Application Note

Testing a Relay's Power Swing Impedance

Characteristic with Advance Distance Module
Author
Anucha Semjan | anucha.semjan@omicron.at
Date
Nov 24, 2010
Related OMICRON Product
CMC
Application Area
Distance Protection Relay
Keywords
Power Swing, Advance Distance Module, Zone Characteristic Testing
Version
v1.0
Document ID
ANS_10010_ENU

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Content
1

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 3

How to Prepare and Test................................................................................................................. 4

2.1 Test Connection........................................................................................................................ 4
2.2 Test Object ............................................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Hardware Configuration ............................................................................................................ 6
2.4 Test View.................................................................................................................................. 6

Relay List ......................................................................................................................................... 9

Please use this note only in combination with the related product manual which contains several important safety
instructions. The user is responsible for every application that makes use of an OMICRON product.
OMICRON electronics GmbH including all international branch offices is henceforth referred to as OMICRON.
OMICRON 2010. All rights reserved. This application note is a publication of OMICRON.
All rights including translation reserved. Reproduction of any kind, for example, photocopying, microfilming, optical
character recognition and/or storage in electronic data processing systems, requires the explicit consent of OMICRON.
Reprinting, wholly or in part, is not permitted.
The product information, specifications, and technical data embodied in this application note represent the technical
status at the time of writing and are subject to change without prior notice.
We have done our best to ensure that the information given in this application note is useful, accurate and entirely
reliable. However, OMICRON does not assume responsibility for any inaccuracies which may be present.
OMICRON translates this application note from the source language English into a number of other languages. Any
translation of this document is done for local requirements, and in the event of a dispute between the English and a nonEnglish version, the English version of this note shall govern.
OMICRON 2011

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Introduction
The power swing detection is a function which is usually used to improve the operation of distance
protection. The relay has to discriminate between the fault and the power swing conditions because for both
cases the impedance trajectory could enter the protected zone and cause unwanted tripping.
There are various methods for detecting the power swing condition. Using two impedance zones, defined as
the outer and the inner zone, with a delay timer is a method widely used (see the figure 1). When the
impedance enters the outer zone, a delay timer is started. If the impedance is within the area between the
outer and the inner zones longer than the time setting (delay time) the power swing detection will pick up.
This signal is used to block the operation of the distance protection function.

Figure 1: Power Swing Detection Logic

According to the figure above, two procedures for testing are normally performed. The first is for testing the
power swing impedance characteristic, the inner and the outer zone, and also the delay time. This test
procedure is used to verify that the elements are properly set up for detecting the power swing. The
OMICRON Advanced Distance Test Module is used for testing, and described in this Application Note. The
second is for testing the power swing blocking function. This test procedure is used to verify that the
distance relay will not send an unwanted trip command in case of a power swing condition. The Application
Note "Testing a Relay's Power Swing Blocking Function with State Sequencer" describes how to test this
item by using the OMICRON State Sequencer Test Module.
Remark: This Application Note can be used only if the relay uses a logic similar to the above description
for detecting the power swing and also the alarm contact for power swing detection must be
available.

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How to Prepare and Test

2.1

Test Connection
Connect the voltages and currents from the CMC Test Set to the relay. It is important for this application that
the output power swing detection from the relay which is usually available on site for signaling has to be
connected to the binary input of the CMC Test Set as trigger condition.
The binary input 7 will be used, for instance, in this document. Any other binary input can be used as well.

Figure 2: Connection Diagram

2.2

Test Object
Create the power swing zone characteristic for the inner and the outer zones according to the setting
parameters in the relay and also the same characteristic as shown in the relay instruction manual. Select the
Type for the inner zone as "Non tripping" and the outer zone as "Tripping".
Enter the trip time values for the outer zone at the Trip Time tap to be the same setting as the delay time
which is used to detect the power swing. 200 ms will be used in this document.

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Figure 3: Test Object Setup

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2.3

Hardware Configuration
Assign the binary input 7 as trigger condition.

Figure 4: Hardware Configuration Set Up

2.4

Test View
> Go to the Trigger tab, and set the trigger condition with the binary input 7 (PSB Detect).

Figure 5: Trigger Condition

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> Enter your values at the Times group of the Settings tab. The Prefault time must be greater than the
reset time of the power swing detection so that the impedance stays outside from the outer zone long
enough.
> Enter Max fault duration. This value must be greater than the delay time used in the logic above (see
figure 1)

Figure 5: Fault Time Setting

> Select either Search Test or Check Test for testing the characteristic. Click the "Add" button to add the
search line as required. Only the three phase fault type will be used for testing.
The figure below shows the test result of a REYROLLE OHMEGA relay for rectangular shape.

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Figure 6: Test Result by Using Search Test

Figure 7: Test Result by Using Check Test

> Select Shot Test tab for testing the delay time. Click the "Add" button to add the defined test point in the
area between the outer and the inner zone. Only the three phase fault type will be used for testing.

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The figure below shows the test result of a REYROLLE OHMEGA relay for rectangular shape.

Figure 7: Test Result by Using Shot Test

Relay List
The list below names examples of relays which can be tested using this Application Note. Other relays which
not in the list but using the same concept can be tested in a similar fashion.
1.
2.
3.
4.

ABB REL511
REYROLLE OHMEGA
TOSHIBA GRZ100
GE D60

The figure below shows the logic diagram of the relays for which this Application Note can be used.

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Figure 8: The Power Swing Detection Logic Diagram of ABB REL511

Figure 9: The Power Swing Detection Logic Diagram of TOSHIBA GRZ100

Figure 10: The Power Swing Detection Logic Diagram of GE D60

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