Seminar

Transformer Protection

Dr. Muhammad Humza

03-02-2019

Department of Electrical Engineering

Institute of Southern Punjab

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Final Exam Topics
 Over Current Protection
 Inverse characteristics of over current relay OCR
 Inverse definite minimum time relays IDMT
 Primary and back up protection
 Relay coordination, application of IDMT relays
 Direct over current relays D-OCR
 Application of D-OCR protection of three phase feeder.
 Differential protection
 Simple differential protection
 Zone of protection of differential relay
 Percentage differential relay
 Protection of transformer
 transformer faults
 Differential protection of transformer
 Buchaloz relay
 Over fluxing
 Back up protection schemes for transformer
 Generator Protection
 Faults in stator and rotor of generator
 Protection schemes for stator , rotor faults
 Abnormal conditions and their protection
 Protection of transmission lines
 Draw backs of over current protection
 Distance protection
 Zones of protection

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Topics to be covered

 Transformer faults
 Differential Protection of three- winding transformer
 Inrush current and differential protection
 Bucholz relays
 Over- fluxing in transformer
 Earth leakage protection

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Transformer Protection
Objective
 The main objective of transformer protection is to provide the ability
to detect internal transformer faults with high sensitivity, along with
a high degree of immunity to operation on system faults for which
tripping of the transformer is not required.

Transformer and Its Types

 A transformer is a static electrical device that transfers electrical
energy between two or more circuits.
 Transformers are used for increasing or decreasing the alternating
voltages in electric power applications.
 Various types of transformers used in the industry.
 Generator transformer
 Power transformer
 Distribution transformer
 Pole-mounted lighting transformer
 Grounding transformer
 Regulating transformer
 Welding transformer
 Converter transformer
 Instrument transformers (CT and PT)

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Transformer Protection
Faults
 The most common being the winding to core faults because of
weakening of insulation.

 Phase faults inside the transformer are rare. However, such faults
may take place outside the transformer, on the transformer terminals
, which fall within the transformer protection zone.

 Power and distribution transformers are provided on-line tap

changing (OLTC) gear which is major source of faults.

 All large transformers are of the oil-immersed type. There is a

possibility of low level of oil due to leakage.

 Transformers can experience large inrush currents at the time of

switching if they happen to be unloaded.

 Transformers may suffer from over-fluxing (also called

over-excitation).

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Transformer Protection
Transformer Protection
 The protection method used for power transformers depends on the
transformer ratings. Transformers are usually categorized according
to their ratings as follows:

Transformer rating KVA

Category 1 phase 3phase
1 5-500 15-500
2 501-1667 501-5000
3 1668-10000 5001-30k
4 >10K >30K

 Transformers below 5000 KVA (Category I & II) are protected using
Fuses.

 Fuses and Medium Voltage (MV) circuit breakers are often used to
protect transformers up to 1000 kVA (distribution transformers for 1
1kV and 33kV).

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Transformer Protection

 For transformers 10 MVA and above (Category III & IV) ,differential
relay are commonly used to protect them.

 Current differential relays are applied for transformers as main

protection.

 In regard to backup protection, distance protection or overcurrent

(phase current, zero sequence current) protection or both are mainly
applied.

 In addition to the above, mechanical relays such as Buchholtz relays

and sudden pressure relays are widely applied to transformer
protection, and are particular to application to transformer protection

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Differential Protection Principle
 This system is operates on CDR rule.
 Here the electrical quantities entering and leaving the protected
zone or area are compared by current transformers (CTs).
Basic Principle
 At normal conditions and for external fault at F, CT1 and CT2
circulate currents at their secondary’s Is1 and Is2 (Is1 =Is2) and no
current flow through the relay (ΔI = Is1 - Is2 = 0), hence the relay
will not operate.

Is1 N1 Is2
Relay

Is1 N2 Is2 Is2

Is1
Protected
Zone
CT1 CT2 F
Basic Current differential Protection

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Differential Protection Principle
 If fault occurs at point F within the protected zone (internal fault) as
shown in Fig, and the fault is fed from both sides, then current
through CT2 will be reversed. Therefore a current ΔI = Is1 + Is2 will f
low in the operating winding of the relay.
 This will cause the relay to trip the circuit breaker connected to the
faulty system. Hence the relay trips when

(Is1 + Is2)>0

Is1 N1 Is2
Relay

Is1 N2 Is2 Is2

Is1
Protected
Zone
CT1 CT2
F
Basic Current differential Protection

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Differential Protection of Transformer
Percentage Biased Current Differential protection
 This scheme is employed for the protection of transformer against
internal short circuit.
 It provides the best overall protection for internal faults.
 It compare the current entering the transformer with the current
leaving the element.
 If they are equal, there is no fault inside the zone of protection.
 If they are not equal, it means that a fault occurs between two ends.

