Title

Protecting Oil Type Transformer with Buchholz Relay

Dbulletin Feb 2014

Tanjung Jati B Power Plant Unit 1 & 2 2x660MW
(This document is the property of TJBPS Group D and is intended for internal use only. Those who are in unauthorized procession and utilization of information contained herein are doing so at their own risk)

Field Mentor

Introduction
Buchholz relay is a gas-actuated relay installed in oil immersed transformers for protection against all kinds of faults. Named after its inventor mr. Max Buchholz (18751956) in 1921, relay is used to produce an alarm in case of incipient (i.e.slow-developing) faults in the transformer and to disconnect the transformer from the supply in the event of severe internal faults. It is usually installed in the pipe connecting the conservator to the main tank. It is a universal practice to use Buchholz relays on all such oil immersed transformers having ratings in excess of 750 kVA. The Buchholz relay is a protective rely for equipment immersed in oil for insulating and cooling purpose. It is intended mainly for transformers or choke coils having a conservator vessel. The relay responds to the accumulation of gas or air inside the apparatus when the oil level is too low or the flow of oil unusually strong. The relay neither gives a warning signal or disconnects the endangered equipment. The Buchholz relay operates even on very slight faults which are just in process of developing, so that greater damage may be prevented.

Protection Range
The relay is particularly effective in case of: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Falling oil level owing to leaks Short circuited core laminations Short circuits between phases Broken-down core bolt insulation Earth faults Bad contacts Puncture of bushing insulators inside tank Overheating of some part of the windings In the event of a fault, oil or insulations decomposes by heat, producing gas or developing an impulse oil flow. To detect these phenomena, a Buchholz relay is installed. The Buchholz relay is installed at the middle of the connection pipe between the transformer oil tank and the conservator, so that, upon a fault development inside a oil transformer, an alarm is set off or the transformer is disconnected from the circuit.

Construction and technical characteristics

Buchholz relay contruction

Position 1-2 3-4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Description Release terminals Alarm terminals Earth terminal Breather cock Valve of pneumatic test Mechanical test of the alarm/release circuit Cable gland Drain plug

Casing Non porous weatherproof compact casting of light aluminium alloy painted. Cover Non porous weatherproof compact casting of light aluminium alloy painted. On the cover are located :
the terminal box, the valve of pneumatic test, the breather cock, the button for mechanical test of alarm and trip circuits.

Inspection windows Special tempered glass with graduated scale in cm3. Contacts They can be mercury switches or magnetic actuated switches (reed contacts). On request it s
possible to supply change-over switches.

Switches characteristics
Rated voltage: 24 250V AC or DC Rated current: 0,5 A (10000 tests) Breaking capacity: 2 A AC (cos = 0,4 25% - 50Hz) 2A DC (T = L / R = 40 msec).

Mechanical protection degree IP 54 Insulation 2000V 50Hz between terminals and earth for a 60 seconds time. Working temperature Oil temperature range: - 25 / +115C. Vibration test (in normal operative conditions)
Oscillation amplitude: 2mm Time diagram: 0Hz 100Hz 30 sec. 100Hz (200 vibrations/sec.) 60 sec. 100Hz 0Hz. 30 sec.

Contacts capacity to withstand vibrations

Mercury sw: 150 horizontal vibrations/sec. (75Hz) first signals of closing contacts 120 vertical vibrations/sec. (75Hz) first signals of closing contacts. Magnetic sw: 200 horizontal vibrations/sec. (100Hz) no one signal of closing contacts 200 vertical vibrations/sec. (100Hz) no one signal of closing contacts.

Function of Buchholz relay

In the following the operation of a Buchholz relay is explained using the example of a double-float Buchholz relay. The relay is built in the connecting pipe between the transformer tank and the conservator. During normal operation it is filled completely with insulating liquid. Due to buoyancy the floats are at their top position. If a fault occurs inside the transformer, the Buchholz relay responds as follo

Gas accumulation

Gas accumulation in Buchholz relay

Fault: Free gas is available in the insulating liquid. Response: The gas in the liquid moves upwards, accumulates in the Buchholz relay and displaces the insulating liquid level. The moving float actuates a switch contact (magnet contact tube). An alarm signal is tripped. The lower float is not affected as from a certain gas volume the gas flows through a piping to the conservator.

Insulating liquid loss

Insulating liquid loss in Buchholz relay

Fault: Insulating liquid loss due to leakage. Response: As the liquid level falls the top float moves downward. An alarm is tripped. If the liquid loss continues, conservator and piping as well as the Buchholz relay will be emptied. As the liquid level falls, the lower float moves downward. The moving float actuates a switch contact so that the transformer is disconnected.

Insulating liquid flow

Fault: A spontaneous incident generates a pressure wave moving in the direction of the conservator. Response: The liquid flow reaches a damper arranged in the liquid flow. If the flow rate exceeds the operating threshold of the damper, the latter moves in flow direction. Due to this movement a switch contact is actuated so that the transformer is disconnected.

Insulating liquid flow - Buchholz relay

The upper and lower switching system form a functional unit in the single-float Buchholz relay. In case of a fault, the single-float Buchholz relay normally isolates the transformer immediately from the mains system.

Wiring Diagrams
Standard Wiring Diagram

Buchholz relay - Standard wiring diagram

Mounting Sketch

Buchholz relay - Mounting sketch

Advantage
1. It is the simplest form of transformer protection. 2.It detects the incipient faults at a stage much earlier than is possible withother forms of protection.

Disadvantage
1. It can only be used with oil immersed transformers equipped with conservator tanks. 2. The device can detect only faults below oil level in the transformer. Therefore, separate protection