University of Jordan

Faculty of Engineering & Technology

Electrical Engineering Department
Power Lab. EE 489

Experiment # 9:
DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION

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 Differential circuits are used to
measure the difference between two
(or more) currents. A distinction is
made between longitudinal
differential protection and transverse
differential protection.
In longitudinal differential
protection the current is measured,
for example, at both ends of the
line or both sides of the
transformer. In this case the line or
the transformer is the protected
object. In transverse differential
protection the differential current is
the difference between the currents
in two parallel parts of the system.

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Differential Protection for Transformers :

The most important protection for a transformer is the differential

protection. It must take into consideration the following:
1. The fact that the currents are measured at different voltage levels.
2. The fact that the current transformers have different ratios and characteristics.
3. The possibility of the voltage control, e.g. ±10 %.

The protection must be stabilized to

prevent unwanted tripping due to any of
the factors mentioned under items 1-5
above. A modem transformer differential
protection takes the form of a fully-
electronic unit with stabilizing circuit to

4. The tact [hat the excitation current prevent incorrect operation.

(no-load current) gives rise to
differential current.
5. The fact that the switching surges
give rise to a differential current.
Faults in the protected object
must result in immediate tripping of Protection for Large Transformers:
the transformer, other faults must not (1) = gas monitor.
affect the protection. (2) = oil temperature switch.
(3) = pressure switch
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Description of circuit diagram :
The differential protection represented by the circuit diagram for this experiment uses an
instantaneous current relay (RXIG 2) as the sensing device and therefore has no stabilizing circuits.
The protected object is a single-phase transformer connected for 220/220 V.
The current transformer have identical ratios and data. Items 1-3 on page 1 can therefore be
disregarded.
Item 4 affects the sensitivity. If the no-load current is high the sensitivity of the relay must be
reduced to prevent unwanted operation. Item 5 can also be allowed for in this way, but this can result
in the protection being too insensitive to give the protection required in practice.

The circuit shown in the diagram is for experimental purposes only. The point is to study
some of the difficulties to be overcome in creating a reliable transformer differential protection
and the circuit must not be regarded as an example of protection to be used in practice.

The circuit shows a resistor R1 which is used to simulate faults in the protected object, a
load resistor R2 , which is used to vary the load current, and a load inductor for the same purpose.
Current relay RXIG 2 of the differential protection must always react immediately for
internal faults and must be completely unaffected by external faults. When an internal fault
occurs, the circuit-breakers must disconnect the transformer.
Although transformer protective relays are normally required to operate rapidly, time-lag
relay RXKB 1 or (RXKN 1) has been included to make it possible to observe switching surges
and to get some idea of their duration.

Equipment:
1. Relay units RXIG 2 (25 mA), RXKB 1, RXSF 1.
2. Transformer T1 (single-phase, 1KVA, 220/4 x 55V).
3. Digital Ammeters A1, A2, A3 and A4.
4. Current Transformers T2 and T3.
5. Resistor R1 ( step and smooth resistors ).
6. Load Resistor R2.
7. Load Inductor L.
8. Main Switch S1.
9. Contractors S2 and S3.
10. Push-button enclosure.
Method :
1. Setup the circuit shown in Figure 1, but do not connect the arm R1 - A4 .
2. Set RXKB 1 to 10 x 0.35 and the current transformers T2 & T3 ratios to 10/1 A.
3. Select scale factor 1 on RXIG 2 (i.e. a set operating value of 25 mA).
4. Check that RXSF 1 shows a red flag, indicating that auxiliary voltage is being
supplied to the relays.
5. Adjust the source voltage to 220V and close S1.
6. Close S2 by means of "ON 1".
7. Measure the differential current I3 and enter it in table 1 a.
8. Enter the reading of I1 in Table 1-a.
9. Perform "X" on/off operations, count the number of relay operations at switching-
on, (indicated by the second flag of RXSF 1), and enter this on the appropriate
line of Table 1-a.
10. Set scale factor 3 on RXIG and repeat step 9.
11. Chose some intervening values of the scale factor and take the readings again.
(use the whole table).
12. Alter the current transformers T1 and T2 ratio to 25/1 A.

Circuit Diagram:
13. Set scale factor 1 (25 mA). Repeat steps 9-11 and enter the readings in Table
1-b.
14. Check that R1 is set to maximum, and connect arm R1 - A4 .
15. Close S 2 .
16. Increase I4 until the relay operates, and enter the readings in Table 2.
17. Set R1 to maximum, set R2 for the smallest possible value of I2 , and close S3.
18. Adjust R2 for an I2 of 1.5A.
19. Increase I4 and note the currents at relay operation, repeat for I2 =2.0 A.

20. Open S3 , set R1 to maximum , and replace R2 by L (set for minimum I2 ).

21. By connecting the 380 V input in series, alter L until I 2 is about 2 A. increase I4
and note the relay operating values.
22. Repeat steps 20 and 21 using C load instead of L.

Q1. Does it make any difference if the terminal of one of the C.T's is reversed.

Table 1-a: (At no load C.T. ratio 10/1 A).

RXIG2 Number of relay
operations out of "X"
scale factor operating value(mA)

1 25 /3 x=3

1.25 31 /3 x=3

1.5 38 /3 x=3

1.75 44 /5 x=5

2 50 /10 x=10

2.25 56 /10 x=10

2.5 62 /3 x=3

2.75 69 /3 x=3

3 75 /3 x=3
Primary current I1 = A
Actual differential current I3 = mA
The best setting = mA
Table 1-b: (At no load C.T. ratio 25/1 A).
RXJG2 Number of relay
operations out of "X"
scale factor operating value mA

1 25 /10 x=10

1.25 31 /5 x=5

1.5 38 /5 x=5

1.75 44 /3 x=3

2 50 /3 x=3

2.25 56 /3 x=3

2.5 62 /3 x=3

2.75 69 /3 x=3

3 75 /3 x=3
Primary current I1 = A
Actual differential current I3 = mA
The best setting = mA
 Table 2.
measurement transformer RXIG 2 I1 12 13 14
no. load (A) (A) (mA) (mA)
scale factor op. val.(mA)
1 No Load 1.0 0.0

2 No Load 1.0 0.0

3 Resistive 1.0 1.5

4 Resistive 1.0 2.0

5 Inductive 1.0 2.0

6 Capacitive 1.0 2.0

C.T. Ratio = 25\1. Scale factor = 1.0.

ANALYSIS:
The effect of the switching surges can be studied in any required degree of detail. The value in
Table 1-a and 1-b from several experiment groups can be combined to provide sufficient
information to permit a graph to be drawn showing number of relay functions as a function of
scale factor.

* Draw a graph of relative operation frequency (n) as a function of the scale factor (F).
Where:
/
number of relay operations
n = ————————-————— x 100 (%)
number of switch operations

F = scale factor.

Q1- What conclusions do you draw about the obtained graph ?

 02- By how much should the operating value be temporarily increased to prevent
unwanted operation for switching surge?

* 03- The difference current I3 is affected by the load current I2 and the
leakage current 14. What conclusions do you draw about this from
measurements 18 -22?

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