วารสารบัณฑิตวิทยาลัย

บัณฑิตวิทยาลัย มหาวิทยาลัยเทคโนโลยีพระจอมเกลาพระนครเหนือ

The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for

Transmission line Feeders
Sittha Suksawat Major Field : Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Teratam Bunyagul Faculty of Engineering
King Mongkut’s University Technology North Bangkok

Abstract
A Breaker Failure Relay (BFR) is designed to operate when the main protective relay sends a trip
signal to the circuit breaker and the circuit breaker fails to trip. Then BFR trips adjacent circuit breaker on
the bus. The BFR normally consists of 2 parts that are a fault detector and a timer in a separate hardware.
This research presents an improved BFR with the two hardware parts combined. There is also a
rearrangement of the DC schematic. These changes have been modeled with the logic and relay libraries in
PSCAD/EMTDC. The simulation results show the improved BFR and the rearrangement of the DC
schematic feasible. This was confirmed by the comparison of operating sequence and operating times.
The typical and improved circuit breaker failure models are evaluated with reliability technique. The
comparisons of reliability results show that the improved circuit breaker failure scheme is reliable more
than the typical one.

Index Terms : Breaker Failure Relay, PSCAD/EMTDC, Reliability

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Nomenclature
These abbreviations are referred from The Authoritative Dictionary of IEEE Standards Terms,
Seventh Edition [1].The following are abbreviations used in this research:
BFR: Breaker failure relay
50BF: Breaker failure current detector
62BF: Breaker failure timer
86BF: Breaker failure auxiliary lockout relay
BFI: Breaker failure initiate input

Introduction
A power system at the voltage level of 69kV or higher needs a local backup protection of circuit
breakers (CB).
This is because the circuit breakers above 69kV have a higher failure rate. [1] If the circuit breaker
does not trip after receiving a trip signal from the main protection, the fault current still exists. An engineer
must design protection scheme to interrupt the fault current flowing to the failed circuit breaker. This is
done by sending trip commands to all nearby circuit breakers in order to isolate the faulted section from
the power system. The causes of the circuit breaker failure may be one of the following as Table I [2]:

TABLE I
CAUSE OF SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURE [3]

Percent (%) Causes

43 mechanism failure
26 High volt component (CT, PT)
25 Electronics control & Auxiliary circuit
5 Other causes

The paper describes the fundamental of a breaker failure relay (BFR). The paper also shows the
BFR operating procedures, models and DC scheme. One of the Electricity Generation Authority of
Thailand (EGAT) Co. Ltd. 115kV substations was chosen as a primary circuit for the simulation. The
secondary circuit was modeled using Continuous System Model Functions (CSMF) tools in
PSCAD/EMTDC. The objective of the research is to verify the BFR model and the improvement of BFR
scheme.

The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for Transmission line Feeders

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Breaker failure protection

The BFR normally consists of two separate hardwares. These are a fault detector and a timer. BFR
in EGAT uses an over current relay (50BF) with instantaneous characteristic as a fault detector and a timer
relay (62BF) as a timer.
The operating procedures of a breaker failure protection scheme (Fig. 1) are [3]
1. Main protection operates and sends a trip signal (NO. or NC. contact) to initiate the BFR.
2. The over current relay (50BF) compares the fault current with its current setting. If the fault
current is greater than the current setting, the over current relay sends a signal to initiate a timer relay
(62BF).
3. The timer relay (62BF) starts counting. The trip time setting is normally less than the trip time of
zone 2 setting of the distance relays at adjacent substations. This is to be assured that the BFR clears fault
before the distance relays send remote trip signals.
It is important to note that the BFR must operate after main protection. BFR operates by sending a
trip signal to a lockout relay (86BF). Then the lockout relay sends trip signals to all nearby circuit
breakers. It also interlocks the circuit breakers to prevent a close signal.

Fig. 1. Operation proceeding of BFR when CB1 fails

Network model in pscad/emtdc

The primary circuit was selected from EGAT’s network. One of 115kV substations was chosen and
modeled in PSCAD/EMTDC as shown in Fig. 2. The substation has four bays and bus scheme definition
of main and transfer bus. They consist of transformer bay and three transmission line bays.

