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ent Coordination Setting Guidelines Transformers

tion presented in this application guide is for review, approval, interpretation and application by a registered professional engineer only.
ny responsibility and liability resulting from the use and interpretation of this information.

n of this material is permitted provided proper acknowledgement is given to SKM Systems Analysis Inc.

selection and coordination of protective devices is mandated in article 110.10 of the National Electrical Code. To fulfill this requirement a
coordination study is required. The electrical engineer is always responsible for this analysis. It is an unfortunate fact of life that many ti
ho specified and purchased the equipment will not set the devices. Therefore, compromises are inevitable.

hree fundamental objectives to overcurrent coordination that engineers should keep in mind while selecting and setting protective device

st objective is life safety. Life safety requirements are met if protective devices are rated to carry and interrupt maximum available load c
withstand and interrupt maximum available fault currents. Life safety requirements are never compromised.
cond objective is equipment protection. Protection requirements are met if overcurrent devices are set above load operating levels and b
t damage curves. Feeder and transformer damage curves are defined in applicable equipment standards. Motor and generator damage
e machine specific, and are normally provided in the vendor data submittal package. Based on system operating and equipment sizing p
t protection is not always possible.
t objective is selectivity. Selectivity requirements are met if in response to a system fault or overload, the minimum area of the distribut
removed from service. Again, based on system operating and equipment selection practices selectivity is not always possible.

e of this guide is to provide overcurrent protective device setting guidelines for transformers to meet the objectives listed above.

ormer Switchgear Feeder Unit

ndard overcurrent protection schemes for MV transformers fed from switchgear circuit breakers include an instantaneous overcurrent re
50/51 relay characteristics are plotted on a phase TCC along with the transformer and feeder damage curves.

e of the phase overcurrent relay is to allow for full use of the transformer, and to protect the transformer and cable from overloads and fa
this, the relay curve should be to the right of the transformer FLA rating and inrush point, and to the left of the transformer and cable da
the cable amp rating.

margins are listed below that have historically allowed for safe operation of the transformer and cable while reducing instances of nuisan
Device

Function

Recommendations

Comments

CT

Size

200% of FLA

FLA on base rating.

51

Pickup

110-140% of FLA

Set below the transformer damage curve.

Set at or below cable ampacity.

50

Time Dial

let-thru current @ 1.0

second

Set below the transformer damage curve.

Set at or above low voltage main device.

Pickup

200% of let-thru

Set below cable damage curve.

or
200% of inrush

Cable damage curve must be above the maximum

fault current at 0.1 seconds.

Fig. 1 MV transformer switchgear feeder unit - one line

Fig. 2 MV transformer switchgear feeder unit - phase TCC

ormer Fused Switch Feeder Unit

er fuses are typically used in fused switches serving MV transformers. Fuses rated 100E or less must trip in 300 seconds at currents betw
f their E ratings. Fuses above 100E must trip in 600 seconds at currents between 220 and 264% of their E ratings. The fuse characteristi
phase TCC along with the transformer and feeder damage curves.

e of the fuse is to allow for full use of the transformer, and to protect the transformer and cable from faults. To accomplish this, the fuse c
o the right of the transformer inrush point and to the left of the cable damage curve. Typically the fuse will cross the transformer damage
ary main device provides overcurrent protection for the circuit.

margins are listed below that have historically allowed for safe operation of the transformer and cable while reducing instances of nuisan
Device

Function

Recommendations

Comments

50

Fuse Size

E-rating > FLA

FLA based on the top rating of the unit.

Size at or below cable ampacity.
Size above transformer inrush point of 12 x
nominal FLA at 0.1 seconds.
Size above transformer inrush point of 25 x
nominal FLA at 0.01 seconds.
Cable damage curve must be above the maximum
fault current at 0.01 seconds.

Fig. 3 MV transformer fused switch feeder unit - one line

Fig. 4 MV transformer fused switch feeder unit - phase TCC

rmer CB Feeder Unit

ndard overcurrent protection schemes for LV transformers fed from circuit breakers equipped with long-time, short-time and instantaneo
he circuit breaker characteristics are plotted on a phase TCC along with the transformer and feeder damage curves.

e of the circuit breaker is to allow for full use of the transformer, and to protect the transformer and cable from overloads and faults. To a
cuit breaker curve should be to the right of the transformer FLA rating and inrush point, and to the left of the transformer and cable dam

margins are listed below that have historically allowed for safe operation of the transformer and cable while reducing instances of nuisan
Device

Function

Recommendations

Comments

51

LTPU

100-125% of FLA

Set below the transformer damage curve.

Set at or below cable ampacity.

LTD, STPU &

STD

Set to coordinate with

downstream devices

Set below the transformer damage curve.

200% of inrush

Set below cable damage curve.

Cable damage curve must be above the
maximum fault current at the CB total clear
curve.

50

Instantaneou
s

Fig. 5 LV transformer CB feeder unit - one line

Fig. 6 LV transformer CB feeder unit - phase TCC

rmer Fused Switch Feeder Unit

0A) and Class L (>600A) fuses are typically used in fused switches serving LV transformers. The fuse characteristics are plotted on a pha
he transformer and feeder damage curves.

e of the fuse is to allow for full use of the transformer, and to protect the transformer and cable from faults. To accomplish this, the fuse c
o the right of the transformer inrush point and to the left of the cable damage curve. Typically the fuse will cross the transformer damage
ary main device provides overcurrent protection for the circuit.

margins are listed below that have historically allowed for safe operation of the transformer and cable while reducing instances of nuisan
Device

50

Function

Fuse Size

Recommendations

Comments

100-125% of FLA

FLA based on the top rating of the unit.

Size at or below cable ampacity.
Size above transformer inrush point of 12 x
nominal FLA at 0.1 seconds.
Size above transformer inrush point of 25 x
nominal FLA at 0.01 seconds.
Cable damage curve must be above the maximum
fault current at 0.01 seconds.

Fig. 7 LV transformer fused switch feeder unit - one line

Fig. 8 LV transformer fused switch feeder unit - phase TCC

Application Guides offered by SKM Systems Analysis at www.skm.com

al Transmission and Distribution Reference Book, ABB Power T&D Company, Raleigh, North Carolina, 1997
ive Relaying Theory and Applications, 2nd Edition, Marcel Dekker, New York, 2004

d 242, IEEE Recommended Practice for Protection and Coordination of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems (IEEE Buff Book)
d C37.91, IEEE Guide for Protective Relay Applications to Power Transformers

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