Distance Relay Protection for Subtransmission Lines Made Economical

Less important transmission lines are usually protected with directional overcurrent relays. Much better protection and consequently improved service would be provided by modern high-speed distance relays but at several times the cost. What is required is a distance relay arrangement considerably less expensive than the relays now used on high-voltage transmission lines but with as nearly as possible the same characteristics. Such an arrangement is now available. The paper describes successful tests in the laboratory and on an actual system in this country with both natural and staged faults. The equipment consists of a single high-speed reactance relay which is enabled to protect all three phases by being automatically switched to the correct potential and current by a phase selector relay.