Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2014, Curtin University, Perth, Australia, 28 September 1 October 2014
Distance Protection of Transmission Line with Infeed
Based on Real-Time Simulator
Mohammad Pazoki Zahra Moravej
Electrical and Computer Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty Faculty
Semnan University Semnan University
Semnan, Iran Semnan, Iran
Pazoki.m@gmail.com z.moravej@ieee.org
AbstractIn this paper real-time simulation, analysis, and
validation of the conventional distance relay based on
MATLAB/simulink and Real-Time LABoratory (RT-LAB) is
presented. In addition to the detailed model of six impedance
measuring units of distance relay, power system model is
implemented in Opal-RTs RT-LAB simulator. Some cases are
highlighted to illustrate the modelling performance. Moreover,
the effect of infeed current, which is an emerging issue for power
system protection, using conventional distance relay in real-time
environment is evaluated.
KeywordsDistance protection; infeed current; real-time
simulation
I. INTRODUCTION
These days, newer software tools are playing a significant
role in simulation and analyzing the electrical networks.
Software simulation of protective relays and power system
provides an acceptable pathway toward investigating the
performance of protective relays under different conditions.
Based on the manuals of the existing digital relays, accurate
digital relay models can be implemented by using
programming language or advanced software package such as
MATLAB, simulink, PSCAD/EMTDC, and EMTP [1]-[4].
In most of the distance protection publications, impedance
measuring units of digital distance relay are developed in
software environment for off-line open or close loop simulation
studies. Although most of them are useful for analyzing
distance relay behaviour during different conditions of power
system, it would be desirable to have a real-time development
of both distance relay model and power system. A real-time
simulator can ensure the model robustness and also enable
comparison between the real-time and software simulations.
Moreover, it can also provide Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) and
on-line parameter adjustment [5]-[9] capabilities.
For practical reasons, transmission lines can be multi-ended
or have parallel feeders. Moreover, there are a number of
factors that influence the decision to configure a transmission
line with three terminals, such as economics, constrained lead
time, regulatory approvals, right-of-way availability, line
overloads, and system performance requirements [10]-[13].
From a futuristic power transmission network viewpoint, with
the growth of local generation, there is a strong motivation to
analyze the performance of conventional distance relaying for
being multi-ended.
The first author would like to thank the Ministry of Science, Research and
Technology of Iran for financial support to visit University of Auckland to
carry out this work.
1
Mojtaba Khederzadeh Nirmal K. C. Nair
Department of Electrical and Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering Computer Engineering
Shahid Beheshti University, A.C. University of Auckland
Tehran, Iran Auckland, New Zealand
khederzadeh@pwut.ac.ir n.nair@auckland.ac.nz
In this paper, power system network and conventional
distance relay is modelled in Opal-RTs Real-Time
LABoratory (RT-LAB) engineering simulator and
MATLAB/simulink software [14], [15]. Moreover, the
performances of detail model of six impedance measuring units
are evaluated in zone 1 and zone 2 (with infeed current). In RT-
LAB environment, Advanced Real-Time ElectroMechanical
Simulator (ARTEMiS) components, as a high performance
solver of RT-LAB which can accelerate the simulation speed
and guarantee the computational accuracy, are used [16].
II. SIMULATION ENVIRONMENT
A. Real-time simulator
Opal-RT (model OP5600), as a discrete real-time simulator
with 12, 3.3-GHz processor cores, has been used for results in
this paper. The single target system uses the Red Hat Linux
real-time operating system. Fig. 1 shows the target system and
host PC (user console monitor) that the communication
between them is achieved through TCP/IP connection. Since
the simulation is running at real-time simulator, the simulation
results could be monitored via digital oscilloscope.
The Opal-RT system is capable of simulating slow and fast
transients of a large power system effectively. The real-time
capability of the simulator makes it ideal for HIL prototype
testing [9]. It has an HMI called RT-LAB, as real-time
simulation software, which provides the user tools to develop
and execute models in the MATLAB/simulink environment.
Opal-RT separates the original simulink model into subsystems
to deploy on its various processors. Each portion of the model
is coded in C language to build for execution among its
processors. After compilation, the code is loaded into the target
system and executed via parallel processing. Furthermore, in
RT-LAB environment, ARTEMiS components, as a high
performance solver which can accelerate the simulation speed
and guarantee the computational accuracy, are utilized.
ARTEMiS is a plug-in to the SimPowerSystems block set for
simulink.
B. Software simulation
SimPowerSystems (SPS) toolbox of MATLAB/simulink
provide visual graphic environment [15] for simulation of
power systems. By using detailed representation of different
components, the user can model any power system device such
as protection relays.
 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2014, Curtin University, Perth, Australia, 28 September 1 October 2014 2

