Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research Vol. 8, No.

3, 2018, 2975-2980 2975

Effect Evaluation of Fault Resistance on the

Operating Behavior of a Distance Relay

Kim Hung Le Phan Huan Vu

University of Science and Technology - The University of Center Electrical Testing Company Limited
Da Nang, Da Nang, Vietnam Da Nang, Vietnam
[email protected] [email protected]

Abstract—This paper presents an application of a certain up the backgrounds of the mal-operation to remove errors. In
distance protection relay with a quadrilateral characteristic practice, the relay provides satisfactory results for the operation
approach for the protection of the 110kV Duy Xuyen - Thang condition of low resistance faults. But, in the case of high
Binh transmission line in Vietnam using measured data from one resistance faults, particularly for single phase to earth faults, it
terminal line. We propose the building process of a Matlab measures an incorrect value of fault impedance. Consequently,
Simulink model for this relay that combines fault detection and the relay may over-reach or under-reach depending upon the
classification block, apparent impedance calculation block for all forward/backward flow direction and the magnitude of fault
types of faults and a trip logic block of three zone protection resistance [2]. In order to prove this issue, the current paper
coordination. The proposed relay model is further tested using
focuses on the algorithm of Siemens 7SA522 relay that uses a
various fault scenarios on the transmission line. It is important to
assess what happened, the actual conditions, the causes of mal-
quadrilateral characteristic. Thereafter, the 110kV Duy Xuyen -
operation etc. Detailed explanation and results indicate that the Thang Binh transmission line model is selected as an example
proposed model behavior will help users to perform tests which of fault simulation and the algorithm relay is tested in
correctly simulate real-world conditions besides that it properly Simulink. The proposed model has been assessed under several
interprets test results and troubleshoot distance function scenarios. Conclusions based on the results are discussed along
problems when results are not as expected. with the resistance fault factor affecting the relay’s accuracy.

Keywords-transmission line; distance protection relay;

quadrilateral characteristic; logic trip; Matlab/Simulink

I. INTRODUCTION
Transmission lines are one of the main components in high
voltage and extra high voltage power system. The main
protection used to protect Vietnam's transmission lines is a
numerical distance protection relay (F21) as shown in Figure 1
because of its suitability, simplicity, economy, and reliability. Fig. 1. Distance protection relay on transmission line
There are now various distance relays that have been
implemented by different vendors. These relays help to protect
safeguard transmission line from exposure to any type of faults II. RELAY PROTECTION ZONES
(internal or external) which could intentionally or inadvertently In [3, 4], the disadvantage of the Mho relay is that, when it
damage electrical equipment and avoid a great effect on the is used on long lines and the reach does not cover the section
stability of the entire power system. However, the distance sufficiently along the resistance axis, it is incapable of
protection also faces a number of factors which influence detecting faults with high arc or fault resistances. The problem
negatively its operation, and thus affect its accurate is aggravated in the case of short lines since the setting is low
determination of the measured impedance. This then results in and the amount of the R axis covered by the mho circle is small
inaccurate fault location determination [1]. A relay device in relation to the expected values of arc resistance. So that, the
manufacturer, or a power system operator, needs to conduct a quadrilateral characteristic is a good choice to overcome the
simulated use of all test scenarios due to factors such as human disadvantages of mho element when it is properly designed. In
factor, fault resistance and load current, coupling of parallel the case of medium lines, earth faults can, for instance, be
lines, multiple feeder sections, power swing or multi-end covered with the quadrilateral characteristic and phase faults
sources testing to evaluate the operating behavior of relay’s with the mho characteristic.
characteristics. Many operators are uncertain about the
advantages and disadvantages of mho or quadrilateral In Vietnam, the 110kV Duy Xuyen–Thang Binh
characteristic related to fault type, system conditions, and look transmission line has length less than 30 km and, as shown in

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 Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research Vol. 8, No. 3, 2018, 2975-2980 2976