The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for Transmission line Feeders

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Transfer bus 115kV

SUBSTATION 1

TIE1

TSW

TSW

TSW

TSW
DSW1

DSW1

DSW1

DSW1
IBRK2

IBRK4

IBRK5

IBRK7
EBRK2

EBRK4

EBRK5
Rb2 R2 Rb4 R4 Rb5 R5 Rb7 R7

TIE_CB

CB2

CB4

CB5

CB7
50 50 50 50
21P 21P 21P 51T
BF BF BF BF

DSW2

DSW2

DSW2

DSW2
TIE2

62 62 62 62
BF BF BF BF

Main bus 115kV

86
BF

COUPLED

SECTION
30%

PI

#1
#2
COUPLED

COUPLED

COUPLED
SECTION

SECTION

SECTION
70%
PI

PI

PI

F
R1 R3 R6
CB1

CB3

CB6
26.34 [MVAR] 42.5 [MW]
21P 21P 21P

ERE
EKK

EKL

IRE
IKK

IKL

SUBSTATION 2 SUBSTATION 3 SUBSTATION 4

R=0
R=0

R=0

Fig. 2. Model of 115kV EGAT substation and protection system

Primary protective relay model

The 115kV substation model has two groups of important element. These are transformers and
transmission lines. They need to be protected with relays. Transmission line and transformer protection
were modeled and simulated as following;
A. Transmission line protection
Transmission lines are protected by distance relays to cover 85% of line length (zone1 protection).
In this study, the distance relays were set to protect a three phase fault.
Fig. 3 shows the distance relay model. The distance relay obtains phase voltage and current. A FFT
blocks separates phase and magnitude in order to prepare the input for the impedance calculation. The
output impedance is in rectangular format (R and X). R and X are optimized for use with Mho relay.

The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for Transmission line Feeders

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Vambay2

Vbmbay2

Vcmbay2
Iambay2

Ibmbay2

Icmbay2
1

1
IBRK2
1 Mag1 Mag2 Mag3 EBRK2
1 Mag1 Mag2 Mag3
(7) (7) (7) Iapbay2 (7) (7) (7) Vapbay2
1 1

1
X1 Ph1 X1 Ph1
iabay2 (7) Eabay2 (7)
FFT FFT
2 Ph2Ibpbay2 2 Ph2Vbpbay2

1
X2 X2
Ibbay2 (7) Ebbay2 (7)
3 Ph3 Icpbay2 3 Ph3Vcpbay2

1
X3 F = 50.0 [Hz] X3 F = 50.0 [Hz]
Icbay2 (7) Ecbay2 (7)
dc1 dc2 dc3 dc1 dc2 dc3

VM1
Vambay2 VP1 B
Delay
Vapbay2 IM1 R 21 Max
Iambay2 IP1 Va - Vb R T D LMK_KK2
Iapbay2 VM2 X
Ia - Ib X
Vbmbay2 VP2
Vbpbay2
Ibmbay2
IM2
IP2
3
Ibpbay2

Fig. 3. The distance relay model

Where
No. 1 = Frequency scanner
No. 2 = Impedance calculation block
No. 3 = Mho distance relay
B. Transformer protection
In practice, it uses many types of relays, for example, transformer differential, Buchholz relay,
overfluxing relay and over current inverse time curves characteristic. In this paper, an over current blocks
were selected for the simulation (Fig 4). They compare the input currents (phase currents) with the setting
values. The relay will send the output logic signal when any of the input currents is more than its setting.
IamT

IbmT

IcmT
1

IBRK7 Mag1 Mag2 Mag3 B

(7) (7) (7) 51
1 X1 Ph1
Iabay7 (7) IamT D Max
FFT
2 X2 Ph2
Ibbay7 (7)
3 Ph3 B 1
X3 F = 50.0 [Hz] 51
Icbay7 (7) 2
dc1 dc2 dc3 Max
IbmT D 3 KT1_OC

B
51
Max
IcmT D

Fig. 4. Over current invert time curves model

Where
No. 1 = Current transformer
No. 2 = Frequency scanner
No. 3 = Over current relay

The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for Transmission line Feeders

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Backup protective relay model

Fig. 5 shows a typical breaker failure DC schematic. If the breaker fails and the circuit breaker status
(auxiliary contactor, 52A) still closes (circuit breaker can not trip), the both 50BF and 62BF relay operate
in sequences. 50BF and 62BF will close to operate the lock out relay (86BF). The lock out relay will close
the trip coils of all nearby the circuit breakers.

