High Low Impedance Busbar Protection

Fundamentals of
Bus Bar Protection

GE Multilin
Outline
• Bus arrangements
• Bus components
• Bus protection techniques
• CT Saturation
• Application Considerations:
 High impedance bus differential relaying
 Low impedance bus differential relaying
 Special topics
2
GE Consumer & Industrial
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Single bus - single breaker
ZONE 1
1 2 3 ---- n-1 n
• Distribution and lower transmission voltage levels

• No operating flexibility
• Fault on the bus trips all circuit breakers
3
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Multiple bus sections - single breaker with
bus tie
ZONE 2
ZONE 1
• Distribution and lower transmission voltage levels

• Limited operating flexibility
4
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Double bus - single breaker with bus tie
ZONE 1
ZONE 2
• Transmission and distribution voltage levels

• Breaker maintenance without circuit removal
• Fault on a bus disconnects only the circuits being connected
to that bus
5
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Main and transfer buses
MAIN BUS
ZONE 1
TRANFER BUS
• Increased operating flexibility

• A bus fault requires tripping all breakers
• Transfer bus for breaker maintenance
6
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Double bus – single breaker w/ transfer bus
ZONE 1
ZONE 2
• Very high operating flexibility

• Transfer bus for breaker maintenance
7
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Double bus - double breaker
ZONE 1
ZONE 2
• High operating flexibility

• Line protection covers bus section between two CTs
• Fault on a bus does not disturb the power to circuits
8
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Breaker-and-a-half bus
ZONE 1
ZONE 2
• Used on higher voltage levels

• More operating flexibility
• Requires more breakers
• Middle bus sections covered by line or other equipment
protection 9
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Ring bus L1 L2
TB1
B1 B2
TB1
L3 L4
• Higher voltage levels

• High operating flexibility with minimum breakers
• Separate bus protection not required at line positions
10
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Bus components breakers
BUS 1
BUS 2
ISO 1 ISO 2
Low Voltage circuit breakers
CB 1
ISO 3
BYPASS
11
Multilin
SF6, EHV & HV - Synchropuff 21-Nov-18
Disconnect switches & auxiliary contacts
BUS 1
BUS 1
BUS 2
+
ISOLATOR 1
7B 7A
ISO 1 ISO 2 ISOLATOR 1 OPEN

F1a Contact Input F1a On
F1c Contact Input F1c On
F1b
BUS 1
ISOLATOR 1
+
CB 1
7B 7A
ISO 3
BYPASS
ISOLATOR 1 CLOSED
F1a Contact Input F1a On
F1c Contact Input F1c On
F1b
- 12
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Current Transformers
BUS 1
BUS 2
ISO 1 ISO 2
Gas (SF6) insulated current

transformer
Oil insulated current transformer

(35kV up to 800kV)
CB 1
ISO 3
BYPASS
Bushing type (medium 13

voltage switchgear) GE Consumer & Industrial
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Protection Requirements
High bus fault currents due to large number of circuits

