ABB Protective Relay School Webinar Series – September 13, 2012

Transformer protection fundamentals

Mike Kockott
September 24, 2013
Presenter

Mike is a Senior Engineer, Product Specialist for the Relion

family 670 and 650 product series. He is located in Raleigh,
North Carolina. Mike has been part of the NAM SA Products
team for 9 months. Prior to this he worked as a Senior
Applications Specialist / Senior Regional Technical Manager for
Mike Kockott 12 years at the SA Product factory in Västerås, Sweden.

Prior to joining ABB SAP in Sweden in 2000, Mike was Chief

Consultant, Protection (Transmission) at Eskom (national power
utility, South Africa). Mike joined Eskom as a training engineer in
1983.

Mike graduated from the University of Cape Town with BSc

(electrical engineering) degree (with honors) in 1980.

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 4
2013
Learning objectives

 Transformer construction and fundamentals

 3 Phase Connections and vector group
 Transformer Faults
 Protection of transformers (micro processor multifunction)
 Differential
 Phase
 Conventional, enhancements (turn to turn)
 Inrush and Over excitation

 REF
 Over current

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 5
2013
Fundamentals of transformer protection

 Important element in the power system

 Interconnection link between two different
voltage levels
 Many sizes and types of power transformers
 Step up
 Step down
 Autotransformer
 Grounding
 Fuses may provide adequate protection for
small distribution transformers
 The repair time may be long
 Transformer faults may cause substantial
losses

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 6
2013
Transformer model

Zp = Winding 1 resistance +
leakage inductance
Zs = Winding 2 resistance +
leakage inductance
Ih+Im = core + magnetizing loses

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 7
2013
Power transformer

1. HV side bushings
2. LV side bushings
3. Load tap changer
4. Load tap changer
operating device
5. Control panel
6. Oil thermometer
7. Gas relay
8. Radiators
9. Oil conservator
N. Neutral bushings

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 8
2013
Transformer windings
Winding cutting

Iron core

HV voltage winding LV voltage winding

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 9
2013
Three-phase transformer
Considerations for three-phase transformers

 Winding connections
 Number of windings

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 10
2013
Different winding arrangements

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 11
2013
Basic three-phase transformer
 High voltage bushings
 H1, H2, H3 => system A, B, C
 H0 if neutral provided
 Low voltage bushings
 X1, X2, X3 => system A, B, C
 X0 if neutral provided
 Tertiary
 Third winding
 Y1, Y2, Y3 => system A, B, C

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 12
2013
ANSI Standard - transformer connections
High voltage reference is in High voltage reference leads the
O
phase with low voltage reference low voltage reference by 30

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 13
2013
Wye-Wye connected transformer

 No phase shift
 Effective turns ratio = N
 Same applies for delta - delta
connection
 Auto-transformers

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 14
2013
Wye-Delta connected transformer

 Phase shift
 H1 leads X1 by 30O
 Effective turns ratio
 n = N√3

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 15
2013
Delta-wye connected transformer

 Phase shift
 H1 leads X1 by 30O
 Effective turns ratio
 n=N
√3

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 16
2013
Wye-Delta ANSI standard connections
High Voltage Low Voltage
 High voltage reference
phase voltage leads the low
voltage reference phase
voltage by 30°
 Delta-wye
 Wye-delta

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 17
2013
Vector group – clock system

 Clock system easily documents the phase shift present on

a particular transformer
 12 o’clock position is assumed by first letter (HV)
 Other winding’s phase shift is based on clock position

YNd1 Dyn1 YNyn0d11

y
d y
d

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 18
2013
Transformer faults
 Winding failures
 turn-to-turn insulation failure
 moisture
 deterioration
 phase-to-phase and ground faults
 external faults (producing insulation failure)…..

 Tap changer failures

 mechanical
 electrical
 short circuit
 oil leak
 overheating….

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 19
2013
Transformer faults
 Bushing failures
 aging, contamination, and cracking
 flashover due to animals
 moisture
 low oil

 Core failures
 Core insulation failure
 ground strap burned away
 loose clamps, bolts, wedges...

