14th PSCC, Sevilla, 24-28 June 2002
CURRENTS SEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF A TRANSFORMER UNDER
TURN-TO-TURN FAULTS
Guzmán Díaz
Universidad de Oviedo, Spain
guzman@correo.uniovi.es
Javier Gómez-Aleixandre
Universidad de Oviedo, Spain
jgomez@correo.uniovi.es
Abstract – This paper presents a new technique for in-
terturn fault detection an diagnosis in distribution trans-
former, based in currents sequence analysis. Finite element
analysis has been used, and simulation studies with respect
to different fault conditions have been conducted. More-
over, different load states were tested to determine the
influence of external conditions in the damaged trans-
former performance. The results are related to the follow-
ing variables: current, voltage distribution in windings,
line voltage and flux distribution; and to their relationship
with the above mentioned fault conditions. Data obtained
are not only corresponding to terminal voltage and cur-
rents, but also to internal variables which are not readily
achieved by conventional methods. Results are consistent
with the laboratory tests carried out using a modified dis-
tribution transformer at reduced voltage. The paper pre-
sents the modified distribution transformer, which was
completely disassembled and rebuilt once defined the in-
ternal faults.
This new technique is based on a currents sequence
analysis and on the comparison between phase angles,
which determines the internal state of the transformer in
dependence of the fault location. Thus, a new technique for
protecting the distribution transformer through relays
based on the evaluation of phase angles is proposed.
Keywords: interturn fault, distribution transformer,
diagnostic, symmetrical components.
1 INTRODUCTION
An internal fault in a transformer is usually on-line
monitored by four main characteristics: an increase in
line currents, an increase in the differential current,
generated high frequency current transients and gas
formation caused by fault corona, arcing or heating.
When internal faults occur, immediate disconnection of
the faulted transformer is necessary to avoid extensive
damage.
Because of economics and equipment availability,
network transformer vaults typically apply overcurrent
protection with fuses or relays, which provide a common
internal fault protection technique in distribution trans-
formers up to 2 MVA [1]. However, these protection
methods do not avoid extent damage to the transformer
since the trip is related to large fault currents, thus re-
Session 03, Paper 6, Page 1
Arsenio Barbón
Universidad de Oviedo, Spain
barbon@correo.uniovi.es
José Coto
Universidad de Oviedo, Spain
jcoto@correo.uniovi.es
lated to a severe fault [2]. When this occurs, risk of fire
could be present. Since many of these vaults are inside
buildings, a higher incidence of damage caused by fire
and smoke has occurred.
A study of the records of transformer breakdowns [3]
shows that up to 70% of the number of failures are
caused finally by short circuits between turns. The na-
ture of faults prompted consideration by some utilities to
provide additional network vault protection.
Protection for turn-to-turn short circuits has been
largely performed by means of fuses, which detect the
existence of a current increase when an internal fault
takes place. However, this fusing philosophy is related
to problems when defining the fuse ratios to avoid dam-
ages in the transformer and also to prevent prematurely
outages [2].
Also largely performed is the transformer protection
by means of gas accumulator (Buchholz), rate-of-
pressure-rise protection or, more complex, Dissolved
Gas Analysis (DGA). The fist method is based on the
analysis of the rate of gas generation in oil due to arcing
faults but introduces a more or less time delay to detect
the fault, depending on the energy liberated. The second
method uses as the control variable the rise in pressure
of gas-cushioned transformers, but a sudden pressure
relay may trip when, for instance, a severe external short
circuit occurs moving the transformer windings. Both do
not discriminate among different fault states. The last
one, the DGA, is based on the analysis of the dissolved
gas in oil, being this the most popular method for detect-
ing incipient faults of transformers. Reference [4]
shows a good review of the most usual methods related
to the DGA, and introduces fuzzy logic to analyze the
transformer state as an analysis tool. With the same
philosophy some other authors use the Artificial Neural
Networks in fault detection. Nevertheless, DGA is not
economic when a large number of relatively small trans-
formers are present in the network. Thus, the aim of this
research work focused on developing a technique for
detecting the presence of an internal fault by means of
currents analysis. Therefore, even a remote control
could be done, allowing to establish network protection
strategies with low cost equipment.
In this paper, a new technique has been used in order
to detect adjacent turn-to-turn faults from current analy-
14th PSCC, Sevilla, 24-28 June 2002 Session 03, Paper 6, Page 2