connected:
• CT saturation often becomes a problem as CTs may not be sufficiently
rated for worst fault condition case
• large dynamic forces associated with bus faults require fast clearing
times in order to reduce equipment damage
False trip by bus protection may create serious problems:
• service interruption to a large number of circuits (distribution and sub-
transmission voltage levels)
• system-wide stability problems (transmission voltage levels)
With both dependability and security important, preference is
always given to security
14
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Bus Protection Techniques
• Interlocking schemes
• Overcurrent (“unrestrained” or “unbiased”)
differential
• Overcurrent percent (“restrained” or “biased”)
differential
• Linear couplers
• High-impedance bus differential schemes
• Low-impedance bus differential schemes
15
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Interlocking Schemes
• Blocking scheme typically
used
• Short coordination time
required
50
• Care must be taken with
BLOCK
possible saturation of feeder
CTs
50 50 50 50 50
• Blocking signal could be sent
over communications ports
(peer-to-peer)
• This technique is limited to
simple one-incomer
distribution buses
16
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Overcurrent (unrestrained) Differential
• Differential signal formed by
summation of all currents feeding
the bus
• CT ratio matching may be
required
51 • On external faults, saturated CTs
yield spurious differential current
• Time delay used to cope with CT
saturation
• Instantaneous differential OC
function useful on integrated
microprocessor-based relays
17
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Linear Couplers
ZC = 2  – 20  - typical coil impedance
(5V per 1000Amps => 0.005 @ 60Hz )
59
0V
40 V 10 V 10 V 0V 20 V
External
Fault
If = 8000 A
18
Multilin
2000 A 2000 A 0A 4000 A 21-Nov-18
Linear Couplers
Esec= Iprim*Xm - secondary voltage on relay terminals
IR= Iprim*Xm /(ZR+ZC) – minimum operating current
where,
Iprim – primary current in each circuit
Xm – liner coupler mutual reactance (5V per 1000Amps => 0.005 @ 60Hz )
ZR – relay tap impedance
ZC – sum of all linear coupler self impedances
If = 8000 A Internal Bus

Fault
40 V 59
0V 10 V 10 V 0V 20 V
19
Multilin
21-Nov-18
0A 2000 A 2000 A 0A 4000 A
Linear Couplers
• Fast, secure and proven

• Require dedicated air gap CTs, which may not be used for
any other protection
• Cannot be easily applied to reconfigurable buses
• The scheme uses a simple voltage detector – it does not
provide benefits of a microprocessor-based relay (e.g.
oscillography, breaker failure protection, other functions)
20
Multilin
21-Nov-18
High Impedance Differential
• Operating signal created by
connecting all CT secondaries in
parallel
o CTs must all have the same ratio
o Must have dedicated CTs
• Overvoltage element operates on
voltage developed across resistor
59 connected in secondary circuit
o Requires varistors or AC shorting
relays to limit energy during faults
• Accuracy dependent on secondary
circuit resistance
o Usually requires larger CT cables to
reduce errors  higher cost
Cannot easily be applied to reconfigurable buses and

offers no advanced functionality 21
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Percent Differential
• Percent characteristic used

to cope with CT saturation
and other errors
• Restraining signal can be
87
51
formed in a number of
ways
• No dedicated CTs needed
• Used for protection of re-
configurable buses
possible
I DIF  I1  I 2  ...  I n
I RES  I1  I 2  ...  I n I RES  max  I1 , I 2 , ..., I n  22
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Low Impedance Percent Differential
• Individual currents sampled by protection and summated digitally
o CT ratio matching done internally (no auxiliary CTs)
o Dedicated CTs not necessary
• Additional algorithms improve security of percent differential
characteristic during CT saturation
• Dynamic bus replica allows application to reconfigurable buses
o Done digitally with logic to add/remove current inputs from differential
computation
o Switching of CT secondary circuits not required
• Low secondary burdens
• Additional functionality available
o Digital oscillography and monitoring of each circuit connected to bus zone
o Time-stamped event recording
o Breaker failure protection
23
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Digital Differential Algorithm Goals
• Improve the main differential algorithm operation
o Better filtering
o Faster response
o Better restraint techniques
o Switching transient blocking
• Provide dynamic bus replica for reconfigurable bus bars
• Dependably detect CT saturation in a fast and reliable manner,
especially for external faults
• Implement additional security to the main differential algorithm to
prevent incorrect operation
o External faults with CT saturation
o CT secondary circuit trouble (e.g. short circuits)
24
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Low Impedance Differential (Distributed)
• Data Acquisition Units (DAUs)
installed in bays
52 52 52
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
processes all data from DAUs
DAU DAU DAU
• Communications between DAUs
and CPU over fiber using
proprietary protocol
• Sampling synchronisation
between DAUs is required
CU • Perceived less reliable (more
hardware needed)
copper
fiber
• Difficult to apply in retrofit
applications
25
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Low Impedance Differential (Centralized)
• All currents applied to a single

