Protection Application Transformer

Handbook Protection
© ABB Group - 1 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Power transformers in a power system

400 kV AC Transmission

130 kV Subtransmission

Generation

MV Distribution

LV
© ABB Group - 2 -

M
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
General

„ A Power Transformer is a very valuable and vital

link in a Power Transmission system

„ Many sizes and types of power transformer

„ Transformer faults may cause substantial losses

.The repair time may be long
© ABB Group - 3 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
General

„ A fast protection system for transformer is

essential to minimize the damage in case of an
internal fault with suitable back-up protection
scheme to take care of uncleared system faults

„ Faults in a Transformer occur due to insulation

breakdown, ageing of insulation, overheating due
to over excitation, oil contamination and leakage
or reduced cooling
© ABB Group - 4 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Different vector group connections and ways of neutral connection

Yy Yd Dy Yd+z
YN yn0 (d1) YN d1 D yn11 YN d11 + zn
© ABB Group - 5 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Different winding arrangements

Autotransformer 2-winding transf.

+ tertiary + Auxiliary
e.g.. YN Auto d1 transformer
© ABB Group - 6 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Particular power transformer applications

x x

U
V

Generator- On- load Static VAR Double breaker

transformer tap-changer Compensator Motor drive
unit
HVDC
© ABB Group - 7 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Overload Capability

„ It is possible to overload power transformers

„ Older transformers may withstand 140% continuously

„ Overloading and loss of cooling causes overheating

© ABB Group - 8 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Withstand capabilty for External Faults
„ System Shunt Faults

Transformer Fault current Permitted fault

reactances duration
% multiple of rated seconds
current
4 25 2
5 20 3
6 16.6 4
7 14.2 5
© ABB Group - 9 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Types of Internal Faults

„ Earth faults
„ Short-circuits
„ Inter turn Faults
„ Core Faults
„ Tank Faults
„ Reduced cooling
© ABB Group - 10 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Abnormal Conditions
„ Overload

„ Over voltage

„ Reduced system voltage

„ Overexcitation
© ABB Group - 11 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Differential Protection
„ Classical application of differential protection
„ Interposing current transformers for phase shift and
transformation ratio correction
„ Protection zone, bushing CTs
„ Influence from OLTC
„ Harmonic restrained differential protections
© ABB Group - 12 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Transformer differential protection. Current bias characteristics

Differential current |I1+I2 |

10

I1

< 25
I
High Unrestrained
5

Trips

I2
1 Blocks
I d min
© ABB Group - 13 -

Irestrain
1 5 10 (|I1 |+ |I2 |)/2
13-Nov-07
© ABB Group - 14 -
13-Nov-07
Transformer protection
 Transformer protection
Inrush Current

„ Inrush currents flow in connection with energisation

„ Inrush currents may also flow at voltage recovery
„ Sympathy inrush current
© ABB Group - 15 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Inrush Current
© ABB Group - 16 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Factors that Affect the Inrush Current

„ The source impedance

„ The size of the transformer
„ The location energized winding
„ The point of wave when the switch closes
„ The magnetic properties of the core
„ The remanence of the core
„ The use of pre-insertion resistors
© ABB Group - 17 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Consequences of Inrush Current

„ The inrush current has a large DC component that may

saturate the CTs
„ DC saturation of phase and neutral CTs may cause a
false residual current and a false differential current
„ There is a risk that sensitive differential protections,
residual overcurrent protections and neutral point
overcurrent protections may operate incorrectly
© ABB Group - 18 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Magnetizing current at overexcitation
© ABB Group - 19 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Differential protection for
Autotransformer
© ABB Group - 20 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Ground Fault Currents
© ABB Group - 21 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Earth Fault Protection
„ Restricted earth fault protection
„ High-impedance restricted earth fault protections
„ Low-impedance restricted earth fault protections
© ABB Group - 22 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Restricted Earth fault protection
© ABB Group - 23 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Thermal overload protection

Rise of temperature

0,63

τ
© ABB Group - 24 -

Time
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Over excitation protection