sis, using to first evaluate the transformer performance a
2D finite element model. The method has been also used
in [5]. Other authors ([5], [7]) have made use of the
EMTP software to define a model in which create turn-
to-turn short circuits. Nevertheless, the issue addressed
in this paper is related not only to the transformer simu-
lation but also to the results obtained when analyzing the
current sequences. Much effort has been made to de-
velop a simple method of analysis of the internal isola-
tion integrity, which could be implemented, as stated
before, in a large number of different transformers and
even in a remote control system. To achieve this pur-
pose, just the relationship among line currents is ob-
served. The presence of inverse sequence signals allows
to diagnostic the presence of an interturn short circuit.
In order to analyze transformer performance, coils
have been labeled as shown in Figure 1. The connection
group is Dy1. Thus, coils ST in HV winding (coil con-
nected between phases S and T in the HV side) and R in
the LV one, are assembled on the same transformer limb
(i.e. in this case limb I). Through this paper, it will be
named as damaged limb the limb having a damaged coil
(either LV or HV).
The model was verified by conducting different simu-
lations with balanced and unbalanced loads. Voltage
regulation agreed a good level of accuracy, related to the
theoretical values. Moreover, distribution of currents in
the windings also agreed to the expected performance
with unbalanced loads.

2 SIMULATIONS AND LABORATORY TESTS

LV side

2.1 Model definition

Based on data sheet of a distribution transformer (3-
phase core-type, 2 MVA, 31.5 kV/ 400 V), a 2D finite
element model was defined in order to evaluate its per- r s t (load)

formance when damaged. R S T

A great accuracy was taken into account when defin-
ing transformer geometry. Dimensions have been con-
sidered with an error less than 0.5%. Vertical displace-
ments in the secondary helix-type winding, as well as HV side
actual disk dimensions for every disk in the primary iRS iST
crossover-type coils are some of the features considered
iTR
in the model definition. Core magnetic saturation and
corner joint effects [8] were also considered.
The whole secondary turns were modeled, since their Figure 1: Plan of connection and terms used to explain the
cross section was large enough to avoid long computa- transformer performance related to the geometry defined in the
tion times. This was not the case of the primary winding, finite element software.
the turns of which were too thin to apply a reasonable
simulation time: to model them would have required an
excessive thick mesh. Therefore, since the winding was
actually divided into separate disks, every one of them
was disposed as a solid conductor, the section of which
was equal to the individual turn section multiplied by the
number of turns in the disk. Hence, the 1023 turns in a
primary coil, disposed in 41 disks, were modeled as 41
series solid coils. It was expected not to have lost much
accuracy, since the total copper cross section was the
sum of the turn sections in every disk. In order to equal
the aforementioned sections, a stack factor related to
every individual disk was considered, thus leading to a
dimensional agreement between the actual disk and the
modeled one.
An electric circuit was defined and coupled in the
solver with the geometric model. Short circuits in turns
were defined by means of low value resistors (10-3 Ω). Figure 2: Sample of finite element simulation with a turn-to-
turn present at LV winding in limb I.
The resistors were placed between adjacent turns in the
LV winding. However, it was necessary to include sev-
eral turns at once in faults generated in the HV winding, 2.2 Simulation results
in order to avoid extremely large computation times, The required faulty states were simulated taking into
related to the definition of a very dense finite elements account a large variety of situations. Tables 1 and 2
grid, since turns at HV winding have a relative small show a summary of some of the results obtained by
section.
14th PSCC, Sevilla, 24-28 June 2002 Session 03, Paper 6, Page 3

