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TRANSFORMER PROTECTIONS

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The Types of faults that the transformers are subjected to are classified as:

INTERNAL FAULTS EXTERNAL FAULTS ( THROUGH FAULTS)

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INTERNAL FAULTS FAULTS ARISING IN THE TRANSFORMER ITSELF ELECTRICAL FAULTS: Faults which cause immediate serious damage such as 1. Phase to earth fault 2. Phase to phase faults on HV or LV windings 3. Short circuit between turns on HV and LV winding (inter turn faults) 4. Problem in tap changer gear

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INCIPIENT FAULTS: Which are initially minor faults, causing slowly developing damage, such as 1. Poor electrical connection of conductors 2. Breakdown of insulation of laminations, core bolt faults, clampings. 3. Coolant failure 4. Continuous uneven load sharing between transformers in parallel causing overheating due to circulating current.

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EXTERNAL FAULTS (through faults) The faults in the system to which the transformer is connected Due to external faults (like phase-phase, phase to earth) the effect is excessive over current and electromagnetic stresses proportional to square of short circuit current. 1. Short circuits: Phase to phase, phase to earth 2. High Voltage disturbance 3. High Frequency disturbance 4. Earth faults

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PROTECTION PRINCIPLE

1. Circuit breaker 2. Relay 3. Trip coil of C.B 5.Battery 6.Relay contacts 7.Bus bars 8.Current T/F 9.Pilot-wires a.Aux.switch of C.B x.Protected Power T/F

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THE FOLLOWING RELAYS ARE EMPLOYED TO PROTECT THE TRANSFORMER AGAINST DIFFERENT FAULTS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Over load Over current Over voltage Restricted Earth Fault Differential protection Buchholz relay Pressure relief value (PRV) Winding temperature Oil temperature OLTC buchholz (oil surge relay) Over fluxing Over/Under frequency

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OVER LOAD This protection is required for continuous over load of the transformer Protection is based on measurement of winding temperature which is measured by thermal image technique. Thermal sensing element is placed in small pocket located near the top transformer tank in the hot oil. A small terminal of one phase is also located in this pocket and produced a local temp, rise, similar to that of main winding and proportional to copper losses, above general temp of oil. Winging temperature high alarm/trip is provided through mercury switches in the winding temp, indicators.

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OVER LAOD PROTECTION

The permissible overload and their duration depends upon the type of cooling and insulation class of transformer. Higher overloads are permissible for a shorter duration.
Overload % Duration (minutes) 125 125 150 45 175 15 200 10 300 1

Hence for most of the transformers, overload protection is generally arranged to initiate alarm.

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THERMAL OVER HEATING PROTECTION

Thermo couples or RTD are kept near each winding to detect the temperature. When the transformer temperature increases cooling system comes in to picture.
Fans get ON : 60 0C Alarm : 90 0C Trip : 104 0C OFF : 50 0C

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OVER CURRENT This protection is required for short circuit faults and earth faults IDMT relays should be chosen Instantaneous trip facility for high speed clearance of terminals short circuit should be provided Setting depends on transformer reactance or percentage impedance, faults MVA. Setting of over current relays can be slightly higher than rated full load current (say 120 percent of FL) with proper discrimination.

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EARTH FAULT PROTECTION

This protection is required for earth faults Combined over current and earth fault protection (un-restricted earth fault)

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The increase in current of phases causes corresponding increase in respective secondary currents. The secondary current flows through respective relay units. Very often only two phase relays are provided instead of three, because in case of phase faults current in at lease any two phases must increase. Hence two rely units are enough. The earth fault relay is residually connected Over current and Earth fault protections are used as a main protection for medium transformers where differential protection is not provided. Differential protection is generally uneconomical for power transformers below 1 MVA. In such cases, over current protection is employed as main protection against phase faults. For transformers above 1 MVA, if differential protection is used as a main protection, over current protection is used in addition, as a backup for sustained through faults. Earth fault protection is provided in addition to phase fault protection.

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RESTRICTED EARTH FAULT PROTECTION Transformer earth fault protection should not operate for faults beyond the transformer protection zone. This is ensured by the restricted earth fault protection. This protection operates on the principle of Kirchoofs law and requires CTs of identical ratio and ratings as the phases and neutral earth connection. For external earth fault, the associated CTs have dissimilar polarities forming a series connection. Thus, the resulting current through the relay is negligible. For internal fault, however, the CTs have similar polarities, forming a parallels connection, this adding up the current in the relay branch. This ensures positive operation of the relay.

