Non-Conventional Instrument Transformers For Improved Substation Design
Non-Conventional Instrument Transformers For Improved Substation Design
Non-Conventional Instrument Transformers For Improved Substation Design
http: //www.cigre.org
Lj. A. KOJOVIC
Eaton
USA
SUMMARY
Traditionally, conventional iron-core instrument transformers (ITs) were used to provide secondary
signals for electromechanical protection relays in part because of they generate high-power output
which was required by electromechanical equipment. Microprocessor-based equipment makes high-
power output unnecessary. However, conventional ITs are still widely used because of well-
established practices and standards that specify their operating characteristics. Disadvantages
regarding these devices are non-linearity of the magnetizing branch voltage-current characteristics that
may create operational problems when the iron-core saturates. As an example, conventional voltage
transformers (VT) can cause unwanted phenomenon such as ferro-resonance. When the iron-core
saturates in a conventional current transformer (CT) its secondary currents are distorted, resulting in
reduced RMS values. This may cause unwanted relay operation for differential protection systems or
delayed operation for distance and overcurrent protection systems. Other disadvantages are big
dimensions and heavy weight.
This paper summarizes novel solutions for protection, metering, and control in electric power systems
that use voltage and current transformers (sensors) classified as non-conventional instrument
transformers (NCITs). These devices provide improved solutions because they are accurate under all
operating conditions; they have linear performance characteristics (do not possess iron core that may
saturate); they are compact in size; and weigh many times less than conventional ITs. Their output
signal is in the low-voltage range during normal operation and does not increase above the safety
limits during faults. This is safer for people and equipment when compared to conventional ITs. Novel
NCITs presented here were designed as stand-alone devices for current and voltage measurement and
were also designed as combined devices comprising of both voltage and current sensors to form
compact measuring devices. They can provide accuracy for both metering and protection applications.
Even though NCITs can provide superior performance characteristics, in order to gain widespread and
successful acceptance other aspects such as the following are required: understanding specifics on the
scheme development and protection system operation, interfacing relays and intelligent electronic
devices (IED), and satisfying interoperability with existing technology. Today, this is becoming
possible since technology has significantly improved in the area of communication and relay platform
development in the past few years. These aspects are addressed in this paper. To support NCIT
acceptance, this paper summarizes field experiences with implemented projects that confirm that
NCIT can contribute toward improved substation design and also NCIT-based protection systems can
provide reliable performance.
KEYWORDS
Substation, Relay protection, Non-Conventional Instrument Transformer
[email protected]
1 DESIGN
There are many designs of non-conventional instrument transformers (NCITs) that can be divided into
current and voltage transformers (sensors). Current sensors include technologies such as low-power
CT, magneto-optical, hall-effect, zero-flux, and Rogowski coils [1]-[7]. Voltage sensors include
technologies such as resistive divider, capacitive divider, and electro-optical. Each of these
technologies provide advantages, however, they possess some characteristics that require
consideration. This paper presents performance characteristics and applications of combined voltage-
current sensors and stand-alone current sensors. Voltage sensors are based on the capacitive voltage
divider principle of operation. Current sensors are based on the Rogowski coil principle.
1
1.2.2 Interface to IEDs
The projects presented in this paper used shielded twisted-pair wire secondary cables or fiber-optic
cables as the interface between Rogowski coils and IEDs.
The use of twisted-pair wire secondary cables is a convenient method when the sensors are installed at
the ground potential. For example, this method was used in substations up to 275 kV when Rogowski
coils were installed below bushings at the ground potential. The output analog secondary signals were
transmitted through the substation yard to the relays installed in the relay room at distance up to 150
m.
In projects where Rogowski coils were installed at the high-voltage (HV) potential (60 kV presented
here), coils with low-voltage insulation level were also used. To satisfy the required voltage insulation
levels, the coils were interfaced to the relay (located in the relay room 300 m away) using a fiber-optic
system. In this way, the coils were properly insulated from the ground potential. The primary
convertor of the fiber-optic system was also installed at the HV potential to perform analog-to-digital
conversion of the Rogowski coil output signals. Short, shielded twisted-pair signal cables provided the
interface between the coils and the primary convertor. The fiber-optic cable interface between the
primary convertor and the merging unit that reconstructs signals for use by the relay was installed in
the relay room. There are two fiber-optic cables: one used for transmitting digital signals and one used
to power primary convertor by light.
2
• Easy to install. This is because of window-type designs, light weight, and small size. With
split-core design, primary conductors do not need to be open for the coil installation.
• Because Rogowski coil output is low-power and small voltage, secondary signals may use
twisted-pair shielded signal cables with connectors. This prevents wiring mistakes.
• When using split-core style coils for retrofit solutions no changes are required for existing
designs.
• Rogowski coil installation requires minimal or no outage.
• Environmentally friendly and safe since no oil or gas is used.
Aspects to be considered
• Technical personnel are readily familiar with conventional technology, but not as familiar with
NCIT technology. An important aspect in promoting NCITs is development of international
standards, presenting technical papers, describing specifics of operation, and summarizing
field experience from implemented protection systems that already have a proven history of
successful performance.
• Rogowski coil output signal is a small voltage. The phase angle between the secondary
voltage and primary current is 90°. This phase shift should be considered in the protection
scheme development.
• Rogowski coils are frequency-dependent devices. They amplify higher frequencies with a
linear relationship between the coil output signal and frequency causing harmonics to be
amplified by the harmonic order. An advantage is that harmonics can be more easily
identified. Proper reading of the harmonic order values in the protection schemes can be
obtained by simply dividing the recorded harmonics by the harmonic order.
• High-frequency phenomena such as lightning strikes or high-frequency overvoltage bursts
caused by switching operations in GIS can induce low-energy high-voltage signals in the
Rogowski coil secondary. This can effectively be suppressed by the inherent capacitance of
the existing secondary cables or by semiconductor limiters. As of the date of this paper, no
negative effects were reported in actual applications. In some cases, high-frequency spikes can
penetrate inside the relay. When this happens, excessive spikes (in most cases, one point of
excessive magnitude) can be processed as excessive current and may cause unwanted relay
operation. To avoid unwanted operation, supervision algorithms can be developed. One
example is a sample-based algorithm that monitors (supervises) the sample flow into the relay,
monitoring that the predetermined number of samples-in-raw are within a predefined range. If
one sample exceeds the limits, this can be considered as a spike and relay operation may be
restrained for a brief predetermined period of time. This has proven to be effective in actual
applications.
• Also, it is possible to develop other algorithms for improved relay performance based on the
NCIT specific characteristics of operation. Such an algorithm has already been developed for
improved power transformer inrush currents detection. Traditionally, the second harmonic
restraint method was used to avoid unwanted operations when energizing a power
transformer. However, this method cannot reliably provide restraint signals for some large
power transformers. Rogowski coil-based systems presented here use algorithms that reliably
detect transformer inrush currents by performing waveform recognition of the Rogowski coil
di(t)/dt output signal. Instead of estimating the second harmonic component, this method
determines segments and duration of inrush current low-rate changes (di(t)/dt flat spots).
3
• Sensitivity to temperature; may require compensation
• Nearby parasitic capacitance that may require compensation
• Influence of the secondary signal cable capacitance that may require compensation
4
Accuracy Class Limit Improved Accuracy Class Limit
Error [%]
Error [%]
LPCT 1
LPCT 2
0 0
LPCT 3
0.05Ipr 0.2Ipr Ipr Kpcr Ipr 0.05Ipr 0.2Ipr Ipr Kpcr Ipr
a) b)
Figure 1 Improved Accuracy Class designation by using Individual Ratio Correction Factor
Protected Apparatus
IED A-phase
B-phase
C-phase
C-phase
A-phase CT Fiber-optic
secondary signal cables
currents Rogowski coil
secondary
Merging output signals
Unit
Iron-core CTs
Figure 2 Hybrid Differential Relay Protection Solution based on IEC 61850-9-2LE Process Bus
5
Relay
In-Zone Fault operation
Out-of-Zone Fault
Current [kA]
Current [kA]
20 Primary currents 20 Primary currents
0 0
-20 -20
Current [kA]
Current [kA]
3 1
2 Operate currents Operate currents
0.5
1
Current [kA]
Current [kA]
3 3
Restraint currents 2 Restraint currents
2
1 1
4 APPLICATIONS
NCITs can replace a conventional IT in most applications. In addition, NCITs make protection
schemes possible that were not achievable by conventional ITs because of saturation, size, and weight.
There are a number of protection systems now in operation confirming successful and reliable
performance in the past ten years. The following sections summarize field experience with the
Rogowski coil-based systems.
Rogowski
coils for arc
regulation
6
transformers, differential protection of power cables, electric-arc regulation, and metering. Actually,
this integration process was performed in several stages; each new stage was implemented after
confirmation of successful operation of the previous stage.
