Conference Papers

Testing Numerical Transformer

Differential Relays

Steve Turner

Paper No.
09 B6
978-1-4244-3419-0/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE

B6
 Testing Numerical Transformer Differential Relays
Steve Turner
Member, IEEE
Senior Applications Engineer –Beckwith Electric Company, Inc.
6190-118th Avenue North
Largo, FL 33773-3724
Phone 727.544.2326 FAX: 727.546.0121
[email protected]

Abstract Numerical transformer differential relays require Express equations (1) and (2) using matrices as follows:
careful consideration regarding how to test them properly.
These relays provide different types of protection such as
Id 1 1 I1
=  (3)
restrained phase differential, high set phase differential, Ir 0 .5 0 .5 I 2
restrained ground differential and overcurrent protection. All
protection elements that are enabled should be adequately
tested. Where
IC = MIT (4)
A common commissioning practice is to test all the numerical
relay settings to verify they were properly entered. Automated
testing using computer software to run the test set has made this
Id 1 1 I1
IC = ,M= , IT = (5)
possible since the overall commissioning for a numerical relay Ir 0 .5 0 .5 I2
could consist of several hundred tests. While this is a good
check, it is still important to ensure that the transformer is
thoroughly protected for the particular application. Invert the matrix M in equation [3] to determine the two
equations for the test currents:
Index Terms Transformer protection, transformer
differential relay, ground differential, even harmonic I1 0 .5 1 I d
restraint, transformer inrush, overcurrent protection. =  (6)
I2 0 .5 1 I r
I. TRANSFORMER DIFFERENTIAL CHARACTERISTIC BOUNDARY TEST
Calculate the test currents based upon an operating point on
A common practice for commissioning distance protection the differential characteristic as follows:
is to test along the boundary of the operating
characteristic for example, circles, lenses or quadraterals. Id
This practice can also be applied to transformer differential I1 =
Ir (7)
2
protection. Consider the example of a two-winding
Id
transformer with both sets of windings wye-connected. To I2 =
Ir (8)
keep the example simple, also assume both sets of CTs are 2
wye-connected and have the same CT ratios that is, both
windings are at the same potential. If you connect the current A. 1st Example
leads from the test set such that the test currents I1 and I2 are Consider a transformer differential characteristic for the two-
flowing through the transformer winding, then the per-phase winding transformer described earlier, and indicated in Figure
differential and restraint currents can be expressed as follows: 1, with the following settings:

Id = I1 I2 (1) Pickup =0.2 per unit

Slope = 28.6%
I1
I 2
Ir = (2)
2
Where
I1 = Winding 1 per unit current (A, B, or C-phase)
I2 = Winding 2 per unit current (A, B, or C-phase)

B6-1
 I1 = 0.8 per unit (17)
I2 = 0.6 per unit (18)

IA1 = 0.8TAP1 (19)

IA2 = 0.6TAP23 (20)

IA1 and IA2 are the two test currents.

II. GROUND DIFFERENTIAL ELEMENT SENSITIVITY TEST

Ground differential protection can provide good sensitivity
for ground faults on wye-connected transformer windings.
Figure 2 shows a simple three-line diagram for a typical
application. The CTs are connected such that:
Fig. 1. Phase current differential characteristic for two-winding transformer
 if IG and 3I0 are in-phase, the ground fault is external
Table 1 lists the four operating points on the characteristic
 if IG and 3I0 have opposite polarity, the ground fault
along with the corresponding test currents. All values are in
is internal
per unit.

TABLE 1
TEST CURRENTS FOR TRANSFORMER DIFFERENTIAL CHARACTERISTIC
BOUNDARY
Id Ir I1 I2
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.2

0.2 0.7 0.8 0.6
 0.4 1.4 1.6 1.2
 0.6 2.0 2.3 1.7

Remember that the test currents are connected such that

they are 180 degrees out of phase.

