On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformer

Automatic Voltage Regulating Control Relay

Contents

X On Load Tap Changing Transformers

X Voltage Regulation
X Time Delays
X Grading Between Voltage Levels
X Line Drop Compensation
X Parallel Operation

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

Voltage Regulation
Purpose

X Electrical plant is designed to operate within finite

voltage limits
X To control the system voltage transformers with tap
changers are commonly used

Off Load manually changed

On Load automatically adjusted
X Tap changers physically alter the transformer ratio and
hence the voltage
X Automatic voltage regulating relay is used to control the
tap changer

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

Voltage Regulation
Performance Criteria

X Two Mutually Exclusive Parameters

voltage quality
number of tap changes
X Voltage Quality

customer focused quality measurement

percentage of time outside deadband or statuary limits
length of voltage disturbance
X Number of Tap Changes

supplier focused quality measurement

directly relates to cost of ownership of the tap changer
5

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

On Load Tap Changing Transformers

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

On Load Tap Changing Transformers

Typical Supply Network

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

On Load Tap Changing Transformers

Tap-Outs and Windings

XTap-outs can be in the HV or LV winding

XTap-outs can be at the Line End or Neutral End
XCause a variation in the impedance of the
transformer

Transformer impedance calculated at the

centre tap position

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

On Load Tap Changing Transformers

Development of the Tap Changer
XDeveloped in the late 1920s
XTwo primary considerations

The load current must not be interrupted

No windings should be short-circuited
during transitions
XEarly tap changers were reactors, could be
continuously rated useful when mechanisms
were unreliable
XResistor transition tap changers now used,
reliable stored energy drive mechanisms

Typical Operation ~75ms

9

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

Voltage Regulation

10

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

10

Voltage Regulation
Basic Operation
X Controller monitors secondary voltage

voltage setting - nominal voltage level

voltage deadband - permissible range
X Initial Time delay used to filter
transient voltage fluctuations

definite time
inversely proportional to the
deviation from the voltage
setting

11

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

11

Voltage Regulation
Example Operation

V
Voltage out
of deadband

Time Delay

+ Voltage
Deadband
Voltage
Setting
- Voltage
Deadband

12

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

Voltage restored
to within deadband

12

Time Delays

13

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

13

Time Delays
Initial Time Delays
X Initial time delay used to filter transient voltage fluctuations

definite time
inversely proportional to the deviation from the voltage setting
Operating Time

Definite Time
Characteristic

Inverse Time
Characteristic

Voltage
VBand+

VSetting

VBand-

14

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

14

Multiple Tap Change Sequence

Inter-Tap Delay - Definite Time

Voltage
Deviation
Initial Delay

Initial Delay (Definite Time)

+dVs
Vs

15

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

Time

15

Multiple Tap Change Sequence

Inter-Tap Delay - Inverse Time

Voltage
Deviation

Initial Delay (Inverse Time)

dVs
Vs

Time

X The timer is reset after each operation to invoke initial timer

16

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

16

Initial Time Delays

Typical Setting Ranges

X Initial Time Delay Setting Ranges

MVGC - 0 to 120s
KVGC - 0 to 300s
X Inter-tap Delay Setting Ranges

MVGC - 0 to 10s
KVGC - 0 to 120s
X Initial Time Delays also ensure time grading between
voltage levels

17

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

17

Grading Between Voltage Levels

18

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

18

Grading Between Voltage Levels

Causes of Voltage Deviations
Load
T1
Line

Grid Supply
A

T2

B
Load

T3

C
Load

X Voltage deviations occur for two reasons

Change in downstream load

Change in upstream supply voltage

19

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

19

Grading Between Voltage Levels

Time Grading
Load
Load
T1

Load

Grid Supply

T2

A
T3

B
C

X Discrimination to allow higher voltage to operate first

T1 time delay < T2 time delay < T3 time delay (initial)

X Otherwise hunting can occur between voltage levels

20

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

20

Line Drop Compensation

21

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

21

Line Drop Compensation

Regulating the Voltage at a Remote Point
X Simulates voltage drop of the line
X Artificially boosts transformer voltage at times of high loading
Bus

Supply
Feeder

CT

Tap Changer

Load
X
R
Voltage Drop

VT

Time Delay

Voltage
Deadband
AVC Relay

22

+
-

Line Drop Compensation

VLOAD = VS I LOAD(RFEEDER + jX FEEDER)

VBUS = VS I AVC (RAVC + jX AVC )

