Objectives

 At the end of this unit student will know/

learn about
 How to protect the transformer from Internal
faults?
 What is percentage differential protection?

 How to design CT ratio?

 Protection of transformer using Buchholtz relay.

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 Introduction
 Major equipment in a power system.

 Chances of fault occurrences are very rare

since they are static devices, enclosed totally
and oil immersed.
 But the damage caused by the faults usually
takes more time and money to repair than
are required to repair the damage caused by
faults on the lines.
 This necessitates to provide adequate
automatic protection against possible faults.

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 Various types of transformers
 Generator Transformer
 Power Transformer
 Distribution Transformer
 Pole-mounted Lighting Transformer
 Grounding Transformer
 Regulating Transformer
 Welding Transformer
 Converter Transformer
 Instrument Transformer (CT & PT)

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 Common Faults on the Transformer
 For power transformer the protection is to be
provided against dangerous overloads and excessive
temperature rise.

 Dangerous overloads may be due to external faults

or internal ones. External faults, however, are
cleared by the relay system outside the transformer
within the shortest possible time in order to avoid
any danger to the transformer.

 Hence the protection for internal faults is to be

provided in such transformer.

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 Common Faults on Transformer
 As compared to generators, transformers suffer only
from the following faults:
 Open Circuit Faults (in one phase of 3 phases)
 Winding short circuits (earth fault, phase-to-phase
and inter-turn faults)
 Incipient Faults
 Overheating

 Inter-phase faults are most frequent on the leads of

three phase transformer, while less frequent within
the transformer.
 Earth faults and inter-turn faults have the highest
probability.
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 Choice of protective gear
 Inter-turn faults generally result from failure of
insulation due to temperature rise or deterioration
of transformer oil.
 Open circuit fault may cause undesirable heating but
relatively harmless and so no relay protection is
required.
 The choice of protective gear depends on several
factors:
1. Type of Transformer
2. Size of the Transformer
3. Type of cooling
4. System where its electrical location is
5. The importance service for which it is required

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 Protection Systems Commonly Used
Differential Protection

Buchholz Protection

Core Balance Leakage Protection

Combined Leakage Protection

Overload Protection

Restricted Earth Fault Protection

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 Differential Protection for Transformer
 Most important type
of protection against
internal faults.
 Also known as Merz-
Price Protection
 Is used for the
protection of
transformers having
ratings of above
5MVA

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 Differential Protection for Transformer (external fault)

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 Differential Protection for Transformer (internal fault)

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 CT Connections
 There is an inherent phase displacement between phasors
representing voltage induced in HV winding and LV windings have
the same marking letter and corresponding neutral points, in case
of star-delta transformer.
 Hence the load currents on HV side are displaced in phase with
respect to load currents of corresponding phase on the LV side.


 The power transformers are grouped according to the phase

displacement, as follows:
 GROUP 1 (STAR-STAR)
 GROUP 2 (STAR-STAR)
 GROUP 3 (DELTA-STAR)
 GROUP 4 (DELTA-STAR)
: ZERO PHASE DISPLACEMENT
: 1800 PHASE DISPLACEMENT
: 300 LAG PHASE DISPLACEMENT
: 300 LEAD PHASE DISPLACEMENT

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 Type of connections to be used for CTs in order to compensate for the phase
difference in the primary & secondary currents of power transformer

Power Transformer Current Transformer

S. No
Primary Secondary On Primary On Secondary
Star with
1 Delta Delta Star
Neutral Earthed
Star with Neutral
2 Delta Star Delta
Earthed
Star with Neutral
3 Star Delta Delta
Earthed
4 Delta Delta Star Star
Delta with Earthing
Star with
5 Transformer on the Delta Star
Neutral Earthed
Secondary
Star with a Tertiary
6 Star Delta Delta
Winding

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 CT Connections
 In circulating differential protection, the phase displacement in the
line currents on the two sides, introduces phase difference in the
secondary currents of CTs on two sides.

 The result is even if CTs of proper turn ratio are used a differential
current will flow through the relay operating coil under normal
operating conditions and cause the relay to operate.

 The correction for the phase difference is affected by appropriate

connections of CTs.

 he connections of the CTs should 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 the
secondary currents.
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 CT Ratios
 The currents in the primary and secondary windings of
a power transformer are not equal.
 Use of identical CTs (of the same ratio) will give
differential current and operate the relay even under
no load condition.
 The difference in the magnitude of primary and
secondary currents is compensated by using CTs of
different ratios.
 The turns ratio of CTs used on the two sides of a power
transformer should be such that their secondaries have
equal currents during normal operation.

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 Difficulties Arise in Differential Protection
 Simple differential protection is inadequate because the following
difficulties arise:
1. Difference in the length of the pilot wires on either side of the relay: is
overcome by inserting balancing resistors in series with the pilot wires.
2. Different CT ratios due to ratio error difference at high values of short
circuit currents: the difficulty is overcome by using biased differential
relay.
3. Tap Changing alerts the ratio of voltage between HV and LV side: is
overcome by biasing coil.
4. Magnetizing Inrush Currents: is overcome by relay setting larger than
the maximum inrush current or time setting may be made long
enough for the magnetizing current to subside or use of second
harmonic restraint relay.

