TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (HMAWBI)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL POWER ENGINEERING

Power System Protection

EP-52022
CHAPTER-8
Transformer Protection

Date: Presented by:

18.7.2024 Group I
 Participant List
No Name Roll No

1 Ma Khun Satt Than Thar VEP-1

2 Ma Hsu Yin Htet VEP-2
3 Ma Zin Po Po Aung VEP-3
4 Ma Hsu Myat Thinzar VEP-7
5 Mg Thet Khaing Win VEP-8
6 Mg Thiha Zaw VEP-9
7 Mg Hein Arkar Oo VEP-13
8 Mg Kyi Wanna Tun VEP-14
9 Ma April Kyaw VEP-15
10 Mg Lan Lian Zam VEP-19
11 Ma Eaint Pyae Pyae Kyaw VEP-20
12 Mg Kaung Myat San VEP-45
 INTRODUCTION
➢ Power transformers introduce a number of
unique problems that are not present in the
protection of transmission lines, generators,
motors, or other power system apparatus.
➢ Transformer faults - that is, short circuits - are the
result of internal electrical faults, the most
common one being the phase-to-ground fault.
➢ Somewhat less common are the turn-to-turn
faults.
 TRANSFORMER PROTECTION
✓ In general, a transformer may be protected by fuses, overcurrent relays,
differential relays and pressure relays and can be monitored for incipient trouble
with the help of winding temperature measurements, and chemical analysis of the
gas above the insulation oil.
✓ Which of these will be used in a given instance depends upon several factors are:
1. Transformer Size: Transformers with a capacity less than 2500kVA are
usually protected by fuses. With ratings between 2500 and 5000kVA, they
may be protected with fuses but with protective relays on the high and low
sides of the transformer, instantaneous and time delay overcurrent relays
may be more desirable. Between 5000 and 10000kVA, an induction disc
overcurrent relay is applied. Above 10MVA, a harmonic restraint,
percentage differential relay, and pressure and temperature relays are used.
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2. Location and Function: If the transformer is an integral part of the bulk
power system, it will probably require more sophisticated in terms of design
and redundancy. If it is a distribution station step down transformer, a single
differential relay and overcurrent backup will usually suffice.

3. Voltage: Generally, higher voltages demand more sophisticated and costly

protective devices, due to the effect of a delay fault clearing on the system
performance and the high cost of transformer repair.

4. Connection and Design: The protection schemes will vary considerably

between autotransformers and two or three windings transformers. The
winding connection of a three phase transformer whether delta or wye will
make a difference to the protection scheme chosen.

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 OVERCURRENT PROTECTION

✓ The effect of external faults that are not cleared promptly, or steady-state heavy
loads, is to overheat the transformer windings and degrade the insulation.
✓ This will make the transformer vulnerable to internal flashovers.
✓ The effect of a sustained internal fault is arcing, possible fire, and magnetic and
mechanical forces that result in structural damage to the windings, the tank or the
bushings with subsequent danger to personnel or surrounding equipment.
✓ Protection for transformers can be provided by high-side fuses, instantaneous,
and time-delay overcurrent relays or differential relays.

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 PROTECTION WITH FUSES
✓ Fuses are not used to protect transformers with ratings above
2.5 MVA.
✓ The fuse-interrupting capability must exceed the maximum
short-circuit current that the fuse will be called upon to
interrupt.
✓ The continuous rating of the fuse must exceed the maximum
transformer load (i.e., 150%).
✓ The minimum melt characteristic of the fuse should be well
separated from the protective devices on the low side of the
power transformer.

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 TIME-DELAY OVERCURRENT RELAYS

✓ Protection against excessive overload, or persisting external fault, is provided by

time-delay overcurrent relays.
✓ The pickup setting is usually 115% of the maximum load.
✓ The time-delay overcurrent relays must coordinate with the low-side protective
devices.
✓ These may include low-voltage bus relays for phase-to-phase faults, phase
directional relays on parallel transformers and the breaker failure relay timers on
the low-voltage breakers.

