ALSTOM Application Guidelines for Industrial Protection 4 — Transformer ProtectionWINDING POLARITY 2 | | a a Figure 1 ‘The relative polarity of windings sharing a common magnetic circuit is defined in international standards. If the core flux induces an instantaneous emf from a low numbered terminal to a high numbered terminal (for example) in one winding, then the direction of induced emf in all other windings linked by that flux will also be from a low numbered terminal to a high numbered terminal. Note that for transformer action the current flow in the windings is in opposite directions. TRANSFORMER = FLUX. Figure 22 For efficiency reasons transformers are generally operated near to the ‘knee point’ of the magnetic characteristic. Consequently, any increase above rated terminal voltage tends to cause core saturation and therefore demands an excessive increase in magnetisation current.IN-RUSH CURRENT SWICK OAT VOLHGE 289 - RESIDUA. FLUX Figure 23 Under steady state (normal) conditions the magnetising current necessary to produce the required flux is relatively small (usually less than 1% rated current). However, if a transformer is energised at a voltage zero then the flux demand during the first half voltage cycle (2 x normal max flux) causes an excessive, essentially uni-directional current to flow. This current is commonly referred to as magnetising inrush current and may persist for several cycles. MAGNETIZING CURRENT etn SENS TART PEEL ROA + Monradrateriss cunmENT Sess MHNRELAY ‘SETTINGBLT TRANSIENT FAGIETISNG MUSH COULD CAUSE AAV TOOPERATE satin ~ tmeoaay FAGAETISING CURRENT OS AWAY BEFORE RELAY (PERATES (og OUETINOIS RELAY) OWEVER RELAYS SLOW FOR GENUINE FAULTS soutien? *PAXERELAY PERE TOHAGHETISNG INU (A)USING 20 (6 59 ARPOICRESTRART (AN BE SLOW CT SATIRATES URINE FAULT OR (USING GAP HEASLROENT TEONIOK ‘So.UTiON2 AsO PREVENTS PRORLENS LRG OVERFLDONG Figure 24 Since the magnetising inrush phenomenon is associated with one of the transformer windings and demands no equivalent current in the other winding, the current appears as a fault condition to differential protection. Special measures are therefore taken with the relay design to ensure that no maloperation occurs. Analysis of an inrush waveform yields a high proportion of second harmonic and, traditionally, a differential relay utilised filters to extract the second harmonic and use it as a restraining force to prevent operation. However, this technique can result in a slow relay operating time if the current transformers saturate under heavy internal fault conditions since the output waveform of a saturated CT also contains substantial second harmonics. Modern relay designs utilise waveform recognition techniques to restrain the relay during inrush conditions but allow fast operation for internal faults even with the presence of CT saturation,~ ( INTER-TURN FAULT > | : j © = jo NOMINAL TURNS RATIO - 11,0007 240 FAULT TURNS RATIO ~ 11,0007 1 CURRENT RATIO. = 1/11,000 REQUIRES BUCHHOLZ RELAY Figure 25 ‘An extreme transformation ratio is a somewhat simplified representation of an inter-turn fault but serves to illustrate that excessive current will flow in the shorted turn whilst a relatively small current flows in the line, An overcurrent relay will therefore not adequately protect the transformer for inter-turn faults. The heavy current in the shorted turn will produce a great deal of heat and consequently a large volume of gas caused by the breakdown of the transformer insulating oil. The rapid production of gas may also ‘cause a surge of oil from the transformer tank to the conservator. Both the gas and the oil surge can be detected by a Buchholz relay. BUCHHOLZ RELAY NN prise 7 Figure 26 ‘The Buchholz relay is located in the pipework connecting the oil conservator to the transformer tank and contains two mercury switches. The production of gas causes oil to be displaced within the relay thereby ‘causing a float to drop and operate one of the switches. This switch contact is usually used for alarm Purposes. The second switch is calibrated by the manufacturer to operate at a certain oil flow rate (surge) and is Used to trip the transformer circuit breaker. Gas sampling facilities are also provided to enable accumulated gas to be collected and analysed.