Journal of M icrocomputer Applications (1983) 6, 15-23 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQ
Microprocessor- based distance relays
Badri zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
and B. B. Chakravarty
Ram zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
Bihar College of Engineering,
Patna 800 005, Bihar,
India
This paper presents a microprocessor-based distance-relaying scheme suitable for the
protection of EHV lines. The scheme offers compactness and flexibility, and reduces
numbers and types of relaying units. A generalized interface employing operational
amplifiers, analogueto-digital converter, voltage comparators and anaiogue multi-
plexer has been developed. A number of relaying characteristics can be obtained using
different programs. By varying commands to the analogue multiplexer the required
input signals for different relaying characteristics such as impedance, reactance,
MHO and directional relays are obtained. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJI
1. Introduction
The application of microprocessors to the problems of protective schemes is of current
interest to power engineers. A microprocessor-based protective scheme offers compact-
ness and flexibility, and reduces numbers and types of relaying units. A generalized
interface employing operational amplifiers, voltage comparators, analogue-to-digital
converter and analogue multiplexer has been developed to obtain impedance, reactance,
MHO and directional relay characteristics. Using different programs a number of
protective-relay characteristics have been obtained with a single interface. The micro-
processor sends appropriate commands to the multiplexer to get input signals to obtain
the desired relay characteristic. Such schemes are presently at the research and develop-
ment stage, but in the near future they are expected to be widely used to meet the pro-
tective relaying requirements of large and complex power networks.
2. Impedance relay
The characteristic of an impedance relay can easily be obtained by comparing the value
of the rectified voltage with the rectified current. For the operation of the relay the
condition to be satisfied is as follows:
&I> K2V
or K,V< KII
or V &
?K,
or Z<K
where K,, Ka and K are constants.
The value of K can be calculated for different zones of protection and stored in the
memory. Before feeding the current signal for processing, it is converted into a voltage
15
0143-3792/83/010015 + 09 $03.00/O 8 1983 Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd.
B. Ram and B. B. Chakravarty
16 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
- +
r t 7 e
Lf Sample 0
I L Precision 2
4
To microprocessor
E
lI. -oz rectifier
4 and
hold g E’C 4 Port C upper
b8 s Port B
i k : s/c -
---_)
s2 Trip signal
2 *Za.c.
V
s4 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
Port C lower
-5
Precision % +Va.c.
rectifier
3 ._
Channel select
6
+ Phase V’ Zero-cross
B] Port A
shifter a detector
L
+
7 t-
Zero-cross To microprocessor
B] Port C upper
l detector
8255-2
Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the generalized interface.
signal as the microcomputer always receives signals in voltage form. A precision rectiGer
using LM 301 IC packages was used to rectify voltage and current signals. The channels
S, and S, of the multiplexer, as shown in Figure 1, were used for the rectified voltage and
rectified current respectively. The rectified voltage and current are fed to an analogue-to-
digital converter alternately through the multiplexer at the instruction of the micro-
computer and then the signals are stored in digital form in the memory. The micro-
computer calculates Z, the impedance seen by the relay and compares it with Z,, the
predetermined value of the impedance for the first zone of protection. If Z is less than Z,,
the microcomputer sends a tripping signal to the trip coil of the circuit breaker instan-
taneously. If Z is greater than Z, the comparison is made with Z,. If Z is less than Z, the
microcomputer takes up a delay subroutine and sends the tripping signal to the trip coil
after a predetermined delay. If Z is greater than Z, but less than Z, a greater delay is
provided before the tripping signal is sent. If Z is more than Z8 the microcomputer again
reads the voltage and current siguals and proceeds according to its program. The pro-
gram flow chart is shown in Figure 2. These delay times are determined on the basis of
the stability criteria for the power system to be protected. As the impedance relay is a
non-directional unit, a program is also incorporated to check the direction of the fault
point. Tripping is made only when the fault point is in the forward direction from the
relay location. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
3. Directional relay
The polarity of the instantaneous value of the current signal at peak voltage, I co@,
is examined to judge the direction of fault points. If a fault point lies in the forward
direction, I cos$ is positive for 4 lying within f90” [Figure 3(a), (b)]. For a fault point
in the reverse direction Icos$ becomes negative as shown in Figure 3(c). The software
developed for the directional relay is able to judge the polarity of I cos~$.
4. Reactance relay
The characteristic of a reactance relay can be obtained by comparing the rectified current
Microplvxemor-w distance relays 17 zyxwvutsrqponmlk
Initialize I/O circuits
Read rectified zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
V
41
Convertinto
digitol quontity
No
*
Store in memory
J/
Read rectified I I Delay
I =
#
Convert into
digitol quontity
+
Store in memory zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFED
I Jump I
Figure 2. Program flow chart for impedance relay.
with the instantaneous value of the voltage at zero current. At this moment the in-
stantaneous value of the voltage is equal to V sin+, as shown in Figure 4(a). The current
signal is converted into direct current using a precision rectier. The condition to be
satisfied for the operation of the relay is as follows: zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPON
V sin#<H
or V
,-sin+<K
or Z sin$<K
or X<K
where K is a constant.
