Electric Power Systems Research 76 (2006) 457465

Enhanced time overcurrent coordination

Arturo Conde Enr quez , Ernesto V azquez Mart nez
Universidad Aut onoma de Nuevo Le on, Facultad de Ingenier a Mec anica y El ectrica, Apdo. Postal 114-F, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 66450 San Nicol as de los Garza, Nuevo Le on, M exico Received 1 August 2005; accepted 15 September 2005 Available online 16 November 2005

Abstract In this paper, we recommend a new coordination system for time overcurrent relays. The purpose of the coordination process is to nd a time element function that allows it to operate using a constant back-up time delay, for any fault current. In this article, we describe the implementation and coordination results of time overcurrent relays, fuses and reclosers. Experiments were carried out in a laboratory test situation using signals of a power electrical system physics simulator. 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Time overcurrent relay; Coordination; Time function

1. Introduction The application of time overcurrent relays in power systems has serious limitations in terms of sensitivity and high back-up times for minimum fault currents. The high load current and the different time curves of overcurrent protection devices, such as fuses and reclosers, reduce reliability and security of the relay. The overcurrent coordination is done using maximum fault currents (35% of all faults) during maximum demand conditions (only for a total of a few minutes per day) because the convergence of overcurrent relay time curves for high fault currents; for other fault types and other demand situations, the time curves diverge for minimum fault currents, and the back-up times are much higher. A new time element function for overcurrent relays is proposed to enhance the overcurrent coordination system. This criterion can be applied to phase and ground time overcurrent relays, and can be applied in both power and industrial systems. The main goal of the coordination process is to nd a time function that gives a constant back-up time delay for any fault current. The proposed relay has a time curve that is similar to the primary

device. The coordination process is automatic between the proposed relay and the overcurrent primary device (fuse, relay or recloser). Results of tting curves are presented for both fuses and reclosers. The relay logic is evaluated using fault current signals. The proposed algorithms have being tested in a personal computer that has a signal acquisition card. The test was carried out in a laboratory test setting using signals from a power electrical system simulator. The main benets of the proposed time overcurrent relay are: the back-up time is independent of the magnitude of the fault current, resulting in less back-up time than in the conventional overcurrent relay system; coordination is carried out by the proposed criterion; the coordination is independent of any future system changes (such as topology, generation and load); and the proposed overcurrent relay is obtained with only a small change in the rmwares relay, without any additional cost. 2. Time overcurrent relay The basic model and digital implementation of an overcurrent relay system is presented in [1]. In this section, we present the functional structure as the basis of the proposed relay. The r and the pickinput signals are the fundamental current phasor Ik up current Ipickup . The relay generates the no lineal function r /I H(Ik ), where Ik = Ik pickup is the operating current. The func-

Corresponding author. Tel.: +52 81 83294020x5773 E-mail addresses: con de@yahoo.com (A.C. Enr quez), evazquez@gama.me.uanl.mx (E.V. Mart nez). 0378-7796/$ see front matter 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.epsr.2005.09.009

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tion H(Ik ) is integrated, and the output integrator signal is Gk = t

k=1

H (Ik )

(1)

where Gk is the accumulated value of the integrator in the sample k and t is the sampled period. The operating condition is obtained when:
kop

Gk =

t
k=1

H (Ik ) = K

(2)

is high back-up times for both minimum fault current and different time curves devices. In this paper, time overcurrent relay coordination is obtained using a new time function. The objective is to simulate the primary dynamic device to obtain a minimal back-up time operation. In [24], the different coordination methods are proposed; all methods are dependent on communication channels for changing settings, and economic factors need to be considered. The new relay proposed here does not require communication channels for improving the time overcurrent coordination. 4. Time coordination The basic idea for time coordination is to satisfy Eq. (6) for any current value (see Fig. 1): Tbackup = Tprimary (Ik
primary

The relay operation is complete when k = kop and Eq. (2) is satised. The functional relationship for overcurrent relays is obtained from T = kop t and Eq. (2): For constant fault current: T = K H (I ) K H (Ik ) (3)

)+

(6)

Then, in each sample period: T (I k ) = (4)

For variable fault currents, using Eqs. (4) and (2), we obtain
kop k=1

1 T (Ik )

t=1

(5)

