DYNA-TEST simulator for relay testing. I. Design characteristics

The authors describe a new digital dynamic testing (DYNA-TEST) simulator developed for protection relay applications. This simulator is capable of producing voltage and current transients that correspond to actual fault events in the power systems. Fault transients are generated either by simulating power system faults using an electromagnetic transient program or by replaying records of fault signals captured in substations by digital fault recorders. These signals are used to test protection relays. Such an approach to relay testing represents a major improvement over steady-state testing.