Figure 2, is protected by a Siemens 7SA522 distance protection

relay with three forward quadrilateral zones (Z1, Z2, Z3) which
provide fault impedance coverage for both phase to phase and
phase to earth faults. Setting calculation is important in
protection zone setup, so human error can affect the accuracy
of the relay protection besides the large amounts of faults to be
collected and processed. The transmission line parameter (Line
length=29 km, Line angle=68o, line reactance=0.3304 Ω/km),
Zero sequence compensation factor (RE/RL=0.29, XE/XL=0.67),
and fault resistance must also be taken into account. The zone
settings of this transmission line are calculated by the central
region load dispatch center in Vietnam ensuring that they are
properly coordinated with the adjacent system and comply with
the existing guidelines. The three zones of quadrilateral
characteristic used to protect transmission line are explained in
Table I [5]. We used the DIGSI operating software to enter
configuration settings in the relay, it can automatically draw a
relay operating characteristic graph as shown in Figure 3. The
quadrilateral characteristic permits separate setting of the
reactance X and the resistance R. The resistance section R can
be set separately for faults with and without earth involvement,
therefore, this characteristic has an optimal performance in case
of faults with fault resistance [6]. The effect of fault resistance
on the reach of distance relays is better discussed with the
simulation results.

Fig. 3. Quadrilateral characteristic of Siemens 7SA522 at the 171

overhead line of Duy Xuyen Substation

Fig. 2. The 110kV power system

TABLE I. PARAMETER SETTING ON SIEMENS 7SA522 ON A 110KV DUY

XUYEN–THANG BINH OVERHEAD LINE

Relay Setting
Zone
Setting Value
Operating Mode Z1: Forward
Covers 85%AB, X(Z1), Rectance: 8.14Ω
Zone 1 forward direction R(Z1), Resistance for Ph-Ph faults: 30Ω
(0.85ZAB) RE(Z1), Resistance for Ph-E faults: 40Ω
tZ1, Delay for fault: 0s
Operating Mode Z2: Forward
Covers 100%AB +
X(Z2), Rectance: 11.5Ω
60%BC, forward
Zone 2 R(Z2), Resistance for Ph-Ph faults: 35Ω
direction (ZAB +
RE(Z2), Resistance for Ph-E faults: 50Ω Fig. 4. Power system model
0.6ZBC)
tZ2, Delay for fault: 0.3s
Covers 100%AB + Operating Mode Z3: Forward
100%BC + 60%CD, X(Z3), Rectance: 19.53Ω
This model consists of:
Zone 3 forward direction R(Z3), Resistance for Ph-Ph faults: 40Ω 1. The transmission line: three phase section line is used to
(ZAB + ZBC + RE(Z3), Resistance for Ph-E faults: 55Ω
0.6ZCD) tZ3, Delay for fault: 1.5s
represent the transmission line. Line sequence impedance
is:
RL1=0.1335Ω, RL0=0.2496Ω.
III. POWER SYSTEM UNDER STUDY
LL1=1.0517mH, LL0=3.1657mH.
We model the power system that is supplied from both ends
as shown in Figure 4. It uses Simulink to evaluate the distance CL1=0.038μF, CL0=0.038μF.
protection function. The overhead line is 89.65 km long, and
the system nominal operating voltage is 110 kV, 50Hz.

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 Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research Vol. 8, No. 3, 2018, 2975-2980 2977

2. A load of 110 kV, 35 MW, and 50 kVAR is connected to phase currents is supervised to detect if it exceeds the set value
the bus Duy Xuyen, Thang Binh, Thang Binh 2, Tam (parameter 3I0>0.5IN) then output “N” equals 1. For phase
Thang. current measurement, a fault occurrence is detected if IA, IB, or
IC is greater than the threshold 1.3INorm. Then output “A”, or
3. Three phase fault block to deduce fault types and fault “B”, or “C” is equal to 1 [7]. Based on the information above,
resistance varying from 1 to 40 ohms. fault_type block performs fault classifying on the transmission
4. Three-phase measuring blocks to measure the three phase line which can be summarized as in Table II.
line, load current and voltage values.
5. The Scopes already support the display of five inputs
(Voltages, Currents, Zones 1-3) of a simulated system,
which allows a better signal comparison.
6. A Siemens 7SA522 relay is located at bus Duy Xuyen. It
has been developed for fault detection, fault location, and
distance protection which will be presented in section IV.

