Test Systems
Provide precise information on the status of the relay
The purpose of power system protection is to use accurate and reliable protection devices to detect faults promptly and without fail and to minimize impairments to the power supply by selectively switching off faulted sections of the system. The use of suitable protection devices can significantly improve the safety and reliability of complex electrical power systems and installations. Regular testing is the only way to ensure that these protection devices function correctly throughout their operational life. More than 20 years of experience in developing and manufacturing automatic relay test systems have gone into creating the third generation of ARTES test instruments. Back in 1996, KoCoS was the first company to present Windowsbased testing software for controlling and operating test equipment and the company continues to play a pioneering role in the design of clearly structured and ergonomic user interfaces today.
Product overview
ARTES 460 / 560 test systems are practical solutions which can cope with just about any relay testing task.
ARTES 460
Compact test system for three-phase tests, can be used as a universal tool for testing digital protection relays.
Article number 00001302
ARTES 560
Compact test system for three-phase tests with a particularly powerful current amplifier for testing digital and self-powered protection relays.
Article number 00001304
Applications
ARTES 460 | 560 test systems are used to carry out functional tests and tests of configured excitation and tripping characteristics, including any automatic reclosing functions of protection devices such as:
- Distance protection relays
- Differential protection relays
- DT/IDMT relays
- Voltage relays, frequency relays
They can also be used to test and calibrate power, voltage, current and frequency converters.
With four voltage and six current outputs, these test systems make light work of even highly complex tests on static, digital and self-powered protection relays, without additional equipment. Test quantities are calculated and tests controlled fully automatically.
Equipment and handling
ARTES 460 | 560 test systems are the compact and universal solution for testing all types of protection relays. The built-in control panel, light weight and low noise level make this robust test system equally suitable for use on site and in the lab.
Stand-alone operation with 3.5“ touch screen
ARTES 460 | 560 test instruments can be operated and controlled with the aid of a PC and the ARTES testing software or with the built-in control panel. The control panel features a high-resolution, resistive 3.5“ touch screen, two function keys and a jog wheel. The clearly structured user interface guides the user quickly and intuitively to complete the task in hand. The test instrument reacts directly to user actions, all processes run smoothly and without delay. Settings can be made quickly with the ergonomic jog wheel. The illuminated ring integrated in the wheel clearly displays the system status; acoustic signals are an additional source of information and provide feedback when settings are made and when tests are carried out. A USB and an Ethernet interface allow direct connection to PCs or any network.
LED s for status indication
The states and operating modes of the inputs and outputs are indicated by LEDs on the front panel. The user can tell at a glance which outputs are active and can easily identify the states of the binary inputs and outputs.
Analog and binary measurement inputs
ARTES 460 | 560 test systems have eight binary inputs which are protected against polarity reversal and are configurable for measuring dry or wet contacts. In addition to the binary measurement inputs, the test systems also feature eight analog inputs with a switchable measuring range.
Output of control commands via binary outputs
ARTES 460 | 560 test systems can address the protection device under test with binary signals as well as with analog measurement quantities. These binary signals are generated simultaneously with the analog quantities and can be used as control commands for the protection device during the test procedure.
Testing protection devices with low-level signal inputs
Special low-level outputs with very high accuracy make it possible to test protection devices with low-level signal inputs as well. The behaviour of various different sensors, such as Rogowski coils, is reproduced precisely.
Separate auxiliary power supply
ARTES 460 | 560 test systems have a separate auxiliary power supply as standard equipment. The auxiliary voltage can be used to supply the test object, for example. The range is from 12 to 260 VDC.
Operation in a vertical position
All the connections required for linking up to the device under test can be found on the front panel where they are arranged ergonomically and are easily accessible. The power supply and the external interfaces are also located on the front panel. ARTES 460 | 560 test systems can be stood upright on the floor if necessary and still be operated comfortably.
ARTES testing software
Featuring a Microsoft Fluent user interface and an impressive range of functions, the new ARTES relay testing software from KoCoS breaks new ground, securing the company‘s position at the cutting edge of the development of Windows-based testing software.
The restructured Microsoft Fluent user interface provides a wide range of new functions. The Fluent interface makes working with the ARTES testing software both faster and more efficient. Traditional menus and toolbars have been replaced by a ribbon. The advantages of this user interface include improved handling and significant savings in time due to the use of context-specific tabs and the ease with which new users become familiar with the software.
Clearly structured asset management based on the test object
Another noteworthy feature of the software is the asset management. The global definition of protection functions as well as the derivation and inheritance of properties from a wide variety of different type templates are what make this feature so special. In addition, it is possible to edit specific individual relay settings and test instructions as well as to make global settings for instrument transformers, earthing and the direction of the rotating field. The asset management also allows the integration and management of external documents. This means that any information which may be required is available all the time.
Graphical display of connection schemes
A graphical display of connection schemes can also be found in the ARTES testing software. This makes it easier to connect the device under test and goes a long way towards ruling out mistakes. Pre-defined models are available for the various protection functions and can be selected directly, making configuration much simpler.
Individual test plans
An individual test plan can be created easily for each device under test. Individual tests can be combined to form complete device or type tests which can then be repeated any number of times under identical test conditions, making it easy to automate entire test procedures.
Display and evaluation of measurement results
The progress of the analog input quantities and the status signals and commands of the device under test captured by ARTES are displayed time correctly in real time during tests. This information is displayed both graphically and numerically, making it possible to observe and evaluate the test procedure right away.
ARTES test monitors
Generally speaking, the VD-Monitor is capable of meeting all test requirements.
