Transformer Protection Overview
Ahmed Ibraheem
Transformers Main Faults
Overloads
Short Circuit
Frame Fault
Overload
Resulted from:
Increase in the number of loads being fed
simultaneously.
increase in the power absorbed by one or
more loads.
Overload
Effect:
It results in an overcurrrent of long duration
causing a rise in temperature that is
detrimental to the preservation of insulation
and to the service life of the transformer.
Overload
Protection:
The secondary circuit breaker (B)
– LV Side – should trip at time tb.
In case of malfunction of circuit
breaker (B), circuit breaker (A)
should trip at time ta=tb+∆t.
Short Circuit
Resulted from:
Internal Short Circuit
External Short Circuit
Short Circuit
Internal Short Circuit:
Faults occurring between winding conductors
with different phases.
Faults in the same winding
Short Circuit
Effect:
Winding damage and then fire.
The arc causes the emission of decomposition
gas in oil transformers.
That can destroy the winding and also the tank
frame by the spread of burning oil.
Short Circuit
External Short Circuit:
Faults occurring in the downstream
connections:
Phase to phase fault
Phase to ground fault
Short Circuit
Effect:
Produces electrodynamic forces In the
transformer that are liable to affect the
windings mechanically and then develop in
the form of internal faults.
Short Circuit
Protection:
a Buchholz relay, DGPT or DMCR that are sensitive
to gas release or oil movement is used.
Short Circuit
Protection:
Differential transformer
protection ensures rapid
protection against phase-to
-phase faults. It is sensitive
to fault currents in the
range of 0.5 In and is used
for important transformers.
Short Circuit
Protection:
An instantaneous overcurrent
protection device located at the
transformer primary is used.
Discrimination between upstream
& downstream protection relays
should be considered
Short Circuit
Protection:
for low power transformers, a fuse is used for
overcurrent protection.
Tank frame faults
Resulted from:
Between the winding and the tank frame.
Between the winding and the magnetic core.
Tank frame faults
Effect:
Causes gas emission in oil transformers. Like
internal short circuits, it can cause
transformer damage and fire.
The amplitude of the fault current depends
on the grounding systems, and also on the
position of the fault within the winding.
Tank frame faults
Effect:
Star Connection Delta Connection
The frame the frame current
current varies varies between 50
between 0 and and 100% of the
the maximum maximum value
value depending depending on
on whether the whether the fault
fault is at the is in the middle or
neutral or phase at the end of the
end of the winding.
winding.
Tank frame faults
Protection:
Using an instantaneous
overcurrent protection
device installed on the
frame earthing
connection.
The transformer tank has
to be isolated from the
ground.
Tank frame faults
Protection:
Earth protection located on the upstream
system for frame faults affecting the
transformer primary.
Earth fault protection located on the incoming
line, if the neutral of the downstream system
is earthed on the busbars.
Tank frame faults
Protection:
They are only sensitive to phase-to-earth
faults located in the transformer or on the
upstream and downstream connections.
Tank frame faults
Protection:
Restricted earth protection if the neutral of
the downstream system is earthed at the
transformer.
Tank frame faults
Protection:
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.
Tank frame faults
Protection:
Neutral earth
protection if the
downstream system
is earthed at the
transformer
Protection Summary
MV/LV Transformers
Protection Summary
MV/MV Transformers