IV. DISTANCE PROTECTION RELAY SIEMENS 7SA522 MODEL

The simulation model of the relay has been designed with
four functional flow block diagrams (Figure 5) by using
Matlab’s Simulink library. Firstly, measurement block reads
the values of voltage and current of each phase. Next, fault
detection and classification are done by FD block and
Fault_Type block. Thirdly, impedance calculation block
computes the value of RCAL and XCAL. Afterwards, Trip_logic Fig. 6. Measurement block
block checks operating logics. If all four conditions are
satisfied then they issue a trip signal otherwise all steps are
TABLE II. FAULT TYPE CLASSIFICATION
repeated from start to end. This helps us monitor and analyze
data to avoid severe misunderstanding in assessing any use No Type fault A B C N
issues that arose during testing. 1 AG 1 0 0 1
2 BG 0 1 0 1
3 CG 0 0 1 1
4 AB 1 1 0 0
5 BC 0 1 1 0
6 CA 1 0 1 0
7 ABG 1 1 0 1
8 BCG 0 1 1 1
9 CAG 1 0 1 1
10 ABC 1 1 1

C. Impedance Calculation
To calculate the RCAL, XCAL of relay protection, it uses one
of the six loop measurements (AG, BG, CG, AB, BC, and CA)
listed in Table III. The measured fault loop is necessary to
know the fault type, local voltages and currents along with the
Fig. 5. Distance protection model
zero sequence compensation factors. The following equations
are employed to evaluate the measured values [7]. For the
A. Current and Voltage Measurement calculation of the phase-to-earth loop, for example during an
The measurement block receives two input signals AG short-circuit (Figure 7) it must be noted that the impedance
corresponding to the three phase voltages and currents from of the earth return path does not correspond to the impedance
CT, VT and then it provides to the multiplexer to split the of the phase. In the faulted loop the voltage AG, the phase
voltage and current signals into three single phase voltages and current IA and the earth current ΙE are measured. The impedance
currents. After that, these quantities are passed through the to the fault location results from:
Fourier transform block to avoid the higher order harmonics as
shown in Figure 6. IE X E
cos(U   A )  cos(U   E )
UA IA XL
RA  
B. Fault Detection and Fault Classification IA
2
XE RE I E R X I 
According to the outputs of the measurement block (IA, IB, 1 (  ) cos( E   A )  E E  E 
IC, and IN), the fault detection in the transmission line is defined XL RL I A RL X L  I A 
by the FD block. For earth current measurement, the
fundamental component of the sum of the numerically filtered

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 Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research Vol. 8, No. 3, 2018, 2975-2980 2978

I E RE D. Logic Decision
sin(U   A )  sin(U   E )
UA I A RL   As mentioned in the description of the calculation impedance,
XA  2 the calculated RCAL and XCAL coordinate values define a point
IA X E RE I E R X I 
1 (  ) cos( E   A )  E E  E  on the complex impedance plane. The logic decision compares
X L RL I A RL X L  I A  the point with the quadrilateral characteristics of the relay,
shown in Figure 3. For example, the distance characteristic has
TABLE III. SHORT CIRCUIT TYPES AND FAULT LOOPS FOR THE DISTANCE
been programmed as seen in Figure 9 [7]. The point R3 and X3
MEASUREMENT are the setting points for Zone 3. The time settings tZ3=1.5s. If a
measured impedance point is inside the Zone 3, then the delay
Phases Fault loop for distance
No Type fault
involved measurement
time can be started and when the impedance stays longer than
AG AG tZ3, the logic decision generates the true value of the related
Single phase to ground output binary signal. It means that relay will trip with Zone 3 if
1 BG BG
fault
CG CG the following conditions are met:
AB AB
Two phase short circuit  Condition 1:
2 BC BC
without ground
CA CA
ABG AG, or BG, or AB  R3
 cotan 220  cotan680 <X CAL  X 3
Two phase short circuit
3 BCG BG, or CG, or BC
with ground
CAG AG, or CG, or CA 
4 Three phase short circuit ABC AB, or BC, or CA  R3
 R3 – < RCAL  R3  X 3tan680
  cotan 22 0
 cotan 68 0
  tan 6 8 0

 R  R  X tan680
 CAL 3 CAL

 Condition 2:
 R3
 cotan 220  cotan680  X CAL  X 3
Fig. 7. Single-phase earth fault, fault loop