B. 2nd Example
Now consider a transformer differential characteristic for a
two-winding transformer connected delta (DAB) – wye with Fig. 2. Ground differential protection connection diagram
wye connected CTs on both sides. A numerical transformer
differential relay internally compensates the CT currents as Stability is improved for CT saturation during external
follows: faults if the ground differential protection is disabled when
Winding 1 (DAB) Winding 2 (Wye) IG is less than a preset value, 200 milli-amps for example.
I A1 I A2 I B 2 The ground differential element operates when the difference
IA1relay = (09) IA2relay = (12) between 3I0 and IG is greater than the pickup setting:
TAP1 TAP 2  3
I B1 I B2 IC 2 |3I0 – IG| > 50GD (21)
IB1relay = (10) IB2relay = (13)
TAP1 TAP 2  3 3I0 and IG add together in (21) above when the ground fault
I C1 I I A2 is internal since they have opposite polarity for this condition.
IC1relay = (11) IC2relay = C 2 (14)
TAP1 TAP 2  3 A good test is to check how much sensitivity 87GD
provides for ground faults located close to the neutral of wye
Where IA1, IB1, IC1, IA2, IB2 and IC2 are the CT currents connected windings coupled with fault resistance (RF).
To test the A-Phase differential element at point
of the
Consider the case of a two winding delta wye 25 MVA
distribution transformer connected to a 230 kV grid and
characteristic shown in Figure 2, use the following equations:
serving load at 23 kV. Here is the power system data:
Source impedance (XS) varies
IA1 = I1TAP1 (15) XT = 10%
IA2 = I2TAP23 (16) RF varies
Ground fault located 5% from neutral
From Table 1: CTR23 kV = 600:5
CTRGND = 600:5

B6-2
 Fig. 3 illustrates the sensitivity of 87GD as a function of overall restraint. The cross-phase averaged harmonic restraint
the source impedance and ground fault resistance. The top can be internally calculated by the relay as follows:
curve corresponds to each point where IG is equal to 200
milli-amperes (that is, the minimum amount required for Ir2-4 = I A2 2 4
I B2 2 4
I C2 2 4 (23)
operation or the maximum sensitivity possible). The middle
curve corresponds to each point where IG is equal to 500 The transformer relay with even harmonic restraint and
milli-amperes. The bottom curve corresponds to each point cross-phase averaging tested for the following cases did not
where IG is equal to 1 amp. The source impedance and misoperate. The inrush currents presented here were created
ground fault resistance are in ohms primary. using ATP and have a slow rate of decay. The auto-
87GD Sensitivity transformer data is as follows:
180
160
13.2 kV

140
Fault Resistance

120
W
100
delta
80

60
40 345 230
20 kV wye wye
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
W W
Source Impedance

IG = 200 mA IG = 500 mA IG = 1 Amp

Fig. 4. 600 MVA auto-transformer single-line diagram (delta winding DAC)
Fig. 3. Ground differential sensitivity diagram
TABLE 2
III. EVEN HARMONIC RESTRAINT DURING TRANSFORMER INRUSH AUTO-TRANSFORMER CHARACTERISTICS
ZHM = 0.01073 per unit
Events such as transformer energization can be captured by ZHL = 0.04777 per unit
utilities using digital fault recorders or numerical relays and ZML = 0.03123 per unit
then later played back via COMTRADE to observe relay
performance. Some customers have access to power system Z HM
Z HL Z ML
ZH = = 0.0140 per unit [24]
transient simulation software and can build their own 2
transformer models to simulate inrush. This is a very practical
method to check that the relay is properly set. One example Z HM
Z ML Z HL
of playback is to evaluate the performance of the restrained ZM = = -0.0029 per unit [25]
2
differential protection for transformer inrush with varying
levels of harmonic content in the current waveforms. Z HL
Z ML Z HM
ZL = = 0.0340 per unit [26]
Transformer differential protection has historically used 2
the 2nd harmonic content of the differential current to prevent CTRW1 = 1200:5 (wye connected)
unwanted operation during transformer inrush. It is CTRW2 = 2000:5 (wye connected)
advantageous to use both the 2nd and 4th harmonic content of
TABLE 3
the differential current. The relay can internally calculate the 87T RELAY SETTINGS
total harmonic current per phase as follows:
600 MVA
I2-4 = I 22
I 42 (22) TAP1 = = 4.18 (27)
345kV  240  3
The sum of the two even harmonics per phase helps to 600 MVA
prevent the need to lower the value of restraint which could TAP2 = = 3.77 (28)
cause a delayed operation if an internal fault were to occur 230 kV  400  3
during transformer energization.
87T Pickup = 0.5 per unit
Cross-phase averaging also helps prevent unwanted Slope 1 = 25%
operation during transformer inrush. Cross-phase averaging Slope 2 = 75%
averages the even harmonics of all three phases to provide Break Point = 2.0 per unit
Even Harmonic Restraint = 10% (cross phase averaging enabled)

