Application Guide

Volume I

AG2012-03

Applying SEL-311L Relays on

120- to 240-Kilometer Lines
Alex Rangel and David Costello

INTRODUCTION
The SEL-311L Line Current Differential System is a digital line current differential relay with an
integrated communications interface. A typical two-terminal line application consists of two
SEL-311L Relays. Direct communication between the relays is performed through a fiber-optic
cable at a distance of up to 120 kilometers. When this distance is longer than 120 kilometers, a
third SEL-311L may be used as a pseudo repeater. This can extend the application of direct fiberoptic cable to lines up to 240 kilometers long.

OVERVIEW
Consider the application shown in Figure 1. At each line terminal, there is an SEL-311L that
measures and communicates local current. A third (master) SEL-311L is used to extend the total
communications distance between the two line-end relays. The master relay does not measure any
local current. It communicates with the two line-end relays, receives the line-end current
measurements, makes a differential trip decision, and communicates that decision back to the
line-end relays. This is useful when the distance between the two terminals is longer than
120 kilometers, the maximum distance of a single point-to-point application. This application is
similar to a three-terminal line with only two communications channels. However, one of the
terminals is essentially open all of the time (i.e., it measures no local current).

Figure 1 240-Kilometer Two-Terminal Line Application Using Fiber-Optic Cable

Date Code 20120504

SEL Application Guide 2012-03

THREE-TERMINAL DIFFERENTIAL ELEMENT

In Figure 1, Relay 3 is configured as the master relay by setting E87L = 3. It is the only relay that
receives all current information, performs the differential element operation, and sends transfer
trip signals to the remote line-end terminals for internal faults. Relay 3 must be ordered with two
fiber-optic interfaces. Relay 1 and Relay 2 are configured as remote relays by setting E87L = 3R.
These relays transmit current information and receive direct transfer trip signals for internal
faults. Relay 1 and Relay 2 may each be ordered with a single fiber-optic interface.
In a normal three-terminal application (where each terminal measures current), two of the
terminals are combined (vectorly added) to produce the equivalent remote current. The remaining
(uncombined) current becomes the local current in the calculation of operate (difference) current
and the Alpha Plane ratio of remote to local currents. In other words, the SEL-311L converts the
three-terminal line into an electrically equivalent two-terminal line and then applies two-terminal
line algorithms. Additionally, the SEL-311L considers all three possible combinations of local
and remote currents (shown in Table 1) and selects the maximum terminal current as the local
current. Remember from Figure 1 that Relay 3 (master) never measures current, so the third
combination in Table 1 should never be used by the master relay in this application.
Table 1

All Possible Combinations Used for Local and Remote Currents in a Three-Terminal Application

Possible Combination

Local Current

Remote Current

I1

I2 + I3

I2

I1 + I3

I3

I1 + I2

A simplified representation of the three-terminal differential element processing in the master

SEL-311L is shown in Figure 2.

JK

JK JK

Z InL

JK
JK
Z InR 3
Z InR 2

Z InL + Z InR

JK

Z InR

Figure 2 Phase, Negative-Sequence, and Zero-Sequence Differential Element

Processing for the First Combination in Table 1

SEL Application Guide 2012-03

Date Code 20120504

METERING AND THE ALPHA PLANE

The terminal command MET B displays the physically local relay currents and voltages. For
Relay 3, these values are always zero because there are no current transformer (CT) and potential
transformer (PT) connections. For Relay 1 and Relay 2, MET B displays the actual currents and
voltages measured at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, respectively.
The terminal command MET shows currents at all terminals. At Relay 3, local currents are
always zero, Channel X currents match Relay 1 currents in primary amperes, and Channel Y
currents match Relay 2 currents in primary amperes. At Relay 1 and Relay 2, local currents are
shown and Channel X currents are always zero.
The terminal command MET also shows differential quantities. Because Relay 1 and Relay 2 are
configured as remote relays by setting E87L = 3R, differential or Alpha Plane quantities are not
displayed. Relay 3 displays the differential quantities (vector sum) and zeros for the Alpha Plane.
This is because the MET command always uses the physically local relay current (which is zero
in this application) for local differential current. Note that the actual differential algorithm
determines local current to be the maximum terminal current and does not use the physically local
relay current, as described in the previous section.
To visualize the operation of the differential element and the Alpha Plane in the master Relay 3,
use ACSELERATOR QuickSet SEL-5030 Software to view an event report triggered by Relay 3.
Select VIEW ALPHA PLANE, select 3T for the primary channel, and select the terminal
(Channel X or Channel Y) with the largest current as the 3-Terminal Channel Reference.