In (1) and (2), UA is the short-circuit voltage of phase A, ΙA 

 R3
is the short-circuit current of phase A, ΙE is the earth short- 0  RCAL  R3 –
circuit current, φU is phase angle of the short-circuit voltage, φA   cotan 22 0
 cotan 680   tan680
is phase angle of the phase short-circuit current, and φE is phase  R  X tan 220
angle of the earth short-circuit current. To calculate the phase-  CAL CAL

to-phase loop for instance during a two-phase short circuit BC
(Figure 8), the loop equation is:  Condition 3:
U B I B cos(U B   I B )  U C I C cos(UC   IC )  0  X CAL  X 3
RBC   
 X CALtan30  RCAL  0
0
I B2  2 I B I C cos( I B   IC )  I C2
 U B I C cos(U B   IC )  U C I B cos(U C   I B )  
I B2  2 I B I C cos( I B   IC )  I C2

U B I B sin(U B   I B )  U C I C sin(UC   IC ) 
X BC  
I B2  2 I B I C cos( I B   IC )  I C2
 U B I C sin(U B   IC )  U C I B sin(UC   I B )  
I B2  2 I B I C cos( I B   IC )  I C2

Fig. 9. Zone 3 protection

V. SIMULATION RESULTS
After the building of the proposed model has been
Fig. 8. Two-phase fault clear of earth, fault loop completed, it is ready to analyze the secure operation of the
quadrilateral characteristics of the three protection zones
In (3) and (4), IB, and IC represents short circuit phase applied with variation in fault parameters like fault types, fault
current of phase B, and C. UB, and UC represents short circuit location from -5 km to 50 km, fault resistance from 1 Ω to 40
voltage of phase B, and C. φUB, φUC are considered as phase Ω. During a fault, the current in the faulted phases increases.
angle of UB, UC. φIB, φIC are considered as phase angle of IB, IC. The voltage in the faulted phases decreases beginning at 0.3 s.

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Distance protection zone outputs such as Z1, Z2, Z3, operate

when the corresponding pre-set times are reached. After 10 ms
the line is tripped and the voltage begins to recover. In case of
an AG fault with RF=30 Ω is created on the line Duy Xuyen-
Thang Binh at a distance of 35 km from Duy Xuyen bus
(forward direction). The distance represents 120.7% of the line
length. Figure 10 shows the current and voltage waveform and
a trip signal of protection zones before, during and after a fault.
The fault occurs at 0.3 s, the current of phase A is increased
and voltage of phase A is decreased. As a result, impedance
trajectory seen by the relay entered into the characteristic
second zone. Fault location displays 28.38 km. Relay takes
0.31 s to send trip signal Z2 to the circuit breaker.
Figure 11 shows the operation of relay in zone 1 with the
presence of AB fault at distance 15 km with RF=10 Ω. The
distance represents 51.7% of the line length. According to the
change in voltage and current waveforms during the fault, the
impedance trajectory moves quickly into Zone 1, fault location
displays 14.29 km which results in a tripping at 0.322 s. In
Figure 12, the result is shown where BCG fault is applied on
the transmission line at distance 45 km with RF=40 Ω.
According to the change in voltage and current waveforms
during the fault, the apparent impedance seen at relay point is
reduced but the trip signals are deactivated due to the
movement of impedance trajectory out of Zone 3 area. Fault Fig. 11. Voltage, current waves, trip sinals and and impedance trajectory
location displays 37.65 km. As shown in Figure 13, at 0.3 s an for AB fault with RF=10Ω at 15km from relay point
ABC fault occurs on the transmission line at 50 km, RF=1 Ω,
and the fault duration is 1.5 s. According to the change in
voltage and current waveforms during fault, relay impedance
trajectory into Zone 3, fault location displays 49.47 km, thus
trip signal Z3 is activated at 1.81 s. Some of the results for
various fault cases (AG, BC, ABG, and ABC) are given in
Table IV.

Fig. 12. Voltage, current waves, trip sinals and impedance trajectory for
faults at BCG fault with RF=40Ω at 45km from relay point.

