ADDENDUM TO

BUSBAR PROTECTION
BY

GA

HADLEY

Page I
ADDENDUM

Busbar Conflguration

Since the busbar is a maLn connectlng link between

transformer/distrlbution system, and sinee lt wlll the supply plant and the
handle large amounts of
power lt is lloportant that it remains
secure and serviceable even under
conditions of major equipnent failure or busbar
fault.
Various factors govern Ehe choice of busbar configuration,
the most
important being :

a)

System Security

b)

Operarional Flexibility

c)

SinpllciEy of protectlon

d)

Ease of Maintenance

e)

Ease of Extenslon

f)

cost

several switching schemes are avallable and there

are many varlants of each
scheme' when selectlng a suitable scheme consideration
should be glven to
the ability to take oui any clrcuit breaker or other
equipment
for
nalntenance wlthout renovlng the corresponding
circult fron service, also
the abllity to lsolate ttre uusbar for naintenince,
some schemes being more
flexlble than others in this respect.

rn addltlon to plarn singre and doubre busbar

some of the other more popular arrangements
:
l)

Double Busbar with Transfer (Refer

ro Flg

schemes, the forlowr.ng are

25A)

wlth thls double busbar variatlon, each feeder has isolators

to enable
swltchrng to maln or res'erve/transfer uars, -ana
also an addrtlonal
lsolator to enable the feeder breaker to b; bypassed.
The reserve bar
nay then functlon also as a t.ransfer bar and
the
bus
coupler
breaker
takes over the function of the feeder breaker to
free lt for
maintenance.
To apply discrlnlnatlve busbar prot,ectlve,
auxillary swLtches
are required on each lsolator to select thesultable
crs
for
the
and the trlp clrcuits to the appropriate relays.
"orr!"a zone,

Page

2)

Triple

Busbar (Refer ro Fig 258)

This s a double busbar

scheme

with a third, transfer

busbar.

under normal conditions all bus section and bus

breakers are
closed' During maintenance of a feeder ureatei,coupler
the
transfer
bus is
energised from the selected mar.n or reserve
bus
by
the
transfer
breaker
and Ehe feeder bypass isolator closed on the
tiansfer
Uar.
A11
bus
sec.ion and bus coupler breakers renaining closed.
For busbar
protection isolator auxiliary swrtch""
..q,rr."a as previously.
3)

Mesh Busbar Scheme

(Refer ro Fig 26)

"rr

The nesh busbar scheme is a frequently

EHV busbar configuration.
A transformer and a feeder are linked atused
each corner of che mesh and
four circuit breakers used to conplete the
arrangement belng justlfled on the grounds nesh interconnection the
of economy.
The protection shown consrsts of a fully
discrininatlve scheme wlth a
relay at each corner. A fault at any corner
assocr-ated with Ehat corner and also initiatestrips the trro breakers
any intertripping

necessary
4)

One and

to

open

clrcult breakers at

a Half Breaker

Scheme

remote ends.

(Refer 6 FLg 27)

This is I very popular and econonlcar scheme, three

breakers and two
feeders belng arranged between the two busbais. under
all breakers are- closed. During malntenance of a feedernormal conditions
breaker onry
that breaker would be kept op.rl
During malntenance of a busbar, all the breakers
busbar would remaln open to tsotate that busbar. connected to that
when busbar Protectlon is requlred, then each
is considered
lndividually and a singre busbar scheme applledbusbar
to
each
as shown,As rrlth
the protectr.on for the rnesh busbar prevlously, the protection
scheme
does not require isolator auxiliarles for cr
zone selection or ln the

tripplng circulEs, the scheme being very simpi.,

together with
the operatlonal f1exlbl1lty of tnrJ bus6"r
""0 thrsaccounrs
for
its popularity.
"I"iiguration

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Meacurernents

LOW IMPEDANCE BIASED

DIFFEREMIAL BUSBAR

PROTECTION

I NTRODUCT ION

Busbars are divided inlo a number of zones bounded by circuit breakers

or bus sect ion iso l-ators . In the case of a nulciple busbar these zones
are noE fixed as their boundaries vary according to the position of
se lect ion iso lators .
Each zone of the busbar has its own zone of Protection so thar if a
fault occurs only those circuit breakers defining the boundary of the
affected zone are tripped. For added security the whole busbar system
is treaEed as another zooe of protection. This additional zone is
non-selective and operates for a fault anywhere within the bus zone.
This overall zone is used as a check feature in the trip 1ogic.