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 Buchholz Relay
 It is a gas actuating relay
installed in oil-immersed power
transformer
 It is used to detect incipient
faults which are initially minor
faults but may cause major faults
in due course of time.
 This relay is used to supplement
biased differential protection.
 Buchholz protection is the
simplest form of protection and
is most commonly used in oil-
immersed transformer provided
with conservator.

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 Buchholz Relay – Construction
 It consists of a domed vessel placed
in the pipe between the conservator
and main tank of the transformer.

The device has two elements.

1. The upper element consists of a
mercury type switch attached to
a float.

2. The lower element contains a

mercury switch mounted on a
hinged type flap located on the
direct path of flow of oil.

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 Buchholz Relay – Construction
The upper element closes an
alarm circuit during slow
developing faults whereas the
lower element is arranged to trip
the circuit breaker in case of
severe internal faults.

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 Buchholz Relay – Operation
1. In case of slow developing faults
within the transformer:
 the heat due to the fault
causes decomposition of some
transformer oil in the main
tank.
 The products of decomposition
mainly contain 70 % of
hydrogen gas.
 The hydrogen gas being light
tries to go into the conservator
and in the process gets
trapped in the upper part of
the relay chamber.

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 Buchholz Relay – Operation
1. In case of slow developing faults
within the transformer:
 When a predetermined
amount of gas gets
accumulated, it exerts
sufficient pressure on the float
to cause it to tilt and close the
contacts of mercury switch
attached to it.
 This completes the alarm
circuit to sound an alarm.

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 Buchholz Relay – Operation
2. If serious fault occur in the
transformer:
 an enormous amount of gas is
generated in the main tank.
 The oil in the main tank
rushes towards the
conservator via the buchholz
relay and in doing so it tilts
the flap to close the contacts
of mercury switch.
 This completes the trip circuit
to open the circuit breaker
controlling the transformer.

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 Buchholz Relay – Advantages & Disadvantages
 ADVANTAGES:
1.It is the simplest form of
transformer protection
2. It detects the slow developing
faults at a stage much earlier
than other forms of
protection.
 DISADVANTAGES:
1. It can only be used with oil
immersed transformers
equipped with conservators
2. The device can detect only
faults below oil leveling the
transformer. Therefore
separate protection is needed
for connecting cables.
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 Restricted Earth Fault Protection

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 % Differential Relay with Harmonic Restraint
 % differential relay tends to mal-
operate due to magnetizing inrush
current.
 To combat this problem, desensitize
the relay for a brief period of time
just after switching on.
 However this is not desirable, since
insulation failure is quite high after
switching.
 So the solution is comparing the
internal fault current with the inrush
current.
 The inrush waveform is rich in
harmonics.
 Therefore, additional restraint based
on harmonics can be developed based
on the harmonic content of inrush
current.
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 Scheme of a Harmonic Restraint Differential Relay
 The fundamental component of CT secondary currents I1, I2
spill current is segregated with
the help of a filter and is used to (I1 - I2) (I1+I2)/2
develop the tripping torque. Spill current Circulating Current

 The non fundamental component

Filter Unfiltered
of spill current aids the unfiltered
circulating current in developing Fundamental +
restraining torque. all harmonics
Fundamental All
component Harmonics

 This makes the relay stable on

inrush while at the same time not ∑
affecting its operation in case of
genuine internal faults.
Relay
Operating Restraining
Torque Torque

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 Types of Protection for Power Transformers

Type of Transformer Type of Protection

Only HV fuses for protection against
Small Distribution earth faults and phase-to-phase faults.
Transformers Overload protection is generally not
provided.
Restricted earth fault protection.
Rating 500kVA and
Over-current and earth fault protection
above
Buchholz relay protection
Differential Protection
Restricted earth fault protection
2MVA and above
Over-current protection
Buchholz protection

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 Types of Protection for Power Transformers
Abnormality Type of Protection
Incipient Faults below Buchholz relay
oil level resulting in Sudden pressure relay
decomposition of oil Pressure relief valve
Large internal faults Buchholz relay
below oil level
Faults in tap-changer Percentage Differential protection
High speed high set over-current
relay
Saturation of magnetic Over fluxing protection
circuit Over voltage protection
Earth faults Earth fault relay
Differential relay
Overloads Thermal overload relays
Temperature relays
Through faults HRC fuses
Graded time lag over current relay
High voltage surge due Surge arresters
to lightning, switching R-C surge suppressors
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Remarks
Buchholz relay used for ratings 500kVA &
above
Is too slow and less sensitive
For 2MVA & above
For important generator transformer, &
feeder transformer
Instantaneous restricted earth fault relay
Time lag earth fault relay
For transformers of ratings 2MVA & above
Generally temperature indicators are
provided
For transformers upto 500kVA
Protection of Distribution transformers
In addition to arresters for incoming line