Restricted Earth fault Protection in

Transformers & Generators

1.0 General :
Transformers and generators are voltage sources. They are traditionally
protected by an Over current + Earth fault relay , normally mounted in the
breaker panel. This is shown in fig. 1. It should be noted that this protection
alone is not adequate.
When an earth fault occurs within the zone
defined as A in the fig-1, or within the machine,
the fault current will circulate within the zone
or within the machine. The fault current will
not flow through the CTs connected to the O/C
+E/F relays near the breaker. This will cause a
no trip situation when there is a fault in the
zone A (Internal fault).

Consequently, a separate scheme is required to

detect internal earth faults in zone A. This
scheme is called Restricted Earth Fault (REF)
scheme.

It should be noted that the fault currents in Zone A is limited by the

impedance of the equipments in the zone for transformers and generators it
is very low the fault currents can rise very fast and damage the equipment.
Consequently REF protection is of utmost importance for generators and
transformers.

2.0 Why is this called Restricted E/F ?

The name Restricted is derived since the objective of the protection is to
detect the earth fault in the specific zone , restricted to the zone, starting
from the breaker to the machine terminals. In case of a generator, the
machine terminal is the neutral point. In case of a transformer, the machine
terminal becomes the star point of either the primary or secondary winding
or both. In case of delta winding, it is the winding itself.

3.0 How can we detect internal earth faults ?

It is well established that the sum of currents at the beginning of the zone A
should be equal to the sum of currents exiting the zone. Two sets of CTs are
used to derive these sum of currents at the inlet and exit. A fault in the zone
will result in a difference in current .
..2
-2-

An over current relay is used to measure the difference in the sum of these
currents.

Please refer to fig.2 where a typical REF scheme shown . The REF relay is
connected between P & S . It will pick up if there is enough voltage across P-S
to drive the pick up current through the relay.

There are two current sources in the CT secondary circuit PQRSTU :

a) the current produces by CT X ( loop RSPQ)
b) the current produced by CT Y ( loop UPST)
Under normal conditions, vectorial sum of the currents of these two CTs will
be equal and opposite in the branch P-S (ie) the resultant current in the branch
PS will be zero. In this situation , the currents of CT X and CT Y will circulate
in the loop PQRSTU. The voltage across P-S will be zero.

When there is an earth fault within the zone A, the currents of X & Y CTs will
not be equal a small difference of current will flow in the branch P-S. This
current will result in a voltage across P-S since the current flows through the
 relay impedance. If this voltage is adequate to operate the relay , the relay will
pick up thus detecting a fault within the zone.
..3
-3-

4.0 What if a fault occurs outside the zone ?

For a fault outside the zone, the currents through CTs X & Y will be the same
the resultant current through P-S will still be zero and the relay will not not
pick up. In this case the fault has to be cleared by another O/C + E/F relay
connected near the breaker.

5.0 Why is a Stabilising resistor required in REF scheme ?

We have said in the sections 3 & 4 that the REF relay will detect a fault within
a zone restricted between two CTs and it will not detect a fault out side the
zone defined by the CTs. This is true, only for ideal conditions- where the two
CTs are perfectly matched. Following mis matches will occur under practical
situations in the field :

a) the CT secondary impedances may not be equal

b) the lead wires connecting the CT secondaries to the relay may not have
equal resistances
c) the CTs may have different ratio error and phase angle error due to this
, the secondary cuurents will not be equal even if the primary currents
are same..
d) the CTs may have different saturation characteristics this will cause
small difference in the secondary currents for a same primary current

The cumulative effect all the above, can make the relay trip even when there is
a full load current flowing in the primaries though the primary side currents
are same, the secondary side currents need not be the same a voltage
sufficient to trip the REF relay may develop across P-S and hence the relay
will trip.

To make the relay insensitive to this voltage produced by CT mismatch, a

resistor is added in series with the relay. Once this resistor is added, the relay
will need a voltage which is higher than the voltage produced by the CT
mismatch. This resistor is called stabilizing resistor this is an important
component in REF scheme since this ensures stability in the scheme by
avoiding spurious tripping.

6.0 What is knee point voltage ?

It should be noted that actual input circuit to trip mechanism (consisting of the
relay + stabilizing resistor) has become a high impedance circuit. If the relay
has to trip, the CT secondarys should produce sufficiently high enough
 voltage to activate the relay, after allowing for the drop across the stabilizing
resistor.
..4
-4-

To ensure the CTs produce enough voltage, an additional specification the

Knee point voltage - is included for the CTs used for REF protection.

Knee point voltage (KPV)is defined as the point on the magnetizing curve (of
the material used for the CT core) where the core will need 50% increase in
the magnetizing force (ampere turns) to cause a 10% increase in the flux
density.(voltage build up across secondary). In effect, KPV defines the end of
the linear portion of the BH curve . Higher the KPV, larger is the linear zone
and better will be secondary output for higher fault currents. Higher the KPV,
better are the chances of a high impedance relay trip.

7.0 How can we calculate the value of the stabilizing resistor and KPV ?
The value of stabilizing resistor and KPV will depend on the following
parameters which are unique to a given feeder:

a) Impedance of the CT secondaries

b) Lead wire resistance between the CT secondaries and the REF relay
c) The impedance of the REF relay - this can vary with respect to pick up
setting . We have to consider the relay impedance at the pick up setting
being contemplated for the feeder.
d) The maximum fault current which can occur on the CT secondary side
CT should not saturate under this maximum fault conditions. If the CT
saturates, it will offer an alternate path for the resultant current and the
REF relay may not trip.

A detailed method is provided in annexure 1, for calculation of stabilizing

resistor and KPV

8.0 What are L&T solutions for REF protections ?

L&T manufactures a high impedance Over curret relay which is ideally
suited for the REF protection of generators and transformers. Typical schemes
are shown in fig. 3 &4.

L&T offers a unique feature in the REF relay SC14S in additon to

instantaneous trip, user can select a definite time delay of either 100 millisec or
200 millisec. In case of small transformers & generators ( upto 5 MVA), the
feeder trips during breaker closing. This mainly is due to the large inrush
current causing momentary difference in CT secondary currents due to
mismatch in saturation characteristics. A 100 millisec time delay will help in
this case.

..5
-5-

Fig.3 shows a typical scheme

for REF protection for
generators. The scheme
envisages the following ;

a) 3 nos. phase CTs

b) 1 no. neutral CT
c) 1 no. Relay SC14S
d) 1 no. Stabilising resistor
 6
-6-

Fig.4 shows a typical scheme for REF protection for transformers. It should be noted
that transformers will need two REF schemes one on the primary side and the other
on the secondary side.

For the transformer primary side , which is usually delta connected, following are
envisaged in the REF scheme :

a) 3 nos. phase CTs

b) 1 no. Relay SC14S
d) 1 no. Stabilising resistor

For the transformer secondary side, which is usually star connected, following are
envisaged in the REF scheme :

a) 3 nos. phase CTs

b) 1 no. neutral CT
b) 1 no. Relay SC14S
d) 1 no. Stabilising resistor

oooOOO@&@OOOooo