1

Ali A. Azadvar, Senior Member IEEE and Slobodan Mladenovic

Phase Angle Shift Compensation for Differential

Protection- One Solution to Cover All Types of
Transformers

voltage angle difference. PST’s are increasingly applied in
Abstract – Power flow through a power system corridor is power systems not only in Flexible AC Transmission
largely a function of the angle difference between the voltage Systems (FACTS) to control power flow at system stable
phasors at two ends. Phase Shifting Transformers (PST) are conditions, but also as an important element of Wide Area
placed in series with important lines at one end or combined Control Systems (WACS) to boost damping of recoverable
with power transformers, to regulate the voltage angle power swings.
difference between two ends of a power corridor. Conventional A PST typically introduces the phase shift between the
differential relays can not be utilized to protect PST’s, as the
reference sides (source side, S) and shifting sides (load side,
phase angle shift is not fixed like a standard power transformer
with a defined vector group, but it is continuously varying by
L) by injecting to each phase, a controlled value of voltages
the position of tap changer. from other phases. To accomplish this, traditional PST’s are
This paper presents a simple solution to compensate the consisting of two separate transformers with two different
phase angle shift on the input currents of differential protection functions. One transformer is equipped with an On Load Tap
for any types of transformers including PST. Simulation of a Changer (OLTC) to provide excitation voltage from a
real world disturbance verifies stability of the relay for heavy controllable percent of two phases, and the second one to
external faults, and sufficient sensitivity for internal inject some percent of the excitation voltage to the other
disturbances. By replacing this solution with “vector group phase. Fig.1 depicts connection diagram of such PST which
compensator” in conventional transformer differential relays, it is usually called “Indirect” type. [1]
can be used as well for protection of power transformers with
any vector group. In this solution there is no need to transmit
the position of on-load tap changer (OLTC) to the differential
relay.
Index Terms—Phase Shifting Transformer, differential
protection, on-load tap changer, sequence components,
transformer vector group

I. INTRODUCTION
The power flow through a corridor is estimated by the
following equation (series resistances and shunt admittances
are neglected):
Δα Detect- 6)
  ion Series Transformer
EA. EB
PAB  sin Fig. 1. Connection diagram of a PST designed as two separate transformers
XAB (Indirect type)
(1)
With advancement in the technology of OLTC
 manufacturing, both functions are now possible to be
in which PAB is the power flowing from A to B, E A is the
 combined in a single transformer with delta/hexagonal
voltage phasor at sending end A, E B is the voltage phasor connection, schematically shown in Fig. 2.
at receiving end B, XAB is the series reactance between A and
 
B and δ is the angle difference between E A and E B .
From (1) it is clear that power flow is dependant
significantly to the angle difference between sending and
receiving end voltages. If the angle between two ends can be
regulated, the power flow can be controlled. Phase Shifting
Transformers (PST), sometimes called as Phase Angle
Regulating (PAR) transformers, are placed in series with
important lines of a power corridor or combined with power
transformers between two voltage levels, to regulate the

Authors are with ALSTOM Grid, P.O.Box. 48957, Dubai, UAE, (e-mail :
 Fig. 2. PST with delta/hexagonal winding connection
slobodan.mladenovic@alstom.com and ali.azadvar@ieee.org )