„ Overexcited transformers become overheated

and damaged

„ Especially required for Generator Transformers

© ABB Group - 25 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Overexcitation Protection

Ei = 4.44fNA Bmax

„ f= the system frequency [Hz],

„ N= the number of turns on the core leg [1],
„ A= the area of the core leg [m2] and
„ Bmax = the peak value of the flux density [T]
© ABB Group - 26 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Over excitation Protection

V/ f
( Bmax / Bn) =
Vn / f n

„ Bn = the rated peak value of the flux density [T],

„ V= the RMS value of the terminal voltage [V],
„ Vn = the rated RMS value of the terminal voltage [V], and
„ fn = the rated system frequency [Hz]
© ABB Group - 27 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Over excitation protection
t

Definite

V/Hz inverse
© ABB Group - 28 -

V/Hz
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Time overcurrent relays

„ Used on all feeding circuits of transformer

„ Provide back up for internal faults
„ Also provide back up for system faults
„ Instantaneous high element
© ABB Group - 29 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Residual Overcurrent relays
„ Used on all feeding circuits of transformer
„ Provide back up for internal faults
„ Also provide back up for system faults
„ Instantaneous high element used
© ABB Group - 30 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Impedance Protection

„ Back-up protection of the local busbars

„ Back-up protection of the outgoing feeders

„ Back-up protection of the busbar at the remote end

„ Plain underimpedance protection/Distance protection

© ABB Group - 31 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Monitors

Monitors are very important devices which detect faults and

abnormal service conditions which may develop into fault.
© ABB Group - 32 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Oil and Gas Monitoring
„ Sudden gas pressure protection
„ Buchholz protection
„ Oil level monitoring
© ABB Group - 33 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Temperature Monitoring
„ The oil thermometer
„ The winding thermometer
© ABB Group - 34 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Protective Relays Used ( Transformers > 5
MVA)
„ Gas detector relay ( Buchholz)
„ Over load protection
„ Thermal relays
„ Temperature monitoring relays
„ Over current protection
„ Ground fault protection
„ Differential protection
„ Interturn faults
© ABB Group - 35 -

„ Pressure relay for tap changer

„ Oil level monitor
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Protective Relays Used ( Transformers <
5 MVA)

„ Gas detector relay

„ Overload protection
„ Overcurrent protection
„ Ground fault protection
© ABB Group - 36 -
13-Nov-07
 CBIP manual on Protection
of Generators, generator Transformer
transformers and 220kV Protection
and 400 kV networks
© ABB Group - 37 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
1.0
1.0 GENERAL
GENERAL

• A Power Transformer is a very valuable and vital link in a Power

Transmission system

• Fast protection system for transformer is essential to minimize the

damage in case of an internal fault with suitable back-up protection
scheme to take care of uncleared system faults.

• Faults in a Transformer occur due to insulation breakdown, ageing of

of insulation, overheating due to overexcitation, oil contamination and
leakage or reduced cooling.
© ABB Group - 38 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
• Recommendations for provision of protective and monitoring
equipment for transformers of 400kV and 220kV class are as follows:

(a) Transformer differential protection

(b) Overfluxing protection

(c) Restricted earth-fault protection

(d) Back-up directional O / C + E / F protection on HV side

(e) Back-up directional O / C + E / F protection on LV side

(f) Protection and monitors built in to Transformer (Buchholz relay,

Winding and Oil Temperature Indicators, Oil Level Indicator and
Pressure Relief Device)
© ABB Group - 39 -

(g) Protection for Tertiary winding

13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
2.0
2.0 SPECIAL
SPECIALCOMMENTS
COMMENTS
2.1
2.1

• Protection and monitors shall be divided in two groups viz. Gr A and

Gr B at 400kV.