The power system is supplied from both ends, its setting for
Zone 1 is 85 percent of line length or 24.65 km. Similarly,
Zone 2 is 35.18 km, and Zone 3 is 57.9 km. In the tests, the
fault resistance influence on the measured distance to fault
Fig. 10. Voltage, current waves, trip sinals and impedance trajectory for location, the highest fault resistance that allowed for reliable
faults at AG fault with RF=30Ω at 35km from relay point
distance protection relay is 20 Ω. In the case of the high

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 Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research Vol. 8, No. 3, 2018, 2975-2980 2980

resistance fault, this value changes from 20 to 25 Ω, the final transmission line, and fault resistance. According to the
point of fault impedance locus falls under Zone 1 characteristic obtained results, it has been shown that the accuracy of the
or under-reaching tendency. If it is higher than 40 Ω, fault relay depends on a fault resistance value. The high fault
impedance locus out of zone protection with corresponding resistance causes the distance relay to over-reach or under-
error increases. reach. Therefore, a correctly set distance protection relay can
correctly compute the fault location, mitigate the problem of
TABLE IV. TEST RESULTS
mal-operation, thus ensuring effective and reliable protection to
the transmission line.
Actual fault Fault Measured fault Zone
Phase
location (km) resistance (Ω) location (km) trip
-5 10 -12.2 /
5 1 4.718 Z1
10 5 9.244 Z1
15 10 13.7 Z1
20 15 18.21 Z1
AG 25 20 22.78 Z1
30 25 24.75 Z1
35 30 31.42 Z2
40 35 35.25 Z2
45 40 38.35 /
50 1 49.67 Z3
-5 10 -9.475 /
5 1 4.923 Z1
10 5 9.633 Z1
15 10 14.29 Z1
20 15 18.96 Z1
AB 25 20 23.63 Z1
30 25 28.15 Z1
35 30 31.92 Z2
40 35 35.31 Z2
45 40 37.65 /
50 1 49.47 Z3
-5 10 -9.455 /
5 1 4.919 Z1
10 5 9.919 Z1
15 10 14.92 Z1
20 15 19.93 Z1
BCG 25 20 23.62 Z1 Fig. 13. Voltage, current waves, trip sinals and impedance trajectory for
30 25 28.14 Z1 faults at ABC fault with RF = 1Ω at 50km from relay point
35 30 31.91 Z2
40 35 35.31 Z2
45 40 37.65 /
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
50 1 49.47 Z3 Authors would like to thank the "Electrical Testing
-5 10 -9.48 / Company Limited, Viet Nam" for allowing the use of the
5 1 4.919 Z1 project of relay protection used in this study.
10 5 9.633 Z1
15 10 14.29 Z1
20 15 18.95 Z1 REFERENCES
ABC 25 20 23.62 Z1 [1] O. Muhayimana, Distance Protection for Parallel and Double-Circuit HV
30 25 28.15 Z1 Lines, MSc Thesis, Brno University Of Technology, 2016
35 30 31.92 Z2
[2] V. H. Makwana, B. R. Bhalja, Transmission Line Protection using
40 35 35.31 Z2 digital technology, Springer, 2016
45 40 37.65 /
[3] T. Saengsuwan, “Modelling of distance relays in EMTP”, IPST'99
50 1 49.47 Z3
International Conference on Power Systems Transients, Budapest
Hungary, pp. 213-217, June 20-24, 1999
VI. CONCLUSIONS
[4] L. K. Hung, N. H. Viet, V. P. Huan, “The effect of fault resistance on the
In this study, the distance protection function with three performance of distance relay protection”, The 2011 International
forward zones has been implemented in a Siemens 7SA522 Symposium on Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam, pp. 238-244, November 8-9, 2011
distance protection relay on the 110kV Duy Xuyen–Thang
Binh transmission line that was simulated easily and reliably in [5] Central Region Load Dispatch Center, Setting calculation of distance
protection relay Siemens 7SA522 at 171 overhead line of Duy Xuyen
Matlab Simulink. The proposed model allows us to include the Substation, Decision No A3-03-2015/DUX110, Siemens, 2015
detailed analysis of the impedance (RCAL, XCAL) measured by [6] G. Ziegler, Numerical Distance Protection: Principles and Applications,
the distance relay on one single end, fault detection, fault John Wiley & Sons, 2011
classification, and tripping protection zones for fault,
considering fault location, fault type existing on the

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