Power System Protection & Switchgear

(EE3203)

Module 3: Protection of Transformers

Dr. Abhinandan De
Department of Electrical Engineering
IIEST, Shibpur
Protection of Transformers
The power transformer is one of the most valuable and important equipment in a power
system and therefore it requires highly reliable protection. The protective scheme depends
on the kVA rating of the transformer. The rating of transformers used in transmission and
distribution systems range from a few kVA to several hundred MVA. For small transformers,
simple protective device such as fuses are employed. For transformers of medium size
overcurrent relays are used. For large transformers differential protection is generally
preferred. The primary protection of large power transformers is meant for internal faults,
as discussed below:
i) Protection against short-circuits in the transformer winding and connections:
Short-circuit faults are of serious nature and are likely to cause severe damage. Such faults
can be detected at the winding terminals by unbalances in voltage or current. Short-circuit
faults include line-to-ground, line-to-line as well as inter-turn faults on H.V. and L.V.
windings.
ii) Protection against Incipient faults:
At the beginning, such faults appear to be of minor nature, but slowly they might develop
into major faults. Such faults are not detectable at the winding terminals by unbalance in
voltage or current and hence, the protective devices meant to operate under short circuit
conditions are not capable of detecting this type of faults. Such faults include poor electrical
connections, core faults, failure of the coolant, regulator faults etc.

In addition to protection against internal faults mentioned above, large power transformers
are equipped with several other protections such as:

iii) Protection against sustained overloading/ overheating

iv) Over-fluxing protection
v) Tank-earth protection (Harward protection)
vi) Neutral displacement protection

1. Percentage Differential Protection for short-circuit protection of Large Power

Transformers
• Percentage differential protection is generally used for the protection of large power
transformers having ratings of 5 MVA and above. This scheme is employed for the
protection of transformers against internal short circuits. It is not capable of detecting
incipient faults.
• Figure 1 shows the schematic diagram of percentage differential protection for a Y – D
transformer. The direction of current and the polarity of the CT voltages shown in the
figure are for a particular instant.
• The convention for marking the polarity for both primary and secondary side CTs have
been chosen as: current entering the terminal has been marked as positive in all cases.
The terminal through which current is leaving has been marked negative.
• “O” and “R” are the operating and restraining coils of the relay, respectively.

Power System Protection & Switchgear (EE3203) Lecture Module – 3 by Dr. A. De, EE Dept., IIEST
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• The connections are made in such a way that under normal conditions or in case of
external faults, the current flowing through the operating coil of the relay due to CTs of
the primary side is in opposition to the current flowing through operating coil due to the
CTs of the secondary side. Consequently, the relay does not operate under such
conditions.
• If a fault occurs on the winding, the polarity of the induced voltage of the CT of the
secondary side is reversed. Now the currents in the operating coil due to CTs of both
primary and secondary sides are in the same direction and this will cause the operation
of the relay.

Fig. 1: Percentage differential protection for Y-D connected transformer

1.1 Convention of connecting CTs on the Star-side of the transformer in Delta and the
CTs on the Delta-side of the transformer in Star.
• To supply the matching current in the operating coil of the relay, the CTs on the star side
of the transformer are connected in delta. The CTs on the delta side of the
transformer are connected in star.
• In case of Y – D connected transformer there exist an inherent phase shift of 30° in the
line currents of primary and secondary sides. The above-mentioned CT connections also
correct this phase shift.
• It may be noted that zero-sequence current can flow on the star side of the transformer
both in the phases and in the line. But this does not produce zero-sequence current
outside the delta connected winding (i.e. in the lines) on the delta-connected side.
Therefore, the zero-sequence current must be eliminated from the star side to avoid
mismatch of currents. This condition is also fulfilled by connecting the CTs in delta on
star side of the transformer.

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• In case of star/star connected transformer CTs on both sides should be connected in
delta only (and must not be connected in star). Only in case, the star point is un-
grounded on both primary and secondary sides of a star/star connected
transformer, the CTs may be allowed to be connected in star on both sides.
• If the star point is grounded only on one side (but not both), and CTs on both sides are
connected in star, the relay will also operate for external faults.
• Therefore, it is better to follow the rule that CTs associated with star-connected
transformer windings be connected in delta and those associated with delta windings in
star.

1.2 Bias setting of Transformer Differential Relay is usually higher than the Generator
Differential Relay
The relay’s bias settings for transformer protection are usually kept higher than those for
alternators. The typical value of percentage bias setting for generator differential relay is
usually 5% of the full-load current. The corresponding value for the transformer
differential relay is usually 10%. The reasons for a higher bias current setting in the case
of transformer protection are as follows:
a) No-load current flows only in the primary side of the transformer. There is no no-load
current component in the secondary side. This may cause a mismatch between primary
and secondary CT currents under all condition. To avoid relay maloperation due to this
mismatch of current, bias setting should be greater than at-least the no-load current of
transformer. Such condition does not arise in alternators.
b) Power transformers are generally provided with on-load tap changers. When tap
setting is changed, the turn’s ratio of the transformer changes from its nominal value.
Accordingly, the ratio of the primary and secondary current of the transformer also
changes with tap changing. However, the primary and secondary CT ratio cannot be
changed with varying transformation ratio of the power transformer. The CT ratio is
therefore, kept fixed as per the nominal ratio of the power transformer. For taps other
than nominal, an out of balance current flows through the operating coil of the relay
during all operating conditions. A higher bias setting is required to ensure that the relay
does not mal-operate due to this out of balance current.

