Transformer Protection and Transformer
Fault
August 31, 2018 by Electrical4U
There are different kinds of transformers such as two winding or three
winding electrical power transformers, auto transformer, regulating
transformers, earthing transformers, rectifier transformers etc.
Different transformers demand different schemes of transformer
protection depending upon their importance, winding connections,
earthing methods and mode of operation etc.
It is common practice to provide Buchholz relay protection to all 0.5
MVA and above transformers. While for all small size distribution
transformers, only high voltage fuses are used as main protective
device. For all larger rated and important distribution transformers,
over current protection along with restricted earth fault protection is
applied.
Differential protection should be provided in the transformers rated
above 5 MVA.
Depending upon the normal service condition, nature of transformer
faults, degree of sustained over load, scheme of tap changing, and
many other factors, the suitable transformer protection schemes
are chosen.
Nature of Transformer Faults
Although an electrical power transformer is a static device, but
internal stresses arising from abnormal system conditions, must be
taken into consideration.
A transformer generally suffers from following types of transformer
fault-
1. Over current due to overloads and external short circuits,
2. Terminal faults,
3. Winding faults,
4. Incipient faults.
All the above mentioned transformer faults cause mechanical and
thermal stresses inside the transformer winding and its connecting
terminals. Thermal stresses lead to overheating which ultimately
affect the insulation system of transformer. Deterioration of insulation
leads to winding faults. Some time failure of transformer cooling
system, leads to overheating of transformer. So the transformer
protection schemes are very much required.
The short circuit current of an electrical transformer is normally
limited by its reactance and for low reactance, the value of short
circuit current may be excessively high. The duration of external short
circuits which a transformer can sustain without damage as given in
BSS 171:1936.
Transformer % reactance Permitted fault duration in seconds
4% 2
5% 3
6% 4
7 % and over 5
The general winding faults in transformer are either earth faults or
inter-turns faults. Phase to phase winding faults in a transformer is
rare. The phase faults in an electrical transformer may be occurred
due to bushing flash over and faults in tap changer equipment.
Whatever may be the faults, the transformer must be isolated instantly
during fault otherwise major breakdown may occur in the electrical
power system.
Incipient faults are internal faults which constitute no immediate
hazard. But it these faults are over looked and not taken care of, these
may lead to major faults. The faults in this group are mainly inter-
lamination short circuit due to insulation failure between core
lamination, lowering the oil level due to oil leakage, blockage of oil
flow paths. All these faults lead to overheating. So transformer
protection scheme is required for incipient transformer faults also.
The earth fault, very nearer to neutral point of transformer star
winding may also be considered as an incipient fault.
Influence of winding connections and earthing on earth fault current
magnitude.
There are mainly two conditions for earth fault current to flow during
winding to earth faults,
1. A current exists for the current to flow into and out of the
winding.
2. Ampere-turns balance is maintained between the windings.
The value of winding earth fault current depends upon position of the
fault on the winding, method of winding connection and method of
earthing. The star point of the windings may be earthed either solidly
or via a resistor. On delta side of the transformer the system is
earthed through an earthing transformer. Grounding or earthing
transformer provides low impedance path to the zero sequence
current and high impedance to the positive and negative sequence
currents.
Star Winding with Neutral Resistance Earthed
In this case the neutral point of the transformer is earthed via a
resistor and the value of impedance of it, is much higher than that of
winding impedance of the transformer. That means the value of
transformer winding impedance is negligible compared to impedance
of earthing resistor. The value of earth current is, therefore,
proportional to the position of the fault in the winding. As the fault
current in the primary winding of the transformers is proportional to
the ratio of the short circuited secondary turns to the total turns on
the primary winding, the primary fault current will be proportional to
the square of the percentage of winding short circuited. The variation
of fault current both in the primary and secondary winding is shown
below.
Star Winding with Neutral Solidly Earthed
In this case the earth fault current magnitude is limited solely by the
winding impedance and the fault is no longer proportional to the
position of the fault. The reason for this non linearity is unbalanced
flux linkage.
