IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 27, NO.
3, JULY 2012
Use of Standard 87T Differential Protection for
Special Three-Phase Power Transformers—Part II:
Application and Testing
Zoran Gajić, Member, IEEE
Abstract—Application of standard 87T differential relays for
special power transformers is quite simple. In most cases, all
necessary data are readily available on the rating plate of pro-
tected special transformers. The presented test cases are either
disturbance data captured in actual installations of special power
transformers or RTDS simulations based on actual data for a
dual-core, symmetric, phase-shifting transformer.
Index Terms—Converter transformers, phase-shifting trans-
formers, power transformer protection, protective relaying.
I. INTRODUCTION
HIS paper describes the application and testing of a stan-
T dard 87T differential relay for protection of any special
three-phase power transformer [1]. The use of standard trans-
former differential protection for these applications is consid-
ered impossible in the protective relaying standards and prac-
tices currently applied [4], [6].
As stated in [1] and [3], the following equation can be used to
calculate differential currents for arbitrary power transformers:
(1.1)
where are phase-wise differential currents, are
winding phase currents, is the number of windings within
the protected power transformer, is a factor providing
magnitude compensation of winding i currents, and is
a 3 3 matrix that provides phase-angle shift compensation
and optional zero-sequence current reduction. When only the
phase-angle shift compensation for angle is needed, the MX
matrix is equal to matrix transformation defined in [1]
(1.2)
Manuscript received February 06, 2009; revised May 05, 2010; accepted
March 06, 2011. Date of publication March 13, 2012; date of current version
June 20, 2012. Paper no. TPWRD-00104-2009.
The author is with the ABB AB, Substation Automation Products, Vasteras
SE-721 59, Sweden (e-mail: zoran.gajic@se.abb.com).
Color versions of one or more of the figures in this paper are available online
at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/TPWRD.2011.2178273
0885-8977/$31.00 © 2012 IEEE
1041
Alternatively, matrix transformation is used when op-
tional zero-sequence current reduction is also required.
elements are smaller for than numerical values of corre-
sponding matrix elements, see [1] and [3].
II. PRACTICAL INSTALLATIONS
Disturbance files captured in existing special transformer in-
stallations are used in order to test the proposed universal 87T
differential relay for such applications as shown in [1] and [3].
A. Converter Transformer
In this section, the recorded file from an installation of a
24-pulse converter transformer is presented. The transformer is
constructed by using two, three-winding transformers, of very
similar design. They are used together in order to achieve a re-
quired phase-angle shift. The first transformer (i.e., T1) has the
vector group while the second transformer (i.e.,
T2) has the vector group in accordance with [7].
All of the necessary information to apply the differential protec-
tion for this application is given in Fig. 1.
Due to CT availability, the differential protection for this con-
verter transformer can be arranged in two different ways:
• With two, three-winding 87T differential relays each pro-
tecting one transformer as shown in Fig. 1.
• With one, overall 87T differential relay with six restraint
inputs protecting both transformers as one unit.
The presented disturbance recording was captured during the
normal through-load condition by an existing digital overcurrent
relay installed on transformer T2 with a sampling rate of 20
samples/power system cycle. The 13.8-kV winding is taken as
the reference winding for phase-angle shift compensation, and
the maximum power has a value of 7.0 MVA for transformer
T2. Thus, base currents and required compensation matrices for
every T2 winding are shown in Table I. Once these base currents
and MX matrices are determined, differential currents can be
calculated in accordance with
(1.3)
1042
Fig. 1. Application data and vector diagram for the 24-pulse transformers.
TABLE I
COMPENSATION DATA FOR T2
The recorded currents were imported into the MATLAB
model incorporating the universal differential protection
method [3], and the results of its calculation are shown in
Fig. 2. In this figure, the following traces are presented:
• T2-W1 current waveforms in %;
• T2-W2 current waveforms in %;
• T2-W3 current waveforms in %;
• instantaneous differential current waveforms calculated by
using (1.3) in %;
• rms value of differential currents calculated by using (1.3)
in %.
From the waveforms shown in Fig. 2, it can be seen that W2
and W3 load currents are reached in odd harmonics. However,
these harmonics do not cause any problem for the presented
87T differential relay principle because all three differential rms
currents, shown as the fifth trace in the same figure, are well
