Current Differential (87L) Settings; Introduction; Current Differential Pickup; Current Diff Restraint 1 - GE L30 Instruction Manual

9.2 CURRENT DIFFERENTIAL (87L) SETTINGS

9.2CURRENT DIFFERENTIAL (87L) SETTINGS
Software is available from the GE Grid Solutions website that is helpful in selecting settings for the specific applica-
tion. Checking the performance of selected element settings with respect to known power system fault parameters
makes it relatively simple to choose the optimum settings for the application.
NOTE
This software program is also useful for establishing test parameters. It is strongly recommended this program be
downloaded.
The differential characteristic is defined by four settings:
, and
RESTRAINT 2 CURRENT DIFF BREAK PT
are a trade-off between operation on internal faults against restraint during external faults.
This setting established the sensitivity of the element to high impedance faults, and it is therefore desirable to choose a low
level, but this can cause a maloperation for an external fault causing CT saturation. The selection of this setting is influ-
enced by the decision to use charging current compensation. If charging current compensation is Enabled, pickup should
be set to a minimum of 150% of the steady-state line charging current, to a lower limit of 10% of CT rating. If charging cur-
rent compensation is Disabled, pickup should be set to a minimum of 250% of the steady-state line charging current to a
lower limit of 10% of CT rating.
If the CT at one terminal can saturate while the CTs at other terminals do not, this setting should be increased by approxi-
mately 20 to 50% (depending on how heavily saturated the one CT is while the other CTs are not saturated) of CT rating to
prevent operation on a close-in external fault.
This setting controls the element characteristic when current is below the breakpoint, where CT errors and saturation
effects are not expected to be significant. The setting is used to provide sensitivity to high impedance internal faults, or
when system configuration limits the fault current to low values. A setting of 10 to 20% is appropriate in most cases, but this
should be raised to 30% if the CTs can perform quite differently during faults.
This setting controls the element characteristic when current is above the breakpoint, where CT errors and saturation
effects are expected to be significant. The setting is used to provide security against high current external faults. A setting
of 30 to 40% is appropriate in most cases, but this should be raised to 70% if the CTs can perform quite differently during
faults.
Assigning the
single slope bias characteristics.
NOTE
This setting controls the threshold where the relay changes from using the restraint 1 to the restraint 2 characteristics. Two
approaches can be considered.
1. Program the setting to 150 to 200% of the maximum emergency load current on the line, on the assumption that a
maintained current above this level is a fault.
9
2. Program the setting below the current level where CT saturation and spurious transient differential currents can be
expected.
The first approach gives comparatively more security and less sensitivity; the second approach provides less security for
more sensitivity.
9-4
(breakpoint). As is typical for current-based differential elements, the settings

CURRENT DIFF RESTRAINT 1(2)

L30 Line Current Differential System
,
CURRENT DIFF PICKUP CURRENT DIFF RESTRAINT 1

9.2.2 CURRENT DIFFERENTIAL PICKUP

settings to the same value reverts dual slope bias characteristics into
9 APPLICATION OF SETTINGS

9.2.1 INTRODUCTION

,
CURRENT DIFF
9.2.3 CURRENT DIFF RESTRAINT 1

9.2.4 CURRENT DIFF RESTRAINT 2

9.2.5 CURRENT DIFF BREAK POINT

GE Multilin