• Given below is the way of grouping these protections:

Group A Group B

• Transformer biased R.E.F Protection

differential relay Buchholz Protection

• Back up Protection(HV) Back up Protection(MV)

© ABB Group - 40 -

• Overfluxing protection(HV) Overfluxing protection(MV)

13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Group A Group B

• Oil temperature high tripping Overload protection (Alarm only)

winding, temperature high tripping

• Pressure relief tripping OLTC Buchholz tripping

• Delta winding protection Oil level high/low tripping

• Group A and B protections shall be connected to separate DC source/

separately fused supplies.

• DC sources shall be supervised

• Both Gr A and Gr B protections shall give out tripping impulses to HV,

MV AND LV (if applicable), circuit breakers.
© ABB Group - 41 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
2.2
2.2
• Transformer overfluxing protection recommended on both sides for
interconnecting transformers.

• Overfluxing relay shall be provided on the untapped winding of the

Transformer

2.3
2.3
• In case of breaker and half switching schemes, the differential protection
schemes, the differential protection C.T’s associated with Main and Tie
breakers should be connected to separate bias windings and these
should not be paralleled in order to avoid false operation due to dissimilar
C.T. transient response.
2.4
2.4
• Triple pole high impedance relay may be provided instead of single
© ABB Group - 42 -

pole R.E.F relay

13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
3.0
3.0 SETTING
SETTINGCRITERIA
CRITERIA
3.1
3.1

• The current setting of the back up O/C relay shall be set above the
expected maximum load current so as to allow possible overload on
account of loss of one of the parallel transformers
3.2
3.2

• Overload relay shall be set at 110% of rated current with dely of 5

seconds.

• This shall be connected to give only alarm and not for tripping.
© ABB Group - 43 -
13-Nov-07
 CBIP manual on Reliable
fault Clearance and Back- Power Transformers
UP Protection for EHV
and UHV Transmission
Network
© ABB Group - 44 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Power Transformers
„ In the above paragraphs some important application
aspects connected with the transformer protection
and some recommendations have been brought out
and these should be considered. Few of these are
brought out below
© ABB Group - 45 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Power Transformers
„ A true Main-2 protection scheme is usually not
provided in case of transformers. But as operating
requirements change and single contingency limits
are pressed the level of Main-2 protection may need
to be re-evaluated in future.
„ Numerical relays offer the best characteristic since
digital filters remove harmonics and DC offset
currents from the inrush. Numerical back-up over
current relays can therefore be set much more
sensitive than conventional types and are
© ABB Group - 46 -

recommended to be used
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Power Transformers
„ Harmonic restraint may be required to obtain
sensitive settings in case of zero sequence over
current relays.
„ Sometimes security is a problem In case of Buchholz
relays. The addition of an over current blocking relay,
which blocks or slows down the tripping, may be
used to improve security of the devices
„ In case of of mechanical type of fault detectors like
Buchholz and PRDs, for higher reliability, duplicating
of the initiating contacts may be considered on a
© ABB Group - 47 -

case-to-case basis.
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Power Transformers
„ For grid transformers, application of over excitation
protection not considered necessary and present
practice of providing it should be reviewed.
„ The power transformers have a large thermal heat
sink and can withstand overloads for certain limited
time. Selective protection and monitoring and load
management is necessary. The tripping of the
transformer should be the last action
„ Fast clearance of faults in the transformer is
important for stability of the system and therefore
adequate protections should be provided.
© ABB Group - 48 -

Requirement of through fault withstand is also

13-Nov-07

important and should be considered.

 Transformer protection
Power Transformers
„ As per the current practice, it is common to group
various main 1, main 2 and back-up transformer
protections at 765 kV, 400kV and 220 kV in two
groups of protections (Group A and Group B)
connected to separate DC sources and separate
master trip relays. This should cover, to some
degree, the need for maintenance of protective
equipment with the transformer energized. No
change is proposed in this practice. Reference may
be made to CBIP Manual No 274 “Protection of
Generators, Transformers and 220kV and 400kV
© ABB Group - 49 -

