75

FERRORESONANCE AS A SOURCE OF DISTURBANCES AND FAILURES

IN MEDIUM VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTION GRIDS
Rafa Tarko / AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakw
Wiesaw Nowak / AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakw
Waldemar Szpyra / AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakw
Mariusz Benesz / AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakw
Andrzej Makuch / AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakw
1. INTRODUCTION
Ferroresonance phenomenon occurs when a ferromagnetic core inside an electrical device primarily
a voltage transformer or an unloaded power transformer operates in the saturated condition, under which
inductance has become a non-linear element. In practice ferroresonance can be triggered even by a temporary
introduction of core into saturation, e.g. resulting from switching operations or a change in voltage resulting
from an earth fault. Although this phenomenon is known in electric power engineering since the 1930s, neither
effective criteria for diagnosing the possibility of its occurrence, nor means to counteract it have been specied
to date [1, 2].
Ferroresonance as a source of disturbances and failures in medium voltage distribution networks, e.g. [3],
is dangerous in its consequences for the following two main reasons:
signicant saturation of the core, which can lead to, for instance, thermal damage of voltage transformers
primary winding
development of (often lengthy) ferroresonance overvoltages.
Furthermore, the neutral points increased potential also makes the zero sequence voltage appear in the
system, which can falsify the operation of ground fault protection [4].
The paper presents an analysis of ferroresonance that occurred in a 6 kV distribution grid and disrupted
its operation. The analysis was based on grid system models developed for the EMTP-ATP programme, and on
results of simulation studies designed to determine the ferroresonance occurrence conditions and consequences,
as well as means to eliminate it.
2. ANALYSED SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS PROBLEM ORIGINS
Subject to the analysis is a part of 6kV power grid supplied form 110/6 kV substation (MSP Main Supply
Points) and cogeneration plant (CHP). A simplied diagram of MV switchgear is shown in Figure 1. The MSP is
powered by two 16 MVA transformers: 115 10% / 6.3 kV (TR-1) and 115 10% / 6.6 kV (TR-2). The CHP is
equipped with a 11. 4 MVA generator. The total length of MV cable lines in the system is over 60 km. The analysed
grid operates with an insulated neutral point, and the ground fault current in the grid, in the normal regime
supplied from transformer TR1 is I
c1
= 52.05 A, whereas in the grid supplied from transformer TR2 the ground
fault current is I
c2
= 40.99 A.
Ferroresonance as a Source of Disturbances and Failures
in Medium Voltage Distribution Grids
Abstract
The article reports a medium voltage power
grid analysis carried out to identify the grids operating
conditions in the aspect of ferroresonance occurrence. A
documented ferroresonance instance is presented, which
led to the voltage transformers damage. The analysis
was based on an original grid system model and on
results of simulation studies designed to determine the
ferroresonance occurrence conditions and consequences,
as well as means to eliminate it.
76
Fig. 1. Simplied diagram of MV switchgear in the grid
A disturbance occurred in the 6 kV network that led to a failure (explosion) of voltage transformers in the
measurement bays (bays 0 and 16) of the 6 kV MSP distribution substations and in the CHP switchgear (bays
12 and 17).
The disturbance was caused by a short circuit in the cable line powered from the MSP (bay 24) and
opening of the circuit breaker in the bay resulting from tripping of the over-current and ground fault protection.
A few minutes after switching off the line transformer No. 2 was switched off as a result of tripping of the ground
fault and over-current protection. The grid was switched over by the Automatic Transfer Switch Equipment
(ATSE) to supply from transformer TR1.
On the basis of this string of events a hypothesis may be formulated that in the initial line-to-earth short
circuit subsequently developed to the two-phase-to-earth fault. Immediately after the damaged cable lines
switch off in the grid an unsuppressed (sustained) ferroresonance developed, which caused severe overload of
the voltage transformers grounded primary windings, and consequently their damage. The voltage transformers
rupture in the MSP substations 6 kV switchgear (a few minutes after disconnecting the damaged cable line) led
to a short circuit of the buses in the measurement bay, and to actuation of the ATSE automatics, which changed
the switchgears operating regime from normal to emergency (supply from transformer TR-1).
The presented analysis of simulation calculations results shows that the above hypothesis of the origins
of the 6 kV grid failure is true.
3. COMPUTER MODEL OF THE ANALYSED 6 KV GRID
The model of the analysed 6 kV grid was developed in the simulation EMTP-ATP ElectroMagnetic Transients
Program. Since the preliminary analysis of the MSP disturbance pointed to a ferroresonance phenomenon as the
cause of the voltage transformers damage, therefore in the models development a non-linear dependence was
taken into account of the voltage transformer core magnetizing currents on voltage. On the basis of the actual
grids details and on the basis of prepared models of the voltage transformers, a model of the 6 kV system was
developed (Fig. 2), consisting of:
MSP
6 kV cable lines outgoing from MSP
6 kV switchgear of CHP power plant.
open circuit breaker
closed circuit breaker
open disconnector
oclosed disconnector
Legend
Rafa Tarko, Wiesaw Nowak, Waldemar Szpyra, Mariusz Benesz, Andrzej Makuch /
AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakw
77
Fig. 2. ATPDraw model of analysed 6 kV grid
Voltage measurement
Voltage measurement
Voltage measurement
Voltage measurement
Ferroresonance as a Source of Disturbances and Failures
in Medium Voltage Distribution Grids
78
The mapped system components parameters were implemented on the basis of detailed plans of the
power grid, catalogue cards of the devices installed, and laboratory measurements of the voltage transformer in
the analyzed MV grid. Accomplishment of the analysis objective required accurate mapping of all grid elements,
which might have affected the voltage and current waveforms in transient states, and thus were likely to cause
the voltage transformer failure. The system components mapped in the model include in particular:
110 kV power system
110/6 kV transformers installed in the MSP and mapped in BCTRAN procedure
cable lines that connect the individual substations supplied from the MSP and mapped in CABLE CON-
STANTS procedure
voltage transformers
ferroresonance suppression system.
Based on the results of the 6 kV voltage transformers measurements a computer model was developed
as the basis for further analysis of the grid operation and simulation studies. For the purpose of the model
development measurements were taken of the magnetization characteristics and short-circuit voltages of a 6 kV
voltage transformer (of the same type as the transformers installed in the substation) with the following rated
specication:
primary winding rated voltage U1: 6000/3V
secondary winding rated voltage U: 100/3V
additional winding rated voltage U2n: 100/3 V
class: 0,5
rated power: 50 VA.
Tab. 1 presents measurement results of a test of short circuit between pairs of windings. The voltage
transformers magnetization characteristics measured from the secondary winding is presented in Fig. 3.
Tab. 1. 6 kV voltage transformer short-circuit test results
Measurement winding
terminals A-N
Measurement winding
terminals a-n
Additional winding terminals
da-dn
U, V I, A P , W cos
shorted powered open 5. 48 2.93 14.18 0.96
open powered shorted 6.88 3.36 22 0.88
shorted open powered 2.78 1.93 4.76 0.89
Fig. 3. Current-voltage transformer magnetization characteristics of 6 kV voltage transformer (measured on the secondary side)
The voltage transformer model diagram is presented in Fig. 4. The model consists of the following
components:
primary winding dissipation impedance Z
H