A connection diagram of this PST which is classified as
“Direct” type is shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 3. Connection diagram of a PST designed as one transformer
(Direct type)
The phase shift across a standard transformer is zero or an
increment of 30 degrees at each phase, which is the result of
a fixed combination of currents from the other phases.
Because of this phase shift, the currents going to differential
protection of the transformer are required to be compensated,
so that in balance conditions, as well as any unbalanced
disturbances outside the transformer, all the current phasors
sum to zero.
In a PST as the phase shifting is the main task, it is
continuously varying by the position of tap changer
mechanism to create the amount of phase shift required to
regulate the power flow to the set point. Here, the magnitude
of the currents from the other two phases that are combined
with the phase current is not fixed. In other words, phase shift
“α” across PST is the function of tap position “n” which is
continuously varied. Phasor diagram of the PST in Fig. 3 is
presented in Fig. 4 emphasizing the fact that α and thus ΔU
are functions of tap position n.
UL1=US1* x∠α(n)
x=1 Symmetrical PST
x≠1 Asymmetrical PST
Fig. 4. Phasor diagram of the PST depicted in Fig. 3
It is important to note that the expected phase shift across
any transformer is only true as long as there is a balance
current flowing through the transformer. In cases of having
unbalanced current flow, such as would occur during an
external unbalance faults, the phase shift is no longer same as
pre-fault. For differential protection of standard transformers,
the phase currents going to the differential element are
combined by applying or simulating the intermediate
(matching) transformers, in a way that mirrors the fixed
combination of the currents in the main transformer. In case
of PST’s there is no easy way to combine the input currents
of differential element in a manner that mimics how they are
combined in the PST.
2
The latest solutions for differential protection of PST’s are
based on transmitting the tap position of OLTC mechanism
to the numerical differential element [2], [3], [4], [6]. Correct
information regarding the phase shift α, corresponding to the
transmitted tap position, should already be set to the relay
from PST nameplate.
Tap position can be transmitted from OLTC mechanism to
differential element by using analog transducer providing
stepwise milliamp signals proportional to each tap position,
or via binary coded decimal (BCD) signal which allocates a
digital code to each tap position. Reliable and error free
information from a mechanical device and transmitting it to a
dedicated protective instrument, however, would not be
sufficiently ensured. For instance, in case of utilizing BCD
signal, the state of all bits will not be changed at exactly the
same time, thus making error in calculation of phase shift
compensation. Failure of the mechanism itself and
unavailability of data during transition between steps are
other problems in applying this solution [2].
This paper introduces a method to compensate the phase
shift angle of PST on the input currents of differential
elements without any requirement to transmit tap position.
II. PHASE SHIFTING OF SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS IN A PST
Angle shifting in phase currents and voltages across a PST
is applied by injecting to each phase, a controllable value
from voltage of other phases. In this paper the source side, S
is taken as reference side (phase angle zero), and the load
side, L is assumed as shifting side (phase angle α). The
following equations can be written for all three phases in
most general forms:
IL1= p. IS1+ q. IS2+ r. IS3 (2-
1)
IL2= r. IS1+ p. IS2+ q. IS3 (2-
2)
IL3= q. IS1+ r. IS2+ p. IS3 (2-
3)
p, q and r are real numbers with absolute values of less than
or equal to 1 and are function of tap position n. IL and IS are
current phasors at L and S sides respectively. Above
equations indicate that any phase current at L side, comprises
the fractions p from the current at S side of the same phase,
plus fractions q and r from the current of next two phases in
sequence.
In matrix form, (2) may be written as follows:
(3)IL1 p q r IS1
IL2 = r p q IS2
The sequence Icurrent
L3 qcomponents
r p atIS3L side versus the same
at S side can be calculated from (3):
 3

(4) I ns  j . Ins
L1 = x. e S1 (8-
I I 3)
I I p q r I
INS = Aˉ ¹ . r p q .A. I
q r p (8) implies that if the positive sequence current component at
S side is shifted by angle α across PST, then its negative
sequence component will be shifted by angle – α. In other
where
words, for any given values of p, q and r determining by a
1 1 1 specific tap position n:
A= 1 a² a - The zero sequence component at L side is in phase with the
1 a a² same component at S side
zs ps ns
- The positive sequence component at L side is the shifted
a = e j120 and a² =e j 240 . Also I , I and I are positive sequence component at S side by angle α
magnitude of zero, positive and negative sequence - The negative sequence component at L side is the shifted
components respectively for IL1 and IS1, and Aˉ ¹ is the negative sequence component at S side by angle – α
inverse of A. α is the phase angle shift across PST of balanced load current
Substituting A and Aˉ ¹ in (4) and doing some or no load voltage, stipulated on the nameplate, for position
mathematical calculations, the following relation is derived: n of the OLTC.
(5) This means if the position n is transmitted to the relay, and
I if the look up table containing the angle α corresponding to
I
I I p+q+r 0
Time
0 every value of n are already set in the relay, then in case of a
Synch. I
INS = 0 p+a²q+ar 0 disturbance causing an unbalance condition, the relay can
I
0 0 apply appropriate phase shift to sequence components as
p+aq+a²r stated above and extract compensated three phase currents,
ready for measurement by a conventional restraint
In equation form, (5) may be written as follows: differential element. This solution is now being applied for
zs zs
I L1 = (p+q+r) . I S1 (6- differential protection of PST’s. [2]-[6] and [11]-[18]
1)
ps ps
I L1 = (p+a²q+ar) . I S1 (6- III. DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION FOR PST
2)
ns
Differential element is normally applied as main protection
I ns
L1 = (p+aq+a²r) . I S1 of power transformers including autotransformers and PST’s.
(6-3) As power transformer contains magnetic linkage, protecting
it by a differential element is encountered with many
As p, q and r are real numbers, (6-1) indicates that zero challenges compared with a simple electrical node such as a
sequence components, in case it could be transferred, does busbar. Some of the most important challenges are as follow:
not experience any phase shift across PST, so that “zero - phase shift due to combination with other phases
sequence transfer factor” is a real number y. Suppose that - magnitude mismatch due to transformation ratio
“positive sequence transfer factor” in (6-2) is x with angle α, - zero sequence transmission
that is - inrush currents (energizing, recovery, sympathetic)
- overexitation
p+a²q+ar = X = x. e j (7- There are well developed solutions for each of these
1) problems regarding normal power transformers. These
solutions are valid in case of PST as well; however,
it is then simply verified that “negative sequence transfer compensation of the variable phase shift is still developing.
factor” in (6-3) would be: This paper focuses on a simple method to mimic the variable
phase shift across PST on current transformers output, before
p+aq+a²r = X * = x. e  j (7- applying to a conventional restraint differential element.
2)
Substituting (7) into (6) yields:

zs zs A. Measuring Phase Shift Angle

I L1 = y. I S1 (8-
Surveying (2) again more in detail, indicates that angle
1)
ps ps shifting at each phase is obtained by combination of some
I = x. e j . I S1 (8-
L1 specific percent from each phase with next two phases in a
2) symmetrical way. These percents p, q and r are function of
OLTC position n only, but the phase shift between IL and IS
 4

is not only function of n but also depending to the current sequence currents at both sides is obtained by subtracting the
magnitude of other phases at the same time. At balance measured angle α from phasor angle of positive sequence
condition, (2-1) can be written as indicated below: current at L side. Similarly, to align negative sequence
currents, the angle α should be added to measured phasor
IL1= (p+a²q+ar) . IS1 (9) angle of negative sequence component at L side. The zero
sequence current would not experience any angle shift, if it
Substituting from (7), this equation can be rewrite as has to be transmitted. The mirrored phase currents at L side
follows: are now calculated from these new sequence components,
IL1= x. e j . I S1 (10-1) and together with the phase currents at S side are connected
to a conventional restraint differential element for further
Similarly, for other two phases the following relations may processing.
be obtained from (2-2) and (2-3): Fig. 5 depicts a simplified block diagram of the new phase
shifting compensator.
IL2= x. e j . I S2 (10-2)
IL3= x. e j . I S3 (10-3) 2)
Input Phase Shift 5)
Trans& A/D I / In Compensation IS
Analog converte I - Io
This means as long as the system is balanced, any tap Filter r
Seq.
position n applies a unique phase shift α on all three phases Filter Pos.
+
3)
α transient
Filter&
-
equally. But in case of an unbalance fault, obviously neither 1)
Memory
Differential
Time 6)
all phases experience an equal phase-shift, nor have the angle Synch.
Δα
Detect-Seri
Element

ion es
shifts such a simple relation with tap position n. The phase A/D Tran
convert
shift α corresponding to the tap position n indicated on the Input
2)
Pos.
er sfor
-α
Input4)mer
nameplate of a PST is always defined at balance condition. Trans&
Analog
A/D
converte
I / In
I - Io
Seq.
Filter Neg.
Trans&
α
Analog
Phase
Current
IL
Extract-
The relation between sequence currents as shown in (8) Filter r Filter
ion

indicates that Zero

1) Unlike phase currents, any sequence current at side L
depends only on the same sequence at side S. This means that
the angle shift of each sequence current is only function of
tap position n.
1) Sampling time synchronization
2) Amplitude normalizing & zero sequence cancellation (if required)
3) Angle Difference Measuring
4) Phase Angle Shifting clockwise (-α) and counter clockwise (α)
5) The dashed part is replaced by “vector group compensation” in traditional diff. protection
6) Detection of internal fault incidence

2) For a given tap position n, the angle difference between Fig. 5. Simplified block diagram for phase shift compensation
positive sequence at sides S and L is always α, whether or not
the system is balanced.
To describe this more in detail, suppose that the system at a In this method, the input currents from both sides to
moment t is in balance condition and OLTC is in tap position differential protection are aligned in a way to compensate the
n. Further, suppose that at this moment the phase shift across phase shifting across main transformer, whether this shifting
the PST is α. This angle obviously is the same as the angle is variable, like a PST, or fixed, same as standard power
difference between positive sequence components of the two transformers. In fact, as indicated in Fig.5, replacing this
sides, as it is clear by comparing (8-2) with (10-1). If at the solution by “vector group compensator” in conventional
moment t an unbalanced through fault happens, the angle α differential relays, it may be utilized for any kind of power
between positive sequence currents at L side and S side transformers and PST’s without any need for setting and
remains intact, as the tap position n has remained unchanged, adjusting the relay for vector group of the main transformer.
while the angle difference between IL and IS in any of the
phases is no longer α. This means simply that by measuring
the angle difference between positive sequence components
of the two sides continuously, the relay can compensate for
shifting of the sequence current components at L side for any
system conditions based on equations (8). Compensation for
phase currents is obtainable accordingly, without any
requirement to import OLTC tap position.
B. Developing a new solution
The new solution for differential protection of PST requires
extracting continuously the sequence components of current
at L side as well as the positive sequence current at S side. It
is based on measuring the angle difference α between
positive sequence currents at L and S sides. In this method,
phase shift compensation is rendered by alignment of
sequence components. Assume that S side is reference when
measuring the angle difference. Then alignment of positive

