Transformer Protection : Part 2

1. Percentage Differential Protection for Transformers

The percentage differential protection or Merz-Price protection based on the circulating
current pronciple can also be used for the transformers. This system gives protection against
phase to phase faults and phase to ground faults to the power transformers.
The principle of such a protection scheme is the comparison of the currents entering and
leaving the ends of a transformer. The vector difference of currents passes through the operating
coil while the average current passes through the restraining coil. In normal conditions, the two
currents at the two ends of the transformer are equal and balance is maintained. So no currents
flow through the operating coil of the relay and and relay is inoperative. But when there is phase
to phase fault or phase to ground fault, this balance gets disturbed. The difference current flows
through the operating coil due to which relay operates, tripping the circuit breaker.
Compared to the differential protection used in generators, there are certain important points
which must be taken care of while using such protection for the power transformers. These points
are,
1. In a power transformer, the voltage rating of the two windings is different. The high voltage
winding is low current winding while low voltage winding is high current winding. Thus there
always exists difference in current on the primary and secondary sides of the power transformer.
Hence if C.T.s of same ratio are used on two sides, then relay may get operated through there is
no fault existing.
To compensate for this difficulty, the current ratios of C.T.s on each side are different. These
ratios depend on the line currents of the power transformer and the connection of C.T.s. Due to
the different turns ratio, the currents fed into the pilot wires from each end are same under normal
conditions so that the relay remains inoperative. For example if K is the turns ratio of a power
transformer then the ratio of C.T.s on low voltage side is made K times greater than that of C.T.s
on high voltage side.
2. In case of power transformers, there is an inherent phase difference between the voltages
induced in high voltage winding and low voltage winding. Due to this, there exists a phase
difference between the line currents on primary and secondary sides of a power transformer. This
introduces the phase difference between the C.T. secondary currents, on the two sides of a power
transformer. Through the turns ratio of C.T.s are selected to compensate for turns ratio of
transformer, a differential current may result due to the phase difference between the currents on
two sides. Such a different current may operate the relay though there is no fault. Hence it is
necessary to correct the phase difference.
To compensate for this, the C.T. connections should be such that the resultant currents fed
into the pilot wires from either sides are displaced in phase by an angle equal to the phase shift
between the primary and secondary currents. To achieve this, secondaries of C.T.s on star
connected side of a power transformer are connected in delta while the secondaries of C.T.s on
delta connected side of a power transformer are connected in star.
The table.1 gives the way of connecting C.T. secondaries for the various types of power
transformer connections.

With such an arrangement, the phase displacement between the currents gets compensated
with the oppositely connected C.T. secondaries. Hence currents fed to the pilot wires from both
the sides are in phase under normal running conditions and the relay is ensured to be inoperative.
3. The neutrals of C.T. star and power transformer stars are grounded.
4. Many transformers have tap changing arrangement due to which there is a possibility of flow of
differential current. For this, the turns ratio of C.T.s on both sides of the power transformer are
provided with tap for of C.T.s on both sides of the power transformer are provided with tap for their
adjustment.
For the sake of understanding, the connection of C.T. secondaries in delta for star side of
power transformer and the connection of C.T. secondaries in star for delta side of power
transformer is shown in the Fig.1(a) and (b).

Fig 1

1.1 Merz-Price Protection for Star-Delta Transformer

Let us study the Merz-Price protection for the star-delta power transformer. The primary of
the power transformer is star connected while the secondary is delta connected. Hence to
compensate for the phase difference, the C.T. secondaries on primary side must be connected in
delta while the C.T. secondaries on delta side must be connected in star. The star point of the
power transformer primary as well as the star connected C.T. secondaries must be grounded.
The circuit diagram of the scheme is shown in the Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 Merz-Price Protection for Star-Delta power transformer

The restraining coils are connected across the C.T. secondary windings while the operating
coils are connected between the tapping points on the restraining coils and the star point of C.T.
secondaries.
With the proper selection of turns ratio of C.T.s the coils are under balanced condition during
normal operating conditions. The C.T. secondaries carry equal currents which are in phase under
normal conditions. So no current flows through the relay and the relay is inoperative.
With an internal fault in power transformer windings, the balance in the C.T.s get disturbed.
The operating coils of differential relay carry currents proportional to the difference of current
between the two sides of a power transformer. This causes the relay operation which trips the
main circuit breakers on both the sides of the power transformer.
The basic requirements of the differential relay are,
1. The differential relay must not operate on load or external faults.
2. It must operate on sever internal faults.
The relay satisfying these requirements is used in Merz-Price protection.
It is important to note that this scheme gives protection against short circuit faults between
the turns i.e. interturn faults also. This is because when there is an interturn fault, the turns ratio
of power transformer gets affected. Due to this the currents on both sides of the power
transformer become unbalanced. This causes an enough differential current which floes through
the relay and the relay operates.

1.2 Merz-Price Protection for Star-Star Transformer

The Fig. 3 shows the Merz-Price protection system for the star-star power transformer. Both
primary and secondary of the power transformer are connected in star and hence C.T.
secondaries. The operating coils are connected between the tapping on the restraining coil and
the ground. The operation of the scheme remains same for any type of power transformer as
discussed for star-star power transformer.

Fig. 3 Merz-Price Protection for Star-Star power Transformer

Example : A three phase power transformer having a line voltage ratio of 400 V to 33 kV is
connected in star-delta. the C.T.s on 400 V side have current ratio as 1000/5. What must be the
C.T. ratio on 33 kV side.
Assume current on 400 V side of transformer to be 1000 A.

Fig. 4

Solution : The arrangement is shown in the Fig. 4.

On the primary side, which is 400 V side of transformer the current is 1000 A.
Hence C.T.s primary will carry current of 1000 A.
The C.T. ratio is 1000/5 on the primary side hence the current in C.T.
Secondaries which is phase current of delta connected C.T.s is,
Ip = 1000 x (5/1000) = 5 A
This is shown in the Fig.4
IL =3 Ip = 53 A
This is balance the C.T. secondaries are connected in delta.
The same current flows through the star connected C.T. secondaries. Hence each
secondaries of C.T. on the secondary side of transformer carries a current of 53 A.
For the power transformer the apparent power on both sides must be same.
Primary apparent power = Secondary apparent power
3 VL1 IL1 = 3 VL2 IL2
3 x 400 x 1000 = 3 x 33000 x IL2
IL2 = (400 x 1000)/33000 = 12.12 A
Thus each primary of C.T.s connected in star carries a current of 12.12 A.while each
secondary of C.T.s connected in star carries a current of 53 A.
Hence the C.T. ratio on 33 kV side is,
C.T. ratio = Primary current/Secondary current = 12.12/53 = 1.4 : 1
This is the required C.T. ratio on 33 kV side.