A RTEMiS Guide
Ts=35 us CONF_FINAL5_PRINT
SSN: ON - InitFcn. . . . . init_relay;

Model Initialization1
Discrete ,
= 3.5e-005

powe rgui
www.opal-rt.com1
SC_Scope SM_Distance_relay
acq console
double (5) 4
sy s_meas
imp_ground imp_ground
double (6)
imp_phase imp_phase 6
double (6) relay _signal
relay _VI relay _VI
double (6)

double (4)
Fig. 1. Real-time simulator platform. sy s_meas

double (6)
relay _signal

III. MODEL STRUCTURE FOR BOTH SOFTWARE AND REAL- B1a1 B3a

TIME SIMULATION B1b1 DPL B3b

Sim_inf o
The single line diagram for a case study is shown in Fig. 2 B1c1 DPL L1
200km
B3c
Sim_inf o
double

[12], [13]. Fig. 3 demonstrates the overall simulation model B1a2 B2a

which composed of four major types of blocks: B1b2 DPL B2b

SM_Distance_relay, SS_Send, SS_Receive, and SC_Scope. B1c2

DPL L2
B2c

Accordingly, the platform allocates three cores for master SS_Send

15km SS_Recive

subsystem (SM) and two salve subsystems (SS). Moreover, the

Converting
transmission line model is selected from ARTEMiS as an

process
efficient component for real-time simulation.
The detail structure of each block is shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6,
and 7. Based on the single line diagram of the power system
and Fig. 4, the SS_Send block consists of three-phase source G Automatically generated by RT-LAB during compilation.

and 60 km of transmission line 1. Fig. 5 shows that The

SS_Recieve block includes two three-phase sources H and K
and 180 km of transmission line 2 between them.
SM_Distance_relay block, as a relay model, provides ground
Monitoring
and phase impedance measuring units at the relay location R, www.opal-rt.com timing
as shown in Fig. 6. From Fig. 7, it can be seen that the scope YU
ov errun
subsystem monitors the some desired signals and simulation YU
YU
Calc time (STAT., NW, ctrler) (us)
SIMULATION
INFO
information. Additional OpComm and OpMonitor blocks are Ef f time (STATCOM)
imp_ground1
imp_phase1
utilized in the RT-LAB environment. The OpComm block as
an essential component establishes a real-time communication pComm

link between the model and simulators input/output. The

OpMonitor block provides real-time monitoring information on
the subsystem where it is inserted.
Ir

This simulation is running in both MATLAB/simulink and OpComm

Vr

real-time platforms. For execution of the model in Opal-RT

simulator, it should be compiled. As shown in Fig. 3, after Fig. 2. Overall simulation model in RT-LAB environment before and after
compilation procedure, the labeled generated model by RT- compilation.
LAB will be appeared. Therefore, power system model double
accompanying distance relay model will be running in the real- 1 B1b1 1
double
tim e
fault
A RTEMiS Guide
time platform. The obtained results from MATLAB/simulink Ts=35 us B1c1
B1a1 2 Constant
Timer A
B
C
simulation will be tested and verified using the RT-LAB real- SSN: ON
3
Fault
time simulator. B_relay

A aA 4 B1b2
B bB DPL B1c2
B1a2 5
A. Distance relay model C cC 6
Three-Phase Source DPL L2
C
A
B

60km
300 MW

double
Ir
double double
2
double
Vr relay_signal
double
double double
30 <=

double ax1
Computation time double
double double
<signal3> uax2y double
Rst overruns Real step size double double double
double <signal1> 1
Nb overruns <signal2> u y double sim_inf o
sys_meas
OpMonitor
OpComm
double OpComm double
1
Ts = Ts
Sim_info

Fig. 4. Single line diagram of sample system. Fig. 3. The structure of SS_Send block.
 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2014, Curtin University, Perth, Australia, 28 September 1 October 2014 3
B3a
1
2
3
two-phase faults [19]. This procedure is implemented in the
B3b
B3c
block of SM_Distance_relay in the simulink environment.
B2a
4 aA aA A Distance relay setting: The relay R, in the sample network
5 bB DPL bB B
6 cC cC C of Fig. 1, has a reach setting of up to 80% of the protected line
B2b
B2c B2 DPL L3 B3 Equiv. 500kV impedance (line G) for instantaneous zone 1 protection.
180km 9000 MVA