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RELAY DOES NOT OPERATE FOR EXTERNAL EARTH FAULT

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RELAY OPERATES FOR INTERNAL FAULT

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EARTH FAUALT PROTECTION of transformers feeding through cables by zero sequence relay (core balance current transformer) In absence of an earth fault in the transformer or the supply cable, the current in the secondary of zero sequence CT is negligible. Under balanced load and without earth fault Ir = (Ia + Ib + Ic ) = 0 During tan earth fault (Ia + Ib + Ic ) 0 ux in the core 0

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CORE BALANCE CT

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DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION This protection is also for internal faults of the transformer and responds to the vector difference between two similar quantities. Two basic requirements that the differential relay connections are to be satisfied are: It must not operate for external faults It must operate for internal faults As on load tap change facilities are invariably provided in the grid transformer may departure from the nominal tap position will result in spill currents in the relay circuits. Further the CTs are often of different types and have dissimilar magnetization characteristics, again resulting in spill current during heavy through fault conditions. To avoid unwanted relays operation under the above two conditions a percentage bias differential relays is used.

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DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION

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DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION
STAR/STAR TRANSFORMER

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DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION
DELTA/STAR TRANSFORMER

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The current flowing through the operating coil of the relay should be nearly zero during normal operating conditions and when external short circuit occurs. While setting the differential relay on a transformer, the ( mismatch) current through differential element at normal tap and positive and negative extreme taps are to be computed . Differential element pickup setting and/ or bias setting is adopted based on maximum percentage mismatch adding some safety margin. In this connection the CT secondarys are connected in star or delta and pilot wires are connected between the CTs of each end. The CT connections and CT ratios are such that currents fed into the pilot wires from both the ends are equal during normal conditions and for through faults. During the internal faults such as phase to phase or phase to ground, the balance is disturbed

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The out of balance current (I1- I2) flows through the relay operating coils (O.C). To avoid unwanted operation on through faults, restraining bias coils are provided in series with pilot wires. The ampere-turns provided bias coil or restraining coil or proportional to (I1- I2)/2, I1 and I2 are vectors. Three sets of CTs primaries are connected on primary side and 3 sets on secondary side. CT secondarys on STAR side of main transformer are connected in DELTA , CT secondarys on DELTA side of main transformer are connected in STAR. This ensures correct flow of circulating currents in pilot wires.

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COMBINED DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION for Generator Main Transformer (Overall differential) The zone of combined differential protection may include generator stator winding, main step up transformer and Unit auxiliary transformer. In addition to normal differential protection of generator, overall biased differential protection relay is connected to protect the unit. This is a supplementary protection for individual differential protection of the generator.

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OVERALL DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION

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OVER VOLTAGE PROTECTION

Two stage protection is provided. The delayed trip is set at 110 percent of the rated voltage with two second time delay and Instantaneous setting is kept at 115-120 percent of the rated voltage. During voltage fluctuations the AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator ) will care to avoid over voltage condition if fluctuations are within its operating limits (for generator transformers).

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SURGE ARRESTER PROTECTION

Surge arresters (lighting arresters) are connected between phase and earth near the terminal of each phase of the transformer. The surge arrester provides protection against Lightning surges and switching surges. Lightning surges occur due to lightning strokes on transmission line conductor. The surge travels up to transformer and can damage the transformer winding insulation. The surge arrester intercepts the surge and diverts it to the earth and protects the transformer. Switching surges originate in the system while opening of inductive currents and closing of transmission lines. The surge arrester intercepts the switching surge and diverts it to the earth and protects the transformer.

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POWER FREQUENCY TEMPORARY OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION When load or line is thrown off (switched off ) the power frequency (50 Hz) overvoltage occurs at the bus bars of receiving substation. The on load tap changers act and bring down the voltage to permissible value. If overvoltage does not drop in short time the transformers may fail. The p.f voltage above 1.1 per unit is harmful to transformer. Inverse Definite Minimum Time over voltage relay is connected to secondary of protective bus PT. This relay is arranged to trip the circuit breakers feeding the transformers instantaneously for overvoltage of 1.3 p.u. For over voltages of 1.2 p.u time delay provided.

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OVERFLUXING PROTECTION
The magnetic flux in the transformer core is proportional to V/f, where V is the voltage and f is the frequency. With rated voltage = Vr and rated frequency fr the V/f ratio is Vr / fr = 1 p.u . Transformer core can tolerate the V/f ratio of 1.1 p.u for long duration without harm. If V/f ratio is higher than 1.1 the condition of over fluxing arises. The core gets hot and core insulation is damaged. The core loss4es increases. The transformer becomes hot. The over fluxing condition in generator transformers and unit auxiliary transformers if the generator excitation is increased before reaching synchronous speed. Over fluxing relay is connected in generator excitation system. This relay does not allow the excitation current of generator till synchronous speed corresponding to the rated frequency is reached.