1.3 Harmonic Restraint feature in Transformer Differential Relay to prevent Mal-

operation due to Magnetic Inrush Current
When an unloaded transformer is switched on, it draws a large initial magnetising
current which may be several times the rated current of the transformer. This initial
magnetising current is called the magnetic inrush current of transformer. As the inrush
current flows only in the primary winding, the differential protection will see this inrush
current as an internal fault and trip the relay. To prevent mal-tripping of differential relay
due to inrush current, a harmonic restraint is added as under:
• The harmonic contents in the inrush current are different from those in usual fault
current. The dc component varies from 40 to 60%, the second harmonic 30 to 70% and
the third harmonic is usually 10 to 30% in the inrush current. The other harmonics are
progressively less.

Power System Protection & Switchgear (EE3203) Lecture Module – 3 by Dr. A. De, EE Dept., IIEST
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• The third harmonic and its multiples do not appear outside CT terminals, as these
harmonics can circulate in the delta winding of the transformer and the delta connected
CTs on the Y side of the transformer only.
• However, as the second harmonic content is much higher in the inrush current than
in the fault current, and this feature is utilised to distinguish between a fault and
magnetic inrush current.

1.4 Operating principle of Harmonic Restraint feature:

Figure 2 shows a high speed biased differential scheme incorporating a harmonic restraint
feature. The operating time of the relay is about 2 cycles.
• The main objective is to filter-out the harmonics from the differential current, rectify
them and add them to the percentage bias.
• The value of XL and XC in the circuit of Fig.2 are adjusted or tuned to allow only the current
of fundamental frequency to flow through the Relay Operating coil (O).
• The dc component and other harmonics, mostly the second harmonic in case of magnetic
inrush current, are diverted into the restraining coil through an additional harmonic
bias circuit (rectifier bridge).
• The relay is adjusted so as not to operate when the second harmonic (restraining
current) exceeds 15% of the fundamental current (operating current).

Fig. 2: High Speed Transformer Differential Relay with Harmonic Restraint feature

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1.5 Drawback of Harmonic Restraint Relay:
The drawback of this scheme that, dc offset and harmonics can also be present in the fault
current, particularly if the CT saturates. In such case, the differential relay with harmonic
restraint will fail to operate on the occurrence of an internal fault which contains
considerable harmonics.

• To overcome this difficulty, an instantaneous overcurrent relay (the high-set unit) is

also incorporated in the harmonic restraint scheme. This relay is set above the maximum
anticipated inrush current amplitude. It operates in less than one cycle in the event of a
severe internal fault and protects the transformer winding.
• In an alternative scheme, known as harmonic blocking scheme, a separate blocking
relay whose contacts are in series with those of a biased differential relay, is employed.
The blocking relay is set to unblock and operate the differential relay when the second
harmonic is less than 15% of the fundamental.

1.6 Problems on Transformer Differential Relay

#1. A three-phase, 11 kV/132 kV, D-Y connected power transformer is protected by
differential protection. The CTs on the LV side have a current ratio of 500/5. What must
be the current ratio of the CTs on the HV side and how should they be connected.
Solution: In order that circulating currents in the relay are in phase opposition, the CTs on
the delta connected LV side of the transformer should be connected in star and the CTs on
the star connected HV side of the transformer should be connected in delta. Connections of
CTs on LV and HV sides are shown in Fig. A

Fig. A
Let the line currents on the primary and secondary sides of the transformer be IL1 and IL2
respectively. Then assuming primary and secondary VA to be same:

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Since the CTs on the LV side are connected in star, the line current on the secondary of the
CT and the pilot wire will be 5A. For current matching, The CTs on the HV side should also
produce line current (current through pilot wire) of 5 A.
However, the CTs on the HV side are delta connected. If the pilot wire current (line current
of the delta connected CT secondary) must be 5 A, then CT secondary phase current has to
be: 5/√3 A.
Thus, on the HV side: CT primary current = 41.66 A
CT secondary current = 5/√3 A
Hence CT ratio on HV side

#2. A three-phase, 11 kV/33 kV, Y-D connected power transformer is protected by

differential protection. The CTs on the LV side have a current ratio of 400/5. What must
be the ratio of CTs on the HV side. How the CTs on both the sides of the transformer are
connected.
The connections of the CTs on two sides of the transformer are shown in Fig. B. Let the line
currents on the primary and secondary sides of the transformer be IL1 and IL2 respectively.