Networks”. Which gives details of current practices

13-Nov-07

being followed.
 Transformer protection
Power Transformers
Where Fire protection is provided the contacts
should be wired to trip both Group-A and Group-B
trip relays
„ For 132 kV level transformer where two separate DC
sources are not provided, it is recommended that the
protections be grouped in two groups connected to
separately fused DC sources. One gets to use two
trip relays in this case, which is advantageous
© ABB Group - 50 -
13-Nov-07
 Protection Application Transformer
Handbook Protection- settings
© ABB Group - 51 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Power Transformers
„ Overloading
„ Overloading of a transformer will cause high temperatures
of different parts inside the transformer. High temperatures
can lead to degradation of insulation material. This will
cause reduction of the lifetime of the transformer

„ If transformer is overloaded primarily it should not be

tripped. Manual measures including load shedding should
be done by operator.
© ABB Group - 52 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Load Curve of a Transformer Feeding Normal
Load Transformer load curve

Load current

Transformer temperature

day night day night day

© ABB Group - 53 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Load Curve of a Generation Unit Transformer

Transformer load curve

(Generating unit transformer)

Load current

Transformer temperature

day night day night day

© ABB Group - 54 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Power Transformers
„ Differential relays
„ Diff relay detects a false differential current due to tap
changer not being in the nominal position. This has to be
considered.
„ Consider max load current ( 1.4 times rated power ),
assume the tap changer to be in positive or negative end
position. For these extreme tap positions the maximum false
diff current can be calculated.
„ Stabilisation has to be worked out as under
„ Idiff = K I stab
„ Where I diff = I high – Ilow
© ABB Group - 55 -

„ Istab= ( Ihigh + I low)/2

13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Stabilisation of a Transformer Differential
Relay

I diff

operation

no operation
I stab
© ABB Group - 56 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Percentage setting
„ Differential current flows due to excitation current of
transformer, due to ratio errors in CT and
predominantly due to position of tap changer if
provided

„ Differential setting 15% higher than mismatch is

usual.
© ABB Group - 57 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
High set unrestrained stage
„ Unrestrained operation to speed up the operation for a
high fault current as per table below . Setting of 20*In
required when large through fault currents can
saturate the CTs and cause a large differential current as
for example in case of 1 & ½ CB arrangement.

Power Rated Power Recommended setting

Transformer *In when energizing from
Connection (1)
HV Side LV Side
<10 MVA 20 10
Yy 10-100 MVA 13 13
Yy >100 MVA 8 8
Yd - 13 13
© ABB Group - 58 -

Dy <100 MVA 13 20
Dy >100 MVA 8 13
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Restricted earth fault protection

SETTING

RL VR > IF ( RCT + 2 RL)

RCT VK > 2 VR
VR
A B
© ABB Group - 59 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Phase overcurrent relays
„ The pick up current seting must be set above highest possible load
current
„ It shall also serve as overload protection
„ In many cases it can be considered that overload capacity is 1.4 times
rated power
„ The lowest setting value can be written as
„ I pickup = 1.2 . I max/K
„ It should also be able to detect all faults within the zone
„ I pickup < 0.7. I scmin
„ The high set relay should be set so as to be selective wrt other relays
„ I high > 1.2. K t .I scmax
„ K t is transient overreach and I scmax is largest fault current on low
voltage side
© ABB Group - 60 -

„ Time setting should be set as to get shortest fault time with maintained
selectivity
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Failure to Reset of an Overcurrent Protection

I The relay does not reset

I st
I reset

t
© ABB Group - 61 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Inverse Time Characteristics Selectivity

Time

Fault current
© ABB Group - 62 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
Residual over current relays
„ Earth fault current is fed from the transformer in case of
phase to earth fault in the system. Therefore there is a need
to trip the transformer in case of such fault. In most cases it
should be considered as back up to line protection. Current
setting is usually low. Time setting should be long to be
selective wrt line protection.
© ABB Group - 63 -
13-Nov-07
 Transformer protection
System Transformer with Impedance Protection

Low V High V
Zone 1

Z<

Backward Forward reach

© ABB Group - 64 -
13-Nov-07
© ABB Group - 65 -
13-Nov-07
Transformer protection