REYROLLE

TECHNICAL REPORT

APPLICATION GUIDE

TITLE:Restricted Earth Fault

REPORT NO:- 990/TIR/06

DATE :- 08 Feb. 2005

Application Guide - Restricted Earth Fault Page 1 of 12

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1. INTRODUCTION
A low impedance earth fault overcurrent relay may, with the addition of an external series resistor, and a non-
linear resistor be connected as a high impedance restricted earth fault relay for the protection of transformer
windings or the stator windings of large machines. This document provides guidelines and a worked example in
establishing the relay settings and design parameters for external resistors and, where required, a non-linear
resistor, for Restricted Earth Fault (REF) protection.

2. ABBREVIATIONS
Vs ,relay circuit setting voltage
Vstab ,min voltage required to ensure stability
Vfs ,rms value of relay circuit voltage not withstanding CT saturation
Vpk ,peak voltage produced across relay circuit during internal fault conditions
If ,maximum in-zone fault current
Ifs ,max through fault current
Rct ,CT secondary winding resistance
RL ,CT lead resistance (loop)
N ,CT turns ratio
Vk ,CT knee point voltage
Imag ,CT magnetisation current
Inlr ,non-linear resistor current
Rs ,setting resistance
Is ,relay setting current
Pcon ,continuous power rating of resistor
Phalf ,0.5 second power rating of resistor

3. THEORY OF REF SCHEMES

3.1. Determination of Stability

The stability of a REF scheme using a high impedance relay circuit depends upon the relay circuit setting
voltage being greater than the maximum voltage which can appear across the relay circuit under a given
through fault condition (i.e. external fault). This voltage can be determined by means of a simple calculation
which makes the following assumptions:

a) One CT is fully saturated making its excitation impedance negligible.

b) The resistance of the secondary winding of the saturated CT together with the leads connecting it to the
relay circuit terminals constitute the only burden in parallel with the relay.
c) The remaining CTs maintain their ratio.

Thus the minimum stability voltage is given by:

Vstab = Ifs (Rct + RL)

For stability, the relay circuit voltage setting should be made equal to or exceed this calculated value. No factor
of safety is necessary because this is built into the assumptions made above.

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3.2. Current Transformer Requirements
The CTs used in this type of scheme should be of the high accuracy and low leakage reactance type and the
minimum CT knee voltage should be greater than twice the minimum stability voltage setting calculated for the
relay circuit.

3.3. Setting Resistor

If the relay used in the scheme has a low burden, then a series setting resistor will be required to provide the
relay circuit setting voltage for stability. Assuming the relay burden is very small and the CTs do not have very
low knee point voltages (less than 25V), the relay burden can be neglected and the setting resistor value is
then given by:
Rs = Vs / Is

3.4. Non Linear Resistor

The maximum internal primary fault current in the protected zone will be the same as that for the stability
condition when the primary network circuit is solidly earthed. This current may cause high voltage spikes
across the relay at instants of zero flux since a practical CT core enters saturation on each half-cycle for
voltages of this magnitude.

A formula in common use, which gives a reasonable approximation to the peak voltage produced under
internal fault conditions, is expressed as:

Vpk = 2 [2Vk(Vfs-Vk)]

To protect the CTs, the secondary wiring, and the relay from damage due to excessively high voltages, a non-
linear resistor is connected in parallel with the relay circuit if the peak voltage would exceed 3kV. If the
calculated peak voltage is less than 3kV it is not necessary to employ a non-linear resistor.

The type of non-linear resistor required is chosen by:-

a) Its thermal rating as defined by the empirical formula:

P = 4/ x Ifs x Vk
B
b) Its non-linear characteristic i.e. V = CI ; where C and B are constants.

A resistor with C and B values is selected which ensures the peak voltage cannot exceed 3kV and, in the
region of the relay circuit setting voltage, the current shunted by the non-linear resistor is very small (e.g.
<10mA).