varying load power factor, fault severity and fault loca- when the fault occurs at the LV side. (*)located at the top of
tion. the winding.
Fault Power R S T
Both tables show phase and line currents at the pri-
factor RS ST TR
mary side, since currents on the LV side had not an
None 0.9 lag 1.04 1.04 1.04 appreciable variation from their values at a healthy state,
-56.7º -176.7º 63.2º thus avoiding the discrimination of an internal fault.
1.05 1.04 1.04 Table 1 presents some results if the fault arises in the
-26.6º -146.3 119.9º HV winding, while Table 2 shows the results with the
Limb I 0.9 lag 2.87 1.04 2.83 fault located at the LV winding. Hence, some general
-73.8º -176.7º 85.2º conclusions can be derived by analyzing the currents
0.96 1.01 4.47 values:
-21.0º -153.8º 96.4º − First of all, delta winding serves to define precisely
Limb II 0.9 lag 2.82 2.86 1.04 the performance of the HV winding, independently
-35.7º 165.4º 63.1º of where the failure is produced. Since the LV is
4.33 1.03 1.03 wye-connected, low variation in currents are to be
-24.9º -143.2º 92.3º expected. But the delta-winding allows circulating
Limb I 0.5 lag 2.94 1.04 2.50 currents inside the structure, resulting in a distorted
-85.5º 150.0º 74.4º distribution of phase and line currents.
0.92 1.09 4.29 − Power factor at the load also results in a distorted
-58.3º 173.6º 88.9º distribution of currents in comparison with the ones
Limb II 0.5 lag 1.09 1.27 1.04 presented in a non-damaged state. When the fault
-76.7º 155.0º 30.0º occurs at the HV side, an increase in power factor
1.33 1.02 1.07 results in overloading the most loaded phase and the
-43.1º 178.8º 59.7º most loaded line. When the fault occurs in the LV
Limb I(*) 0.9 lag 2.18 1.04 2.22 winding, similar effects take place. Moreover, the
-75.4º -176.8º 77.2º increase in power factor at the load causes a more
1.20 1.14 2.95 distorted distribution of the currents.
-35.4º -136.0º 89.5º − Damaged transformer performance is largely influ-
enced by the location of the interturn shortcircuit.
Table 1: Phase (cursive font) and line (normal font) currents Not only by the location in the coil (i.e., being the
obtained in the HV side from simulation records (p.u. values), turn located in its center or in one of the two ex-
when the fault occurs at the HV side. (*) Damage more severe tremes), but also specially by the limb in which the
and located at the top of the winding.
coil is assembled. When the coil labeled RS in the
Fault Power R S T HV winding is damaged (i.e. limb III in Figure 1),
factor RS ST TR the phase ST will be the most loaded, being phase
RS the most loaded one when the damage locates in
Limb I 0.9 lag 1.29 1.04 1.21
the limb labeled II. Similar circumstances can be
-58.4º -176.7º 72.6º
observed when damaging the LV winding.
1.01 1.07 1.47
-27.3º -147.9º 100.8º
Limb I 0.5 lag 1.27 1.09 1.09 2.3 Result analysis
-85.1º 150º 43.2º To explain the above mentioned results, a theoretical
1.02 1.08 1.33 model based on resolving the phase and line currents
-61.7º 180º 77.1º into their symmetrical components has been established.
Limb II 0.9 lag 1.22 1.29 1.04 Figures 2 to 8 show this issue. The Figures correspond
-47.5º -178.5º 63.2º to different damage states. Much care has been taken in
1.47 1.01 1.07 order to establish in these six simulations the rated cur-
-19.2º -147.5º 92.0º rent load for both power factor involved (0.9 and 0.5
Limb II 0.5 lag 1.09 1.27 1.04 lagging), in order to readily compare the internal fault
-76.7º 155.0º 30.0º influence.
1.33 1.02 1.07 Being the power factor 0.9 lagging and the trans-
-43.1º 178.8º 59.7º former in a non-damaged state, the current in line R (HV
Limb I(*) 0.9 lag 1.29 1.04 1.22 side) is 1.04 p.u. and its phase shift is -56.7 degrees, as a
-58.8º -176.7º 72.4º result of the load power factor. When an isolation fault
1.05 1.06 1.43 occurs in the LV winding, this current can be 2.17 p.u.
-28.4º -145.5º 99.5º and can shift up to 20 degrees from its original phase
angle. Zero degrees reference is the voltage applied to
Table 2: Phase (cursive font) and line (normal font) currents the coil labeled as RS.
obtained in the HV side from simulation records (p.u. values),
14th PSCC, Sevilla, 24-28 June 2002 Session 03, Paper 6, Page 4

ITR0
A very important feature to note is that currents in the
ITRi
LV side (wye-connected winding) do not vary in a large
amount, and maintain their phase angle even in the case
of damage. With the transformer free of damage, the ITRd
current in line R at the LV side is 1.04 p.u. and its phase
angle is -86.5 degrees. After damage has occurred, no T
R
important changes in this two values has been observed.
Hence, it can be stated that the three currents in the
secondary winding can be used as phase reference when
the operation of the damaged transformer is analyzed.
As can be observed, the results presented agree with the IRSd
ISTd
differential protection method, since both currents pre- S
IST0 IRSi
sent an appreciable discrepancy in their values. IRS0
ITR0
ISTi
Figure 6: Short circuit in the LV winding on limb I. Power
factor at the load: 0.9 lagging.
ITRi
ITR0
ITRi
T R
ITRd

