Power System

Protection
Differential protection

EMAD G. SHEHATA
 Differential protection – current balance
Differential protection functions:
when the vector difference of two or more similar electrical magnitudes exceeds a
predetermined value. Almost any type of relay can function as differential protection – it is
not so much the construction of the relay that is important but rather its method of
connection in the circuit.
The secondaries of the current transformers
(CTs) are interconnected and the coil of an
overcurrent relay is connected across these.
Although the currents I1 and I2 may be different,
provided that both sets of CTs have appropriate
ratios and connections then, under normal load
conditions or when there is a fault outside the
protection zone of the element, the secondary
currents will circulate between the two CTs and
will not flow through the overcurrent relay.
 Differential protection – current balance
However, if a fault occurs in the section between the two CTs the fault current would
flow towards the short-circuit from both sides and the sum of the secondary currents
would flow through the differential relay.
In all cases the current in the differential relay would be proportional to the vector
difference between the currents that enter and leave the protected element; if the current
through the differential relay exceeds the setting value then the relay will operate.
 Differential protection with variable percentage chs.
The current in the operating coil is proportional to (I1−I2). If N is equal to the number of turns of the
restraining coil with the operating coil connected to the mid-point of the restraining coil, then the
total ampere-turns are equal to I1(N/2) plus I2(N/2), which is the same as if (I1+I2)/2 flowed through
all of the restraining coil. The operating characteristic of the relay with this form of restraint is
shown in the Figure.
 Differential protection with variable percentage chs.
1- CTs, although produced to the same specification, will not have identical secondary
currents for the same primary currents because of slight differences in their magnetizing
characteristics. The relay restraining force increases with the magnitude of (I1+I2), thus
preventing unnecessary tripping due to any CT unbalance errors.

2- In addition, the restraining torque is increased in the presence of through-fault currents

producing a more stable operating characteristic and preventing relay mal-operation.

In relays that have variable tapping in the restraint coil circuits, the tapping can be set
to balance out any currents due to differences in the CTs. If the relays do not have these
variable tapping, then the currents leaving the CTs should match closely in order to
avoid mal-operation of the relays.
 Differential relays can be used for power system elements
Each of the three restraining coils has
the same number of turns and each coil
produces a restraint that is independent
of the others; these add arithmetically.
The slope of the operating characteristic
of each relay varies depending on the
current distribution in the three
restraining coils.
 Classification of differential protection
Differential protection can be classified according to the type of element to be
protected, as follows:
• Transformers; • Generators and rotating machines; • Lines and busbars.
Transformer differential protection
Faults on the terminals or in the windings are
within the transformer protection zone and
should be cleared as quickly as possible in order
to avoid internal stress and the danger of fire.
The majority of internal faults that occur in
the windings are to earth (across to the core) or
between turns, with the severity depending on
the design of the transformer and the type of
earthing.
ON-load tap changer
Winding-to-ground fault location in power
transformer windings using combination
of discrete wavelet transform and
back-propagation neural network
 Transformer differential protection

1- Faults between the windings and earth (across to the core).

2- Faults between turns of one phase.
3- Faults between winding pf two phases.

