IEEE ISIE 2006, July 9-12, 2006, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Heavy Loaded Very High Voltage Lines and Distance

Protections
J.M. Grellier
Electricite de France R&D
j ean-michel. grellier@ edf.fr

Abstract- Heavy loaded lines (up to 9000A) raise a difficulty

for distance protections because the load equivalent impedance is II. PROBLEM DATA
smaller than some short-circuit impedance. Moreover, the load
transfer during single-phase reclosing cycles activates the phase- A Spurious Trip and Failure Risks
ground measurement loops. The spurious trip risks is studied with the maximal load.
An electrotechnical analysis of the risks of spurious operation When the spurious trip risk is eliminated, the faults which are
or failure and a comparative study of the solutions by impedance not any more detected by protection and will give place to
blinders and power blinders are presented, this last method being failures are studied.
eliminated because not compatible with loads between very great
short-circuit power substations. B Load Equivalent Impedance ZT:
The heavy load requests to have a slope of the zone 1 The maximum permanently acceptable intensity in summer
reactance reach of about 45. The corollary is that the single- of a single-system 400kV line built with beams of two 842mm2
phase faults with a resistance of about 10 ohms in the middle of low dilation coefficient cables is 4500A:
the line are detected in zone 1 by none of the ends. In the same
way, protections of a strongly importing substation but of low ZT Unl-3 400000I- 551
short-circuit power do not detect the single-phase faults. I 4500
The load transfers during single-phase cycles are made on the When the line is a double-system line, its load equivalent
parallel system if the short-circuit power of one substation is impedance is divided by 2 during a three-phase reclosing cycle
weak. The risky case is that of a resistive load with capacitive of one system.
compensation shunt, which authorizes high transit while ZTcycle = 25Q
remaining within the contractual voltage limits: the
corresponding phase of the parallel system sees its single-phase
loop activated. The use of blinders is effective but does not allow a C Arc Resistance
correct detection of the single-phase faults with a resistance of The Van Warrington formula or the empirical formula:
about 10 ohms.
The tests carried out with a distance protection confirm these RRarc 3*L
3L
results. Icc
with Rarc : arc resistance (ohms), L : arc length (m), Icc:
short-circuit courant (kA), gives a maximum resistance value
of some ohms.
I. INTRODUCTION
D Earth Resistances
To increase the load capacity of VHV lines, cables with low The network maps allowed to determine the maximum earth
dilation coefficient were developed: for example, a beam of resistance to be detected by the distance protection (PX) and to
two 85 1mm2 aluminium alloy cables whose maximum deduct the percentage of detected defects for a given value of
permanently acceptable intensity in summer is 2290A can be setting, as shown in Table I.
replaced by a beam of two 842mm2 cables with low dilation So it is attempted to detect resistant faults up to 30 ohms.
coefficient which maximum permanently acceptable intensity
in summer is 3400A (operated at 100C) and 5280A (operated
at 200C). TABLE I
PERCENTAGE OF FAULTS DETECTED BY PX VERSUS THE SETTING
The load currents and especially the transfer currents during
Rated voltage (kV) 225 400
the single-phase reclosing cycles become thus more important % of faults seen by a PX set to detect a fault r6sistance of 64 63
than the short-circuit current in some cases of fault. The scope 10 ohms.
of this study is to ensure the operation of distance protections % of faults seen by a PX set to detect a fault r6sistance of 87 92
in this situation: the setting rules and the principles of 20 ohms.
% of faults seen by a PX set to detect a fault r6sistance of 93 97
protections from the manufacturer's catalogue are studied to 30 ohms.
try to determine a solution.