ITRd
T

R
S
IRS0 IRSd
IST0 IST0
ISTd
ISTd
ISTi IRSi ISTi

S
Figure 3: Short circuit in the HV winding on limb I. Power
factor at the load: 0.9 lagging.
I RSd
ITR0
IRS0 IRSi
Figure 7: Short circuit in the LV winding on limb I. Power
ITRi factor at the load: 0.5 lagging.
ITRi ITR0
T
ITRd
ITRd
R T

IST0
IST0 R
ISTd
S ISTi
ISTi
IRSd
ISTd
IRS0

S
IRSi
Figure 4: Short circuit in the HV winding on limb I. Power
IRSd
factor at the load: 0.5 lagging.
IRSi IRS0
Figure 8: Short circuit in the LV winding on limb II. Power
ITRi ITRd factor at the load: 0.5 lagging.
ITR0

T
It has been observed that the power factor value does
IST0 not result in relative large modification of the homopolar
ISTi
ISTd R
current phase and rms value. Just when the damage is
located in other limb, the homopolar component phase
S IRSd
will change its angle. However, this phase angle will
IRSi only shift by a value of about 120 degrees. The type of
phase shift (lagging or leading) will be related to the
IRS0
limb in which the fault takes place. This fact can be
Figure 5: Short circuit in the HV winding on limb II. Power
readily stated by comparing Figures 2, 3 and 4 (HV
factor at the load: 0.5 lagging.
14th PSCC, Sevilla, 24-28 June 2002 Session 03, Paper 6, Page 5