Voltage Setting

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

22

Line Drop Compensation

Relay Implementation
X Calculate the Voltage Drop at nominal load

Vr

Vxl

Load
IL

Bus
Voltage
VB

Remote
Voltage
VREM

Bus Voltage VBUS = VREM + Vr + Vxl

23

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

23

Line Drop Compensation

Phasor Diagram

-ILX
-ILR

The measured
bus voltage

VBUS
VREM

IL

24

Voltage Setting

X The relay calculates and

regulates the VREM magnitude

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

24

Line Drop Compensation

Typical Setting Ranges

XReactive and Resistive Compensation, Vr and

Vxl

MVGC - 0 to 48V
KVGC - 0 to 50V

25

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

25

Transformers
Parallel Operation

26

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

26

Parallel Operation
Transformer Operating in Parallel
X Transformers in parallel can cause Circulating
Currents

Circulating Current affects LDC causing tap

changer runaway

Circulating Current are damaging to Transformer

X Therefore special control techniques are required

Paralleling using Master-Follower Control

Paralleling using Negative Reactance Control
Paralleling using Circulating Current Control
27

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

27

Parallel Operation
Master - Follower

X One controller designated the master

X All other controllers (followers) follow the master
X Requires that

Identical transformers / tap changers

Locality of equipment
Security of communications is critical
X Circulating current should be monitored

28

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

28

Parallel Operation
Circulating Currents due to Tap Disparity

#2

T2

X If T1 is on a higher
tap than T2

IL-Ic

2IL
Ic

T1

IL+Ic

X Current seen by
#1 is IL + IC
X Current seen by
#2 is IL - IC

#1

29

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

29

Parallel Operation
Circulating Current Effect on LDC

#2

T2

IL-Ic

Vxl
Ic

T1

Vr

2IL

IL+Ic
#1

30

X IC is measured in LDC circuit but

is not present in the feeder

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

30

Parallel Operation
LDC on T1
-ILX
-IcR

The measured
bus voltage

The regulated
voltage

-ILR

-IcX
VREM
VBUS
VREG
IL

IC
IL + IC (Volts High)

31

Voltage Setting

X The regulated voltage VREG

contains a -VC component
X VREG will be regulated up to VREM,
therefore increasing the over
voltage even further

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

31

Parallel Operation
LDC on T2
-ILX
-ILR

The measured
bus voltage

-ICX
-ICR

VREM

The regulated
voltage

VBUS
VREG

Voltage Setting

IL
IC
IL - IC (Volts Low)

32

X The regulated voltage VREG

contains a +VC component
X VREG will be regulated down to VREM,
therefore reducing the under
voltage even further

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

32

Parallel Operation
Negative Reactance Control

X Reverse Reactance Control (non matched tap

changers or different sources)

Utilises the reactance compensation of the Line

Drop Compensation circuit

Reverses reactance and feeds back into

compensation circuit

Lack of specific feeder reactance in LDC results

in susceptibility to power factor

33

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

33

Negative Reactance Control

Compensation on T1
The regulated
voltage

ICXt

-ICR

ILXt

-ILX

-ILR
VBUS

VREG

-IcR

-ILR

-IcX V
REM

VREM

The measured
bus voltage
Voltage Setting

VREG

IL

IC
IL + IC (Volts High)

34

X The reactance of LDC is reversed

X VREG will be regulated correctly
reducing the over voltage

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

34

Negative Reactance Control

Compensation on T2
ILXt

-ILX

-ILR-I R
C

The measured
bus voltage

VREM
The regulated
voltage

-ILR

-ICR

ICXt
VBUS

VREG

VREG

VREM
IL

IC
IL - IC (Volts Low)

35

-ICX

Voltage Setting

X The reactance of LDC is reversed

X VREG will be regulated correctly
increasing the under voltage

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

35

Supplementary Control Functions

AVR Relaying

36

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

36

Supplementary Control Functions

X Load Shedding

voltage setting override ( 10%)

X Over Current / Under Voltage Supervision

inhibit control during fault conditions

X Excessive Circulating Current

protects against parallel control failure

X Under Current Inhibit

stops operations when low forward or reverse power

X Reverse Current Operation
X Auto/Manual/Remote Operations
X Measurements

37

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

37

Supplementary Control Functions

Tap Changer Supervision
X Tap Changer Monitoring

tap changer confirmation response (time limited)

voltage monitoring
z

voltage change occurs

in the correct direction

of sufficient magnitude

operations with no initiating signal

X Tap Change Operations Counter

alarms at settable threshold

frequency alarms
z

38

excessive operations per time period

(day / month / maintenance period)

On/Under Load Tap Changing Transformers Voltage Regulating Control Relays

38