52 52 52 central processor
• No communications, external
sampling synchronisation
necessary
• Perceived more reliable (less
hardware needed)
• Well suited to both new and
CU
retrofit applications.
copper
26
Multilin
21-Nov-18
CT Saturation
27
Multilin
21-Nov-18
CT Saturation Concepts
• CT saturation depends on a number of factors

o Physical CT characteristics (size, rating, winding resistance,
saturation voltage)
o Connected CT secondary burden (wires + relays)
o Primary current magnitude, DC offset (system X/R)
o Residual flux in CT core
• Actual CT secondary currents may not behave in the same manner as
the ratio (scaled primary) current during faults
• End result is spurious differential current appearing in the summation of
the secondary currents which may cause differential elements to
operate if additional security is not applied
28
Multilin
21-Nov-18
CT Saturation
No DC Offset
• Waveform remains fairly
symmetrical
Ratio Current CT Current
With DC Offset
• Waveform starts off being
asymmetrical, then
symmetrical in steady
Ratio Current CT Current
state
29
Multilin
21-Nov-18
External Fault & Ideal CTs
differential
t1
t0 restraining
• Fault starts at t0
• Steady-state fault conditions occur at t1
Ideal CTs have no saturation or mismatch errors thus
produce no differential current 30
Multilin
21-Nov-18
External Fault & Actual CTs
differential
t1
t0 restraining
• Fault starts at t0
• Steady-state fault conditions occur at t1
Actual CTs do introduce errors, producing some differential
current (without CT saturation) 31
Multilin
21-Nov-18
External Fault with CT Saturation
t2
differential
t1
t0 restraining
• Fault starts at t0, CT begins to saturate at t1
• CT fully saturated at t2
CT saturation causes increasing differential current that
may enter the differential element operate region. 32
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Some Methods of Securing Bus Differential
• Block the bus differential for a period of time (intentional delay)

o Increases security as bus zone will not trip when CT saturation is present
o Prevents high-speed clearance for internal faults with CT saturation or
evolving faults
• Change settings of the percent differential characteristic (usually Slope 2)
o Improves security of differential element by increasing the amount of
spurious differential current needed to incorrectly trip
o Difficult to explicitly develop settings (Is 60% slope enough? Should it be
75%?)
• Apply directional (phase comparison) supervision
o Improves security by requiring all currents flow into the bus zone before
asserting the differential element
o Easy to implement and test
o Stable even under severe CT saturation during external faults
33
Multilin
21-Nov-18
High-Impedance
Bus Differential
Considerations
34
Multilin
21-Nov-18
High Impedance Voltage-operated Relay
External Fault
• 59 element set above max possible voltage developed across
relay during external fault causing worst case CT saturation
• For internal faults, extremely high voltages (well above 59
element pickup) will develop across relay
35
Multilin
21-Nov-18
High Impedance Voltage Operated Relay
Ratio matching with Multi-ratio CTs
• Application of high impedance differential relays with CTs of
different ratios but ratio matching taps is possible, but could
lead to voltage magnification.
• Voltage developed across full winding of tapped CT does not
exceed CT rating, terminal blocks, etc.
36
Multilin
21-Nov-18
High Impedance Voltage Operated Relay
Ratio matching with Multi-ratio CTs
• Use of auxiliary CTs to obtain correct ratio matching is also
possible, but these CTs must be able to deliver enough voltage
necessary to produce relay operation for internal faults.
37
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Electromechanical High Impedance Bus
Differential Relays
• Single phase relays
• High-speed
• High impedance voltage sensing
• High seismic IOC unit
38
Multilin
21-Nov-18
P -based High-Impedance Bus Differential
Protection Relays
Operating time: 20 – 30ms @ I > 1.5xPKP
39
Multilin
21-Nov-18
High Impedance Module for Digital
Relays
RST = 2000 - stabilizing resistor to limit the current

