TRANSFORMER PROTECTION

1. Transformer Differential Protection

2. Standby Earth Fault Protection
3. Sensitive Earth Fault Protection
4. Restricted Earth Fault Protection
5. Transformer Troubles or Mechanical Protection
• Buchholz
• Oil surge relay
• Pressure relief valve
• On load tap changing
• Winding temperature indicator
• Oil temperature indicator
• Sudden pressure relay
6. Over Flux Protection
7. Thermal overload protection
8. Tank earth fault protection

Why we need to protect Transformer.?

1. It is high cost of repair and replacement

2. Transformer fault may damage adjacent equipment
3. To minimize the possibility of fire
4. To improve personnel safety
5. To avoid unnecessary cascade tripping

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 Transformer Differential Protection
• Transformer Differential protection is recommended from rated more then 1MVA
• This protection is a Unit Type protection Because This protection can be cover specified
zone. Since it is only in the case of fault internal to the specified zone that the differential
current will be high.

This hole protection will operate according to Kirchhoff’s current law

“The total current entering a junction, or a node is equal to the charge leaving the node as no charge
is lost “

Here CT-1 is connected in Primary side of the Transformer and CT-2 is connected in Secondary side
of the transformer.

The above figure Shows the Powe and Current Flow of the system, when my both CT Ratios are
compensator, In this condition Node “A “Entering current and leaving current is same during No
fault condition. So, no current Flowing through my operating winding (Relay)

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In this case the fault is occurring in external side, let we consider CT-1 is Sourcing side.
In this condition Both CT Secondary Value Become High and Same. So that Node “A” no Differential
current will occur. operating coil will not operate.

Let we see Internal Fault case, let consider the fault is occur between transformer secondary and
CT-2, already we know CT-1 is Sourcing side If the Transformer secondary connected Bus is charged
by another Transformer then also CT-2 become sourcing. So Node “A” sense the Differential Current
and it will operate the operating coil of the relay.

If Transformer Secondary connected Bus is not Charged by another transformer CT-2 Secondary
current become Zero and CT-2 act like a load. Compare to CT-1 resistance Relay Operating Coil
Resistance is low so the CT-1 secondary current will choose the Lower resistance path of the circuit
and will operate the operating coil of the Differential relay.

Whenever Differential relay is operated It will Trip Both HV and LV side of the Circuit Breaker.

Differential protection can only protect 50-60% of the Transformer Winding.

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 Restricted Earth fault Protection

• REF Protection is a sensitive way to protect a zone between two measuring points against
earth fault.
• REF Protection have Two type
1. High Impedance REF Protection
2. Low Impedance REF Protection

1. High Impedance REF Protection

• REF Protection is Divided by Two zone, one is In Zone another one is Out Zone

• In Zone is not only protect the transformer winding but also protect the section between
winding to CT, But normally it is used for protecting winding
• In REF Circuit has One REF Relay and Two resister, one linear resister and another one is
Nonlinear resister. Linear resister is called as Stabilizing resister and Nonlinear resister is
called as Metrosil.
• First Condition for High Impedance Protection is Phase CT and Neutral CT Ratio should be
same.

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 • Let we consider the load is connected and the load current is 1000A
• In this No-fault condition Ib=1<0°+1<240°+1<120°
• Now Ib=Io=0

• Let we consider external fault condition.

• In this case R phase to ground fault. fault current is 1500A, R phase CT secondary gives 1.5A.
B & Y phase Ct secondary gives 1A Here Ib is 0.5A
While fault current also read in NCT because it is Ground fault so here Io is also 0.5A but NCT
Current in opposite Direction So that REF current become 0. REF relay will not react this
fault.

