SAP(22524) 2022

UNIT 4

Protection of Alternator and Transformer

 Alternator Protection
 Faults
1) Stator winding faults.
2) Thermal overheating.
3) Rotor winding faults.
4) Loss of field.
5) Under/Over frequency.
6) Vibration &Bearing overheating.
7) Motoring of generator.
8) Faults because of external causes.
9) Over voltages.
10) Over speed.
11) Over current.

1) Stator winding faults.

a) Phase to Phase fault- If insulation between stator winding is damaged two phases are short circuit
takes place. Alternator having two parallel paths in stator winding all three phases. Winding are
divided into section S1 & S2. Two CTs connected in each phase S1 & S2 secondaries of CT’s are
cross connected.
b) Interturn fault –Currents in S1 &S2 not same creates difference in CT secondary currents results in
current flowing through relay gives trip signal to CT & PT trips & circuit is protected.
c) Phase to earth or ground fault

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 Type of Protection

Sr. Type of fault/ Protection Suggested

No. abnormality
Thermocouples or resistance thermometer embedded in
1 Thermal overloading stator slots, effective cooling systems, stator overload
protection with over current relays, thermal relay.
Biased differential protection, sensitive earth fault
2 Stator winding fault
protection
Rotor earth fault protection by DC injection method, Rotor
Earth faults on rotor
3 earth fault protection
winding
4 Inter-turn fault Inter-turn fault protection

 Differential Protection
 Over current Protection

Under normal operating conditions, the currents in the pilot wires fed from CT connections are
equal. The differential current flowing through operating coil of relay is zero (I1-I2=0). When fault
occurs in the protected zone, balance is disturbed, the differential current flows through the operating
coil of relay causing its operation. Relay sends signal to the CB thereby alternator circuit is tripped.

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 Earth Fault Protection

Operation/Working:
When the generator is in a normal operating condition the sum of the currents flow in the secondary of
the current transformers is zero and the current flow into secondary to neutral is also zero. Thus the relay
remains de-energized. When the fault occurs in the protected zone (left of the line) the fault current flow
through the primary of current transformers and the corresponding secondary current flow through the
relay which trips the circuit breaker. When the fault develops external of the protective zone (right of the
current transformer) the sum of the currents at the terminal of the generator is exactly equal to the
current in the neutral connection. Hence, no current flows through the relay operating coil.
 Overheating Protection of Alternator
Overheating are due to following reason
1. Overload
2. Failure of the ventilation or hydrogen cooling system
3. Shorted laminations in the stator iron
4. Core bolt insulation failures in the stator iron

Excessive overload is not likely since the prime mover rating is usually not much greater than the
generator rating. There is the possibility of overload due to high active power load coupled with high
excitation. If the power factor is below rating, this will give an alarm for high excitation. Failure of
the cooling system is also likely to be detected by operator alarms,
The other failure, involving core failures and heating will develop slowly and must be detected by
temperature measurements of some kind.

 Field Failure Protection

The field failure protection are of 2 types
1. Field failure protection by using under current relay
2. Field failure protection by using off set mho relay

1. Field failure protection by using under current relay

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Loss of field or excitation can be caused in the generator due to excitation failure. In larger sized generator,
energy for excitation is often taken from a separate auxiliary source or from a separately driven DC
generator. The failure of auxiliary supply or failure of driving motor can also cause the loss of excitation in
a generator. Failure of excitation that is failure of field system in the generator makes the generator run at a
speed above the synchronous speed.
In that situation the generator or alternator becomes an induction generator which draws magnetizing
current from the system. The protective system in case of field failure by using under current relay

Stator winding of generator is connected to the common bus bar. Rotor field winding receives excitation
from the exciter. In the field circuit an under current relay coil is connected across a low resistance shunt. In
normal condition the voltage drop across a shunt is very minor & relay does not operate. But under field
failure the excitation current becomes much more & a considerable voltage drop appears across the shunt
which sends the current in relay trip coil which operates the relay & CB contacts are opened.

