See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/344173602

GENERATOR UNDER-VOLTAGE AND OVER-VOLTAGE PROTECTION USING

COMMERCIAL RELAY WITH REAL-TIME DIGITAL SIMULATOR FOR POWER
ENGINEERING EDUCATION

Conference Paper · January 2017

CITATIONS READS
0 2,480

1 author:

Akshay Kumar Saha

University of KwaZulu-Natal
172 PUBLICATIONS 1,521 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Akshay Kumar Saha on 09 September 2020.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 GENERATOR UNDER-VOLTAGE AND OVER-VOLTAGE
PROTECTION USING COMMERCIAL RELAY WITH REAL-TIME
DIGITAL SIMULATOR FOR POWER ENGINEERING
EDUCATION

AK Saha*

*University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mazisi Kunene Road, 4001, Durban, South Africa

Abstract: This paper presents studies of generator under-voltage and over-voltage protection using a
commercial relay that is used for protection of power utility generators in power plants. The studies
have been performed on a real-time digital simulation platform that enables studying power systems
in real-time scenarios and connecting the relay in hardware-in-loop configuration. The under-voltage
and over-voltage elements were set for chosen electric generator according to IEEE standards. The
results of the study have been presented and analysed in the paper. Main aim is to use this generator
protection study for education and training and research case studies.

Key words: Generator, protection, under-voltage, over-voltage, relay.