winding damaged), or by comparing the corresponding

5, 6 and 7 (LV winding damaged).
Results obtained when the damage arises in the LV
winding are more readily understood. In such cases, it
has been observed that the homopolar component is
slightly in phase with the line voltage in the damaged
coil. In Figure 6 the HV coil inserted into the damaged
limb (the one labeled ST) is switched to a voltage UST
that lags the reference URS 120 degrees. In Figure 7 the
voltage applied to the HV coil in the damaged limb II
lags 120 degrees.
The analysis of the homopolar current if the faults are
located at the HV winding is more complex, since this
winding is an excitation one, while the secondary wind- Figure 9: Leads used to generate faults in the low voltage
ing is an excited one. For this reason, the currents phase winding.
shift differs in its interpretation in both cases. In both
cases, it has been observed that flux around the damaged
turn trend to rearrange when the fault occurs, circumval-
lating the turn in a value related to the fault severity. If
the fault is placed in the primary winding, the trans-
former in the damaged state must be considered as a
multiwinding one, thus leading to a mmf analysis that
includes the effects originated by the damaged turn. The
turn load can be considered the fault resistor. If this
approach is presented, it can be understood the existing
dependence between the fault severity and the homopo-
lar phase shift angle, as can be observed in the Figures 2
to 4.
As a consequence of the mmf cancellation in a limb Figure 10: Final transformer and test equipment.
(the homopolar reluctance is of a very large value, due
to the fact that the transformer considered is a core-type
one), mmf in the damaged coil must equal mmf in non- Table 3 shows the comparison between the currents
damaged coil. Thus, the inverse sequence must remain values in the primary side, when the fault occurs in the
in a fixed position, in similar conditions as the homopo- limb I and subsequently in the limb II. Since tests have
lar does. This feature can be seen in the above- been conducted at a reduced voltage, currents values are
mentioned Figures. of reduced value compared to the currents in above
Therefore, it can be determined the direct sequence exposed Tables.
when the transformer is in a damaged state. Once ana-
lyzed the phase currents values, it is easy to convert Fault R S T
their values to line values, since the difference between RS ST TR
them on a p.u. basis is the homopolar current. Limb I 0.044 0.023 0.041
0.022 0.023 0.060
2.4 Laboratory tests
Limb II 0.027 0.028 0.023
Figure 8 shows the transformer used to carry out the
laboratory tests. The transformer was extracted from its 0.032 0.022 0.024
oil tank, dried and completely disassembled in order to Table 3: Phase and line currents in the primary side, with a
fix leads that allowed to perform the short circuits. The light damage at the secondary winding and 0.9 power factor.
Figure presents the LV winding (helix-type).
Tests were conducted at a reduced voltage. Despite of In a less extent, as a consequence of the reduced volt-
the simpler operation, the practical reasons for the age used, the currents preserve their relationship. After
choice are based on the following considerations: (i) the calculating the homopolar current, their phase angles
screws used to fix the leads modified the electric field, (assuming once more the voltage applied to the coil RS
thus involving a possible general breakdown if using as the phase reference) are 126 (limb I) and 5 degrees
rated voltage; and (ii) in opposition to the finite element (limb II). Also, it could be observed the presence of an
method, it is not possible to establish permanent fault inverse sequence current in the line, as expected from
currents in the damaged turn without a general damage data obtained in finite element simulations. Its phase
risk. angle depended on the fault location and, in the case of
The distribution transformer’s rated values are 640 faults placed in the HV side, also depended on the fault
kVA 20 kV/ 380 V. severity. In the two examples exposed in Table 3, the
phase angles of inverse sequence line currents were -93
14th PSCC, Sevilla, 24-28 June 2002
degrees (limb I damaged) and 22 degrees (limb II dam-
aged).
3 CONCLUSIONS
Using finite element technique, an analysis of the cur-
rents sequences in a damaged transformer (3-phase core-
type; 2 MVA; 31.5 kV/ 400 V; Dy1 connection) has
been developed in this paper. Interturn short circuits
have been defined by means of low value resistors in-
cluded into the electric circuit. Thus a large number of
simulations were conducted, varying the damage sever-
ity, the fault location and the load. An early analysis of
data obtained showed that the fault location and the load
power factor are related to very important changes in the
currents distribution. The analysis of currents sequence
provides very important information about the internal
fault existence. It is shown that the line currents in the
LV side remain in unchanged values after an internal
fault has occurred, thus allowing to complete the analy-
sis using these currents as reference ones if needed.
However, HV line current system becomes unbalanced
under balanced load condition if such fault occurs,
agreeing with the results obtained in the differential
protection techniques. Resolving the system into its
symmetrical components, it has been observed the exis-
tence of an inverse component (plus a homopolar one
into the phase currents system) which provides very
important information about the existence and location
of an interturn short circuit. This enables the current
sequence analysis at the HV side to operate as a diagno-
sis technique, by means of using the LV currents as
reference ones, since their values and angles do not vary
appreciably after a turn-to-turn fault. In this paper a first
explanation of the phenomena has been proposed, in
order to theoretically explain the importance of load
power factor and fault location. Further developments
have to be done in order to readily discriminate inverse
sequence currents due to turn-to-turn faults from other
situations generating inverse sequence currents. How-
ever, this seems to be reasonably straightforward since
LV current measurement is necessary in order to have a
reference when comparing currents.
Session 03, Paper 6, Page 6
Several tests have been devised for validating the
proposed technique. For this purpose, an oil dried distri-
bution transformer has been used (640 kVA 20 kV/ 380
V). The provision of leads connected to the LV turns
aims to generate faults between turns through a limiting
resistor. Tests have been developed at a reduced volt-
age, and results obtained agree with the proposed diag-
nosis technique, showing the presence of the inverse
sequence with phase angles related to the fault location.
REFERENCES
[1] Mason C. R., “The Art & Science of Protective Re-
laying”, General Electric, 1956.
[2] Lunsford J. M., Tobin J. M., “Detection of and Pro-
tection for Internal Low-Current Winding Faults in
Overhead Distribution Transformers”, IEEE Trans-
actions on Power Delivery, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 1241-
1249, July 1997.
[3] Stigant S. A., Franklin A. C., “The J&P Transformer
Book”, 10th ed., New York, Wiley 1973.
[4] Chen A., Lin C., “Fuzzy approaches for fault diagno-
sis of transformers”, Fuzzy Sets and Systems, 118
(2001), pp. 139-151.
[5] Wang H., Butler K. L., “Finite Element Analysis of
Internal Winding Faults in Distribution Transform-
ers”, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 16,
no. 3, pp. 422-427, July 2001.
[6] Bastard P., Bertrand P., Meunier M., “A Trans-
former Model for Winding Fault Studies”, IEEE
Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 9, no. 2, pp.
690-699, April 1994.
[7] Kezunovic M., Guo Y., “Modeling and Simulation
of the Power Transformer Faults and Related Protec-
tive Relay Behavior”, IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 44-50, January 2000.
[8] Lee C., Jung H-K., “Nonlinear analysis of the three-
phase transformer considering the anisotropy with
voltage source”, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics,
vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 123-132, January 2000