Optimal Coordination of Overcurrent Relays

using SimplexMethod
ManviSaiwal O.V. GnanaSwathika
ShreyaBajpai School of Electrical Engineering
SonalAggarwal VIT University, Chennai, India
School of Electrical Engineering gnanaswathika.ov@vit.ac.in
VIT University, Chennai, India
manvi.saiwal2015@vit.ac.in
shreya.bajpai2015@vit.ac.in
sonal.aggarwal2015@vit.ac.in

Abstract.-The distribution systems form the largest
part of power system networks. It is important to
protect the distribution system from faults,the
most obvious effect of shunt fault is sudden
increase in current which indeed leads to
distruction. Thus, there should be a primary and a
backup system with proper time grading between
systems, i.e. tripping time should be maximum for the
point farthest from the fault location. Overcurrent (OC)
relays are used for protection against these faults, the
utilization of overcurrent relays is a must for the
protection of devices from high current faults.The
protection system usually consists of a primary system
and a backup system with proper coordination between
the two systems (i.e. their tripping time) in order to
ensure proper clearance of faults in minimum time. In
this paper, Simplex Method is implemented on a two
bus radial system and a three bus radial system for
optimization of Time multiplier setting values (TMS
values) which required for the coordination of
overcurrent relays.
Keywords—OC relays; Time Multiplier Setting;
constrains for optimization; Simplex Method
power system networks..Suitable relay coordination
is essential to achieve proper fault identification and
fault isolation. The number of equipment in a power
system depends on the size of power system and
therefore the requirement of protection relays
increases to protect these equipment and help the
system to work efficiently.The proper coordination is
achieved using optimization techniques.
This paper proposes the use of simplex technique
and on radial distribution network for
identifyingoptimized values of time multiplier setting
(TMS) and time of operation of relays.
II. COORDINATION OF OVERCURRENT RELAY
IN ATWO-BUS SYSTEM OF
ARADIALNETWORK
In Figure.1, A radial network of two bus system
. There are directional OC relays and non
directional OC relays. Coordination of Directional
OC relays is not required for the relays behind
them, thus they are more preferred.

I. INTRODUCTION

Electric power distribution carries power from the

transmission system to consumers. Distribution of
electric power to different consumers is done at low
voltage levels [1]. There are three types of
distribution systems: radial, loop and network.Radial
networks are the easiest to coordinate among the
three. In Radial distribution system, consumers are Figure.1. The Radial two bus network
fed from one source. There must be discrepancies in feeders and relays is shown. To a fault at F, the
power flow due to presence of fault.Fault occurs overcurrent relay R2 will be the first to operate.
mainly due to the sudden built of current and The Overcurrent relay R1 should operate after
therefore an overcurrent (OC) protection is needed in waiting forthe operating time of circuit breaker at
bus 2 plus 0.1sec and the overshoot time of over Limits of Operating Time :
current relay R1.
The stated optimization problem is coordination Minimum topk<topk<Maximum topk (9)
of overcurrent relays. Here the, operating time (top) of Where:
the relays should be minimized and it’s given as, Minimum topk the minimum time requiredfor
n operation of the relay at k for fault at ‘k’
Min z = ∑ topk (1)
k=1 Maximum topk the time required for operation of
where, the relay at k for a fault at ‘k’
k number of relays,
ti operating time of the primary relay
‘i’, for a fault at ‘i’
Bounds on operating time:
ti,mintiti,max (2)
where
ti,min the minimum operating time of III. Simplex Method
relay
at ‘i’ for fault at ‘i’ The simplex method is helpful in finding solutions to
ti,max maximum required time for the problem with an approach of the Linear
operation of the relay at ‘i’ for a Programming problem. It retains the optimality
fault at ‘i’ condition while the main set of equations is still
Coordination Time: feasible. It is also helpful to re-optimize a problem
Coordination time is the minimum time required after the constraints are added to the problem or few
between operation of primary and backup relays . parameters of the same are altered such that previous
tb,i -- ti≥ ∆t (3) optimum result becomesinfeasible.
Algorithm:
where • Start
tb,i the operating time of the backup
relay ‘i', for a fault at ‘i' • Check all the constraints, whether they are in
∆t the coordination time interval (CTI) ≥form, if not convert them into the same.
• Introduce the surplus variables and the
Relay Characteristics– artificial variables to remove the
Inverse definite minimum time (IDMT) inequalities.
characteristics are assumed to be same for all • Form a Simplex Table.
relays [6-7]. • Find Zj-Cj for all columns.
𝜆
𝛼= 𝛾 (4) • If all values are positive then, optimal
(𝑃𝑆𝑀) −1
where solution is obtained.
λ and γ are 0.14 and 0.02 respectively for • If not, then select the key row with largest
normal IDMT relay. negative value and find
RHS
values for each
Xij
fault current row.
PSM = (5)
CT ratio x Relay Setting
• The largest negative ratios’ basic variable
PSM Plug setting multiplier
leaves the table and the Xj variable enters
ti = λ ∗ (TMS)/((PSM)γ – 1) (6) the table.
ti = α*TMS (7)
• Develop the next improved solution by
Substituting (7) in (1) gives repeating the process till optimum solution is
k
achieved.
Min y = ∑αi(TMS)i (8) • Stop.