under 1% when transformer load is 40% of rated.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 27, NO. 3, JULY 2012
Fig. 2. Evaluation of the DR file captured in the converter transformer
installation.
B. PST of Asymmetrical Type, Dual Core Design
In this section, the recorded files from two identical PSTs po-
sitioned at one end of the two parallel 380-kV overhead lines
(OHL) are presented. Every PST is of asymmetric, dual-core de-
sign [6] with a rating of 1630 MVA, 50 Hz, and 400 kV .
A relevant part of the PST rating plate is shown in Fig. 3. The
onload tap changer (OLTC) was on position 30 when this fault
occurred. From data presented in Fig. 3 the following equation is
written for OLTC position 30 in accordance with the universal
87T relay methodology presented in [1] and [3]. These PSTs
have five-limb core construction for both internal transformers
(i.e., serial and excitation transformers). Therefore, the zero-se-
quence current will be properly transferred across the PST, and
matrices shall be used on both PST sides
(1.4)
In a similar way, this matrix equation can be written for any
other OLTC position if appropriate values from Fig. 3 are given
for the base current and the phase-angle shift on the load side of
the PST.
The captured fault involved two simultaneous single-
phase-to-ground faults on two OHLs on the L-side of the PSTs.
On OHL #1, it was a phase L2 to ground fault and on OHL #2,
it was a phase L1 to ground fault. These two recordings were
captured by existing numerical differential relays having sam-
pling rates of 12 samples/power system cycle. Recorded source
and load-side current waveforms were run in the MATLAB
model of the universal 87T differential relay. In Figs. 4 and 5,
the following traces are presented:
• PST S-side current waveforms in per unit;
• PST L-side current waveforms in per unit;
• instantaneous differential current waveforms calculated by
using (1.4) in per unit;
• rms values of differential currents calculated by using (1.4)
in per unit;
GAJIĆ: USE OF STANDARD 87T DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION FOR SPECIAL THREE-PHASE POWER TRANSFORMERS—PART II
Fig. 3. Part of nameplate for 1630-MVA, 400-kV, 18 quad booster PST.
Fig. 4. Evaluation of the DR file for the first PST.
• phase-angle difference between positive- and negative-se-
quence currents from two PST sides during a disturbance.
Figs. 4 and 5 show that during this special external fault,
individual phase currents had values on the order of 10 p.u.,
while the differential rms currents calculated by the universal
87T differential relay remain within 0,15 p.u. (i.e., 15%) of the
PST rating for both transformers. This indicates that the uni-
versal 87T differential relays would remain completely stable
during this special external fault. The measured phase-angle
shift between positive- and negative-sequence current compo-
nents from the two PST sides is and it corresponds well
with the actual phase-angle shift for this PST at OLTC position
1043
Fig. 5. Evaluation of the DR file for the second PST.
30 confirming the rules stated in [3]. Note that neither the fault
inception nor the fault clearance has any practical influence on
the phase-angle shift of 16 between sequence current compo-
nents from the two sides of the protected PST.
C. PST With Special Construction
In this section, the recorded files from PST with special
construction are presented. This transformer can be used as a
conventional 400-MVA, 50-Hz, 400/220/(10.5)kV, YNauto(d5)
autotransformer with an OLTC in the neutral point or as a
phase-shifting transformer connecting 400-kV and 220-kV
networks. The power transformer has a tertiary, unloaded,
delta-connected, equalizer winding. A relevant part of the PST
rating plate is shown in Table II. More information about this
PST can be found in [2].
The presented disturbance recordings were captured by an ex-
isting numerical differential relay with a sampling rate of 20
samples/power system cycle. The OLTC was on position 25
when the presented fault case occurred. Thus, from data pre-
sented in Table II, (1.5) can be written for OLTC position 25
in accordance with the universal 87T differential relay theory
presented in [1] and [3]. Due to the existence of a tertiary delta
winding, the M0 compensation matrices shall be used on both
sides of the protected transformer in order to remove the zero-se-
quence current. This is necessary in order to stabilize the 87T
relay for any external faults involving ground
(1.5)
The recorded currents were imported into the MATLAB
model incorporating the universal differential protection
method, and the results of its calculation are shown in Fig. 6.
The following traces, either extracted or calculated from this
recorded file, are presented:
• 400-kV current waveforms in percent;
• 220-kV current waveforms in percent;
• instantaneous differential current waveforms calculated by
using (1.5) in percent;
1044 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 27, NO. 3, JULY 2012

