Substation Automation System – Value Additions in Condition Monitoring

This paper discusses the value for Bus CVTs, it is implemented in

additions made by automation system BCUs supplied for measuring Bus
in the area of condition monitoring of CVTs. Logics for Bus CVT become
CVT, imbalance bay/feeder currents difficult for the station without SAS.
which shows the intactness of primary For such stations, alternatives may be
circuit and monitoring of measuring explored for the availability of spare
system. analog channels in any numerical
relay available in the station.
CVT Condition Monitoring
The logic implemented in the BCU has
One of the best methods of been shown in Fig.1.
monitoring the healthiness of CVT is
by monitoring drift between phase R-N VOLT
Abs
1
2
Sub
Y
Abs I/P SET UP
LIMIT
Y

secondary voltages. As per

POWERGRID O&M guidelines, drift I/P SET UP
Abs Sub Abs Alarm to HMI
Y-N VOLT 1
Y or BO of the
Y
2 LIMIT

between CVT secondary Ph-E voltages

should not be more than 2V. B-N VOLT Abs
1
2
Sub
Y
Abs I/P SET UP

LIMIT
Y

Accordingly, there was schedule of

monitoring the same quarterly. Now a
days, numerical relays/BCUs have
facility of logics to be implemented on
real time conditions. This opportunity
has been grabbed and logics
implemented at Kalivanthapattu SS
as a sample basis. The concept
considered to implement this
monitoring is as follows:
Only one core per CVT is considered
for monitoring of secondary,
preferably metering core due to higher
accuracy. Hence logics are written
onto respective BCU (metering core
always connected to BCU) that was
supplied along with SAS. The stations,
where BCUs are not available (ie.,
stations without SAS) logics can be
built in numerical relays ie., on
protection core of CVT and
annunciation may be wired to RTU
through a binary output of numerical
relay.
Fig.1 Logic for measuring CVT
Secondary Drift.
Equivalent threshold value of 2V can
be set in Set Upper Limit gate (This
gate is available in Siemens supplied
IEDs – equivalent gate available may
be used incase of other suppliers).
The logics were implemented at
Kalivanthapattu SS for all the CVT
metering cores and tested
successfully at HMI and Remote HMI
alarm for the set drift limits.
Unlike knowing the drift in monthly or
quarterly measurement, the drift
violation is known instantaneously at
HMI and Remote HMI. This will help in
preventing sudden failure/blasting of
CVTs and hence reducing line outage
due to such unwarranted occurrences.
This information speeds up taking

Logics for feeder CVTs, are decisions for the replacement of faulty
implemented in main bay BCUs and CVTs and hence the replacement.
Current Imbalance Monitoring
Monitoring
Current in EHV circuit is generally
balanced one with small variation.
Imbalance in primary circuit may
happen due to the following reasons
• Mis – alignment of isolators
• Loosely connected jumpers
and terminal connectors of
primary circuit.
• Carbonization of terminal
connectors of primary circuit.
Why Current Imbalance Monitoring
230kV Bus Coupler and Transfer Bus
Coupler.
Except for 400kV tie bays, metering
core CTs are available to BCUs for all
the aforementioned cases. For Tie bay
measurement, the logic is built in LBB
relay ie., on protection core CT. And
Tie LBB relay is not connected to LAN
as there is no LAN port available on
the relay. The logic built on LBB relay
initiates its Binary output and is wired
to near IED and from IED, event is
routed to HMI.
I-R PH I/P
Abs
1
Sub Abs I/P SET UP
Y
Y
2 LIMIT

When imbalance current due to the Abs Sub Abs I/P SET UP Alarm to HMI
I-Y PH I/P 1

aforementioned reasons left 2

Y
LIMIT
Y
or BO of the

unnoticed for a longer durations, it Abs Sub Abs I/P SET UP

may cause disastrous consequences

I-B PH I/P 1
Y
Y
2 LIMIT

particularly, when one of the parallel
paths, is under shutdown. Further,
with this remote operation/SCADA
concepts, unlike manual recording,
analog data is being logged into soft
records automatically. Due to lesser
manual intervention, there is high
chance for unnoticing of such
incidences for longer durations. These
conditions cause the need of
monitoring current imbalance in the
bays/elements of switchyard,
particularly in remote stations.
Concept
Logic concept is same as used in CVT
secondary drift measurement.
Metering core of the CTs preferred
wherever feasible due to more
accuracy. The concept at
Kalivanthapattu Substation uses,
feeder current imbalance (both 400kV
and 230kV), ICT current imbalance
(both HV & IV) and 400kV Tie bays,
Fig.2 Logic for measuring Current
Imbalance.
Equivalent threshold value can be set
based on the experience of the feeder
past history. Generally this value
ranges from 4% – 8% of the rated
current ie., 40 to 80A for a 1000/1A
CT.
As discussed earlier, this is most
important parameter to be monitored
especially for remote operated
stations. The event of imbalance
current for the said bays/elements
has been routed to local HMI at
Kalivanthapattu SS and remote HMI
at Sriperumbudur SS.
Measurement Monitoring System -
MW Balance Measurement
For a substation MW of incoming and
outgoing feeders are balanced. MW
derived from in elements and out
elements can be verified for the
balance condition. Imbalance
condition may arise due to following
reasons.
• Unhealthy CT secondary circuit
• Unhealthy CVT secondary
circuit including Fuse failure
and non switching over CVT
circuits during Bus-shut downs.
• Faulty Measurement Units or
errors in configuration
Incidentally, there is no
supervision/monitoring system
available for such occurrences unless
it is detected by the manual
intervention or else during SEM data
uploading etc.,
values are derived from different IEDs,
logic has to be written in station level
devices ie., at gateway/PAS. SICAM
PAS is a powerful tool that is supplied
by M/s. Siemens at Kalivanthapattu to
read all the station data from all IEDs
and switches and sending them to
HMI/RHMI/RLDC. Logics can also be
written at station level ie., at SICAM-
PAS. All analog values are available at
PAS, which can be tagged to logics
and logic output to be sent to HMI as
alarm.
Solutions for day to day problems can
be easily arrived at automated
substations. This proves cost
effectiveness of automated substation
in O&M era and thus it always adds
value to the existing system without

Concept

The real time MW of incoming and

outgoing feeders are routed to logics
and compared for more than 3% error.
Incase difference between in and out
MWs becomes more than 3%,
corresponding event will be sent to
HMI and RHMI also. Two ways of MW
balance modes are being
implemented at Kalivanthapattu SS.

• MW balance of incoming and

outgoing feeders
• MW balance of HV and IV
circuits of ICTs

With this entire measurement system

comes under monitoring.

The logic implementation is done

using different available gates similar
to CVT drift measurement and Current
imbalance measurement. As analog