Exp. 07
Exp. 07
Objectives:
The objectives of this experiment are to observe the performance of the following schemes of a
power transformer.
1. Buchholz alarm
2. Buchholz trip
3. Temperature alarm
4. Temperature trip
5. Differential relay trip due to phase to phase and ground fault
6. Restricted E/F relay trip
7. PRD trip
Introduction:
The choice of the protection for any power transformer depends upon a number of factors such as its
size, importance and cost. Power transformers are used in transmission network of higher voltages
for step-up and step down application (400 kV, 200 kV, 110 kV, 66 kV, 33kV) and are generally
rated above 200 MVA.
Differential Relay:
Differential relay provides unit protection. This relay is one that operates when there is a difference
between two or more similar electrical quantities exceeds a predetermined value. In differential relay
scheme circuit, there are two currents come from two parts of an electrical power circuit. These two
currents meet at a junction point where a relay coil is connected. According to Kirchhoff Current
Law, the resultant current flowing through the relay coil is nothing but summation of two currents,
coming from two different parts of the electrical power circuit.
If the polarity and amplitude of both the currents are so adjusted that the phasor sum of these two
currents, is zero at normal operating condition. Thereby there will be no current flowing through the
relay coil at normal operating conditions. But due to any abnormality in the power circuit, if this
balance is broken, that means the phasor sum of these two currents no longer remains zero and there
will be non-zero current flowing through the relay coil thereby relay being operated. In current
differential scheme, there are two sets of current transformer each connected to either side of the
equipment protected by differential relay. The ratio of the current transformers are so chosen, the
secondary currents of both current transformers matches each other in magnitude.
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Fig. Differential Protection for Radial feeder (Fault outside the unit)
Fig. Differential Protection for Radial feeder (Fault inside the unit)
Fig. Differential Protection for bidirectional feeder (Fault inside the unit)
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For a unidirectional feeder, if fault occurs at location 1 (outside of unit), then current through the
operating coil will be I1-I2=0. But for location 2, I1-I2≠0.In case of bidirectional feeder, if fault
occurs within unit, direction of I2 current will be changed and current through the operating coil will
be I1+I2 which is definitely not equals to zero.
Construction of Transformer:
A transformer is a static piece of equipment used either for raising or lowering the voltage of an a.c.
supply with a corresponding decrease or increase in current. It essentially consists of two windings,
the primary and secondary, wound on a common laminated magnetic core. The winding connected to
the a.c. source is called primary winding (or primary) and the one connected to load is called
secondary winding (or secondary).
1. Transformer Tank
13 2. High Voltage Bushing
3. Low Voltage Bushing
4. Cooling Fins/Radiator
5. Cooling Fans
6. Conservator Tank
7. System Ground Terminal
8. Drain Valve
9. Dehydrating Breather
10. Oil Temperature/Pressure
gauges
11. Bushing Current
Transformers
12. Control Panel
13. Temperature
monitoring and oil
level indicator
Working Principle:
When an alternating voltage V1 is applied to the primary, an alternating flux φ is set up in the core.
This alternating flux links both the windings and induces e.m.f.s E1 and E2 in them according to
Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic induction. Magnitudes of E2 and E1 depend upon the number of
turns on the secondary and primary respectively.
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If N2 > N1, then E2 > E1 (or V2 > V1) and we get a step-up transformer.
If N2 < N1, then E2 < E1 (or V2 < V1) and we get a step-down transformer.
Types of faults:
Protection Scheme:
1. Phase to phase and phase to neutral fault protection: DR+ O/C relay
In protection of a transformer, the CT connections and CT ratios are such that current fed into the
pilot wires from both the ends are equal during normal and for through fault conditions. During any
kind of internal fault, like phase to phase faults or phase to ground faults, the balance is disturbed.
The out of balance current (I1-I2) flows through the relay operating coils. To avoid unwanted relay
operation on through faults, restraining coils are provided in series with the pilot wires. The average
current through the restraining coil is (I1+I2)/2. As a result the restraining current increases with the
increase of (I1-I2) in the operating coil for a through fault condition. An additional over current relay
is also used to provide over load protection.
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Arcing Horns bypasses the high voltage across the Insulator using air as a conductive medium
between the Horns. The small gap between the horns ensures that the air between them breaks down
resulting in a flashover and conducts the voltage surge rather than cause damage to the insulator.
Arcing Horns basically form a Spark Gap across the Insulator with a lower breakdown voltage than
the air path along the insulator surface, so an overvoltage will cause the air to break down and the arc
to form between the arcing horns, diverting it away from the surface of the insulator. An arc between
the Horns is more tolerable for the equipment because it provides more time for the fault to be
detected and the arc to be safely cleared by remote Circuit Breakers. Air gap length should be
provided is such a way that at normal system voltage, there should not be any current flow through
this horn gap path.