through the relay, and force it to the lower impedance CT
windings.
MOV – Metal Oxide Varistor to limit the voltage to
1900 Volts
86 – latching contact preventing the resistors from
overheating after the fault is detected
40
Multilin
21-Nov-18
High-Impedance Module
+
Overcurrent Relay
41
Multilin
21-Nov-18
High Impedance Bus Protection - Summary
• Fast, secure and proven
• Requires dedicated CTs, preferably with the same CT ratio
and using full tap
• Can be applied to small buses
• Depending on bus internal and external fault currents, high
impedance bus diff may not provide adequate settings for
both sensitivity and security
• Cannot be easily applied to reconfigurable buses
• Require voltage limiting varistor capable of absorbing
significant energy
• May require auxiliary CTs
• Do not provide full benefits of microprocessor-based relay
system (e.g. metering, monitoring, oscillography, etc.)
42
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Low-Impedance
Bus Differential
Considerations
43
Multilin
21-Nov-18
P-based Low-Impedance Relays
• No need for dedicated CTs
• Internal CT ratio mismatch compensation
• Advanced algorithms supplement percent differential
protection function making the relay very secure
• Dynamic bus replica (bus image) principle is used in
protection of reconfigurable bus bars, eliminating the need
for switching physically secondary current circuits
• Integrated Breaker Failure (BF) function can provide optimal
tripping strategy depending on the actual configuration of
a bus bar
44
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Small Bus Applications
2-8 Circuit Applications
• Up to 24 Current Inputs • Different CT Ratio Capability for
• 4 Zones Each Circuit
• Zone 1 = Phase A • Largest CT Primary is Base in
• Zone 2 = Phase B Relay
• Zone 3 = Phase C
• Zone 4 = Not used
45
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Medium to Large Bus Applications
9-12 Circuit Applications
• Relay 1 - 24 Current Inputs • Relay 2 - 24 Current Inputs
• 4 Zones • 4 Zones
• Zone 1 = Phase A (12 currents) • Zone 1 = Not used
• Zone 2 = Phase B (12 currents) • Zone 2 = Not used
• Zone 3 = Not used • Zone 3 = Phase C (12 currents)
• Zone 4 = Not used • Zone 4 = Not used
• Different CT Ratio Capability for Each Circuit
• Largest CT Primary is Base in Relay
CB 11 CB 12
46
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Large Bus Applications
87B phase A
87B phase B
87B phase C
Logic relay
(switch status,
optional BF)
47
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Large Bus Applications
For buses with up to 24 circuits
48
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Summing External Currents
Not Recommended for Low-Z 87B relays
• Relay becomes combination
CT-1
of restrained and unrestrained

CT-2
elements
•In order to parallel CTs:
I1 = Error
CT-3 • CT performance must be closely

matched
o Any errors will appear as
I2 = 0
CT-4
differential currents
• Associated feeders must be radial
I3 = 0
IDIFF = Error Maloperation if o No backfeeds possible

Error > PICKUP
IREST = Error
• Pickup setting must be raised to
accommodate any errors
49
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Definitions of Restraint Signals
iR  i1  i2  i3  ... in “sum of”
iR   i1  i2  i3  ...  in 
1
“scaled sum of”
n
iR  n i1  i2  i3  ...  in “geometrical average”
iR  Max  i1 , i2 , i3 ,..., in  “maximum of”
50
Multilin
21-Nov-18
“Sum Of” vs. “Max Of” Restraint Methods
“Sum Of” Approach “Max Of” Approach

• More restraint on external faults; • Less restraint on external faults;
less sensitive for internal faults more sensitive for internal faults
• “Scaled-Sum Of” approach takes • Breakpoint settings for the percent
into account number of connected differential characteristic easier to
circuits and may increase set
sensitivity • Better handles situation where one
• Breakpoint settings for the percent CT may saturate completely (99%
differential characteristic more slope settings possible)
difficult to set
51
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Bus Differential Adaptive Approach
Region 2
(high differential
currents)
differential
Region 1
(low differential
currents)
restraining
52
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Bus Differential Adaptive Logic Diagram
DIFL
AND
DIR
OR
OR
87B BIASED OP
SAT
AND
DIFH
53
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Phase Comparison Principle
• Internal Faults: All fault (“large”) currents are approximately in
phase.
• External Faults: One fault (“large”) current will be out of phase
Secondary Current of
Faulted Circuit
• No Voltages are required or needed (Severe CT Saturation)
54
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Phase Comparison Principle Continued…
External Fault Conditions Internal Fault Conditions
 Ip   Ip 
imag   imag  
 ID  I p  OPERATE  ID  I p 
    OPERATE
BLOCK BLOCK
 Ip   Ip 
ID - Ip real   ID - Ip real  
Ip  ID  I p   ID  I p 
   
