BUCHHOLZ RELAY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

SHRI K J POLYTECHNIC BHARUCH

FIGURE

• It works on the principle of gas accumulation in the main tank.

• This is the only type of relay which gives warning signal before
tripping (occurrence of fault).
• This relay is use to detect the incipient fault. Incipient fault is a
fault which is not significant initially but if not taken care for
certain amount of time will result in serious internal fault.
• Gas is produced due to decomposition of oil because of
continuous operation and the current flowing through winding is
heating up the oil in the vicinity.
• It is filled with oil and is placed between the main tank of
transformer and conservator tank.
• There are two floats, out of them one is kept in the path of oil.
• There is one glass tube on it and it is filled with some mercury.

CONSTRUCTION

• In normal position, the tube is in tilted position. Two leads are

taken out of it. One is dipped in the mercury while the other is
slightly above.
• But when the tube becomes horizontal, the two leads are
shorted as the mercury is conducting material. The leads of this
float is connected to the trip coil.
• The other float is connected above of the first. The same kind of
glass tube filled with mercury is also provided on this float. It is
also in tilted position out of which two leads are taken out. One
is dipped in the mercury while the other is slightly above.
• But when the tube becomes horizontal, the two leads are
shorted as the mercury is conducting material. The leads of this
float is connected to the alarm.
• The release cock is provided at the top to remove the gas
accumulated in the relay. The trapped gas is used for analysis of
type of faults. (Dissolved Gas Analysis) During healthy
condition the floats are as shown in the figure.

OPERATION

• In the event of incipient fault, the oil decomposes and the gas is
generated. This gas is accumulated at the top of the relay.
• The upper float becomes horizontal as the level of oil is
reduced, so the contacts of alarm circuit is closed. (mercury
bridges the gap) and alarm signal is initiated. Alarm signals in
the control room.
• This gives the warning to the operating personnel to take
necessary action (like reduce the load or disconnect the
transformer).
• But when there is a serious internal fault, the rate of
decomposition of oil is rapid and gas flows at the faster rate and
gets accumulated on the top towards conservator tank.
• So the lower float which comes in the way of flow gets tilted
and mercury switch becomes horizontal, this completes the trip
circuit and the circuit breaker trips to disconnects the
transformer from the system.
REFERENCE
• Y. G. Paithankar, S. R. Bhide, Fundamentals of power system protection, Prentice Hall of India private Limited,
New Delhi, 2003