Buchholz Relay

Description and general specifications

Construction
Operation
Operating instructions and maintenance
Finished product quality control tests

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Description and general specifications.

The gas and oil actuated (Buchholz) relay is designed to detect faults as well to minimize the propagation of
any damage which might occur within oil-filled transformers, capacitors and reactors supplied with oil
conservator.
The relay is therefore particularly effective in case of:

Short-circuited core laminations

Broken-down core bolt insulation
Bad contacts
Overheating of some part of the windings
Short-circuits between phases
Earth faults puncture of bushing insulators inside tank

Furthermore the relay can prevent the development of conditions leading to a fault in the transformer, such
as the falling of the oil level owing to leaks, or the ingress of air as a result of defects in the oil circulating
system.

Construction.
Casing : non porous weatherproof compact
casting of light aluminium alloy painted.

Insulation : 2000V 50Hz between terminals and

earth for a 60 seconds time.

Cover : non porous weatherproof compact

casting of light aluminium alloy painted. On the
cover are located : the terminal box, the valve of
pneumatic test, the breather cock, the button for
mechanical test of alarm and trip circuits.

Working temperature : oil temperature range: 25 / +115C.

Inspection windows : special tempered glass

3
with graduated scale in cm .
Contacts : they can be mercury switches or
magnetic actuated switches (reed contacts). On
request its possible to supply change-over
switches.
Switches characteristics :
rated voltage : 24 250V AC or DC
rated current : 0,5A (10000 tests)
breaking capacity : 2A AC (cos= 0,4 25% 50Hz) 2A DC (T=L/R=40msec).
Mechanical protection degree : IP 54

Vibration test (in normal operative conditions) :

oscillation amplitude : 2mm
time diagram :
0Hz 100Hz
30 sec.
100Hz (200 vibrations/sec.) 60 sec.
100Hz 0Hz.
30 sec.

Contacts capacity to withstand vibrations :

Mercury sw :
150 horizontal vibrations/sec. (75Hz) first signals
of closing contacts 120 vertical vibrations/sec.
(75Hz) first signals of closing contacts.
Magnetic sw :
200 horizontal vibrations/sec. (100Hz) no one
signal of closing contacts
200 vertical vibrations/sec. (100Hz)
no one signal of closing contacts.

Operation.
Slight faults : when a slight fault occurs in the transformer, the small bubbles of gas, which pass upwards to
the conservator, are trapped in the relay housing, thus causing its oil level to fall. As a result, the upper float
rotates on its hub and operates the alarm switch, thus operating an external alarm device.
Serious faults : when a serious fault occurs in the transformer, the gas generation is violent and causes the
oil to rush through the connecting pipe to the conservator.
In the relay this oil surge hits the flap fitted on the lower float (located in front of the hole for the oil passage)
and causes the rotation of the float itself, thus operating the tripping switch and disconnecting the
transformer. The float remains in the trip position even if the oil flow comes to a stop (the reset is done by
means of the push-button).
The tripping device is regulated in such a way that in transformers having forced oil cooling, the surges
resulting from the starting of the oil circulating pump will not cause mal-operation of the relay.
An oil leak in the transformer causes the oil level in the relay to fall, thus operating first the alarm (upper)
float and then the tripping (lower) float.
The ingress of air into the transformer, arising from defects in the oil circulating system or from other
causes, operates the alarm float.

Checking after actuation of the relay

When the signal is given, the colour of the gas should be observed through the inspection-windows.
Draw a gas sample and analyse it by means of the proper analyser. It should be noted that, usually :
whitish gas is caused by electric arcing in contact with paper, cotton or silk
yellowish gas is due to wood and cardboard
greyish gas is caused by a breakdown of the magnetic circuit
black gas is caused by free arcing in the oil.
If the relay disconnects the transformer, similar checks should be made to determine composition and
quantity of gas collected by the equipment
In any case never put back the transformer into service without having detected the cause of fault and
having repaired it.

Operating instructions and maintenance.

Mounting instructions : the Buchholz relay is mounted on the connecting pipe between the transformer and
the conservator : the arrow marked on the relay cover must point toward the oil conservator.
The pipe should not contain any right-angle elbow. Pipe diameter should correspond to the diameter of the
relays hole for the oil passage. The pipe must be arranged to slope upwards towards the conservator at an
angle of 1 up 5 degrees to the horizontal.

Electric wiring diagram : inside junction box cover its possible to find electric wiring diagram that consents
the operator to effect the connection of the relay to alarm and trip circuits and to earth. Once electrical
circuits are connected it is advisable to effect the mechanical test of the alarm and trip circuits by means of
the apposite button located on the relays cover.
Caution : gradually press the button until first alarm contact is obtained, and afterwards also the trip contact
is activated. The push-button is self returning thereby freeing the signalling devices of the relay as soon as
the pressing action upon the button is discontinued.
Signalling :

in case of gas accumulation : alarm

in case of lack of oil : trip
in case of oil surge : trip

Maintenance :
No particular maintenance is required. Only, on regular basis - typically once a year, schedule inspections to
verify that there are no oil leakages and to check the correct working of the contacts.
The check can be done in two ways :
1 ) MECHANICAL TEST : by pushing the mechanical test button - pos. 8 on Buchholz drawings - on the top
of the relay casing - after unscrewing its cover
2 ) PNEUMATIC TEST : by injecting air into the relay with a suitable pump (can be supplied by TERMAN in
case on request) through the valve for pneumatic test - pos. 7 on buchholz relay drawings - until the floats
rotate thus causing contacts actuation. After testing discharge the injected air by means of the breatherdischarge cock on the cover of the relay casing - pos. 6 on Buchholz drawings .
In case the window transparents are dirty, thus reducing the readability of the oil level inside of the buchholz
casing, you can clean them with a soft cloth, water and soap.