B6-3
 1st Case – Balanced Inrush 2nd Case – Balanced Inrush
Energize Line with Bank from Single End Energize Bank from Winding 2 with Winding 1 Open
(No residual flux) (No residual flux)

Fig. 5A. Total phase currents for balanced inrush Fig. 6A. Total phase currents for balanced inrush

Fig. 5B. 2nd harmonic component currents for balanced inrush Fig. 6B. 2nd harmonic component currents for balanced inrush

Fig. 5C. 4th harmonic component currents for balanced inrush

Fig. 6C. 4th harmonic component currents for balanced inrush

B6-4
 3rd Case – Unbalanced Inrush
4th Case – Balanced Inrush
Energize Line with Bank from Single End
Energize Bank from Winding 2 with Winding 1 Open (Severe A-phase
(Severe A-phase residual flux)
residual flux)

Fig. 7A. Total phase currents for unbalanced inrush

Fig. 8A. Total Phase Currents for Unbalanced Inrush

Fig. 7B. 2nd Harmonic component currents for unbalanced inrush Fig. 8B. 2nd Harmonic Component Currents for Unbalanced Inrush

Fig. 8C. 4th Harmonic Component Currents for Unbalanced Inrush

Fig. 7C. 4th Harmonic component currents for unbalanced inrush

B6-5
 IV. CONCLUSIONS VITA
A common commissioning practice is to test all the Steve Turner is a Senior Applications Engineer at
numerical relay settings to verify they were properly entered. Beckwith Electric Company, Inc. His previous experience
Automated testing using computer software to run the test set includes working as an application engineer with GEC
has made this possible since the overall commissioning for a Alstom for five years, primarily focusing on transmission line
numerical relay could consist of several hundred tests. While protection in the United States. He also was an application
this is a good check, it is still important to ensure that the engineer in the international market for SEL, Inc. again
transformer is thoroughly protected for the particular focusing on transmission line protection applications. Steve
application. wrote the protection-related sections of the instruction
manual for SEL line protection relays as well as application
This paper presented three types of test for transformer guides on various topics such as transformer differential
differential protection: protection and out-of-step blocking during power swings.
Transformer Differential Characteristic Boundary Test Steve also worked for Progress Energy in North Carolina,
Ground Differential Sensitivity Test where he developed a patent for double-ended fault location
Even Harmonic Restraint during Transformer Inrush on transmission lines and was in charge of all maintenance
standards in the transmission department for protective
The first test determines if the transformer differential relaying.
protection meets the stated accuracy for the operating
characteristic slopes. The second test determines the fault Steve has both a BSEE and MSEE from Virginia Tech
resistance coverage of the ground differential protection as a University. He has presented at numerous conferences
function of the source impedance. The third test determines if including: Georgia Tech Protective Relay Conference,
the transformer differential protection harmonic restraint Western Protective Relay Conference, ECNE and Doble User
works during a variety of stringent conditions that could Groups, as well as various international conferences. Steve is
occur during actual energization. also a senior member of the IEEE.

B6-6