EXPERT WORKSHOP Q&A

Advanced protection webinar

Session 4 Sensitive earth fault
detection Detection concepts
siemens.com
1. Q: From the fundamentals of calculating 4. Q: Difference between broken delta and
unbalance faults e.g. phase to phase and open delta connection?
phase to earth fault using symmetrical A: With "open delta" we refer to a series connection
components where the original healthy current of all 3 windings, i.e. at the terminals, we see the
of positive sequence is now represented by 3 sum of all three voltages. Unfortunately, this
components namely Positive, Negative and arrangement is sometimes called "broken delta" and
Zero sequence current. And when there is an unfortunately, the term "open delta" is sometimes
earth fault ...only zero sequence current is used for an arrangement to build a three phase
present. My question, is the zero sequence system from two single phase transformers.
current that the relay measured to indicate an
earth fault condition is only a derived quantity 5. Q: in terms of accuracy holmgreen
of the measured unbalance fault current e.g. connection and internal computation of IE
just a mathematical representation of the which one better?
original unbalance fault or has a physical A: There is no significant difference concerning the
separate existence of actual measured zero accuracy. The main difference is, that the Holmgreen
current. connection offers the possibility for a fast plausibility
A: The zero sequence current I0 is by definition check: we measure the IE and we also calculate it in
(IL1+IL2+IL3)/3. This is the mathematical definition. the relay. Any significant difference between the
It has however some "physical existence": measured and the calculated IE is an indication for a
- The earth current IE, which we use in protection problem in the data acquisition system.
and which can be measured with a Holmgreen
connection or by a core balance CT, is a "similar" 6. Q: Is core balance ct is different from
quantity: IE=-3I0. simple ct
- In case of a single phase to ground fault, the fault A: Yes, the mechanical contruction and also the
current is 3I0. This means, also there, the zero dimensioning is different (you will see that, if you
sequence current has a physical meaning. google"core balance CT" pictures). The mechanical
design must offer enough space for all 3 phases of
2. Q: In accordance with industry standards and the cable. It is important, that the current in the
best practices, what methodologies are cable shield(s) must not be part of the measurement.
employed for the assessment and This means that if the core balance CT is around the
measurement of earthing/grounding systems cable(s) including shields, the earth connection of
in underground hydroelectric generating the shields must be wired back through the core
facilities balance CT.
A: This is a topic, which is independent from
protection. If you want to measure the earthing 7. Q: Is there a rule of thumb to decide when or
resistance of a substation or power station earthing which configurations to use a core balance CT ?
system, you normally inject a current (single phase) A: In compensated networks, it is highly
into the earthing system from a remote location. recommended to achieve a reliable functionality.
Unfortunately, I have no experience applying this
procedure to an underground facility. 8. Q: core balance CT is only applicable in Low
voltage?
3. Q: Just want to understand how zero A: No. We also use it in distribution or even
sequence current in earth fault detection is subtransmission systems.
measured by the CT or by the relay. Is it a
derived quantities or just a mathematical 9. Q: Regarding orientation for U0 and 3I0 can
expression of the unbalance current ? Or the we say leading or lagging? (understanding for
zero sequence current has a physical separate up and down)
existence manifesting during actual earth A: I avoid the terms leading or lagging because they
fault. often cause confusion. I prefer the diagrams and the
A: The zero sequence current I0 is by definition angle relation you see there.
(IL1+IL2+IL3)/3. This is the mathematical definition.
It has however some "physical existence":
- The earth current IE, which we use in protection
and which can be measured with a Holmgreen
connection or by a core balance CT is a "similar"
quantity: IE=-3I0.
- In case of a single phase to ground fault, the fault
current is 3I0. This means, also there, the zero
sequence current has a physical meaning.
10. Q: What function can I use in a 7SJ85 to 16. Q: what about for delta side earthed with
detect ground fault direction in an isolated MV zigzag earthing transformer?
cable network? A: Earthing the starpoint with an earthing
A: You need the "Sensitive Ground-Fault Detection" transformer is a possibility to get a defined starpoint
functions (Chapter 6.16 of the manual). For a radial treatment if the feeding transformer has a delta
system with isolated starpoint, the standard winding.
application would be the "Directional 3I0 Stage with
Cos φ or Sin φ Measurement", where you use the Sin 17. Q: Why do we prefer to indicate vector for
φ Measurement, because you have an isolated -3I0 but not 3I0 ?
neutral. A: Because -3I0 is the earth current IE we often use
in protection.
11. Q: how do u campare using three phase
relay measurement and use of separate core 18. Q: Why is the time constant in a distribution
balanced CTs measurement for residual current system 45 ms? Additionally, this value is used
meausurement, note some relays have large according to IEC 60255 to rate the output
measurement operating ranges to measure contact of protection relays. Could you clarify
very small currents using three phase the significance of this number?
measurement A: The time constant of a decaying DC component in
A: The problem using three phase measurement only a short circuit current depends on the L/R ratio of the
is not the sensitivity of the measuring inputs. The short circuit loop. A distribution cable may have a
problem is, that e.g. one of the phase CTs may have line angle of 45° which results in a time constant of
a measuring error of +4% and one of the two others 3ms. An overhead line with a line angle of 85°
may have -4%. In this case, the Holmgreen degrees has a time constant of 36ms and a
connection or the internal computation will see an IE transformer may have 200...300ms. Normally, you
even for a completely symmetrical system. For short will have a resulting time constant, which is a
circuit protection, this is not a problem. But for earth mixture of these values, depending on your network
fault detection, this IE resulting from measurement and on the location of the fault. For the rating of the
errors is in the same range as the "real" IE we need output contacts, the L/R ratio is also relevant, but
for the protection. there, the L/R is the ratio calculated from the trip
circuit including the trip coil.
12. Q: In the case of a system with low
resistance grounding, specifically a 22kV cable 19. Q: S B Is it suitable to use Earth Fault
system over a long distance, if a single-line-to- Compensator to restrict the minimum fault
ground fault occurs, is it possible for the current to flow through the faulty line ?
healthy phases to experience a voltage higher A: Earth fault compensation reduces the earth
than the rated line voltage on each phase due current to very low values (3…8% of the capacitive
to the system's capacitance? current of the network). In overhead line systems,
A: For systems with resistive starpoint grounding, this low value is normally below the extinction limit.
you also get a voltage rise. I would in this case This means, that arc faults extinguish without
however not expect a voltage higher than rated tripping because of the low current. By resistive
voltage. For a quantitative answer, I recommend a grounding, you can also reduce the single phase
network calculation with your system parameters fault currents, but they are still short circuit currents
(grounding resistance, cable type and length.) and have to be tripped by the short circuit
protection.
13. Q: Is it also possible to get simulation of
earth faults? 20. Q: Why is the current in the healthy line is 0
A: This is a python script, I only wrote to demonstate for compensated neutral connection of the
the phasor diagrams. It is not available for download. transformer?
A: Sorry, I missed to state, that the simulation
14. Q: M P Is it also possible to get simulation of programm displays the value of the real part of the
earth faults? earth current and not the earht current itself. The
A: This is a python script, I only wrote to demonstate real part of the earth current of the healthy line is
the phasor diagrams. It is not available for download. close to zero.