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 20
2013
Transformer faults
 Miscellaneous failures
 bushing CT failure
 metal particles in oil
 damage in shipment
 external faults
 poor tank weld
 overvoltages
 overloads….

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 21
2013
Typical causes of transformer failure

Cause of transformer failures %

Winding failure 55
Tap changer failures 21
Bushing failures 10
Terminal board failures 6
Core failures 2
Miscellaneous failures 6
All causes 100

*IEEE Guide
© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 22
2013
Power transformer protection

 Should trip during short-circuit and earth-fault

 Inside of the power transformer tank
 In the transformer bay
 At an external fault, as back-up protection

 Should alarm or trip during abnormal conditions

 Overload
 Overvoltage
 Reduced system voltage
 Over excitation

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 23
2013
Detection of transformer internal faults
 Phase-phase fault
 Transformer differential protection
 Buchholz relay
 Overpressure device (sudden pressure relay)
 Underimpedance/distance protection
 Overcurrent protection (non directional, directional)
 HV fuses

 Ground-fault, low impedance grounding

 Restricted ground-fault protection
 Transformer differential protection
 Buchholz relay
 Underimpedance/distance protection
 Overcurrent or ground-fault protection (non directional, directional)
 HV fuses
© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 24
2013
Detection of transformer internal faults
 Ground-fault, high impedance grounding
 Restricted ground-fault protection
 Sensitive ground-fault current protection
 Neutral (residual) overvoltage protection
 Buchholz gas alarm

 Turn-to-turn fault
 Buchholz alarm
 Transformer differential protection

 HV to LV winding flash-over
 Transformer differential protection
 Buchholz relay
 Overpressure device (sudden pressure relay)
© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 25
2013
Differential protection
Typical transformer phase differential configuration

N:1 (Phase shift )

Y/1
Y or 
X/1
Y or 
Z/1
Y or 

M:1 (Phase shift )

IA-2
Winding-2 Inputs IB-2
IA-1
IC-2
IB-1 Winding-1 Inputs
IC-1
Winding-3 Inputs IA-3
(3-Winding units only) IB-3
IC-3

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 26
2013
Differential protection
Zone of protection defined by current transformers (CT’s)

N:1 (Phase shift )

Y/1
Y or 
X/1
Y or 
Z/1
Y or 

M:1 (Phase shift )

IA-2
Winding-2 Inputs IB-2
IA-1
IC-2
IB-1 Winding-1 Inputs
IC-1
Winding-3 Inputs IA-3
(3-Winding units only) IB-3
IC-3

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 27
2013
Differential protection
Non-trip zone for phase differential protection

N:1 (Phase shift )

Y/1
Y or 
X/1
Y or 
Z/1
Y or 

M:1 (Phase shift )

IA-2
Winding-2 Inputs IB-2
IA-1
IC-2
IB-1 Winding-1 Inputs
IC-1
Winding-3 Inputs IA-3
(3-Winding units only) IB-3
IC-3

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 28
2013
Differential protection
Ideally what comes in equals what goes out: IOUT = -IIN
IOUT
N:1 (Phase shift )
Y/1
X/1
Y or 
Z/1

IIN
M:1 (Phase shift )

IA-2
Winding-2 Inputs IB-2
IA-1
IC-2
IB-1 Winding-1 Inputs
IC-1
Winding-3 Inputs IA-3
(3-Winding units only) IB-3
IC-3

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 29
2013
Differential protection
Transformer differential protection is generally quite simple, but requires
the correct application and connection of current transformers and an
understanding of the power transformer winding connections, IOUT
characteristics and operation. N:1 (Phase shift )
Y/1
Y or 
X/1
Y or 
Z/1
Y or 
IIN
M:1 (Phase shift )

IA-2
Winding-2 Inputs IB-2
IA-1
IC-2
IB-1 Winding-1 Inputs
IC-1
Winding-3 Inputs IA-3
(3-Winding units only) IB-3
© ABB Group IC-3
September 24, | Slide 30
2013
Transformer Differential Protection
 Unbalance currents due to factors other than faults
 Currents that flow on only one side of the power transformer
 Magnetizing currents that flow on only the power source side
 Normal magnetizing currents
 Inrush magnetizing currents
 Overexcitation magnetizing currents

