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High Impedance Diff Protection

High-impedance differential protection is a scheme used primarily for busbar and restricted earth fault protection, characterized by a high impedance relay circuit that stabilizes during external faults and CT saturation. It operates by comparing the sum of secondary currents from current transformers (CTs) and only trips when there is a significant difference, known as spill current, indicating an internal fault. Key components include current transformers, a stabilizing resistor, and a non-linear resistor, with advantages such as stability and fast operation, but requiring matched CTs and careful consideration of CT saturation.

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6 views7 pages

High Impedance Diff Protection

High-impedance differential protection is a scheme used primarily for busbar and restricted earth fault protection, characterized by a high impedance relay circuit that stabilizes during external faults and CT saturation. It operates by comparing the sum of secondary currents from current transformers (CTs) and only trips when there is a significant difference, known as spill current, indicating an internal fault. Key components include current transformers, a stabilizing resistor, and a non-linear resistor, with advantages such as stability and fast operation, but requiring matched CTs and careful consideration of CT saturation.

Uploaded by

martin solar
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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High-Impedance Differential Protection

High-impedance differential protection is a protection scheme where the relay circuit


has a deliberately high impedance, making the scheme stable during external faults
and CT saturation.

It is mainly used for busbar protection and restricted earth fault (REF) protection.

1. Basic Principle

All CT secondary currents from the protected zone are connected in parallel and feed a
high-impedance relay circuit.

Under normal conditions or external faults:

I1+I2+I3+...=0I_1 + I_2 + I_3 + ... = 0I1+I2+I3+...=0

No spill current flows through the relay.

So:

Irelay≈0I_{relay} \approx 0Irelay≈0

→ No trip

Internal Fault Condition

When a fault occurs inside the protected zone:

Iincoming≠IoutgoingI_{incoming} \neq I_{outgoing}Iincoming =Ioutgoing

The difference is called spill current.

Ispill=I1+I2+I3I_{spill} = I_1 + I_2 + I_3Ispill=I1+I2+I3

This spill current flows through the relay.

V=Ispill×RstabilityV = I_{spill} \times R_{stability}V=Ispill×Rstability

If voltage exceeds relay pickup:

→ Relay operates and trips breakers

2. Why High Impedance Is Used


During external faults, CTs may saturate unevenly, producing false differential current.

High impedance ensures:

• Most of the spill current circulates between CTs

• Only a small current flows through the relay

Thus preventing false tripping.

3. Main Components of High-Impedance Scheme

1. Current Transformers (CTs)

Requirements:

• Same ratio

• Same magnetization characteristics

• Low leakage reactance

2. Stabilizing Resistor

Connected in series with the relay.

Purpose:

• Limits relay current

• Improves stability during CT saturation

Typical value:

Rstab=VkIrelayR_{stab} = \frac{V_k}{I_{relay}}Rstab=IrelayVk

Where:

• VkV_kVk = CT knee-point voltage

3. Non-Linear Resistor (Metrosil)

Protects the relay from high transient voltages.

Metrosil clamps the voltage.


4. High-Impedance Relay

Example: instantaneous overcurrent relay measuring spill voltage.

4. Stability Condition

For external faults, stability requires:

Vstability=If(RCT+Rlead)V_{stability} = I_f (R_{CT} + R_{lead})Vstability=If(RCT+Rlead)

Where:

• IfI_fIf = maximum external fault current

• RCTR_{CT}RCT = CT secondary resistance

• RleadR_{lead}Rlead = wiring resistance

Relay setting must satisfy:

Vsetting>VstabilityV_{setting} > V_{stability}Vsetting>Vstability

5. Knee-Point Voltage Requirement

CT knee-point voltage must satisfy:

Vk≥2×If(RCT+Rlead)V_k \ge 2 \times I_f (R_{CT} + R_{lead})Vk≥2×If(RCT+Rlead)

This prevents CT saturation during external faults.

6. Applications

Busbar Protection

Most common application.

Faults cleared instantaneously.

Restricted Earth Fault (REF)

Used in transformers to detect internal earth faults.


Sensitive detection of low current faults.

Generator Stator Protection

Detects internal ground faults.

7. Advantages

✔ Very stable during external faults


✔ Simple scheme
✔ Very fast operation
✔ Highly sensitive

8. Disadvantages

✖ Requires matched CTs


✖ CT saturation must be carefully considered
✖ Difficult to apply over long distances

9. High vs Low Impedance Differential

Feature High Impedance Low Impedance

Relay Type Simple overcurrent Numerical differential relay

CT Matching Very strict Less strict

Stability Very high High

Applications Busbar, REF Transformer, line

10. Example (Busbar Protection)

Assume:

Maximum external fault current:


If=20kAI_f = 20kAIf=20kA

CT ratio:

2000/12000/12000/1

Secondary current:

Is=10AI_s = 10AIs=10A

Total loop resistance:

R=2ΩR = 2\OmegaR=2Ω

Stability voltage:

V=Is×RV = I_s \times RV=Is×R V=10×2=20VV = 10 \times 2 = 20VV=10×2=20V

Relay setting must be greater than 20 V.

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