TABLE II
NAMEPLATE IN THE PST OPERATING MODE

Fig. 6. Evaluation of the DR file during an external L3-N fault on the 220-kV
side.

Fig. 7. Evaluation of the DR file captured during OLTC tapping.

are used to calculate differential currents within the universal

87T differential relays for this PST at OLTC position 14 and 15,
respectively

• rms value of differential currents calculated by using (1.5)

in percent;
• calculated phase-angle difference between positive- and
negative-sequence current components from the two PST
sides. (1.6)
Fig. 6 shows that for this heavy external fault, the differen-
tial rms current values remain within 1% of the PST rating,
indicating that the universal differential relay will remain
completely balanced during this external fault. The measured
phase-angle shift between positive- and negative-sequence
current components from the two PST sides is and (1.7)
it corresponds extremely well with the actual transformer
phase-angle shift for OLTC position 25. Note that neither the
fault inception nor the fault clearance has any practical influ- In Fig. 7, the following traces, either extracted or calculated
ence on the phase-angle shift of 6.7 between sequence current from the recorded file, are presented:
components from the two sides of the protected PST. • 400-kV current waveforms in percent;
Disturbance files have also been captured at the moment of • 220-kV current waveforms in percent;
an OLTC tapping in the PST operating mode. The PST OLTC • rms values of the differential currents calculated by using
tap position was changed from position 14 to position 15 and (1.6) and (1.7), in percent;
the behavior of the universal differential protection method was • calculated phase-angle difference between positive-se-
checked during OLTC operation. The following two equations quence current components from the two PST sides.
GAJIĆ: USE OF STANDARD 87T DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION FOR SPECIAL THREE-PHASE POWER TRANSFORMERS—PART II
Fig. 8. Used PST model and fault locations.
Number one in Fig. 7 indicates the time instant of OLTC tap-
ping and number two indicates the time instant when the uni-
versal 87T relays changes internal compensation to the values
which correspond to the new OLTC position 15 (i.e., when the
87T relay starts to internally use (1.7) instead of (1.6) to calcu-
late differential currents).
III. RTDS SIMULATIONS
Data files obtained by RTDS simulations [5] are used in this
section in order to test the universal 87T differential relay prin-
ciples presented in [1] and [3].
The simulated PST (Fig. 8) was of symmetric type, dual core
design. The main PST data used for this simulation are rated
power 1400 MVA, rated voltages 400/400 kV, rated frequency
50 Hz, and angle variation 25 (at no load). The PST data are
based on a practical PST designed used in actual installation.
Each PST phase was simulated as two separate single-phase
transformers. The simulation was preformed with the RTDS
simulator [5]. The simulated network consisted of a PST, two
20-km-long, 400-kV lines (one on each PST side) and two ac-
tive sources (one on each PST side). In this simulation case,
the 400-kV lines were simulated with a T-line model in the
RTDS. To demonstrate the influence of the PST phase-angle
shift change, a parallel path had to be introduced in the circuit
connecting the two 400-kV buses (i.e., in parallel with the se-
rial connection of the PST and two 400-kV OHLs). This parallel
path is simulated with a -section line model in RTDS. Overall
SLD of the simulated system is shown in Fig. 9.
1045
Fig. 9. Overall system SLD used for RTDS simulations.
The main goal of this RTDS simulation was to gain current
waveforms on both sides of the PST during faults (either
external or internal) for different phase-angle shifts across
the PST. The current measurement was performed on circuit
breakers (CBs) located on both sides of the PST. In this sim-
ulation, the current transformers (CTs) were not simulated,
so the influence of the CT saturation during a fault could not
be obtained. The external faults F1 and F2 were simulated on
the source and load side. The internal faults F3 and F4 were
simulated on the series transformer as well as on the booster
transformer. The simulated fault positions are shown in Fig. 8.
For each fault point, four different fault types are simulated:
L1-L2-L3, L1-L2, L2-L3-G, and L3-G. The sampling rate of
400 samples/power system cycle was used in output files from
the RTDS simulator.
The first group of faults was simulated for 25 no-load phase-
angle shift in the advanced operating mode. This was the highest
phase-shift angle that could be obtained for this particular PST.
All aforementioned fault types in all four fault location points
were simulated.