In Eqs. (3) and (5), we observe that the functional relationship between K and H(Ik ) denes the characteristics of overcurrent relays. The shape of the time curve produced is dependent on the H(Ik ) function. We can modify this function to obtain different time curves for enhanced coordination. 3. Operative limits of overcurrent relay The overcurrent protection system uses the current as the only indicator of fault location. However, the fault current depends on fault type and prefault steady-state operations. Moreover, the maximum load current can be similar in magnitude to the minimum fault current. This increases the difculty in correctly discriminating between a stable state and fault conditions. As a consequence of these factors, the overcurrent relay reaches changes dynamically, and protection can be lost during minimum fault current conditions. This is particularly the case for phase protection, in which the maximum load current denes the pick-up current relay. Therefore, the sensitivity limitation of overcurrent relays is the fault detection under minimum demand conditions. Another problem in overcurrent protection is the high backup time for minimum fault current conditions, as the coordination criteria are only established for maximum fault currents. The different load current in each protection location produces a higher divergence of time curves for minimum fault currents. When both primary and back-up overcurrent protection systems have different time curves, adequate time coordination is difcult. In these situations, the time limitation of overcurrent relays

where Tbackup is the time curve of the back-up relay, primary ) the time curve of the primary overcurrent Tprimary (Ik primary the operating current of primary device and T device, Ik is the coordination interval (0.20.4 s). The main purpose is to nd a time element function Tbackup that ensures that the back-up relay operates with a constant time delay T relative to the primary device, for any fault current. For this to happen, it is necessary to change the shape of the time curve of the relay. Fig. 1 shows the overcurrent relay coordination system. Relay A is the back-up relay, and Relay B is the primary relay. By load current (pick-up setting), the back-up time is increased, although both relays have the same time curve. To obtain the same backup time delay ( T) in all fault currents, there are two different mechanisms: the rst is to change the dial time for each fault current (curves 2, 3 and 4 in Fig. 1); and the second a better solution is to change curve 5, which is different from the Relay B time curve (curve 1). Curve 5 is not obtained using a dial time setting due to the load current. In order to change the overcurrent relay time curve, curve 5 needs to change shape. In Fig. 1, we observed that curve 5 is similar to curve 1. For this to occur, it is necessary to use the pick-up setting of the

Fig. 1. Adaptive time curve of overcurrent relay.

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Fig. 2. Proposed time curve.

primary device to calculate the operating current. This results in a minimum time curve for the back-up device, as the back-up curve is asymptotic to the pick-up primary current (Fig. 2). The analytical time curves were analysed using IEC Standard 2554 [5]. On the basis of these results, we considered the pick-up current of the back-up relay to be the fault detector. The equation of the proposed relay is obtained by substitution of Eq. (6) in (5) for each current sample. The operating current was calculated using the pick-up current of the primary device primary r /I primary : and the fault current Ik = Ik pickup Gk = = t
k =1 primary H (Ik ),

Fig. 4. Time curve tting diagram of overcurrent protection devices.

r,backup r,primary

time coordination ( T). Ik and Ik are the measured fault currents in Relay A and Relay B, respectively. 5. Fitting curve algorithm Fig. 4 shows the diagram for tting curves. The algorithm is composed using two factorsno lineal regression and polynomial regression. These factors comprise the main mathematical models that are proposed in the technical literature [69]. The program selects the best tting equation using no lineal regression and polynomial regression. This step is crucial, as the best tting equation depends on the type of curve. It is recommended that the best tting of all possible tting equations is selected. For this tting application, electromechanical relay, fuse and recloser curves are available. Appendix A includes the tting results for fuse and recloser curves. Statistical error in the tting curves for fuses was reduced to acceptable values. The tting results are reported because the new coordination approaches see Eq. (7) have been developed on the basis of the analytical equation of overcurrent devices. 6. Test 6.1. Steady stable The coordination example was carried out in the 13.8 kV distribution system shown in Fig. 5, which is a typical distribution system. It is not necessary to consider a more complex power system conguration, as the use of a complex power system does not reach an unexpected place. Most scenarios have the same effect on the operating current; therefore, the time overcurrent relay coordination process is carried out using pairs of relays. The maximum short-circuit current coordination is shown in Fig. 5. We observed that the back-up time of Relay B (sections

where

primary H (Ik )

