Advanced End-to-End Testing

Abel Gonzalez Gomez

Applications Engineer

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 End to End Testing

Let’s begin with an application

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 they “see” the fault at the same time
Through
calculations and
communications
they “decide”
Communicating with each other what needs to
be done.
(trip/not trip)

Relays on both ends of the line

 End to End Testing
 Let’s begin with an application.
• Line Differential Protection Scheme.
– Relays on both ends of the line.
– Communicating with each other.
– To protect the line, they “see” the fault at the same time.
– Through calculations and communications they “decide”
what needs to be done.

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 End to End Testing
 To properly test in this scenario the analog inputs of the relays
on both ends of the lines must be fed signals equivalent to
those that the relays would sense if a fault occurs somewhere
along the protected line.

 This means having test sets on both ends of the line. At least
one for each end in the scheme under test.

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End to End

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 End to End Testing
 In a real case scenario relays on both ends of the line are
sensing the changes in the magnitudes “simultaneously”.
When a fault occurs both relays sense the affected
signals “at the same time”.
 This means that in order to properly simulate the effects of a
fault the test sets on both ends must begin injecting their
signals at the same time.
 The only way to achieve such simultaneity is to use a common
time source to command the test sets to begin the test.

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Common time source.

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 What is End to End Testing?

The evaluation of the entire protection scheme by

simulating the system-wide effects of faults the
effects of which are played simultaneously on each
end under test.

The ability to synchronize the beginning of the test

on both ends is paramount.
 Why End to End Testing?
 In a nutshell…
 It’s the only way to perform the simultaneous verification of the
operation of all the elements of a protection system.
 It is the only way available to verify the operation of the protection
system as a whole.
 What to test?

Any protection scheme that includes remote

communication between relays or that implies
coordinated operation of relays on both ends of the line.
 What to test?

Relay A to Relay B: “Did you See it.. ‘Cause I did”

Relay B to Relay A: “Oh yes I did, Let’s trip”
 What to Test
• Line Differentials.
• Communication based Distance
protection-Transfer Trip
schemes.(POTT, PUTT, DCUB,
etc)
• Phase Comparison.
• Double Ended Fault Location
Systems POTT: Permissive Over Reaching Transfer Trip.
DCUB: Directional Comparison Unblocking.
• Automation Systems. PUTT: Permissive Under Reaching Transfer Trip.
DCB: Directional Comparison Blocking
This is a typical two ends only system. But what if..
 We tend to think in terms of two
dimensions when talking about end to
end testing. But..
 Sometimes your
system is not that
simple
 When?
 Commissioning.
 Maintenance.
 Troubleshooting.
 Regression Testing.
 …

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End to End Testing. The whole picture.
 End to End Testing
 Equipment:
 Two Relay Test Sets– SMRT33/36/410. Three Phase.
COMTRADE playback is a must.
 Two synchronous Time Sources.
Two GPS Receiver – MGTR-II
Two Antennas
 Devices under Test
 Communications Medium.
 Two Computers
 AVTS End to End Test Modules or STVI Sequencer.
Carefully Prepare the test cases before hand!!!

The test sets should be three phase. The time sources can be of any kind as long as they are synchronous. IRIG is preferred because of availability and ubiquity of GPS signals.
 Typical Test Connections MGTR-II with
SMRT36

Satellite Synchronized time Sources are the

best way available to get a:
• Common
• Reliable
• Easy to use
time source.

Many Substations already

have an IRIG-B time source
running around but accuracy
may be an issue.
 End to End, an outline.
• Create Test Cases for each of the ends.
• Include Enough Prefault Cycles. Blame the Cosine Filters…
• Simulate faults in different places along the lines.
• Connect your tests sets to the relays. Analog as well as Binary
Inputs and Outputs.
• Check your readings on both ends. Meter Test.
• Synchronize your clocks on both ends. Decide and Agree on the
Start Time.
• Inject the signals simultaneously on both ends.
• Verify your results.
• Return the Protection System back to normal.

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 Include Enough Prefault Cycles..

Not Enough Prefault

Include Enough Prefault Cycles
Simulate faults in different places along
the lines.
10%

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Simulate faults in different places along
the lines.

30%

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 Simulate faults in different places along
the lines.
Pre-Fault Fault Post- Fault
Ia 3∟0º 12∟0º 3∟0º
Ib 3∟120º 12∟120º 3∟120º
Ic 3∟240º 12∟240º 3∟240º
Time 5000 ms --- 96 ms 50%
Local Relay Remote Relay

Pre-Fault Fault Post- Fault

Ia 3∟180º 12∟0º 3∟180º
Ib 3∟300º 12∟120º 3∟300º
Ic 3∟60º 12∟240º 3∟60º
Time 5000 ms ---- 96 ms
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Simulate faults in different places along
the lines.