1. INTRODUCTION selection of trip/alarm action produced by different

protection functions varies depending on their
Modern power systems have very large expensive experience, philosophy, interpretation of standards, and
generators connected to them. Various faults occurring recommendations from equipment in use [4, 6, 8].
in them may cause serious problems to the generators
due to severe mechanical and thermal damage. Hence, This work utilized real-time digital simulator (RTDS) as
the requirements that need to be met are stringent for a platform to simulate case studies in which there is a
generator protection systems [1]. Generators in power generator connected to grid and under-voltage/over-
plants experience short-circuits and abnormal conditions voltage conditions were simulated and tested with
on them [2], [3] and as they become older, the chances commercial multifunction generator protection relay.
of failure of insulation increases because of RTDS allows users to use modern digital multifunction
deterioration of insulation [3]. The loss of a major generator software relay and connection of hardware
generating unit for an extended period of time would relay/s to test its functionalities under abnormal
result in very costly replacement power and repair costs condition/s simulated on the generator connected to a
[3]. Therefore, whenever generators are subjected to grid/system under particular situation.
such faults or abnormal conditions, automatic detection
of such condition/s are essential so that the generator Section 2 discusses about generator under-voltage and
can be tripped and hence protected from any damage or over-voltage protection schemes while section 3
complete destruction [2, 4-5]. provides relevant information of RTDS. Section 4
presents the system configuration considered for the
Protection relays for generators over the years has work with simulation/experimental results and analyses
advanced through electromechanical, to static to digital illustrated in section 5. Finally, the work is concluded in
to numerical relays and finally to single or dual section 6.
multifunction generator protection schemes (MGPS)
[4], [6]. Recently, digital multifunction relays are 2. GENERATOR UNDER-VOLTAGE AND OVER-
widely used for protection of power system apparatus VOLTAGE PROTECTON SCHEMES
such as generators as they provide most of the
protection functions required for generator protection Generators at the power plants might be subjected to
that results in sot savings when compared to individual both under and over-voltage conditions that are detected
relays [7, 8]. MGPS are made up of two or more relay and equipment is protected using settings according to
functions that are implemented on a single hardware levels of both under and over-voltages.
platform [5]. Modern digital multifunction relays can
provide protection, together with control, monitoring, 2.1 Generator under-voltage and protection settings
metering and communication functions [8]. MGPS also
often includes additional features such as accidental Generator under-voltage condition may arise due to
energization, sequential trip logic, or open breaker sudden increase in load on generator, fault conditions in
detection [6]. Reliability is a critical issue as many relay nearby system, failure of automatic voltage regulator
functions are integrated on one platform, and it is (AVR) etc. [9]. Usually, generators are designed to
addressed by providing different models, each with a operate continuously at a minimum value of 95% of its
portion of protective functions, backups for critical rated voltage to supply rated active power at rated
components and self-checking functions etc. The
frequency. However, if the generator terminal voltage is voltage and a time-voltage curve is chosen which
reduced below 95% of its rated value, it may start provides an operating time of about 2.5 seconds at
importing reactive power from the connected grid and 140% of the pickup setting while the instantaneous
cause stability problems in the system together with element is set at 130% to 150% of generator rated
malfunctioning of voltage sensitive devices [6]. Also voltage.
the performance of generator auxiliary plant fed through The over-voltage protection with two stages of
a unit-transformer from generator terminals could be pickup value with definite time relays based on the
adversely affected by prolonged under-voltage
conditions [10]. Hence, it is imperative that there is an the first stage is set at 110% of generator rated
alarm on an under-voltage condition and not to trip the voltage with a time delay of 10 s to 15 s while the
generator. Under-voltage conditions on generators can second stage pickup is set at 150% of generator
be detected by one of the following types of devices [6, rated voltage with a definite time delay of 2 to 5
10]. cycles.
Under-voltage relay with instantaneous and inverse
time characteristics in which inverse time 3. REAL-TIME DIGITAL SIMULATOR
characteristics element is set at about 90% of its
rated voltage with a time-voltage curve so that RTDS is one of those specially designed parallel
operating time is about 9.0 seconds at 90% of processing computation facilities that comprises both
pickup setting while the instantaneous element is hardware and software. It is used to perform study on
set about 70% of its rated voltage. electromagnetic transient phenomena in real-time [7,
12]. RTDS includes accurate power system component
Under-voltage relay with two stages of voltage
models that represent complex elements and used for
pickup and definite time delay set points in which
making a physical power systems. Further, a powerful
the first stage is typically set at 90% of generator
user friendly graphical user interface, referred to as
rated voltage with a definite time delay of 10.0
RSCAD enables the user to construct, run and analyse
seconds and the second stage pickup is set at 80%
power systems. It also allows connection of hardware
of generator rated voltage with a definite time delay
such as power system controllers, protective relays etc.
of 2 seconds [6].
[12, 13]. Fig. 1 shows the configuration used for study
of generator under-voltage and over-voltage protection
2.2 Generator over-voltage and protection settings
using a relay. The system under study is constructed
using RSCAD software and simulated on RTDS
Generators might be subjected to over-voltage at its
processors and results of simulation/s are sent back to
terminals for various reasons such as over speeding, loss
RSCAD for analyses. The relay in turn sends a trip
of load or failure of AVR, transient surges in the
signal back to RTDS which can utilised for corrective
network, or prolonged power frequency over-voltage in
actions in the system if a trip condition is reached for
an isolated network or with networks with weak
any element [8, 13].
interconnections due to fault conditions [9, 10]. Such
over-voltage condition causes stress on insulation
PC
material and over fluxing of generator and transformer RTDS
System
[11]. For gas and steam turbine generators, this can be Circuit
Inputs
mitigated by the use of speed control and AVR. For Outputs
these reasons, the generator should be provided with Trip
Signal
Current
power frequency over-voltage protection, using time Inputs
delayed element, either inverse definite minimum time Current and
Voltage Amplifier
Relay
or definite time. The time delay should be so chosen Voltage
Inputs
that it is long enough to prevent operation during
normal regulator action and hence, AVR and its Fig. 1: System configuration
transient response should be taken into account. A high-
set element can also be used with a very short definite 4. SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
time delay or instantaneous setting to provide a rapid
HT
tripping in extreme situations [10]. Transformer
LT
555 j0.5
Infinite
MVA
To protect a generator from over-voltage condition, P
Et j0.15
Bus
Q
following types of schemes can be employed [6]: j0.93
Eb
Using instantaneous over-voltage relay and over- Fig. 2: System under study
voltage relay with inverse time characteristics in
which the pickup setting of the inverse time This paper utilises the configuration of a generator rated
element is set at about 110% of generator rated at 555 MVA, operating at 24 kV rated voltage and
connected to grid through a step-up transformer to 400 power amplifier is connected output of which are in turn
kV parallel transmission lines [14] as shown in Fig. 2. connected to the input of the relay. The trip signal from
In [14], the system has 4 555 MVA generators and the relay is taken in simulation through Gigabit-
hence for this study, the transmission line parameters transceiver front panel interface card (GTFPI).
were changed corresponding to 555 MVA to mimic the
system described in [14]. The generator is equipped 5.1 Generator running under normal and reduced
with IEEE governor, IEEE exciter and IEEE power excitation levels
system stabiliser (PSS) to ensure that the generator and
its auxiliaries resemble practical standard equipment To start with, the generator was operated at 0.9 p.u. of
used in power generating stations. Although the active power and 0.436 p.u. of reactive power.
generator is synchronised and connected to an infinite Generator quantities under this operating condition with
bus, the addition of the governor model provides a field current at rated terminal voltage of 1 p.u. with
means to control active power generated by the generator being equipped AVR/exciter and PSS were
generator as is done in practical power station observed as in shown in Figs. 5-8. Subsequently, the
generators. generator was put on manual excitation control at a
level such that the generator was still able to supply the
A manual excitation control system as shown in Fig. 3 active and reactive powers while maintaining its
is used to simulate under and over-voltage on the terminal voltage at 1 p.u. Fig. 5 shows the field currents
generator. The generator rotor winding receives its with normal excitation fed from the exciter/AVR, from
voltage from the exciter under normal operating the manually controlled exciter and field current at 95%
condition. However, for inducing under-voltage and of rated terminal voltage. This illustrates that the
over-voltage conditions, the exciter circuit is manual exciter control is smooth in operation as
disconnected and the manually controlled voltage is expected and provides steady values of field currents.
supplied to the rotor field winding. Fig. 6 depicts the active power supplied by the generator
with terminal voltage of 1 p.u. and 0.95 p.u. under
AVR/
excitation from exciter/AVR or manual control. It also
Exciter
To
shows that the active power remains the same with
Rotor changes in excitation which is expected.
Field
Manual
Excitation

