2.

3 Directional Overcurrent Protection (67)

A typical factor of the short-circuit is the angle between short-circuit voltage Vsc and short-circuit current Isc.

Im Im

Vsc Vsc

φu

- φi φsc
Re Re

Isc Isc

Figure 4: Phasor diagram for the short-circuit values

The angle jsc depends on the voltage level and the respective operational equipment (overhead line, cable
and transformer). This will now be examined in more detail.

380 kV 220 kV 110 kV 10 ... 30 kV Electric arc

Short circuit
Approx. 85° Approx. 80° Approx. 72° 30 ... 50° Approx. 0°
angle jsc
Table 3: Short-circuit angle of overhead lines and cables depending on the voltage level

The short-circuit angle jsc can be calculated from the resistance R and the reactance X of the protected
object.

X
jsc = arctan
R

It is clear that the short-circuit current has to be used for determining the direction. For the selection of the
voltage to be applied the following conditions have to be taken into account:

> For a close-in fault the short-circuit voltage is almost zero.

> The angle of the directional characteristic depends on the fault type (Phase A-Ground, Phase B-Ground,
etc.). In order to determine the correct position of the forward and the reverse direction, the relay needs
a reference voltage.

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For this, relay connections have been developed that make use of different reference voltages with
corrected phase angles.

Connections Advantages Disadvantages

Not suitable for HV-systems, no
Maximum sensitivity with
(
0° Iph , Vph ) arc faults.
directional decision with a close-in
fault.
(
30° Iph , Vph - Vph × a ) Reference voltage depends on
60° ( Iph , - Vph × a ) the fault.
Maximum reference voltage
(
90° Iph , Vph × a 2 - Vph × a ) with phase to ground and Not suitable for arc faults.
phase to phase faults.
Table 4: Relay connection for determining the reference voltage.

Versors:

a = 1Ð120° a 2 = 1Ð - 120°

Note: The method used for the reference voltage depends on the relay manufacturer. For the
following discussion we use an overcurrent relay with 90° relay connection and a relay
characteristic angle of 45°.

Im
Reverse
direction
VC 1
6
Forward
direction

VA = Vsc
φsc
Re

VB 5
Directional
characteristic line 45° Isc
-45°
4 Vref
VC 3

Vref =VB -VC

Figure 5: 90° relay connection with a relay characteristic angle of 45° (Phase A-Ground fault)

Note: The forward direction for the measuring element of Phase A is in the range: 45° > jsc > -135°.

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