1

The Directional Reactive Power Undervoltage Protection A Protection

Concept for connecting decentralized renewable Energy
Oliver Janke, OMICRON, Germany

Abstract
With their increasing number, it is getting important
that decentralized and renewable energy sources
are supporting the stabilization of the system
voltage after short voltage dropouts. Often, in the
past, these generators were disconnected during
network faults. This is not adequate anymore, as it
would lead to a loss of a considerable amount of
feed-in power. However, if the generators stay
connected, it must be ensured that they are not
receiving reactive power, as this would lead to a
collapse of the grid.
In Germany, a number of legal requirements and
grid codes are regulating the connection of such
generators. These documents also stipulate the
use of Directional Reactive Power Undervoltage
Protection (Q& U< protection) that would
disconnect such energy sources if they received
reactive power during faults on the network.
This paper gives an overview about the legal
documents and an introduction to the protection
function mentioned above. The basic principle of
the Q& U< protection is explained by means of
its requirement specifications.
Furthermore, the paper will show up standardized
test methods evaluating the Q& U< protection. It
will describe how to test the releasing functions,
the reactive power direction determination and also
all binary inputs and outputs that are necessary for
the protection function.

Fig. 1 Installed Power of Wind Turbines worldwide

(source [8])

Those small or medium sized generators are often

connected to the medium voltage (MV) network.
Fig. 2 shows a typical example of a wind farm with
multiple generators that are connected to a 20kV
medium voltage busbar.

Introduction
Decentralized and renewable energy sources are
contributing an increasing amount to the electrical
power mix in many regions of the world. Fig. 1
shows the growth of installed power from Wind
Energy stations worldwide. During the past 5 years
there has been an enormous rise in many
countries while Germany observed a slight
increased from a relatively high value. In many
cases, this development is driven by society and
subsidized by the state.

Fig. 2 Wind farm connected to MV busbar (source [1])

In the past, it was sufficient to disconnect such

decentralized energy sources during a fault on the
electrical network. This ensured that the fault was
not feed from the distribution network and could be
cleared by tripping the corresponding feeder. With
growing numbers, it is now important to use those
suppliers to support the stabilization of the system
voltage after short voltage dropouts. Otherwise, the
short circuit power would decrease suddenly which
would cause problems for many protection devices

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(such as decreasing the fault current). Loss of

decentralized in-fed power should be avoided as
the remaining conventional or nuclear power plants
might not be sufficient to supply the whole network.
A decrease of the network voltage followed by load
shedding and
blackouts would be the
consequence.
With the high percentage of decentralized
regenerative energy sources, the German grid
operators had to find solutions to avoid these
problems. A number of grid codes specify the
requirements for connecting those power plants to
the network and are also describing a protection
function called Directional Reactive Power
Undervoltage Protection (Q& U<). This
protection function disconnects the decentralized
generators in the event that they receive reactive
power during a network fault. As long as they are
supplying reactive power to the network
(overexcited operation or capacitive behavior) they
stay connected to stabilize the network voltage.
The German regulations and the Q& U<
Protection could serve as an example for other
countries or regions.

Legal regulations
According to the Electricity Feeding Act [4] the
network operators in Germany were bound to
connect renewable energy sources to their grid
since 1st January, 1991. This law also stipulates
minimum remunerations for the injected energy. It
was replaced by the Renewable Energies Act [5] in
2000 which was last revised in 2009.
The current version [6], determines the rates for
injected electrical energy into the grid in
dependency on several factors like the type of
energy source, the date of connection to the grid or
the nominal power. These rates are guaranteed for
a specified period. Therefore, the guaranteed rates
for plants connected in earlier years are higher
than for those connected later. This takes into
account the higher investment cost for the new
technologies and supports further research and
development (for example in regards to efficiency,
reliability etc.). It also specifies a system service
bonus of 0.5 cent/kWh for wind energy power
plants that are put into service before 1st of
January 2014 and are meeting a number of
requirements mentioned in the Ordinance on
System Services by Wind Energy Plants [7].
According to this regulation, Directional Reactive
Power Undervoltage Protection (Q& U<) must be
installed.
As a guide for developers of such protection
devices the FFN (committee for grid technologies
and operations within the VDE, Federation of
Electro Technology Electronics Information
Technology) developed detailed requirement
specifications (refer [2]).

