Transformer Protection

Presented by Ir. Kamarul Yahya

Power System Protection

 The objective of power system protection is to disconnect a faulty electrical

component/installation from the rest of electrical network.

 To minimize damage on electrical components that are under fault

 To maintain electrical system stability

Component Of Protection Scheme

1) Current transformer and voltage transformers to step

down the high voltages and currents of the electrical
power system to convenient levels for the relays to
deal with
2) Protective relays to sense the fault and initiate a trip,
or disconnection, order
3) Circuit breakers to open/close the system based on
relay and autorecloser commands
4) Batteries to provide power in case of power
disconnection in the system
5) Wiring/Communication channels to allow analysis of
current and voltage at remote terminals of a line and to
allow remote tripping of equipment. MPR
Zone of Protection

 Protection zone is defined as the part of the power

system which is protected by a certain protective
scheme.
 When the fault occurs on any of the protection
zones then only the circuit breakers within that zone
will be opened. Thus, only the faulty element will be
isolated without disturbing the rest of the system.
 Ideally, the zones of protection should overlap, so
that no part of the power system is left unprotected.

Busbar
protection
Busbar
protection

Feeder
protection

Feeder
protection
Simplified of Protection Scheme

 Each relay to protect against fault in a specific zone of protection

 Internal fault i.e. inside the zone of protection :- relay operate and isolates the smallest portion of the system
 External fault i.e. outside the zone of protection :- relay does not operate. Fault is isolated by another relay nearest to
the source of supply.

R R R

11kV 3.3kV

Unit protection:- The boundary of operation is clearly defined in terms of primary plant. Unit protection is designed to
operate for abnormal conditions inside the protected zone while remaining stable for abnormal conditions outside the
protected zone.

Non-unit protection:- Time degrade protection. It is arranged so that the protection within the faulted zone operates
first and removes the fault, thus allowing protection in other zones to reset before completing their tripping function.
 Protection Function for Power Transformer

26OT ANSI No. Description

49
63
26OT Oil Temperature
71
50/51 80 50/51
50N/51N 49WT Winding Temperature
11kV
(not necessary for sealed transformer)
3.3kV
63 Pressure

71 Oil Level
50G
80 Buchholz
(not applicable for sealed transformer)
50G/51G
50 Instantaneous Overcurrent 11kV

51 Inverse Time Overcurrent

87T
50N Instantaneous Earth Fault (residual sum)
64REF
51N Inverse Time Earth Fault (residual sum)

50G Instantaneous Earth Fault (ground sensor)

51G Inverse Time Earth Fault (sensor)

64REF Restricted Earth Fault

87T Transformer Differential

Interlock and Intertrip
Signal receive by upstream Signal send from downstream Signal receive by downstream Signal send from upstream

Upstream CB Permissive closing Downstream CB open & Downstream CB open by intertrip Upstream 86 activate:
Downstream ES open 50/51, 50G

Upstream CB open command Downstream incomer emergency Downstream CB open by intertrip Upstream 86T activate:
pushbutton activate 26OT, 49WT, 63, 71, 80
64REF, 87T, 50G/51G
***NOTE
Downstream CB open due Upstream CB open status
upstream CB open status

***NOTE: By default, transformer protection relay must located at

upstream feeder (supply source). This is to ensure fast
26OT isolation during fault. Specific approval from Technical
49
Authority is required if transformer protection relay is
63
71 intend to install at downstream incomer instead of
50/51 80 50/51 upstream feeder.
50N/51N
11kV 3.3kV

50G • Trip upstream CB

50G/51G • Trip upstream and downstream
CB
• Trip downstream CB
87T
64REF
Buchholz Relay

 oil and gas actuated protection relay

 protects the transformer from internal faults
 placed between the main tank and the conservator

 When the fault occurs inside the transformer, the temperature of

the oil increases. The oil evaporates in the form of the gas. The
generation of the gas depends on the magnitude of the fault
occurs inside the transformer.

 Gas produced by abnormal conditions in the transformer, collects

in the Buchholz relay which lowers the oil level so that the top
float gradually comes down and ultimately operates the switch
when it reaches a certain level. This switch is usually connected
to external alarm circuit.

 Abnormal condition associated with major fault cause a surge in

the transformer oil which moves towards the expansion vessel.
This surge displaces the lower float operation the switch
associated with it. This switch usually is connected to the external
trip circuit. This switch would also operate if the oil level falls
below that of the float due to any reason
Overcurrent protection

• General requirement
 Below transformer damage curve
 Above transformer inrush
 Meeting the required time grading

• For inverse time

 Pickup more than FLC.
• Need to consider transformer tap position
and CT error.