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 INSTANTANEOUS RELAYS

✓ There are several constraints imposed upon the use of instantaneous relay; some
of them depend upon the design of the relay.
✓ Peak magnetizing current in a transformer can be high as 8-10 times peak full-
load current.
✓ Some relay designs – for example electromechanical plunger-type relays respond
to the actual instantaneous value of the current, which includes the DC offset.
✓ Disc-type relays respond only to the AC portion of the current wave and solid-
state or computer-based relays may or may not respond to the DC offset
depending upon their design.

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 PERCENTAGE DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION
▪ Percentage differential protection, also known as biased differential
protection, is a method used to protect electrical equipment like
transformers and generators from internal faults.
▪ It operates based on the difference in current between the incoming
and outgoing terminals of the equipment. If this difference exceeds a
certain percentage, the relay activates to isolate the faulty section.
▪ The system includes a restraining coil and an operating coil. The
restraining coil helps prevent false trips due to external faults or inrush
currents.
▪ Under normal conditions, the restraining torque (from the restraining
coil) is greater than the operating torque (from the operating coil),
keeping the relay inactive. During an internal fault, the operating
torque exceeds the restraining torque, causing the relay to trip and
isolate the fault.
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▪ It provides high sensitivity to internal faults and remains stable
during external faults and inrush conditions, reducing the chances
of nuisance tripping.
It is commonly used in protecting transformers, generators, and
feeders.

Figure (1) Differential Relay Connection

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CAUSES OF FALSE DIFFERENTIAL CURRENTS

False differential currents in transformers can lead to

unnecessary tripping of differential relays. The main causes are:
1. Inrush Currents
2. Transformer Overexcitation
3. Current Transformer (CT) Saturation

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 INRUSH CURRENTS
When a transformer is first energized, it experiences a sudden surge of
current known as inrush current.
1. Magnetizing Inrush Current During Energization:
• When voltage is applied to the primary winding of a transformer, it
induces a magnetic field in the core material (usually iron or steel).
• This magnetic field causes the core to become temporarily saturated,
leading to a sudden increase in current.
2. Harmonic Content of the Inrush Current:
• Inrush current contains harmonics due to its abrupt nature.
• These harmonics can affect the power quality of the system such as
voltage distortion, additional heating, causing resonance in the system and
impacting stability.
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 • Harmonics are sinusoidal components at frequencies that are integer
multiples of the fundamental frequency (usually 50 Hz or 60 Hz in AC
systems).
• The most significant harmonics are the 2nd and 3rd harmonics.
3. Magnetizing Inrush During Fault Removal:
• When a fault external to, but near the transformer is removed by the
appropriate circuit breaker, the conditions inside the transformer core are
quite similar to those during magnetization of the transformer.
• As the voltage is applied to the transformer windings jumps from a low
prefault value to the normal (or larger) postfault value, the flux linkages in
the transformer core are forced to change from a low prefault value to a
value close to normal.
• In general, the inrush is smaller than that during transformer energization.

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4. Transformer Overexcitation:
• Overexcitation of a transformer can trigger differential relay operation. It
results from excessive voltage applied to the transformer.
• During overexcitation, the transformer flux remains symmetric, but goes
into saturation for equal period in the positive and negative half-periods of
the waveform.

Figure (2) Magnetizing current during overexcitation

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5. Sympathetic Inrush:
• Sympathetic inrush occurs when a transformer is switched on and is
connected in parallel to an already energized transformer.
• When one of these transformers is un-energized and then switched into
service, it causes an abrupt voltage drop.
• The sudden change in voltage affects the already energized transformer
connected in parallel.

Figure (3) Sympathetic inrush current in parallel transformer banks

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6. Current Transformer (CT) Saturation:
• For certain external faults, where the fault currents are large, it is likely
that one of the CTs may saturate.
• When current transformers (CTs) saturate, they introduce errors in relay
measurements.
• Saturation can lead to false differential current readings. Proper CT
selection and calibration are crucial to prevent this issue and accurate
differential protection is essential for reliable transformer operation.