Ip
BLOCK
BLOCK
OPERATE OPERATE
55
Multilin
21-Nov-18
CT Saturation
t2
differential
t1
t0 restraining
• Fault starts at t0, CT begins to saturate at t1
• CT fully saturated at t2
56
Multilin
21-Nov-18
CT Saturation Detector State Machine
NORMAL
SAT := 0
The differential
current below the saturation
first slope for condition
certain period of
time EXTERNAL
FAULT
SAT := 1
The differential-
The differential restraining trajectory
characteristic out of the differential
entered characteristic for
certain period of time
EXTERNAL
FAULT & CT
SATURATION
SAT := 1
57
Multilin
21-Nov-18
CT Saturation Detector Operating
Principles
• The 87B SAT flag WILL NOT be set during internal faults,
regardless of whether or not any of the CTs saturate.
• The 87B SAT flag WILL be set during external faults,
regardless of whether or not any of the CTs saturate.
• By design, the 87B SAT flag WILL force the relay to use
the additional 87B DIR phase comparison for Region 2
The Saturation Detector WILL NOT Block the Operation of

the Differential Element – it will only Force 2-out-of-2
Operation
58
Multilin
21-Nov-18
CT Saturation Detector - Examples
• The oscillography records on the next two slides were captured from a
B30 relay under test on a real-time digital power system simulator
• First slide shows an external fault with deep CT saturation (~1.5 msec of
good CT performance)
o SAT saturation detector flag asserts prior to BIASED PKP bus
differential pickup
o DIR directional flag does not assert (one current flows out of zone),
so even though bus differential picks up, no trip results
• Second slide shows an internal fault with mild CT saturation
o BIASED PKP and BIASED OP both assert before DIR asserts
o CT saturation does not block bus differential
• More examples available (COMTRADE files) upon request
59
Multilin
21-Nov-18
CT Saturation Example – External Fault
200
150
100 ~1 ms
50
current, A
0
-50
-100
-150
-200
0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1 0.11 0.12
time, sec
The bus differential The CT saturation flag

protection element is set safely before the
picks up due to heavy pickup flag
CT saturation
Despite heavy CT
saturation the
external fault current
The element is seen in the
The
does not opposite direction
directional flag
maloperate 60
is not set
Multilin
21-Nov-18
CT Saturation – Internal Fault Example
The bus differential

protection element
picks up
The saturation
flag is not set - no
directional
decision required
All the fault currents

are seen in one
direction
The
The element directional
operates in flag is set
10ms 61
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Applying Low-Impedance Differential
Relays for Busbar Protection
Basic Topics
• Configure physical CT Inputs
• Configure Bus Zone and Dynamic Bus Replica
• Calculating Bus Differential Element settings
Advanced Topics
• Isolator switch monitoring for reconfigurable buses
• Differential Zone CT Trouble
• Integrated Breaker Failure protection
62
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Configuring CT Inputs
• For each connected CT circuit enter Primary rating and
select Secondary rating.
• Each 3-phase bank of CT inputs must be assigned to a
Signal Source that is used to define the Bus Zone and
Dynamic Bus Replica
Some relays define 1 p.u. as the maximum

primary current of all of the CTs connected in the
given Bus Zone
63
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Per-Unit Current Definition - Example
Current Primary Secondary Zone
Channel
CT-1 F1 3200 A 1A 1
CT-2 F2 2400 A 5A 1
CT-3 F3 1200 A 1A 1
CT-4 F4 3200 A 1A 2
CT-5 F5 1200 A 5A 2
CT-6 F6 5000 A 5A 2
• For Zone 1, 1 p.u. = 3200 AP