B. Real-time data monitoring

C
A
B
A RTEMiS Guide

A
B
C
Equiv. 500kV
200 MW
6500 MVA Ts=35 us
SSN: ON This section gives a general overview of the data
ax1 acquisition from Opal-RT hardware. As shown in Fig. 1, the
Computation time
double
u y
double double
1 front view of Opal-RT is used for monitoring purpose.
OpMonitor
Sim_info Initializing and hardware synchronization selection is done by
using OpCtrl block. Then AnalogueOut block can be added to
Fig. 5. The structure of SS_Recieve block. model and the number of output channels is assigned. The
double
model values set as inputs of the AnalogueOut blocks will be
[sim_info1]
double double
double
1 physically outputted as volts. There are 48 RJ45 connectors in
Computation time u y
console front panel of Opal-RT that each connector can drive 4 signals.
ax2
OpMonitor
The 4 signals are demuxed and each corresponds to a mini
1
double double
[sim_info1] double Bayonet NeillConcelman (BNC) connector. As an example,
4
sys_meas OpComm
Ts = Ts double
[Ir] relay_VI
both the voltage and current at the relay location and
2
double double
double
instantaneous resistance and reactance corresponding to a
[Vr]
relay_signal
OpComm
single-phase-to-ground fault are monitored by digital
double
double
oscilloscope as shown in Fig. 8.
double
double
double
double double
3
double
double double
IV. REAL-TIME SIMULATION RESULTS
double 2
double
imp_phase
double imp_ground
double
A. Ground unit performance
double
double
The validation of the impedance measuring units is done
phase to phase
distance relay
phase to ground
distance relay
using the real time simulator. Fig. 9 shows the comparison
between the real-time and the simulink based simulation model
Fig. 6. The structure of SM_Distance_relay block. response for a single-phase-to-ground involving phase A at the
end reach of the relay. Instantaneous resistance and reactance
components of the seen impedance by the relay are plotted
separately. Due to the fact that the execution of power system
and relay models in the RT-LAB and MATLAB software are
Monitoring running paralleled without time synchronization, there is a very
www.opal-rt.com timing short time-delay in the displays obtained from the RT-LAB and
OpComm double overrun
YU ones obtained from the simulink. However, it is not affect the
double YU Calc time (STAT., NW, ctrler) (us) SIMULATION
1
double
YU
double Eff time (STATCOM) INFO comparison purpose. Moreover, the impedance trajectories
acq
double
imp_ground1
double imp_phase1 seen by the relays in real-time and software environments are
2
double
double
double
double demonstrated in R-X diagram. From Fig. 10, it can be seen that
pComm double
imp_ground double
Acq = 1 double
double
double
double double
3 double
double
imp_phase double

double
double
4 double
Ir
relay_VI
double
Vr

Fig. 7. The structure of SC-Scope block.

In this paper, six impedance measuring units of traditional

distance relay are simulated in details [17]. Voltage and current
signals are created by using sampling rate of 35 s. They are
digitally filtered by using a second-order Butterworth low-pass
filter with a cutoff frequency of 240 Hz. Then, the obtained
samples of signals are downsampled to 16 sample/cycle. The
phasor values of the fundamental component are estimated by
full-cycle discrete Fourier transform (FCDFT).Moreover, a
digital mimic filter is used to remove dc-offset component.
Consequently, the impedance trajectory is derived using
Fig. 8. Fault quantities monitored by digital oscilloscope.
apparent impedance equations for single-phase-to-ground and
 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2014, Curtin University, Perth, Australia, 28 September 1 October 2014 4

Instantanous resistance during AG fault Apparent impedance during AB fault

300 40
Reactance [] Simulink Simulink
200 RT-LAB 35 RT-LAB

100
30
0
5500 6000 6500 7000 25

Reactance []
(a)
Instantanous reactance during AG fault 20
80
Simulink
Reactance []

60
15
40 RT-LAB
20
10
0
-20
5
5500 6000 6500 7000
Sample
(b) 0

Fig. 10. Comparison between obtained results from simulink and real-time -10 0 10 20 30
Resistance []
environments