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• Let we take another case. transformer is in full load condition Now the Fault is In zone or
Transformer winding.
• When the transformer Winding is connected with ground the NCT will sense the Fault
Current. It will nor sense in any Phase CT.
• So that Ib is 1A and Io is 0.5A
• In General Current will take Lower resisting path.
• Already unbalance current is in Ref protection system that 0.5A current will try to enter the
phase CT Loop But It will not allow because Phase Ct Secondary current is 1A and also that is
High Impedance path. here no more option the REF current should take relay path. then REF
will operate, and it gives the trip signal to Circuit breaker.

Low Impedance REF Protection

• In this protection Phase and Neutral CTs are directly connected to relay with out any
extra Resister
• Only It have relay and Connecting wire resistance that’s why it is called as Low
impedance protection.

• Here all the current calculations are Done by relay inside.

• Then relay will consider restraining current and operating current.
• Here restraining current is Io=IA+IB+IC neutral CT secondary current is Iy.
• Operating current = Io-Iy
• When ever the operating current is higher than the restraining current the relay will give
the trip command to circuit breaker.
• REF can protect 90-95% of Transformer winding

Let we see the difference between High Impedance and Low impedance REF protection:

1. High Impedance components are connected in CT secondary in High impedance REF. In

Low impedance REF we don’t connect any extra resistance.
2. Paralleling of CT secondary is required in High Impedance, In low impedance CT
secondary directly connected to Relay.
3. In High Impedance All the CT Ratio Should be same. But in low impedance it is not a
matter.
4. In high Impedance REF current is calculated in outside of the relay by paralleling CT
secondary. In low impedance current calculation done by relay itself

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 5. Stabilizing resister is required in High impedance REF because to overcome false tripping
while external fault CT saturation condition during through fault. In Low impedance it is
not required because the relay can check the positive and negative sequence.
6. Cost wise High impedance REF relay is low cost compare low impedance
7. Chance of malfunction is less in High impedance REF protection, because all the current
calculations are done by outside of the relay.

Transformer Troubles or Mechanical Protection

Buchholz Protection:

• Buchholz Relay can protect 100% of the transformer winding.

• Liquid Insulation transformer have Buchholz function

• Buchholz relay is fixed between transformer main tank and conservator.

• During Fault period different types of gases are formed in transformer tank like
O2,H2,N2,ethiline,accetyline,propane,ethylene and corban monoxide.
• Analysis of the gas is called as DGA (Dissolved gas analysis)
• When the transformer have no fault, No fault=No gas
• In case of winding or core have some electrical discharge will heat up the insulating Liquid.
• When the insulating liquids breaks down. It actually produces gases.
• Fault=gases, large fault=Large energy

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 • In case of minor fault, the formed gases movement is from transformer tank to conservator.
velocity of the gas is slow. In that condition the gases towards upward and twist the Hinged
points then Float will move upward, and mercury switch give the alarm signal
• In case of major fault occur, the formed gases velocity is high It gives the trip.

Winding temperature Indicator & Oil temperature Indicator

WTI & OTI is indicating the temperature of the winding and oil of the transformer and It gives the
alarm and trip signal

• It operates the principle of thermal Imaging not like normal measurement.

• It consists of a sensor bulb placed in the oil filled pocket in the transformer tank top cover
• WTI have 4 Switching contacts S1 for fan S2 for motor pump control S3 for WTI alarm and S4
for WTI trip.
• OTI have only 2 Switching contact S1 for OTI alarm and S2 for OTI trip.

Pressure relief valve

• PRD is used to avoid high pressure builds up inside the transformer during fault conditions
• It is in top of the transformer tank

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• It allows rapid release of excessive pressure that may be generated in the event of a serious
fault. It fitted with an alarm and trip switch
• During large fault condition transformer tank have high pressure PRV will move upward with
spring mechanism
• When the tank pressure is low PRV will come normal position.

On Load Tap Changing Transformer:

The transformer which is not disconnected from the main supply when the tap setting is to be
changed. This type of transformer is called as On Load Tap changing Transformer. Due to Voltage
Regulation in transformer secondary we are going to on load tap changing transformer.