Overheating Protection:
The rating of the transformer is based on the temperature rise above an assumed maximum ambient
temperature; under this condition no sustained overload is usually permissible. At lower ambient
temperature some degree of overload can be safely applied. Short time overloading are also
permissible to an extent dependent on the previous loading conditions. No precise ruling applicable
to all conditions can be given concerning the magnitude and direction of safe overload.
Thermocouples or resistor temperature detectors are kept near each winding. These are connected to
a bridge circuit. When temperature increases above safe value, an alarm is given. If measures are not
taken, the circuit breaker is tripped after a certain temperature. Some typical settings for oil
temperature are as follows-
A temperature of about 950C is considered to be the normal maximum working value. Any further
rise of 80-100C beyond this 950C will make the life of the transformer half if this rise is sustained.
All faults below oil in a transformer result in the localized heating and break down of the oil. Some
degree of arcing will always take place in a winding fault and resulting decomposition of the oil will
release gas such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide and light hydro carbons. When the fault is of a very
minor type, such as a hot joint, gas is released slowly, but a major fault involving severe arcing
cause’s rapid release of large volumes of gas as well as oil vapor. The action is so violent that the gas
and oil vapor do not have time to escape but instead build up pressure and bodily displace the oil.
When such faults occur in transformers having oil conservators, the faults causes a blast of oil to pass
up the relief pipe to the conservator.
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Fig.: Buchholz Relay (left) and Mercury switch (right)
(a)Buchholz Alarm:
The incipient faults (gradually developing faults in the winding below oil level) produce the gas and
it gets collected in the upper portion of the relay, thereby the oil level in the relay drops down. The
float, floating in the oil in the relay tilts down with lowering the oil level. While doing so the
mercury switch attached to the float is closed on to the alarm circuit.
(b)Buchholz trip :
The short circuit fault causes a blast of oil rushes towards the conservator through Buchholz relay.
The baffles (plate) in the Buchholz relay get pressed by the rushing oil. Thereby it closes another
switch which in turn closes the trip circuit of the circuit breaker.
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4. Magnetizing Inrush Current Protection:
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A 3φ, 38 MVA, 33/11KV, Δ- Y connected power transformer feeds power to an 33 KV bus from a
132 KV bus as shown in the figure below-
Relay
Stabilizing
Resistor
A B C
CB CB
c b a
11 KV
33 KVKV
132 33 KV Bus-
bus
bus
Bus-bar bar
Temperature Alarm:
For pushing the temperature alarm switch, which represents the closing of a contact due to rise in
winding temperature, an alarm signal will be displayed on the relay display board.
Temperature trip:
If the winding temperature goes to a very high level, the transformer should be isolated from the
system. By pushing the temperature trip switch, the temperature relay essentially closes the trip
circuit and fault is cleared by two breaker on the two sides of the transformer.
Buchholz Alarm:
Pushing this button means closing the contact of Buchholz relay as an indication of incipient fault in
the winding inside the oil, so an alarm indication is displaced on the relay.
Buchholz trip:
Pushing this button means closing the contact of Buchholz rely as an indication of internal short
circuit fault. So the breakers on both sides of the transformer are tripped.
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Internal Fault:
A short circuit fault in the winding is created by shorting the two phase of any side. This fault is
detected by the differential relay and the breakers on both sides of the transformer are tripped to
isolate the fault.
An earth fault close to the neutral end of the Y- winding of the transformer is created by shorting the
phase terminal and neutral terminal. This fault is detected by the concerned relay and the breakers on
both sides of transformer are tripped to isolate the fault.
Apparatus:
1. Circuit breaker: 2 no’s
2. 3 Phase Δ-Y 132KV/33KV transformer.
3. CT 600:1
4. CT 2400:1
5. Microprocessor based differential Relay: VAMP 265
6. Microprocessor based O/C Relay: VAMP 50
Circuit Diagram:
2400:1
Observation:
How VAMP 265 relay operate during fault condition.
VAMP 265 relay configuration.
Transformer voltage.
Power
REF
CT/PT ratio
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Differential protection
Vector group.
BT, TT, WT, PRD trip
LED configures.
Report:
1. What do you mean by incipient faults in the transformer winding? What are the possible causes if
this fault?
2. Is the earth fault close to neutral end of a wye connected winding very common? Why?
3. Explain why percentage differential relay is not suitable for detecting the E/F near neutral end of
an wye connected winding whose neutral is grounded through high resistance.
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