transformer protection

introduction The transformer is a particularly important

system component.
It requires effective protection against all
faults liable to damage it, whether of internal
or external origin.
The choice of a protection system is often
based on technical and cost considerations
related to the power rating.

types of faults The main faults affecting transformers are: c external: phase-to-phase faults in the
c overloads, downstream connections. The downstream
c short-circuits, short circuit current produces
c frame faults electrodynamic forces In the transformer that
An overload can result from an increase in are liable to affect the windings mechanically
the number of loads being fed and then develop in the form of internal
simultaneously or from an increase in the faults.
power absorbed by one or more loads. A frame fault is an internal fault. It can
It results in an overcurrrent of long duration occur between the winding and the tank
causing a rise in temperature that is frame or between the winding and the
detrimental to the preservation of insulation magnetic core. It causes gas emission in oil
and to the service life of the transformer. transformers. Like internal short circuits, it
Short circuits can be inside or outside the can cause transformer damage and fire.
transformer: The amplitude of the fault current depends
c internal: faults occurring between winding on the upstream and downstream grounding
conductors with different phases or faults in systems, and also on the position of the fault
the same winding. The fault arc damages within the winding.
the transformer winding and can cause fire.
c in star connections (fig.1), the frame
In oil transformers, the arc causes the
current varies between 0 and the maximum
emission of decomposition gas. If the fault is
value depending on whether the fault is at
a weak one, there is a slight gas emission
the neutral or phase end of the winding.
and the accumulation of gas can become
dangerous. A violent short circuit can cause c in delta connections (fig.2), the frame
major damage that can destroy the winding current varies between 50 and 100% of the
and also the tank frame by the spread of maximum value depending on whether the
burning oil. fault is in the middle or at the end of the
winding.

I I

I max I max

I max
2

0 100% 0 50% 100%

(fig.1) (fig.2)

fault current according to the winding fault position

28 protection guide Merlin Gerin

transformer protection (cont.)

protection devices Overloads Short-circuits

Overcurrent of long duration is generally For oil transformers:
detected by a direct time or IDMT delayed c a Buchholz relay or DGPT gas pressure
overcurrent protection which is temperature detector that is sensitive to gas
discriminating with respect to secondary release or oil movement is used, causing
protection. respectively a short-circuit between turns of
Thermal overload protection is used to the same phase and a violent phase-to-
monitor the temperature rise: overheating is phase short-circuit.
determined by simulation of heat release as c differential transformer protection (fig.1)
a function of the current and temperature lag ensures rapid protection against phase-to-
of the transformer. phase faults. It is sensitive to fault currents
in the range of 0.5 In and is used for
important transformers.
c an instantaneous overcurrent protection
(fig.2) device linked to the circuit breaker
located at the transformer primary ensures
protection against violent short circuits. The
current setting is set at a value higher than
the current due to a short circuit on the
secondary, thus ensuring current
I>
discrimination.
∆I c for low power transformers, a fuse is used
I >>
for overcurrent protection.

Tank frame faults

c tank frame protection (fig.3):
This instantaneous overcurrent protection
device installed on the transformer frame
earthing connection constitutes a simple,
(fig.1) (fig.2) efficient solution for internal winding-to-
frame faults (provided its setting is suitable
with grounding system used) the transformer
tank has to be insulated from the ground.
This form of protection is discriminating,
being sensitive only to transformer frame
faults.
Another solution consists of using earth fault
protection:
c earth protection located on the upstream
I> system for frame faults affecting the
I > transformer primary.
N c earth fault protection located on the
incoming line of the board being fed, if the
neutral of the downstream system is earthed
(fig.3) (fig.4) on the busbars (fig.4).
These protections are disciminating: they
are only sensitive to phase-to-earth faults
located in the transformer or on the
upstream and downstream connections.
c restricted earth protection if the neutral of
the downstream system is earthed at the
transformer (fig.5). This is a high impedance
differential protection system which detects
the difference in residual currents measured
at the grounding point and at the three-
phase transformer outlet.
c neutral earth protection if the downstream
∆I system is earthed at the transformer (fig.6).

(fig.5)

I >
N

(fig.6)

Merlin Gerin protection guide 29

examples of transformer MV/LV
MV
MV/LV
MV
protection

I (1)

I>
(2)
I>>
(2)

I > (3)
N

I > (3)
N

(4) (4)

I >
N
(5)
(6) (6)

LV LV

low power high power

(1) Thermal overload

(2) Fuse or 2-setting overcurrent
(3) Earth fault
(4) Buchholz or DGPT
(5) Tank earth leakage
(6) LV circuit breaker

MV/MV MV/MV

I (1) I (1)
I> I>
(2) (2)
II >>
>>
I >>

I >
N
(3) I >
N ∆I
(3) (7)

(4) (4)

I >
N
I >
N
(6) ∆I
(5) (8)

low power high power

(1) Thermal overload

(2) Fuse or 2-setting overcurrent
(3) Earth fault
(4) Buchholz or DGPT
(5) Tank earth leakage
(6) Neutral earth protection
(7) Transformer differential
(8) Restricted earth fault protection

30 protection guide Merlin Gerin

transformer protection (cont.)

setting information type of fault settings

overload c LV circuit breaker: In (for MV/LV transformer)
c thermal overload: time constant in the 10' range
short circuit c fuse: rating > 1.3 In,
c direct time overcurrent
lower setting < 6 In; time delay ≥ 0.3 s
(selective with downstream),
upper setting > downstream Isc instantaneous,
c IDMT overcurrent
IDMT lower setting (selective with downstream),
high setting > downstream Isc, instantaneous,
c differential transformer,
25% to 50% of In.
earth fault c tank earth leakage
setting > 20 A 100 ms time delay,
c earth fault current
setting ≤ 20 % of maximum earth fault and
≥ 10% of CT rating if fed by 3 CTs,
time delay 0.1 s if grounded within the system,
time delay according to discrimination if grounded
in the transformer,
c restricted earth fault protection
setting approximately 10% of In when the
3 CT integrator assembly is used,
c neutral earth protection
setting approximately 10% of maximum earth fault
current.

Merlin Gerin protection guide 31