Before Ehe circrrit breakers bounding a zone can be tripped, Ehe

protection for both that zone and the overall check zone rnust have
operated. This is che dual criterion principle on which many
protection schemes oPerate.
1

CONCEPT

The type MBCZ is intended Eo saEisfy the requirements of almost any

busbar system. The design is based on a systen of standard modules
which can be assembled to suit a particular busbar installation, and
additional modules can be added at any time as the busbar is extended

A separate module is used for each circuit breaker and also one for
each zone of protection. In addition to these there is a coomn alarm
toodule and a number of power suppty units.
These modules
MBCZ XX

ilil
ill
ilt
lll

are coded as folloss

Midos modular system of casing

t
r

iased

differential

systen

Current is the measured quantity

LLI

tt
tt

Miscellaneous units

11

L2
13

I4
t5
I6
L7
18

0f

each

of

Bus Coupler
Feeder Breaker
Bus Sectlon Breaker
Bus Se]ectlon Isolators
Bus Sect{on Isolator
Zone Measur{ng Unlt
Alarm Unlt
Test Un{t
the module types listed above there are on average twelve

variations to natch the various priurary plant configurations' These

variations are achieved by links on the printed circuit boards or
adding isolator rePeat relaYs.

Page 2.
3.

CONFIGURATION OF

SCHEME

Consider the double busbar arrangement shown in figure 1. Ac the left

hand side we have a bus coupler and the module associated with this
contains a trip output and the current input circuits.

Similarly the adjacent feeder will have the same requirements as the
bus coupler except that in addition there are some isolators. Auxiliary
relays in the feeder module are operated by auxiliary contacts on the
isolators to form a repeat function in a replica circuit of the busbar.
Two measuring

These

units are required for zones 1 and 3a.

are followed by a second feeder

The bus section breaker module

1S

module.

similar to the bus coupler module

for the isolator in

except that in this case'there is a repeat relay

the reserve bar.

a bus coupler module and three measuring units

complete the set. The additional measuring unit (zCK) is for the
overall check zone.
Two more feeder modules,

One extra module, not shown in this diagram, is plugged into the
multicore bus. This is the alarm nodule which contains the comrpn
alarm circuits and the bias resistors. the power supplies are also fed

in through this

3.

module.

Bus Wires

are then interconnected via a multicore cable that plugs

into the back of the modules. There are five main groups of buswires
and these are normally to be used as follows : -

The rnodules

l) Protection for

Main busbar

2)

Protection for reserve busbar

3)

Protection for the transfer busbar. When the reserve busbar is

also used as a transfer bar then this grouP of buswires is used.

4)

Auxiliary connections used by the protection to combine

for some of the more complex busbar configurations.

5) Protection for the

modules

check zone

3.2 Position of Current Transformers

There rnay be one or tlto sets of current transformers Per circuit
breaker and there is a standardised way of interconnecting the current
transformers to the protection. This sinplifies the production of
application diagraus and ensures polarities will be correct.

Page 3.

Figure 2 shows an example of the sLandard connections for the feeder

breaker. This example shows that the current transformers may be
mounted on the circuit breaker or the feeder. Their position is
significant since in Ehe former case they are bypassed when the bypass
isolator is closed, whereas, in the laEer case they are not. The same
feeder module cannot, therefore, necessarily be used for both
applications.

3.3

Power Supplies

Either two or three type MSTZO3 power supplies are used to feed the
protection, depending upon the size of the scheme. This gives a
measure of redundancy so that the protection will still function should
one of the power supplies fail.
A separate porrer supply unit is used to feed the isolator repeat
relays. This is not duplicated because the repeat relays will remain
in Lheir last set state. The protection will work correctly even if
this power supply fails providing the busbar is not switched.

