Professional Documents
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1_114Q07- 1 -
Transformers
Protection
Protections
AGENDA
PRINCIPLES
LINES PROTECTION
TRANSFORMERS PROTECTION
INTRODUCTION
SELECTING A PROTECTIVE SYSTEM
Differential protection
Sudden pressure relay
Overcurrent protection
Transformer tank protection
Typical protective scheme for power transformers
© ABB Power Technology
EXTERNAL INTERNAL
External Short
Short circuits
Circuits between turns
between windings
Overloads
Ground faults
Overvoltages
Overtemperature
Overpressure
Miss of oil
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 4 -
Introduction. Transformers protections
INTERNAL ELECTRICAL
BUCHHOLZ (SPR)
SURGE ARRESTERS
THERMOMETER
THERMOSTAT
OVERCURRENT RELAYS
THERMAL IMAGE
PHASE
OIL LEVEL NEUTRAL
PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE DIFFERENTIAL RELAY
BUCHHOLZ-TAP CHANGER THERMAL RELAY
TANK RELAY
FUSES
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 5 -
Magnetizing inrush
When a transformer is first energized, a transient magnetizing or
exciting inrush current may flow. This inrush current, which appears as
an internal fault to the differentially connected relays, may reach
instantaneous peaks of 8 to 30 times those for full load.
The factors controlling the duration and magnitude of the magnetizing
inrush are:
Size and location of the transformer bank
Size of the power system
Resistance in the power system from the source to the transformer bank
Type of iron used in the transformer core and its saturation density
Prior history, or residual flux level, of the bank
How the bank is energized
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 6 -
Initial inrush
When the excitation of a transformer bank is removed, the magnetizing
current goes to O.
The flux, following the hysteresis loop, then falls to some residual value
φ R. If the transformer were reenergized at the instant the voltage
waveform corresponds to the residual magnetic density within the core,
there would be a smooth continuation of the previous operation with no
magnetic transient.
In practice, however, the instant when switching takes place cannot be
controlled and a magnetizing transient is practically unavoidable.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 7 -
Initial inrush
If the circuit is re-energized at the instant the flux would normally be at
its negative maximum value (-φ max) as the residual flux would have a
positive value and since magnetic flux can neither be created nor
destroyed instantly, the flux wave, instead of starting at its normal value
(-φ max) and rising along the dotted line, will start with the residual
value (φ R) and trance the curve (φ L).
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 8 -
Initial inrush
Curve φ t is a displaced
sinusoid, regardless of the
magnetic circuit's saturation
characteristics.
Theoretically, the value of
φ max is + (|φ R| + 2|
φ max|).
In transformers designed for
some normal, economical
saturation density φ s, the
crest of φ t will produce
super saturation in the
magnetic circuit.
The result will be a very
© ABB Power Technology
For the first few cycles, the inrush current decays rapidly. Then,
however, the current subsides very slowly, sometimes taking many
seconds if the resistance is low.
The time constant of the circuit (L/R) is not, in fact, a constant: L varies
as a result of transformer saturation. During the first few cycles,
saturation is high and L is low. As the losses damp the circuit, the
saturation drops and L increases. According to a 1951 AIEE report,
© ABB Power Technology
time constants for inrush vary from 10 cycles for small units to as much
as 1 min for large units.
1_114Q07- 11 -
Initial inrush
The resistance from the source to the bank determines the damping of
the current wave.
Banks near a generator will have a longer inrush because the
resistance is very low.
Likewise, large transformer units tend to have a long inrush as they
represent a large L relative to the system resistance.
At remote substations, the inrush will not be nearly so severe, since the
resistance in the connecting line will quickly damp the current.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 12 -
Initial inrush
When there is more than one delta winding on a transformer bank, the
inrush will he influenced by the coupling between the different voltage
windings. Depending on the core construction, three-phase transformer
units may be subject to interphase coupling that could also affect the
inrush current.
Similar wave shapes would be encountered when energizing the wye
winding of a wye-delta bank, or an autotransformer. Here, the single-
phase shape would be distorted as a result of the interphase coupling
produced by the delta winding (or tertiary).
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 13 -
Initial inrush
Maximum inrush will not, of course, occur on every energization.
The probability of energizing at the worst condition is relatively low.
Energizing at maximum voltage will not produce an inrush with no residual.
In a three-phase bank, the inrush in each phase will vary appreciably.
The maximum inrush for a transformer bank can be calculated from the
excitation curve if available, and Table shows a typical calculation of an
inrush current (used phase A voltage as 0° reference).
87
With internal fault Id > 0 ⇒ Trip
© ABB Power Technology
Id
To prevent miss-operation
percentage characteristics
are used, with line current Operating zone
restraint.
© ABB Power Technology
(I1 + I2)/2
1_114Q07- 23 -
Differential relaying for transformer protection
Since the differential relays see the inrush current as an internal fault,
some method of distinguishing between fault and inrush current is
necessary.
Such methods include:
A differential relay with reduced sensitivity to the inrush wave (such
units have a higher pickup for the offset wave, plus time delay to
override the high initial peaks).
A harmonic restraint or a supervisory unit used in con-junction with
the differential relay
Desensitization of the differential relay during bank energization.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 24 -
Differential relay for transformer protection
Induction relays are relatively insensitive to
the high percentage of harmonics contained
in magnetizing inrush current.
The relay shown consists of a percentage
differential unit and an indication contactor
switch.
The percentage differential unit, an
induction disc type, has an electromagnet
with poles above and below the disc.