1-4244-0497-5/06/$20.00 2006 IEEE 1 824

 E Classical Distance Protection C Load Effect on Reactive Reach of the Distance
Fig. 1 show the impossibility of setting by juxtaposition of Protections
pickup, power swing and load [1]. The slope of the zone 1 reactance reach is a well-known
phenomena, due to the pre-fault load. A simulation is carried
III. DIFFICULTIES TO BE SOLVED out for a load of 9000A on a line with positive sequence
impedance of 15 ohms and zero sequence impedance of 45
A Switch Onto Fault (SOTF) ohms. Fig. 2 shows the effect of a single-phase fault on the
A single-phase fault at the far end of the line should be exporting end. Fig. 3 shows the effect of a single-phase fault
detected by current criteria: on the importing end.
3V min
Iccmono min = A traditional solution is a protection with load subtraction,
2.Zd +ZO but this type of measurement is sensitive to the sharp variations
with Vmin = minimum phase ground voltage, Zd = positive of load, for example in the event of three-phase cycle on the
sequence impedance, ZO = zero sequence impedance. other system
When the load link is established, the PX sees the switchgear A simulation with a protection measuring
close criterion and the load current IT. It should not trip. Thus (VA-VB)/(IA-IB) for the phase loops and VA/(IA+kO.IR) for
the double setting condition should be verified: the phase-earth loops, is also carried out for a 2-phase-earth
Iccmonomin > IsettingSOTF > IT fault BCN at the other end of the line.
If Vmin = 360kVf\13, Zd = 15 ohms and ZO = 45 ohms, the
single phase short-circuit current is 8315A. This condition is
not verified with a transfer load current of 9000A.
* The SOTF function shall be automatically switched off
as soon as the live line criterion is present.
B Pernanent Unbalanced Currents
The phases not being transposed, the load distribution between
the phases of the two system is not equal, creating permanent
unbalanced currents in each system.
According to the tower geometry and the phase positions,
the unbalance residual current can reach about 600A.

The following setting rules shall be verified:

* The Earth commutation threshold (310 threshold for
neutral current pickup [2]) of distance protections shall be
higher than the residual unbalance current.
* The Earth current threshold of Earth sensitive protections
shall be higher than the residual unbalance current. Fig. 2. Slope of the reactive reach ZIAN at the exporting end. For a 20 ohms
fault at the other end of the line, the measured reactance decreases by 50%
70 - compared to the desired reactance value.
X (Q4OOkV)
16 /
r, -
I6
t Ig 30 ohm faults
are apart from
30 -l the pickup zone
1

.10- R (Q400kV)
l 7l \ /

-5s -30 16 30 5s 70

-30
Ohm R (Q400kV)
Fig. 1. R/X Characteristic of a classical distance protection: the respect of
the load zone approximately reduces the detectable fault resistance to 10 Fig. 3. Slope of the reactive reach ZIAN at the importing end, for a nearby
ohms. fault. The measured reactance increases. The fault point quits the zone 1 for
a fault resistance of 16Q.

1825
 _[| ~ 20-
Fig. 4 shows the effect of a 2-phase-earth fault on the
exporting end: the phase-earth loops are activated when the L b 2 * Zb r+Z5rb Zbc - Zb C r_ Zcbr+ Zb CFIB
fault resistance is greater than a few ohms. Zbc - Zcb-Zbc+Zbrcr Zcc -2 * Zccr+ Zcrcr IC
The selection logic gives priority to BC fault compared to
BN fault (this logic is essential because loop BN sees the
defect in zone 1 whereas loop BC to see it in zone 2). F Zab-Zab ZLbr _Zbbr Zb crZbc FIL4]
Zacr-Zac ZYrC rZcbr ZcCrZccr .!ItBl
D Single Phase Reclosing Cycle on a Parallel System
For the very high voltage lines, on the occurrence of a phase-
earth fault, single-phase auto-reclose schemes trip and reclose
only the corresponding pole of the circuit breaker [1]. The time Fig. 5 highlights the few effect of permanent unbalancement,
between tripping and reclosing is called "reclosing cycle". but the impact of term KO.IR on the phases non-concerned by
The load transfer of the phase in cycle validate the phase- the transfer is important. The behavior of candidate protections
earth loop if the load equivalent impedance is smaller than the must be checked, because only a logic seems to be able to
resistive phase-earth reach divided by l+KO (with KO = earth avoid a spurious trip.
coefficient); the residual current threshold being also crossed,
the protection trips il the fault is seen forward. According to
the direction of the transfer, one or the other of the ends will be
affected. Calculations are carried out with constant total IV. SOLUTIONS OFF THE SHELF
current.
A Principle
As the permanent unbalancement of the line interferes, a
A load zone into which the protection trip is blocked is
complete calculation is carried out:
defined: this zone can be carried out in the impedance plan
Equation of the whole 6 phases: R/X (see fig. 6) [2] or in the power plan P/Q (see fig. 7) [3]. It
[Vi] [zij].[ij] is called Blinder.
B Limits and Advantages of the R/ Solution
... shared as follow: [] = [Zi Zif Ii] The load transfer during single-phase reclosing cycle on one
Lvi zil j Zif
i j2 lI' system of a 2-system line is studied.
The substation short-circuit power is an influent parameter:
ItA 0 The first simulation is carried out with very high short-
circuit power substations, i.e. the positive, negative and zero
with [Ii]= IB and [Ij']= ItB-IB
sequence impedances are low in regard with the line
_IC -ItC IC-
- impedances. The source power tends to fix the voltages at the
ends of the lines, limiting the impact on the system not in cycle
for a single-phase cycle on phase A'. as on the system in cycle.
The voltage drops of phases B and B' and phases C and C'
are equalized (but not of phases A and A', because A' is open):

