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The Protection of Electrical Transformers

Technical Report · July 2021

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.22643.86564

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Al-Ma ’moon University College

Electrical Power Techniques Engineering Department

AC Machines Report
 Figure (1)

Abstract:
Understand how to protect transformers from internal and external faults
and differential protection, how to use them to protect transformers, learn
about transformer protection from overloads, and learn information about
Bucholoz transformer protection device

Introduction:
The protection method for electrical transformers depends entirely on the
function and location of the transformer in the network as well as the rating
of the transformer. For example, distribution transformers with rated
minimum of 2.5 MVA are protected by fuses. As for transformers whose
rated power ranges from 2.5 MVA to 5MVA, they are protected using one of
the following two methods :
1. The high impedance differential protection and the type of relay used is
usually a gravitating case relay which has a high separation speed.
2. Harmonic Biased Differential Protection and the type of relay used is
most often an Induction Disc (Relay) relay.

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Types of faults and their impact:
Design A suitable protection system for power transformers It is essential to be
familiar with most of the faults that the transformer is exposed to. Figure (2)
shows the types of errors expected to occur in the transformer, which are ...
1. an external (ground) shortness at the ends of the high voltage coils cables .
2. External shortness (between two sides) to the terminals of the high voltage coil
cables .
3. Internal (ground) shortness of a high voltage coil .
4. Internal shortness (between two sides) towards high voltage .
5. Short circuit between the windings of the high voltage coil .
6 . An external (ground) fault at the terminals of one of the Low voltage coil
cables.
7. An external short (between the two sides) to the terminals of the low-voltage
coil cables.
8. Internal (ground) short of one of the low voltage windings.
9. Internal shortness (between the two sides) of the low voltage windings.
10. An electrical short between the windings of the low voltage coil.
11. A land palace near the birthplace.
12. Shortening between two sides of the birthplace.

Figure (2) Common power transformer faults

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Differential protection:
The use of differential relays does not meet all the necessary conditions for
protection in the power system. We have observed that the separation time always
increases towards the source regardless of the gradient method used, and this in
turn may pose a threat to the generating stations as well as the switching stations
in addition to a direct effect on the grid balance. Therefore, unit protection or
differential protection is used to protect generators, transformers, motors, and
busbars.

The theory of differential protection action:

The working theory of differential relays is based on the Merz - Price
principle. Simply if the current entering the protected unit is equal to the
current coming out of it, this means that there is no fault in the protected area
and the protection is not working. On the other hand, a difference between the
current entering the protected area and outside the protected area indicates a
fault, and the protection in this case works to separate the fault current as
quickly as possible. Figures (3) and Figures (4)

Figures (3)
Differential and fault protection outside the protection zone
(the relay should not work)

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 Figures (4)
Differential and fault protection within the protection zone
(relay must work)

Figure (3) shows that the relay does not work if a fault occurs outside the
protected area because the current that passes through the relay equals zero and
this is what is required. But in fact, we find that the current through the relay in
this case is equal to the difference between the magnetising currents passing
through the CT, CT2. Even if we use absolutely similar current transformers in
terms of rated current, manufacturer and conversion ratio, we cannot guarantee
that they will have the same magnetizing currents. In other words, in practice
there will be a difference in the magnetic properties of the transformers. This
difference, no matter how slight, will lead to imbalance in the operation of the
relay, especially as a result of faults outside the protection area. In practice, this
problem is solved in one of the following two ways:
1. Use of high-impedance differential relays.
2. Use of bias differential relays.

Power transformer protection using differential protection:

Transformer protection due to internal faults we use one of the following two
methods:
1 .Discrete differential protection.
2 .Integrated differential protection.

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1- Separate differential protection:
In this case, the primary and secondary windings are protected separately and
the principle of action of this protection can be understood through the single-
sided transformer. The differential protection theory is based on the balance
between the current entering and leaving the transformer windings. In this type
of protection, two transformers are used, with one relay in each side of the
primary and secondary. For the protection system to be balanced, the following
conditions must be met:

• The protection shall not operate under normal operating conditions.

• The protection must not work due to the instantaneous magnetizing current
passing through the power transformer the moment it is inserted into the
network.

• The protection should not operate due to an external fault .

• The protection must operate due to the fault made through the protection zone.

*** The relays used in the case of discrete transformer differential protection
are usually of the high impedance attracted case relays. The advantage of high
impedance is to ensure that the shielding devices will not work due to the
commonness of a current transformer due to an external fault.

*The advantages of separate transformer differential protection can be

summarized as follows:
1 .It is not affected by load current, external faults, or instantaneous
magnetizing current.
2 .They are not affected by the power transformer switching ratio or the
current transformers.
3. Provide complete protection for the transformer windings if the point
equivalent to the star is directly grounded.