3.4 Cubicle Layout

Figure 3 shows a typical cubicle layout based on the scheme shown in
figure l. The power supplies are mounted at the top to improve thermal
rating. Underneath these are the measuring units and the alarm module.
The rest of the protection is then folded up so that the bus section
module is under Ehe rneasuring units and the feeder modules run down
each side of the cubicle with the bus couplers at the botton.
4.

OPERATING PRINCIPLES

4.t Bias
A11 zones of measurement are biased by the total current flowing to or
from the busbars system via the feeders. This ensures that all zones
of measurement will have sinilar fault sensitivity under all load
cond

it

ions

The bias is derived fron the check zone and the setting resistors are
housed in the alarm nodule as this is also comrrln to all zones. These
tesistors are set to give a fixed steady state bias of 202. Thus some
ratio misnatch is tolerable.

4.2 Stability with Saturated Current Transformers

traditional method for stabilising a differential relay is to add
stabilising resistor to the differential path. I{hilsC this improves
stability it increases the burden on the current transformer for
internal faults. The technique used here overcomes this problen.

The

Page 4.

During a through fault one of the C.T.'s may saturate. It does no!
Lherefore provide a balancing current for the other C.T.'s in a
differential system. A differential current will therefore be produced
by the unsaturated C.T.'s. The principle used with the new design is
to detect when a C.T. is saturated and short circuit the differential
path for the portion of the cycle for which saturation occurs. The
resultant spil1 current does not then flow through the measuring

circuit

and

stability is

asstrred.

This principle allows a very low inpedance circuit to be developed

will operate successfully with smal1 C.T.'s.

that,

circuit shown in figure 4 has two switches connected in parallel

with the differential relay. These switches close for the portion of
the cycle that the adjacent C.T. is saturated.
The

For the waveforms shown i^ is distorted due to C.T. saturation. The

differential current i. =zi, - i^ and as can be seen is the resultant
of the two currents . tt o"l.rrt oznly whilst Ehe saturat ion is present .

inhibit pulses are produced by a circuit that detects C.T.

saturation and it is these pulses that operate the semiconductor
switches. The resultant differential current in the measuring circuit
will be a series of narro\r spikes. The area under the curve being
greatly reduced, so aiding stability.
The

4.3 0peration with Saturated Current Transformers

In this case only a single input current is considered. This current
has waveform distortion due to C.T. saturation. However, the
differential current is now in phase with the current from the
saturated C.T. so that the resulting inhibit pulses remove an
insignificant portion of the differential current. Operation of the
relay is, therefore, relatively unaffected, as shown in figure 5.

4.4 Basic Principle for

CT Saturation Detectors

Figure 6 shows the circuit for the saturation detector in a sinplified

form. The input transformers have three windings, the prinary and
secondary windings are used as a current transfer in the usual way. Ttre
tertiary is used as a voltage winding and its output is proportional to
the rate of change of flux in the core. The voltage is then rectified
and a capacitor is charged via diode to the peak value.
A potential divider across the capacitor provides long time constant
discharge path and divides the stored voltage by 2. A comparator
compares the unsmoothed voltage with the outPut of the potential
divider. An output pulse is produced when the anplitude of the voltage
waveform is less than one half of the stored value. Ttre outPut pulse
increases in width when the transformer goes into saturation.

Page 5.

4.5

Master/Fo1lower Measuring Units

sections of busbar are connected together rria isolators

(figure 7) it will result in two measuring elements being connected in
paral1e1. The fault current will chen divide between t.he two ueasuring
elenents in the ratio of their impedances. Thus, for two measuring
elements of equal impedance Ehe effective settings will be doubled.

When two

This problem has been overcome by using a I'IASTER/FOLLOWER arrangement.

