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Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories has released the SEL-487E Transformer Protection Relay with enhanced Time-Domain Link (TiDL) technology. TiDL is a protection-centered digital secondary system that replaces secondary system copper connections with fiber to decrease costs and increase safety. Its enhanced features include a purpose-built merging unit, data-sharing capabilities and modern configuration software.

As part of its normal functionality, the SEL-487E protects large power system transformers with its five 3-phase current CT inputs and three restricted earth fault zones. It also offers an array of inrush protection features and a waveform detection algorithm for newer transformers with lower harmonic content.

In a TiDL system, an SEL-487E in the substation control house is connected via fiber to an SEL-TMU TiDL Merging Unit located in the yard. The merging unit samples and digitizes analog values from primary equipment and then directly transmits those data via a non-Ethernet protocol to as many as four SEL TiDL relays.

TiDL’s point-to-point architecture and data-sharing capabilities provide application flexibility and strong cybersecurity. In addition, because TiDL does not require Ethernet switches, routers or external time sources, it is simple to implement. SEL Grid Configurator software, which is available with the enhanced TiDL relays, makes configuring and commissioning devices and custom topologies to fit each application easier too. Visit the Support Videos webpage to learn how to configure TiDL devices using Grid Configurator.

Over the course of the next several months, other existing SEL-400 series TiDL relays will release with these same enhancements. For information on these release dates, contact Lead Product Manager Scott Wenke.

To learn more about TiDL technology, visit the solutions webpage.