2. Field failure protection by using off set mho relay

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Due to loss of excitation, the alternator runs as induction generator & draws large magnetizing
current which lowers the power factor of the system.
The reactive power increases.
But following difficulties are present in such protection scheme:
i) Large capacity alternators operate over wide band of field current so relay may operate at low
value of field current
ii) If field current is totally interrupted.
The solution for this problem is to use offset Mho relay.
Under field failure the excitation current is flow through CT, the Mho relay operates the circuit
which causes opening of circuit breaker.

 Negative phase sequence current protection for alternators:

The CTs as shown in the diagram, feed the negative phase sequence filter that consists of resistors and
inductors so arranged that under normal balanced load conditions the relay does not operate. But when
an appreciable unbalance occurs, the negative phase sequence currents are sensed by the CTs and fed to
the negative phase sequence filter. This results in sufficient current to operate the relay R that trips the
circuit breaker CB

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 Reverse power protection of alternator:

The turbine drives alternator. Alternator is connected to supply system through transformers, busbars
etc. and similarly so many alternators are connected to supply system. If input to any one turbine is
disturbed or stopped, then that alternator behaves as a synchronous motor by drawing power from
the lines. This is the reverse power flow condition that is undesirable and detected by using
directional relay in any one phase. Figure shows the induction type directional relay used for the
reverse power protection of alternator. Here the shunt magnet coil and series magnet coil are exited
from alternator to whom protection is to be provided. When power flow direction is correct, the disc
rotates in the normal direction and does not close trip contacts. But when the power flow reverses,
the disc rotates in opposite direction causing closure of trip contacts.
 Numerical
1. The neutral point of a three phase 20 MVA, 11kV alternator is earthed through a resistance of 5Ω.
The relay is set to operate when there is an out of balance current of1.5A. The CTs have a ratio of
1000/5. What is the percentage of winding protected?

Ans - Let x% of winding be unprotected. Earthing resistance r = 5 Ω

Voltage per phase = (11×1000) /root 3= 6350.8529 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠

Minimum fault current which will operate the relay = 1000/5 × 1.5 = 300𝐴
𝑥
E.m.f. induced in x % winding = 𝑉 × = 6350.82(𝑥)/earth resistance = 63.508(𝑥) 𝑣𝑙𝑜𝑡𝑠

Earth fault current which x% winding will cause = 63.508(𝑥)/5 = 12.70(𝑥)

This current must be equal to minimum fault current which will operate the relay.
∴ 12.70(𝑥) = 300
∴ 𝑥 = 23.6188 %

So percentage of winding protected = 100 – 23.6188 = 76.3811 %

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2.A 3 phase 2 pole 11KV 10000KVA alternator has neutral earthed through a resistance of 7ohm.The
machine has current balance protection which operates upon the out of balance current not exceed
20% of full load. Determine the % of winding protected against earth fault.

Ans –KVA = √ 3 *V*I

10000=√ 3 *11*I
I =525A

Out of balance current for relay operation,

=I*20% = 525*20/100 = 105A

Vph = VL/√ 3 =11/√ 3 =6.35 KV

% winding protection =R*I0 / V*100 = (7*105*100) /6.35*1000 =11.6%

 Transformer Protection
 Faults

 Abnormalities and faults in transformer protection:

1) Earth fault
2) Through faults ( beyond protected zone)
3) High Voltage surges due to lightning
4) Overloads/ Overheating

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5) Incipient faults: Phase to Phase , Phase to ground, low oil level, decomposition of oil
6) Saturation of magnetic core
7) Faults in tap changer
8) Inter-turn fault

Incipient faults: - It means slow developing faults.

Through faults: - It means faults beyond protection zone but fed through theprotected zone.
 Differential Protection Of Transformer
1. Differential protection provided for star- star transformer:

Used for transformer winding faults detection. Works on the principle of balancing of currents of
primary & secondary sides under healthy conditions. Any path of fault current in between the placement
location of the CTs on the two sides of the transformer to be protected creates a difference of currents in
the CT secondaries current in the relays that operate to trip the CB. The CT ratios are so adjusted such
that under healthy conditions the secondary currents are equal and their resultant in the relay is zero.