Figure (4) Current Waveform during saturation

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 SUPERVISED DIFFERENTIAL RELAYS

✓In power systems, differential relays play a crucial role in

protecting equipment such as transformers, generators, and motors.
✓Supervised differential relays add an extra layer of monitoring
and protection.
✓They are commonly used for transformer protection, where
accurate detection of internal faults is critical.
✓They help address challenges such as magnetizing inrush current
during transformer energization, over-excitation current, and
sympathetic inrush.
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✓By supervising the differential circuit, these relays prevent false
tripping due to transient conditions.
✓Common supervisory features include:
i. Loss of Auxiliary Supply Alarm: The relay detects if the
auxiliary power supply (used to energize the relay) fails.
ii. Faults on Trip-Coil or Wires: The relay monitors the trip-
coil circuit for faults (e.g., broken wires or coil failure).
iii. Faults Independent of Breaker Position: Even if the
circuit breaker is open, the relay detects faults in the trip-
coil circuit.
iv. Other Faults: Supervised relays may also monitor other
parameters specific to the protected equipment.

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 THREE - PHASE TRANSFORMERS

✓ Three-Phase Transformers need special protection to ensure they work safely.

✓ This involves comparing the electric currents in the primary and secondary parts of
the transformer.
✓ Normally, these currents are in phase , but when dealing with a combination of a
wye (Y) and delta (Δ) setup, there's a phase difference.
✓ In a wye-delta transformer, the currents on the wye side and delta side are out of
sync by 30 degrees.
✓ This difference can cause a problem in measuring the current accurately using
current transformers (CTs), which are devices that measure electric currents.
✓ Specifically, the delta-connected CT currents should be 1/√3 times the wye-
connected CT currents to achieve this balance.

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 MULTI-WINDING TRANSFORMER PROTECTION

✓ It's a protection for transformers with multiple windings, applicable to both three-
phase and single-phase transformers.
✓ Consider a three-winding transformer where one winding is delta-connected and the
other two are wye-connected.
✓ Current transformers (CTs) are crucially connected: wye on the delta side and delta on
the wye side to compensate for phase shifts and keep secondary currents aligned.
✓ CT ratios are adjusted so that when any two windings are active, equal currents are
sensed.
✓ In some cases, a two-winding differential relay can protect a three-winding
transformer, especially if only one winding is connected to a source.
✓ However, if multiple windings have sources, paralleling them for protection can be
risky due to potential current imbalances.
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 PROTECTION OF REGULATING TRANSFORMERS

✓ Regulating transformers adjust turns ratio or phase shift between primary and
secondary windings.
✓ They typically consist of two transformers: one for magnetizing current and one for
variable adjustments.
✓ Traditional percentage-differential relays are unsuitable for protecting these
transformers because changes in turns ratio or phase disrupt the balance between
primary and secondary currents.
✓ Manufacturers provide specialized protection recommendations due to these unique
needs.
✓ Sudden Pressure Relays (SPRs) are highly sensitive but cannot protect the regulating
part due to arcing from tap-changing mechanisms triggering false alarms.

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VOLTS-PER-HERTZ PROTECTION

✓ Transformer cores can become damaged if their magnetic flux

levels exceed safe limits.
✓ To prevent this, volts-per-hertz protection is used.
✓ This protection system monitors the ratio of voltage to
frequency, as flux is directly proportional to voltage and
inversely proportional to frequency.
✓ This is crucial for unit-connected generator transformers, where
shutdowns or voltage regulator issues can cause dangerous flux
levels.
✓ Manufacturers specify the volts/hertz capability, often shown in
a capability curve.
✓ Volts/hertz relays have settings for both alarming and tripping
to ensure timely protection against flux-related damage.

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 NONELECTRICAL PROTECTION
Transformer protection can include non-electrical methods like pressure and
temperature devices :
• Pressure Devices: These devices, like sudden Temperature Devices: Various devices monitor
transformer temperatures measure the top oil
pressure relays (SPRs) in the US, detect faults
inside transformer tanks by sensing pressure temperature, while others use current and oil
waves caused by fault arcs in the oil. temperature to gauge overall temperature effects.
• They can sound alarms or trip the transformer. • Alarms alert operators to high temperatures,
allowing them to remotely unload the
• However, they may be overly sensitive and transformer or dispatch personnel.
respond to external fault currents or faults • Hot-spot sensors also control cooling systems
outside the tank. like fans and pumps.
• Combining pressure relays with differential • These devices ensure transformers operate
relays provides robust protection. safely by detecting internal faults and
monitoring temperature, helping prevent
damage and enabling prompt corrective actions.
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PROTECTION SYSTEMS FOR TRANSFORMERS

• Transformer protection involves more than just detecting faults

within the transformer itself; it also depends on how the
transformer integrates into the power system.
i. Parallel Transformer Banks,
ii. Tapped Transformer Banks,
iii. Use of Motor-Operated Air Break Switches (MOABs).