The Time Multiplier Setting value (TMS value)

IV.APPLICATION OF ALGORITHM
is found using the optimization techniques .
2-bus Radial Network
Consider the 2 bus radial system shown in Fig.1.It
includes a 220 kV, 100 MVA source (also taken as Cb Cj 2.63 2 0 0 0
the base kV and base MVA of the system). The BV X1 X2 S1 S S3 Sol.
CTI is the coordination time for the relay and is 2
taken as 0.57 s. The maximum fault current just 2 X2 0 1 0 0 -0.5 0.1
beyond relay R1 is 2108A and beyond R2 is found
2.63 X1 1 0 0.3 0 -0.3 0.25
to be 1703 A .Using these values PMS and α are
derived using (3) and (2) respectively and is 0 S2 0 0 1.9 0 0.05 0.299
tabulated in Table 1. The plug settings of both the Zj 2.63 2 0.8 0 1.88
relays are assumed to be 1. Fault is considered just Cj- 0 0 -0.8 0 -1.8
after Rb and just after Ra. According to the fault Zj
location, the primary and backup relays are Table 3-iteration 3
selected. Primary protection always acts first and
in case it fails to clear the fault, then the backup
protection comes into play. Both Ra and Rb are
directional relays. X1 X2
Rb being the primary relay operates first when the Simplex 2- 0.259 0.1
fault occurs at F. Let Rb operate 0.2 s after the bus
fault inception to ensure that it does not operate for Table 4-RESULTS (2-Bus)
current surges .Relay Ra should operate after the
CTI, which equals to the sum of operating time of V. COORDINATION OF OVERCURRENT
circuit breaker (CB) at bus 2, overshoot time of RELAY IN ATHREE BUS SYSTEM OF A
relay Ra and 0.2 sec. RADIALNETWORK
Let x1 and x2 be TMS values of relay Ra and Rb
respectively. The problem is described as: A 3 –bus radial system is shown in Figure.2. A, B
and C are the directional OC relays. Fault locations
Min z = 2.63 x1 +2x2. are considered as just after C, just after B or just after
Subject to A. If fault occurs at ‘F, C acts as the primary relay
2.97x1-2x2≥0.57 and B followed by A act as backup relays.