• For Zone 2, 1 p.u. = 5000 AP
64
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Configuration of Bus Zone
• Dynamic Bus Replica associates a status signal with each
current in the Bus Differential Zone
• Status signal can be any logic operand
o Status signals can be developed in programmable logic
to provide additional checks or security as required
o Status signal can be set to ‘ON’ if current is always in the
bus zone or ‘OFF’ if current is never in the bus zone
• CT connections/polarities for a particular bus zone must be
properly configured in the relay, via either hardwire or
software
65
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Configuring the Bus Differential Zone
Bus Zone settings defines the boundaries of the Differential
Protection and CT Trouble Monitoring.
1. Configure the physical CT Inputs

o CT Primary and Secondary values
o Both 5 A and 1 A inputs are supported by the UR hardware
o Ratio compensation done automatically for CT ratio differences up to 32:1
2. Configure AC Signal Sources
3. Configure Bus Zone with Dynamic Bus Replica
66
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Dual Percent Differential Characteristic
High Set
(Unrestrained)
High Slope
Low Slope
High
Breakpoint
Min Pickup Low

Breakpoint 67
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Calculating Bus Differential Settings
• The following Bus Zone Differential element parameters need to be set:
o Differential Pickup
o Restraint Low Slope
o Restraint Low Break Point
o Restraint High Breakpoint
o Restraint High Slope
o Differential High Set (if needed)
• All settings entered in per unit (maximum CT primary in the zone)
• Slope settings entered in percent
• Low Slope, High Slope and High Breakpoint settings are used by the CT
Saturation Detector and define the Region 1 Area (2-out-of-2 operation
with Directional)
68
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Calculating Bus Differential Settings –
Minimum Pickup
• Defines the minimum differential current required for

operation of the Bus Zone Differential element
• Must be set above maximum leakage current not zoned off
in the bus differential zone
• May also be set above maximum load conditions for added
security in case of CT trouble, but better alternatives exist
69
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Low Slope
• Defines the percent bias for the restraint currents from

IREST=0 to IREST=Low Breakpoint
• Setting determines the sensitivity of the differential element
for low-current internal faults
• Must be set above maximum error introduced by the CTs in
their normal linear operating mode
• Range: 15% to 100% in 1%. increments
70
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Low Breakpoint
• Defines the upper limit to restraint currents that will be
biased according to the Low Slope setting
• Should be set to be above the maximum load but not more
than the maximum current where the CTs still operate
linearly (including residual flux)
• Assumption is that the CTs will be operating linearly (no
significant saturation effects up to 80% residual flux) up to
the Low Breakpoint setting
71
Multilin
21-Nov-18
High Breakpoint
• Defines the minimum restraint currents that will be biased

according to the High Slope setting
• Should be set to be below the minimum current where the
weakest CT will saturate with no residual flux
• Assumption is that the CTs will be operating linearly (no
significant saturation effects up to 80% residual flux) up to
the Low Breakpoint setting
72
Multilin
21-Nov-18
High Slope
• Defines the percent bias for the restraint currents IRESTHigh
Breakpoint
• Setting determines the stability of the differential element
for high current external faults
• Traditionally, should be set high enough to accommodate
the spurious differential current resulting from saturation of
the CTs during heavy external faults
• Setting can be relaxed in favour of sensitivity and speed as
the relay detects CT saturation and applies the directional
principle to prevent maloperation
• Range: 50% to 100% in 1%. increments
73
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Calculating Unrestrained Bus Differential
Settings
• Defines the minimum differential current for unrestrained

operation
• Should be set to be above the maximum differential current
under worst case CT saturation
• Range: 2.00 to 99.99 p.u. in 0.01 p.u. increments
• Can be effectively disabled by setting to 99.99 p.u.
74
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Dual Percent Differential Characteristic
High Set
(Unrestrained)
High Slope
Low Slope
High
Breakpoint
Min Pickup Low