1
primary Tprimary (Ik )+

(7)

The computed time curve proposed is illustrated in Fig. 3. If the time curve of the primary overcurrent device is analytical (digital relays), the setting curve is computed to directly substiprimary ). When the characteristic tute for the function Tprimary (Ik is not available (for example, in fuses, electromechanical relays and reclosers), it is possible to calculate the analytical expression using tting curve algorithms [69]. The fault current in the primary device location can be calculated. The goal is to compensate for the fault current in Relay A by calculating the fault current in Relay B. The difference between the nominal voltage (Vnom ) and the real voltage is small and the effect in the proposed coordination is a small increase in

Fig. 3. Process of calculated time curve proposed.

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Fig. 5. Time coordination example of overcurrent relays.

Fig. 6. Time coordination example of fuse and overcurrent relay.

ab) is greater than that of proposed Relay B. Therefore, the coordination proposed allows a rapid time curve to be selected for Relay A. The coordination between proposed Relay B and Relay C is carried out in the same relay. Using the time curve (see Eq. (7)), coordination is automatic; even when there is an increase in the maximum fault current (topology changes or additional generation of power), coordination is carried out and setting changes are not necessary. Therefore, the coordination between Relay C and Relay A can be achieved with 2 T, as shown in Fig. 5. The time required for the proposed Relay B for fault currents in sections bc (Fig. 5) is slightly more than Relay B (lack of time curves convergence). Nevertheless, this time increment is minimal. Another such case occurs when using a fuse. Coordination between the fuse, proposed relay (B) and the conventional relay (A) is shown in Fig. 6. The maximum fault current in each coordination location is shown in the same gure. The proposed relay curve is the same (plus T) as that of the maximum clearing time fuse curve. The coordination process between the conventional relay and the fuse can be achieved with 2 T as a coordination interval or with the proposed time curve directly. In Fig. 7, the coordination of a recloser and relay is shown. The 13.8 kV radial systems are used. The coordination proposed is achieved with minimal back-up time. In the shown coordination test, we observed that the minimal back-up time is obtained. In addition, the coordination process occurs with the relay; following this, coordination between the proposed relay and the overcurrent protection device (such as an electromechanical relay, fuse or recloser) is automatically obtained. The data necessary for coordination of the proposed relay is the data system: voltage system and impedance line. For data protection, the time curve and pick-up of the primary device are needed. With this available information, coordination is achieved.

6.2. Dynamic state The integration process of Eq. (7) simulates the disk displacement process in induction of overcurrent electromechanical relays. The time function of the primary device is added in Eq. (7) and evaluated with the fault current in the same place. In this way, the proposed relay has the same dynamic operation as the primary device. The structural diagram of the dynamic test is shown in Fig. 8; it includes a connection module as the interface between the power system and the relay. A real-time data acquisition card

Fig. 7. Time coordination example of recloser and overcurrent relay.

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Relay B and Relays AA* is 33%. In the laboratory test, we observed that the time interval between Relay B and Relay A is 0.61 s, although the operation time difference between Relay A* and Relay B is 0.3 s ( T). This highlights the advantage of the proposed time relay versus conventional relay in back-up zones. 7. Conclusions The coordination process has been used to nd a time element function that ensures that the time overcurrent relay operates with a constant time delay relative to the primary device, for all current values. The main goal of this process is to reduce the back-up time in the phase time overcurrent relays during poor fault current conditions. For the proposed coordination process, it is necessary to obtain the time curve of the primary device. The analytical expression is obtained and included in the dynamic equation of the time overcurrent relay. The coordination process is obtained using the minimal back-up time. The time operation of the other relays (the back-up of the proposed relay) is reduced, and the nal effect in the network is a reduction of time operation for relays. The benets of the coordination system proposed are: fast back-up protection, an automatic coordination process and coordination that is independent of future system changes (such as topology, generation and load). Appendix A In distribution systems, the relay should be coordinated with other overcurrent protection devices, such as fuses and reclosers. In this section, the tting program was evaluated using fuse and recloser time curves. A.1. Fitting fuses The time curves of fuses are not dened in analytical form. The values for the tting process were obtained from time curves using the manufacturers information. The precise criteria are the same ones used for relays and are composed of 10 currenttime data sets. For fuses, there is no critical region for curve tting; the whole current range is considered, and the shape of the time curve has more variety than does relays. Fig. A1 shows the graphical output results of the tting program during cycles of error (Er ). For the four fuses selected, the tting result was decient. Table A1 shows the statistical tting output errors of the tting program. The statistical indicators (the bold numbers) indicate the best t. The statistical indicators [7] were: sum of error squares S; mean error EMED ; maximum error EMAX ; and standard deviation of errors . The two exponential equations used in this paper have, in general, poor results, as the fuse time curves are so different to the relay time curves. On the other hand, the polynomial equations