BUCHHOLZ RELAY type BG 25 DIN 42566

5
1-2

d1

6
3-4
S

7
10
L
POS
1-2
3-4
5
6
7
8
9
10

DESCRIPTION
RELEASE TERMINALS
ALARM TERMINALS
EARTH TERMINAL
BREATHER COCK
VALVE OF PNEUMATIC TEST
MECHANICAL TEST OF THE
ALARM/RELEASE CIRCUIT
CABLE GLAND PG 16
DRAIN PLUG

Type A B
D
E L S d1 gas vol. WEIGHT
BG25 215 160 R1-1/2"BSP 140 185 20 25 125 cm3
2,2 kg.

BUCHHOLZ RELAYS types BR 25 /50/80 DIN 42566

d2
A

10

d1
d3
D

S
L
8

5
1-2

E
6
3-4

POS
1-2
3-4
5
6
7
8
9
10

DESCRIPTION
RELEASE TERMINALS
ALARM TERMINALS
EARTH TERMINAL
BREATHER COCK
VALVE OF PNEUMATIC TEST
MECHANICAL TEST OF THE
ALARM/RELEASE CIRCUIT
CABLE GLAND PG 16
DRAIN PLUG

Type
BR25
BR50
BR80

A B
215 160
254 178
293 193

C D E L S
85 115 140 200 17
125 165 140 195 18
160 200 140 195 18

d1 d2 d3 N holes gas vol. WEIGHT

25 14 68
4
125 cm3
2,9 kg.
50 18 102
4
235 cm3
4,9 kg.
80 18 138
4/8
235 cm3
5,8 kg.

BUCHHOLZ RELAY type BS 25 BS STANDARD

d1
A
d2

C D

C
D

S
L

10

5
1-2

E
6
3-4

POS
1-2
3-4
5
6
7
8
9
10

DESCRIPTION
RELEASE TERMINALS
ALARM TERMINALS
EARTH TERMINAL
BREATHER COCK
VALVE OF PNEUMATIC TEST
MECHANICAL TEST OF THE
ALARM/RELEASE CIRCUIT
CABLE GLAND PG 16
DRAIN PLUG

Type A B C D E L S d1 d2
BS25 215 160 50,8 75 140 127 12 25 M10

N holes gas vol. WEIGHT

4
125 cm3
2,2 kg.

BUCHHOLZ RELAY type BS 50-80 BS STANDARD

d2

10

d1
C
D

L
8

5
1-2

E
6
3-4

POS
1-2
3-4
5
6
7
8
9
10

DESCRIPTION
RELEASE TERMINALS
ALARM TERMINALS
EARTH TERMINAL
BREATHER COCK
VALVE OF PNEUMATIC TEST
MECHANICAL TEST OF THE
ALARM/RELEASE CIRCUIT
CABLE GLAND PG 16
DRAIN PLUG

Type A B C D E
L S d1 d2 d3 N holes gas vol.
BS50 288 178 110 140 140 185 14 50 11 6
235cm3
BS80 288 178 130 160 140 185 14 80 11 6
235cm3

WEIGHT
4,1 kg.
4,3 kg.

Finished product quality control tests.

Hydraulic test for tightness for the body : the aluminium alloy casing is filled with oil at the temperature of
90C and at the pressure of 300 kpa.
After 4 hours no leakages must be observed.
The same test is carried out for floats and switches.

Dimensional check.
Hydraulic test for tightness of the finished relay : the test is carried out by filling the Buchholz relay with
oil at the temperature of 90C and at the pressure of 200 kpa. Said test lasts 4 hours. During this period no
oil leakage is admitted.

Manual and pneumatic inspection of the electric contacts actuation : This test is carried out both on
alarm and trip circuits. Its performed by means of visual indicators mounted on a panel-board.
Check of tripping velocity : performed by mounting the relay on a oil filled pipeline. By means of a
calibrated flow meter and of suitable visual indicators mounted on a panel-board.

Check of instrument mechanical protection degree : IP 54.

I EDITION AUGUST 2006

Insulation test : carried out by means of a microprocessor controlled testing unit.

Terman '90 S.r.l., Via Ghisalba, 13-20/21, 20021 Bollate (MI) Italy. Tel: +39 02 38 30 37 12, Fax: +39 02 38 30 37 19,
E-Mail info@terman.com, www.terman.com
C.F./P. IVA IT 09970270154 C.C.I.A.A. 1332904 Trib. Milano Reg. Soc. 302729 Cap. Soc. 119.000