Apparent impedance during AG fault Fig. 11. Obtained impedance trajectories from simulink and real-time
40 environments during AB fault.
Simulink
RT-LAB
35
24.5
components. Meanwhile, the accurate phasor will be obtained
30
24 by DFT algorithm when non-fundamental frequencies can be
eliminated. In this paper, low-pass and digital mimic filters are
23.5
23

25
22.5
implemented in the real-time simulator to remove the high
Reactance []

22

21.5 frequency components and decaying dc component

20 21
respectively. This section draws a comparison between the Fig.
20.5

15
20
12 and Fig. 10 during AG fault (the power system parameters
are the same). It can be seen that elimination of low-pass and
-1 0 1 2 3 4

10 mimic filters leads to an inaccuracy on the phasor estimation

and consequently affect the impedance trajectory.
5

0 B. Effect of Infeed current

-10 0 10 20 30 A typical three-terminal network is used for simulation of
Resistance []
backup protection [12], [13]. Source H is considered as an
Fig. 10. Obtained impedance trajectories from simulink and real-time infeed current model between buses G and K. As shown in Fig.
environments during AG fault. 1, when a fault occurs on line K at point F2, the impedance seen
by the distance relay R is affected by infeed current. The
the real-time simulation results confirm the obtained results apparent impedance seen by the distance relay R at terminal G,
from MATLAB/simulink. Z R , is given by

B. Phase unit performance I

Z R Z LG nZ LK H nZ LK (1)
Similarly, the performance of the phase units in the real- IG
time simulator is compared to the simulink software. A phase- where Z LG is a positive sequence of line G, Z LK is a positive
to-phase fault between phase A and B has been simulated at the
end reach of the relay, in order to check the response of the sequence impedance of line K, n is per-unit distance from bus
phase units. Fig. 11 shows the apparent impedances seen by the H to fault point F2, I G is a current flowing in line G and I H is
phase unit captured from Opal-RT and simulink. a current injected from terminal H.
The apparent impedance presented to the relay has been
V. DISCUSSION modified by term I H I G nZ LK . If the pre-fault load is zero,
In this section the impact of filters and infeed current on the the currents I G and I H are in phase and their ratio is a real
conventional distance relaying during fault is considered in the
real-time simulator. number, the apparent impedance presented to the relay in this
case can be expressed in terms of the source impedances [13]
A. Effect of filters Z nZ LK
DFT is the most popular method to estimate fundamental Z R Z LG Z LK SK nZ LK (2)
Z SH Z LH
phasors for digital relays. When a fault occurs on transmission
lines, the captured signals from measuring devices are severely
distorted. These signals may contain dc and high frequency
 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2014, Curtin University, Perth, Australia, 28 September 1 October 2014
Effect of filters on the apparent impedance during AG fault
40
Without dc removal
Without low-pass filter
35
30
25
Reactance []
20
15
10
5 Zone 1
0
-10 0 10 20
Resistance []
Fig. 12. Filtering impacts on the apparent impedance during AG fault.
where Z SH and Z SK are the source positive sequence impedance
of terminal H and K, respectively and Z LH is the line positive
impedance from source H to bus H (in a sample network is
equal to zero). The magnitude of the third term in equation (2)
can reach a relatively high value when the infeed fault current
contribution is much larger than that of branch G. In many
applications, it is common practice to set the zone 2 reach to be
equal to the protected line section plus 50% of the shortest
adjacent line (line K). To avoid under-reaching effect of infeed
current, the MHO circle boundary of zone 2 setting is adapted
to the magnitude of the third term of equation (2). Moreover,
the higher value of residual current compensating factor is used
for the ground measurement units of zone 2 in comparison with
the ground measurement units of zone 1.
The impact of infeed current on the apparent impedance during
AG and AB fault at the end reach of zone 2 is simulated by
RT-LAB in this section. As shown in Fig. 13, due to infeed
current, the relay is under-reached considerably which
confirms the equation (1). Moreover, from Fig. 13, it can be
seen that the adapted MHO circle can improve the relay
performance. For unbalanced fault, the ratio of the sequence
fault current contribution at terminals G and H may not be
same. Therefore, the distance relay which is located at bus G
tends to under-reach. Fig. 13 shows the mentioned problem
during AB fault in the sample network.
VI. CONCLUSION
This paper presented the performance of conventional
distance protection at zones 1 and 2 with infeed current. The
impacts of low-pass and dc-removal filters on the accuracy of
impedance measuring unit are revealed in real-time simulator.
For backup protection zone, the impact of the infeed current are
addressed by MHO circle adaptation and increase in
compensating factor which has some limitations.
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