New test methodology for evaluating protective relay security and dependability

This paper presents a new test methodology for evaluating the security and dependability of protective relay operations. A discussion of the important impact of relay security and dependability on power system reliability especially during cascading events and unusual operating conditions is presented. The new test methodology includes comprehensive power network modeling, generating test scenarios and automating simulation. The digital simulator based protective relay test setup used for the application of physical relay testing is described. Three distance relays are tested using the proposed methodology. The test tools utilized and results obtained are outlined at the end.