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4. WORKED EXAMPLE PROTECTION OF POWER TRANSFORMER HV DELTA WINDING (FIGURE 1)
USING THE REF ELEMENT OF AN ARGUS RELAY

4.1. Data required

(With values inserted from a typical example)

4.1.1. CT secondary winding resistance 3

4.1.2. Lead resistance (loop) 3
4.1.3. Magnetising characteristic of CT see Fig. 4 [ Vk > 270 ]
4.1.4. CT turns ratio 1/200
4.1.5. Nameplate rating of power transformer 30MVA
4.1.6. Voltage ratio of power transformer 132/11kV
4.1.7. Required primary fault setting 10% to 60%
4.1.8. Power transformer impedance 9.5%
4.1.9. System earthing solid
4.1.10. Maximum system fault level 3500MVA
4.1.11. Relay data, Argus 1 relay (REF/SEF version)
REF setting range 0.5% to 96% of In in 0.5% steps
AC burden, 5A tap 0.4VA
1A tap 0.2VA

4.2. A UK standard in use for some years now, EATS 48-3, recommends that the figure used for Ifs should
be 16 times the rated current of the protected winding. This is a typical figure based on infeeds to an
external earth fault from the transformer under consideration, which is in parallel with the remainder of
the system up to the point of connection of the transformer. Note that if this value results in an
impractically high voltage setting requirement, it is usually acceptable to assume that the transformer
impedance limits the through earth fault current to the through 3 phase fault current.

Ifs (primary) = 16 x transformer rating

3 x system voltage

Ifs (primary) = 16 x 30MVA = 2.1kA

3 x 132kV

Ifs (secondary) = 2100/200 = 10.5A

The minimum CT knee point voltage should be greater than 2Ifs (RCT+RL) volts.

Thus Vkmin = 2[10.5(3+3)] = 126V

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Minimum stability voltage to ensure stability during maximum through fault is:

Vstab > Ifs (RCT+RL)

> 10.5 (3+3) > 63V

Although the relay circuit voltage setting does not need to be more than this calculated value, since the CT Vk
is more than 270V, a setting of 90V is proposed.

4.3. EATS 48-3 recommends that the primary fault setting should be in the range of 10% to 60% of the
rated current of the protected winding (when the protected winding is connected to a solidly earthed
power system).

The acceptable limits for the primary fault setting are:

3MVA to 18MVA = 13.1A to 78.7A

3 x 132kV (i.e. for 30MVA transformer)

Therefore the relay operating current limits are:

13.1 to 78.7 = 65mA to 400mA

200

4.4. The Argus relay REF element has a setting range from 0.005 to 0.96A in 5mA steps. An initial setting
of 0.18A is chosen. However the shunt connection of all other paths must be subtracted from this to
allow the actual fault setting to be determined. The fault setting is the actual current (primary amps) at
which the relay operates. Shunt paths = number of CTs x their magnetising current + non-linear
resistor (if required).

Thus, actual setting = 0.18 - 3Imag - Inlr*

* In restricted earth fault applications where the relay setting voltage is considerably lower than the non-linear
resistor C value, Inlr can be ignored. The magnetising current of all parallel CTs must be taken into account at
the relay setting voltage, Vs, which is now calculated.

In reference to figure 4, the magnetisation curve shows a knee point voltage of 270V. A stability voltage within
the range Vk/4 to Vk/2 is normal unless a customer has special requirements, therefore a value of say 90V for
Vs can be chosen. This is more than the minimum value of Vstab calculated at 63V (see section 4.2 above)
and is less than Vk/2.

The value of magnetising current, Imag, at Vs is 0.011A.

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Reverting to the calculation of current setting this can now be completed.

Setting, in secondary amps,

Is = 0.18 - 3(0.011) = 0.147A

Say 0.15A (nearest setting for Argus 1 relay)

4.5. Based on a relay circuit setting voltage of 90V, the series stabilising resistor can now be calculated by
the following formula,

Rs = (Vs - Vrelay)/Is

The Argus relay burden is very small and can be neglected.

Rs = 90/0.150 = 600

The resistor value of 600 can be obtained, with standard tolerance band e.g. +/- 5%.

Thus the relay circuit setting voltage becomes,

Vs = 0.15 x 600 = 90V

4.6. To check whether a voltage limiting device is required to protect the relay circuit, calculate Vpk.

Vpk = 2 [2Vk(Vfs-Vk)]> 3000

Where,

Vk = 270V (from fig.4)

Vfs = If (Rs + Rrelay)

If = 3500 x1 (Secondary Amps)

3 x 132 200

= 77 Amps

Vfs = 77 x 600 = 46.2kV

Thus, Vpk = 9.96kV

Therefore it is recommended that a voltage limiting device is connected into the circuit. If the shunt current at
Vs is significant, relative to the relay setting, this must be taken into account in the calculation, item 4.4, in
establishing the relay setting current required to achieve an appropriate primary operating current value.

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4.7. The resistors incorporated in the scheme must be capable of withstanding the associated thermal
conditions.

Continuous power rating of the setting resistor = Pcon = (Icon) x Rs

where Icon = continuous resistor current, normally taken as being the current at circuit
setting voltage

Pcon = 0.15 x 600 = 13.5Watt

The short time rating of the resistor is taken to be 0.5 seconds. This is considered so as to ensure that the relay
circuit components are not damaged in the event of a circuit failure causing a fault to be cleared by back-up or
CB fail protection.