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Over fluxing can occur in transformers of generator unit. This condition arises during abnormal operating conditions i.e heavy voltage fluctuations at lower frequency conditions. This condition is experienced by the transformer during heavy power swings, cascade tripping of the generator sets and HT line in the grid, interstate system separation conditions and due to AVR malfunctioning during start up or shutting down in case of generator transformers. The power frequency over voltage cause both stress on insulation and proportionate increase in the magnetizing flux inside the transformer due to which the iron losses are increased and the core bolts get maximum component of flux, thereby rapidly heating and damaging its own insulation and coil insulation. Reduction in frequency during high voltage fluctuation has the same effect.
V/f over fluxing factor Duration of withstand limit (minutes) 1.1 Contin uous 1.2 2 1.25 1 1.3 0.5 1.4 0

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The incipient faults in transformer tank below oil level actuate Buchholz relay so as to give an alarm. The arc due to fault causes decomposition of transformer oil. The product of decomposition contain more than 70% of hydrogen gas. Which being light, rises upwards and tries to go into the conservator, The Bnuchholz relay is fitted in the pipe leading to the conservator. The gas gets collected in the upper portion of the Buchholz relay, thereby the oil level in the Buchholz relay drops down. The float , floating in the oil in the buchholz relay tilts down with the lowering oil level. While doing so the mercury switch attached to the float is closed and the mercury switch closes the alarm circuit. Buchholz relay gives an alarm so that the transformer can be disconnected before the incipient fault grows in to a serious one.

BUCHHOLZ RELAY

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BUCHHOLZ RELAY

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ARRANGEMENT OF BUCHHOLZ RELAY

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PRESSURE RELIEF VALUE (PRV)

This is different from rate of rise pressure relay. Pressure relief valve is mounted on transformer tank. It releases gas pressure to the atmosphere during 1. High overload peaks 2. Prolonged overloads 3. Arcing faults within oil The PRV is spring loaded and has a seal seat. When pressure inside the tank increases above a certain value, the force on movable sub assembly exceeds the spring force and valve operates. The contacts are closed. After release of PRV the valve may be reset manually.

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PRESSURE RELIEF VALUE (PRV)

DURING NORMAL POSITION

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PRESSURE RELIEF VALUE (PRV)

DURING INTERNAL PRESSURE

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OIL TEMPERATURE An oil thermometer, which is common with all oil filled transformers, can be considered as a partially effective protective device when equipped with alarm contacts connected to give remote warning of abnormally high oil temperature. Its location is such that it naturally monitors the hottest fluid that exists in the transformer. The same thermo meter is often used to start fan motors ON and OFF. WINDING TEMPERATURE The thermometer bulb is located in a pocket near the winding. The bulb is surrounded by hot circulating oil. The bulb is also heated by a small heater connected across CT secondary . Thereby the heat given to the bulb is a function of load current as well as the temperature of oil near winding.

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PROTECTION CHART OF POWER TRANSFORMER

Sl. No.
1.

ABNORMAL CONDITION
Incipient fault below oil level

PROTECTION
Buchholz relay (Gas actuated relay

REMARKS
Buchholz relay for transformers of rating 500 kVA and above

2.

Large internal faults phase to phase, phase to ground

1.Buchholz relay trips the circuit breaker 2. Percentage differential Protection 3.High speed high set over current relay

Buchholz relay slow and less sensitive Percentage differential protection for transformers above 5 MVA

3.

Saturation of Magnetic circuit

1.Overfluxing protection with voltage regulator 2. Over voltage protection of Bus bars

For generator transformer and unit auxiliary transformer

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Sl. No.
4.

ABNORMAL CONDITION
Earth faults

PROTECTION
1. Differential Protection and 2. Earth fault relay in residually connected circuit

REMARKS
For transformers of and above 5 MVA (a) Instantaneous restricted E/F Relay (b) Time lag E/F relay Protection of transformers Small distribution transformers up to 500 kVA Fans started at certain temperature. Alarm and tripping actions later

5.

Through faults (External faults feeding through the transformer)

1. Graded time lag over current relay 2. HRC fuses

6.

Over loads

1. Thermal over load relays 2. Temperature relays 3. Over current relays with inverse characteristic 1. Horn gaps 2.Surge arresters 3.R.C surge suppressors

7.

High voltage surges due to lightning switching

Not favored for important transformers

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