34

Application

Application

Triple-country protection
OMICRONs CPC 100 + CP CU1 measures complex
three-terminal HV lines for protection settings

Hoheneck

123.8 km
(77.4 mi)

112.5 km
(70.3 mi)

132.4 km
(82.8 mi)

Herbertingen

common connection point

Tiengen

CH
Measurement setup at the 220 kV three-terminal
line in Southern Germany, connecting the Hoheneck,
Tiengen and Brs substations (Depicted with the section
Tiengen-Herbertingen off grid and without grounding).

OMICRON Magazine | Volume 3 Issue 2 2012

Brs

AT

Application

35

Amprion GmbH in Germany operates a transmission grid with voltage levels of

380 kV and 220 kV with a distance of around 11 000 kilometers (7 000 miles). It also
operates approximately 160 switchgear and transformer stations between Southern Germany and the border with both Switzerland and Austria, representing the
longest high-voltage grid in Germany. Due to its central location in Europe, the grid
is an important hub for north-south and east-west power trading on the continent.
The companys goal is to reduce protection setting tolerances to a minimum based
on measurements taken with OMICRON's CPC 100 + CP CU1 system.
The test object was a three-terminal line in southern

former stations often rely on three-terminal lines of

Germany, which connects the transformer stations in

this nature. However, one key disadvantage of these

Hoheneck (D), Waldshut-Tiengen (border D/CH) and

three-terminal lines is that they represent an unfavor-

Brs (A). The common connection point for the three-

able constellation from a protection perspective. In

terminal line is located in Herbertingen (D). A parallel

addition to this, creating the protection concept is

400 kV power line is installed on the same tower-series

significantly more complicated than with conventional

as the measured 220 kV three-terminal line. The 400 kV

overhead lines.

line has remained in operation throughout the measurement process, therefore the induced voltage in the

For each three-terminal line in the Amprion grid a line

measurement circuit was expected to be higher than

differential protection and a distance protection with

in typical cases.

a telecommunication scheme are used. The distance

protection equipment requires an individual setting.

The measurement of the three-terminal line was

Performing maintenance work on the overhead line

particularly interesting because it allowed the line pa-

represents another problem encountered when using

rameters, that had been calculated based on empirical

three-terminal lines, since the entire three-way system

values, to be checked for deviations. The fault current

must always be de-energized.

on a three-terminal line is typically supplied by multiple power sources. This effect also causes additional

Influences on short-circuit current

uncertainties in distance protection. Knowing the

Besides the standard protection settings, the greatest

precise line impedances allows the distance protection

challenge lies in taking all potential operating situa-

errors to be reduced significantly.

tions into account. The short circuit current that needs

to be anticipated depends heavily on the number

Protection setting challenge

of lines feeding the upstream transformer station.

The advantage of a three-terminal line lies in the fact

Busbars operated in coupled mode also have a major

that it requires fewer switching fields and high-voltage

impact on the short-circuit current. The number and

apparatus than a conventional constellation. When

distribution of the grounded transformer star points in

space is at a premium, extension projects at trans-

the upstream systems lead to further deviations.

OMICRON Magazine | Volume 3 Issue 2 2012

36

Application

500 V
CPC 100

CP CU1

500 V

CPC 100
CP CU1
Conventional
measurement

CP GB1
CP GB1

1 000 V
1000 V

CPC 100

con mayor

CPC 100

CP CU1
CP CU1

proteccin contra
CP GB1
with sobretensiones
increased
surge protection

Adjusted measurement
Series connection of the outputs from two CP CU1 systems for induced voltages of up to 1 000 V.

The goal is to always be able to determine the influence the ad-

Time-saving measurement

ditional fault current, in-feed via the third terminal, has on the

Using the CPC 100 + CP CU1, current is fed into the

protection scheme.

various line-line and line-ground loops of the line

grounded at the other end. The voltages, currents and

Geographical constellation as a logistical hurdle

phase angles are then measured automatically. The

Due to the length of the power lines and the resulting distances

different measurement results obtained by the various

between the supply points of the three-terminal line, a decision

measurement loop constellations are then used to

was made to place a team with one CPC 100 and two CP CU1s at

calculate the line parameters needed.

each of these points. This allowed the duration of the measurement to be significantly reduced because the travel time did not

The outputs of two CP CU1 units were connected in

influence the duration of the test. Detailed planning was neces-

series to handle the high induced voltage that was

sary to ensure a smooth test.

expected due to the neighboring operational 400 kV

transmission line. The level of the induced voltage cou-

One branch of the three-terminal line had to be left ungrounded

pling is influenced by the power flow of the neighbor-

for each of the three subsequent measurements, which created

ing system as well as the distance that the two systems

an additional measurement problem. The ungrounded branch of

are running parallel to one another.

the three-terminal line acted like a large capacitor in parallel to

the line that was being tested. This additional capacitance influ-

Thanks to OMICRON's CPC 100 + CP CU1 system, it

enced the measurement results significantly, causing a deviation

was possible to complete all measurements within

in impedance when compared with other measurements of the

just six hours. This is a key advantage, since the short

three individual lines. However, a consequent calculation of the

downtime of the three-terminal line allows these mea-

capacitance along the non-grounded branch allowed this error to

surements to be taken within the scope of standard

be eliminated.

scheduled maintenance.

Magazine | Volume 3 Issue 2 2012

Application

37

Louis van Rooyen

Louis van Rooyen has been working
since 2011 in operations, project works
and maintenance for Amprion in
Ludwigsburg, Germany.

Power line parameters that cannot be estimated accurately

current. It can therefore be assumed, that the zero se-

Measuring the positive sequence impedance confirmed the

quence impedance is also measured correctly when a

precise modeling of the conductors with their corresponding ar-

close correlation between the simulation and measure-

rangement in Amprion's overhead line database. It is also clearly

ment of the positive sequence impedance is achieved.

evident from measurement comparisons that calculating the

positive sequence impedance can be done very accurately, if the

Getting an accurate reading of the actual zero se-

exact line geometry is used. However, significant deviations of the

quence impedance now allows the protection setting

zero sequence impedance between the calculated and measured

tolerances to be reduced to a minimum. This in turn

cenbest
ehoHpossible selectivity.
guaranteeskthe

values were recorded. These deviations were expected,m

because
k 8,321
)im 4,77(

calculating the zero sequence impedance is considerably more

complex than calculating the positive sequence impedance.

Constant use
The OMICRON testing equipment has proven its value

Various parameters, such as soil conditions, the distance between

in testing important high-voltage lines and will con-

lines and the ground, and also metallic conductors such as rails or

tinue to play
role at Amprion in future.
mkan
5,21important
1

water pipes all have to be taken into consideration when calculat-

In fact, the CPC 100 + CP CU1 combination is likely to

ing the zero sequence impedance. On the other hand positive

see even more use based on future line constellations

sequence impedance calculations are

mk 4rarely
,231 influenced by these

(so-called 'mixed conductors'). It is vital to perform

parameters and can basically be disregarded.

line impedance measurements, since important line

)im 8,28(

negnit rebreH

nmoc nixenoc ed otnup

)im 3,07(

While calculating positive sequence and zero sequence imped-

parameters like zero sequence impedance cannot be

negneiT
estimated accurately. This is the only way to guarantee

ance differs greatly, there are no differences in the actual mea-

optimum protection.

surement process. The various effects that impact the impedance

(as seen by the protection relay due to the flow of the real fault
current) also apply to the measurement circuit and injected test

TA

HC

Dr. Wernich de Villiers

Head of Product Management

Test & Diagnostics Solutions for Primary Assets

srB
Magazine | Volume 3 Issue 2 2012