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Thermal Overload Protection in Power Transformers. IEEE C57.91-1995 and

IEC60076-7 comparison.

Article · November 2017

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 Thermal Overload Protection on Power
Transformers. IEEE C57.91-1995 and IEC60076-7
comparison.
Joaquin Rodriguez, Jorge Cárdenas
GE Power, Spain
[email protected], [email protected]

beyond their nameplate conditions to a level in

ABSTRACT which its operation is still safe [1].
One of the situations frequently encountered in
operation is to have a Power Transformer The no-load and load-losses that appear in the
designed with IEEE C57.91-1995 or IEC60076- transformer core and windings will generate
7 in its thermal characteristics, and a protection high temperature. If it is not controlled in a
system that not necessary match in its thermal timely manner, temperature can damage the
overload characteristics with the Transformer dielectric properties of the insulation. The
being to be protected: e.g., the thermal relay standards are a guide to calculate the hottest-
characteristics has been designed according spot temperature and its loss of life, being the
with IEEE C57.91-1995, but the Transformer is foundation for the development of algorithms
with IEC60076-7, or vice versa. for dynamic ratings of power transformers [1].

In that circumstances, the relay engineer must 2 IEEE C57.91-1995 THERMAL

make a decision that goes from change the relay EQUATIONS.
(option that usually is rejected by users), or try
to adapt the settings to have an adequate This standard defines the hottest-spot
coverage, with the inconvenience of providing a characteristic as follows:
non-proper protection; situation that could put
in risk the machine that is needed to be
protected. = +∆ , +

The purpose of this paper is to do a comparison ∆ , −∆ , × 1−

of IEEE and IEC thermal characteristics +∆ , !"#$ + %∆ , !&#$ −
standards, in order to establish a criterion that
help engineers to do appropriate relay settings ∆ , !"#$ '× 1 − ( (1)
independent of the particular standard design
of the Power Transformer. Where,
θH is the winding hottest-spot temperature,
ºC.
1 INTRODUCTION θA is the average ambient temperature
When a special operation condition appears, as during the load cycle, ºC.
loss of incomers or outages; sometimes, the ∆θTO,R is the top-oil rise over ambient
power transformers need to be overloaded to temperature at rated load, ºC.
alleviate this contingency. Majority of Power ∆θH,R is the winding hottest-spot rise over top-
Transformers are manufactured according IEEE oil temperature at rated load, ºC.
C57.91-1995 and IEC 60076-7 standards, and R is the ratio of load loss to no-load loss.
in general it is permitted a certain overload for Ku is the ratio of ultimate load to
a limited time w/o to be affected in its operating rated load, per unit.
characteristics. The main parameter to Ki is the ratio of initial load to rated load,
monitorize is the temperature, and doing that, it per unit.
is possible to thermally rate the transformers
1
 ∆0 ,1 ∆0 ,456
m is an empirically derived exponent used / 3 / 3
∆0 ∆0
to calculate the variation of ∆θH with ) *+,,-* -. =) × ,2
6
,2
6 (4)
∆0 ,1 4 ∆0 ,456 4
load changes. It has been selected for / 3 / 3
∆0 ,2 ∆0 ,2
each mode of cooling to approximately
account for effects of changes of
Where,
resistance and oil viscosity with
changes in load. ∆ ,7 =∆ , (5)
n is an empirically derived exponent used
to calculate the variation of ∆θTO with
changes of load. It has been selected for
3 IEC 60076-7 THERMAL
each mode of cooling to approximately
account for effects of changes in EQUATIONS.
resistance with changes in load.
τTO is the oil time constant of transformer This standard defines the hottest-spot
for any load L and for any specific characteristic as:
8
differential temperature between the = +∆ " + ∆ , −∆ " ×
ultimate top-oil rise and the initial top-
oil rise. 9 :;< + ∆ =" + :>?, ! @ − ∆ =" <×9# :;< (6)
τw is the winding time constant at hot spot
location. Where,
t is the duration of load, h. θH is the winding hottest-spot
temperature, ºC.
Relay GE MiCOM P64x family [2], uses, IEEE θA is the average ambient temperature
C57.91-1995 standard with an equivalent during the load cycle, ºC.
equation, as is described in (2). ∆θOi is the top-oil (in tank) temperature at
start ºC.
∆θOr is the top-oil (in tank) temperature rise
= +∆ , + ∆ , − in steady state at rated losses, ºC.
∆ H is the Hot-spot factor: 1.1 for
∆ , × 1− +∆ , + distribution transformers, 1.3 for
∆
%∆ , !&#$ − ∆ , '× 1 − ( (2) medium and large power transformers.
gr is the average winding to average oil (in
tank) temperature gradient at rated
Where, current.
∆θTO,n-1 is the previous top-oil rise over ambient R is the ratio of load loss to no-load loss.
temperature, ºC. K is the load factor (load current/rated
∆θH,n-1 is the previous winding hottest-spot rise current), per unit.
over top-oil temperature, ºC. x is the top-oil exponent.
y is the winding exponent.
By using power series on (1-e-x) elements, (2)
⁄:A66 × <
9 :;< = 1 −
can be approximated as shown below.
(7)

