What is restricted earth fault protection and

how is it provided?
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A Restricted Earth Fault (REF) means an earth fault from a restricted/localized zone of a
circuit.
The term REF protection method means not to sense an! earth faults outside this
restricted zone.
REF is a t!pe of unit protection applied to transformers or "enerators and is more
sensitive than the method #nown as differential protection.
An REF rela! wor#s $! measurin" the actual current flowin" to earth from the frame of
the unit. %f that current e&ceeds a certain preset ma&imum value of milliAmps (mA) then
the rela! will trip to cut off the power suppl! to the unit.
'ifferential protection can also $e used to protect the windin"s of a transformer $!
comparin" the current in the power suppl!(s neutral wire with the current in the phase
wire) if the currents are e*ual then the differential protection rela! will not operate+ if
there is a current im$alance then the differential protection rela! operates. ,owever- REF
protection is also applied to transformers in order to detect "round faults on a "iven
windin" much more sensitivel! than differential protection can do.
Windin"s of man! smaller transformers are
protected $! restricted earth fault (REF) s!stems. Even so- % have come across a lot of
installations which would have $enefited from this t!pe of protection- $ut for whatever
reason it has not $ee installed.
The illustration shows the principal of REF protection. .nder normal conditions and $!
application of /irchhoff0s laws the sum of currents in $oth current transformers (1Ts)
e*uals zero. %f there is an earth fault $etween the 1Ts then some current will $!pass the
1T(s and the sum of currents will not $e zero. 2! measurin" this current im$alance
faults $etween the 1Ts can $e easil! identified and *uic#l! cleared. Fault detection is
confined to the zone $etween the two 1Ts hence the name (Restricted Earth Fault(.
REF protection is fast and can isolate windin" faults e&tremel! *uic#l!- there$! limitin"
dama"e and conse*uent repair costs. %f 1Ts are located on the transformer terminals onl!
the windin" is protected. ,owever- *uite often the line 1T is placed in the distri$ution
switch$oard- there$! e&tendin" the protection zone to include the main ca$le.
Without REF- faults in the transformer star secondar! windin" need to $e detected on the
primar! of the transformer $! reflected current. As the windin" fault position moves
towards the neutral- the ma"nitude of the current seen on the primar! rapidl! decreases
and could potentiall! not $e detected (limitin" the amount of windin" which can $e
protected). As the ma"nitude of the currents remain relativel! lar"e on the secondar!
(particularl! if solidl! earthed)- nearl! the entire windin" can $e protected usin" REF.
%t should $e remem$ered that the protection as illustrated covers onl! the secondar! of
the transformer. 3ometimes REF protection is added to the primar! as well (althou"h if
primar! protection is re*uired % would prefer to consider full differential protection).
As it is essential that the current in the 1Ts $e $alanced durin" normal conditions (and
throu"h faults)- historicall! REF has $een implemented usin" ,i"h %mpedance Rela!s.
1T(s have also $een specified as matched pairs and the impedance of leads/wires and
interconnectin" ca$les has had a lar"e influence on the functionin" of the rela!.
4easurement errors associated with these issues have $een responsi$le for nuisance
trippin" and the s!stem could $e difficult to commission. This ma! $e the reason some
people avoid the use of REF. Recent advances in numerical rela! technolo"! have all
$ut eliminated these issues- ma#in" the implementation of REF relativel! eas!- ensurin"
no nuisance trippin" and simplif!in" commissionin".
%n the dia"ram 567 is the A73% 'evice 7um$er for restricted earth fault.
osted $! 8ramod A 3 on 9: Fe$ruar!- 9;;5 < =;)=5 am
%n the protection scheme of 9;4>A- =?.@/?.A#> - 'elta<3tar connected transformer
havin" an impedance of =; ohms- $ushin" 1Ts with ratio of :;;/=A are provided for
REF 8rotection. The 1Ts provided on the line side have an %th ratin" of 9;;;A. The earth
fault current of the transformer is limited to :;;A appro&imatel! usin" a resistance of
=:.: ohms. (The B> side neutral is earthed)
While calculatin" the #nee point volta"e of the 1Ts for REF protection of the a$ove
transformer- should the full fault current of the transformer or merel! the earth fault
current (:;;A) $e considered?
Re"ards-
8ramod
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! 8hil 1orso- 8E on 9: Fe$ruar!- 9;;5 < =9)C: pm
Respondin" to 8ramod(s 9:<Fe$<;5 (=;)=5) *uer!)
=) What is meant $! 1Ts? REF on! re*uires one 1TD 8lease clarif!D
9) /nowled"e of the 1T #neepoint<volta"e is unecessar! $ecause the ma&imum REF
current is onl! :;;A.
:) 8lease e&plain the =; Ehm value... is it the anticipated $urden of the REF rela!?
C) /nowled"e of the #neepoint of the 9;;;A 1Ts mi"ht $e necessar! if there are ver!
lar"e motors on the ?.A#> $usD
Re"ards-
8hil 1orso(cepsiconFaol.com)
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! 8ramod on 9C Fe$ruar!- 9;;5 < ==)C9 am
3ir-
=.REF refers to the restricted earth fault protection of the low volta"e windin" of the
transformer in which the "round fault happenin" onl! inside the windin" of the
transformer is detected $! placin" one current trasformer(1T) on the neutral "roundin"
and three 1Ts in residual connection on the line side.
9. 1Ts #nee point volta"e need to $e calculated $ecause- in case of a throu"h fault outside
the zone covered $! REF 1Ts- saturation of an! one of the 1Ts on line side ma! lead to
undesired operation of rela!.
:.The transformer impedance is =; percent which % wron"l! mentioned as =; ohms. 3orr!
for that.
C. The #nee point volta"e is calculated for 9;;;A 1Ts (provided on the line side for
differential protection) usin" the ma&imum throu"h fault current value.
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! 8hil 1orso- 8E on 9C Fe$ruar!- 9;;5 < 6)9A pm
8ramod- the REF !ou defined is called the partial<differential scheme (earth<faults onl!)
in the .3A. %t is used for protection of a transformer(s star<connected windin" when
faster response is re*uired. Followin" are additional comments)
@) %t is more li#el! found in s!stems havin" solidl!<earthed neutralsD Thus- earth<fault
currents are su$stantiall! hi"her than :;;AD
?) Bi#e the t!pical differential scheme- the area of maGor concern is unusual 1T<ratio
mismatch- not 1T<saturation. For the parameters !ou cited- ma&imum fault<current
(ne"lectin" offset and motor contri$ution) is a$out =6#A (rms) or a$out 5 times the 1T(s
ratin". 3o- if the 1T is t!pical of those used for protection- saturation is not a pro$lemD
The reason is that the #nee<point is much hi"her than those used for $illin" or
measurement purposesD
6) 8resuma$l! !ou are not usin" the secondar! line<side 1Ts asi"ned to the transformer(s
differentil protective circuit. %s this correct?
5) Fran#l!- if the maGorit! of ?.A#> loads
consist of motors or distri$ution transformers- % would not recommend the READ
A) 2TW- did !ou mean residual<connection or did !ou mean parallel<connection of the
three line<current 1Ts?
Re"ards-
8hil 1orso (cepsiconFaol.com)
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! 8hil 1orso- 8E on 9@ Fe$ruar!- 9;;5 < ==)@A pm
8ramod- further to m! earlier 9C<Fe$<;5 (=A)9A) response)
=;) ,opefull!- !ou realize that since the REF scheme does not respond to earth<faults
$e!ond the protected<zone (star<connected windin")- an additional EF rela! is re*uired as
$ac#up for earth<faults in out"oin" ?.A#> feedersD
Re"ards- 8hil 1orso (cepsiconFaol.com)
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! 8ramod on 95 Fe$ruar!- 9;;5 < =9)=9 am
3ir-
=;) Hes- we are providin" a differential rela! to ta#e care of earth and phase faults from
,> side circuit $rea#er to B> side circuit $rea#er. %n addition an E/1 I E/F (@=/@=7) is
also used in the downstream of B> side $rea#er. Further- a stand $! earth fault rela! is
also provided on the neural of the transformer.
Re"ards-
8ramod
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! 8ramod A 3 on 9? Fe$ruar!- 9;;5 < =9)96 am
3ir-
?) %f 1Ts with ratio of :;;/=A were used for REF protection in place of 9;;;/=A 1Ts (i.e
fault current is appro&imatel! @6 times the 1T ratin" in this case)- would a #nee point
chec# $e re*uired even if 1T secodaries are arran"ed in a parallel (residual) connection?
6) Hes- we are usin" a seperate set of 1Ts for differential protection.
5) Hou would not recommend usin" the REF if the maGorit! of ?.A#> loads consist of
motors or distri$ution transformers. %s that $ecause the startin" current of motors I
inrush ma"netisin" current of transformers ma! cause an undesired operation of REF
rela!.
A) 2! residual connection- % meant the parallel connection of three line side 1T
secondaries I one neutral side 1T secondar! $efore connetin" them to rela!.
Re"ards-
8ramod
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! 8hil 1orso- 8E on 96 Fe$ruar!- 9;;5 < ==)=: pm
8ramod- re) !our 9?<Fe$<;5 (;;)96) repl!)
Answers ?) I A)- !esD
Answers 6) I A)- than# !ou for clarificationD
==) %f !ou continue with the REA scheme- then #eep the 9;;;/= 1Ts. A resistor in series
with the EF rela! will preclude false operationD
=9) Tar"et =;J of EF current (i.e. =;A) as trip set<point.
=:) Bet me #now if !ou need recommendation for EF protection of ==#> feedersD
Re"ards- 8hil 1orso (cepsiconFaol.com)
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! samsun" on 5 4a!- 9;;5 < =9)@9 am
E#a!- % have read !our clarification-
$ut % have seen in m! plant that REF is not used for distri$uition transformer- i.e. ?.?
#v/C=@ v. What would $e reason? Also please clarif!- differential protection is also not
"iven in case of distri$ution transformer. %f we connect REF for resistance "rounded
neutral what would $e effect of that?
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! 8hil 1orso- 8E on A 4a!- 9;;5 < =9):6 am
Respondin" to 3amsun"(s ;5<4a!<;5 (=9)@9) *uer! First- let me point out that this
thread started out discussin" 1T saturation. %t morphed into a discussion a$out REF- $ut
for hi"her volta"e levels than evident in !our *uer!.
That said- %(ll address !our concerns) first- Restricted Earth Fault rela!in"- or second-
'ifferential 8rotection- is never used with the t!pical B> distri$ution transformer. 8uttin"
safet! concerns a$out neutral<earthin" aside- there are several reasons wh! hi"her levels
of protection are not used)
=) 3olidl!<earthin" the neutral of the secondar! w!e<windin" assures that earth<fault
current is hi"h enou"h- i.e.- a$out the same order of ma"nitude of a :<phase or a phase<to<
phase fault (please- no trivial ar"uments that ph<ph is onl! 56J of :<phD) Thus protection
for an earth<fault relies on the same devices- i.e.- $rea#ers and fuses- installed for that
purpose. %f the REF method were used then ever! sin"le distri$ution circuit- re"ardless of
the protective device used- would re*uire additional sensitive earth<fault detection
rela!in". The cost would $e prohi$itiveD
9) 'ifferential 8rotection reduces fault duration. While it can $e ar"ued that it provides
more sensitive protection for the transformer(s primar! windin"- its advanta"e in
secondar! circuits is limited to situations where it was impossi$le to coordinate with
downstream feeder circuits usin" onl! time<current rela!in"D
:) 8rotection methods- re"ardless of sensitivit! can(t eliminate electrical faults- $ut can
onl! reduce their duration- hence diminishin" the e&tent of dama"eD
C) The sin"le B> distri$ution transformer- if considered a maGor economic asset li#e
electrical e*uipment found at hi"her volta"e levels- would re*uire that alternative
distri$ution schemes $e usedD
Bet me #now if additional information is re*uiredD
8hil 1orso (cepsiconFaol.com)
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! 3uresh on 9? Kul!- 9;;5 < 9);@ am
3ir-
Eur distri$ution s!stem has a ?.?#v/C=@v delta star transformer havin" a REF protection.
The B> side $rea#er havin" E/F protection also. Ene of the out"oin" motor windin" E/F
created and it tripped the transformer $! REF. Feeder also havin" E/F rela!. 1an !ou
"ive some advice?