The principal cause of these faults is arcing inside the bushings and faults in the tap
changer.
An internal fault that does not constitute an immediate danger is designated an incipient
fault and, if not detected in time, could degenerate into a major fault. The main faults in
this group are core faults, caused by the deterioration of the insulation between the
laminations that make up the core.
 Transformer differential protection: Basic considerations
Transformer connections
1- Transformation ratio. 1- When a transformer is connected in star/delta, the
2-Transformer connections secondary current has a phase shift of a multiple of 30◦
3- Tap changer. relative to the primary, depending on the vector group.
4- Magnetization inrush. This shift can be offset by suitable secondary CT
connections.
1- Transformation ratio 2- Furthermore, the zero-sequence current that flows
The nominal currents in the primary and in the star side of the transformer will not induce
secondary sides of the transformer vary current in the delta winding on the other side. The zero-
in inverse ratio to the corresponding sequence current can therefore be eliminated from the
voltages. This should be compensated star side by connecting the CTs in delta. For the same
for by using different transformation reason, the CTs on the delta side of the transformer
ratios for the CTs on the primary and should be connected in star. When CTs are connected in
secondary sides of the delta, their nominal secondary values should be
transformer. multiplied by √3 so that the currents flowing in the
delta are balanced by the secondary currents of the CTs
connected in star.
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3- Tap changer
If the transformer has the benefit of a tap changer it is possible to vary its transformation
ratio, and any differential protection system should be able to cope with this variation.
Since it is not practical to vary the CT transformation ratios, the differential protection
should have a suitable tolerance range in order to be able to modify the sensitivity of its
response of operation. For this reason it is necessary to include some form of biasing in
the protection system together with some identifying markings of the higher current input
terminals.
4- Magnetization inrush
This phenomenon occurs when a transformer is energized, or when the primary voltage
returns to its normal value after the clearance of an external fault. The magnetizing inrush
produces a current flow into the primary winding that does not have any equivalent in the
secondary winding. The net effect is thus similar to the situation when there is an internal
fault on the transformer. Since the differential relay sees the magnetizing current as an
internal fault, it is necessary to have some method of distinguishing between the
magnetizing current and the fault current.
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4- Magnetization inrush Selection and connection of CTs
These methods include:
1. Using a differential relay with 1. In general, the CTs on the star side of a star/delta
a suitable sensitivity to cope
transformer should be connected in delta, and those on
with the magnetizing current,
the delta side should be connected in star. This
usually obtained by a unit that
arrangement compensates for the phase shift across the
introduces a time delay to
cover the period of the initial transformer and blocks the zero-sequence current in the
inrush peak. event of external faults to earth.
2. Using a harmonic-restraint 2. If there are more than two windings it is necessary to
unit, or a supervisory unit, in consider all combinations, taking two windings at a time.
conjunction with a differential 3. The CT ratios should be selected in order to produce the
unit. maximum possible balance between the secondary
3. Inhibiting the differential currents of both sides of the transformer under maximum
relay during the energizing of load conditions. If there are more than two windings, all
the transformer. combinations should be considered, taking two windings
at a time and the nominal power of the primary winding.

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Example 8.1
Consider a 30MVA, 11.5/69 kV, Yd1 transformer as shown in the single-line diagram in
Figure 8.6. Determine the transformation ratio and connections of the CTs required in
order to set the differential relays. CTs with ratios in steps of 50/5 up to 250/5, and in steps
of 100/5 thereafter, should be used. Use relays with a variable-percentage characteristic.
The available current taps are: 5.0-5.0, 5.0-5.5, 5.0-6.0, 5.0-6.6, 5.0-7.3, 5.0-8.0, 5.0-9.0,
and 5.0-10.0 A.

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Solution
Figure 8.7 shows the
complete schematic of the
three-phase connections.
The currents in the windings
and in the lines are drawn
and show that the restraint
currents on the star and
delta sides of the relay are in
phase. For a throughput of
30MVA the load currents
are

Irelay at 69kV=251×(5/250)=5.02A
Irelay at 11.5kV=1506.13×(5/1500)× √3=8.69A
Therefore the tap range 5.0-9.0A should be selected.
In order to increase the sensitivity, the CT ratio at 11.5 kV is selected as close as
possible to the maximum load current and, therefore, a CT ratio (11.5 kV) of 1500/5
is chosen. When calculating the other CT ratio, a balance of currents has to be achieved, i.e.
1506.13×( 5/1500) × √3=251×(5 / X) A⇒X=144.
This would suggest using a CT ratio of 150/5. However, taking into account the fact that the
differential relay has several taps, it is not necessary to have exactly the same current values
at its terminals and therefore another CT ratio can be used. In this case a value
approximating to the nominal current is preferred and the ratio 250/5 is selected.

Finally, this ratio is checked to see if it is compatible with the taps that are available
on the relay. With the two ratios selected in this way, the currents in the windings of the
relay for nominal conditions are

Irelay at 69kV=251×(5/250)=5.02A
Irelay at 11.5kV=1506.13×(5/1500)× √3=8.69A
Therefore the tap range 5.0-9.0A should be selected.