Fig. B
Assuming primary and secondary VA to be same:

For IL1 of 400 A, the current in the secondary of the CTs on the 11 kV primary (Y-connected)
side of the transformer will be 5A. Since these CTs are connected in delta, the current through
the pilot wire will be 5√3 A.

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For current matching, the CTs on the 33 kV secondary (D-connected) side will also have to
produce line current (current through pilot wire) of 5√3 A.
But, the CTs on the 33 kV delta-connected side of the transformer being star connected, these
CTs will have identical phase and line currents. Thus, current in the secondary winding of
the CTs on 33 kV side should also be 5√3 A, while the primary current being IL2 = 133.3 A
Hence CT ratio on 33 kV side will be: 133.3 / 5√3 = 76.7/5

2. Protection against Incipient faults - Buchholz Relay

Bucholz relay is used to detect incipient faults, which are initially minor faults but may
develop into major faults in due course of time.
• Buchholz relay is a gas actuated relay, which is used to supplement the biased
differential protection of the transformer, because the Buchholz relay is a slow acting
relay, and may not be able to provide fast protection against short circuits within the
transformer or at the terminals.
• On the other hand, differential protection is meant to detect severe short-circuits, and it
may not be able to respond to minor or incipient faults.
• When a fault develops slowly, it produces heat, thereby decomposing the oil and other
solid insulation used in the transform. The decomposition of the insulating material
produces inflammable gases.
• There is a chamber to accommodate Buchholz relay, in between the transformer tank
and the conservator. A simple diagram to explain the operating principle of Buchholz
relay is shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 Mounting arrangement and operating principle of Bucholz relay

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• When gas accumulates in the relay chamber, the oil level falls, and thus the float also
comes down. It causes an alarm to sound and alert the operator.
• Initially, the operation of the Buchholz relay only gives an alarm when a specified amount
of gas is formed.
• If the fault is of severe type, much larger volumes of gases are produced, which cause the
lower float to operate. When the lower float operates, it finally trips the circuit breakers
of the transformer and disconnects it’s power supply.

3. Protection against Sustained Overloading/ Overheating

• The rating of a transformer depends on the temperature rise above an assumed
maximum ambient temperature. Sustained overload is not allowed if the ambient
temperature is equal to the assumed ambient temperature.
• At lower ambient temperature, some overloading is permissible. The amount of
permissible overloading will depend on the ambient temperature prevailing at the time
of operation. The maximum safe overloading is that which does not overheat the winding.
• The maximum allowed winding temperature is about 95°C. Thus, the protection against
overload depends on the winding temperature which is usually measured by thermal
imaging technique or with the help of embedded temperature detectors (ETDs).

4. Over-fluxing protection
The magnetic flux in the transformer core is a function of supply voltage and frequency. The
expression of flux in a transformer core is given by:
ϕ α V/f , where, ϕ = flux, f = supply frequency, V = applied voltage.
• Increases in applied voltage leads to increase in core flux density
• Reduction in frequency also increases the flux density
• The increased flux density in the core results in increased iron loss and higher
magnetizing current. The core and core bolts get heated and the lamination insulation
get affected due to higher core temperature.
• Protection against over-fluxing is required where sustained overvoltage or
underfrequency can occur.
• To control the core flux density, the ratio V/f has to be maintained constant. When V/f
exceeds some pre-determined threshold K. Therefore V/f ratio needs to be monitored
constantly and when it exceeds the threshold, suitable action needs to be taken.
• Electronic circuits with suitable relays are available to monitor the V/f ratio. Usually, 10%
over-fluxing can be allowed without any damage. If V/f increases by more than 10%,
over-fluxing protections needs to operate.
• Over-fluxing does not require high speed tripping and hence instantaneous operation
is undesirable. But the transformer should be isolated in one or two minutes at the most
if over-fluxing persists.

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5. Tank-earth protection (Harward protection)
The transformer tank is nominally insulated from earth. Usually, insulation resistance of 10
ohms is sufficient. The primary of a CT is connected between the tank and earth. A relay is
connected to the secondary of the CT, which operates if the tank to earth current through CT
exceeds a certain threshold. This is also called Harward protection.

6. Neutral Displacement protection

• In case of ungrounded transformer, an earth fault occurring elsewhere in the system may
result in the displacement of the neutral. A neutral displacement detection scheme is
shown in Fig. 4. Since, neutral shifting happens due to the unbalancing in the voltages of
the transformer, it is possible to monitor the neutral shifting by detecting the presence
of large zero-sequence voltage.
• A potential transformer of small rating is usually connected to the power transformer’s
terminal, with its secondary winding connected in open delta.
• The output of the open-delta is applied to a relay, called residual voltage relay. The
current through the relay is proportional to the zero-sequence voltage produced due to
unbalance in the voltage caused by the displacement of the neutral point of the power
transformer.

Fig. 4 Detection of Neutral Displacement by zero-sequence voltage detection

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