= +∆ , + ∆ , − Where,
∆
k11 is a thermal model constant, given by
∆ , × +∆ , + Table 5 in IEC60076-7.
∆ τO is the average oil-time constant (min).
%∆ , !&#$ − ∆ , '× (3)
(
⁄A
9# :;< = C# ×%1 − × (
'− :C# − 1<×
If the oil exponent, n, is less than 1, the top oil
time constant needs to be corrected [2], as /1 − ⁄A 3 (8)
shown in next equation.
Where,
k21 is a thermal model constant, given by
Table 5 in IEC60076-7.

2
k22 is a thermal model constant, given by 4 THEORETICAL RESULTS.
Table 5 in IEC60076-7. For theoretical calculation, using (3) and (9)
τw is the winding-time constant (min). equations, the transformer data is obtained from
IEC 60076-7 standard Table E.1.
Applying to IEC 60076-7 equations with the
same conditions as 2. The calculations have been done grouping by
8 kxy factors because these factors have an impact
= +∆ , ∆ ,
on transient characteristic [3], as we can see in
next figure.
∆ , 9 :;< ∆ =, %>?, ! @
∆ =, ' 9# :;< (9)

Where,

∆θO,n-1 is the previous top-oil rise over ambient Figure 1. Transient state.
temperature, ºC.
∆θh,n-1 is the previous winding hottest-spot rise Then analyzed transformers are a Power ONAF,
over top-oil temperature, ºC. Power OF and distribution ONAN.

By using power series on (1-e-x) elements, (7) In the next pictures, we can observe the thermal
and (8) can be approximated as shown below: curve characteristics for the two standards
(IEEE and IEC) under different operation
∆
9 :;< A66
conditions.

(10)
∆ ∆ A
9# :;< C# :C# 1< (11)
A (

Figure 2. Table E.1 IEC60076-7.

3
4.1 Power Transformer – ONAF. relay in case of these circumstances. This
correction can be seen in next figures for 80%
80% rated load. and 120% of rated load.

Rated load.
Figure 3. 80% rated load with correction factor of 1,07.

120% rated load.

Figure 4. 120% rated load with correction factor of 0.93.

By using the load correction in the relay, the

expected load of the transformer must be
considered from the design stage to fulfil both;
the protection and working requirements. For
example, in case the correction is applied for a
normal condition of 80% of rated load, when the
nominal transformer operation is reached, the
characteristic will be modified as shown below,
w/o diminish the protection level required.

The IEEE C57.91-1995 emulates temperature

in less restrictive way on underload conditions;
and it is more restrictive, in overload conditions.
Some relays manufacturers include a factor that
allows to increase or decrease the load seen by

4
 120% Rated load.

Figure 5. Rated load with correction factor of 1,07.

4.2 Power Transformer – OF.

4.3 Distribution Transformer – ONAN.
80% Rated load.
80% Rated Load

Rated load. Rated Load

5
120% Rated load. Results Obtained:

80% Rated Load

5 PRACTICAL CASE.
For practical case, a protection relay from Rated Load
MiCOM P64x family was used. The thermal
function in the relay (red) has been checked
against the calculations showed above (blue for
IEEE C57.91-1995 and green for IEC60076-7).

Figure 6. P64 Transformer Protection

The transformer studied is a power transformer

with ONAF configuration, with the following 120% Rated Load
coefficients:

Oil exponent = 0,8

Winding exponent = 1,6
K11 = 0,5
K21 = 2
K22 = 2
∆θTO,R = 23ºC
∆θH,R = 55ºC
τTO = 180min
τw = 4min

6
 6 CONCLUSIONS
The differences seen between the two standards
have their bigger expression on the dynamic
stage, while the transformer is reaching a stable
temperature. Once this temperature is reached
the differences will be reduced to a value that,
for this kind of measurement, are negligible.

Then for a transformer where its working point

must be stable and close to its nominal
conditions, in a long-term period both
characteristics have a similar working point,
and once this point is known, the protection
relay can be set to those values.

It is needed to point out that the “temperature”

calculated by the relay is an image of the real
temperature existing in the transformer, because
the information is the current measured by using
current transformers. For that, we need to
understand that it could be differences with the
existing temperature in the transformer, but in
general these are minor ones.

One important aspect observed is that for

overloads of 120%, IEEE and IEC curves are
very similar up to six hours, allowing to bring
an adequate thermal protection in the most
critical operating range of the transformer,
independently of the standard used in its
manufacturing.

REFERENCES

[1] Fundamental Principles of Transformer

Thermal Loading and Protection. Joe
Perez, ERL Phase power technologies,
Winnipeg, MB, R3Y 1G4.
[2] Thermal overload protection. Operation
chapter. P64x device manual. GE
Power.
[3] Power Transformers. Dejan Susa,
SINTEF Energy Research.

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