Fig. 5. A typical breaker failure DC schematic

Fig. 6. Basic BFR protection scheme

Fig. 6 shows a diagram of the basic BFR scheme in a sequential logic. The fault detector (50BF) and
BFI (Breaker Failure Initiate) will operate the timer (62BF). The BFR model has two relay models that are
over current relay instantaneous characteristic (50BF) and timer relay (62BF).
A. The fault detector (50BF)
The over current relay with instantaneous characteristic (50BF) can be modeled with a digital logic
gate, a comparator and a multiplier block from PSCAD library as shown in Fig. 7. The setting value is a
product between current setting multiplier (CSM) and In. The value of In depends on the secondary current
setting of the main CT (5A or 1A).

The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for Transmission line Feeders

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IamBF5

IbmBF5

IcmBF5
INT50BF5

1
IBRK5 Mag1 Mag2 Mag3
(7) (7) (7) TIMER5
1 X1 Ph1 A
Compar-
(7) IamBF5_OLD ator
FFT
2 X2 Ph2 B
*
(7) CSM
3 X3 Ph3
F = 50.0 [Hz]
(7)
dc1 dc2 dc3
In

Fig. 7. Model of O/C instantaneous relay (50BF)

Where
No. 1 = Current transformer
No. 2 = Frequency scanner
No. 3 = Current Setting Multiplier
No. 4 = Rated current setting (1A or 5A)
No. 5 = BFI input
No. 6 = Comparator Block
No. 7 = AND logic function
When a fault occurs on the transmission line No.3, the main protection (distance relay) sends trip
signal to trip the circuit breaker (Breaker No. 5) and initiate BFI. The O/C relay (50BF) also detects the
fault. If the circuit breaker can not interrupt the fault, it is considered as failure. The timer relay then
operates.
B. The timer(62BF)

START_TIMER4 BFT

A
Compar- BF4
ator
B
Clear
Ctrl sT
0.0 B 1 | X|

1.0 Ctrl = 1
A

Fig. 8. Model of timer relay (62BF)

Where
No. 1 = Timer initiate input
No. 2 = Operating time setting
No. 3 = Comparator Block

The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for Transmission line Feeders

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Fig. 8 shows the model of timer relay (62BF). The timer relay will start when it receives the output
signal from the O/C relay (50BF). The timer is counting until it reaches the time setting.
While timer relay is counting, if the fault current is cleared, the timer relay will reset itself.
C. The improved BFR Schematic
DC +
Contactor 50/
of Primary 62BF
relay

50/
86BF
62BF

DC -
Fig. 9. The improved BFR scheme with integrated 50BF and 62 BF

The BFR DC schematic in Fig. 5 is normally used in EGAT. The fault detector and the timer were
separated. The control circuit of the improved BFR can be described as a connection between the output
from Fig.7 to start timer in Fig.8. The improved BFR DC schematic can be rearranged as shown in Fig. 9.
With the same operating sequence, the difference between Fig. 5 and 9 are the number of auxiliary
contactors and wiring.

Comparison of the operating time

The simulation was preceded with a three phase fault applied to transmission line no. 3 (Fig. 2) at
0.3 second. Setting zone 1 mho as main protection has a delay time of 0.1 second. The BFR as a local back
up has a delay time of 0.3 second.
When fault occurs, the first case all circuit breakers are normal. The distance relay (main protection
of transmission line no.3) will send the trip command signal in order to trip only the circuit breaker no.5 at
0.3+0.1 = 0.4 second (Fig. 10) while the another circuit breakers still close.
However, if the circuit breaker no.5 fails to trip and the timer relay (62BF) set at 0.3 second. Then,
all nearby circuit breakers will be tripped by the circuit breaker failure protection scheme at 0.3+0.1+0.3 =
0.7 second as shown in Fig. 11.
For the improved BFR scheme, the result was illustrated in Fig. 12. It gives similar operating time
when comparing with the typical BFR scheme.

The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for Transmission line Feeders

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2
CB. No. 5
Apply fault at 0.3 s
CB. No. 5 open at 0.43 s
1

State
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
CB. No. 2, 4, 7
2

All neary breaker still close

1

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
time (s)

Fig. 10. The status of circuit breakers at substation 1, Where state 0 = CB. close, state 1 = CB. open
(All CB. are Normal)
2 CB. No. 5
Apply fault at 0.3 s

1 Circuit breaker can not open at 0.4 s

0
State

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

2
CB. No. 2, 4, 7
All neary breaker open at 0.72 s

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
time (s)

Fig. 11. The status of circuit breakers at substation 1, Where state 0 = CB. close, state 1 = CB. open
(Typical scheme)
2 CB. No. 5
Apply fault at 0.3 s

