IS : 3638- 1966

Indian Standard

( Reaffirmed 1996 )

APPLICATION GUIDE FOR

GAS-OPERATED RELAYS
( Third Reprint APRIL 1989 )
.- \
I

UDC

._

621.316.925:621.318.5

....

-\
-. :

BUREAU
MANAK

Gr 3

OF

BHAVAN.

INDIAN

STANDARDS

9 BAHADUR
SHAH
NEW DELHI 110002

ZAFAR

MARG

September

1966

IS:3638-1966

Indian Standard
APPLICATION GUIDE FOR
GAS-OPERATED RELAYS
Relays

Sectional

Committee,

ETDC

35

Representing

Chairman
SHEI K. M. CHINNAPPA

T8te. Hydro-Electric
Bombay

Power

Supply

Co

Ltd,

Members
SHIU G. K. THAKUX (Alternate
to
Shri K. M. Chinnappe)
Mysore State Electricity Board, Bangalore
SHBIM.C. BASAVALINQAIAH
Heavy Elertricels ( India ) Ltd, Bhopal
Soar S. K. BHATIA
Siemens Engineering and Manufacturing Co of
SHBI V. 8. BEATIA
Indi8 Ltd, Bombay
SHBI M. M. SRETENA ( Alternate )
Jyoti Limited, Baroda
SHBIA. DUTTA
SEBI B. L. SINHVAL ( Alternate )
National Test House, C8lcutta
SHBI B. K. MUXHEBJEE
The Tat.8 Iron and Steel Co Ltd, Jamshedpur
SEBI R. PADMAXABHAN
SEBI A. G. DAIJBE ( Alternate )
Directorate
Caner81 of Supplies & Disposals
SHBI 8. G. PARANGE
( Inspection Wing) (Ministry of Supply,
Technic81 Develonment & Material Planning 1
The English Electric-Co of India Ltd, Madras y
t3nmM.S. RAJAO~PALAN
SEBI N. NATE ( Alternate )
Poor H. N. RAMACEANDRARAO Indian Institute of Science, Bengalore
Railway Boerd ( Ministry of Railways )
SHBIV. SEETRABAMAN
Punj8b Stete Electricity Boerd, Pat&ala
SHBIP.K.SEN
Central Weter & Power Commission (Power Wing)
Smtr C. S. SBEENIVASAN
SHBI L. C. JAIN ( Alternate )
Directorste
General of Posts & Telegraphs
SHBLN. T. TASKA.B
( Department of Communic8tions )
Saar H. S. VI~WESWABIAH
Radio & Electricsls Menufecturing Co Ltd,
Bangalore
SH~I Y. S. VENKATE~WARAN,
Director General, IS1 ( Ex-officio Member )
Director ( Elec tech )

Secretary
SHRI R. C. BAJPAI
Assistant Director (Elec tech),

IW
( Continued

BUREAU

OF

MANAK BHAVAN,

INDIAN

STANDARDS

9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG

NEW DEiHI 110002

on page 2)

IS:3638-1966
( Confinued from page 1 1

Panel

for Application

Guide

for Electrical

Relays,

ETDG

B/P2

Reprrrrnting
PBO~H. N.

RAMACEAWDBA

RAO

hfembem
S~fl M. C. BMAVALWOAIAE
S~BI 8. K. BHATIA
&I& B$ui$lm~RPAL
.
SHY 0. K. TIIAXVB

Panel for Gas-Operated

8x1~U. K. THAXVB

Indian Institute of Saimco, Bangdora

IKyaoreState Elemtrioity Board, Bangalo~~
) Ltd. Bhopd
Punjab State Eleotricity Boa+, P&ala
The Englieh EleotrioeC-oof Indu Ltd, ydru
TetaHysn$-El&no
Power Supply 00

Heavy Blectricak( In*

Electrical
Tak

Relays,

Hydm-Eboti
B-w

ETDC

Ltd,

35/P3

Power Supply Co Ltd,

IS:3638-1966

Indian Standard
APPLICATION GUIDE FOR
GAS-OPERATED RELAYS
0.

FOREWORD

0.1This Indian Standard was adopted by the Indian Standards Institution on 13 June 1966, after the draft finalized by the Relays Sectional
Committee
had been approved by the Electrotechnical
Division Council.
0.2 Gas-operated
relay commonly known as Buchholz relay, is generally
used for protection
of oil immersed electrical apparatus like transformers.
The relay is actuated by physical presence of gases or an oil surge or
loss of oil in the relay.
These effects arise from various electrical
and
mechanical
faults in the apparatus
or in special cases in the connected
system.
They are briefly discussed in the guide to outline the scope of
protection.
0.3 This standard has been prepared with a view to give guidance to the
maintenance
engineers of oil immersed
electrical
apparatus fitted with
gas-operated
relay regarding
its application.
It also gives guidance
regarding the gas analysis and the colour of gases so that the cause of
their occurrence
may be ascertained.
However,
it is emphasized
that
this guide has been prepared
to assist the users of such relays in its
application
rather than to specify the requirements
for the relays which
The actual
conditions
in
will be suitable
for a particular
system.
practice may be different from those specified here.