Fig. 8. Structural diagram of overcurrent relay.

Fig. 9. Time coordination in laboratory test.

was used and the relay algorithm was implemented in a personal computer. In Fig. 9, the time coordination between Relay B, Relay A and proposed Relay A* are shown. The integration process of overcurrent relays with variable fault currents was obtained in a laboratory test situation and are shown in Fig. 10. The dynamic fault current (Isc ) and the integrated value in the Relay B primary backup backup (Gk ), Relay A (Gk ) and proposed Relay A* (Gk ) are shown. For all relays, the time curves are inverse [5]. For the shown example, the load current difference between

Fig. 10. Accumulated value of the relays integrators in laboratory test.

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Fig. A1. Fitting results of commercial fuses using the T(Ik ) function.

have less tting output errors than do exponential equations. However, the output tting errors are high. In general, it is not possible to have acceptable tting errors using both approaches. Another tting alternative is to use the H(Ik ) function see Eq. (3). This function is the inverse of T(Ik ), and its form gives a new possibility for tting curves. The test was carried out using the

same four fuses and the results are shown in Fig. A2. The errors are much less when using the H(Ik ) function than when using the T(Ik ) function. For example, for fuse 1 the tting error is two cycles using the H(Ik ) function compared with 2000 cycles when T(Ik ) is used. In fuse 2, the error decreases from 40 to 6 cycles.

Table A1 Data output tting program with the T(Ik ) function Fuse T = S Exponential 1 2 3 4 Fuse 3.5e8 1.8e5 8e5 7e4 log T = A0 + S Polynomial 1 2 3 4 1.9e5 4.4e3 17.1 0.39
A I n 1

+ B [10] EMED 0.0 478 0.00 0.0

A1 log I

T =C+ EMAX 1.3e5 1.8e3 850.3 248.3 + [7] EMAX 2.7e3 439.9 3.84 0.48 1.7e3 366.3 2.07 0.31 6.5e4 1.9e3 408 120 S 2.1e8 1.1e3 808.8 0.438

K q (I h+wI 2I )

I n 50

[8] EMAX 9.4e4 154.9 18.93 0.38 8e4 Inf 20.11 0.46

EMED 43.0 0.0 0.00 0.0

A1 I 1

A2 (log I )2

T = A0 + S 8.9e5 57.44 0.416 0.102

A2 (I 1)2

+ [7] EMAX 4.1e3 46.06 0.36 21.11 3.6e3 41.5 0.322 15.97

EMED 94.5 16.9 0.36 0.017

EMED 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.0

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Fig. A2. Fitting results of commercial fuses using the H(Ik ) function.

Table A2 shows the statistical tting output errors. The exponential equations have, in general, good results in comparison to the results obtained when the T(Ik ) function was used. However, the polynomial equation (4) [7] is the best model for obtaining a good t for fuses for the sample selected in this paper.

A.2. Fitting reclosers Fig. A3 shows the output results. For three reclosers, the selected tting result was good because the time curve is similar to relaying. Table A3 shows the statistical indicators of the output results of the tting program.