1 Circuit breaker can not open at 0.4 s

0
State

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

2
CB. No. 2, 4, 7
All neary breaker open at 0.72 s

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
time (s)

Fig. 12. The status of circuit breakers at substation 1, Where state 0 = CB. close, state 1 = CB. open
(Improved scheme)
The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for Transmission line Feeders
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Reliability model
In the protection system, the event tree is one technique for assessing the reliability. The term
reliability can apply to protection system failure when considered in terms of dependability and security
[4]. The event tree analysis is used to evaluate for research. The major advantage of event tree represents
the sequential operation state of the system. In this section, both typical and improved circuit breaker
failure protection schemes are modeled. They are represented in a reliability block diagram. To create the
reliability model, each relay’s components are considered with sequential operation.
Referring to Fig. 5, the typical DC schematic diagram of the circuit breaker failure protection
scheme consists of two relays over current relay (50BF) and timer relay (62BF). The over current relay
consists of a power supply unit, analog input unit, over current relay unit and digital output unit. The timer
relay consists of a power supply unit, timer relay unit and digital output circuit. It is represented as a block
diagram as in Fig. 13. The improved DC schematic diagram of the circuit breaker failure protection
scheme has only one relay as shown in Fig. 9. It consists of a power supply unit, analog input unit, over
current and timer relay unit and digital output unit. It is represented as a block diagram as Fig14.

Fig. 13. The reliability block diagram of typical breaker failure scheme

Fig. 14. The reliability block diagram of improved breaker failure scheme

The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for Transmission line Feeders

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Where
PSU1 = Power supply unit for overcurrent relay
PSU2 = Power supply unit for timer relay
AI = Analogue input
O/C = Overcurrent relay
Timer = Timer relay
O/C & Timer = Overcurrent and Timer relay
DO = Digital output function
C = Contactor and wiring
Consequence, both reliability block diagrams are created, the event tree for accessing the
dependability for typical circuit breaker failure relay is illustrated in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14.

Fig. 15. The event tree of typical breaker failure scheme

Fig. 16. The event tree of improved breaker failure scheme

The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for Transmission line Feeders

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When analyzing the dependability of both typical and improved circuit breaker failure protection
scheme, the event tree defined in Fig 15 and 16 are used to derive the probability of possible outcomes:
S = Probability of operate successfully
F = Probability of fail to operate

Reliability data
The dependability model requires data on the unavailability of the various components.
The examples of unavailability for the dependability model analysis for this research are predicted and
illustrated following [4]:
PSU = 0.005, AI = 0.003, O/C = 0.001, DO = 0.004,
Contactor & wiring = 0.001, Timer relay = 0.001,
O/C & Timer relay = 0.001

Reliability results
Using the above reliability values the following results were calculated for dependability of both
typical and improved breaker failure schemes. The summary outcomes of both circuit breaker failure
protection schemes are illustrated in Table II.
TABLE II
SUMMARY OF PROBABILITY OUTCOMES

Outcome Typical Scheme Improved Scheme

S 0.97623 0.98795
F 0.02377 0.01295

Conclusion
The circuit breakers above 69kV have a higher failure rate. They need a local backup protection.
The Breaker Failure Relay is a local back up protection and it normally consists of two separate hardwares.
The paper has verified the BFR model and shown the improvement of BFR scheme. The simulation result
operating time result when compare with normally BFR scheme shows that the improved BFR scheme
gives the same operating time as the typical BFR scheme.

The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for Transmission line Feeders

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The advantages of the improved BFR scheme are obvious. First it is a combined hardware.
This saves costs and installation space. Second the improved BFR scheme reduces the number of the
contactors and wiring in the DC circuit.
Referring to the reliability result in Table II, the improved circuit breaker failure gives probability to
operate successfully (S) more than the typical scheme.

References
[1] T. S. Norman and W. Daniel. “An Innovative Method of Providing Total Breaker Failure Protection,”
Sep 1996, IEEE Transaction on Industry Applications, Vol.32,no. 5.
[2] T. Suwanasri. “Investigation on HV puffer-type circuit breakers for condition monitoring parameter
selection,” 2006 EECON., IP1-IP7.
[3] S. Suksawat and T. Bunyagul “Modeling and Improved Breaker Failure Relay and Protection
Scheme Using PSCAD/EMTDC,” 2006 ECTI International Conference.
[4] J. S. Pung, et al. “The reliability of protection and control system for transmission feeders,” 1997
Developments in Power System Protection IEE. No.434.

The Reliability of Breaker Failure Scheme for Transmission line Feeders