OLTC is installed in HV side of the transformer because current rating is low compared to LV side
of the transformer.

Let Consider Distribution transformer. LV side have some internal impedance, whenever No load
connected in the secondary the voltage between secondary is equal to induced EMF. Because
No current is flowing therefore whatever may be the impedance of the secondary winding no
voltage will drop, whenever load is connected in secondary surely it has voltage Drop. If
overload is connected to transformer low voltage will occur. So, in this case we go for OLTC

Whenever the secondary voltage is increases, primary winding turns need to decrease.

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This is picture shown the OLTC diagram.

Oil Surge Relay (OSR):

OSR Protection is used to protect the internal fault in the on-load tap changer circuit. This is like
Buchholz relay model. It just monitors the oil level on the OLTC conservator tank and force of the
oil enters or leaves from the OLTC

OSR is placed between OLTC Tank and conservator tank, OSR will not operate when the normal
gas developed in the system during onload tap changing time. It will response when the surge is
developed in the OLTC.

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 Pressure relief Valve:

For our understanding Pressure relief valve is act like a pressure cooker of our kitchen.
Whenever the tank pressure is greater than the pre-set value PRV will open. When the system
pressure comes normal values then the PRV will close

Sudden (Rapid) Pressure Rise Relay (RPRR):

It is designed to respond to rate of pressure change above predetermined safe limits set. RPRR
utilize sudden changes in internal transformer pressure to sense internal faults. Then with its
control circuit de-energize the transformer and / or provide an alarm It can sense low level
internal faults

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 Standby Earth fault Protection
It is Nothing but Earth fault protection used to protect the generator, transformer and Motor.
From the external Earth fault (outside the Zone). It is backup protection for Restricted earth fault
relay. It operates the CB when REF is failed to trip the breaker, Heavy earth fault outside of the
REF protective zone and all other earth faults.

In neutral side one CT will be installed in transformer or alternator.

Consider the current in three phases are I1,I2 and I3 neutral current is IN, During normal
condition

I1+I2+I3 = IN = 0

During the abnormal conditions for example there is a fault in R phase hence the unbalance fault
current goes to the neutral. The CT reads the unbalanced fault current and if the fault current
exceeds the pre-set value the relay will operate

The standby Earth fault protection created a class A trip hence, relay 51N will operate, it gives
the trip to circuit breaker through Master trip relay.

A simple overcurrent relay can be used as standby earth fault protection.

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 Sensitive Earth fault Protection
SEF protection scheme is used for the detection of earth fault. The sensitive earth fault
protection is usually used In alternators and transformers with high resistance grounding. High
resistance grounding restricts the earth fault current to a very less value and permits the
operation of equipment.

As we know that, the earth fault current magnitude is given by,

IF = 3VLN/ (Z0 + Z1 + Z2 + 3ZE)

Where Z0 = Zero sequence impedance

Z1 = Positive sequence impedance

Z2 = Negative sequence impedance

ZE = Impedance of earth fault

ZE represents the impedance of the ground return circuit including the fault arc, the grounding circuit,
and the intentional neutral impedance, if present. If we consider a solidly grounded system, then ZE =
0 and if Z0 = Z1= Z2 then earth fault current will be given as shown below.

IF = VLN/ Z1

The Sensitive Earth Fault protection scheme works by measuring the residual current across the three
phases in a system. Measurement of three phase residual current is done either by using Core Balance
Current Transformer (CBCT) or three CTs connected in parallel. In the ideal condition, the residual
current will be zero as all the currents flow through the three phases. Here Residual current means
current flowing through neutral or zero sequence current.
The most important part in SEF or Sensitive Earth Fault Protection is to make proper setting of the
Relay. The protection setting should take into consideration that the three CTs do not have identical
characteristics and will perform differently for heavy phase-to-phase faults or for initial
asymmetrical motor starting currents. This can produce false residual currents. The setting should
also be above the line maximum unbalance current.

