Use of Advanced Digital Simulators for Distance Relay Design and Application Testing

This paper presents a novel methodology for testing modern protective relays. Its primary focus is a distance relay. The proposed methodology consists of both design and application testing. Design testing is aimed at assessing predictive relay behavior by measuring its real operating characteristic. Application testing has the form of transient testing and it is aimed at assessing the random aspects of relay behavior. The paper discusses the test methods as well as advanced software and hardware tools needed for implementing the proposed test methodology. Discussion specially emphasizes automation aspects of the test methods and tools. The use of the methodology is demonstrated using the results obtained by testing several distance relays as an example. Index Terms – Protective Relays, Design Testing, Application Testing, Digital Simulators, Electromagnetic Transients, Automated Testing