2.63x1≥0.2

2x2 ≥0.2

Cb Cj 2.63 2 0 0 0
B.V X1 X2 S1 S2 S3
0 S1 -2.97 2 1 0 0
0 S2 -2.63 0 0 1 0 Figure. 2.
0 S3 0 -2 0 0 1
The radial three bus system
Zj 0 0 0 0 0
Let the operating time of relay C be 0.2s after the
Cj-Zj 2.63 2 0 0 0
fault inception. Relay B should operate after a
Table 1-iteration 1 fixed time which is known as coordination time
interval (CTI). CTI in turn depends on operational
Cb Cj 2.63 2 0 0 0 time of circuit breaker at bus 3, overshoot time of
BV X1 X2 S1 S2 S3 Sol. relay B and time of operation of relay C i.e. 0.2s.
2.63 X1 1 -0.6 0.33 0 0 0.19 The operating time of primary relay must be less
0 S2 0 0.01 1.98 0 0 0.299 than the backup relay .
0 S3 0 -2 0 0 1 -0.2 Keeping the above concept in view problem
Zj 2.63 -1.7 0.86 0 0 formulation is done and will be solved by Simplex
Cj- 0 3.76 0.86 0 0 Method.
Zj
Table 2-iteration 2
 CB Cj
VI .APPLICATION OF ALGORITHM B.V X1 X2 X3 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 SOL.
0 X1 1 - 0 - 0 0 0 0 0.19
0.673 0.33
The optimum value of TMS for all the relays are
0 S2 2.97 -2.27 2.27 0 1 0 0 0 -0.5
found with the help of above algorithms. The number 0 S3 0 -1.76 0 - 0 1 0 0 -
of iteration increases as the number of bus increases. 0.86 0.299
A three bus radial network is taken into account to 0 S4 0 -2 0 0 0 1 0 0 -0.2
verify the algorithm . 0 S5 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 1 -0.2
2.27
The maximum fault current just beyond A, B and
Zj 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
C are taken as 4000A, 3000A and 2000A Cj- 2.63 2 2.27 0 0 0 0 0
respectively. The plug setting of each relay is 1. Zj
Current transformer (CT) ratio of relay A, B and C Table 2-iteration 2
are 300:1, 100:1 and 100:1 respectively. Minimum
operating time of each relay is 0.2s and CTI for the
relay is taken as 0.57s. PSM and α are calculated
using equations (5) and (4) respectively.
Let x1,x2 and x3 be the TMS value for relays A, B Similarly on operating this eqations for five more
and C respectively. The problem is: iterations we obtained the optimal value of TMS.
Min y = 2.63x1+2x2+2.27x3. TMS OF RELAYS:
X1 X2 X3
Subject to 2.97x1-2x2 ≥ 0.57 (10) Simplex 3- 0.415 0.33 0.088
2.27x2-2.27x3 ≥ 0.57 (11) bus
2.63x1 ≥ 0.2 (12) Table 3: RESULTS (3 – Bus)
2x2 ≥0.2 (13)
2.27x3 ≥0.2 (14)
VII. CONCLUSION
Here we assume the upper limit of the TMS of all
relays as 1.2 and the lower limit as 0.1. The equations
A power system requires overcurrent relays in order
are reconstructed as indicated below.
to protect system from faults .The protection of
system from overcurrent faults is done by using
Min y=2.63x1+2x2+2.27x3+0s1+0s2+0s3+0s4+0s5
overcurrent relays. The purpose of this paper is to
2.97x1-2x2+s1=0.57
provide optimum relay values to minimize time
2.27x2+2.27x3+s2=0.57
multiplier settings and to avoid mal operations of
2.63x1+s3=0.2
relay. This paper discusses linear programming
2x2+s4=0.2
technique ‘Simplex Method’ for optimum
2.27x3+s5=0.2
coordination of Overcurrent Relays.The fact is that
CB Cj
simplex algorithm may take more iteration to
B.V X1 X2 X3 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 SOL. converge; nevertheless the specific algorithm
0 S1 - 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 -0.5 includes artificial and surplus variables making it
2.97 more accurate in practical applications.
0 S2 0 - 2.27 0 1 0 0 0 -0.5
2.27
0 S3 - 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 -0.2
2.63
0 S4 0 -2 0 0 0 1 0 0 -0.2
0 S5 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 1 -0.2
2.27
Zj 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cj-Zj 2.63 2 2.27 0 0 0 0 0
Table 1-iteration 1