Reference [7] mentions that the Q& U<

protection's setting values can be derived from the
Technical Guideline for Generating Plants of the
Medium-Voltage Power Grid [3].
This document specifies the requirements
according safety and reliability for connecting
electrical energy sources to the medium voltage
network. One requirement is the dynamic grid
support during voltage dips within the high voltage
network. The electrical energy source must be able
to:

stay connected to the grid during network

faults,
support the system voltage by injecting a
reactive current during the fault,
receive the same amount of reactive
energy or less from the network after the
fault was cleared.

This must be proven to the network operator with a

certificate for each single unit and another
certificate for the whole plant.
In summary the legal regulations state that
renewable energy sources connected to the
medium voltage network must support the system
voltage during network faults ( verified by
certificate) and should they not do so, for any
reason, must be disconnected from the grid by a
Q& U< protection.
Ideally, tests using this method should be
performed under conditions that are as realistic as
possible. A transient network model is ideal for
such applications. It allows test quantities to be
generated that reflect reality far more accurately
than those based on sine waves, which are
traditionally used.

Requirement specifications of the Q&

U< protection
The Q& U< protection must trip the generators
after 0.5 s if the voltage at the network connection
point drops and remains below 85% of its nominal
value in addition to the plant drawing reactive
power from the network (under-exited operation).
For the supervision of the reactive power direction,
generally two different variants are allowed (shown
in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4). In both cases the positive
sequence power S1 according to (1) is used. For
all graphics, the consumer meter arrow system is
used.
S1 = P1 + jQ1
(1)
In variant 1, a minimum value for the positive
sequence current I1 and the angle are defined to
prevent over function of the protection function. If
variant 2 is used, only a minimum reactive power
threshold is necessary. A minimum current value
may be optionally implemented.

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The first of the two timers trips the generating units

after typically 0.5 s. If this trip should fail for any
reason, the second timer will trip the grid
connection point (GCP, see figure 2) and thereby
disconnect the whole plant from the network.
Reference [2] also specifies the necessary ranges
and default values for the setting values of the
protection function. They can be found in table 1.
The network operator defines the values to be
used for the specific device.
Fig. 3 Trip area of variant 1
Protection function

Range

Default value

minimum
positive
sequence current

0.02 0.20IN

0.10IN

undervoltage

0.80 0.90U N

0.85U N

First timer
(generating units)

0.1 1.0 s

0.5 s

Second timer (GCP)

0.5 2.0 s

1.5 s

Table 1: Ranges and default values for setting values

Fig. 4 Trip area of variant 2

Figure 5 shows the logic diagram of the entire

protection function. The top two blocks show the
calculation of the positive sequence power S1 and
the assessment of the reactive power direction.
The block below describes the evaluation of the
minimum current, which is mandatory for variant 1
and optional for variant 2. Further down the three
blocks of the undervoltage protection can be seen.
Each line to line voltage is evaluated to detect
faults on the network.
The connected AND (&) logic activates two timers
if the following conditions are met:

The positive sequence power S1 is within

the trip area.
The positive sequence current I1 is above
its minimum value.
All three line to line voltages are below
their set minimum value.

The Q& U< shall be blocked, if the VTs miniature

circuit breaker is tripped. Blocking should also be
possible for testing purposes.
Furthermore, it is required that the binary output
signals of the protection function must be freely
routable to binary outputs of the device and to
LEDs. If the Q& U< protection function is
integrated into a multifunctional numerical
protection relay, which is also used for protecting
the feeder, separate binary outputs shall be used
for the feeder protection and for the network
protection.
The Q& U< protection function should not trip
during high inrush currents. Therefore the
fundamentals of the physical units (currents and
voltages) should be used for all calculations.
Another solution is to use an inrush detection
based on harmonics to block the Q& U<
protection function.
The protection device must be connected on the
same voltage level as the GCP. Normally it should
be connected to the CTs and VTs directly at the
GCP.
The Q& U< protection function can be realized
as an independent function within the protection
device. Alternatively, logical blocks and function
modules can be used for the implementation.
Reference [3] recommends a delay of up to a few
minutes after a trip of the network protection during
a fault on the network before reclosing. Therefore a
release signal according Fig. 6 for reclosing is
necessary and specified in [2] for power plants
connected to the medium voltage network. (The
logic for plants connected to the HV grid specified
within the same document differs only slightly.)