 Currents that cannot be transformed to the other windings

 Zero sequence currents

 Error in the power transformer turns ratio due to OLTC

 Inequality of the instrument current transformers
 Different ratings of current transformers
 Different types of current transformers
Transformer Differential Protection
 Unbalance currents due to factors other than faults (cont.)
 Different relative loads on instrument transformers
 Different relative currents on CT primaries
 Different relative burdens on CT secondaries
 Different DC time constants of the fault currents
 Different time of occurrence, and degree, of CT saturation
Transformer Differential Protection
 Practical problems
I_W1
 Y, D or Z connections
 Different current magnitudes
I_W3
 Different phase angle shift
 Zero sequence currents

I_W2

I_W1 + I_W2 + I_W3 = 0 (?)

Analog Differential Protection
Numerical Differential Protection
 Typically, all CTs are directly star-connected to the IED
 The conversion of all current contributions is performed
mathematically
 Magnitude conversion of all current contributions to the magnitude reference side (normally the
HV-side (W1), i.e. the magnitude of the current contribution from each side is transferred to the
HV-side (W1)
 Phase angle conversion of all current contributions to the phase reference side (using pre-
programmed matrices). ABB: Phase reference is the first star-connected winding (W1W2
W3), otherwise if no star winding, first delta-connected winding (W1  W2 W3)
 The power transformer connection type, the vector group and the subtraction of zero
sequence currents (On/Off) are setting parameters – from these the differential protection
calculates off-line the matrix coefficients, which are then used in the on-line calculations
 If the subtraction of the zero sequence currents from the current contribution from any
winding is required (set On), a matrix with different coefficients will be used (does both
the phase angle conversion and zero sequence current subtraction)
Numerical Differential Protection
 Two-winding transformer
= 1 as W1 (HV-winding) is normally the magnitude reference

 A, B are 3x3 matrices

Ur_W 1
 Values for the A, B matrix
coefficients depend on
 Winding connection type,
Contribution Contribution i.e. star (Y/y) or delta (D/d)
from W1 from W2
side to side to  Transformer vector group,
Differential differential differential i.e. Yd1, Yd5, etc (which
currents (in currents currents introduces a phase shift
W1-side between winding currents in
primary DCCL1_W1 DCCL1_W2
multiples of 30°)
amperes) DCCL2_W1 DCCL2_W2  Zero sequence current
DCCL3_W1 DCCL3_W2 elimination set On / Off
3x1 matrix 3x1 matrix
Numerical Differential Protection
 Three-winding transformer
= 1 as W1 (HV-winding) is normally the magnitude reference

Ur_W 1

Contribution Contribution Contribution

from W1 from W2 from W3
side to side to side to
Differential differential differential differential
currents (in currents currents currents
W1-side
primary DCCL1_W1 DCCL1_W2 DCCL1_W3
amperes) DCCL2_W1 DCCL2_W2 DCCL2_W3
DCCL3_W1 DCCL3_W2 DCCL3_W3
Numerical Differential Protection
 Differential currents
 Fundamental frequency differential currents (per phase) – calculated as the vector sum of the
fundamental frequency current contributions from all sides of the transformer
DCCL1_W1 DCCL1_W2
DCCL2_W1 + DCCL2_W2
DCCL3_W1 DCCL3_W2

Giving
IDL1 = DCCL1_W1 + DCCL1_W2
IDL2 = DCCL2_W1 + DCCL2_W2
IDL3 = DCCL3_W1 + DCCL3_W2

 Bias current
 ABB: Calculated as the highest fundamental frequency current amongst all the current contributions
to the differential current calculation
 This highest individual current contribution is taken as the single common bias current for all three
phases
i.e. IBIAS = MAX [DCCLx_W1; DCCLx_W2] (single circuit breaker applications)
Numerical Differential Protection
 Zero sequence current elimination
 Star-delta (Delta-star) transformers do not transform the zero sequence currents to the other side
 For an external earth fault on the (earthed) star-side, zero sequence currents can flow in the star-
side terminals, but not in the delta-side terminals (circulate in the delta-winding)
 This results in false differential currents that consist exclusively of the zero sequence currents – if
high enough, these false differential currents can result in the unwanted operation of the differential
function
 Elimination of the zero sequence currents is necessary to avoid unwanted trips for external earth
faults - the zero sequence currents should be subtracted from the side of the power transformer
where the zero sequence currents can flow for external earth faults