• For instantaneous:
 Pickup before arcing current Ia
Inverse Definite Minimum Time (IDMT)

• The trip time is inversely proportional to the fault

current
Time Current Curve (TCC)
Time Grading

• Consideration
 CB opening time
 Relay timing error
 Relay overshoot
 CT error
 Safety margin
Earth Fault - Residual Connection (N)

 Each phase relay is connected in the output

circuit of its respective CT, while a ground relay
connected in the common or residual circuit
measures the ground-fault current.

 In three-phase three-wire systems, no current

flows in the residual leg under normal conditions
because the resultant current of the three CTs is
zero.

 On four-wire circuits, a fourth CT should be

connected in the neutral circuit as shown in the
dashed portion of the current. The neutral
conductor carries both 60 Hz single-phase load
unbalance current as well as zero-sequence
harmonic currents caused by the nonlinear
inductance of single-phase loads. Without the
neutral-conductor CT, the current in that
conductor would appear to the ground relay as
ground-fault current
Earth Fault – Core Balance (G)

 The core-balance method is based on primary

current phasor addition or flux summation.

 Under normal conditions [i.e., balanced,

unbalanced, or single-phase load currents or
short circuits not involving ground (if all
conductors are properly enclosed)], all current
flows out and returns through the CT. The net flux
produced in the CT core is zero, and no current
flows in the ground relay.

 When a ground fault occurs, the ground-fault

current returns through the equipment grounding
circuit conductor (and possibly other ground
paths) and bypasses the CT. The flux produced in
the CT core is proportional to the ground-fault
current, and a proportional current flows from the
CT secondary to the relay circuit.
Case Study – SB-321-C-02 flash over

 During the incident SB-321-C-02 flash over on 20th Sep 2019, is found that upstream 33kV feeder and
downstream 11kV incomer trip.
 Fault location is at busbar of SB-321-C-02

Concern with regards to power system protection…

WHY BOTH UPSTREAM FEEDER AND DOWN STREAM INCOMER TRIP..?

continue… Study – SB-321-C-02 flash over

 Upstream 33kV feeder relay setting is not as per

engineering study

Actual during incident Engineering design

IDMT OC (51) CT ratio 600/1 600/1

Curve IEC-Normal Inverse IEC-Normal Inverse

Time Multiplier 0.1 0.225

Setting 0.8xIn 0.8xIn

Inst. OC (50) Setting 10.4xIn 10.4xIn
Delay 0.1s 0.1s

FINDING: Wrong protection coordination

continue… Study – SB-321-C-02 flash over

Actual setting during incident Required setting as per engineering design

Differential Relay - Current Balance

• Differential relay is an instantaneous overcurrent relay that operates on the difference

of current flowing into and out of the protected zone.

Normal conditions, I1 = I2

By virtue of CT connections I1 and I2 add to zero through relay,

Idiff = |I1 + I2| = 0
Differential Relay – Characteristic of a Transformer

1) A transformer has a turns ratio so the current in is not really equal to the current out. The current transformers are
not likely exactly matched to the transformer turns ratio so there will always be an unbalance current in the
operating coil of a transformer differential relay.

11kV 3.3kV

operate

2) Transformers require magnetizing current. There will be a small current flow in the transformer primary even if the
secondary is open circuited.

3) A transformer has an inrush current. There is a time period after a transformer is energized until the magnetic field
in the core in alternating symmetrically. The size and the length of this inrush depends on the residual field in the
core and the point in the ac cycle the transformer is re-energized.

SOLUTION: there are restraining coils in addition to the operating coil of the relay
Differential relay: Impact on differential current (Id) due to
CT mismatch and Transformer ratio
10MVA
11/3.45kV
IFLC = 552.5A -5% tap IFLC = 1637.5A
11kV 600/1 2500/1 3.3kV For 10MVA 33/11kV -5% tap position,
26.6% Unbalance current in the
operating coil of a transformer
differential relay.
I1 = 0.921A I2 = 0.655A

operate
Id = 0.266A

10MVA
11/3.45kV
IFLC = 449.9A +5% tap IFLC = 1637.5A
11kV 600/1 3.3kV
For 10MVA 33/11kV +5% tap position,
2500/1
9.5% unbalance current in the
operating coil of a transformer
differential relay.
I1 = 0.750A I2 = 0.655A