Fig. 5 Schematic diagram of the Q& U< Protection

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Fig.6

Schematic diagram for the release signal for

automatic reclosure

The reclosure is enabled if:

a specified time has passed after the trip,

the network frequency is within a given
range,
the three line to line voltages of the
network are above 95% of their nominal
value.

Testing the Q& U< protection

According to [3] the correct operation of the Q&
U< protection function must be tested independent
of its realization. This could be:
As dedicated Q& U< protection device
Integrated into the feeder protection device
Integrated into the control device of the
generating unit
As [2] clearly specifies the protection function
requirements, a test procedure can be developed
which is independent from the current realization
and can be used for protection devices from
multiple vendors. An example using the OMICRON
Test Universe software can be seen in Fig. 7 (refer
[9]). This template includes an XRIO converter with
all necessary protection settings. All test modules
are automated (e.g. by using the LinkToXRIO
technology) and are adapting to changed settings
to support the test person. As the XRIO converter
already holds the recommended default settings
from [2], the preparation time for the test is further
minimized.

Fig. 7 Test template for testing the Q& U< protection

function

The basis for testing is the schematic diagram (Fig.

5.). To ensure the correct operation of the Q&
U< protection all logical blocks are tested.
Therefore test modules for testing the following
functions are included in the test template:

Wiring check
Test if consumer meter arrow system is
used
Pickup test for the minimum current or if
not used the minimum reactive power
Pickup of the undervoltage function
Logic test of the undervoltage protection
(Therefore multiple test are done
according Table II.)
Test of the power direction determination
(see Fig. 8 and Fig. 9)
Blocking via binary input of the protection
device
Blocking by inrush detection (if existing)
Trip time test for GCP and generating units
Test with GCP circuit breaker (CB) and the
generating units' CB
For testing, if customer meter arrow system is
used, the OMICRON QuickCMC Module is used.
Negative values for the active power and reactive
power are simulated, as if the generating units are
working under normal conditions. The measured
values at the protection device must be compared
with the injected values. (Additionally the correct
polarity and wiring of the connected CTs should be
tested during commissioning.)
The pickup tests are performed with OMICRON
Ramping Modules. For the minimum current or the
minimum power test, the injected value is
increased in small steps until the protection device
picks up. All other release criteria are fulfilled
during this test. The trip signal of the generating
units is used as trigger. During the pickup test of
the undervoltage function, all three line to line
voltages are decreased until reaching the pickup at

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Vmin. Again all other release criteria are fulfilled.

For both tests the drop off value is tested by
ramping the specific value into the opposite
direction.
The OMICRON State Sequencer Module is used
for testing the logic of the undervoltage function.
Therefore several different network faults (three
phase, two phase and single phase) for all phases
are simulated (see Table II) while all other release
criteria are fulfilled. Between each simulated fault,
a prefault with nominal voltages simulated. As Fig.
5 shows, the Q& U< protection may only trip if all
three line to line voltages are below the set
threshold Vmin. This only applies to the last
simulated fault (3ph (L1L2L3) < Vmin), thus the
protection function may only trip during this state.
Fault

VL1-L2

VL2-L3

VL3-L1

Trip

3ph (L1L2L3) > Vmin

> Vmin

> Vmin

> Vmin

No

2ph (L3L1)

> Vmin

> Vmin

< Vmin

No

2ph (L1L2)

< Vmin

> Vmin

> Vmin

No

2ph (L2L3)

> Vmin

< Vmin

> Vmin

No

1ph (L1-N)

< Vmin

> Vmin

< Vmin

No

1ph (L2-N)

< Vmin

< Vmin

> Vmin

No

1ph (L3-N)

> Vmin

< Vmin

< Vmin

no

3ph (L1L2L3) < Vmin

< Vmin

< Vmin

< Vmin

yes

Table 2: Different faults for testing the undervoltage logic

The test of the power direction determination

depends on which variant (mentioned in chapter
IV) is implemented within the protection device. For
variant 1, the OMICRON Ramping module is used
to vary the angle between voltages and currents,
while their magnitude is fixed. This is resulting in
circular lines within the P-Q-plane as shown in Fig.
8. One of the trip signals is used as trigger as with
all other tests. The angle is tested in this way. It
must be ensured that all other release criteria (e.g.
undervoltage, minimum current etc.) are given
during this test.

placed slightly outside the tolerance band to gain

reliable test results. With these test shots the
characteristic is tested sufficiently.