The second group of faults was simulated for 15 no-load
phase-angle shift in the advanced operating mode. All afore-
mentioned fault types in all four fault-location points were
simulated.
The third group of faults was simulated for a 2.5 no-load
phase-angle shift in the advanced operating mode. All afore-
mentioned fault types in all four fault-location points were
simulated.
The source and load-side currents obtained from the RTDS
simulator were run in the MATLAB model of the universal 87T
differential protection. Once the six currents from the two PST
sides for each fault were obtained, the next step involved cal-
culation of the differential currents in accordance with the new
method introduced in [1] and [3]. The calculations were made
with the MATLAB model of the universal differential current
measurement technique. In Figs. 10 and 11, the following traces
are presented:
• PST S-side individual phase current waveforms in per unit;
• PST L-side individual phase current waveforms in per unit;
• instantaneous differential current waveforms calculated by
the new method in per unit;
• rms values of differential currents calculated by the new
method in per unit.
1046
Fig. 10. External L2-L3-G fault at F1, for a 25 phase-angle shift.
Fig. 11. Internal L3-G fault at F3, for a 25 phase-angle shift.
Fig. 10 shows an external fault at location F1, for a 25 phase-
angle shift, for which differential rms currents remain smaller
than 0,05 p.u. (i.e., 5%) of the PST rating, indicating that the
universal differential relay will remain completely stable during
this external fault.
Fig. 11 shows an internal fault at location F3, for a 25 phase-
angle shift, for which the differential rms currents will reach a
value of 1,5 p.u. (i.e., 150%) of the PST rating, indicating that
the universal differential relay will operate correctly for such an
internal fault.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 27, NO. 3, JULY 2012
IV. CONCLUSION
In this paper, it has been shown that the standard 87T differen-
tial relay for an arbitrary three-phase power transformer [1], [3]
will remain fully stable for all symmetrical and nonsymmetrical
external faults irrespective of actual construction details of the
protected transformer. At the same time, this differential protec-
tion will correctly operate for all types of internal faults.
The application of such universal 87T relays for special trans-
formers is quite straightforward because all necessary data are
readily available on the protected transformer rating plate.
REFERENCES
[1] Z. Gajić, “Use of standard 87T differential protection for special three-
phase power transformers part I: Theory,” IEEE Trans. Power Del., vol.
27, no. 3, pp. 1035–1040, Jul. 2012.
[2] Z. Gajić, I. Ivanković, and B. Filipović-Grčić, “Differential protection
issues for combined autotransformer—Phase shifting transformer,”
presented at the Inst. Elect. Eng. Conf. Develop. Power Syst. Protect.,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Apr. 2004.
[3] Z. Gajić, “Differential protection for arbitrary three-phase power trans-
formers,” Ph.D. dissertation, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, 2008.
[4] Working Group K1, “Protection of phase angle regulating transformers
(PAR), ” Oct. 1999, Report to the Substation Subcommittee of the IEEE
Power Syst. Relay. Comm.
[5] RTDS Technologies Inc., Real time digital simulators (RTD) and sim-
ulation services for the electrical power industry. [Online]. Available:
http://www.rtds.com
[6] Guide for the Application, Specification, and Testing of Phase-Shifting
Transformers, Int. Standard IEC 62032/IEEE C57.135, Mar. 2005, 1st
ed.
[7] Power Transformer, IEC 60076, Oct. 1997, 1st ed.
Zoran Gajić (M’95) was born in Serbia. He received
the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Lund
University, Lund, Sweden, in 2008.
Since 1993, he has been working in the area of
power system protection and control within ABB,
where he has held various engineering positions.
Currently, he is Product Manager for Transformer
and Generator Protection with ABB AB, SA Prod-
ucts, Vasteras, Sweden. His main working areas are
practical applications of protection relays, computer
applications for the protection and control of elec-
trical power systems, and the development of advanced protection algorithms
for numerical relays and power system simulations.
Dr.Gajić is a member of CIGRÉ and the IEEE Power and Energy Society. He
was the convener for CIGRÉ, Study Committee B5, WG16 “Modern techniques
for protecting busbars in hv networks.” Currently, he is the convener for CIGRÉ,
Study Committee B5, WG44 “Protection schemes for special transformers.” He
has published many technical papers in the relay protection area. He is the holder
or co-holder of several patents.