operate
Id = 0.095A
Differential relay: Impact on differential current (Id) due to
external fault
10MVA
11/3.45kV
IFLC = 552.5A -5% tap, z=8.5% IFLC = 1637.5A
11kV 600/1 2500/1 3.3kV
Consider transformer configuration as
per figure on the left, during normal
operation, Id is 0.226A.
I1 = 0.921A I2 = 0.655A

operate
Id = 0.266A

10MVA
11/3.45kV
IFLC = 6.5kA -5% tap, z=8.5% ISC = 19.26kA
11kV 600/1 2500/1 3.3kV
However, during external fault, due to
CT mismatch, Id is becoming larger; in
this case, Id is 3.13A.
I1 = 10.83A I2 = 7.70A

operate
Id = 3.13A
Differential Relay - Restrain characteristic

 The current differential protection needs to be biased because the possible appearance of a differential current
can be due to something else than an actual fault.
 Under normal and through fault conditions, restrain current is greater than operate current. Thereby relay remains
inactive.
 When internal fault occurs, the operating force exceeds the bias force and hence the relay is operated.

11kV 3.3kV

restrain

operate

Irestrain = Ibias = |I1 + I2|

2
Bias Differential – Stable operation
11kV I1 = 0.90 pu I2 = 1.15 pu 3.3kV

• Assuming:
 -10% CT error on 11kV
restrain
 +10% CT error on 3.3kV
 +5% FLC on 3.3kV (max transformer tap position) operate

Result:
Id = |I1 – I2| = 0.15 pu = 25%
Ib = |I1 + I2| ÷ 2 = 1.025 pu = 102.5%

STABLE..!
Bias Differential – Protection operate
11kV If = 3 pu I2 = 0 3.3kV

• Assuming:
 Transformer internal fault which with fault current
equal to 300% FLC restrain

operate

Result:
Id = |I1 – I2| = 3.00 pu = 300%
Ib = |I1 + I2| ÷ 2 = 1.50 pu = 150%

PROTECTION OPERATE..!
Magnetizing Inrush Current
 The phenomenon of magnetizing inrush current occurs when a transformer is energized. When the primary side of
a transformer is energized from the supply system, with the secondary on open-circuit, it acts as a simple
inductive reactor.
 This current flows only in the winding connected to the source of supply, and thus causes a spill current into the
biased-differential-operate winding.
 Magnetizing inrush has a large second-harmonic component of current and therefore, as shown in figure above, it
is usual to arrange an additional bias winding, which is responsive to second-harmonic currents, to offset the
effect of magnetizing inrush current in the operate winding.
Restricted Earth Fault

• Under normal conditions and by application of Kirchhoff’s laws the sum of

currents in both current transformers (CTs) equals zero. If there is an earth fault
between the CTs then some current will bypass the CT's and the sum of currents
will not be zero. By measuring this current imbalance faults between the CTs can
be easily identified and quickly cleared

• Fault detection is confined to the zone between the two CTs hence the name
'Restricted Earth Fault'.
Case Study

https://www.academia.edu/38812187/TRANSFORMER_STABILITY_TEST_REPORT_TR_321_CD_02A
Type Of Fault
Analysing Electrical Trip

Concern Action
What had happen What was the ongoing activities prior to trip

Where is the tripping Identify the trip breaker – check also upstream and
downstream breaker
When is the tripping Record down the date and time.
Verify relay time against actual time.
What is the impact of tripping Check and record down the following:
1) Active LED/indication light
2) Lockout status
3) List of equipment stop/interrupted
How the trip happen Record down alarm and event list from relay
Download disturbance recorder

 RECORD
 SHARE FACTS
 DO NOT MAKE ASSUMTION
Open
Protection Relay Maintenance

• ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS 1994

Additional
Kirchhoffs Current Law

• Kirchhoffs Current Law or KCL, states that the “total current or charge entering a junction or node is exactly equal to
the charge leaving the node as it has no other place to go except to leave, as no charge is lost within the node“. In
other words the algebraic sum of ALL the currents entering and leaving a node must be equal to zero,
I(exiting) + I(entering) = 0. This idea by Kirchhoff is commonly known as the Conservation of Charge.
Fortescue’s methodology

• Positive sequence voltages (Figure 1) are supplied by generators within the system and are always present.
• Negative sequence component has a rotation opposite that of the power system (Figure 2).
• Zero-sequence component represents an unbalance that causes current flow in the neutral. It is equal in magnitude
and in phase with each other, however since there is no rotation sequence (Figure 3) this is known as a zero
sequence.
Thank you for your passion!