60%

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Simulate faults in different places along
the lines.

90%

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Simulate faults in different places along
the lines.

Outside of the Protection Zone

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 Testing approaches

– State Playback, Pre-Fault, Fault, Post-Fault.

– Using DFR Playback, IEEE C37.111 COMTRADE files .

The COMTRADE files can be produced by ATP/EMTP, or

other similar fault simulation software, or extracted directly
from a relay based on previous operation of the differential
protective relays

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 External Fault Simulation States Playback

Local Relay

Remote Relay

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 External Fault Simulation States Playback
Pre-Fault Fault Post- Fault
Ia 3∟0º 12∟0º 3∟0º
Local Relay
Ib 3∟120º 12∟120º 3∟120º
Ic 3∟240º 12∟240º 3∟240º
Time 5000 ms 48 ms 96 ms

Pre-Fault Fault Post- Fault

Ia 3∟180º 12∟180º 3∟180º
Ib 3∟300º 12∟300º 3∟300º
Remote Relay
Ic 3∟60º 12∟60º 3∟60º
Time 5000 ms 48 ms 96 ms

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34
35
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 Internal Fault.

50%

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 Internal Fault Simulation States Playback
Pre-Fault Fault Post- Fault

Local Relay
Ia 3∟0º 12∟0º 3∟0º
Ib 3∟120º 12∟120º 3∟120º
Ic 3∟240º 12∟240º 3∟240º
Time 5000 ms ---- 96 ms

Pre-Fault Fault Post- Fault

Ia 3∟180º 12∟0º 3∟180º
Ib 3∟300º 12∟120º 3∟300º
Remote Relay
Ic 3∟60º 12∟240º 3∟60º
Time 5000 ms ---- 96 ms

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Don’t forget to configure your Timers..

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And get your results

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For everyone else testing is about ensuring the reliability of the system..
For the guy on the field testing is about that and about the report!!!!

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 End to End Testing

Local Relay Remote Relay

 COMTRADE.
 Common format for TRAnsient Data Exchange.
 It’s an IEEE standard.(C37.111-1999)
 There are many advantages to using COMTRADE.
• Standardization.
• File Sharing.
• Hardware independency.
• Repeatibility.
• Flexibility.
• Real scenarios.
 COMTRADE.

Not Enough Prefault

 COMTRADE.

Here the prefault cycles have been increased to 5.

This was achieved by manipulating the COMTRADE
 COMTRADE
COMTRADE Oscillography
taken from a protection
relay and read using
DFR viewer from AVTS.
It can be played-back using
the SMRT36 test set
Since COMTRADE is a
standard format any
COMTRADE COMPLIANT
test set should be able to
play back any
COMTRADE file.
There are however limitations
like maximum sample rate,
frequency and COMTRADE
version Compatibility
Using AVTS to play back a COMTRADE file using an external
Trigger(i.e. a clock signal) to begin the signal injection.
SMRT.

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 SMRT.

Binary Input #1. Decodes IRIG-b

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MGTR-II

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 Bibliography
 James Ariza, G Ibarra. Application Case of the End to End Relay Testing using GPS-
Synchronized Secondary Injection in Communication Based Protection Schemes.
http://www.netaworld.org/sites/default/files/public/neta-journals/NWwtr06Megger.pdf
 Michael E. Agudo, Wayne Young, Brian Kasperek, Stanley Thompson. End to End Relay
Tests use Secondary Injection. Computer Applications in Power, IEEE , vol.13, no.3,
pp.32-37, Jul 2000.
 Stan Thompson. GPS/IRIG-B Timing Methods for End-to-End Relay Testing.
www.megger.com/webinars
 Chris Werstiuk. The Relay Testing Handbook. End to End Testing.
 Chris Araujo et al. A comparison of Line Relay System Testing Methods.
https://cdn.selinc.com/assets/Literature/Publications/Technical%20Papers/6251_Compar
eSystemTest_JM_20070607.pdf
 Roy Moxley and Ken Fodero. High-Speed Distribution Protection Made Easy:
Communications-Assisted Protection Schemes for Distribution Applications
https://cdn.selinc.com/assets/Literature/Publications/Technical%20Papers/6174_Paper_2
0040929.pdf

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 Questions?
 Contact Information
• Presenter
 Abel Gonzalez Gomez
Applications Engineer
 abel.gonzalez@megger.com

• USA and Mexico Sales

 sales@megger.com
 +1 800 723 2861

• Canada Sales Please help us improve by filling out

 caenquiries@megger.com the survey after the webinar ends
 +1 800 297 9688
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