Philosophy On Transformer Protection
Philosophy On Transformer Protection
Philosophy On Transformer Protection
INTRODUCTION
The Power Transformer is one of the most important links in a power transmission and distribution system. A Transformer fault will cause a large interruption in power supplies and the impact is more serious than a transmission line outage and also cause damage to power system stability.
It consists essentially of a magnetic core built of insulated silicon steel laminations upon which distinct sets of coils are wound.
The alternating current applied to one of the windings establishes an alternating magnetic flux in the core, which induces an e.m.f in the windings.
The formula connecting induced voltage, flux and number of turns is as follows: E= 4.44 f m N E RMS value of the induced emf in the winding. f frequency of supply in Hz m Total magnetic flux through the core (max.value) in Webers. N No. of turns in the winding.
protection falls under two major categories : Protection of the system against the effects of faults arising inside the transformer. Protection of the transformer against the effect of faults occurring on any part of the system (external).
Earth faults Phase to Phase faults Inter turn faults Core faults Tank faults
A high voltage transformer connected to an overhead transmission system is very likely to be subjected to step fronted impulse voltages. Hence the risk of partial winding flash over is high. It is opined that 70% to 80% of all transformer failures arise from faults between turns or inter turn faults. A short circuit of a few turns of the winding will give raise to heavy faults current in the short-circuited loop, but the impact on terminal currents will be very small because of the high ratio of transformation between the whole windings and the short circuited turns.
Philosophy of Transformer Protection (Contd...) Core faults (contd.) Fortunately, in an oil immersed transformer, the local heating will cause breakdown of some of the oil with an accompanying evolution of gas, which will escape to the conservator.
TANK FAULTS: Loss of oil through tank leak, failure of welded joints etc. may lead to a dangerous condition.
Large fault currents produce severe mechanical stresses in transformers, the maximum stress occurs during the first cycle of asymmetric faults current and so cannot be arrested by automatic tripping of the circuit. Hence the control of such stresses is to be taken care of at the time of design itself.
Power frequency over voltage (contd.) Under this condition the bolts may get heated to a temperature, which destroys their own insulation and will damage the coil insulation if the condition continues. Reduction in frequency has an effect on flux density, which is similar to that of over voltage.
In other words, the transformer can operate with some degree of over voltage with a corresponding increase in frequency. But operation must not be continued with a high voltage input at a low frequency.
MAGNETISING INRUSH:
The phenomenon of magnetizing inrush is a transient condition, which occurs primarily when a transformer is energized. It is not a fault condition and therefore does not necessitate the operation of protection, which on the contrary must remain stable during the inrush transient, which is a major factor that is to be taken care of in the design of transformer protection.
Magnetic inrush (contd.) Harmonic content of inrush waveform The waveform of transformer magnetizing current contains a proportion of harmonics, which increases as the peak flux density is raised to the saturating condition. As long as the waveform is symmetrical about the horizontal axis, only odd harmonics will be present.
Magnetic inrush (contd.) The energizing conditions, which result in an offset inrush current, produce a waveform, which is not symmetrical about horizontal axis. Such wave typically contains both even and odd harmonics. Typical inrush currents contain substantial amounts of second and third harmonics.
Philosophy of Transformer Protection (Contd...) OVER HEATING PROTECTION The rating of a transformer is based on the temperature rise above assumed maximum ambient temperature. At a lower ambient temperature some degree of overload can be safely applied. Short period overloads are also permissible to an extent dependent on the previous loading conditions.
Design of protection:
To design the protective scheme it is necessary to have an idea/ intimate knowledge of faults. A fault can be detected by particular type of protection equipment and some of the protection equipments are more sensitive than the other.
Most protective schemes applied to the transformers are based on the current balance principle of magnitude comparison of current flowing into and out of the transformer.
Philosophy of Transformer Protection (Contd...) The Protective zone of a Differential relay includes faults in Transformer, faults on Buses or cables between CT and transformer and then rapidly initiate disconnection of the supply to the main transformer. Then damages as well as nonselective tripping of other protective relays are prevented. The Transformer Differential relay must be able to cope with the following conditions:
The Transformer Differential relay must be able to cope with the following conditions:
When energizing the transformer after the fault, it is possible to obtain a large inrush current in the exciting winding. The magnitude and duration of the inrush current depends on o Instant of switching in o Design of transformer o Type of transformer connection o Method of neutral grounding o The fault MVA rating of transformer o When transformers connected in parallel.
To prevent the relay to operate when energizing or to delay the operation, an instantaneous relay must have a magnetizing inrush restraint and thereby utilizing certain characteristic difference between inrush current and fault current.