The above conditions must be satisfied to avoid nuisance tripping. In addition, the ground fault
protection must be sensitive to minimum ground fault current at the end of the line. Sensitive earth
Fault protection scheme is very sensitive to detection of earth fault in the sense that its setting can
be as low as 0.2%.

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 Tank earth fault Protection

The tank earth-fault protection is a specific type of the transformer protection. This
protection is used in electric nets where a neutral point of the transformer winding is grounded.
Principle of this protection consists in connection of the transformer frame with the earthing
system through a current transformer. The overcurrent protection is connected to the CT output
terminals. This protection will act in case of all faults, when voltage will be on the transformer frame
(e.g., a bush breakdown) and current will flow from frame to ground through CT.

Therefore, the transformer tank has to be insulated from the ground. The tank earth-fault
protection shouldn’t act in case of faults in auxiliary circuits (e.g., cooling-air fan, tap
changer). Therefore, it is necessary to lead conductions of this devices through CT. Afterward fault
doesn’t raise a false trip of protection. And so, this protection is selective

In practice the transformer tank earth-fault protection operates in an incorrect way. This is caused
by a small value of the insulating resistance of the transformer tank and a resistance between the
grounded point of the transformer tank (point B) and the grounding of the transformer winding
neutral point

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 Over Flux Protection

The transformer over fluxing protection protects the transformer from overheating of the core
caused by the over fluxing in the transformer. The voltage and frequency ratio (v/f) are responsible
for over fluxing in transformer.

The sudden increase in the voltage due to transients in the power system may cause over fluxing,
however the transient over voltage die down very fast, hence instantaneous tripping is undesirable

The flux is proportional to the ratio of voltage to frequency and the ratio must be detected if the
value is greater than set off value. The over fluxing function is generally incorporated with protection
relay.

The transformer protection relay measures the input voltage and frequency

The relay measures the voltage and the frequency of the supply source. It calculates the ratio of the
Volt/hertz on a real-time basis and compares the measured value with the setpoint. The relay is
programmed for an inverse definite minimum time (IDMT characteristics). The setting of the over
fluxing can be done for the 110 to 140 % of the rated flux of the transformer

The flux in the transformer core is proportional to the V/f and inversely proportional to the number
of turns in the primary. The transformer without tap-changer has the fixed number of turns in the
primary and the flux is directly proportional to the V/f ratio.

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 Thermal Overload Protection
Protection systems used in the transformer are generally outside the transformer. To protect the
transformer from thermal overload this protection system is use. In this system the overload
protection is provided by using the bimetallic switch and contactor. The overloaded transformer is
taken out from the service by disconnecting the secondary of the transformer using contactor. After
some time, the temperature of the transformer is within the safety limit the transformer is in
working by connecting the secondary of the transformer by using the contactor and bimetallic
switch. There is automatic type of operation to protect the transformer from the thermal overload.

the natural point of the secondary is connected to the contactor and bimetallic switch is connected
to the contactor. The temperature of the transformer is sense by the bimetallic switch or strip and
the output of the switch is connected to the connecter as shown in figure.1 As the temperature of
the transformer is increased the bimetallic switch change the state. According to the state of the
bimetallic switch the contactor is work i.e. contactor will make the contact or open the contact and
due to these the transformer will in working or out of the working. when the temperature of the
transformer is increased the bimetallic switch change it's state and the change in the state is output
of the bimetallic switch is connected to the contactor. Then this output is serving as input to the
contactor and contactor will open the contacts. Power required to the operation of the contactor is
given by the Auxiliary winding

When the contactor opens the contacts the secondary of the transformer is open and the
transformer is out from the system. In this operation the transformer is stop the working when its
temperature is increased above the safety limit is figure.1 show. When the transformer is cool down
the temperature of the transformer is within the safety limit. The temperature of the transformer is

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in safety limit the bimetallic switch change the state and the contactor will connect the contact of
secondary winding

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