Transformer Protection

Differential Protection
• The differential protection used for power transformers is
based on Merz price circulating current principle.
• The basic requirements which are to be satisfied by
differential relay connections are- the scheme should not
operate for overloads and should not operate for external
faults. It must operate on severe internal faults.
• Under normal conditions, the two CT secondary currents will
be equal in magnitude and will cancel each other.
• CT connection in case of transformer is decided from the
connection of transformer windings.
• There is inherent phase displacement in the currents of HV
and LV windings of star-delta transformer.
• Group 1 star – star : Zero phase displacement 12 o’clock
• Group 2 star – star : 180⁰ phase displacement 6 o’clock
• Group 3 delta – star : 30⁰ lag phase displacement 10 o’clock
• Group 4 delta – star : 30⁰ lead phase displacement 1
o’clock
• This introduces phase difference in the secondary currents of
CTs. The result is that, even if CTs of proper turns ratio are
used, differential current flows through the relay operating coil
causing it to operate even at normal conditions.
• This difficulty is overcome by connecting CT secondaries in
proper way.
• The currents in primary and secondary
windings are different. So CT ratio cannot be
identical.
• There is default phase difference of 30⁰
between line current and phase current in
delta connected circuit. So CT secondaries are
to be connected in definite manner and very
carefully considering dot marking on windings.
• A 3 ph, 66/11 kV star-delta connected transformer
is protected by Merz Price system. The CT’s on LV
side have a ratio of 420/5A. Find the ratio of CT’s
on HV side.
• Solution-
• The CT secondary connection for star-delta
transformer is delta-star.
• Let line current on 11 kV side(LV) be 420 A.
• Then line current on 66 kV side is
• √3 * 11000 * 420
√3 * 66000 = 70 A
 Line current of 11 kV side = Phase current of 11 kV = 5A.
This current will flow in pilot wires . On HV side line current is 5A. The
phase current= 5/ √3 A
So the CT ratio on HV side = 70: 5/ √3
 Earth Fault Protection
• Star connected transformer winding is protected against earth
fault using earth fault relay. In order to restrict relay operation
to winding , restricted earth fault relay is used.
• On delta connected winding, residual earth fault relay is used.
Buchholz relay is used in oil filled power transformers.
 Buchhol’z Relay

• Transformer is overloaded frequently. There is inter turn fault

which changes the current output of transformer. Such
conditions increase temperature of windings and consequently
of transformer oil. These slowly growing faults are called
Incipient Faults.
• To detect incipient faults and protect transformer against these
conditions, Buchhloz relay is used.
• It is gas operated relay.
• The arc developed during faults produces heat. Overload
currents also produce heat. This heat decomposes oil. The
main biproduct of decomposition is hydrogen gas.
• Hydrogen is light weight. It rises above oil level and
accumulates in the upper part of relay.
• Buchholz relay is located in a pipe connecting conservator to the oil
tank.
• Relay consists of two floats attached with mercury switches.
• When oil temperature increases, it decomposes and produces
hydrogen gas. This gas being light weight, rises up.
• This gas accumulates in upper part of relay. Due to gas pressure, oil
level goes down. This tilts upper float. The mercury switch
connected to this float is ON now. This float is connected to alarm
circuit. So temperature rise sounds alarm.
• When short circuit takes place in transformer windings, large amount
of heat is developed. This accelerates oil from tank to conservator.
During this flow the baffle connected to lower float moves and shorts
the contacts in mercury switch. This switch is directly connected to
circuit breaker. So isolation of transformer from mains is achieved.