Zl BN X ( 00k Plan R/X (Ohm)

X (Q4OOkV) 6 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
16-
g ~~~~~~50
14 40
12 _3 R (Q400kv)
10 Positions - 26 * IA+kU.
8-
without -10 VB/(IB+KU.
cycle VC/(IC+KU
6-

4.- -10 (VB-VC)/(I

2-

0 -30
0 2 4 6 8
6-0
Ohm R (Q4ookV)
-56
Fig. 4. Slope of the reactive reach Z1BN at the exporting end.
Measurement by phase-earth loop during 2-phase-earth fault. Fig. 5. Measuring during a single-phase cycle on the 2nd system.

1826
 The second simulation is carried out with a very high short- P/Q blinders are well adapted to the load transfer, as shown
circuit power substation and a weak one. The load transfer is in Fig. 10.
important on the second system, but the points remain apart
from the trip zones because the load is limited to a total of V. CHOICE
3200A by the weak source.
The third simulation is carried out with a resistive load and a Distance protections with R/X blinders presents a risk of trip
capacitive compensation of the voltage drop, as shown in in the event of single-phase reclosing cycle, if the directional
Fig. 8 line is too tilted
Distance protections with P/Q blinders do not operate if the
C Limits andAdvantages ofthe P/Q Solution load is weak, between very high short-circuit power
A three-phase short-circuit nearby brings to 0 the 3 voltages substations.
thus the powers: a logic should release the blinder on minimum Because of the structure of our VHV network, the study is
impedance or maximum current criteria: the documents of the continued on distance protections with only R/X blinders. The
manufacturers are dumb on this subject. many evoked constraints result in carrying out tests.
Some single-phase faults do not make the powers leave their
blinder zone (see Fig. 9).

6 loop measured impedances (R/X ohms)