0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
I
,

m
A
U, V
Rafa Tarko, Wiesaw Nowak, Waldemar Szpyra, Mariusz Benesz, Andrzej Makuch /
AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakw
79
secondary winding dissipation impedance Z
T
transferred to the primary side
additional winding dissipation impedance Z
L
transferred to the primary side
resistance R
Fe
representing losses in voltage transformer core
nonlinear reactance X
m
mapping magnetization characteristics
ideal transformers T
I1
, T
I2
.
Fig. 4. Voltage transformer model diagram Fig. 5. ATPDraw diagram of three voltage
transformers three-phase system
The above components parameters determined on the basis of the measurements are presented in Tab. 1
and in Fig. 3. The ATPDraw diagram of three voltage transformers three-phase system is presented in Fig. 5.
The system consists of three VT units, in which were implemented the voltage transformer models
presented in Fig. 4.
4. SIMULATION STUDIES OF ANALYSED GRID
The simulation results include current and voltage waveforms relevant to the operation of protective
automation and the threat of ferroresonance to the 6 kV grid components. Because of activation (stimulation)
during the short circuit of the earth fault as well as overcurrent protections, it was assumed that there was
initially a one-phase to earth fault, which eventually evolved into a two-phase to earth fault. The disturbance
condition, protection tripping at the MSP, and ferroresonance development were reproduced in the model
system subject to the following assumptions:
the rst disturbance (L3 phase earth fault in bay 24) occurs in 15 ms after simulation start
the second disturbance (L2 phase earth fault and the subsequent phase-to-phase short-circuit in bay
24) occurs in 60 ms after simulation start
the circuit breaker in bay 24, where the double fault occurred, opens in 100 ms after simulation start.
The resulting waveforms of phase voltages and zero sequence voltage at the 6 kV switchgear busbars in
the MSP substation are shown in Fig. 6. On the other hand in Fig. 7 the waveforms of the currents in the voltage
transformers primary sides are presented.