A zero-cross detector using an LM 311 IC package was used to generate a pulse at
zero current. The microcomputer reads the output of the zero-cross detector and checks
whether the current has passed through zero. After getting the zero-current pulse the
microcomputer sends commands to the analogue multiplexer to switch on the channel
S, to obtain the instantaneous value of the voltage, which is equal to v sin+. This value
of the voltage is converted into a digital quantity by an analogue-to-digital converter and
stored in the memory. Then the microcomputer sends a command to the multiplexer to
switch on the channel S, to get the rectified current. This rectified current is fed to an A/D
converter and its output is stored in the memos. The micro~mpu~r calculates X, the
reactance seen by the relay and compares it with X1, the pr~e~r~ned value of the
18 B.RammlB.B.Chakravarty
Reverse Forward
direction direction zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYX
-ve 2 +ve 2
<
2
T
Relay
location
(a)
(b)
Figure 3.(a) Location of directional relay. Fault points showing +ve and -ve Z. (b) Instantaneous
value of Z at peak voltage. (c) Z cos 4 for faults in reverse direction.
V sin
Directional unit
F&m 4.(a) Instantaneous value of Vat zero current. (b) Reactance relay characteristics.
Microprocessor-based distance relays 19
reactance for the first zone of protection. The microcomputer sends a tripping signal
instantaneously if the measured value of X is less than X1. If Xis greater than X1 but less
than X2 it sends the tripping signal after a predetermined delay. If X is more than X, but
lies within the protection zone of the directional unit which also acts as a third unit,
Figure 4(b), the tripping signal is sent after a greater predetermined delay.
The reactance relay is a non-directional relaying unit. A directional relay is used in
conjunction with a reactance relay to provide directional features. The directional unit
also serves the purpose of the third unit. The directional unit used for reactance relays
has the characteristic of an MHO relay passing through the origin. The program of a
directional unit is incorporated in the main program of the reactance relaying protective
scheme. If the fault point lies within the protection zone of the directional unit then only
the reactance relay program is taken up to check up the position of the fault point,
whether it lies in the first, second or third zone of protection. Depending upon the zone
of protection the tripping signal is sent with or without delay. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWV
5. MHO relay
To obtain the characteristic of an MHO relay the instantaneous value of the current
at the moment of voltage peak is compared with the rectified voltage. At this moment the
instantaneous value of the current is equal to I co@ as shown in Figure 3(b). For the
operation of the relay the condition to be satisfied is as follows:
I cos+ > KV
or ~cos+, K
V
or Y cos@
1 1
or
Y cos&%
or M <K
where K’ is a constant. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
If the design angle 0 is introduced while feeding the voltage and current signals to the
relay the above expression is modified and is given by
1
<K’.
Y cos (+-8)
To obtain a pulse at peak voltage a phase shifter using an LM 741 IC package and a
zero-cross detector was used. The voltage signal is fed to the phase shifter to get a phase
shift of 90”. Then the output of the phase shifter is fed to the zero-cross detector, as
shown in Figure 1, to get the required pulse. The microcomputer reads the output of the
zero-cross detector and checks whether the voltage has passed through its peak value.
After getting the pulse the microcomputer asks the multiplexer to switch on the channel
S, to get the instantaneous value of the current at peak voltage. This instantaneous value
of the current which is equal to I cos$ is fed to an A/D converter. After the conversion is
over, the digital output of the converter is stored in the memory. The microcomputer
then gets the rectified voltage through the multiplexer’s channel S, and the A/D con-
verter. This quantity is also stored in the memory. After obtaining these data the micro-
computer calculates (1 cos&/V which is equal to M . The calculated value of M is
compared with the predetermined value of M l which remains as stored information in
20 B. Ram and B. B. Qmkravarty
the memory. If zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
M is less than zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCB
Ml the tripping signal is sent instantaneously. If M is
greater than Ml but less than Ma, the tripping signal is sent after a predetermined delay.
If M is greater than Ma but less than M,, a greater delay is provided. If M is greater than
MS the microcomputer again starts to read the voltage and current signals and proceeds
according to its program. The relay characteristic is shown in Figure 5, and Figure 6
shows the program flow chart. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCB
6. Laboratory testing
A microprocessor-based distance relay, as shown in Figure 1, was made and tested in the
laboratory. The microprocessor kit used was an EC-85 (Professional Electronics, India). zyxwvutsrqpo
X
-R BR
F@re 5. MHO relay:characteristics. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPO
o-u-4
It
7
Yes
Reod I cos +
9
Convert into
digital quantity
*
Store in memory
+
1 Read rectified V 1
To trip coil
Figure 6. Program flow chart for MHO relay.