Fig. 3: Generator field excitation control

5. SIMULATION/TEST RESULTS AND

ANALYSES
Fig. 5: Generator field currents
The following sections present case studies together under various operating conditions
with analyses considered for under-voltage and over-
voltage elements of commercial generator protection
relay. Fig. 4 shows the connections in details for the
relay under test together with RTDS and current/voltage
amplification device.
HT
P
Q
LT TransformerBreaker
CT j0.5
555
MVA
Infinite
Bus
Fig. 6: Generator active powers
Et j0.15
PT j0.93 under various operating conditions
Eb
Digital Interface
Digital to Analogue Panel (GTFPI)
Converter (GTAO) Trip
V inputs I inputs
V inputs
Power Amplifier Relay
V and I
I inputs

Fig. 4: Connection of relay with RTDS

Fig. 7: Generator reactive powers
The currents and voltages from the simulation is taken under various operating conditions
out through the Gigabit-transceiver analogue output
(GTAO) card which utilizes 16-bit digital to analogue Figs. 7 and 8 show that there is a drop in reactive power
converter and allows high accuracy and offset from the initial value supplied by the generator as the
calibration. From the output of the GTAO card, the excitation is reduced manually to a value at the which
the generator terminal voltage is 0.95 p.u. which is generator reactive power decreases while it still
again as expected because as the terminal voltage is maintains the active power. However, when the
reduced, the reactive power supplied by the generator generator terminal voltage goes below its set value
should reduce and vice-versa. chosen inside the protection scheme, the level 1 of
under-voltage relay picks up as shown in Fig. 13 and the
It has been observed that under these operating generator breaker trips as shown in Fig. 14.
conditions while changing the excitation from
exciter/AVR to manual control and reducing the
generator terminal voltage to 0.95 p.u., under-voltage
elements did not issue any trip signal and hence the
generator breaker remains closed as is shown in Figs. 9
and 10 respectively, the reason being the generator
terminal voltage did not reach under-voltage trip set-
point.
Fig. 12: Generator MW and MVAR (UV level 1)

Fig. 8: Generator terminal voltages Fig. 13: Relay trip signal (UV level 1)
under various operating conditions

Fig. 14: Breaker status (UV level 1)

Fig. 9: Relay trip signal at 0.95 p.u. voltage
5.1.2. Under-voltage element level 2 testing

For testing level 2 of under-voltage relay, excitation was

reduced to reduce the generator terminal voltage below
level 2 set value (80%) at 73.8672% of its rated voltage
which is shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 16 shows active and
reactive powers when the generator is forced to run at a
lower level of terminal voltage with reduced excitation.
Fig. 10: Breaker status at 0.95 p.u. voltage Fig. 17 and Fig. 18 respectively illustrate relay trip
signal that causes generator breaker to trip.
5.1.1. Under-voltage element level 1 testing

Fig. 15: Generator field current and terminal voltage

Fig. 11: Generator field current and terminal voltage (UV level 2)
(UV level 1)

The generator under-voltage relay element level 1 was

tested by reducing the generator terminal voltage to
89.759% of rated voltage, which is below the level 1 set
point (90%). Fig. 11 shows the corresponding field
current and terminal voltage. Fig. 12 illustrates that the Fig. 16: Generator MW and MVAR (UV level 2)
 5.2.1.1. Over-voltage level 1 test

The generator was set to run at 110.615% of rated

voltage by increasing its excitation with level 1 set at
110%. The field current and terminal voltage are shown
in Fig. 23 while generator active and reactive powers
Fig. 17: Relay trip signal (UV level 2)
are shown in Fig. 24 when the generator is operating
under this overexcited condition. The trip signal from
the over-voltage relay level 1 is shown in Fig. 25 and
the generator breaker status in Fig. 26 shows tripping of
generator.

