Line Differential Protection With CT Saturation Fault Discrimination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional line differential protection systems face challenges in accurately discriminating faults, particularly under conditions of small negative sequence components, CT saturation during external faults, and complex fault scenarios, leading to potential maloperations.

Innovation Solution

The method involves sensing currents at both ends of a transmission line, computing differential and sum currents, and determining fault parameters to differentiate between internal and external faults, while also detecting current transformer saturation, using pre-set values and iterative comparisons to generate control signals for the protection system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional fault discrimination based on negative sequence components is used, then the method is simple to implement, but the reliability deteriorates under small negative sequence components (e.g., windfarm control scenarios)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidfault discrimination reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the discrimination parameter from negative sequence components to the ratio between differential current and restraining current. This parameter transformation allows the system to maintain reliability under small negative sequence components while preserving implementation simplicity through straightforward current ratio calculation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary discrimination criterion based on current ratio comparison. This intermediary method bridges the gap between simple implementation and reliable discrimination by using the relationship between differential and restraining currents as a mediator that works effectively even when negative sequence components are small.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If CT saturation detection is performed during external faults, then the security against maloperation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection securityVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges CT saturation detection with the existing fault discrimination function by using the same differential and restraining current calculations. This combination allows saturation detection during external faults without requiring separate detection mechanisms, thus improving security while minimizing additional complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the differential and restraining current calculations serve multiple functions: both fault discrimination and CT saturation detection. This multi-functionality approach enables the system to detect saturation during external faults using the same computational framework, avoiding the need for dedicated saturation detection hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the protection system blocks tripping during external faults, then false tripping is prevented, but the response time to evolving internal faults is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefalse tripping preventionVSAvoidfault response time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic blocking mechanism that adapts to evolving fault conditions. By continuously monitoring the current ratio and fault characteristics, the system can dynamically adjust the blocking state, allowing rapid response when faults evolve from external to internal conditions while maintaining protection against false tripping during stable external faults.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback from continuous monitoring of differential and restraining currents to determine whether to block or allow tripping. This feedback mechanism enables the system to respond appropriately to changing fault conditions, preventing false tripping during external faults while quickly detecting and responding to evolving internal faults that change the current ratio characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4372937A1A fault discrimination and a current transformer saturation detection for a differential protection system
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 HITACHI ENERGY LTD
  • EP4372937A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4372937A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4372937A1 patent drawingFigure 2c

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a differential protection system for an electrical power system, the method comprising: sensing at least one first current through a first end of a transmission line of the electrical power system and at least one second current through a second end of the transmission line; determining, based on the sensed at least one first current and the sensed at least one second current, a first computed current and a second computed current; determining, based on the first computed current and the second computed current, at least one parameter; determining, based on the determined at least one parameter and/or the first computed current and the second computed current, a fault in the electrical power transmission line; and controlling, based on the fault, the differential protection system. The present disclosure also relates to a respective device and system.