Microproeeeaor-baaed&lance relays 21 zyxwvutsrqpon
Table 1
Circuits/devices IC packages
g-bit A/D converter ADC 0800
I-channel analogue multiplexer AM 3705
Zero-cross detector LM 311
Precision rectifiers LM 301
Sample and hold LF 398
Phase shifter LM 741
Reference voltage for A/D converter LM 747 and LM 329
For frequency division 7490
This kit is built around Intel’s 8085 microprocessor, and the I/O ports provided are
Intel’s 8255. Other IC packages used are shown in Table 1.
A generalized interface, as shown in Figure 1, was designed and built. Characteristics
of distance relays, namely impedance, directional, reactance and MHO were obtained
employing various software. The relay’s performance during fault conditions is quite
satisfactory. Results are shown in Table 2. The accuracy of measurement of 2, X and M
lies within f5 %. Analogue titers are incorporated to tiler harmonics. Overvoltage pro-
tection has also been provided to keep the input signals within f5 volts. The computation
of the microcomputer is very fast but it has to wait after the instant of occurrence of the
fault for the signal from the zero-cross detector before it starts computation. If the
zero-cross detector is designed to detect only positive-going zeros the relay operates
within one cycle period.
At present the circuits used in the laboratory are of this type. Half-cycle operation can
be obtained with simple modifications to the interfacing circuitry. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXW
7. Conclusions
The performance of microprocessor-based distance relays is very good. They are very
fast and accurate. They offer attractive compactness and flexibility. A number of relay
characteristics have been obtained employing various programs with a single interface.
Therefore this scheme of protection is expected to give fast, more accurate and reliable
protection to complex power networks. With the development of VLSI technology the
cost and volume of equipment is expected to be reduced considerably, thus paving the
way for extensive applications.
Acknowledgement
The authors wish to thank Dr S. I. Ahson, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT,
Delhi, for his valuable suggestions and encouragement in carrying out the work.
Background reading
Deboo, G. J. & Burrous, C. N. 1977. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
Integrated Circuits and Semiconductor Devices: Theory and
Application, MacGraw Hill Kogakusha Ltd.
Leventhal, L. A. 1978. 8080 A/808.5 Assembly Language Programming, Osborne/McGraw Hill.
Linear Databook. National Semiconductor.
Mathur, A. P. 1980. Introduction to Microprocessors. Tata: McGraw Hill.
L
SR
P zyxwvutsrqp
Table 2 CI
Zone of protection %
1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd L!
-4
Impedance Reactance MHO relay, M (Q)
relay, 2 (Q) relay, X(Q) (8=60”)
Predetermined values Theoretical values 25.02 35.99 59.96 24.7 35.6 59-3 26.9 38.7 64.5
Set values in memory 25 36 24 35 59 27 39 65
Results for typical fault points Theoretical values 21.02 33.75 g-6 20.78 33.4 55 22.6 36.3 59.8
Measured by
microcomputer 20 33 58 20 34 57 23 37 58
Results for typical fault points Theoretical values 12.73 25.5 42.93 12.6 25.1 42.5 13.8 27.2 46-l
Measured by
microcomputer 12 24 41 12 24 44 13 26 45
Note: Preset values and measured values obtained for comparison have been kept in round figures to make the programs simple.
Microprocessor-based distance relays 23 zyxwvutsrqponm
Microprocessor Trainer EC-85, Operations Manual. Professional Electronics, India.
Millman, J. & Halkias, C. 1972. Integrated Electronics. MacGraw-Hill Kogakusha Ltd.
Osborne 8c Kane, J. 1978. An Introduction to Microcomputers, Vol. 2, Some Real Microprocessors.
Osborne and Associates Inc.
TTL Data&oak. National Semiconductor.
Warrington, A. R. Van C. 1973. Protective Relays--Their Theory and Practice, Vol. II, Halsted
Press.
Badri Ram is the Head of the Electrical Engineering Department, Bihar College of Engineering,
Patna, Patna University, India. He obtained BSc Engg degree with first class distinction in 1961
from Ranchi University; MSc Engg degree from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 1967.
He received the K. F. Antia Award, 1969-70, for the best paper from the Institution of Engineers
(India). He is actively engaged in research into the application of microcomputers to power
system protection. He is guiding some research fellows and MTech students for dissertation
work in this area.
B. B. Chakravarty is the Principal of Bihar College of Engineering, Patna, Patna University. He
received a BSc Engg degree from Patna University in 1947, an MSc Engg degree from Imperial
College, London, 1960. He served as a Professor of Electrical Engineering from 1962 to 1978
and has been Principal since 1978.