VT2A
I U
VT2B
I
U
VT2C
I U
OT2P
OT2K
U
Ferroresonance as a Source of Disturbances and Failures
in Medium Voltage Distribution Grids
80
Fig. 6. Voltage waveforms after switching off the short circuit: a) U
L1
; b) U
L2
; c) U
L3
; d) 3U
0
Fig. 7. Current waveforms in voltage transformer primary sides after switching off the short circuit: a) IL1; b) IL2; c) IL3

0,0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 [s]
-10
-5
0
5
10
[kV]

v:TR2B
0,0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 [s]
-10
-5
0
5
10
[kV]

0,0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 [s]
-9000
-4500
0
4500
9000
[V]

0,0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 [s]
-200
-100
0
100
200
[V]

0,0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 [s]
-10
-5
0
5
10
[A]

0,0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 [s]
-10
-5
0
5
10
[A]

0,0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 [s]
-10
-5
0
5
10
[A]
a)
b)
c)
d)
a)
b)
c)
Rafa Tarko, Wiesaw Nowak, Waldemar Szpyra, Mariusz Benesz, Andrzej Makuch /
AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakw
81
After the short circuit switch off in bay 24 permanent ferroresonance developed. The occurrence of this
phenomenon is evidenced by the appearance of the characteristic phase voltage waveforms (Fig. 6a6c) and of
the zero sequence voltage (Fig. 6d). This is accompanied by a large increase in the voltage transformer primary
side currents (Fig. 7). After the ferroresonance occurrence the peak currents reach 10 A. Such a large current is
undoubtedly a serious threat to the voltage transformers and could cause damage to them.
Ferroresonance suppression capabilities in the analyzed grid were checked by adding an additional
resistance to the voltage transformer additional windings connected in open triangle. The additional resistance
was connected in 500 ms after simulation start (Fig. 8). Variants were analysed that assumed adding the following
resistances: 5 , 10 , 20 and 50 .
Fig. 8. Voltage waveforms 3U0 after adding the resistor: a) R = 5 ; b) R = 10 ; c) R = 20 ; d) R = 50
In the analyzed range of added suppression resistances the possibility of the ferroresonance phenomenon
suppression in the analyzed grid is revealed. The added resistances value, however, affects the time after which
ferroresonance is suppressed the higher the resistance, the later the suppression, and at signicant values
(R > 50 ) ferroresonance may not be suppressed at all. The analysis shows that the optimum added resistance
is 10 (suppression time ca. 1 s).

0,5 0,7 0,9 1,1 1,3 1,5 [s]
-100
-50
0
50
100
[V]

0,5 0,7 0,9 1,1 1,3 1,5 [s]
-200
-100
0
100
200
[V]

0,5 0,7 0,9 1,1 1,3 1,5 [s]
-100
-50
0
50
100
[V]

0,5 0,7 0,9 1,1 1,3 1,5 [s]
-100
-50
0
50
100
[V]
a)
b)
c)
d)
Ferroresonance as a Source of Disturbances and Failures
in Medium Voltage Distribution Grids
82
REFERENCES
5. SUMMARY
Ferroresonance phenomena involving voltage transformers are most common in grids with an insulated
neutral point, so the voltage transformers operation in medium voltage distribution grids entails the risk of their
damage due to increased current in the primary winding.
The 6 kV grid model developed for the study allowed the simulation testing and analysis, that led to the
following conclusions:
ferroresonance can develop resulting from such disturbance conditions as short-circuits,
ferroresonance can be persistent, eventually resulting in voltage transformers damage,
ferroresonance may be suppressed by the use of an appropriate device.
Effective ferroresonance suppression with a suppression resistor requires selection of a very small
resistor. Such resistance is often too small from the standpoint of the required voltage transformer immunity
to long-term ground fault in the grid. Therefore, in practice resistors in the range of 20 are used that ensure
ferroresonance suppression in most typical conditions, but are not 100% effective. In order to solve the problem
some manufacturers offer suppression devices, whereby conventional transistors are replaced with systems the
resistances of which actively adjust to the actual operating conditions.
Such devices operate in the following way [3]: when zero sequence voltage is small (resulting from
asymmetry in normal grid conditions) the devices resistance is very high. When zero sequence voltage
appears in excess of the devices insensitive zone, the resistance falls to a level that effectively suppresses the
ferroresonance condition. When a zero sequence voltage in the open triangle circuit persists for a long time,
the device automatically switches over to the high-resistance regime without posing undue burden on voltage
transformers. When the cause of asymmetry disappears, the device automatically returns to its initial state.
1. Irvani M.R. et al., Modeling and analysis guidelines for slow transients Part III, The study of ferroresonance, IEEE
Trans. on PWRD, 2000, vol. 15, no 1, pp. 255265
2. Ben-Tal A., Kirk V., Wake G., Banded chaos in power systems, IEEE Trans. on PWRD, 2001, vol. 16, no 1, pp. 105
110.
3. Piasecki W., Florkowski M., Fulczyk M., Mahonen P. , Luto M., Nowak W., Mitigating Ferroresonance in Voltage Trans-
formers in Ungrounded MV Networks, IEEE Trans. on PWRD, 2007, vol. 22, no 4, pp. 23622369.
4. Moskwa S., Nowak W., Tarko R., Modelowanie i analiza ukadu sieci redniego napicia dla oceny warunkw i skutkw
wystpowania ferrorezonansu oraz sposobw jego eliminacji, Zeszyty Naukowe Wydziau Elektrotechniki i Automatyki
Politechniki Gdaskiej, 2009, No. 26, pp. 101104.
Rafa Tarko, Wiesaw Nowak, Waldemar Szpyra, Mariusz Benesz, Andrzej Makuch /
AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakw