MV/LV Transformer Protection: Power Business Training

MV/LV transformer protection
Power Business Training
● Situate the MV protection function

● Specify the most suitable solution for today’s electrical
networks: circuit breakers
Experts: Guillaume LEBREDONCHEL / Jean-Marc BIASSE

Pedagogy: Martine ALLAGNAT
Production: AMEG Duration: 52mn
Markets concerned
MV protection devices are used in 4 markets
Energy Industry Infrastructures Buildings
Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 2

1 - Medium voltage protection
Contents
Medium Voltage protection

Fuse-type protection
Switch-fuse combination unit
Circuit breaker protection
Discrimination
Devices to be protected: MV/LV
transformers
Coordination of protection
Main points to remember
Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection - 04/2010 3

2 main objectives
● Contribute to the safety ● …while optimising
of people and continuity of service
equipment...
t i n u ity
t y Con vice
Safe r
of s e
s a t ion
p t imi ts
O cos
o f

This means that
● Fault current must be quickly

CB1
cleared...
CB2
● ...with tripping taking place at the
right level of the installation
Power supply to the other

feeders is still ensured

Effects of electrical current
● Fault currents mainly create 2 types of effects:
Heat dissipation
Electromagnetic stress
(Joule effect)
Risk of mechanical Risks linked to

damage thermal effect
Dangerous Increases with

above a certain current level and
threshold duration
The installation should be

The installation should be
equipped with devices that limit
designed to mechanically
the duration of fault currents. The
withstand the maximum
higher the current, the shorter the
fault current
tripping time

Protection curve
Tripping time
● 2 main rules:
● let the device operate
tripping zone in normal service
sure to trip
● avoid risks related to
Operation is possible
to
le
ra
nc the passage of overly
e
zo high current in the
installation
ne
no
tripping zone
sure not to trip Current
I / I1
Permissible Fault I
continuous I1

2 - Fuse-type protection
Contents

Discrimination
transformers

Fuse
● The fuse is a device that interrupts current by melting the fuse
element
I1
Breaking
capacity
I3
Min.
breaking Danger
current
Ir

Fuse components
1. Fuse element
2. Star core
3. Insulating tube
4. Arc-quenching powder
1
3
5. Insulating end-cap
42
6. Striker
1
6 4
2 3 5

Fuse melting curve
● Depends directly on
the fuse’s thermal Time/current characteristic curves
7.2 – 12 – 17.5 – 24 – 26 kV
properties Time (s)
● Also called
time/current
characteristic
Minimum melting current:

38 A. The fuse melts, but is
not capable of tripping
e.g. I3 = 42 A
Examples of curves for

Solefuse fuses
42 A Current (A)

Advantages of fuses
● Fast interruption
● for high short-circuit values
(but high short-circuit currents are very rare and are
generally preceded by low fault currents)
● Current-limiting capacity
● capability to limit short-circuit current

Drawbacks of fuses
● Only work once

● Fragile
● Sensitive to the environment
● Dissipate a lot of energy as heat
(cost of Joule losses)
● Sensitive to ageing (approximate service life: 10 years)
● Have a danger zone (Ir < I < I3)
● Possible single-pole breaking
● Application limited to small transformers
● One rating per application (large stock of spare parts)

3 - Switch-fuse combination unit
Contents

Discrimination
transformers

● Three fuses with strikers
● A three-phase switch
● is not a protection device on its own
● can be tripped by any of the three strikers

Transfer current
● The transfer current is the value above which the fault current will be cleared
by the 3 fuses only, the switch not having had time to react
t (s)
y
int
se r t a i ng 2 ses
fu e
c rd r fu ed
ne ted un ega the 3 elt
o el r eo m
m
th
greater
2&3
0.9 T0 ΔT
1 low ΔT
0
I (A)
transfer

Advantages and drawbacks of switch-fuse
combination units
● Main advantage: fuses may be used without any single-
pole breaking problems
● Main drawback: choosing the right rating is difficult due to

transfer current constraints
● Otherwise, they have the same advantages and

drawbacks as fuses

4 - Circuit breaker protection
Contents

Discrimination
transformers

Circuit breaker
● The circuit breaker is a device capable of

making, withstanding and interrupting currents
under normal and abnormal conditions (up to
short-circuit current)
● It is defined by its:
● voltage (Ur)
● rated current (Ir)
● breaking capacity (Isc)

Circuit breaker protection chain
● To create a protection chain, the circuit breaker must

be connected to:
● current sensors (CTs)
circuit breaker
● a protection relay
3 – The circuit breaker trips and breaks the

fault current
Sepam
2 – The protection device analyzes the fault Protection
current and transmits a tripping order relay
1 – The current sensor (CT) detects the fault

current and transmits the information to
the protection device
current sensor
Protection relays
● Numerous and varied Variety

● Designed to fit all applications Flexibility
● User-adjustable: installation upgrading possible Upgrading capability
with auxiliary power self-

supply powered
Sepam VIP
energy
VIP 30 relay
Just one adjustment
dial for just one
setting! (Is)
Protection tripping curve
● The simplest protection relay: set

the adjustment dial to Is
● Self-powered protection
● Optimal transformer protection,
with one setting of just one
parameter
● Operating tests with or without
tripping (VAP6 module)

VIP 35 relay
VIP 35 phase-to- VIP 35 earth fault
phase protection protection
● Same characteristics as the VIP 30 relay, plus definite-time

earth fault protection
● 2 settings for earth fault protection: T0> - I0>
● Self-powered protection
● Operating tests with or without tripping (VAP6 module)
VIP 300 relay VIP 300 phase-to-
phase and earth
fault protection
● Self-powered protection relay with multiple configurations

● Phase and earth fault protection
● May be configured for each type of standardized curve:
● Is current
● an intermediate characteristic point
● a high set point
● Possibility of placing the VIP 300 upstream of VIP 30/35 relays and ensuring
good discrimination
● Discrimination with complex LV switchboards
Sepam protection relay
Sepam series 80:

For critical
Sepam series 40: applications
Fpr demanding
Sepam series 20: applications
Sepam series 10: For usual
For simple applications
applications
● Range of protection relays offering possibilities for protection, metering,
indication, monitoring-control, communication and diagnostic assistance
● Phase-to-phase overcurrent, earth fault and sensitive earth protection
● Thermal overload protection
● Wide choice of standardized curves can be set
● Possibility of integration in a supervisory system via a communication network
or remote control system
● Ensures good discrimination, including with LV panels
● Auxiliary power supply
Advantages of circuit breaker protection
● 10 to 100 times less dissipated power than with fuses

● Simple choice of equipment
● Capable of withstanding inrush current
● Variety of relays available:
● phase-to-phase fault protection
● earth fault protection
● overload protection
● etc...
● Possibility of adjusting protection relays (upgrading capability)
● Possibility of testing operating capability (with or without tripping)

Cost comparison over time
Costs
1 spare set of fuses +

logistics and labor
Switch / fuse solution
100 € / 10 years
Joule losses
Joule losses
0.22 € / year
110 € / year
2 sets of fuses
Circuit breaker solution
Circuit breaker
Combination unit
1 year 10 years 20 years 30 years Time

Acquisition Operation

5 - Discrimination
Contents

Discrimination
transformers

What is discrimination?
● Discrimination ● No discrimination
Continuity
of service
CB1 CB1
CB1 and
CB2 trip
Only CB2
CB2 trips CB2
The power supply to The power supply to

the other feeders is the other feeders is no
still ensured longer ensured

What is the purpose?
Improve power supply continuity
● Discrimination ● No discrimination

Discrimination on more than two levels
CB1
CB2 CB3
CB4 CB5
CB6 CB7
Only CB7 trips

Discrimination and protection curves
CB3 CB2 CB1
CB1
CB2
CB3
Tripping times get longer towards the source

Total and partial discrimination
● Total discrimination ● Partial discrimination
CB3 CB2 CB1 CB3 CB2 CB1
no
overlapping
CB1
CB2
CB3
overlapping Threshold I
CB2 and CB3

trip

Main points to remember about
discrimination
● Discrimination consists of ensuring the best continuity of service by isolating
only the faulty part of the network
● The most commonly-used discrimination consists of ensuring that the curves of

the different protection levels never overlap
● There are other more elaborate types of discrimination for specific applications
● example: logic discrimination, differential discrimination, and so on…
● to learn more, a special e-learning module is available («Discover discrimination» -
“Basic knowledge” tab in Pl@net Training)

6 - Devices to be protected: MV/LV transformers
Contents

Discrimination
transformers

Situate MV/LV transformers
● Secondary distribution substations
HV/MV substation
protection device:
(e.g. circuit breaker, fuses, etc.)
MV/LV transformer
protection
zone concerned:
MV/LV transformer
Main low voltage
switchboard (MLVSB)

MV/LV transformer
● Transforms one voltage and current system

into another one, at the same frequency
● It is defined by:
● rated power (e.g. 630 kVA)
● primary rated voltage (e.g. 20 kV)
● secondary voltage (e.g. 400 V)
● primary short-circuit voltage (Usc) as a %
(e.g. 5%)
Standard: 2 s
IEC 60076-5 standard

An example of a transformer
● P = 630 kVA
primary voltage U = 20 kV
● calculation of primary current: I1 = 630 / (√3 x 20) = 18 A
● On the secondary circuit:

● calculation of secondary current: I2 = 630 / (√3 x 0.4) = 909 A
● In case of short-circuit on secondary circuit:

P =630 kV
● calculation of primary current: U1 =20 kV
● Isc1 = 630 x (U x 5% x √3) = 20 I1 = 360 A

● secondary current: Isc2 = Isc1 x 20/0.4 = 18000 A
Usc
U2 =400 V

Transformer energizing
● Starting: high current = inrush current
No-load transformer transient energizing current
● The peak current can reach values of up to a dozen times the peak rated
current
Basic constraints of upstream transformer
protection
Transformer thermal withstand limit

t (s)
Short-circuit on secondary
Rated operating I
(16 to 25 Ir - 2s)
Reference point for 

inrush current Transient
~12 Ir – 0.1s currents
0 Ir I (A)
MV or LV fault MV fault

Transformer protection by switch-fuse
combination unit
● According to the standard (62271-105 annex A), the switch-fuse combination
unit must:
● withstand inrush current without thermal ageing
● ensure breaking of secondary short-circuits by fuses
t (s)
Short-circuit withstand
Rated I
0.1s 
Inrush current
0.9 T0
0 Ir 12 Ir 17 to 25 Ir I (A)
(Usc 6 to 4%)
Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 transfer current 41
A theoretical example of difficult coordination
● 800 kVA transformer
31,5 A
125 A
160 A
100 A
250 A
200 A
50 A
40 A
63 A
80 A
● U = 20 kV 
● Ir = 23.1 A  
● uk =6%
● Isc = 385 A
● Iir = 277 A
● t0 = 35 ms
There is no 
solution that
complies with the t0
standard
Current (Amps)
Circuit breaker protection: a flexible solution
● Circuit breaker’s capability to break all currents below its

breaking capacity
● No difficulty withstanding inrush currents and other

overloads
● Multiple choice of protection relays
● No complex coordination calculations
● Capable of accommodating intelligent network

management
● Possibility of remote reclosing after a fault (remote control)

Comparison of phase protection curves of
VIP 30/35 relays and fuses
Phase protection tripping curve
+ fault clearance curve
Overload and Risk of premature aging

low fault with repeated starting
protection
No protection when Fuse

overloads and low faults
occur (uncertainty zone)
VIP 30/35
Faster breaking with
high currents (rare)

No tripping with Clearing of major faults
inrush currents within less than 100 ms

Transformer internal faults
● The most frequent internal fault is a

short-circuit between the turns of the MV
winding
● the fault may evolve slowly, and the initial
Equivalent diagram of a
current may be low (in the range of 1 to 6 faulty turn
times the rated current)
● This means that correct

protection is needed even for low
levels of fault current
● the fuse is blind in this case, and Inrush current
unable to ensure protection
Low initial curent
Example of oscillogram of
Gets worse after 5 s energizing of a previously
damaged transformer

Other types of fault
● Fault current values may be low for other reasons

● power supply in backup mode with generators
● micro-generation: wind power, fuel cells, etc.
● fault impedance also limits current value
Backup mode (generator)
Normal
mode
(mains)
l u ti o n:
Be careful of the quality of So a ker
protection for all operating
it b r e
situations circu
7 - Coordination of protection
Contents

Discrimination
transformers

Coordination with upstream protection
Ensure transformer protection
compatibility with upstream
protection devices
HV/MV substation Upstream circuit breaker
MV/LV transformer Fuse or

feeder circuit
protection breaker
Main low voltage LV switchboard

switchboard (MLVSB)

Discrimination with upstream network MV consumer
substation
Loop protection
● The upstream protection devices are
circuit breakers (due to current limitations
of fuses, need for earth fault protection,
etc.) Transformer feeders
● Sometimes numerous levels, Phase protection tripping curve
e.g. MV consumer substations