The first system was put in service in 2004 for differential protection of two EAF power transformers
[9]. Since the system was installed, several fault events have occurred, and in all events protection
operated fast, resulting in minimal damage to equipment despite high-fault current magnitudes (250
kA). Also, these power transformers experienced more than one million energizing and heat cycle
operations, preserving extraordinary protection scheme security (no unwanted relay operation).
When the power transformer differential protection system demonstrated high reliability, this system
was expanded in 2010 to include protection of power cables as an integrated part of the differential
protection system. An additional unique solution was integration of electric-arc regulation and control
functions by sharing secondary signals from the existing Rogowski coils.
To summarize, Rogowski coils installed on the power transformer primary side share signals for
protection of power cables based on differential protection principles. Rogowski coils installed on the
power transformer secondary side share signals to regulate and control electric arc. In addition, the
same sets of Rogowski coils provide all metering functions. These solutions simplify both design and
installation and reduce the project cost.
In this facility there are five sets for power cables. Two sets of cables were protected by Rogowski
coil-based protection systems having coils at both ends of the power cables. For the remaining three
sets of cables, to further reduce the cost of the protection systems and simplify installation, and also to
prove that conventional CT and Rogowski coils can co-exist in the same protection system, it was
suggested to develop and test a new hybrid scheme. An integrated protection system with a hybrid
scheme is illustrated in Figure 5.
The power cable differential system was implemented by using the existing CTs in the substation,
installed around the circuit breaker bushings as shown in Figure 4 [14]. At the other end of the cables,
the power transformer primary-side sensors (RC 1) were utilized to share signals for both the cable
and power transformer differential protection systems. One relay was added on both ends of the cable
differential protection zones (Relay 1 and Relay 2), interconnected with a fiber-optic communication
link. Relay 1 was installed in the substation relay room in the cabinet where an Ethernet switch and
two relays were previously installed for differential protection of power cables based on Rogowski
coils at both ends of the cables. Relay cabinets in the pulpit control rooms accommodate both the relay
for power transformer differential protection (Relay 3) and the relay for power cable differential
protection (Relay 2). In this way, it was easy to implement interconnections between relays to share
signals from Rogowski coils (RC 1) that previously provided signals only for the power transformer
differential protection systems.
161 kV/34.5 kV
3 x 50 MVA to
arc regulation
system
Rogowski coils
Relay 2 RC 2
Fiber-optic Twisted-pair wire
signal cables shielded cables
LAN
7
4.2.2 Rogowski coil-based solutions
The first Rogowski coil-based differential protection of power cables were implemented in 2010 in
220 kV overhead line/cable topology [11]. This solution was selected because limited rights-of-way in
populated areas prevented delivery of electric power to substations via overhead transmission lines,
requiring transition from overhead lines to underground power cables for power delivery into the
urban area. After successful performance of this first project, several additional projects were
implemented in 2012. All these protection systems used three Rogowski coils and one relay at each
end of the protected cables. The relays communicate over dedicated fiber-optic cables as illustrated in
Figure 6. However, in some projects relays communicate over an existing communication service,
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) network. Such a project is differential protection of 275-kV
power cables. In the presented projects, differential protection systems of power cables supervise auto-
reclosing of circuit breakers to prevent reclosing for an In-Zone fault, or send a trip signal for circuit
breakers to open. As of now, all schemes performed reliably.
LAN
AIS
GIS Fiber-optic
signal cables
Rogowski Relay
coil Relay Rogowski coil
60 kV
Capacitor units
Relay Room
Capacitor
units Rogowski coils
Relay
D/A conversion
Twisted-pair wire
shielded cables
Ground unit
Remote unit
(A/D conversation)
8
4.2.3 CT-Rogowski Coil (Hybrid) protection schemes
Differential protection of power cables requires current transformers/sensors and one relay at each end
of the protected cables. In actual installations, such as GIS, conventional CTs are already installed. To
simplify the project design and reduce price, it was suggested to design a system that would use these
existing CTs in the GIS and install NCITs (Rogowski coils) at the other end of the cables (in an air-
insulated station) where no CTs existed. This solution was called a hybrid solution [14]. The first
hybrid protection scheme presented here was designed and will be applied in 2016 for differential
protection of 13-km long power cables that interface a GIS with 220-kV overhead lines. Fiber-optic
signal cables are installed alongside the power cables.
LAN
Existing to 220-kV
protection overhead Line
Fiber-optic
Relay signal cables
GIS
Ethernet switch
Relay
2000/1 A
CTs
Rogowski coils
(below bushings)
Protected 220-kV power cables