2. Differential protection provided for delta- star transformer:

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Figure shows a typical Merz-price or Differential protection scheme used for three phase transformer.
The CTs on the two sides of transformer are connected by pilot wires and one relay is used for each pair
of CTs. During normal operating conditions, the secondaries of CTs carry identical currents. Therefore
the currents entering and leaving the pilot wires at both ends are the same and no current flows through
the relays. If a ground or phase to phase fault occurs, the currents in the secondaries of CTs will no
longer be the same and differential current flows through the relay coil which trips the circuit breaker on
both sides of the transformer.

3. Differential protection provided for delta- delta transformer:

4. Differential protection provided for star- delta transformer:

 Limitations of differential protection of transformers:

1) Due to the magnetization characteristics of the CTs used the ratio errors change with respect to the
currents circulating.
2) The pilot wires used may vary in length due to which the unbalance in the secondary circuit
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parameter (resistance) is created that results in improper scheme.
3) During heavy short circuit conditions the high currents create saturation of the flux in core of CTs that
lead to abnormal relaying or unexpected behavior of the relaying circuit.
4) Tap changing may lead to change in settings & improper operation.
5) Inrush of magnetizing current may lead to inadvertent operation & hence the settings are done for
higher values of fault current (higher imbalance) due to which accuracy of sensing & operation is
decreased.

 Difficulties in Differential Protection Scheme

1. Difference in length of pilot wires on either side of relay may lead to mal operation due to unequal
resistance on the two sides
2. Minor Difference in CT ratios of identically rated CTs may lead to improper operation in some
cases.
3. Magnetizing current in rush may lead to unnecessary operation of relay
4. Due tap changing unbalance conditions may be created

These can be overcome by using %differential protection.

 Earth fault protection

star-delta transformer:

The three leads of the primary winding of star–delta transformer are taken through the core of a current
transformer which carries a single secondary winding. The operating coil of a relay is connected to this
secondary. Under normal conditions(i.e.no fault to earth), the vector sum of the three phase currents is
zero and there is no resultant flux in the core of current transformer no matter how much the load is out
of balance. Consequently, no current flows through the relay and it remains inoperative. However, on
the occurrence of an earth fault, the vector sum of three phase currents is no longer zero. The resultant
current sets up flux in the core of CT, ultimately induces an e.m.f. in the secondary winding which
energizes the trip coil and protects the faulty transformer

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 Restricted earth fault protection provided for Delta / Star power transformer

In transformers, earth faults on secondary side are not reflected on primary side, when the primary winding is
delta connected or has unearthed star point. In such cases, an earth fault relay connected in residual circuit of
three CTs on primary side operates on internal earth faults in primary windings only. Because earth faults on
secondary side does not produce zero sequence currents on primary side. Restricted earth fault protection may be
then used for high speed tripping for faults on star connected earthed secondary winding of power transformer.
The restricted earth fault relay does not operate for earth fault beyond the protected zone of the transformer.
When fault occurs very near to the neutral point of transformer, the voltage available for driving earth fault
current is small. Hence fault current would be low. If the relay is set too sensitive to sense such faults, then it
may operate for external faults and switching surges also. Therefore relay setting is adjusted in such a way that it
operates for earth fault current of the order of 15 % of rated winding current. Such setting protects restricted
portion of the winding. Hence it is called as restricted earth fault protection.

 Delta-Delta transformer

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 Overheating Protection
Temperature sensors like resistance temperature detectors (RTD), thermocouple are kept in transformer
winding assembly to sense the temperature.

-The sensor (RTD) is connected in wheatstone bridge circuit form as shown. Under normal working
condition R is adjusted such that bridge is balanced.
-When temperature of transformer increases beyond limit, the voltage drop across temperature sensor
(RTD) changes hence bridge is now imbalance. A voltage appears across point a & b. This voltage
output can be fed to alarm circuit or trip circuit of circuit breaker.
-The alarm is sounded, the operator can attend the fault. In case of severe fault, the temperature rise is
drastic, hence the circuit breaker operates.

