FLEX

Use FLEX to define and output a sequence of steps. Such a sequence step can be a signal state (a constant current or voltage output, for example), a ramp, or a pulse ramp. Each sequence step has a trailing transition that you can parameterize.

Contrary to QUICK, in FLEX you define the output parameters prior to the output generation. While the outputs are active, you cannot change the parameters anymore.

Entering parameters:

Turn the jog dial wheel until the focus is on the field of your choice.
Press the jog dial wheel, then turn it again to set a value. Alternatively, rather than turning the wheel, press a soft key of your choice to apply its value to the input field. By turning the jog dial wheel again, you can change that value.
Press the jog dial wheel again to acknowledge your set value, then navigate to the next field.

Example: You have set an I OUT of 9.5 A for sequence step 1. If you now define a timeout of 1 s (60 cycles) for that sequence step, you have defined a start value for your test of 9.5 A at I OUT that after 1 s progresses to the sequence step transition, and from there to sequence step 2.

Sequence step transition

The transition from one sequence step to another can be:

a step (see Sequence step transition "step")
a ramp (see Sequence step transition "ramp")
a pulse ramp (see Sequence step transition "pulse ramp")
a smooth ramp (see Sequence step transition "smooth ramp")

Note: The open/close detection as described in chapter QUICK (see QUICK ► note reg. the open/close detection function) is disabled in the FLEX application module for full dynamic response to sudden load changes, for example, when electro-mechanical relays pick up.

Sequence step transition "step"

"Step" is a non-configurable transition at the end of a sequence step. Nothing happens in this transition; the sequence step n progresses immediately to the next sequence step n+1.

With such step transitions in between the individual steps you can define a sequence whose steps are either triggered by events such as overloads or binary triggers, or by timeouts.

The overload indicator is delayed by 200 ms in either direction, coming and going. This is necessary to suppress short spikes of the detection, on one hand, and, on the other hand, to reliably evaluate that the overload has finally cleared instead of just disappearing temporarily like, for example, during zero crossing. This means, if you do a time measurement using "Overload" triggers, add to or deduct from the result 200 ms, accordingly.

Sequence step transition "ramp"

The transition from sequence step n to the next sequence step n+1 is a ramped signal.

The ramp's start value is the output value defined in this sequence step n.
The ramp's end value is the output value you will specify on the tab of sequence step n+1. When the ramp reaches that value, FLEX progresses to sequence step n+1.
If a trigger is defined in the sequence step n+1, the ramp ends when the trigger condition is met and therefore does not reach its end value.
Specify both, the ramp's step size and the step time in the according entry fields. If you want to ramp down, enter a negative value for the step size, for example, -100 mA. (The upward ramp illustration will not change, though.)

Sequence step transition "pulse ramp"

The transition from sequence step n to the next sequence step n+1 is a pulse-ramped signal.

The pulse ramp's start value is the output value defined in this sequence step n.
The reset value, that is the "fall-back" value between the individual pulses, can be set.
The pulse ramp's end value is the output value you will specify on the tab of sequence step n+1. When the pulse ramp reaches that value, FLEX progresses to sequence step n+1.
If a trigger is defined in the sequence step n+1, the pulse ramp ends when the trigger condition is met and therefore it does not reach its end value.
Specify the pulse ramp's step size, pulse time and reset time in the according entry fields. If you want to ramp down, enter a negative value for the step size, for example, -100 mA. (The upward ramp illustration will not change, though.)

Tips & Tricks

In general, a pulse ramp would be defined as shown in the left part of the picture below.

Testing, for example, the high setting of an instantaneous trip could take very long that way. There is a quicker way to do this:

Define a state with the pre-fault value and with a timeout as long as needed.
Define a second state with the start value of the pulse ramp (red arrow) and with a timeout of 1 ms, only. This will not considerably affect the first pulse, but it will define the start point.
Then define the pulse ramp with the same reset value like the one that you have set for the pre-fault state.
Setting a reset value other than zero (for example, the nominal value) can be advantageous. In many cases the relay needs that, and COMPANO 100 can output a better signal quality if there is no complete interruption.

Sequence step transition "smooth ramp"

The transition from sequence step n to the next sequence step n+1 is a continuous smooth ramp.

The ramp's start value is the output value defined in this sequence step n.
The ramp's end value is the output value you will specify on the tab of sequence step n+1. When the ramp reaches that value, FLEX progresses to sequence step n+1.
If a trigger is defined in the sequence step n+1, the ramp ends when the trigger condition is met and therefore does not reach its end value.
Specify the slew rate of the ramp. If you want to ramp down, enter a negative value for the slew rate, for example, -1.0 A/s. (Note that the upward ramp illustration will not change.)

The smooth ramp changes the output value frequently. In the default setting, the timer resets each time when the output changes. This means that, by default, it shows no meaningful value if smooth ramps are used. If you would like to use the timer to measure a trip time of a dI/dt or df/ft relay, instead of output change, reconfigure the timer to start at the state transition from the previous state to the current state.

Tips & Tricks

Usually, smooth ramps are used to test protection functions like df/dt or dI/dt. When the configured slew rate is exceeded, the relay must trip within a certain time.

Step 1	Step 2	Step 3

For example, 50 Hz	For example, 0.9 Hz/s	For example, 1.1 Hz/s

Example of how this could be tested:

Define a state with the pre-fault value and with a timeout as long as needed.
Define a smooth ramp with a slew rate slightly below the one to test (for example, 0.9 Hz/s if the relay is configured to trip above 1.0 Hz/s).
Define a smooth ramp with a slew rate slightly above the one to test (for example, 1.1 Hz/s).
Configure the timer to start at the state transition to state 3, and to stop on output halt.

Press the Start/Stop key to execute the sequence.

If the sequence stopped in step 2 with a trigger as reason, the relay tripped already below 1.0 Hz/s – there is no timer value available.
If the sequence stopped in step 3 with a trigger as reason, the relay tripped, as intended, above 1.0 Hz/s – the timer shows the trip time.
If the sequence ended without a trigger, the relay did not trip.