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0
20
15
Z21 AB
_ ~~~~~Ak
~~~~~~~~10
-
21 BC
Z 21 CA
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~........ . . . .
-s
~Z21IAN
Z21 BN
Z21 CN
-0
-15
-20

Fig. 8. Reclosing cycle phase C: Whereas the fault is in reverse

direction, measurement is in forward zone because of the capacitive
comnensation: the loon CN is seen in zone 1.

Single-phase power during a single-phase 20 ohms fault

chatdisficiI
Fig. 6. Blinder in the impedance plan R/X
1400
6
1200- > Blinder

S
Q (Reac tve er
. Soo - + 2highpower
FS >Maximur Shpping (sndinJg' MVA 2 G00 - .I weak source
RS axr-jri Receivirtg VvA
Shipping Povwer
I

Receiving Power Shipping Vars

Shipping Vars
FQPI
ROP24 RQ
FQP2
200
P (Real Power)
S................................

RG2
FO 1 FQN2 0 1000 2000 3000
.............: ncrasing Load ><

Receiving Power MW
Rewceving Vam, Shipping Power
Receiving Vars
Fig. 7. Blinder in the power plan P/Q Fig. 9. P/Q Blinder: single-phase fault at the far end of the line. With 2 very
high power sources, it is not possible to place the blinder because of the
cuffent injection.

1827
 VI. TESTS OF A PROTECTION WITH RIX BLINDER
The protection is set as shown on Fig. 11, in order to detect
phase-phase fault resistance up to 15 ohms and phase-earth
fault resistance up to 30 ohms; the blinders are set at 23 ohms
and 30.
The slope of the reactive reach is strong. It becomes difficult
to ensure a trip in zone 1 by at least one end of the line.
The blinder reduce the single-phase resistive reach.
A Load Switch On
Currents and voltages are applied simultaneously according
to table II.
SOTF function is correctly blocked as the live line criterion
is present.
The test is carried out again with null voltages: instantaneous
trip is obtained.
Operation is in conformity.
Single-phase load transfer:
The load transfer is determined for a double system line with
a very high short-circuit power substation and a weak one. It is
the case where the phase current transfer is done in near total
on the 2nd system during the single-phase reclosing cycle. The
other phases are practically not affected.
Currents and voltages are applied according to table IV.
The blinder does not correctly block the single-phase loops
because of the residual current (reaching 4500A). Operation is
not in conformity.
C Short-Circuits and Single-Phase Reclosing Cycles
The short-circuit and the load transfer are determined for a
double system line with two very high short-circuit power
substation.
Currents and voltages are applied according to table V.

B Load Transfer
The load transfer is determined for a double system line.
3-phase load transfer:
The load transfer is determined for a double system line with
a very high short-circuit power substation and a weak one. It is
the case where the phase current transfer is done in near total
on the 2nd system during the three-phase reclosing cycle. 2
5

Currents and voltages are applied according to table III.

The blinder correctly blocks the single-phase loops.
Operation is in conformity.
L5 L P5 A L T z SF

Powers 260 I5 2g\

'3 2
TAB III}0 2 0 9 V0 7

Blinder PX TH:E
PHSX LOA TRNFROFWNE AXMMLA
MW

4000
Fi.I Prtcinstngsin teRX plnfra 50 od ihaladtase
0 cofiin eqa to 2.[1
1000 L/
I I \ 4 :1TABE1II
PX: THE-HS LOA TRNFE FWITRAIUMLA
PEMNNL ALOE WIT LOA TRNFE OEFCIN

I
-1000

Sequence HV values LV values HV values LV values

|_________ |end I end I end 2 end 2
Fig. 10. PIQ Blinder: The load transfer is correctly controlled during single-
Load 400kV 57.7V 400kV 57.7V
phase and 3-phase reclosing cycles. 4500A 1.125A -160 4500A 1.125A
l __l__l__l____ 1550

TABLE II
3-phaseload 400kV 57.7V 400kV 57.7V
transfer 9000A 2.25A -160 9000A 2.25A +1550
PX WINTER MAXIMUM LOAD ALLOWED DURING 10 MINUTES Results No trip No trip
Test HV values LV values end 1 HV values LV values end 2
sequence end 1 end 2 Load 400kV 57.7V 400kV 57.7V
Load 4uukV | 57.7V 400kVe 57.7V 4500A 1.125A -160 4500A 1.125A
5900A 1.475A -160 5900A 1.475A +1550
Results No trip No trip Results No trip No trip

1828