SEL-311L SETTINGS
The channel settings TIMRX and TIMRY must be set as shown in Table 2 for proper
synchronization.
The relay setting E87L determines the number of terminals in the 87L protection zone. Because
there are only two communications channels, Relay 1 and Relay 2 are set as remote relays and
Relay 3 is set as the master, as shown in Table 2. Note that for this application, all of the relays
must have the same nominal current rating.
Table 2 Relay Settings
Setting

TIMRX

TIMRY

E87L

52A

CT Ratio
(CTR)

CTR_X

CTR_Y

Relay 1

3R

IN101

Actual
Relay 1 CTR

Relay 2

3R

IN101

Actual
Relay 2 CTR

Relay 3

Actual
Relay 1 CTR

Actual
Relay 2 CTR

Date Code 20120504

SEL Application Guide 2012-03

The logic setting 52A is typically set to follow a breaker status input wired to IN101. In Relay 1
and Relay 2, this should be the case. Relay 3 does not measure local current. Therefore, 52A is
the only local setting that determines if the local 3PO (three-pole open) Relay Word bit asserts.
Differential operate setting 87LPP (phase) doubles and 87LGP (ground) and 87L2P (negativesequence) triple when the local 3PO Relay Word bit is asserted and for three cycles after it
deasserts. This allows for inrush current after a breaker close operation. Set 52A to 1 to maintain
sensitivity at set pickup values. Note that remote terminal 3PO operation also acts to adjust
settings for security during breaker close operations.
The differential pickup settings 87LPP, 87L2P, and 87LGP are in units of secondary amperes,
referenced to the maximum CT ratio. No CT is connected to Relay 3. Therefore, set the CTR
setting associated with Relay 3 to 1 in all relays.
In order to obtain successful communication between the relays, the proper transmit and receive
addresses must be specified in Channel X settings TA_X and RA_X (TA_Y and RA_Y for
Channel Y). Figure 3 shows one possible channel address configuration.
Relay 3
Channel X

Channel Y

TA_X = 2

TA_Y = 4

RA_X = 1

RA_Y = 3

Relay 1
Channel X
TA_X = 1
RA_X = 2

Relay 2
Channel X
TA_X = 3
RA_X = 4

Figure 3 Channel Address Configuration

SEL-311L TEST PROCEDURE

Test this application the same as any SEL-311L two-terminal application, with one exception.
Relay 3 is the only relay in this system that calculates differential element operation and issues
trip signals to Relay 1 and Relay 2. For assistance with testing procedures, refer to the SEL-311L
Instruction Manual and the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet available for download with this
application guide at http://www.selinc.com.

SEL Application Guide 2012-03

Date Code 20120504

CONCLUSION
When the distance between two SEL-311L Relays is longer than 120 kilometers, a third
SEL-311L may be used as a pseudo repeater. This can extend the application of direct fiber-optic
cable to lines up to 240 kilometers long.
In this case, the line current differential function of the SEL-311L is essentially a two-terminal
application. The third relay measures no physically local current but receives current
measurements from the two line-end terminals and acts as the master, deciding when to trip the
line. The master relay needs to have X and Y communications channels; however, the line-end
terminal relays only need to have one communications channel.
In this application, it is especially important to set 52A = 1 and CTR = 1 in the master relay. In
the line-end terminal relays, it is important to set CTR_X = 1. This ensures that the relay operates
as expected based on the 87LPP, 87L2P, and 87LGP settings.
The SEL-311L has many other functions besides line current differential. However, in this
application guide, we only cover the most important line current differential settings for twoterminal applications that exceed 120 kilometers.

FACTORY ASSISTANCE
We appreciate your interest in SEL products and services. If you have questions or comments,
please contact us at:
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
2350 NE Hopkins Court
Pullman, WA 99163-5603 USA
Telephone: +1.509.332.1890
Fax: +1.509.332.7990
www.selinc.com info@selinc.com

Date Code 20120504

SEL Application Guide 2012-03

2012 by Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.

All rights reserved.
All brand or product names appearing in this document are
the trademark or registered trademark of their respective
holders. No SEL trademarks may be used without written
permission.
SEL products appearing in this document may be covered by
U.S. and Foreign patents.

SEL Application Guide 2012-03

*AG2012-03*
Date Code 20120504