IP CT1 NP: NS IS CT2

I1 I2

Relay

Single Phase differential Protection

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Differential Protection of Transformer
CB CB
Connections
A a

b
B
CTs on Delta Side of TF CTs on Star Side of TF
should be connected in should be connected in
star Delta
c
C

 2 CTs per phase means

CTs for 3 phase TF

R
R
Op

R R
Op

R R
Op

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Differential Protection of Transformer
Phase Shifting in Star-Delta Connected Transformer
 The primary and secondary current of the transformer of a
star-delta connection has the phase angle difference of 30 degree.

 For this reason, a method that aligns the current phase by differing
from the connection of the CT secondary circuit of both sides is
taken.

 To acquire a correct phase relationship with respect to load current

and external fault current, connections should be connected as.

 The transformer unit is connected to the CT secondary circuit on the
star connection side by a delta connection and to the CT secondary
circuit on the delta connection side by a star connection.

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Differential Protection of Transformer
Turns ratio

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Seminars
 (A)Protective Relays

 Need for protective relaying in power system, principle and characteristics

 Theory and classification of protective relays,
 Instrument transformers, CT burden and accuracy classes

 (B )Over Current Protection

 Inverse characteristics of over current relay OCR Group 1

 Inverse definite minimum time relays IDMT
 Primary and back up protection
 Relay coordination, application of IDMT relays
 Direct over current relays D-OCR
 Application of D-OCR protection of three phase feeder.

 (A) Fuses and circuit breakers

 Fuses introduction
 Principle of circuit interruption
 Circuit breaker types and characteristics
 Ratings of circuit breakers
Group 2

 (B) Protection Of Transmission lines

 Draw backs of over current protection

 Distance protection
 Zones of protections

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Incipient Faults in Transformer
 Faults which are not significant in the beginning but which slowly
develop into serious faults are known as incipient faults.
 Buchholz relay provides protection against such incipient faults.
Buchhloz Relay
 A Buchholz relay is a gas and oil operated device installed in the
pipe between the top of the transformer main tank and the
conservator.
 The function of the relay is to detect an abnormal condition within
the tank and send an alarm or trip signal.

Placement of buchholz relay buchholz relay

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Buchholz Relay
 The Buchholz relay is installed at the pipe between the main unit
and the conservator, and it detects resolved gas by the float
switch when a fault occurs within the transformer.

 Almost all large oil-filled transformers (above 500kVA – category-

II) are equipped with a Buchholz relay .

 Under normal conditions the relay is completely full of oil.


 Operation occurs when floats are displaced by an accumulation of
gas, or a flap is moved by a surge of oil.

Principle of operation

 A Buchholz relay will detect:

 Gas produced within the transformer .

 An oil surge from the tank to the conservator

 A complete loss of oil from the conservator (very low oil level)

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Buchholz Relay
Construction
Buchholz relay can be used in the transformers having the conservators
only. It is placed in the pipe connecting the conservator and the
transformer tank. It consists of an oil filled chamber. Two hinged floats,
one at the top of the chamber and the other at the bottom of the chamber
which accompanies a mercury switch each is present in the oil filled
chamber. The mercury switch on the upper float is connected to an
external alarm circuit and the mercury switch on the lower is connected to
an external trip circuit.

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Buchholz Relay
Operation
 Fault conditions within a transformer produce gases such as c
arbon monoxide, hydrogen and a range of hydrocarbons.

 A small fault produces a small volume of gas that is deliberately

trapped in the gas collection chamber (A) built into the relay.

 The oil level will be lowered and the oil in the bucket (B) will tilt
the counter weight C.W., thus switch Hg1 operates alarm circuit
to send an alarm.

 A large fault produces a large volume of gas which drives a

surge of oil towards the conservator. This surge moves a flap
(P) in the relay to operate switch Hg2 and send a trip signal to
open the main circuit breaker.

 The device will also respond to a severe reduction in the oil

level due to oil leakage from the tank.

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Phenomenon of over fluxing in transformer

 The flux and the applied voltage in a transformer are related

through the following expression
Where
V: rms Voltage
f: frequency
N: number of turns

 Whenever there is an over-voltage (frequency remaining constant),

the transformer core is subjected to a higher value of flux in order to
be able to support the higher applied voltage.

 By design, power transformers operate at the knee of the saturation

curve at normal voltage.

 Hence, any increase in applied voltage, and the consequent increase

in flux density, drives the transformer deeper into saturation.

 The transformer, therefore, draws an excessive magnetization

current. Hence, this condition is described as over-excitation.

 It can be easily seen that over-excitation can also occur in case of

low-frequency operation of the transformer at rated voltage.

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Phenomenon of over fluxing in transformer

 Further, saturation of the core causes the flux to flow into adjacent
structures, causing high eddy current losses in the core and adjacent
conducting materials.

 Such an operating condition cannot be allowed to continue for long

and the transformer should be tripped if there is a prolonged
over-excitation.

 Therefore, to keep the working flux within the permissible design

limits, the Vlf ratio must not exceed the permissible limit.

 Thus over-excitation can be detected by measuring the V/f ratio by a

so-called volts/hertz relay.

 Microprocessor-based volt/hertz relays have been developed and are

in used.

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