Al-Balqa Applied University

Power systems Protection

course

Department of Electrical Energy Engineering

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 Part 8

Differential
&
Transformer Protection

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Differential Protection:
In this type of protection the technique is based on electrical
quantities entering and leaving the protected zone (area covered
C.T.s). If the net difference equal zero, it means no fault exist.

Balanced CT Ratio
CT CT
Protected
Equipment

I interring=I leaving

IDIF = 0
I interring
50
I leaving

No Relay Operation , if CTs Are Considered Ideal

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 CTR CTR
Protected
Equipment
Internal
Fault
I interring ≠ I leaving

50 IDIF > ISETTING

Relay Operates
Differential protection is applicable to all parts of the power
system: such as :Generator , Transformers , Motors ,
Buses, Lines and feeders , Reactors and capacitors.
There are two basic types of differential protection:
Current Balance Differential protection
Voltage Balanced Differential Protection
This form of protection is known as Merz-Price protect..
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 1-Current Balanced Differential Protection

Basic Current Differential Protection

a) External Fault of protection zone:
In this case the current deference between the protection zone CT1
. CT2 is same since the fault is out of the zone ,( I =0) and the
and DIF
the relay will not operate
CT2 F
CT1 Protected
Equipment
Is1 Look to current direction Is2

Relay not operate

IDIF = (Is1= Is2 )=0

50

Is1= Is2 then ΔI = 0 relay does not operate.

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b) Internal Fault within protection zone

If fault occurs at point F within the protected zone (internal fault) and the
fault is fed from both sides, then current through CT2 will be reversed.
Therefore ΔI = |Is1+Is2|>|I relay| . This will cause the relay to trip the CB due
to pick up current of relay.

CTR CTR
Protected
Equipment
**Current
F Internal change
direction
Fault

50 IDIF > ISETTING

Consider ideal current transformer performance.

Is1≠ Is2 then ΔI ≠ 0 and the magnitude of I >0 this case
the relay to operate.
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 2-Voltage Balanced Differential Protection

 The current differential relay is not suitable for the

protection of the feeders. Therefore, the voltage
balance differential relays are used.
 In this arrangement, the two similar current
transformersCT1&CT2secondary windings are
connected in opposition, so that there is no current flow
in the relay operating coil (Vs1-Vs2 =0) relay not
operate.
 During internal fault Vs1-Vs2 ≠ 0, The CTs used in such
protections should based on induce voltages and
since the magnitude of the fault current is very large,
so that the voltage should be a linear function of such
large currents, the CTs should operate
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Balanced Voltage Differential Protection :
Current Measuring Relay

External Fault
Internal Fault
♦Ip1≠Ip2
♦ Vs1 ≠ Vs2.
♦Therefore magnitude of I ≠ 0
♦Current measuring relay operates.

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 As a result :

The characteristics of differential protection can be

summarized as follows simple concept:
 Measure current entering and exiting the zone of
protection
 If currents are not equal, a fault is present
 Provides:
− High sensitivity
− High selectivity Result
− Relatively high speed

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 Percentage Differential Current Relay
This relay has an operating winding(op) and two restraining
winding (Nr) connected as shown in Fig.
The function of the restraining windings is to prevent
undesired relay operation should a current flow in the
operating winding due to CT during external fault.

Figure show the basic relay connections (one phase) for fixed percentage restraint differential relay.
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At Normal conditions operation:

 The differential current in the

operating coil is proportional to
Is1-Is2.
 The equivalent current in the
restrain windings are
proportional to % ( Is1+Is2) since
the two restrain windings are identical.

 Therefore, the ratio of the differential operational current to

the average restrain current is a fixed "percentage".
In other word, we can define the bias as the ratio between
the numbers of turns of the restrain coil (Nr) to the number
of turns of the operating coil (NO), i.e. %bias = Nr/No =k.
 k is typically (10 - 40%).
 The operating characteristics of the relay is shown in next
Figure.
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The condition for relay operation:

Typical operating characteristic of a percentage differential relay.

Nr/No =k Nr =k. No

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Transformer Protection scheme with differential relay

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 Transformer Protection
The protection method depends on the transformer power ratings
according to follows categories:
 (Category I) below 5000 KVA are
protected using Fuses.
 (Category II) Fuses and MV
circuit breakers are often used to
protect transformers up to 1000
kVA (distribution transformers for
11kV and 33kV).
 (Category III & IV)10 MVA and
above ,differential relay are
commonly used 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, mechanical relays such as Buchholtz relays and
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sudden pressure relays are widely applied to transformer protection.
Mechanical relays are intended to detect faults which the main
relay could not detect. In addition to these relays, thermal overload
protection is often applied for extending life time of the transformer
rather than for detecting faults.
1- Main Electrical Protection of transformer
Percentage Biased Current Differential protection is most
commonly applied for transformer protection. Fig. shows typical
application for a star-delta transformer.

The next Figure shows typical connections of the percentage differential

relays with their associated current transformers.

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Transformer Differential Relay Connections

Protection of delta – Star transformer bank by percentage differential relays.

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Phase Shifting in Star-Delta Connected Transformer
Between the primary and secondary current of the
transformer of a star-delta connection is a phase angle
difference of 30o.
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.
The transformer unit is connected to the CT secondary
circuit on the star connection side by a delta connection, and
the CT secondary circuit on the delta connection side by a
star connection.
Thereby we have a correct phase relationship with respect
to load current and external fault current as shown in figure
before.

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Example

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2-Restricted Earth Fault Protection
When the phase current differential protection is difficult to detect
faults to earth near transformer neutral points. In this case zero
sequence current differential protection comparing the neutral
current with the residual current of three phases, which is often
called restricted earth fault protection (REF).
This function can be combined with phase current differential
protection in a single unit as shown in Fig..

Typical Application with REF.

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Backup Protection
(1) Overcurrent Protection
Applied to the high voltage side for transformer backup protection.
(It is suitable when there is no power source on the lower voltage
side, because the overcurrent protection will operate only for faults in
the transformer or on the low voltage side ).
(2) Distance Protection
Distance protection can be applied for backup protection even when
there are power sources on the lower voltage side. It is also possible
that distance protection is applied as second main protection of a
transformer if the zone 1 reach is set to less than the total
impedance of the transformer. (e.g. 80%).
(3) Mechanical Protection
This type is mechanical protection rather then electrical protection
.When Insulation deterioration of the transformer or the iron core this
may cause vaporization of insulation fluid. The basic mechanical
protection used is Buchholtz Relay

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Buchholtz 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.
- Under normal conditions the relay is completely full of oil. when
floats are displaced by an accumulation of gas, or a flap is
moved by a surge of oil the relay will operate.

Buchholz relay Front View

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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)
Fault conditions( internal fault) within a transformer produce gases
such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen and a range of hydrocarbons.
 A small fault produces a small volume of
gas that trapped 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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