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! 8hil 1orso- 8E on 9? Kul!- 9;;5 < =);; pm
Respondin" to 3uresh(s 9?<Kul<;5 (;9)A@) *uer! please provide details)
=) Transformer parameters- ratin" and impedance.
9) 8hase 1T- ratin" and ratio.
:) 7eutral 1T- ratin" and ratio.
C) All 1T secondar! resistances.
@) 2urden (rela!) impedanceD
?) 3econdar! ca$le impedance.
6) >alue of sta$ilizin" resistor- if installedD
8hil 1orso (cepsiconFaol.com)
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! phil corso on =A Kune- 9;;A < 9)@5 am
3ir-
Few *ueries re"ardin" REF.
=) What is /nee<point volta"e of 1T(s I how to calculate it?
9) 4ost of the time i read that REF scheme is applied for 'elta<3tar transformers (Am i
correct?). 4! *uestion is- 1an we appl! REF scheme for 'elta< 'elta transformers. %f !es
then how would $e the connections of 1T(s? And how much 1T(s we should used?- Also
where will $e location of neutral 1T?
:) REF rela!s are of two t!pes (%f i am not mista#in"). a) ,i"h impedance $) Bow
impedance. With which conditions I where these should used?
C) %f !our REF is actin" for the throu"h faults- what would $e the possi$le reasons?
3A7TE3,
santosh.Ga"ale LatM adit!a$irla.com
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! 8hil 1orso on =A Kune- 9;;A < 6)C; am
3antosh... have !ou done a search of the 1ontrol Bist Archives?
Re"ards- 8hil 1orso (cepsicon LatM aol.com
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! ,itesh 8atel on =@ 3eptem$er- 9;;A < =;)9= am
N=) What is /nee<point volta"e of 1T(s I how to calculate it? O
Firstl!- The /nee<>olta"e of 1T is the >olta"e $eond which the 1T is saturated. %f /nee
8oint >olta"e of an! 1T is 9;; and if $urden on the same "oes $e!ond this specified
value then the 1T $ecomes 3aturated and it is no lon"er a$le to tranform the 1urrent
from 8rimar! to 3econdar!.
3econdl!- The /nee 8oint >olta"e value of 8rotection 1lass 1T is often descri$ed $! the
Rela! 4anufacturer- for E&ample ARE>A ma#e ,ER4C rela! in which the! descri$e
># P @;/%n Q %f(RctQ9RRl) Where %n is Rated 1urrent of Rela!- %f is 4a& throu"h fault
1urrent- Rct is Resistacne of 1T 3econdar! Windin" and Rl is Resistance of 3in"le Bead
from 1T to Rela!.
The /nee 8oint >olta"e of 1T varies from Rela! to Rela! as per their implementation for
different 8rotection.
N 9) 4ost of the time i read that REF scheme is applied for 'elta<3tar transformers (Am i
correct?). 4! *uestion is- 1an we appl! REF scheme for 'elta< 'elta transformers. %f !es
then how would $e the connections of 1T(s? And how much 1T(s we should used?- Also
where will $e location of neutral 1T? O
'ear 3antosh- please understand that REF is nothin" $ut 'ifferential 8rotection
specificall! emplo!ed for %nner Sone Earth Fualts. %n 'elta<3tar Trafo- Earth Faults have
7eutral circuit to flow. Thus onl! we provide one 1T on 7eutral 3ide to detect Earth
Fault flowin" throu"h the 7eutral. For 'elta<'elta Trafo as no 7eutralin" is done so such
faults shall $e detected $! the 'ifferential 8roection 1Ts. and 'iff 8rote will operate for
%nner Sone Earth Faults.
Repl! to this post...
8osted $! shantanu mishra on 95 April- 9;=; < :):= am
'ear ,itesh-
!ou have mentioned a$ove that For 'elta<'elta Transformers- such faults are detected $!
differential 1Ts.% am not a$le understand this.%f there is a sin"le point fault in an! one of
the delta windin" how the fault current is "oin" to flow. 1urrent will onl! flow when
there is another fault point in the same windin" then onl! fault current will flow and
differential prot. will operate. pl comment.