TRANSFORMER PROTECTION
PREPARED BY:
Bima Sean Bagastara (16501244008)
Misericordias Domini (16501244009)
Febry Andreanto (16501244027)
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
TRANSFORMER OVERVIEW
TYPE OF TRANFORMER PROTECTION
• Meaning
• Protection by characteristic
• Type
• Main protection in transformer
• Main Component
• Back-up protection in transformer
TRANSFORMER FAILURE
• Causes
• Component that usually trouble
INTRODUCTION
Transformer is a very valuable and vital device in a power transmission system.
When a fault occurs in a transformer, the damage is normally severe. Frequently, the impact of a transformer fault is
more serious than a transmission line outage.
If a transformer is operated at too high temperature, too high voltage, or exposed to an excessive number of high
current external faults etc, the insulation can weaken to the point of breakdown.
To prevent faults and to minimize the damage in case of a fault, transformers are equipped with protective equipment
.The choice of protective equipment varies depending, on transformer size, voltage level, etc.
The transformer is based on two principles:
1. An electric current can produce a magnetic field.
2. A changing magnetic field within a coil of wire induces a voltage across the ends of the coil (electromagnetic
induction).
TRANSFORMER
What is Transformer?
Transformer is a static electrical device that transfers electrical energy between two or more circuits through
electromagnetic induction. A varying current in one coil of the transformer produces a varying magnetic field, which
in turn induces a varying electromotive force (emf) or "voltage" in a second coil. Power can be transferred between
the two coils through the magnetic field, without a metallic connection between the two circuits. Faraday's law of
induction discovered in 1831 described this effect. Transformers are used to increase or decrease the alternating
voltages in electric power applications.
TYPES OF TRANSFORMER
There are several types of transformers:
Step-up transformer: the voltage output is greater than the voltage input.
Step-down transformer: the voltage input is greater than the voltage output.
Autotransformer: Transformer in which part of the winding is common to both primary and secondary circuits,
leading to increased efficiency, smaller size, and a higher degree of voltage regulation.
Power transformer: transformers that used to distribute energy from transmission lines and networks for local
consumption and used to transfer electric energy between the generator and distribution primary circuits.
Phase angle regulating transformer: A specialised transformer used to control the flow of real power on three-
phase electricity transmission networks.
Grounding transformer: Transformer used for grounding three-phase circuits to create a neutral in a three wire
system, using a wye-delta.
Some transformers have the same output voltage as input voltage and are used to electrically isolate two
electrical circuits.
MAIN COMPONENT OF TRANSFORMERS
The main parts of the transformer are as under :
Primary and secondary winding
Air breather
Buchloz Relay
Temperature meter (O.T/W.T)
Oil Tank Drain Valve
Radiator Tap-changer
Conservater Pressure release Valve (P.R.V)
TRANSFORMERS FAILURE
Why do transformers fail?
The electrical windings and the magnetic core in a transformer are subject to a number of different forces during
operation, for example:
Expansion and cantraction due to thermal cycling
Vibration
Local heating due to magnetic flux
Impact forces due to through-fault current
Excessive heating due to overloading or inadequate cooling
TRANSFORMERS FAILURE
What Fails in Transformers?
Winding LTC
Insulation deterioration from: • Malfuction of mechanical switching mechanism
• Moisture • High resistance contacts
• Overheating • Overheating
• Vibration • Contamination of insulating oil
• Voltage source
• Mechanical stress from through-faults
TRANSFORMERS FAILURE
What Fails in Transformers?
Bushings
• General aging
• Contamination Miscellaneous
• Cracking • CT issues
• Internal moisture • Oil leakage
Core Problems • Oil contamination (metal particle, moisture)
• Core insulation problem
• Open ground strap
• Shorted lamination
• Core overheating
TRANFORMER PROTECTION
The type of protection for the transformers varies depending on the application and the importance of the
transformer.
Transformers are protected primarily against faults and overloads. The type of protection used should minimize the
time of disconnection for faults within the transformer and to reduce the risk of catastrophic failure to simplify
eventual repair.
Any extended operation of the transformer under abnormal condition such as faults or overloads compromises the
life of the transformer, which means adequate protection should be provided for quicker isolation of the transformer
under such conditions
TYPE OF PROTECTION BY CHARACTERISTIC
Mechanical: Electrical:
Accumulated Gases Fuses
example: Bucholtz Relay small transformers (type < 10 MVA)
Pressure Relays short cisrcuit protection only
example: Sudden Pressure Relay Overcurrent protection
Thermal • High side
Protecting from fault that caused by overload, Through fault protection
overexcitation, harmonics and geo-magnetically induced
current Differential back-up protection for high faults
• Hot spot temperature • Low side
• Top Oil System backup protection
• LTC Overheatinf Unbalanced load protection
TYPE PROTECTION TRANSFORMER
Main Protection Transformer Back-up Protection Transformers
Differential Protection Over Current Relay
Bucholz Relay Stand By Earth Fault
Restricted Earth Fault Protection Over/under Voltage Relay
DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION
Advantages: Measuring principle :
Differential protection provides high speed detection Based on the same circulating current principle as
of faults that can reduce damage due to the flow of the restricted earth fault protection
fault current
However, it employs the biasing technique, to
The location of the fault is determined more maintain stability for heavy thro’ fault current
precisely
Biasing allows mismatch between CT outputs.
It is essential for transformers with tap changing
Overall differential protection may be justified for larger facility.
transformers (generally > 5MVA).
Another important requirement of transformer
Provides fast operation on any winding differential Protection is immunity to magnetising
inrush current.
DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION
Basic Differential Protection Relay
BUCHHOLZ RELAY
Buchholz relay is based on very simple mechanical. It
is mechanically actuated. Whenever there will be a
minor internal fault in the transformer such as an
insulation faults between turns, break down of core
of transformer, core heating, the transformer
insulating oil will be decomposed in different
hydrocarbon gases, CO2 and CO. The gases
produced due to decomposition of transformer
insulating oil will accumulate in the upper part the
Buchholz container which causes fall of oil level in it.
RESTRICTED EARTH FAULT (REF)
Restricted Earth Fault (REF) protection is basically a
Differential Protection. The only difference in
between the Differential Protection and REF
Protection is that, latter protection is more sensitive
as compared to the former protection scheme.
Restricted earth fault protection is provided in
electrical power transformer for sensing internal
earth fault of the transformer. In this scheme the CT
secondary of each phase of electrical power
transformer are connected together as shown in the
figure. Then common terminals are connected to the
secondary of a Neutral Current Transformer or
NCT.
OVER CURRENT RELAY
An overcurrent relay is a type of protective relay
which operates when the load current exceeds a
pickup value. The ANSI device number is 50 for an
instantaneous over current (IOC) or a Definite Time
Overcurrent (DTOC). In a typical application the
over current relay is connected to a current
transformer and calibrated to operate at or above a
specific current level. When the relay operates, one
or more contacts will operate and energize to trip
(open) a circuit breaker. The Definite Time
Overcurrent Relay has been used extensively in the
United Kingdom but its inherent issue of operating
slower for faults closer to the source led to the
development of the IDMT relay.