1.SCOPE
1.1This guide

covers
application
of gas-operated
relays covered by
IS : 3637-1966*
intended for use in the connecting
passage of oil between
the main tank of an oil immersed
electrical
apparatus
and its oil conservator vessel.

2.TERMINOLOGY
2.0For the purpose
IS : 1885 (Part

1X)-1966-i

of
this
guide,
the
definitions
and IS : 3637-1966*
shall apply.

given

in

3. GENERAL
3.1 The gas-operated
a) prescribed
b) oil flows
prescribed

relay

quantity

responds

if:

of gas is present

in the marked
velocity, and

c) oil in the relay sinks below

conservator
side.

in the relay,

direction

through

the bottom

the

of the

pipe

relay
bore

at

the

on the

3.2 The gas-operated

relay provides the only reliable means of detecting
incipient inter-turn
and core faults in oil-immersed
apparatus,
which if
allowed to persist can cause extensive
damage.
The relay may also
give backiup protection
against the worst effects of external
faults.

3.3 Should normal

overcurrent
protection
fail to operate or operate with
excessive
time delay,
when a through
fault is fed by the protected
The thermal
effect of a prolonged
apparatus,
it may get overheated.
external
fault may produce small quantity
of gas within the apparatus
which in turn may cause gas-operated
relay to respond.
3.4 Minor faults in the apparatus
generate
gas at a slow rate.
Severe
faults generate
gas at a high rate such that surge of oil may pass through
the gas-operated
relay.
The relay can detect minor faults before they
develop into major faults and it responds quickly to major faults.
3.5 Weak earth faults on resistance
earthed transformer
with star windNo other coning may not cause differential
protection
to operate.
ventional
relay
is useful
in protecting
the
transformer
against
capacitance
discharges,
corona discharges
and failures in the magnetic
The gas-operated
relay,
however,
provides
the required
circuit.
protection.
3.6 The types of faults that the gas-operated
with, are given in Table 1.
4.

relay

is capable

of dealing

APPLICATION

4.1 It is usually adequate

the size of
transformers

to choose the
the protected
apparatus.
is indicated
below:

Size of the Relay

( Nominal pipe bore
diameter )

size of the relay according

to
The
practice
for use with

Size of Protected

Transformer

mm

kVA

2.5
j0
80

up to 1000
1000 to 10000
Above 10000

IS:3638-1966
TABLE 1

NATURE

NATURE

SL
No.
1.

OF FAULT AND CORRESPONDING

( c1uuss 3.6 )

RELAY RESPONSE

RELAY

OF FAULT

RESPONSE

Minor Faults:
a) Failure of insulation:

b)
c)
d)
e)

on core bolts
between core laminate
of windings due to excessive eddy currents
Over heating due to bad electrical contact
Capacitance discharge to earth
Corona discharge in bad oil
Release of air from:
fresh oil
new windings, core, etc

Major Faults:

a) Short circuit between:

Trip
39
1,
9,
91

phase winding
phase and earth
winding turns
winding tappings
b) Puncture to earth of bushing
c) Open circuit by:
disconnection of conductor joint
conductor break

.
,,

Mechanical Faults:
a) Sinking of oil level below the port on the conservator

Alarm and Trip

side due to low oil content or low oil temperature

b) Loss of oil by leakage
c) Ingress of air through circulating system

,t
9,

,,
,,

,,
,,

For satisfactory
operation
of the relay, it is desirable to
pay adequate
attention
to its correct mounting in the working position.
The reliability
and speed of relay operation
for certain faults,depend
to
a large extent upon the size and design of the protected
apparatus
and
Detailed
mounting
instructions
the position
of the fault within it.
should be obtained from the manufacturer
of the relay.
The following
guiding points may be noted in this respect:

4.2 Mounting -

a) The pipe at the apparatus

side should
5 times the diameter
of the pipe bore;

be straight

for a length

b) The pipe at the conservator

side should
3 times the diameter
of the pipe bore;

be straight

for a length

c) The inlet and outlet

angles;

pipes should

meet

the relay

flanges

at right

IS:3638-1966

h)

The pitch of the remaining

pipe work shall be maintained
as
recommended
by the manufacturer;
Sharp bends in the pipe work shall be avoided;
Between the take off from the tank and the inlet to the relay,
the pipe work shall not be branched in any manner which may
result in a possible by-pass of the oil or gas round the relay.
The pipe shall be taken off from the crowning position over the
tank;
Depending on the dimensions
of the protected apparatus,
it is
customary to provide a total elevation
of 10 to 20 mm towards
the crest of the tank where the piping to the relay takes off. In
setting the apparatus
to work, at site, care should be taken to
examine that the designed elevation is not offset due to poor
levelling;
The mounting arrangement
shall be as far as practicable,
free
from transmission of mechanical vibration; and

j> The

pet cock at the top of the relay shall be below the bottom
of the conservator, whilst the distance between the bottom of the
relay and the transformer bank shall not be less than 75-O mm.