 Buchholz relay
 location of buchholz relay

-Fluid actuated relay placed between the conservator and the tank containing the components
- to be protected such as the windings of transformers
- where abnormal arcing occurs such as in tap changing chambers (studs/contacts etc.)

 Working of Buchholz relay:

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The relay is located in the path of the oil from transformer tank to conservator. As seen from diagram, the
upper mercury switch operates the alarm circuit due to tilting of the float by accumulation of gas evolved
slowly in the transformer tank due to minor faults which may develop into major ones if the alarm is not
investigated. Further lower mercury switch operates the trip circuit to switch off the circuit breaker related
to the transformer when there is a sudden flow of oil from the transformer tank to conservator. Such flow
occurs when there is serious fault in the transformer tank. Here the float (lower) is placed in such a manner
that it senses the sudden violent movement of oil from transformer tank to conservator.

 Applications of Buchholz’s relay: -

-Normally for transformers of capacities 500 kVA or more

- Detect incipient faults (minor faults leading to decomposition of oil leading to gas formation)
(occurring below oil level in oil immersed transformers) such as phase phase, phase-core and give the
alarm signals so that preventive action is taken before the condition leads to a major fault.
- Detect sudden heavy oil movements due to severely violent faults in the tanks and give the trip signals.

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 Numerical

1. A three phase transformer having line voltage ratio of 0.4 kV/11kV is connected Star / Delta and
protective transformers on the 0.4 KV side have a current ratio of 500/5. What must be ratio of the
protective transformers on 11 kV Side? Draw a neat circuit diagram and indicate the given values at
appropriate places.
Ans –

 Specifications of CT as a protective transformer:

Typical specifications of CT as a protective transformer is as below:
1) Rated primary current.
2) Rated secondary current.
3) Current (ratio) error.
4) Accuracy limit factor.
5) Phase displacement.
6) Composite error.
7) Accuracy class.
8) Rated burden.
9) Short time rating etc
 Specifications of PT as a protective transformer:
Typical specifications of PT as a protective transformer is as below:
1) Rated primary voltage.
2) Rated secondary voltage.
3) Rated burden.
4) Accuracy class.
5) Rated voltage factor.
6) Rated temperature.
7) Class of insulation etc.

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 Introduction to Microprocessor based transformer protection

Fig. shows block diag. of microprocessor based transformer protection scheme.

Following parameters are monitored
-Temperature of transformer
-Input voltage
-Oil level
-Output current

Above parameters are sensed by appropriate sensors. The sensor output is fed to analog to digital
converter. It converts the respective analog signals into digital form
The microprocessor has set reference values stored in the memory.
The input voltage, oil level, temperature, output current are continuously monitored.
These values can be seen on LCD display which is interfaced with microprocessor.
When any parameters exceeds the permissible limit or set reference, the microprocessor sends command
to relay driver circuit.
The relay driver circuits operates respective relays (R1 or R2) depending upon the command.

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QUESTION BANK
1. State the abnormalities and faults in alternator with necessary protection
2. State the common faults occurs in power transformer. Suggests the protection for these faults.
3. What are the difficulties in differential protection scheme used for transformer ?
4. Draw a diagram of differential protection scheme for a star connected alternator and explain its
working.
5. State salient features of microprocessor based protection relay. Draw block diagram of
microprocessor based over current relay.
6. Draw neat labelled diagram of Buchholz relay. B
7. State the specifications of CT and PT as a protective transformer.
8. How negative phase sequence current are set up in an alternator ? Draw protective scheme for same.
9. Describe restricted earth fault-protection scheme for 3 phase Delta/Star transformer with neat
diagram.
10. Give location of Buchholz relay and state application of it for transformer protection.
11. Draw the restricted earth fault protection scheme for 250 MVA delta/delta transformer.
12. Explain limitation of differential protection in a transformer.
13. How are the negative phase sequence currents setup in an alternator ? Suggest the protective scheme
for the same.
14. Suggest the type of protection necessary for following abnormal condition/fault in case of power
transformer : (i) Over heating (ii) Faults in tap changer (iii) Earth faults (iv) Inter-turn fault
15. Explain over heating protection scheme of 3 phase transformer.

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