T (s)
100
Case 2: Fuse
No discrimination
● The transformer protection 10
with low current
device must be coordinated Upstream circuit breaker:

loop protection
with the upstream network, 1
which is more difficult for a fuse Case 1: Feeder circuit breaker

0,1
● It is difficult to ensure discrimination

with a fuse for low currents 0,01
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
I/Is
1,2 Is

Ex of coordination with VIP 300 and VIP 30/35
Phase protection tripping curve
Degree of freedom
Is (or I> with DT) in setting the
discrimination distance
VIP 300 relay t>

VIP 300
Supply of the loop
(open ring network)
I>>
VIP 30/35
t>>
VIP 30 or 35 relays
Feeders on MV/LV
transformers

Coordination with downstream installation
Ensure transformer protection
compatibility with downstream
protection devices
HV/MV substation Upstream circuit breaker
MV/LV transformer Fuse or

feeder circuit
protection breaker
Main low voltage LV switchboard

switchboard (MLVSB)

Discrimination with downstream installation
(case of a LV switchboard)
● The low voltage installation is often made up of LV switchboards
with different levels of protection
● discrimination constraints
 considerably delayed tripping of incoming circuit breaker
● In this case, it may become difficult for the fuse melting curve
to be compatible with the downstream circuit breaker
● solution in a particularly complex case: VIP 300 relay or Sepam relay
Sepam

An example of discrimination with the
downstream installation 1000
● Fuse solution: no discrimination

● loss of continuity of service 100
no discrimination with the fuse

● difficulty of fault location
10
t>

t (s)
● Circuit breaker solution:
● VIP 300 relay with setting: 1
● EI mode
● t>: 0.6 (x 10) = 6s 0,1
● I>>: 20 Ir t>>
● t>>: 0.03 VIP300

0,01
1 10
I>> 100
I/In
Transf. energizing I
LV relay
Fusarc CF 63 A
8 - Main points to remember
Contents

Discrimination
transformers

Switch-fuse Circuit breaker
combination unit
● For very high I (rare) ● For very high I (rare)
● current-limiting effect ● no current-limiting effect
● fast breaking ● but reaction time: 70 to 100 ms
● For lower I ● For lower I
● danger zone: Irf - I3 ● no use limitations
● no overload protection ● discrimination easily ensured
● slow with low current close to I3
● choice of fuse difficult or impossible in
combination unit
● discrimination problems
● More generally speaking ● More generally speaking
● Joule losses (environment, losses of ● very low Joule losses
110 €/year with combination unit) ● possibility of remote reclosing (remote
● need to change fuses, need for spare control)
stock (with many different ratings) ● 30-year service life, no maintenance
● risk of thermal aging (service life: about ● flexibility: upgrading capability (change
10 years) of settings), earth fault protection, etc..
● fragility, sensitivity to environment ● the best protection solution
Power Business training
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MV/LV transformer protection

Power Business Training

● Situate the MV protection function

Experts: Guillaume LEBREDONCHEL / Jean-Marc BIASSE

Energy Industry Infrastructures Buildings

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 2

Medium Voltage protection

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection - 04/2010 3

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 4

● Fault current must be quickly

Power supply to the other

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 5

Risk of mechanical Risks linked to

Dangerous Increases with

The installation should be

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 6

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 7

Medium Voltage protection

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection - 04/2010 8

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 9

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 10

Minimum melting current:

Examples of curves for

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 11

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 12

● Only work once

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 13

Medium Voltage protection

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection - 04/2010 14

● Three fuses with strikers

● is not a protection device on its own

● can be tripped by any of the three strikers

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 15

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 16

● Main drawback: choosing the right rating is difficult due to

● Otherwise, they have the same advantages and

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 17

Medium Voltage protection

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection - 04/2010 18

● The circuit breaker is a device capable of

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 19

● To create a protection chain, the circuit breaker must

3 – The circuit breaker trips and breaks the

1 – The current sensor (CT) detects the fault

● Numerous and varied Variety

with auxiliary power self-

Protection tripping curve

● The simplest protection relay: set

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 22

● Same characteristics as the VIP 30 relay, plus definite-time

● Self-powered protection relay with multiple configurations

Sepam series 80:

● 10 to 100 times less dissipated power than with fuses

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 26

1 spare set of fuses +

1 year 10 years 20 years 30 years Time

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection – 04/2010 27

Medium Voltage protection

Schneider Electric - Power Business training - MV/LV transformer protection - 04/2010 28