Special considerations in applying power line carrier for protective relaying - IEEE power systems relaying committee special paper - relaying communications subcommittee, working group H9, 1-5-04

This paper discusses the considerations in applying power line carrier for protective relaying. The goal in using communications for protective relaying is to provide simultaneous high-speed clearing for all faults within a line section, including end-zone faults. A PLC channel can also be used to provide remote tripping functions for transformer protection, shunt reactor protection and remote breaker failure relaying. There are many references available that discuss PLC applications. IEEE 643 (IEEE guide for power-line carrier applications) is a particularly good reference. In the bibliography section of this paper, many other references are listed. The intent of this paper is not to cover the actual channel application but circumstances that can affect the performance of the protective relay system. Subjects such as a non-homogeneous line, the use of capacitors and reactors in the line, transformer-tapped lines, special protection applications, and the issue of non-licensure of PLC by the electric utility are covered. The intent of this paper is to document important issues that should be considered when applying a PLC channel to a protective relay system.