Protection of Types of defects 0

transformers

The transformer is an element The main faults that can affect a transformer are:
bla surcharge,
particularly important of a network. short circuit,
It is necessary to protect it effectively. short circuit to ground.
against all possible defects
damage it, whether they are of internal origin Surcharge
or external. The overload may be due to the increase in the number of powered loads.
The choice of protection often depends simultaneously or to the increase of the power absorbed by one or several
charges.
technical and economic considerations
It translates to a prolonged overintensity that causes an elevation of
related to its power. temperature harmful to the insulation's performance and the longevity of the transformer.

Short circuit
The short circuit can be internal to the transformer or external.
Internal: this refers to a fault between conductors of different phases or a fault
between the turns of the same winding. The fault arc degrades the winding
of the transformer and can cause a fire. In an oil transformer,
the arc causes the emission of decomposition gases; if the defect is small, there is
a small gas release, and the accumulation of gas becomes dangerous.
A violent short circuit causes very significant damage that can destroy.
the winding but also the tank by spreading the burning oil.
External: it is a fault between phases in the downstream connections. The current
The downstream short circuit causes electrodynamic stresses in the transformer.
susceptible to mechanically affect the windings and then evolve under
internal defect form.

I I Ground fault
Imax Imax The earth fault is an internal defect. It can occur between the winding and the tank.
or between winding and magnetic core.
For an oil transformer, it causes gas release. Like the
Imax internal short circuit can lead to the destruction of the transformer and fire.
2 The amplitude of the fault current depends on the neutral grounding of the upstream networks.
and also depends on the position of the fault in the winding:
% % In a star coupling (fig.1), the current to the ground varies between 0 and the value
maximum depending on whether the fault is at the neutral or phase end of the winding.
0 100% 0 50% 100% In a delta coupling (fig. 2), the current to the ground varies between 50% and 100%
the maximum value depending on whether the defect is in the middle or at one end of
the winding.

Note on the operation of transformers

Energizing the transformers (fig. 3)
Fig. 1 Fig. 2
The energizing of a transformer causes a current spike.
Defect current as a function of the defect position transient inrush current that can reach up to 20 times the nominal current
on the winding with time constants from 0.1 to 0.7 seconds; this phenomenon is due to
to the saturation of the magnetic circuit which causes the appearance of a current
important magnetizing; the peak value of the current is maximum during a
Ic
Triggering done at zero crossing of the voltage and with an induction
–t
-----
maximum remanence on the same phase; the waveform of the current is rich
ˆie• (t) Yes• eˆ τe in harmonic of rank 2.
This phenomenon corresponds to a normal network operation maneuver.
It should therefore not be seen as a flaw by the protections that must leave
pass the triggering point.
Surfluxation
An operation of a transformer at too high a voltage or too low a frequency
causes an excessive magnetizing current and leads to a current deformation
t rich in harmonic of rank 5.

Fig. 3: transformer switching

envelope of the engagement crest
τ e : time constant

46
Protection of Protective devices 0

transformers

Surcharge
Long-duration overcurrent can be detected by maximum protection.
time-dependent or inverse time delayed overcurrent (ANSI 51)
selective with secondary protections.
We monitor the temperature of the dielectric (ANSI 26) for transformers
to liquid insulation or the temperature of the windings (ANSI 49T) for the
dry transformers.
87T We use a thermal imaging protection (ANSI 49RMS) for monitoring with
a better sensitivity to temperature rise: the heating is determined
by simulating heat release as a function of current and inertia
transformer thermal.
For MV/LV transformers, an overload can be detected on the low side.
tension by the long delay trigger of the main low voltage circuit breaker.

