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What Is A Buchholz Relay?

Buchholz relay is a safety device which is generally used in large oil immersed
transformers (rated more than 500 kVA). It is a type of oil and gas actuated protection relay.
It is used for the protection of a transformer from the faults occurring inside the transformer,
such as impulse breakdown of the insulating oil, insulation failure of turns etc.

Working Principle Of Buchholz Relay

Whenever a fault occurs inside the transformer, such as insulation failure of turns,
breakdown of core or excess core heating, the fault is accompanied by production of excess
heat. This excess heat decomposes the transformer insulating oil which results in
production of gas. The generation of gases depend on intensity the of fault. Gas bubbles
tend to flow in upward direction towards conservator and hence they are collected in the
buchholz relay which is placed on the pipe connecting the transformer tank and
conservator.

Construction

Buchholz relay consists of an oil filled chamber. There are two hinged floats, one at the top
and other at the bottom in the chamber. Each float is accompanied by a mercury switch.
The mercury switch on the upper float is connected to an alarm circuit and that on the lower
float is connected to an external trip breaker. The construction of a buchholz relay is
shown in the figure.

How Does A Buchholz Relay Work?

Whenever a minor fault occurs inside the transformer, heat is produced by the fault
currents. The produced heat causes decomposition of transformer oil and gas bubbles are
produced. These gas bubbles flow in upward direction and get collected in the buchholz
relay. The collected gas displaces the oil in buchholz relay and the displacement is
equivalent to the volume of gas collected. The displacement of oil causes the upper float to
close the upper mercury switch which is connected to an alarm circuit. Hence, when minor
fault occurs, the connected alarm gets activated. The collected amount of gas indicates the
severity of the fault occurred. During minor faults the production of gas is not enough to
move the lower float. Hence, during minor faults, the lower float is unaffected.
During major faults, like phase to earth short circuit, the heat generated is high and a large
amount of gas is produced. This large amount of gas will similarly flow upwards, but its
motion is high enough to tilt the lower float in the buccholz relay. In this case, the lower float
will cause the lower mercury switch which will trip the transformer from the supply,
i.e. transformer is isolated from the supply.

Advantages Of Buchholz Relay

Buchholz relay indicates the internal faults due to heating and it helps in avoiding the
major faults.
Severity of the fault can be determined without even dismantling the transformer.
If a major fault occurs, the transformer can be isolated with the help of buchholz
relay to prevent accidents.

Buchholz relay is one of the protective device for electrical transformer

from internal faults.It works with all gas and oil immersed
transformer.Buchholz
relay
in
transformer
is
an
oil
contained arrangement. Buchholz
relay connected
in
between
pipe
from main
tank to conservator
tank and
it is
filled
with
oil
throughout transformer operation.It is used for all power transformers,but not
economical in the case of low rated transformers.Mostly buchholz relay
employed for gas and oil operated transformer(rated >500 kVA).

buchholz relay diagram

Why Buchholz relay is used in transformers?

The buchholz relay works on the principle of gas vaporization from

insulating
oil
in
the fault conditions.Buchholz
relay protects
power
transformer from all internal faults such as breakdown of the insulating oil,
insulation failure of winding,over heat generated in the coils due to failure of
insulation etc.

Working,Construction of Buchholz Relay

Buchholz relay function is based on very simple mechanical

phenomenon.It consists of two elements mounted in a metallic chamber
located in the pipe connecting the conservator and the transformer tank.
When minor fault occur, heat is produced due to current leakage, some of the
oil in transformer tank evaporates and some of the vapor gets collected at
the top of the chamber while passing it to the conservator.
When a predetermined amount of vapor accumulates at the top of the
chamber, the oil level falls, the mercury switch attached to a float is tilted so
it closes the alarm circuit and rings the bell. A release cock is provided at the
top of the chamber, so that after operation, the pressure in the chamber can
be released and the gas emitted allows the chamber to refill with oil.
When severe faults occur a large volume of gas is evaporated, so that the
lower elements containing a mercury switch mounted on a hinged type flap is
tilted and the trip coil is energized. A drain is provided at the bottom of the
chamber to allow air to be pumped into the chamber for test purposes.
The Buchholz relay operation may be actuated without any fault in the
transformer. For instance, when oil is added to a transformer, air may get in
together with oil, accumulated under the relay cover and thus cause a false
Buchholz relay operation.
Buchholz relay is employed for the following types faults,
1. Core bolt insulation failure
2. Local-overheating

3. Entrance of air into the oil

4. Less of oil due to leakage
5. Short circuited lamination due to burns.

Merits & Demerits of Buchholz Relay

Advantages of Buchholtz relay

1. The advantage of using a Buchholtz relay is that they indicate incipient
faults. For example, It indicates the faults between turns or heating of core
which enables us to take the transformer out of service before severe
damage occurs.
2. Buchholtz relay gives an alarm when the oil level reduces below a certain
level due to leakage of oil from transformer.
3. Buchholtz relay gives an audible warning which informs the operator that
there is some fault in the transformer.
4.Type of insulation failure of the transformer can also be detected by testing
the gas.
Drawbacks of Buchholtz relay
1. This type of relay can be used only for transformers with conservators.
2. The relay does not operate when the faults are above the oil level.
3. Buchholz relay does not protect the cables associated with the
transformers below. A separate protection has to be employed for the cables.
4. Due to economic considerations, this relay is not employed for
transformers above 500 kVA.
5. Setting of the mercury switch cannot be too sensitive, otherwise there can
be a false operation due to vibrations,earthquakes. mechanical shocks to the
pipe.
6. The operation of this new is unsatisfactory due to slow operating time.
(Nearly 0.2 to 0.1 seconds)
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