 For delta-windings, this feature should be enabled if an earthing transformer exists within the
differential zone on the delta-side of the protected power transformer
Numerical Differential Protection
 Zero sequence current elimination
 Example: YNd1
 ABB: Phase reference is the first
1. star-connected winding (W1W2
W3), otherwise if no star winding,
first delta-connected winding (W1 
W2 W3)
 Y-winding (W1/HV): phase reference, magnitude reference
 Zero sequence subtraction Off  As the Y-winding (W1/HV) is the
phase reference, the A matrix must
A= not introduce a phase shift

 Zero sequence subtraction On

A=
Numerical Differential Protection
 Zero sequence current elimination
 Y-winding (W1/HV)
1.

 Zero sequence subtraction Off A=

IDL1 = IL1_W1 + …
IDL2 = IL2_W1 + …
IDL3 = IL3_W1 + …

 If IL1_W1 = IL1_W1ʹ+I0_W1 (similarly for L2 and L3)

IDL1 = IL1_W1ʹ+I0_W1 + …
IDL2 = IL2_W1ʹ+I0_W1 + …
IDL3 = IL3_W1ʹ+I0_W1 + …
Numerical Differential Protection
 Zero sequence current elimination
 Y-winding (W1/HV)
1.

 Zero sequence subtraction On A =

IDL1 = ⅔*IL1_W1 – ⅓*IL2_W1 – ⅓*IL3_W1 + …

= ⅔*(IL1_W1ʹ+I0_W1) – ⅓*(IL2_W1ʹ+I0_W1) – ⅓*(IL3_W1ʹ+I0_W1) + …
= ⅔*IL1_W1ʹ – ⅓*IL2_W1ʹ – ⅓*IL3_W1ʹ + …
= IL1_W1ʹ + …

-⅓*IL2_W1ʹ
-⅓*IL3_W1ʹ
⅔*IL1_W1ʹ
= IL1_W1ʹ

Similarly for IDL2 and IDL3

Numerical Differential Protection
 Balanced load flow
 Example: YNd1

1.

 IOUT = -IIN, so IDL1 = 0 (IIN + IOUT = 0) – similarly for IDL2, IDL3

 Y-winding (W1/HV)
 Zero sequence subtraction On A=

IDL1 = IL1_W1 + …
Similarly for IDL2, IDL3

A=
 Zero sequence subtraction Off
IDL1 = ⅔*IL1_W1 – ⅓*IL2_W1 – ⅓*IL3_W1 + …
= IL1_W1 + …
Similarly for IDL2, IDL3
Numerical Differential Protection
 Balanced load flow

1.

 d-winding (W2/LV)
d1-winding lags reference Y-winding by
B=
30°; matrix for winding lagging by 30°

IDL1 = … + (Ur_W2/Ur_W1) * 1/√3*(IL1_W2 – IL2_W2) IL1_W2 – IL2_W2 = √3*IL1_W230°

= … + (Ur_W2/Ur_W1) * 1/√3*(√3*IL1_W2)30° IL1_W2 IL2_W2

+30°
= … + (Ur_W2/Ur_W1) * IL1_W230° IL1_W1
-30°
= … + -IL1_W1

IL3_W2
Numerical Differential Protection
 Balanced load flow

1.