 The blinder does not correctly block the single-phase loops The 2nd system is not affected because the sources impose
because of the load transfer on the other phases. Operation is almost the voltages.
not in conformity.
Operation is in conformity. VII. CONCLUSIONS
The electrotechnical study shows that:
TABLE IV
* the solution by the powers P and Q is not usable on
PX: SINGLE-PHASE LoAD TRANSFER OF WINTER MAXIMUM LOAD
the lines between 2 substations of very strong power,
PERMANENTLY ALLOWED WITH LOAD TRANSFER COEFFICIENT 2
Sequence HV values LV values end 1 HV values LV values end 2
because it is failing when the load is weak.
end I end 2 * the combination of the high loads and the fault
Load 400kV 57.7V 400kV 57.7V resistance obliges to have a reactive reach slope in
4500A 1.125A -160 4500A 1.125A +1550 zone 1 of about 45. The corollary is that the single-
1 -phase 400kV 57.7V 400kV 57.7V phase fault of a resistance of about 10 ohms in the
load phA 2.25A -160 phA 2.25A +1550
transfer 9000A 9000A middle of the line are detected in zone 1 by none of
phB 1.125A -1360 phB 1.125A +350 the ends. In the same way, the nearby single-phase
4500A 4500A faults of a resistance of about 20 ohms are not
phC 1.125V +1040 phC 1.125A -85 detected in zone 1. Lastly, protections of a highly
4500A 4500A
Results Trip phA Trip phA importing substation but of low short-circuit power
Forward Reverse almost do not detect the single-phase faults.
Load 400kV 57.7V 400kV 57.7V * The load transfers during single-phase cycles are made
4500A 1.125A -160 4500A 1.125A +1550 on the parallel system if the short-circuit power of one
Results No trip No trip
substation is weak. The risky case is that of a resistive load
with capacitive compensation shunt, which authorizes high
transit while remaining within the contractual voltage
TABLE V limits: the corresponding phase of the parallel system
PX: SINGLE-PHASE FAULT AND SINGLE-PHASE LOAD TRANSFER OF WINTER sees its single-phase loop activated; the 2 systems will
MAXIMUM LOAD PERMANENTLY ALLOWED WITH LOAD TRANSFER thus see a single-phase trip on the same phase. The
COEFFICIENT 2 use of blinders is effective but does not allow
Sequence HV values LV values end 1 HV values LV values end 2 detection of the single-phase faults of a resistance of
end I end 2
Load 400kV 57.7V 400kV 57.7V more than ten ohms.
4500A 1.125A -160 4500A 1.125A +1550 * The load transfers during single-phase cycles, if the 2
1 -phase fault phA phA 54.5V -80 phA phA 52.3V -480 substations are of great short-circuit power, do not
218kV 210kV affect the parallel system but the other currents of
phB phB 57.8V -1260 phB phB 64.7V -1480
23lkV 259kV each substations.
phC phC 56.1V +1150 phC phC 50.7V +990 The tests carried out with the distance protection confirm
224kV 203kV these results.
phA phA 1.97A -210 phA phA 1.22A -930
7879A 4902A Being given that the spurious operations must be excluded,
phB phB 1.51A -1310 phB phB 1.51A +490 the distance protection could be set only for low resistance
6030A 6030A faults and will not be able to detect an important proportion of
phC phC 1.45A +1050 phC phC 1.45A -750 faults. A plan of protection with 2 line differential current
5793A 5793A
Results Trip phase A Trip phase A protections (from different manufacturers and with
transmission channels without common mode) seems the only
1-phase load phA phA 55.2V -50 phA phA 55.7V -560
transfer 221kV 23lkV solution.
phB phB 54V -1290 phB phB 53.7V -1700
216kV 219kV
phC phC 53.2V +1110 phC phC 52.5V +690
213kV 167kV REFERENCES
phA phA OA phA phA OA
OA OA [1] P. Rush, "Network Protection & Automation Guide," Alstom T&D
phB phB 1.12A -1310 phB phB 1.12A +490 Energy Automation & Information, pp. 171 -191, July 2002.
4471A 4471A [2] "Siprotec Distance protection 7SA522," Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
phC phC 1.12A +760 phC phC 1.12A -1040 Book-No. C53000-G]176-C]55-2, chapter 6 pp.1-68, June 2002.
4471A 4471A [3] "Idea relays," Edison Bulletin 01024, July 2001.
Results No trip No trip
Reclosed 400kV 57.7V 400kV 57.7V
4500A 1.125A -160 4500A 1.125A +1550
Results No trip No trip

1829