Table A2 Data output tting program using the H(Ik ) function Fuse T = S Exponential 1 2 3 4 Fuse 0.0 39.6 0.68 0.01 log T = A0 + S Polynomial 1 2 3 4 8.8e13 8.3e7 6e6 1e31
A I n 1

+ B [10] EMED 0.0 0.004 0.0 0.0

A1 log I

T =C+ EMAX 1.84 31.14 0.41 0.075 + [7] EMAX 7.2e7 7.0e4 2e3 3e15 2.4e7 2.6e4 848 1e15 1.61 28.1 0.37 0.05 S 0.6 971 32.5 0.015

K q (I h+wI 2I )

I n 50

[8] EMAX 9.39 171.9 3.22 0.068 5.5 Inf 4.03 0.087

EMED 0.59 49.9 1.25 0.0 T = A0 + S 0.0 1.48 0.0 0.0

A1 I 1

A2 (log I )2

A2 (I 1)2

+ [7] EMAX 1.712 6.33 0.05 0.0 0.8 3.5 0.02 0.001

EMED 7.2e6 8.8e3 254 3e14

EMED 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

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Fig. A3. Fitting results of commercial reclosers.

Table A3 Data output tting program equations using the T(Ik ) function Recloser T = S Exponential 1 2 3 Recloser 000 000 90.11 log T = A0 + S Polynomial 1 2 3 337 000 0.01
A1 log I A I n 1

+ B [10] EMED 000 000 000 +

A2 (log I )2

T =C+ EMAX 000 0.005 7.83 + [7] EMAX 8.673 0.001 0.05 8.209 0.001 0.051 000 0.003 4.245 S 0.129 000 0.031

K q (I h+wI 2I )

I n 50

[8] EMAX 0.149 0.002 0.091 0.254 0.002 0.124

EMED 0.131 000 000 T = A0 + S 25.60 000 0.008

A1 I 1

A2 (I 1)2

+ [7] EMAX 1.791 0.001 0.06 1.91 0.001 0.044

EMED 7.98 000 000

EMED 2.236 000 000

References
[1] G. Benmouyal, Some aspects of the digital implementation of protection time functions, IEEE Trans. Power Deliv. 5 (4) (1990) 17051713. [2] H. Askarian, A new optimal approach for coordination of overcurrent relays in interconnected power systems, IEEE Trans. Power Deliv. 18 (2) (2003) 430435. [3] A.J. Urdaneta, et al., Optimal coordination for directional overcurrent relays in interconnected power systems, IEEE Trans. Power Deliv. 3 (3) (1988) 903911. [4] N.A. Laway, H.O. Gupta, A method for adaptive coordination of overcurrent relays in an interconnected power systems, in: Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Developments in Power System Protection, 1993, pp. 240243.

[5] IEC Standard 255-4, Single Input Energizing Measuring Relays with Dependent Specied Time, IEC Publication 255-4, 1st ed., 1976. [6] IEEE Committee Report, Computer representation of overcurrent relay characteristics, IEEE Trans. Power Deliv. 4 (3) (July 1989) 1659 1667. [7] M.S. Sachdev, J. Singh, R.J. Fleming, Mathematical models representing time-current characteristics of overcurrent relays for computer application, IEEE Paper A78 131-5, January 1978. [8] J.E. Hieber, Empirical equations of overcurrent relay curves for computer application, in: Proceedings of the IEEE Winter Power Meeting, Paper No. 31 C 65-91, New York, NY, January/February, 1965, pp. 111. [9] G.E. Radke, A method for calculating time-overcurrent relay settings by digital computer, IEEE Trans. Power Apparatus Syst. 82 (Special Supplement), 189205.

A.C. Enr quez, E.V. Mart nez / Electric Power Systems Research 76 (2006) 457465 [10] IEEE Std C37.112-1996, IEEE Standard Inverse-Time Characteristic Equations for Overcurrent Relays, September 1996. Arturo Conde Enr quez received the B.Sc. degree in mechanic and electric engineering in 1993 from Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, M exico. He received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. in electric engineering in 1996 and 2002 from de Universidad Aut onoma de Nuevo Le on, M exico. Actually he is a professor of the same university, and he is member of the National Research System of M exico.

465

Ernesto V azquez Mart nez received his B.Sc. in Electronic and Communications Engineering in 1988, and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the Universidad Aut onoma de Nuevo Le on (UANL), M exico, in 1991 and 1994, respectively. Since 1996 has worked as Research Professor in Electrical Engineering for the UANL. He is IEEE member and he is member of the National Research System of M exico.