 Therefore
IDL1 = IL1_W1 + -IL1_W1
=0
Similarly for IDL2, IDL3
Differential protection settings
Unrestrained Operating Region

IUNRES
6
Settings:
5 IOP-MIN: 0.3 - 0.4
Operating
Region EndRegion1: 1.25
4
IDIFF in pu

EndRegion2: 3.0
Region 1 Region 2 Region 3
3 SlopeRegion2 (m2): 40%
m3
SlopeRegion3 (m3): 80%
2 Restraining
Region

1 m2 % Slope
I DIFF
IOP-MIN m 100%
I RES

1 2 3 4 5 6
IRES in pu
© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 46
2013
Transformer Differential Protection 6
Unrestrained Operating Region

IUNRES

 Restrained (i.e. stabilized) characteristic 4

Operating
Region

IDIFF in pu
 Region 1 3
Region 1 Region 2 Region 3

m3

 Most sensitive part 2 Restraining

Region

 Characteristic a straight line 1 m2 % Slope

m
I DIFF
100%
IOP-MIN I RES

 Current flow normal load current 1 2 3 4

IRES in pu
5 6

 Typical reason for existence of false differential currents in this section is non compensation for
tap position
 Region 2
 First slope (low percentage)
 Caters for false differential currents when higher than normal currents flow through the current
transformers
 Region 3
 Second slope (higher percentage)
 Provides higher tolerance to substantial current transformer saturation for high through fault
currents, which can be expected in this section
Numerical Differential Protection
340kV  On-load tap-changer
 Nameplate 460kV
400kV
400kV – 132kV
460kV
340kV
 Ir_W1nW1 = Ir_W2nW2 (effective turns ratio)
Sr
 Ir_W1 =
132kV √3Ur_W1

Sr
Ir_W2 =
√3Ur_W2

nW1 Ur_W1
 Therefore nW2 = Ur_W2

W2n
 Ur_W2 = nW1 Ur_W1
Numerical Differential Protection
 On-line compensation for on-load tap-changer (OLTC) movement
 The OLTC is a mechanical device that is used to stepwise change the number of turns within one
power transformer winding – consequently the overall turns ratio of the transformer is changed
 Typically the OLTC is located on the HV winding (i.e. W1) – by stepwise increasing or decreasing the
number of HV winding turns, it is possible to stepwise regulate the LV-side voltage
 As the number of HV winding turns changes, the actual primary currents flowing will automatically
adjust in accordance with

│IW1nw1│ = │Iw2nw2│ nw1/nw2 = n = Ur_W2 / Ur_W1

n = ʹeffectiveʹ turns ratio

 However, as the transformation ratio (turns ratio) changes, the differential function will calculate a
resulting differential current if the ratio Ur_W2 / Ur_W1 is fixed in the calculation

1.
Numerical Differential Protection
 On-line compensation for on-load tap-changer (OLTC) movement

1.

 By knowing the actual tap position, the differential function can then calculate the correct no-load
voltage for the winding on which the OLTC is located
 For example, if the OLTC is located on the HV winding (W1), the no-load voltage Ur_W1 is a function
of the actual tap position – so for every tap position the corresponding value for Ur_W1 can be
calculated and used in the differential current calculation
 The differential protection will be ideally balanced for every tap position and no false differential
current will appear irrespective of the actual tap position
 Typically, the minimum differential protection pickup for power transformers with OLTC is set
between 30% to 40% - however, with the OLTC compensation feature it is possible to set the
differential protection to more sensitive pickup values of 15% to 25%
Transformer differential protection 101
 Transformers with Delta and Wye windings
 Phase shift and magnitude (3) compensation must be applied
 Zero sequence currents for external ground faults must be blocked

 Solution
 Analog Differential Protection
 CT on the Wye side connected in Delta
 CT on delta side connected in Wye
 Numerical Differential Protection
 Connect all winding CTs in Wye
 Apply compensating factors and I0 filtering
 Vendor Specific

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 51
2013
Transformer Differential Protection
 Blocking criteria (phase segregated)
 Two blocking criteria – harmonic restrain and waveform restrain

