Abstract: The reliability of transformer differential relays is enhanced by providing a method and apparatus which enable improved discrimination between transformer current differentials due to transformer inrush current and current differentials due the occurrence of an internal fault. This improvement in discrimination is provided by generating a first signal representative of currents flowing in at least two windings of the transformer, a second signal representative of a positive portion of the first signal, and a third signal representative of a negative portions of the first signal. A first output signal is generated when the magnitude of the second signal exceeds a first predetermined value, and a second output signal is generated when the magnitude of the third signal exceeds a second predetermined value. A trip signal is generated upon coincidence of the first and second output signals.

Abstract: A circuit for preventing the generation of an erroneous output signal from a protective relay for detecting faults in a three phase alternating current electrical power distribution system, which relay uses a full wave rectified signal as an operate quantity. The circuit includes a band pass filter having an input adapted to receive the full wave rectified signal; a center frequency which is tuned to the frequency of at least one principal harmonic component of the full wave rectified signal; a gain substantially equal to -1; and an output. A two-input summing amplifier has one input which is adapted to receive the full wave rectified signal and the other input which is connected to the output of the band pass filter.

Abstract: An out-of-step blocking unit of a protective relay for detecting faults in a three phase alternating current electrical power distribution system utilizes restraint signals in conjunction with an operating signal to generate a net operate signal as a restraint to the relay in order to prevent operation of circuit breakers associated with the relay as a result of load swings in the power distribution system. The restraint signals include a signal related to a negative sequence component of current flowing in the distribution system; a signal related to a zero sequence component of current flowing in the power distribution system; and a signal related to a .DELTA. (IZ-V) quantity which is the difference between fault and prefault values of the quantity (IZ-V).

Abstract: A protective relay for detecting faults within a predetermined protected zone of a three phase alternating current electrical power distribution system, of the type which utilizes at least one restraint signal in conjunction with at least one operate signal to generate a net operate signal, generates an operate quantity which is related to a zero sequence component of current flowing in the power distribution system and a second operate quantity which is related to a negative sequence component of the current flowing in the power distribution system. The operate quantities are summed to form an operate signal. An adaptive restraint, which is proportional to a negative sequence component and a zero sequence component of a phase voltage of the power distribution system, is generated and utilized to provide increased sensitivity to higher resistance ground faults.

Abstract: A protective relay for detecting faults within a predetermined protected zone of a three phase alternating current electrical power distribution system generates a polarizing signal V.sub.POL which includes a signal V.sub.1 related to a positive sequence component of a phase voltage of the three phase power distribution system. A signal I.sub.1 Z.sub.R, which is a signal related to a positive sequence component of a phase current of the three phase power distribution system multiplied by a replica impedance of the protected zone of the three phase power distribution system, is also generated. The coincidence of the V.sub.POL and I.sub.1 Z.sub.R signals are compared and an operate signal is generated as a result of positive coincidence. A first restraint signal is generated as a result of negative coincidence. A second restraint signal related to V.sub.1 is also generated.

Abstract: A phase selector for identifying a faulted phase in a three-phase alternating current electrical current distribution system generates, for each of the three phases, an output signal which includes the phasor sum of a signal related to a fault component of current flowing in the phase, a signal related to a negative sequence component of current flowing in the phase and a signal related to a zero sequence component of current flowing in the phase. The phase selector also generates at least one restraint signal which includes the phasor sum of a signal related to a fault component of current flowing in one of the two other phases of the three phase power distribution system, a signal related to a fault component of current flowing in the other of the two other phases of the three phase electrical power distribution system and a signal related to the negative sequence component of current flowing in the phase.

Abstract: A protective relay, for use in protecting a predetermined protected zone of a three phase alternating current electrical power transmission line, the relay being of the type which receives a comparison signal from a remote relay by way of a communication channel, includes circuitry for detecting abnormalities in the received comparison signal. Such abnormalities are caused by, for example, errors in the communication channel, non-fundamental frequency components in the secondary current caused by current transformer saturation, and high frequency transients in the protected zone. The abnormalities are detected by subtracting a filtered demodulated signal having a frequency which is substantially equal to a fundamental frequency of the comparison signal, from an unfiltered demodulated signal. The resulting difference is a signal which comprises components caused by the abnormalities.

Abstract: A phase comparison type ground distance relay for a predetermined phase of three-phase AC transmission line includes a phase coincidence detector responsive to phase coincidence between an operating signal and a plurality of polarizing signals. Zero suppression networks are utilized for deriving second and third polarizing signals in order to improve discrimination between internal and external faults; thereby increasing the reliability of the relay operation and the security of the protection system. The second polarizing signal comprises that portion of a signal which exceeds a predetermined threshold value and which is related to the product of a signal proportional to the net current flowing in all three phases of the power system and the positive sequence replica impedence of the transmission line.

Abstract: Disclosed is an overvoltage directional relay that forms a part of a relay system which provides protection for a high voltage three phase transmission line. The overvoltage directional relay provides a high speed blocking function for use with the high speed tripping functions in the protective relay system. In one embodiment the directional relay utilizes the negative-sequence components of the three phase transmission lines. In another embodiment the directional relay utilizes the zero-sequence component of the three phase transmission line.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved reactance type protective relay that increases security against false tripping while still providing desired protection for a high voltage transmission line. The improved reactance relay employs a circuit arrangement having characteristic timers that optimize the performance of the reactance relay and also allows for desired coordination between the reactance relays that may be located along the high voltage transmission line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a positive sequence undervoltage distance relay that forms a part of a relay system that provides protection for a high voltage three phase transmission line. The undervoltage distance relay provides a high speed blocking function for use with the high speed tripping functions in the protective relay system. In one embodiment the undervoltage distance relay utilizes the positive sequence components of the three phase transmission line. In another embodiment the undervoltage distance relay utilizes the line to ground (or line to line) voltages and currents of the three phase transmission line.

