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Buchholz relay

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Buchholz relay
Two ball-shaped floats and two glass-enclosed
reed switches are visible inside this cutaway view
of a Buchholz relay
In the field of electric power distribution and transmission, a Buchholz
relay is a safety device mounted on some oil-filled power transformers
and reactors, equipped with an external overhead oil reservoir called a
conservator. The Buchholz Relay is used as a protective device
sensitive to the effects of dielectric failure inside the equipment.
Depending on the model, the relay has multiple methods to detect a
failing transformer. On a slow accumulation of gas, due perhaps to
slight overload, gas produced by decomposition of insulating oil
accumulates in the top of the relay and forces the oil level down. A
float switch in the relay is used to initiate an alarm signal. Depending
on design, a second float may also serve to detect slow oil leaks.
If an arc forms, gas accumulation is rapid, and oil flows rapidly into
the conservator. This flow of oil operates a switch attached to a vane
located in the path of the moving oil. This switch normally will operate
a circuit breaker to isolate the apparatus before the fault causes
additional damage. Buchholz relays have a test port to allow the
accumulated gas to be withdrawn for testing. Flammable gas found in
the relay indicates some internal fault such as overheating or arcing,
whereas air found in the relay may only indicate low oil level or a leak.
Buchholz relays have been applied to large power transformers at least since the 1940s. The relay was first
developed by Max Buchholz (18751956) in 1921.
[1]
Names like beechwood relay or beech relay are an indication of incorrectly translated German language manuals.
References
[1] http:/ / www. transformerworld. co.uk/ buchholz.htm Tutorial T5
Article Sources and Contributors
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Article Sources and Contributors
Buchholz relay Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=608514996 Contributors: A. Carty, A2Kafir, Alfaomega, Amalas, BillC, Chongkian, Chzz, Conscious, El Irlands, Ericwb,
Escherichia coli, Favonian, Hoogestraat, Hooperbloob, John of Reading, LorenzoB, Lugia2453, MER-C, Michele Bini, Monni95, Mr.Z-man, Ot, Poco a poco, Reify-tech, Shaddack, Steve
carlson, Theotherskip, Wtshymanski, 37 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
Image:Buchholz 2.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Buchholz_2.JPG License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Original uploader was Fluppe37 at
nl.wikipedia
License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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