C. Simulation and testing of phase shift compensation
As a real world example, current waveforms at S side and L
side of a PST located at one end of a 380kV line for an
external single phase to ground fault are captured by
disturbance recorder of existing differential relays and are
indicated in Fig.6. [4]. The transformer is 1630 MVA,
400/400kV, 50Hz with angle shifting capability from 0° to
18° in 30 steps. The waveforms were applied to a normal
transformer protection and caused maloperation of
differential element for two other healthy phases. The basic
setting of differential characteristics was 20% and vector
group setting was YNyn.
Fig. 6. Current waveforms of a PST for an external phase to ground fault
The phase shift compensation as presented in dashed part of
Fig.5 was modeled by MATLAB to which the same
waveforms as indicated in Fig.6 were applied. The relay with
same settings was then injected by outputs of the model and
resulted to stability of differential element.
D. Some considerations in design and testing of the new
solution
1- The new solution is actually working based on
measuring the phase angle difference between positive
sequence vectors at both sides of PST. To do this with
an acceptable accuracy, it is important to note that time
synchronization for sampling of phase currents has to
be done with accuracy of better than 1µs which
corresponds to 0.018° for 50Hz and 0.0216° for 60Hz
systems. Even with this time accuracy, there is around
±2% error in measuring of angle difference between
two consecutive positions of an OLTC with one degree
phase shift per step.
2- It was observed that the sequence component filters
introduce some transient errors in angle measurement
when there is a large step change in currents, such as a
fault incidence or clearance. Fig.7 shows these
transients at 0.38 sec on positive sequence angle and at
0.47 sec on negative sequence angle corresponding to
fault incidence and clearance respectively [4]. To ride
through this error which may cause false differential
currents, a special filter to detect and delete these
transients was considered in the model. The filtering
time is about five times of the sampling interval.
5
Fig. 7. Angle difference between positive (lower curve) and negative
(upper curve) sequence components of current waveforms in fig. 6
3- As the model requires historical information prior to a
moment at which the angle measurement is desired, it
might maloperate upon switching the PST on to an
external fault. The algorithm however, requires only
five samples before assuring correct decision
afterwards. It is therefore sufficient to delay trip
command for about five to ten sampling intervals in
case of PST energizing.
4- The proposed logic always aligns currents at L sides
with currents at S side before applying them to
differential elements. This is essential for stability of
the differential scheme in normal operating condition
as well as in case of external faults. However,
alignment of incoming and outgoing currents would
jeopardize dependability of the differential element for
internal faults.
The logic proposed in this paper does not need any
additional measurement. It is working based on the fact
that in case of internal fault incidence, the positive
sequence angle shift measured by the logic, would be
much higher than the angle shift caused by one step
movement of OLTC. This way, in the event of an
internal fault, the logic would apply the latest pre-fault
angle shift instead of the post-fault value.
5- Differential element used in the new algorithm should
have all other features as functioning for a normal
power transformer such as multi slope characteristics,
inrush current detection and overexitation supervision.
The latter is more important in case of differential
protection for PST compared with normal power
transformers, as the risk of saturation for regulating
winding in case of through faults is higher.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
PST’s are increasingly used in modern power systems as an
important element of both FACTS and WACS. Protecting a
PST by means of differential relay, however in addition to
common challenges with standard transformer, is
encountered with the problem that how to compensate the
phase shift across it on the current inputs before applying to
differential element. The latest solution is to transmit tap
positions of OLTC to the relay, from which the specific
phase shift, for each position already set to the relay
according to the PST nameplate can be found.
The new solution developed in this paper, suggests the
same differential protection as normal power transformers,
equipped with a phase shift compensation feature, which
would be substituted with vector group compensation unit in
traditional differential elements. This feature measures the
 6

angle shift across PST or any other standard transformer by
measuring the angle difference between positive sequence
currents of both sides. It does not require transmitting actual
tap position of PST to the relay. The solution was simulated
mathematically and tested successfully for stability in case of
all types of external faults, while sufficient sensitivity was
achieved for internal disturbances.
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