Fig. 18: Breaker status (UV level 2)

5.2.1. Over-voltage element testing

For over-voltage element testing, the generator was first

operated at a voltage level which is higher than its rated Fig. 23: Generator field current and terminal voltage
voltage but below level 1 pickup setting. The field (OV level 1)
excitation was increased to run the generator at 105% of
its rated voltage as shown Fig. 19. The changes in the
active and reactive powers because of excessive
excitation shown in Fig. 20 are as expected because
excessive over excitation causes the generator to run in Fig. 24: Generator MW and MVAR (OV level 1)
over-voltage condition. Fig. 21 shows the relay trip
signal while generator breaker status is shown in Fig. 22
when the generator is running at 105% of its rated
voltage.

Fig. 25: Relay trip signal (OV level 1)

Fig. 26: Breaker status (OV level 1)

Fig. 19: Generator field current and terminal voltage
(OV) 5.2.1.2. Over-voltage level 2 test

To test level 2 of over-voltage relay, the generator was

run at 131.51% of its rated voltage level while the set
value is 130%. Generator field current, terminal voltage,
active and reactive powers are shown in Fig. 27 and 28
respectively. The over-voltage on the generator and
Fig. 20: Generator MW and MVAR (OV) tripping of the generator breaker are shown in Fig. 29.

Fig. 21: Relay trip signal (OV)

Fig. 27: Generator field current and terminal voltage
(OV level 2)

Fig. 22: Breaker status (OV)

Fig. 28: Generator MW and MVAR (OV level 2)
View publication stats

industrial-sized generators using digital

IEEE Transactions on Industry
Applications, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 1117-1123,
July/August 1997.

Fig. 29: Relay trip and breaker status (OV level 2) IEEE Industry Applications
Magazine, pp. 37-47, March/April 2003.
5.2.2. Over-voltage test with load reduction on the [4] M.V.V.S. Yalla, and E.C. Fennell, et al.:
generator
IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery,
The generator active power was reduced from full load Vol. 14, No. 14, pp. 1285-1294, October 1999.
condition using governor control with constant [5] M.S. Baldwin, W.A. Elmore, and J.J. Bonk:
excitation voltage and over-voltage condition was -generator protection for increased
observed at the generator terminals which is shown in IEEE Transactions on Power
Fig. 30. The over-voltage level 1 picked up causing Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS 99, No. 3, pp.
generator circuit breaker to trip as is shown in Fig. 31. 982-989, May/June 1980.
[6
for AC generator protections C37.102 TM -
IEEE Power Engineering Society, IEEE, 3 Park
Avenue, New York, NY, 10016-5997, USA, pp. 1-
177, November 2006.
[7
of the Beckwith Electric M-0430 multifunction
Fig. 30: Generator field current, terminal voltage, MW protection relay using a real-time digital simulator
and MVAR (load reduction) rst International
Conference on Digital Power System Simulators
, pp. 49-54, April 1995.
[8 -ended

Transmission and Distribution Conference and

Fig. 31: Relay trip and breaker status (load reduction) Exposition (T&D), IEEE PES, pp. 1-10, 2012.
[9] N.G. Chothani, A.K. Desai, M.B. Raichura and A.S.
6. CONCLUSION

The paper presented the simulation/experimental studies International Journal of Advanced Research in
of generator under-voltage and over-voltage protection Electrical, Electronics, and Instrumentation
elements using a commercial relay and the results were Engineering, Vol. 3, Issue. 4 pp. 8569-8575, April
analysed to conform theories under such operating 2014.
conditions and as well as the operation of respective [10
levels of under-voltage and over-voltage elements. guide, chapter 17, generator and generator-
These studies provide the basics for training and Alstom Grid, pp. 17-1-17-
education in generation protection areas and developing 35. May 2011.
further research case studies under such abnormal [11] ABB Oy.,
conditions. The same configurations and underlying automation handbook, Power system protection,
principles can be used to connect any commercially ABB, Mouttitie,
available relay used for generator under-voltage and pp. 1-36, October 2010.
over-voltage protection. [12 Real Time Digital
Simulation, pp. 1-517, November 2006.
7. REFERENCES [13] RTDS, Applications, closed-loop testing of
physical devices,
http://www.rtds.com/applications/closed-loop-
split-phase transverse differential protection based testing/closed-loop-testing.html
IEEE Transactions on [14
Power Delivery, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 1817-1823, Electric Power Research Institute, McGraw-Hill,
October 2006. Inc., New York, ISBN-13:978-0-07-035958-1.