Over Excitation:

Over Excitation can occur under no load and on load conditions.

Over Excitation depends on the flux flow in the transformer core.
As

Flux Voltage
Flux (Frequecy)-1

Flux

Voltage
Frequency

Volts
Hertz

Whenever
transformers

Volts
Hertz

(P.U)

>

Rated transformers

Volts (P.U)
Hertz

Over Excitation

Under Over Excitation condition excessive flux saturates core causing

high Eddy current losses in core and adjacent conducting material.
May result in thermal damage to core due to excessively high flux in
magnetic circuits.

Over Excitation protection:

Instantaneous tripping is undesirable for Over Excitation. As system
may get overexcited momentary due to some momentary disturbance.
Momentary system disturbances are those which can be borne safely,
and within a very short specific time system restores its normal
conditions.
Over Excitation protection is time dependent function.
For each transformer there exists an Over Excitation curve.
Over Excitation curve defines over excitation characteristics of a particular
transformer versus time.
Overfluxing protection relay follow Over Excitation curve to protect
transformer from over excitation.

Over Excitation protection: (Cont)

Over Excitation curve:
Every transformer possesses its own excitation curve.
It follows Inverse time characteristics and definite time characteristics.
Below is the Over Excitation curve of a typical 230/69kV substation transformer.

Danger zone

Transformer Over Excitation curve

3

Over Excitation: (Cont)

Basic concept:
ip(t)

is(t)

Vs(t)= 11kV

Vp(t)= 132kV
f= 50
35 Hz

f= 50
35 Hz

Due to some external fault, transformers operating frequency falls

Consider
the
above
transformer
under
normal
transformer
will
not
be
isolated
within
down toIf35Hz.
Due to
which
Flux
inside
thefrom
coresupply
has
been
exceeded.
operation
and
having
rating
as
follows
A relay connected at the primary side of transformer through VT
one or two minutes
having ratio132/3
will read the information as follows.
24 MVA
132 kV / blast
11 kV can occur
A transformer
. Over
Over
Excitation
Excitation will occur
63.5/3

50 Hz

Fault
Undercondition
normal Operation
3-phase
transformers
Rated

If transformers
[V/Hz] exceeds
Volts
Volts
63.5V
FOA
Rated
= 1.27[V/Hz]
V/Hz . i.e;
1.27 V/Hz transformers
rated
= 1.81
=
Hertz
35Hz
Hertz
50Hz
1.27 V/Hz.

>

Over Excitation Relay:

Over Excitation relay follows the same transformer curve.
Over Excitation relay tripping should be well coordinated with transformers
over excitation curve.

Relay Over Excitation curve

5

Over Excitation
Solution:

Vp(t)= 132kV
f= 50
35 Hz
Breaker

132kV/3
63.5V/3
Timer
1Sec

24 OverFluxing Protection

Vp(t)= 11kV
f= 35
50 Hz

Breaker

Due to some external fault,

transformers operating
frequency falls down to
35Hz. Because of which Flux
inside the core has been
exceeded.

Overfluxing relay
connected
the primary
side of transformer
If Fault
pursuitsatafter
the timer
through VT having
ratio 132kV/3 will read the information as
expiration.
follows.
Based on the %age excitation Relay
63.5V/3
Relay sends tripping signals
to the a timer.
Under
condition
initiates
Normalfault
Operating
condition
associated
breakers causingTimers
transformer
value is selected from relays
Volts
63.5V
transformers
Volts = from
63.5Vthe
1.81
V/Hz
transformers isolation
=
V/Hz.over excitation curve.
system
= 35Hz = 1.27
Hertz
50Hz
Hertz
In case of 1.428 %age excitation, relay
Percentage Excitation= 1.428
initiates a timer for 1.0 seconds.
6

Over Excitation Solution: (Cont)

An Over flux relay tripping should be well coordinated with transformers
over excitation characteristics.

Time from transformer curve

Relay Time to initiate Trip
Danger zone