Fig. 9 Testing of the power direction determination of

variant 2

An automated test procedure like this can ideally

be used to generate the test report which is
necessary for gaining the certificates. Depending
on the software used, layout and content of the
report can be adapted after the test without losing
the test results.

Conclusions
The progressive integration of decentralized
energy sources into the electrical grid is one of
today's challenges within the field of electrical
power supply. The German regulations and grid
codes can serve as an example for other regions
on how to regulate this development. It is also
necessary that small and medium sized generators
are contributing to the system's stability. The
integration of Q& U< protection is a perfect
solution to guarantee that those generators will not
receive reactive power during network faults and
therefore will stabilize the network voltage. Thus
the reliability of the network is improved and
blackouts can be prevented.

References
[1]

[2]

[3]
Fig. 8 Testing of the power direction determination of
variant 1

If variant 2 is implemented within the protection

device to determine the direction of the power flow,
the OMICRON State Sequencer Module can be
used. Along the characteristic, four shots are
placed within the trip area and an additional four
within the blocking area (Fig. 9). The shots must be

Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Hinz and Dipl. Ing. Walter

Schossig, "Schutzkonzept fr 110-kV/MSAnlagen
der
Verteilnetzbetreiber",
presented at OMICRON camp, OMICRON
Anwendertagung
2011,
Darmstadt,
Germany
FNN Forum Netztechnik / Netzbetrieb im
VDE, Lastenheft BlindleistungsrichtungsUnterspannungsschutz (Q-U-Schutz), Feb.
2010
bdew (Bundesverband der Energie- und
Wasserwirtschaft e.V., Federal Association
of the Energy and Water Management
Industry),
Technische
Richtlinie
Erzeugunsanlagen am Mittelspannungsnetz
(Technical Guideline for Generating Plants
of the Medium-Voltage Power Grid), June
2008

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[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

Stromeinspeisungsgesetz
(Electricity
Feeding Act), 7th December 1990 (BGBl. I
1990 S. 2633-2634)
Gesetz fr den Vorrang Erneuerbarer
Energien
(Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz
EEG, Renewable Energies Act), 29th Mar.
2000 (BGBl. I S. 305)
Gesetz fr den Vorrang Erneuerbarer
Energien
(Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz
EEG, Renewable Energies Act), 25th Oct.
2008 (BGBl. I S. 2074) changed by article 1
of the law from 28th Jul. 2011 (BGBl. I S.
1634)
Verordnung zu Systemdienstleistungen
durch Windenergieanlagen (Systemdienstleistungsverordnung

SDLWindV,
Ordinance on System Services by Wind
Energy Plants), 3rd Jul. 2009 (BGBl. I S.
1734) changed by article 1 of the regulation
from 13th Apr. 2011 (BGBl. I S. 638)
Webpage
"Weltweit
installierte
Windkraftleistung (Erneuerbare-Energienund-Kliemaschutz.de)",
http://www.volkerquaschning.de/datserv/windinst/index.php
OMICRON, Prfvorlage zur Prfung des
Blindleistungsrichtungs-Unterspannungsschutzes (Q-U-Schutz), (manual of a test
template for testing the Q& U< protection)

About the author

Oliver Janke was born in
Nuremberg in Germany on June
20, 1981. After attending school
in Hchstadt and obtaining the
Abitur
(university
entrance
examination)
he
studied
electrical engineering from 2002
to 2008 at the FriedrichAlexander-Universitt Erlangen-Nrnberg and
graduated as an engineer.
He joined the Software Test Automation
department of OMICRON electronics in 2008
where he developed automated test plans for
protection testing as a project engineer. Currently
he is working as a product trainer and responsible
for the training portfolio for secondary assets.
He is a member of the VDE (Federation of Electro
Technology Electronics Information Technology)
and the DPG (German Physical Society).

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