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 PARALLEL TRANSFORMER BANKS
▪ A setup when two transformers are connected in parallel without
circuit breakers separating them, a single differential relay may
protect both banks.
▪ However, issues like sympathetic inrush currents can trip both
transformers simultaneously.
▪ Using separate differential relays for each transformer solves this
problem.

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 TAPPED TRANSFORMER BANK
▪ A setup where a transformer is directly connected to a high-voltage
transmission line to supply power to isolated industrial or residential loads.
▪ This configuration is cost-effective and practical.
▪ Protection typically involves differential relays that include the high-side
breaker and low-voltage components, ensuring faults are detected and isolated
to maintain reliable service.
▪ Alternatively, a differential relay can be connected to a low-side breaker
depending on the specific installation design.

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MOTOR-OPERATED AIR BREAK SWITCHES
(MOABS)
▪ Part of a protection system for transformers connected directly to high-voltage
transmission lines.
▪ Unlike traditional circuit breakers, MOABs do not interrupt fault currents
themselves but are controlled by differential relays.
▪ These relays detect internal faults within the transformer and signal remote line
breakers to trip, isolating the fault and preventing damage.
▪ Additionally, a ground switch at the transformer can be used to create a fault
signal that triggers the differential relays and ensures prompt response from the
protection system.
▪ This integrated approach ensures effective protection against faults, maintaining
the reliability and safety of the electrical system.

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 SUBSTATION DESIGN

▪ a power transformer interconnects two or more voltage levels, its location requires
special consideration in the design of a substation and the protection of all of the
elements within it.

▪ the various voltage levels are contained within separate areas, each with its own bus
configuration and associated equipment and separated by considerable distances.

▪ In addition to providing dependability the two zones allow ready identification of the
fault location, that is, within the transformer itself or on the high- or low-voltage leads.

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▪ Variations of this configuration are very common. If the transformer and both
circuit breakers are relatively close to each other, the internal differential can be
omitted and a pressure relay used to indicate a fault within the transformer tank.
▪ Since extra high-voltage (EHV) breakers are expensive, they are often omitted
in station designs such as this with the tapped transformer, the transformer is
tied directly to the EHV bus through a MOAB.
▪ The major disadvantage is the fact that a transformer fault must be cleared by
opening all of the 345 kV bus breakers.

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 STATION SERVICE

✓ Power transformers typically include a delta tertiary winding to manage third

harmonics and stabilize the neutral.
✓ This tertiary winding, although not requiring large capacity, serves as a useful
source for station auxiliary equipment such as air compressors for circuit
breakers, oil pumps, and battery chargers.
✓ If the load on the tertiary winding is significant enough to affect the transformer's
differential protection, it must be integrated into the differential current
transformers (CTs), as illustrated in Figure.

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 Generator Station Design
✓ In generator stations designed with unit-connected systems for large fossil-fired
plants, components such as the generator, generator step-up transformer (GSU),
unit auxiliary transformer (UAT), and reserve auxiliary transformer (RAT) are
interconnected for integrated protection and control.
✓ The GSU and UAT are typically protected by unit and overall differential relays
(87U and 87OA), which are harmonic-restrained to account for transformer
inrush currents.
✓ High- and low-voltage lead differentials may be added if leads are extensive, and
pilot wire protection considered for longer distances.
✓ Volts/hertz relays are essential to monitor voltage and frequency during generator
start-up phases, ensuring transformers operate within safe flux levels.

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 Conclusion

➢ This chapter focused on the protection strategies for single-phase and

three-phase transformers, beginning with overcurrent protection and
progressing to the use of harmonic-restrained percentage differential
relays for larger transformers.
➢ It highlighted the influence of wye-delta connections in transformers
on protection schemes and addressed the complexities of integrating
transformers into diverse power system configurations.
➢ Practical application was emphasized through problem-solving
exercises included at the chapter's conclusion.
 Reference

➢ Power System Relaying Fourth Edition

Stanley H . Horowitz Arun G . Phadke
THANK YOU