There are two restraint coils on the lower
left-hand pole; the operating coil is wound
on the lower right-hand pole.
Both the left- and right-hand poles have
transformer winding, connected in parallel to
© ABB Power Technology
unit should be set at 50% external fault current or a value higher than
transformer inrush current, whichever is greater.
1_114Q07- 31 -
Harmonic restraint Transformer Differential Relay
Since magnetizing inrush current has a high harmonic content,
particularly the second harmonic, this second harmonic can be used to
restrain and thus desensitize a relay during energization.
The method of harmonic restraint is not without its problems.
There must be enough restraint to avoid relay operation on inrush,
without making the relay insensitive to internal faults that may also
have some harmonic content.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 32 -
Harmonic restraint Transformer Differential Relay
In the differential unit, (DU) air-gap transformers feed the restraint
circuits, and a non-air-gap transformer energizes the operating coil
circuit.
Since the rectified restraint outputs are connected in parallel, the relay
restraint is proportional to the maximum restraining current in any
restraint circuit.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 33 -
Harmonic restraint Transformer Differential Relay
The percentage characteristic varies from around 20% on light faults,
where current transformer performance is good, to approximately 60%
on heavy fault, where current transformer saturation may occur.
This variable-percentage characteristic is obtained via the saturating
transformer in the operating coil circuit.
The minimum pickup is the current that will just close the differential
unit contacts, with the operating coil and one restraint coil energized.
The continuous rating of the relay is 10 to 22 A, depending on the relay
tap used.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 34 -
Harmonic restraint Transformer Differential Relay
The harmonic restraint unit (HRU) has a second-harmonic blocking
filter in the operating coil circuit and a second-harmonic pass filter in
the restraint coil circuit.
Thus, the predominant second-harmonic characteristic of an inrush
current produces ample restraint with minimum operating energy.
The circuit is designed to hold open its contacts when the second-
harmonic component is higher than 15% of the fundamental.
This degree of restraint in the HRU is adequate to prevent relay
operation on practically all inrushes, even if the differential unit should
operate.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 35 -
Harmonic restraint Transformer Differential Relay
For internal faults, ample operating energy is produced by the
fundamental frequency and harmonic other than the second.
The second harmonic is at a minimum during a fault. Since the HRU
will operate at the same pickup as the DU, the differential unit will
operate sensitively on internal faults.
For external faults, the differential unit (DU) will restrain.
The relay operating time is one cycle at 20 times tap value.
The instantaneous trip unit (IIT) is included to ensure high-speed
operation on heavy internal faults, where current transformer saturation
may delay HRU contact closing.
The IIT pickup is 10 times the relay tap value.
This setting will override the inrush peaks and maximum false
© ABB Power Technology
some-times used.
Fast operation is not possible, since In n*In i
overreach.
1_114Q07- 46 -
Overcurrent and Backup Protection
Overcurrent relays cannot be used for primary protection without the
risk of internal faults causing extensive damage to the transformer.
Fast operation on heavy internal faults is obtained by using
instantaneous trip units in the overcurrent relays.
These units may be set at 125% of the maximum through fault, which is
usually a low-side three-phase fault.
The setting should be above the inrush current. Often, instantaneous
trip units cannot be used because the fault currents are too small.
An overcurrent relay set to protect the main windings of an
autotransformer or three-winding transformer offers almost no
protection to the tertiary windings, which have a much smaller kVA.
Also, these tertiary windings may carry very heavy currents during
ground faults. In such cases, tertiary overcurrent protection must be
© ABB Power Technology
provided.
1_114Q07- 47 -
Overcurrent and Backup Protection
A through fault external to a transformer results in an overload that can
cause transformer failure if the fault is not cleared promptly.
It is widely recognized that damage to transformers from through faults
is the results of thermal and mechanical effects.
The thermal effect has been well understood for years.
The mechanical effect has recently gained increased recognition as a major
concern of transformer failure.
This results from the cumulative nature of some of the mechanical effects,
particularly insulation compression, insulation wear, and friction-induced
displacement.
The damage that occurs as a result of these cumulative effects is a function
of not only the magnitude and duration of through faults, but also the total
number of such faults.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 48 -
Overcurrent and Backup Protection
The transformer can be isolated from the fault before damage occurs
by using fuses or overcurrent relays.
50/51N
50/51G
2-3 50/51
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 49 -
Distance Relaying for Backup Protection
Directional distance relaying can be used for transformer backup
protection when the setting or coordination of the overcurrent relays is
a problem.
The directional distance relays are connected to operate when the fault
current flows toward the protected transformer.
They are set to reach into, but not beyond, the transformer.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 50 -
AGENDA
PRINCIPLES
LINES PROTECTION
TRANSFORMERS PROTECTION
INTRODUCTION
SELECTING A PROTECTIVE SYSTEM
Differential protection
Sudden pressure relay
Overcurrent protection
Transformer tank protection
Typical protective scheme for power transformers
© ABB Power Technology
64
1_114Q07- 52 -
Transformer Tank protection
To prevent incorrect tripping (because of possible faults in the
connection cables to fans, etc) it is necessary to take some measure
as the indicated in fig, and to coordinate with the neutral protection.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 53 -
AGENDA
PRINCIPLES
LINES PROTECTION
TRANSFORMERS PROTECTION
INTRODUCTION
SELECTING A PROTECTIVE SYSTEM
Differential protection
Sudden pressure relay
Overcurrent protection
Transformer tank protection
Typical protective scheme for power transformers
© ABB Power Technology