By making the impedance of one of the measuring elements very uuch
higher than the other it is possible to ensure that one of the relays
retains its original setting. Then to ensure that both the parallel
connected zones are tripped the trip circuits of the two zones are
connected

in

para11e1.

unit can have the role of master or follower as it is

selectable by means of a switch on the front of the module.

Any measuring

4,6 Criteria for

Operation

For a zone to operate it is necessary for both the differential

supervision relay and the biased differential relay to operate.
For a circuit breaker to be tripped it requires the associated nain
zone to be operated and also the overall check zone.
Four separate elements must therefore operate before a

4.7 Isolator

trip

can

result.

Repeat Relays

circuit for the isolator repeat relays is shown in figure 8. These

relays are polarised by a permanent magnet which holds them latched in
their last energised state. A make and break auxiliary contact is
required on each isolator to indicate the closed and open states of the
The

main contacts.

of the auxiliary relays are used in the scheme to form a

replica of the busbar, switching the current circuits to the
appropriate zone, and controlling the tripping circuits.

The contacts

4.8 Current Transformer Ratio Correction

The prirnary winding of each auxiliary C.T. is tapped as shown in figure
9 to provide a range of racios. The tables shows the range of prinary
current ratings that can be used and the inEermediate steps available.

For correct ratio natching the ampere turns for each input m.rst be the
same under through fault conditions. Consider two C.T.'s, one having a
ratio of 2000/5A and the other 500/5A. If the same current flows
through the priur,ary of these two C.T.'s then the 500/5A C.T. will
produce four times the secondary current of the 2000/5A C.T.

Page

For correct ratio matching the 2000/5A C.T. should be connected to

Tl Ti -

To and the 500/5A c.T. connected

T6 gives four times the turns of

to T, - TL.
Tt -^T4.

fault setting is adjustable from 0.2 to 2.0 xI- but these

settings are only achieved when the ful1 priur,ary wtnd ing is used. For
any other tap the minimuu operating current is given by Is x Tmax

The

4.9 Trip Circuit Isolation

There is no provision for isolating individual trip eircuits, except
for what may be provided additionally in the cubicle wiring. However,
there is a keyswitch on the alarm unit which isotates all the trip
circuits when turned go the'out of service'position. l.lhen set to
this position all indication and measuring circuits are fully
functional and can be tested withouE risking a trip.

Individual zones can also be switched out of service on a phase by

phase basis. Zones may be selected to automatically isolate their trip
circuits when an abnormality is detected by the supervision circuits.
4. 10 Breaker

Fail/Transfer Tripping

realiability of circuit breakers is not 1002, there is the

faults will not be cleared even though the protection
risk that
has initiated a tripping sequence.
Because the

some

To reduce
Serious damage could then result and even danger to life.
this risk breaker fail proEectiion schemes have been developed.

principle that if current is

still flowing through the circuit breaker, a set time after it has been
told to trip, then it has failed to function. The next srage of
circuit breakers back in the system are then automatically tripped.

These schemes are generally based on the

For a bus coupler or section switch this would involve tripping all the
infeeds to the adjacent zone. This feature is therefore included in
the busbar protection scheme.
I{hen the current transformers are mounted on one side only of the bus
coupler, then this feature will also ensure that a fault between the
C.T. and the circuit breaker is cleared. If current transformers are
mounted on both sides of the circuit breaker this is not a problem
since the protection zones can be overlapped.

protection against failure of the feeder breakers is norurally

associated with the feeder protection and is external to the busbar
protection. However, it requires an input to the trip logic of the
busbar protection so that the appropriate back-up breakers may be.
setected and tripped. This input has been taken into account on each
of the feeder modules.
The

Page 7.

5.

CONSTANT MONITORING

Constant monitoring is provided for all vital circuits. This is

achieved by comparing signals frorn different circuits that are
performing the same function with exclusive OR gates.
5.

Alarm Module
The bias circuits are supervised by comparing the positive and negative
hal-f cycles. Any faults are indicated after a short delay, which
overcomes transient drrors. The positive and negative supply rails are
supervised and separaEely alarmed.