 Have the power to block a trip – prevents unwanted tripping due to CT saturation, magnetizing
inrush currents, or due to magnetizing currents caused by overvoltages
 Magnetizing currents (inrush / overvoltage) flow only on one side of a power transformer,
and are therefore always a cause of false differential currents
 Performed on instantaneous differential currents – the same matrix equations are used as for the
fundamental frequency currents, except now instantaneous values (i.e. sampled values) are
used instead
 Waveform – inrush
 2nd harmonic – inrush, CT saturation
 5th harmonic – overexcitation
 Cross-blocking: a blocking condition established in any phase can be ‘crossed’ to the other
phases, i.e. detection in one phase blocks all phases
Inrush Current
 The size of the transformer
 The peak value of the magnetizing inrush current is generally higher for smaller transformers
 Duration of the inrush current is longer for the larger transformers

 The location of energized winding (inner, outer)

 Low Voltage winding that is wound closer to the magnetic core has less impedance than the outer
winding – consequently energizing the transformer from the LV winding will cause more inrush than
energizing from the HV winding
 Typical values:
 LV side: magnitude of inrush current is 10-20 times the rated current
 HV side: magnitude of inrush current is 5-10 times the rated current

 The connection of the windings

Inrush Current
 The point of wave when the switch closes – switching instant
 The maximum inrush current will happen when the transformer is switched at voltage zero
 Statistical data indicates every 5th or 6th transformer energization will result in high values of inrush

 The magnetic properties of the core

 Remanence (residual flux) in the core
 Higher remanence results in the higher inrush

 The source impedance and transformer air-core reactance

 EG. lower source impedance results in the higher inrush
Inrush Current
 Magnetizing inrush current can appear in all three phases and in an earthed
neutral
 The inrush current has a large DC component that may saturate the CTs
 There is a risk that sensitive differential protection, residual overcurrent
protection and neutral point overcurrent protection may operate incorrectly
 Phase O/C protection can maloperate
Inrush Current
 Differential protection commonly uses 2nd harmonic value to distinguish
between inrush current and short circuit current – 2nd harmonic >
threshold used to block differential operation
 Normal operation / internal short circuits have only small 2nd harmonic in current
 Inrush current has significant 2nd harmonic
 2nd harmonic in currents small during over voltages

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 56
2013
Overvoltage / Overexcitation Current
 Overexcitation exists if the per unit V/Hz exceeds the design limit of
transformer
 Overexcitation waveform produces predominately high odd harmonics … 3rd, 5th, 7th, …

 Protection commonly uses 5th harmonic value to distinguish

overexcitation current – 5th harmonic > threshold used to block
differential operation
 3rd harmonic not used as they are a prevalent quantity on the power system produced from many
sources

 Separate V/Hz function normally used to provide tripping for

overexcitation
© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 57
2013
Overexcitation Function
 It follows from the fundamental transformer equation…..
E = 4.44 · f · n · Bmax · A

…..that the peak magnetic flux density Bmax is directly proportional to the
internal induced voltage E, and inversely proportional to the frequency f, and the
turns n – overexcitation results from a too-high applied voltage, or below-normal
frequency
 Disproportional variations in E and f may give rise to core overfluxing – such an
overexcitation condition will produce
 Overheating (of the non-laminated metal parts, as well as an increase in the core and winding
temperature)
 Increase in magnetizing currents
 Increase in vibration and noise

 Protection against overexcitation is based on calculation of the relative Volts per

Hertz (V / Hz) ratio – 24 function
Transformer Differential Protection – Neg Seq
 Internal / External fault discriminator
 Fault position (internal / external) determined by comparing the direction of flow of the negative
sequence currents (determines the position of the source of the negative sequence currents with
respect to the zone of protection)
 Transformation ratio and phase shift – before comparison, the negative sequence currents must first
be referred to the same phase reference, and put to the same magnitude reference – matrix equation
 IDL1 _ NS  2 1 1  INS _ W 1   1 0 1   INS _ W 2 
 IDL 2 _ NS   1   1 2 1   a  INS _ W 1  
Ur _ W 2

1
 1 1 0    a  INS _ W 2 
  3    2  Ur _ W 1 3    2 
 IDL3 _ NS   1 1 2   a  INS _ W 1  0 1   a  INS _ W 2 
1

 External fault: the negative sequence currents will have a relative phase angle of 180
 Internal fault: the negative sequence currents will have a relative phase angle of about 0