5. INDICATIONS
5.1 The gas collected in the relay may help to identify the nature of
It is suggested that the following check tests be made as
the fault.
early as possible following the indication of accumulation
of gas through _
the alarm signal:
a) Rate of collection of the gas. (This helps in judging the severity
of fault.
The greater the rate of collection of the gas, the more
severe the fault. )
b) Colour of the gas. ( This helps in finding the affected material. )
(See 6.1.)
c) Combustibility
of the gas. (This helps in distinguishing
the gases
of disintegration
of insulation from air. ) (See 6.2.)
It is recommended
that the chemical tests given in 6.3 be carried
out to confirm the inferences drawn by the above indications.
5.2 When oil-immersed apparatus is commissioned
in service, it is likely
that air dissolved in oil, trapped in core laminations
and interstices in
windings may be slowly given off resulting in the relay alarm operation:
Also small quantity of air occluded in the windings may be
shaken off when the first short-circuit is fed through the apparatus on an
external fault.
5.3 When oil and other organic insulation is burnt in a fault, comOil burning due to short-circuit
in iron
bustible gases are produced.
6

IS:3638-1%6
parts, corona or capacitance discharges will produce gases at a slow rate
whereas a power short-circuit
will produce
gases at a high rate
accompanied by an oil velocity surge.
It may be estimated
that
generates approximately
75 cmsof
5.4 Circulating pumps
outside air into the oil
the relay and operate
selected at the design
surge of a magnitude
P-F

one kilowatt-second
of arc
gas, if the arc strikes in oil.

energy

used for cooling the apparatus sometimes suck

This air may eventually
get to
cooling circuit.
pumps should be properly
it. The circulating
stage so that they do not produce oil velocity
that may operate the relay while starting the

5.5 Wide variation in ambient temperature

in nitrogen filled transformers may result in gas accumulation
in the relay and the operation
of the alarm device.

OF GAS

6. ANALYSIS

6,l C&MU-The

gases collected in the relay lose their colours in a

short time.
Observations
should, therefore, be made as quickly as
possible. If colours are intermixed, it is difficult to draw any conclusion.
The following colours are given as a guide:
Colour of Gas

Identification

Colourless

Air

White

Gas of decomposed
insulation

paper and cloth

Yellow

Gas of decomposed

wood insulation

Grey

Gas of overheated
burning of iron

Black

Gas of decomposed
electric arc

oil
oil

due

to

clue

to

6.2 Combustibility - A small quantity of gas may be drawn off through

the test pet cock of the relay by a syringe and flame tested. About 2 to
5 cma of gas is expelled into a 5 to 10 mm flame. If the flame brightens,
the gas is combustible.
Incumbustible
gas indicates
air.
decomposed insulation and oil vapour.

Combustible

gas

indicates

methods of chemical test to analyse the

6.3 Chemical Test -Several
ases are being used and suitable commercial
gas analysers are also
Ecing sold. The following methods are recommended.
I

lS:3638-1966
6.3.1 Merlrod IVO. I -- The principle of the working of a gas anaIyser
apparatus is illustrated
in Fig. 1. Just before the test, the apparatus
The proper
is fed with two solutions
of the following
description.
solutions may be prepared in advance and preserved
in stock in a dark
place, in deep brown coloured glass containers
but solutions
preserved
for 18 months or over should not be used.
Best results are obtained
with freshly made solutions:
Solution NO. I-'-5 g silver nitrate
distilled water.

Solution No. 2-A

( Ag NO, ) dissolved

in 100 ml of

weak
solution
of ammonia
in water is slowly
added
to 100 ml of solution No. 1 until a whitecurdled precipitate,
which forms first, disappears in
the mixture.