Abstract: A phase relay utilizes improved polarizing and operating signals in order to provide discrimination between internal faults within a protected zone of an AC power transmission line and external faults than can appear as internal faults due to transients induced by capacitive voltage transformers or series capacitors. A zero sequence restraint signal is used to block operation of the phase relay on close-in single line to ground faults. A filter is used in a by-pass circuit to attenuate high frequency transients which might delay, and possibly prevent a trip output on an internal fault. A high set by-pass circuit, including zero suppression to preclude an output on an external fault, is employed to provide faster operating times on severe internal faults. Forward offset and/or zero suppression of the polarizing signal is used to reduce the characteristic timer setting and therefore increase the speed of the phase relay operation.

Abstract: A distance protective relay employing phase angle comparator measurement is provided with an improved polarizing signal. In one embodiment, a phase distance relay is provided with a two-component polarizing signal which includes one component representative of a faulted transmission line voltage and a second component representative of the product of a predetermined constant and the positive sequence component of the faulted transmission line voltage. One preferred polarizing signal for a phase AB phase distance relay is V.sub.POL =V.sub.AB +KV.sub.AB1, where K is approximately 0.3. Such a polarizing signal results in improved relay operation under certain fault conditions, especially under steady state conditions. In another embodiment, a ground distance relay is provided with a two-component polarizing signal. For, example, one preferred polarizing signal for a phase A ground distance relay is V.sub.POL =V.sub.A +KV.sub.AJ, where K is approximately 0.3. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A protective relay circuit includes a first a-c level detector or bi-polar threshold circuit to which a polarizing signal V.sub.POL is applied. An output is provided from the first a-c level detector only when the magnitude of V.sub.POL exceeds a predetermined value. Also included is a second a-c level detector or bi-polar threshold circuit to which an operating signal V.sub.OP is applied. An output is provided from the second a-c level detector only when the magnitude of V.sub.OP exceeds a predetermined value. The output of the first level detector is compared in a coincidence circuit with the output of the second level detector. The detection of coincidence for a predetermined time period, as measured by a characteristic timer, results in an output signal for use in controlling operation of a trip coil of a circuit breaker.

Abstract: A ground distance relay employing phase angle comparator measurement is provided with additional input signals. In one embodiment, a two input ground distance relay is provided with two additional input signals. In this embodiment, the first two input signals comprise an OPERATE SIGNAL of the form IZ-V and a POLARIZING SIGNAL of quadrature shifted form. The third input signal comprises a #2 POLARIZING SIGNAL which is related to the zero sequence voltage at the relay. The fourth input signal comprises a CURRENT SUPERVISION SIGNAL which is related to the zero sequence current at the relay. These four input signals are directed to coincidence and timer circuitry. The presence of these four inputs provides improved relay security against undesirable relay operation for several existing problems. For example, additional security is provided for situations in which a single line to ground fault occurs at or just beyond the relay balance point where fault resistance may cause undesirable relay operation.

Abstract: The protective relay circuits herein provide a combined distance and overcurrent type of function. The protective relay circuit includes an a-c level detector or bi-polar threshold circuit to which the quantity I (Z.sub.R - Z.sub.F) is applied. The quantity I is the current in the line, Z.sub.R is a replica or reference impedance corresponding to the lines being protected and Z.sub.F is the line impedance to the fault from the relay measuring point. IZ.sub.F is equal to V, the voltage input to the relay. An output is provided from the a-c level detector only when the quantity I (Z.sub.R - Z.sub.F) exceeds a predetermined value. The output of the level detector is compared in a coincidence circuit, or AND gate, with a polarizing signal. The detection of coincidence for a selectable predetermined time period, as measured by a characteristic timer, results in an output signal for use in controlling operation of the trip coil of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: This protective relay circuit responds to interphase faults on a three-phase power line by causing a circuit breaker connected in the power line to be tripped three-pole in response to interphase faults, but does not respond to a single line to ground fault, allowing a single pole to be tripped for this latter type of fault.

Abstract: A protective relay circuit. An electrical system signal quantity is monitored and applied to a filter and to a bipolar threshold device in parallel with the filter. The bipolar threshold device has a zero output signal level as long as the magnitude of the monitored signal is less than some predetermined value. When the monitored signal exceeds the predetermined value, the output of the bipolar threshold device will be substantially equal to the monitored signal level minus the predetermined value. The output of the filter and the output of the bipolar threshold device are combined in a summing amplifier to provide a signal for controlling the trip coil of a circuit breaker. When the circuit is used in an overcurrent or overvoltage protective relay, the combined signal is rectified and applied to a level detector which provides the signal for controlling the trip coil of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A current differential fault detection circuit. This circuit is used with a plurality of main current transformers respectively coupled to a plurality of separate conductors through which current flows into and out of a sectionalized portion of an a-c electric power system. The secondary windings of the main current transformers are connected in parallel with one another. A normally non-conducting solid state a-c switch is connected in series with the primary winding of an auxiliary transformer and the series combination is connected in parallel with the secondary windings of the main current transformers. Circuit means is provided for sensing the voltage across the secondary windings of the main current transformers. When the secondary winding voltage exceeds a predetermined level the a-c switch is triggered into conduction thereby allowing the fault current to flow through the primary winding of the auxiliary transformer.