Atrprotection operated" alarm is given if a rnain zone of protection

operates without the check zone and vice versa.
A "protection lrippedt' alarrn is given if any main zone and the check
zone are operated together. For this condition some circuit breakers
should have tripped.

A -conmon alarm' is repeated in this module for a fault in any of the

other modules in the protection.
0utputs contacts are provided for :-

* Protection Operated
*

Conmon Alarm

* Unit out of Service

5.2 Circuit Breaker

Modules

The outputs of the saturation detectors

are compared and alarmed if faulty.
The

for the uain

coils of the trip relays are supervised

and open

and check zones

circuits

alarmed.

Isolator repeat relays should normally have eiEher the set or reset
coils energised. If neither are energised or both at the same tire
then an alarm is given. By this means the repeat relay coils; external
wiring and the auxiliary contacts on the isolators are monitored.

5.3

Measuring Units

units contain the differential supervision elements and

the biased differential protection elements. These are duplicated as
shown in figure 10 so that they can be compared for monitoring
purposes. The ability of the protection to trip is also improved by
the duplication
The measuring

Page

The differential supervision elements detect differential currents that

rnay result frour open circuited current transformer circuits and hence
produce a "c.T. Faultt'if the condition persists. They also enable the
biased elements once the differential current exceeds the supervision

threshold.
Should only one of the supervision relays operate, or only one of the
biased element.s, then a protecEion fault will be announced. To
compensate for the small differences in the settings of the duplicate
elements they are cross-coupled, so that when one element operates it
causes the setting of Ehe other to reduce by a snall percentage. They
then both operaEe at the same leve1 to elininate any monitoring
problems.

As rnentioned previously the measuring circuits can be automatically

switched out of service if the monitoring circuit detects a fault.

5.4 Pover Supplies

Each MSTZO3 pover suppty has

circuits.

6.

its

own

inbuilt protection and alarm

RELIABILIlY

Figure 1l shows the trip logic which for siroplicity is drawn in rerns
of contacts. This arrangement is in effect a double two out of two
logic, that provides high security and availability.
6.1

Secur

ity

Security is the ability to not operate when Lhe protected system is not
faulty. This is achieved by the series connection of the main and
check zones. It can be improved by setting the minimum operating above
the load current. Having the supervision ssitch the protection out of
circuit also improves security.

6.2 Availability
Availability is the ability of the protection to operate shen required
to do so. This is achieved by duplicating the measuring circuits and
improved by the coostant monitoring circuits. The latter can alarm for
protection circuit faults so that they can be repaired and the
protection restored to fu11 availability
6.3 Tine to

Reparr

It will be possible in many instances to identify the faulted circuit

from the indications displayed by the nonitoring circuits. The various
circuits are arrranged on printed circuit boards. These plug-in and
can therefore be quickly replaced.

A HILL
4 April

1985

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Figure 6 CIRCUIT FOR SATURATION DETEGTOR

\Tone

,X

II 12

I,, Iz ore closed zonas 5o ond 5b ore

connectad in pcrollei. The foult olnent would lherelore divrde
bdvteen two maosuring elements cnd tha effecrivz foult sztting
When rsolotors

would be doubled.
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FOLL0WER

this problzm hos been overcome by using c

orrongement for the mzosuring elements.

MASTER

Fisure 7 MEASURING UNITS tN PARALLEL

_t

;'Figure 8 ISOLATOR REPEAT RELAY

II12T3T4T5T6NT8T9

0 50 t00 250 400 550 700

0 60 t20 300 480 660 840
0 t00 200 500 800 il00 t400
0 r50 500 750 t200 1650 t00
0 200 400 t000 t600 2200 2800
0 250 500 1250 2000 2750 3500
2

850
r020
t700
2550
3400
4250

1000A Stap 50A

12004 Step 604

20004 Step l00A

3000A Step l50A
4000A Step 250A
5000A Stap 2504

Fisure 9 LINE CT PRIMARY CURRENT

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Figure 10 MEASURTNG

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Figure 11 TRtP LOGIc