ProtectionAcademy
Free · Interactive · Self-paced

Protection engineering for generation collector substations

Go from first principles to subject-matter expert in solar PV, battery storage and gas-turbine collector substations. Each module has a working simulator: phasors, TCCs, R–X planes, differential characteristics and COMTRADE records you can change and test.

Start the pathway →Browse modules
13
modules
5
tiers
~11 h
of hands-on study
Collector substation · one-line● live
UTILITY POI · 230 kV87L · 21 · 67G · POTT52-HV 50BFMPT 87T · 87N · 24 · 6352-M34.5 kV COLLECTOR BUS · 87BZIG-ZAGF1F2F3F4PV / BESS inverter skids · 480–690 V · Yg/Δ pad-mounts
Two physical regimes

Synchronous machines obey flux-linkage physics. Inverters obey firmware. You will learn to protect both on the same bus.

Simulators, not slides

Every lab is driven by real sequence-network, TCC, CT-excitation or relay-logic maths running in your browser.

Built around today's rules

IEEE 2800-2022, NERC PRC-028/029/030, IEEE C37.91, C37.102, C37.110, C37.113 and C62.92.1, applied to real design decisions.

The pathway

Beginner to SME in five tiers

Your progress0/13
  1. Tier 0

    Orientation

    Beginner

    What a collector substation is, how the zones fit together, and the vocabulary every P&C engineer uses.

    Module 0.130 min
    Anatomy of a Collector Substation

    From the 480 V inverter skid to the transmission POI, one protection zone at a time.

    Interactive One-Line Explorer
  2. Tier 1

    Foundations

    Beginner → Intermediate

    Symmetrical components, transformer zero-sequence behaviour, and the DC control logic behind every trip.

    Module 1.145 min
    Symmetrical Components & Fault Phasors

    Fortescue's transformation, and why an SLG fault puts Z₁, Z₂ and Z₀ in series.

    Symmetrical Component & Fault Phasor Synthesizer
    Module 1.240 min
    Transformer Vector Groups & the Zero-Sequence Trap

    Why the delta winding is a wall for I₀, and why the 34.5 kV bus floats without a ground bank.

    Vector Group & Zero-Sequence Trap Explorer
    Module 1.345 min
    DC Control, Breaker Failure (50BF) & 86 Lockouts

    The timing chain that decides whether a stuck breaker trips the whole bus.

    Breaker-Failure Timing & Lockout Lab
  3. Tier 2

    Collector & Equipment

    Intermediate

    Pad-mount coordination, 34.5 kV grounding and TOV, CT transient saturation, and main power transformer differential.

    Module 2.150 min
    Pad-Mount Fuse, Relay TCC & Arc-Flash

    Coordinating 50/51 below the weak-link and current-limiting fuses, without tripping on inrush.

    Pad-Mount TCC & Arc-Flash Coordinator
    Module 2.255 min
    34.5 kV Grounding Banks, X₀/X₁ & TOV

    Choosing the weakest adequate zig-zag: the $2.1M grounding study.

    Zig-Zag Grounding & TOV Islanding Sandbox
    Module 2.350 min
    CT Transient Saturation (IEEE C37.110)

    DC offset, remanence and burden: why steady-state CT sizing fails.

    CT Saturation Waveform Distortor
    Module 2.460 min
    MPT Differential (87T), REF (87N) & V/Hz (24)

    TAP scaling, dual-slope restraint, and harmonic security.

    87T Operate–Restraint Plane & Harmonic Lab
  4. Tier 3

    Generator Physics

    Advanced

    Rotating-machine protection on the R–X plane, and the firmware-defined fault behaviour of inverter-based resources.

    Module 3.160 min
    Synchronous CTG Protection on the R–X Plane

    Loss-of-field (40), backup distance (21), negative sequence (46) and the rest of the CTG suite.

    Capability Curve ↔ R–X Plane Mapper
    Module 3.260 min
    IBR Fault Response & Ride-Through

    Dual-sequence current control, PLL phase jumps, and IEEE 2800 / PRC-029.

    IBR Dual-Sequence Controller & PLL Simulator
  5. Tier 4

    SME: Tie-Line & Audits

    Expert

    Weak-infeed tie-line protection, pilot schemes, and forensic analysis for NERC ride-through compliance.

    Module 4.160 min
    HV Tie-Line Ground Protection Near IBRs

    Why CFIDS and 32Q fail, and how VFIDS, 32V and 67G restore coverage.

    Tie-Line Ground Protection & Mutual Coupling Lab
    Module 4.255 min
    POTT, Weak-Infeed Echo & Three-Terminal Lines

    Pilot schemes that work when one end cannot see the fault.

    Teleprotection State-Machine Simulator
    Module 4.360 min
    COMTRADE Forensics & NERC Audit Defense

    Root-causing plant trips against IEEE 2800 and PRC-028/029/030 evidence requirements.

    COMTRADE Forensic Viewer