The gas analyser apparatus

( see Fig. 1 ) is loaded with these solutions in the appropriate
manner
indicated.
The apparatus
is then
connected
to the test pet cock of the gas-operated
relay by means of the
adapter.
The pet cock is slowly opened and the collected
gas allowed
Tests should be made
to flow through the solutions in the apparatus.
The pet cock shall be closed before oil can
with small quantity of gas.
enter the analyser.
The reactions
are interpreted
as below:

Identljfication

Observation
Both solutions
Soluriolr

I -

Solution 2 -

clear,

Dark brown

Gas of decomposed
paper,
cotton or wood insulation

Solution No. I Solutiorl No.

reactions

Aqueous

precipitate

apparatus
and the method
of test is the
are as specified below.
1. The solutions
solution

of ammonia

1&) mg palladous
chloride
in 100 ml of distilled
water.
interpreted
aq below:

2-

are

So/ltrion

clear,

( PdCl ) dissolved

Iderlijjication

Observation
Both solutions

gas is air

Gas of oil dissoci;\tion

6.3.2 Method No. 2 ---The

same as described
in Method

The

The

no precipitate

White precipitate
turning
to
brown
on exposure
sunlight

no precipitate

1 -- Brick
red
precipitate
(even
with a 2 to 3
cycle fault )
8

The gas is air

Gas of oil dissociation

IS:3638-1966
Identification

Observation
precipitate
2 to 3 minutes
Mere darkening

in

Solution 2 -Black

6.0 + POLYETHYLENE

Gas of decomposed cotton,

paper or wood insulgtion
Small concentration
but
positive presence of
g! _
of decomposed solid
sillation

TUBE \

I
,

i
..L-p.

ll

I
,
.,

tl
I

zzil

zz

??j?j
.---7t
-- -_

6.50+

=2*5#

HOLE

3,
--zSOLUTION 1

Ke%kED
COUPLING
159

L t
THREADS*b

II
I I
I I
II
IJ

-SOLUTION

*Threads to suit outlet ( 9.6 out&de diameter

) of teat pet cock on gas-operated

All dimensions in millimetres.

Fro. 1

APPARATUS FOR
9

GAS ANALYSIS

relay.

EUREAU

OF

INDIAN

STANDARDS

Headquarters:
Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, NEW DELHI 110002
Telephones: 331 01 31, 331 13 75

Telegrams: Manaksanstha
( Common to all Offices )

Regional Offices:
: Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
NEW DELHI 110002
*Eastern : 1 /I 4 C. I. T. Scheme VII M, V. I. P. Road,
Maniktola, CALCUTTA 700054
Northern
: SC0 445-446,
Sector 35-C,
CHANDIGARH
160036

Telephone
331 01 31
331 13 75
I
36 24 99

Central

Southern : C. I. T. Campus, MADRAS

tWestern

: Manakalaya,
BOMBAY

E9 MIDC,
400093

2
I 3
41
41
( 41

600113

Marol,

Andheri

18 43
1641
24 42
25 19
2916

( East ), 6 32 92 95

Branch Offices:
Pushpak. Nurmohamed
Shaikh
AHMADABAD
380001
+,Peenya Industrial Area
BANGALORE
560058

Marg, Khanpur,

2 63 48
I

1st Stage, Bangalore

Tumkur Road

Gangotri Complex, 5th Floor, Bhadbhada Road, T. T. Nagar,

BHOPAL 462003
Plot No. 82/83,
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GUWAHATI
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HYDERABAD
500001
R14 Yudhister

Marg, C Scheme,

JAIPUR

667

23 1083
6
6
21
I 21
6
16
16

302005

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208005

Patliputra Industrial Estate, PATNA 800013

T.C. No. 14/l 421. University P.O.. Palayam
TRIVANDRUM
695035

/nspection Offices ( With Sale Point ):

Pushpanjali. First Floor, 205-A West High Court Road,
Shankar Nagar Square, NAGPUR 440010
Institution of Engineers ( India ) Building, 1332 Shivaji Nagar,

16

5 36 27
3 31 77

117/418

2 63 49
38 49 55
38 49 56

34
98
68
82
23
21
21

251

71
32
76
92
05
04
17

71

5 24 35

PUNE 411005
*Sales Office in Calcutta is a1 5 Chowringhee Approach, P. 0. Princep 27 66 00

Street. Calcutta 700072

tSales Office in Bombay is ?t Novelty Chambers, Grant Road, 69 66 26

Bombay 400007
$Sales Office in Bangalore
is at Unity Building,
Narasimharaja
Square, 22 3r: ;I
Bangalore

560002

Reprography

Unit,

BIS,

New

Delhi,

India

AKENDMENTNO.

JAtiUARY

1987

TO
IS:3638-1966 APPLICATION GUIDE FOR GA!+OPERATED
RELAYS

informal table under clause

4.1,'
(Page
4,
co1 2) - Substitute '1 001 to 10 000' for '1 000
.tolO 000' against Size of the Relay 50 m7

(ETDC 35)

Reprography Unit, BIS, New Delhi, India