15. Q: K wHICH SOFTWARE IS THIS TO SIMULATE 21. Q: A B In healthy line in compensated network,
A: This is a python script, I only wrote to demonstate why do you have such a large -3Io current?
the phasor diagrams. It is not available for download. A: It is the full capacitive current of the line an
depends on the line length and type (overhead or
cable)
22. Q: for high resistance grounded system 29. Q: If you swithc ON the resistor to a
where maximum earth fault currrent is limited compensated system, how does the fault
to 100A by NGR then how earth fault should be current goes up?
detected A: The size of the fault current depends on the
A: This scheme is normally applied in systems with resistor. To give an example: in a 20kV system, a
very small (<10A) capacitive currents. In such 6Ohm resistor will lead to a single phase fault
systems, you need sensitive e/f detection functions current of 2kA.
when the earth fault currents are too low to be
detected by the short circuit protection.

23. Q: can you condider a case where the

neutral point is connected to earth via a
limiting resistor
A: Yes, this is common practice for distribution
(cable) systems. A typical application in a 20kV
system would be to use a 6Ohm resistor. This limits
the single phase short circuit currents to 2kA.

24. Q: for high resistance grounded system

where earth fault current limited to 100A then
how we can acheive sensitive setting for cable
differential protection as we can not keep the
setting below 10% of rated line current
A: This type of system has some similarities to
systems with floating neutral or compensation. You
need sensitive e/f functions to detect faults and the
fault direction, if the earth fault currents are too low
to be detected by the short circuit protection.

25. Q: Is it also possible to get simulation of

earth faults?
A: This is a python script, I only wrote to demonstate
the phasor diagrams. It is not available for download.

26. Q: wHICH SOFTWARE IS THIS TO SIMULATE

A: This is a python script, I only wrote to demonstate
the phasor diagrams. It is not available for download.

27. Q: Is it suitable to use Earth Fault

Compensator to restrict the minimum fault
current to flow through the faulty line ?
A: Earth fault compensation reduces the earth
current to very low values (3…8% of the capacitive
current of the network). In overhead line systems,
this low value is normally below the extinction limit.
This means, that arc faults extinguish without
tripping because of the low current. By resistive
grounding, you can also reduce the single phase
fault currents, but they are still short circuit currents
and have to be tripped by the short circuit
protection.

28. Q: In healthy line in compensated network,

why do you have such a large -3Io current?
A: It is the capacitive current of the healthy line. It
depends on the length of the line and the type
(overhead line/cable)
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