Validation of Protection Settings Using COMTRADE Files and Current Injector Testing

This article presents an approach for validating protection settings in an electrical system using COMTRADE files and experimental tests with a CMC356 injector. The IEEE 14-bus model was used, selecting three buses to conduct short-circuit studies and adjust intelligent electronic devices associated with transmission lines. The study included configuring current and potential transformers to ensure proper sizing, as well as adjusting overcurrent protection settings using functions 50, 50N, 51, and 51N. Operating currents and trip times were calculated based on the system's characteristics. COMTRADE files, generated through simulations in PowerFactory, were injected into the intelligent electronic devices using the CMC356 injector and Test Universe software. The recorded trip times were then compared with static and dynamic simulations. The results showed acceptable error margins according to the IEEE 3004.1-2013 standard and confirmed that COMTRADE files are effective tools for validating protection settings by generating representative system signals.