Breakpoint 75
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Reconfigurable Buses
C-3 C-5
NORTH BUS
B-1 S-1 S-3 S-5

B-5
CT-1 CT-7
CT-2 B-2 CT-3 B-3 CT-4 B-4 CT-5
B-7
CT-6
CT-8
B-6
S-2 S-4 S-6
SOUTH BUS
C-1 C-2 C-4
Protecting re-configurable buses 76

Multilin
21-Nov-18
C-3 C-5
NORTH BUS
B-1 S-1 S-3 S-5

B-5
CT-1 CT-2 B-2 CT-4 B-4 CT-7

CT-3 B-3
CT-5
B-7
CT-6
CT-8
B-6
S-2 S-4 S-6
SOUTH BUS
C-1 C-2 C-4
Protecting re-configurable buses

77
Multilin
21-Nov-18
C-3 C-5
NORTH BUS
B-1 S-1 S-3 S-5

B-5
CT-1 CT-2 B-2 CT-4 B-4 CT-7

CT-3 B-3
CT-5
B-7
CT-6
CT-8
B-6
S-2 S-4 S-6
SOUTH BUS
C-1 C-2 C-4

Multilin
21-Nov-18
C-3 C-5
NORTH BUS
B-1 S-1 S-3 S-5

B-5
CT-1 CT-7
CT-2 B-2 CT-3 B-3 CT-4 B-4 CT-5
B-7
CT-6
CT-8
B-6
S-2 S-4 S-6
SOUTH BUS
C-1 C-2 C-4

Multilin
21-Nov-18
Isolators
• Reliable “Isolator Closed” signals are needed for the Dynamic
Bus Replica
• In simple applications, a single normally closed contact may
be sufficient
• For maximum safety:
o Both N.O. and N.C. contacts should be used
o Isolator Alarm should be established and non-valid combinations
(open-open, closed-closed) should be sorted out
o Switching operations should be inhibited until bus image is recognized
with 100% accuracy
o Optionally block 87B operation from Isolator Alarm
• Each isolator position signal decides:
o Whether or not the associated current is to be included in the
differential calculations
o Whether or not the associated breaker is to be tripped
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Isolator – Typical Open/Closed
Connections
81
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Switch Status Logic and Dyanamic Bus
Replica
Isolator Open Isolator Closed Isolator Position Alarm Block Switching
Auxiliary Auxiliary
Contact Contact
Off On CLOSED No No
Off Off LAST VALID After time delay Until Isolator

until Position is valid
On On CLOSED acknowledged
On Off OPEN No No
NOTE: Isolator monitoring function may be a built-in feature or user-

programmable in low impedance bus differential digital relays
82
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21-Nov-18
Differential Zone CT Trouble
• Each Bus Differential Zone may a dedicated CT Trouble
Monitor
• Definite time delay overcurrent element operating on the
zone differential current, based on the configured Dynamic
Bus Replica
• Three strategies to deal with CT problems:
1. Trip the bus zone as the problem with a CT will likely
evolve into a bus fault anyway
2. Do not trip the bus, raise an alarm and try to correct
the problem manually
3. Switch to setting group with 87B minimum pickup
setting above the maximum load current.
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Differential Zone CT Trouble
• Strategies 2 and 3 can be accomplished by:
 Using undervoltage supervision to ride through the period
from the beginning of the problem with a CT until declaring a
CT trouble condition
 Using an external check zone to supervise the 87B function
 Using CT Trouble to prevent the Bus Differential tripping (2)
 Using setting groups to increase the pickup value for the 87B
function (3)
84
Multilin
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Differential Zone CT Trouble – Strategy #2
Example
87B operates
Undervoltage condition
CT OK
• CT Trouble operand is used to rise an alarm