*The disadvantages of this method of prevention are summarized as follows:

1. It cannot detect the internal condition of shortness between two or three

faces.
2. It does not provide complete protection for the transformer windings if the
star neutral point is earthed by high impedance or resistance.
-5-
2- Integrated differential protection:
In this case, the transformer is protected as an integrated unit, meaning that the
conditions of balance must be fulfilled between the primary and the secondary
current.

With regard to integrated differential protection, the following is evident:

• It is clear that this protective system is affected by the instantaneous

magnetizing current which is accompanied by the harmonic currents of the
second and third order of high frequency. This is not desirable.

• This protection system is affected by the internal faults of the ground and the
external faults between the facets and this is required.

• It remains balanced under normal operating conditions and external faults,

provided that a perfect match is achieved CT, CT2. This is a difficult to achieve
process.

• Any mismatch between CT and CT2 in terms of the conversion ratio or

magnetizing current may cause the relay to operate under normal load
conditions or outside the protection zone, in addition to the following factors.
1. The position of the outlet and its effect on load currents and the imbalance it
may cause between secondary currents in CT, CT2 under normal operating
conditions and external faults.
2. The star-delta connection in a three-face transformer causes a 30 ° bias in the
phase angle between the line currents toward the delta and the star side.
Therefore, for this protective system to function properly, the harmonic bias
differential protection must be applied. On the one hand, on the other hand, the
current transformers are connected to the star side in a delta shape.
And the delta area is a star in order to get rid of the phenomenon of phase angle
bias between currents passing in the delta and star lines.
The type of relay usually used in the bias differential protection is the moving disc
inductive relay and the separation time is very short. To protect the transformer
from external faults, we usually use all-face surge relays.
These relays act as backup protection for differential protection because their
separation time is usually much greater than the separation time of the relays that
are used in the internal protection of the transformer.

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Transformer protection against overload:
Transformer overload protection A load bypass relay is used. Figure (5) shows
how the conductive transformer delta / star is protected against current overflow
and against earth fault.

Figure (5)
Transformer protection against over current and earth fault

Bucholoz Relay device:

A Buchholz relay is used to protect oil-filled transformers. Figure (6) shows the
position of the device in relation to the transformer and the additional oil
reservoir, as well as the parts of the relay itself and the methods of its connection
to the alarm circuit breaker or automatic disconnector. The main advantage
behind using this relay, in addition to the thermal and differential relays to
protect the transformer, is to monitor and detect faults inside the transformer in
its first stage and before the failure causes damage to the transformer windings
or explosion of the transformer if the flammable gases inside the transformer
increase. As for the theory of this stage, it is as follows:
1. If the transformer is overloaded, the oil temperature rises to a higher than the
permissible level. An increase in the temperature of the oil causes the oil to
evaporate and thus to the emergence of bubbles of hydrogen gas (H2) and
carbon monoxide (CO). These bubbles work their way up inside the
transformer and collect at the top of the Bukholoz device, which is usually full
of oil. Then the float of the alarm switch falls, causing this switch to work and
locking the contacts connected to the alarm device (first stage). The relay also
causes alarms to work if the oil level inside is low due to the leakage of the
main tank oil

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2. In the event of a severe fault inside the transformer (a shortness between the
coils or a shortness between the coils and the ground accompanied by a high
spark), the formation of gas bubbles will be very severe and in the form of a
fountain of gases causing the change of the position of the second float,
which closes the contacts connected to the main circuit breaker. In this case
the Buchholz relay acts as a backup protection for the differential protection
(the Buchholz relay is slower than the differential relay in action and faster
than the surge relay O / C relay). The good thing about this relay is that it is
also equipped with a valve that can open and take samples of the collected
gases for analysis. From analyzing the sample of dissolved gases in oil, it is
possible to know the quality of the gases in the oil, and thus it is possible to
diagnose the quality of the failure that the transformer has suffered and thus
isolate the transformer from the network manually if necessary before the
error becomes worse and this is called Preventive maintenance. The
dissolved gases inside the oil that result from faults inside the converter are
hydrogen gas H2, carbon monoxide CO, CH4, ethane C2H6, acetylene C2H2
and carbon dioxide CO2. These gases can be used as a diagnostic tool for
faults. For example, the presence of hydrogen gas and acetylene gas indicates
the presence of an electric arc inside the arcing oil between the metal parts.
The presence of gases such as CH2, C2H4, C2H6, CO2 indicates the
presence of hot spots inside the oil coils.

Figure (6)

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 Results of Report:
Learn about the ways to protect the transformers from internal and
external faults. And differential protection and how to use it to
protect the transformer and know the protection of the transformer
against overloads. Identify the Bucholoz device to protect the
transformer.

References
• ELECTRIC MACHINERY FUNDAMENTALS by Stephan J. Champan 4th edition

• ‫ محمود الجيالني‬.‫المرجع في محوالت القوى الكهربائية د‬.

• https://www.electricalcity.net/
• ‫المؤسسة العامة للتعليم الفني والتدريب المهني كتاب حماية المحوالت الكهربائية‬.
• B.l. theraja

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