Fig. 1: differential protection of transformer

Short circuit
t Several protections can be implemented.
For transformers in oil, devices sensitive to release
51 of gas and the displacement of oil (ANSI 63) caused by a short circuit between
51 spires of the same phase or a short circuit between phases:
50 50 Buchholz relay for breathable type HT/HT transformers,
gas and pressure detectors for sealed HT/LT transformers.
I
The differential protection of the transformer (ANSI 87T) (fig.1) which ensures a
rapid protection against phase faults. It is sensitive and is used
Activation curve Icc max Icc max for high-power vital transformers. To prevent triggering
transformer BT HT
unexpectedly, we proceed to measure the harmonic 2 of the differential current which
Fig. 2: transformer protection at maximum current detects the device activation (H2 retention), as well as the measurement of
the harmonic 5 that detects overload (retention H5).
It should be noted that the implementation of this protection in digital technology
Neural networks provide advantages: ease of tuning and stability.
An instantaneous phase current maximum protection (ANSI 50) (fig. 2)
associated with the circuit breaker located at the primary of the transformer ensures protection
51G against violent short circuits in primary. The current threshold is set to a
value higher than the current due to a short circuit in the secondary: selectivity
The ammeter function is thus ensured.
A high voltage fuse can provide protection for small power transformers.
Fig. 3: mass protection transformer tank
Ground fault
Mass tank (fig. 3)
This maximum low current timed protection (ANSI 51G) installed
on the grounding connection of the transformer's mass (if its setting is
compatible with the neutral regime) is a simple and effective solution against
the internal faults between a winding and the ground; it requires isolation
51N 64REF the transformer relative to the ground.
This protection is selective: it is only sensitive to ground faults.
of the transformer on the primary and secondary sides.
Another solution is to ensure protection against earth faults:
through the earth protection (ANSI 51N) located on the upstream network for the fault
mass affecting the primary of the transformer,
by the earth fault protection (ANSI 51N) located at the input of the powered panel,
if the grounding of the neutral of the downstream network is done on the busbar (fig. 4).
Fig. 4: ground protection Fig. 5: earth protection These protections are selective: they are only sensitive to phase-ground faults.
restricted located in the transformer or on the upstream and downstream connections.
by a restricted earth protection (ANSI 64REF) if the neutral grounding
The downstream network is done at the transformer level (fig. 5). This is a protection
differential that detects the difference in residual currents measured during the setup
the neutral ground on one hand and on the three-phase output of the transformer on the other.
by a ground protection neutral point (ANSI 51G) if the neutral is grounded
The downstream network is made at the level of the transformer (fig. 6).
59N by a maximum residual voltage protection (ANSI 59N) if the neutral
the downstream network is isolated from the ground (fig. 7).
51G

Fig. 6: ground protection Fig. 7: maximum protection

neutral point residual stress

47
Protection of Tuning advice 0

transformers

Default Appropriate protective device ANSI Code Adjustment instructions

Surcharge
Dielectric temperature monitoring 26 Alarm 95 °C; triggering 100 °C
liquid-insulated transformer
Temperature monitoring of the windings 49T Alarme 150 °C ; déclenchement 160 °C
dry transformer
Thermal image 49 RMS Alarm threshold = 100% of overheating
Trigger threshold = 120% of the warm-up
Time constant on the order of 10 to 30 minutes
Low voltage circuit breaker Threshold≥ In

Short circuit
Fusible Choice of caliber according to the method of the fitter

Maximum instantaneous phase current 50 Upper threshold > Lower ICC

Maximum current at time independent 51 Low threshold < 5 In

Timing≥ Add 0.3 seconds
Maximum time-dependent current 51 Low threshold in inverse selective time with the downstream, about 3 In
Percentage differential 87T Slope = 15% + range of adjustment
Minimum threshold 30%
Buchholz or gas and pressure detection 63 logic
Earth fault
Maximum current mass tank 51G Threshold > 20 A, delay 0.1 seconds
Maximum ground current 51N/51G 20% Imax ground fault and > 10% TC rating (if 3TC and H2 retention)
Threshold≤
Timing 0.1 seconds if MALT in the network
Timing function of selectivity if MALT on the transformer
Restricted ground differential 64REF Threshold 10% In, no delay
Maximum current earth neutral point 51G Threshold < Permanent limitation resistance
Maximum residual voltage 59N Threshold around 10% maximum Vrsd
Overinflation
Flow control 24 > 1.05 Un/fn
Timing: constant time 1 hour

48
Protection of Examples of applications 0

transformers

51G 49RMS
50
26 26 51
63 63 51G (2 x)

Low power HT/BT transformer High power transformer HT/BT

Fuse protection Circuit breaker protection

49RMS 49RMS
50 26 50
26 51 51
63 63
51N 49T 51G (2 x)
51G (2 x) 64REF
87T

Low power HT/HT transformer High Voltage/High Voltage Power Transformer

49