DIFFERENTIAL

PROTECTION

Differential protection

Differential protection
application

RESTRAINED AND UNRESTRAINED

XTICS

OPERATE XTICS

Limitations with OC Protection

in Transformers
A simple overcurrent and earth
fault relay will not provide
adequate protection for winding
earth faults.
Need some earth fault protection.
Degree of earth fault protection is
very much improved by the
application of unit differential or
restricted earth fault systems.

Restricted Earth Fault

Protection

Restricted Earth Fault - How it

Works
On the HV side, the residual current of the 3
line CTs is balanced against the output
current of the CT in the neutral conductor.
For the LV side, earth faults occurring on the
delta winding may also result in a level of
fault current of less than full load. HV
overcurrent relays will not provide adequate
protection.
A relay connected to monitor residual
current will provide restricted earth fault
protection since the delta winding cannot

Restricted Earth Fault - How it

Works .. 2
Both windings of the transformer
can thus be protected separately
with restricted earth fault.
Provide high speed protection
against earth faults over the
whole of the transformer
windings.
Relay used is an instantaneous
high impedance type.

High Impedance Differential

Scheme

High Impedance Scheme - How it

Works
The CTs generate currents that create a high
voltage across the relay (which has a high
burden).

CTs must generate 2 times the trip voltage to

work on an internal fault
If one only CT saturates for through fault, not
enough voltage is generated to trip relay.

High Impedance Scheme Requirements

CTs must have identical turns ratios,
knee-point voltages 2 times relay
operating voltage, high accuracy, low
reactance (PX class)
High internal faults can generate
high voltage across relay - some form
of voltage dependent resistor
(metrosil) is required to avoid this.

High
Impedanc
e Scheme
- Example
1

High Impedance Scheme Example 2