 3ph faults – a negative sequence current source will be present until the dc component in the fault
currents die out
Transformer Differential Protection – Neg Seq
 Internal / External fault discriminator
 Discriminates between internal and external faults with very high dependability
 Detects even minor faults with high sensitivity and high speed
 Combine features of the internal / external fault discriminator with conventional differential protection
 Unrestrained negative sequence differential protection
 Fast operating time, even for heavy internal faults with severely saturated CTs – typically < 1
cycle (¾ cycle)
 Sensitive negative sequence protection
 Sensitive turn-to-turn fault protection
Turn-to-turn fault detection
 Turn-to-turn fault
 Usually involves a small number of adjacent
Np - Nt turns
Np Np Nt
 A small unbalance in primary to secondary turns
ratio,
Ns Ns Ns
(Np-Nt)/Ns
 Undetectable with normal differential protection
 High current in shorted turns
 Sudden Pressure Relay (SPR)
 Slow
 Tendency to misoperate
 Negative sequence differential

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 61
2013
Turn to turn fault detection
 Turn to turn faults do not immediately result in high fault currents which can
be detected by the conventional 87T or over current backup protection
 In a 2 winding transformer:
 IW1nW1 = IW2nW2 (Amp Turn balance)
 When a turn to turn short occurs
 Very high currents through the inter-turn short
 Hot spot stressing of insulation – potentially giving further insulation breakdown and a higher
magnitude fault
 Turn to turn faults result in a source of negative sequence current due to asymmetry in the number of
turns across the phases of the faulted winding
 Turn to turn faults can be detected based on the direction of flow of the negative sequence currents
Transformer Differential Protection
 Other features
 Open CT detection
 Switch-on-to-fault
Restricted earth fault
 3I0 differential protection
 IDiff = 3I0G + 3I0L
 Greater sensitivity to faults near the neutral point
of the transformer where the driving voltage is
small for regular 87T to detect faults
 Compares direction between 3I0L and 3I0G
 If in phase fault is internal
 If 180 out of phase fault is external

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 64
2013
Overcurrent protection coordination

 Time-overcurrent protection
 Inverse time characteristic relay provides the best coordination
 Settings of 200 to 300% of the transformer’s self-cooled ratings
 Fast operation is not possible (coordination with other relays)

 Instantaneous protection
 Fast operation on heavy internal faults
 Settings 125% of the maximum through fault (low side 3F fault)
 Settings should be above the inrush current

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 65
2013
Overcurrent protection coordination

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 66
2013
Typical protection scheme for power transformer

 Transformer differential 87T (incl negative

sequence turn-turn fault detection)
 Restricted earth fault 87N
 SPR and Buchholtz 63
 Phase over current 50/51P (backup)
 Ground over current 51G (backup)
 Thermal overload 49
 Over excitation 24

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 67
2013
Relion® RET650/670 next generation transformer protection
Reliable protection and control of power transformers and reactors

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for power transformer winding turn-to-turn faults
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 Thank you for your participation
Shortly, you will receive a link to an archive of this presentation.
To view a schedule of remaining webinars in this series, or for more
information on ABB’s protection and control solutions, visit:
www.abb.com/relion
ABB Protective Relay School Webinar Series
Disclaimer
ABB is pleased to provide you with technical information regarding protective relays.
The material included is not intended to be a complete presentation of all potential
problems and solutions related to this topic. The content is generic and may not be
applicable for circumstances or equipment at any specific facility. By participating in
ABB's web-based Protective Relay School, you agree that ABB is providing this
information to you on an informational basis only and makes no warranties,
representations or guarantees as to the efficacy or commercial utility of the
information for any specific application or purpose, and ABB is not responsible for
any action taken in reliance on the information contained herein. ABB consultants
and service representatives are available to study specific operations and make
recommendations on improving safety, efficiency and profitability. Contact an ABB
sales representative for further information.
 I0
W1_L1

I0 W2_L1
N*I0

I0 N*I0

I0
I0 N*I0
W1_L3 W2_L2
I0
W1_L2 W3_L3

3I0

© ABB Group
September 24, | Slide 72
2013