The ARTES software also offers a wide range of convenient test monitors which have been specially developed for testing specific protection functions. These test monitors simplify, automate and significantly speed up tests for a range of different types of relays.
VD -Monitor
The VD-Monitor enables the user to test any protection function by setting the test quantities manually. As well as entering secondary values, primary values can also be used to define all the settings, so it is no longer necessary to go to the trouble of converting the quantities manually. The output signals of the current and voltage amplifiers are set entirely independently from one another as regards amplitude, phase and frequency and are varied independently from one another during tests. In addition, the output signals of certain or all amplifier outputs can also be ramp ascending or descending within the configured range.
IT -Monitor
Article number 00001253
The IT-Monitor can be used to check the operating times and directional sensitivity of overcurrent relays with currentdependent or current-independent time delays. The programme automatically calculates the test quantities for the defined test current and selected fault type. The amplitude of the test current is defined in the current-time diagram. Test evaluation is performed with reference to the defined tripping characteristic which can be freely configured in the programme. In addition, the programme already contains all standard characteristics according to IEC and ANSI. The IT-Monitor also features a function for checking the directional control. In this case the relay is supplied with the relevant voltages as well as the currents
IMP-Monitor
Article number 00001254
The IMP-Monitor can be used to check the operating times and impedance zones of distance protection devices. The programme automatically calculates the test quantities for the defined fault impedances and the selected fault type. The required fault impedance is defined in the complex impedance plane or in the distance-time diagram. In addition, the IMP-Monitor enables the ARC (Auto-Reclose) function of the protective equipment to be checked. The aim of this test is to verify the dead times of a successful or unsuccessful auto-reclose operation.
TRANSIG -Monitor
Article number 00001255
The TRANSIG-Monitor can be used to check the correct functioning of the device under test in real conditions. The monitor can be used for the full graphical display and output of recorded signal characteristics which are available in standard COMTRADE format and can come from fault recording systems or digital protection relays. During tests these signal characteristics are played back by the test instrument as transient signal waveforms. The TRANSIG-Monitor also includes a signal editor which can be used to configure and calculate any signal characteristic. The signal characteristics can be generated from a basic function, such as a sine wave, with one or more superimposed functions, such as a direct component, exponential functions, harmonics, etc.
SYNC-Monitor
Article number 00001256
The SYNC-Monitor can be used to test paralleling devices and synchronizers which use frequency and voltage adjusters. During a test, the systems to be synchronised are represented by the voltages of the test instrument. The amplitude and the frequency of the test quantities can be changed manually or via the control commands of the synchronizer. During a test, the test quantities and the voltage, frequency and phase difference between the voltage to be synchronised and the reference voltage are displayed numerically in real time in the SYNCMonitor display. The phase difference is also displayed graphically in the synchroscope. The evaluation of measurement values is performed automatically immediately after a test. A table displays the test quantities at test begin, at the time the switching command is issued and at the time the circuit breaker closes, taking into account the operating (closing) time of the circuit breaker.
DIFF -Monitor
Article number 00001257
The DIFF-Monitor enables the tripping characteristic and operating times of differential protection relays to be checked. Test values are calculated automatically with reference to the nominal data of the transformer and the HV/LV data. With transformers using phase-rotation vector groups, for example YD 5, the programme performs a phase adjustment between the currents of the high voltage and low voltage side which are to be compared. In addition to the vector group adjustment, an amplitude adjustment is also performed. Test evaluation is performed with reference to the stabilization characteristic of the differential protection device.
TD -Monitor
Article number 00001258
The TD-Monitor provides an easy way to test transducers. In addition to current, voltage, frequency and phase transducers, it is also possible to test active power, reactive power and apparent power transducers and devices used for measuring the power factor or reactive power factor. The output quantity of the transducer is recorded during the test via the analog inputs of the ARTES device. In the TD-Monitor, the test quantities and the output signal of the transducer are displayed numerically in real time during tests. In addition, the absolute error, the relative error and the full scale error are calculated and displayed both numerically and graphically.
SmartSequencer
Article number 00001259
The SmartSequencer can be used to create any kind of test procedure. A test procedure is similar to a test sequence in the VDMonitor, which can consist of a number of static and dynamic signal characteristics. However, in the VD-Monitor the individual characteristics (also termed states) have a fixed, pre-defined length and are run sequentially one after the other. Using the SmartSequencer it is possible to “run” these states in an event-controlled manner. A different progression condition (transition) can be defined for each state. This might be the reaction of the device under test in the form of a binary signal or alternatively a defined time, for example.
PIC -Monitor
Article number 00001260
The PIC-Monitor can be used to determine the pick-up and dropoff values of protection relays. This could also be the pick-up value of the second instantaneous tripping set (high set) of an overcurrent relay, for example. The test quantities are issued as stair-step pulsed ramps for this purpose. The amplitudes are increased until the pick-up value is reached. To ascertain the drop-off value, ARTES then automatically switches to a stair-step descending ramp. The programme calculates the test quantities fully automatically with reference to the start and end values set for the ramps and the fault loop which has been selected. The reaction of the device under test is recorded in real time during the test and subsequently evaluated.
QU-Monitor
Article number 00001274
The Q-U protection function can be tested fully automatically with the QU-Monitor. The QU-Monitor supports various different response characteristics for the Q-U protection function implemented by the manufacturers of protection devices. As well as verifying the tripping characteristic, it is also possible to check the pick-up and and drop-off values of the protection relay for the undervoltage threshold, the minimum current, the minimum reactive power and the angle range of the reactive power direction. Selecting a fault loop makes it possible to reproduce phaseselective fault types as well. This allows the undervoltage threshold and the function of the logical AND-link to be checked in one test step.