The 0.5 second rating of the setting resistor, Phalf = Ir x Rs, where Ir = Vf/Rs.

The rms voltage, Vf, developed across Rs under internal fault conditions is defined from the empirical formula
as follows:

Vf = (Vk x Rs x If) x 1.3

where If = rms value of secondary fault current for maximum system fault level, calculated above in 4.6 (If = 77
Amps).

Vf = (270 x 600 x 77) x 1.3 = 1270V

Therefore,
Phalf = Vf/Rs = 1270/600 = 2.69kW for 0.5 sec

4.8. The required thermal rating of the non-linear resistor can be calculated by the formula,
P = 4/ x If x Vk

P = 4/ x 77 x 270 = 26.5kW

This is above the declared withstand of a standard 3 diameter type Metrosil non-linear resistor and a 6
diameter type would be required.

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4.9. Primary fault setting, or primary operating current (p.o.c.) = N (Imag + Is)

N = 200 Imag at 90V is approximately 15mA Is = 0.15A

P.O.C. = 200(3 x 0.015 + 0.15) = 39A

Full load current at 30MVA = 131A Therefore P.O.C. = 30% of rating.

This ignores any current passed through the Metrosil at the setting voltage. With typical standard values for the
Metrosil characteristic for B and C, the current at setting voltage would be relatively very low, e.g. < 1mA.

4.10. Recommended Settings and Components

>Argus REF setting = 0.15A (Resultant fault setting, e.g. the p.o.c. = 39A)

>External setting resistor = 600 (Vs = 90V)

>Non-linear resistor = 3 inch type with C and B values chosen to suit, i.e. to limit the maximum peak voltage
to 3kV (at maximum in zone fault = 77amp in this example), and to ensure that the current drawn by the
Metrosil at the relay circuit setting voltage, is not significant (e.g. less than 1.0mA). If this current is significant it
needs to be included in the expression for the p.o.c. in item 4.9 above

Application Guide - Restricted Earth Fault Page 8 of 12

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Figure 1 Typical Application, Protection of Delta Winding

P2 R2

R4
R1
R1

R1
Vs

S2 S2 S2 Non-Linear
Line Current l
A B C Resistor >
Transformers
S1 S1 S1
P1
R3
HV R1 = C.T. Secondary Winding Resistance.
R2 + R3 = Pilot Loop Resistance, RL.
LV R4 = Setting Resistance.
Vs = Relay Circuit Setting Voltage, or Stability Voltage.

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Figure 2 Typical Schematic Diagram for Application of 4-Pole Argus 1 Relay to Star Winding

C u r r e n t t r a n s fo r m e r s

C la s s 5 P C la s s P X

A A

S1 S2
HV LV

P1 B P2
B

S1 S2

C C
N o n -lin e a r r e s is to r
IM P O R T A N T N O T E . S1 S2

W h e re o n e s e t o f c u rre n t R1
t r a n s f o r m e r s a r e u s e d to p r o v id e
b o t h ID M T a n d R E F p r o te c tio n s , 53 49 45 25
t h e n th e y m u s t m e e t th e l > l > l > l > A rg u s 1
p e r fo r m a n c e r e q u ir e m e n t s fo r b o th 54 50 46 26

p r o t e c t io n s y s t e m s
P1 S1

S2

P2 A r g u s 1 h a v in g 2 O C + 1 E F + R E F
R 1 = s e tt in g r e s is ta n c e

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Figure 3 Typical Schematic Diagram for Application of 4-Pole Argus 1 Relay to Delta Winding

P1 S1 S2 B P2

S1 S2
C
S1 S2
53 49 45 25
l> l> l> l>
54 50 46 26
Non - linear
Argus relay resistor
(3OC + REF)

R1

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Figure 4 Typical Current Transformer Magnetising Characteristic Class PX to IEC60044

Secondary winding resistance = 3 ohms at 75oC

A
10
R.M.S Volts (min) multiply by 30

Vk a) Vk = 9.0 x 30 = 270V
Iexc = 0.165 x 0.3
X
b) 1.1Vk = 9.9 x 30
8 Iexc = approx 1.5 x (a)

curve "A" 0 .02 .06 .1 .14 .18 .22 .26 .3

curve "B" 1.0 2.0 3.0

Secondary Excitation Current Multiply by 0.3 R.M.S Amps (max)

Application Guide - Restricted Earth Fault Page 12 of 12