
BE1-DFPR General Information
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APPLICATION
Distribution feeders represent the majority of circuits in a utility system. These circuits are typically radial,
three-phase, and operate over the range of 2.4 to 35 kV. In the majority of distribution substations, circuit
breakers are used to interrupt these circuits, with fuses and sectionalizers providing fault isolation
downstream. Because the substations are usually in remote areas, it is desirable to be able to control the
breakerfromacentraldispatchoffice.Totalautomationofthesedistributionsystems,includingrealtimeload
and demand data collection for each feeder, is also desirable. BE1-DFPR Distribution Feeder Protection
Relays provide both protection and data collection.
Improving Protection Schemes
Quantity of data and status information that can be collected is limited by the space available to mount
discrete devices and the capability of SCADA terminals to collect and process data. BE1-DFPR relays are
multi-phase, multi-function devices in economical, standard 19-inch rack units and require less space than
the equivalent electromechanical overcurrent relays.
Overcurrent elements in DFPR relays are tuned to the fundamental frequency (50 or60 hertz) and, thereby,
rejects offsets and harmonics. This provides the means to achieve more sensitive neutral overcurrent
protection in feeders with high harmonic content. In addition to overcurrent protection, DFPR relays include
undervoltage elements that may be used for undervoltage load-shedding applications.
DFPR relays also include a complete multiple shot reclosing unit with four shot capabilities. By integrating
this function along with the protective functions, it is possible to program the reclosing system to respond
in a specified manner to operations of the various tripping elements. This makes it possible to implement
improved logic in the reclosing scheme.
DFPR relays have the means to selectively trip individual feeders on underfrequency conditions and to
automatically restore them at selected frequencies.
Breakerfail outputs (BFO) may be used toactivatebreakerfailureschemes. Thisinvolvestrippingabreaker
or breakers upstream from the one that failed.
Implementing Adaptive Schemes
One adaptive capability of DFPR relays is to revert to normal, auxiliary one (cold load pickup), auxiliary two
(emergency), auxiliary three, or auxiliary four setting groups in accordance with the control inputs applied
to the relay. DFPR relays can, if desired, automatically revert to auxiliary one (cold load pickup) settings if
the feeder has been dead for a preset time. Normal settings are restored if automatic entrance to the
auxiliary one settings has occurred and the feeder has been energized for ten minutes.
DFPRrelays include acontrolinputfor blocking allfixed timeovercurrent elements. Italso includesa control
input for blocking neutral fixed time and neutral time overcurrent elements. Control inputs are also provided
for enabling or disabling the reclose function.
Providing Maintenance Information
DFPR target and reclose function status output contacts may be interfaced with a SCADA system to give
the operator additional information about what occurred on a feeder that tripped. This information is used
to help guide maintenance personnel.
Through communications, DFPR relays provide information about the type of fault. This information is
obtained from the fault report under REVIEW EVENT SCREEN. The report lists fault currents, voltages,
targets, breaker operate time, reclose status, and general information. By interpreting the fault information,
the fault location can be estimated.