
0

0

3
U HV
G3ISEC U r 2 =
2

C3P4

0
IA
0
0

C3C1

(U r1 = U LV )

0
0

I A I C

U HV

G3ITER U r 3 =
2

C3P5

-IC
UT

V1P1

TOV1, TUV1,
FRME, OVEX

In the same time this figure shows the required analogue quantities which needs to be measured as well as
the analogue part of the configuration which need to be made in the CAP tool for this particular application.
In this case the following functions can be included:
Function in RET
DIFP (3-wndg)
TOC1
TEF1
TOC2
THOL
FRME
TOV1
TUV1
OVEX
DRxx

What-for the function is used in configuration

Bias differential function for the transformer (87T & 87H)
HV overcurrent (50/51)
HV earth-fault (50N/51N)
Overcurrent for 2-phase railway supply system (50/51)
Thermal overload for 2-phase railway supply system (49)
Frequency measurement
LV overvoltage (59)
LV Undervoltage (27)
Overexcitation (24)
Disturbance Recorder function for 10 analogue & 48 binary channels

It should be noted that only one phase voltage (i.e. UT) of the 2-phase railway supply system is connected to
RET 521. However it is possible to connect the other phase voltage (i.e. UM) to the VT analogue input
AIM1-Input09. If required another set of over/under voltage protection functions (i.e. TOV2 & TUV2) can
be included to monitor/protect that winding voltage as well.
Because the Dd0d0 vector group is used, the DIFP function will calculate the three differential currents as
per the following equations:

Idiff _ L1 = I M

U HV
3
3
U HV
U HV
+ 2
IB + 2 0 = IM + 2
IB
U LV
U LV
U LV

Idiff _ L 2 = 0
U HV
U HV
3
U HV
2
2
Idiff _ L3 = I T +
0+
( I A I C ) = I T + 2 (I A I C )
U LV
U LV
U LV

Paper_2003-01

Therefore phase L1 & phase L3 will be used for differential protection, while phase L2 will measure zero
current all the time (i.e. phase L2 in DIFP function will not be used). Please note that differential currents
will be related to 2-phase supply system side.
It should be noted that that overcurrent protection, for 2-phase railway supply system is achieved by one
RET function TOC2. Therefore the pickup and the time delay is the same for both catenaries. If required by
the client, it is possible to use two earth-fault functions (i.e. TEF2 and TEF3) as independent overcurrent
protections for each catenary. This will provide separate setting possibilities for each catenary as well as
possibility for second harmonic restrain feature.
It would be as well possible to include transformer tank earth-fault protection if required by the railway
company.

Protection Scheme for Le-Blanc Power Transformer

This type of transformer is commonly used in Asia for railway installations (i.e. Taiwan). Its main feature is
the ability to transfer three-phase supply system to two-phase railway supply system. See the following
figure for more information:

L1
L2
L3

IA

S=Three Phase Power of HV winding

UHV = UPh-Ph

IB

Protection of Le-Blanc Transformer

RET 521 Version 2,3
IA

IC

IB
IC

IT

IA

AIM1-Input01

IB

+
-

AIM1-Input02

+
-

AIM1-Input03

+
-

AIM1-Input04

+
-

IM

AIM1-Input05

+
-

IT

AIM1-Input06

+
-

IC
Zero Input

IM

Set Vector Group as Dd0d0

Set ZSCSub to Off
S
S
S r1 = ;U r1 = U LV ; I r1 =
2
2 U LV

C3P1

Not Used AIM1-Input07

Not Used
AIM1-Input08
Not Used
AIM1-Input09
UT
AIM1-Input10

S
3
S
S r 2 = ;U r 2 =
U HV ; I r 2 =
2
2
3 U HV
S
U
S
S r 3 = ;U r 3 = HV ; I r 3 =
2
2
U HV

+
+
+
+
-

IM
0
IT

C3P3

IA

C3P2

0
0

C3P4

0
IB
0
0

I A
I
B
I C

IM
0

I T

TOC1
TEF1

THOL
G3IPRI

DIFP

TOC2

I A
0

0

(U r1 = U LV )

3
U HV
G3ISEC U r 2 =
2

C3C1

0
0

I B I C

U HV

G3ITER U r 3 =
2

C3P5

-IC
UT

V1P1

TOV1, TUV1,
FRME, OVEX

In the same time this figure shows the required analogue quantities which needs to be measured as well as
the analogue part of the configuration which need to be made in the CAP tool for this particular application.
In this case the following functions can be included:

10

Paper_2003-01

Function in RET
DIFP (3-wndg)
TOC1
TEF1
TOC2
THOL
FRME
TOV1
TUV1
OVEX
DRxx

What-for the function is used in configuration

Bias differential function for the transformer (87T & 87H)
HV overcurrent (50/51)
HV earth-fault (50N/51N)
Overcurrent for 2-phase railway supply system (50/51)
Thermal overload for 2-phase railway supply system (49)
Frequency measurement
LV overvoltage (59)
LV Undervoltage (27)
Overexcitation (24)
Disturbance Recorder function for 10 analogue & 48 binary channels

It should be noted that only one phase voltage (i.e. UT) of the 2-phase railway supply system is connected to
RET 521. However it is possible to connect the other phase voltage (i.e. UM) to the VT analogue input
AIM1-Input09. If required another set of over/under voltage protection functions (i.e. TOV2 & TUV2) can
be included to monitor/protect that winding voltage as well.
Because the Dd0d0 vector group is used, the DIFP function will calculate the three differential currents as
per the following equations

Idiff _ L1 = I M

U HV
3
3
U HV
U HV
+ 2
I A + 2 0 = IM + 2
IA
U LV
U LV
U LV

Idiff _ L 2 = 0
Idiff _ L 3 = I T +

U HV
3
U HV
2
0 + 2 (I B I C
U LV
U LV

)=

IT +

HV

2
U

(I B I C

LV

Therefore phase L1 & phase L3 will be used for differential protection, while phase L2 will measure zero
current all the time (i.e. phase L2 in DIFP function will not be used). Please note that differential currents
will be related to 2-phase supply system side.
It should be noted that that overcurrent protection, for 2-phase railway supply system is achieved by one
RET function TOC2. Therefore the pickup and the time delay is the same for both phases. If required by the
client, it is possible to use earth-fault functions TEF2 and TEF3 as overcurrent protections for IT & IM
respectively. This will provide separate settings for two phases as well as possibility for second harmonic
restrain feature.
It would be as well possible to include transformer tank earth-fault protection if required by the railway
company.

Conclusion
Typical protection schemes with RET 521 terminal for most common types of railway power transformers
has been presented. However it should be noted that these are only typical schemes. If you have any other
requirements for protection of electrical railway supply system, please do contact your local ABB
representative in order to make tailor-made solution in accordance with your demands.

References:
1. Bin-Kwie Chen and Bing-Song Guo, Three Phase Models of Specially Connected Transformers,
IEEE, Transaction on Power Delivery, Vol. 11. No 1, January 1996

11

Paper_2003-01

2. Modolf Stien, Differential och impedansreler fr Scott-transformatorer, ASEA RELAYS, 1988-04-26

3. Kwang-Chang Lu and Nanming Chen, A Two-Relay Differential Protective Scheme for Le-Blanc
Transformers, IEEE, Transaction on Power Delivery, Vol. 14. No 3, July 1999
4. Jin-Maun Ho and Tsung-Ling Tsou, The effect analysis and Simulation Test of Harmonics on
Differential Protection of Scott Transformers, IEEE Porto Power Tech Conference, Portugal 2001

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1MRK 504 037-UEN

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Sweden
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