• The 87B trip is inhibited after CT Trouble
element operates
• The relay may misoperate if an external fault
occurs after CT trouble but before the CT trouble
condition is declared (double-contingency)
85
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Example Architecture for Large Busbars
Dual (redundant) fiber with
3msec delivery time between
neighbouring IEDs. Up to 8
relays in the ring
Phase A AC signals and

trip contacts
Phase B AC signals and Phase C AC signals and

trip contacts trip contacts
Digital Inputs for isolator

monitoring and BF
86
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Example Architecture – Dynamic Bus
Replica and Isolator Position
Phase A AC signals wired

here, bus replica configured
here
Phase B AC signals wired Phase C AC signals wired

here, bus replica configured here, bus replica configured
here here
Auxuliary switches wired here;

Isolator Monitoring function
configured here
87
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Example Architecture – BF Initiation &
Current Supervision

here, current status
monitored here

here, current status here, current status
monitored here monitored here
Breaker Failure
elements configured
here
88
Multilin
21-Nov-18
Example Architecture – Breaker Failure
Tripping Trip

here, current status Trip
Trip monitored here

here, current status here, current status
monitored here monitored here
Trip
Breaker Fail Op command

generated here and send to trip
appropriate breakers
89
Multilin
21-Nov-18
IEEE 37.234
• “Guide for Protective Relay Applications to Power

System Buses” is currently being revised by the K14
Working Group of the IEEE Power System Relaying
Committee.
90
Multilin
21-Nov-18
91
Multilin
21-Nov-18

High Low Impedance Busbar Protection

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High Low Impedance Busbar Protection

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Fundamentals of

Bus Bar Protection

• Distribution and lower transmission voltage levels

• Distribution and lower transmission voltage levels

• Transmission and distribution voltage levels

• Increased operating flexibility

• Very high operating flexibility

• High operating flexibility

• Used on higher voltage levels

• Higher voltage levels

Low Voltage circuit breakers

ISO 1 ISO 2 ISOLATOR 1 OPEN

Gas (SF6) insulated current

Oil insulated current transformer

Bushing type (medium 13

High bus fault currents due to large number of circuits

ZC = 2  – 20  - typical coil impedance

(5V per 1000Amps => 0.005 @ 60Hz )

IR= Iprim*Xm /(ZR+ZC) – minimum operating current

If = 8000 A Internal Bus

• Fast, secure and proven

Cannot easily be applied to reconfigurable buses and

• Percent characteristic used

• All currents applied to a single

• CT saturation depends on a number of factors

Ratio Current CT Current

• Block the bus differential for a period of time (intentional delay)

Operating time: 20 – 30ms @ I > 1.5xPKP

RST = 2000 - stabilizing resistor to limit the current

of restrained and unrestrained

CT-3 • CT performance must be closely

IDIFF = Error Maloperation if o No backfeeds possible

iR  n i1  i2  i3  ...  in “geometrical average”

iR  Max  i1 , i2 , i3 ,..., in  “maximum of”

“Sum Of” Approach “Max Of” Approach

• External Faults: One fault (“large”) current will be out of phase

External Fault Conditions Internal Fault Conditions

The Saturation Detector WILL NOT Block the Operation of

The bus differential The CT saturation flag

The bus differential

All the fault currents

Some relays define 1 p.u. as the maximum

• For Zone 1, 1 p.u. = 3200 AP

1. Configure the physical CT Inputs

Min Pickup Low

• Defines the minimum differential current required for

• Defines the percent bias for the restraint currents from

• Defines the minimum restraint currents that will be biased

• Defines the minimum differential current for unrestrained

Min Pickup Low

B-1 S-1 S-3 S-5

C-1 C-2 C-4

Protecting re-configurable buses 76

B-1 S-1 S-3 S-5

CT-1 CT-2 B-2 CT-4 B-4 CT-7

C-1 C-2 C-4

Protecting re-configurable buses

B-1 S-1 S-3 S-5

CT-1 CT-2 B-2 CT-4 B-4 CT-7

C-1 C-2 C-4

Protecting re-configurable buses 78

B-1 S-1 S-3 S-5

C-1 C-2 C-4

Protecting re-configurable buses 79