IEEE Rural Electric 2009

Testing Numerical Transformer

Differential Relays

Steve Turner
Beckwith Electric Co., Inc.

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

INTRODUCTION
Commissioning versus Maintenance Testing
Types of Transformer Differential Protection:
Restrained Phase Differential
High Set Phase Differential
Ground Differential

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

INTRODUCTION
Topics:
Transformer Differential Boundary Test
(Commissioning)
Ground Differential Sensitivity Test
(Commissioning/Maintenance)
Harmonic Restraint for Transformer Inrush
(Maintenance)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Commissioning
Common Practice:
Test all numerical relay settings
verify settings properly entered
Easily facilitated using computer
automate test set & store results
Hundreds of tests are possible
numerical relays have many settings

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Commissioning
Final Goal
Ensure the transformer is properly protected
for the particular application

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential Relays

Typical Distribution Transformer

46

RG

46: Negative-Sequence Overcurrent Element

(sees ground faults through bank)
RG: Grounding Resistor
(Industrial Load)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

E
+
46

RG
ZT
I2

Sensitive setting for ground fault overreach for phase-to-phase fault

46

3RG
ZT

ZT

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential Relays

Transformer Differential Characteristic

Boundary Test
I2

I1
Y

Y
87
* Simulate Through Current

I1 = Winding 1 per unit current (A, B or C-phase)

I2 = Winding 2 per unit current (A, B or C-phase)

3 elements per function (A, B & C-phase)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Differential Characteristic
Operating Equations
Id = |I1 I2|,

Differential Current

Ir = |I1| + |I2|, Restraint Current

2

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Differential Characteristic
Id
% = Y *100%
X

)
%
(
t
n
e
Perc pe
Slo

Minimum
Pickup
(per unit)

Y
X

Ir

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Differential Characteristic
Id

ent
Perc
e
Slop

Minimum
Pickup

ion
g
e
R
Trip
gion
e
R
k
Bloc

Ir

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Matrix

[]
Id
Ir

[ ][]
1 -1 *

I1
I2

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Inverted Matrix

[]
I1
I2

[ ][]
1
- 1

Id
Ir

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Differential Characteristic
Test Current Equations
I1 = 0.5*Id + Ir, Winding 1 Test Current (per unit)
I2 = -0.5*Id + Ir, Winding 2 Test Current (per unit)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Differential Characteristic
Test Points
Minimum Pickup = 0.2 per unit

Id

Slope = 28.6%

ent
Perc
e
Slop

3
Minimum
Pickup

Ir

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Differential Characteristic
Test Points (Per Unit)

Id

Ir

I1

I2

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.2

0.2

0.7

0.8

0.6

0.4

1.4

1.6

1.2

0.6

2.0

2.3

1.7

TABLE 1

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Delta-Wye Differential Characteristic

DAB
I2

I1
Y

Y
87
* Simulate Through Current

I1 = Winding 1 per unit current (A, B or C-phase)

I2 = Winding 2 per unit current (A, B or C-phase)

3 elements per relay (A, B & C-phase)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Delta-Wye Differential Characteristic

(Relay Internally Compensates Test Currents)

DAB WINDING
IA1relay = IA1/TAP1

WYE WINDING

IB1relay = IB1/TAP1

IA2relay = (IA2- IB2)/(TAP2*SQRT(3))

IB2relay = (IB2 - IC2)/(TAP2*SQRT(3))

IC1relay = IB1/TAP1

IC2relay = (IC2 - IA2)/(TAP2*SQRT(3))

TAP# =

MVA#
kV#LL*CTR#*SQRT(3)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Delta-Wye Differential Characteristic

(Single-Phase Test for A-Phase Element)
IA1 = I1*TAP1
IA2 = I2*TAP2*SQRT(3)
From TABLE 1:

Id

Ir

I1

I2

0.2

0.7

0.8

0.6

IA1test = 0.8*TAP1
IA2test = 0.6*TAP2*SQRT(3)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Ground Differential Element

Sensitivity Test
Directionality
(I0 vs. IG)

Ground Fault Location along Windings

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Ground Differential Element

Directional Element
+90o
Internal

External

IG

I0

-90o

Disabled if |3I0| less than 140 mA

(Improves Security for CT saturation during external faults)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Ground Differential Element

Pickup
Operate When:

|3I0 IG| > Pickup

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Ground Differential Element

Sensitivity Test
Power System Parameters:
Source Impedance (Varies)
XT = 10%
RF (Varies)
Ground Fault Location (5% from Transformer Neutral)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Ground Differential Element

RF Coverage vs. Source Strength

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Ground Differential Element

Pickup Setting

IG

Cold Load Pickup

Reclosing into Single-Phase Load

Pickup > Unbalance

Directional Element Disabled if 3I0 Low

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

IG2 = 0.3 Amps @ 177o

3I0(2) = 0.136 Amps @ 58o (Threshold = 0.14 Amps)

Amps

|CTCF*3I0(2) IG2| = 0.75 Amps

Original Pickup = 0.3 Amps

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Directional Element
INTERNAL

EXTERNAL

IG2

IOP
CTCF*3I0(2)

New Pickup = 1.0 Amps

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Even Harmonic Restraint during Inrush

COMTRADE PLAYBACK
Waveform Sources:
Events from Numerical Relays
Events from Digital Fault Recorders
Simulate using Transient Software

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Even Harmonic Restraint during Inrush

Traditional Approach
2nd Harmonic Restraint
Cross Phase Blocking

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Even Harmonic Restraint during Inrush

Auto-Transformer Model
13.2 kV

W3
delta

345 kV

230 kV
wye

W1

wye

W2

600 MVA Auto-Transformer (Tertiary Winding DAC)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Even Harmonic Restraint during

Inrush
Auto-transformer

Characteristics
Auto-Transformer
Model
ZHM = 0.01073 per unit
ZHL = 0.04777 per unit
ZML = 0.03123 per unit
ZH =

Z HM Z HL Z ML
2

= 0.0140 per unit

ZM =

Z HM Z ML Z HL
2

= -0.0029 per unit

ZL =

Z HL Z ML Z HM
2

= 0.0340 per unit

CTRW1 = 1200:5 (wye

connected)
CTRW2 = 2000:5 (wye
connected)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Even Harmonic Restraint during Inrush

Auto-Transformer Model
TAP1 =

TAP2 =

600 MVA
345 kV * 240 * SQRT(3)
600 MVA
230 kV * 400 * SQRT(3)

= 4.18

= 3.77

Minimum Pickup* = 0.5 per unit

Slope = 25%
*Original Pickup = 0.45 per unit

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Even Harmonic Restraint during Inrush

Energize Bank with Heavy A-Phase Residual Flux

Total Phase Current

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Even Harmonic Restraint during Inrush

Energize Bank with Heavy A-Phase Residual Flux

2nd Harmonic Phase Current

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Even Harmonic Restraint

2
2

2 1/2
4

Ieven = (I + I )

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Even Harmonic Restraint during Inrush

Energize Bank with Heavy A-Phase Residual Flux

4th Harmonic Phase Current

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

Even Harmonic Restraint during Inrush

A-Phase Current (Winding 2)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

CONCLUSIONS

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

CONCLUSIONS
Transformer Differential Boundary Test
(Commissioning)
Ground Differential Sensitivity Test
(Commissioning/Maintenance)
Harmonic Restraint for Transformer Inrush
(Maintenance)

Testing Numerical Transformer Differential

Relays

QUESTIONS