SAUDI CONSOLIDATED ELECTRIC COMPANY

CENTRAL REGION
SPECIFICATION NO. 15-2-3
________________________________________________________________

PROTECTION DETAILS
FOR 33/ 13.8 kV TRANSFORMERS WITH
_______________________________________________________________
33 kV & 13.8 kV LOCAL CIRCUIT BREAKERS
_______________________________________________________________
APPROVED
DIVISION
MANAGER
REVISION

Issue 3

DATE

1.7.1406

ENDORSED

----------------------------------------Director Tech. Studies

Date:2/7/1406

APPROVED
----------------------------Vice President for Engineering

Date 15/7/1406

Specification No: 15/2/3

Rev. No:

REVISIONS
Issue 1

Rajab-1403(May-1983)

Issue 2

Safar-1404(November-1983) Contents list added

Scope changed
Relay Types removed

Issue 3

Jamadi Awal, 1406

(January 1986)

Detection of reference
to B.S. Minor changes
in the text.

012/74350/EH-GA-SM
16-5-1406(26-1-1986)

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Specification No: 15/2/3

Rev. No:

CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Scope
Main Protection
Buchholz Protection
Winding Temperature Protection
Overcurrent Protection
Standby Earth Fault Protection
Tripping Relays
Automatic Voltage Control
Trip Circuit Supervision
CT & VT Requirements
Protection and Control Layout

DRAWINGS: SC/P/672/ 16
SC/P/672/17
Associated Specifications:
IEC 255
IEC 529
SCECO
15-0-1
15-0-2
15-0-3

1/1/1
2/1/4
2/4/1
2/ 4/2
11/1
Policy Document:
TPD-4/3

Nomenclature of Protective Relays.

Testing & Commissioning.
1/ 33/13.8 kV Transformers.
Automatic Voltage Control Cubicles
associated with Power Transformers.
20 MVA 33/13.8 kV Transformers.
13.8 kV 1200 A Metalclad Switchgear.
33 kV 2000 A Metalclad Switchgear.
33 kV 1200 A Metalclad Switchgear.
13.8 kV Transformer Relay Panels.

Rationalisation of Protection Equipment.

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Specification No: 15/2/3

1.

Rev. No:

SCOPE:
This specification details the basic protection requirements for 33/13.8 kV step-down
transformers.
It is necessary to read this specification in conjunction with the various associated documents
listed in the "CONTENTS" section.
All relays supplied shall, where applicable, meet the requirements of IEC publication 255.
All static relays shall meet the requirements of IEC 255 in respect of
Voltage impulse and high frequency disturbance tests. Relay cases shall meet the requirements of
IP50 Category 2 as defined in IEC 529 with regard to ingress protection.
All relays supplied shall meet the requirements of SCECO Technical Policy Document No. TPD4/3 " Rationalisation of Protection Equipment.
On site commissioning of the relays shall be carried out in accordance with
specification 15-0-2.
All drawings supplied by contractors must, wherever appropriate, use the device numbers as
detailed in Specification 15-0-1.

2.

MAIN PROTECTION:

2.1

An overall biased differential relay, with harmonic restraint, shall be provided to cover for both
phase and earth faults on both transformer windings. 13.8 kV restricted earth fault protection shall
be incorporated using the same current transformers.

2.2

The differential relay shall be complete with all necessary auxiliary

current transformers. The setting range shall include a bias setting of at least 40%, and a nominal
setting (with no bias) of (20% of rated current (or less). This relay shall be mounted on the 33 kV
switchgear's low voltage compartment.
The restricted earth fault relay shall be calibrated in voltage - e.g. 25 - 175 volts in seven equal
steps of 25 volts, of high impedance type. This relay shall be mounted on the 13.8 kV
control/relay panel.

3.

BUCHHOLZ PROTECTION:

3.1

Double float (i. e. gas and oil trip) buchholz relays shall be provided where required according to
the transformer design e.g. in the pipe connecting the transformer tank and conservator, and in the

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Specification No: 15/2/3

Rev. No:

tank connecting the on-load tap changer tank to its conservator. A buchholz test device shall be
provided.

4.

WINDING TEMPERATURE PROTECTION:

4.1

A winding temperature instrument shall be provided. The thermal image of the winding hot spot
temperature shall use as a base the top oil temperature. The temperature rise of the hot spot over
top oil temperature shall be reproduced by a CT. It is preferred that this CT is a bushing type, of
full load/5 A rating.

5.

OVERCURRENT PROTECTION:

5.1

(i)

(ii)

33 kV relays:
A three overcurrent plus earth fault relay shall be used for
backup protection. Five-ampere relays with overcurrent range 50- 200% and earth
fault range 10- 40% shall be provided. Characteristic (3 seconds at 10 time settings
and 100% time dial). These relays shall be mounted on the 33 kV switchgear's low
voltage compartment .
13.8 kV relays:
A two pole overcurrent plus earth fault relay with overcurrent range 50- 200%,
earth fault range 10- 40% characteristic
(3 seconds at 10 time settings and 100% time dial). This relay shall be mounted on
the 13.8 kV control/relay panel.
The tripping output from the above relay shall open the transformer 13.8 kV circuit
breaker only.

6.

STANDBY EARTH FAULT PROTECTION:

6.1

A standby earth fault relay with an inverse (long time) characteristic and having 15% and 20%
tapping shall be provided.
A neutral current alarm relay shall be provided operated in series with the SBEF relay. Range
10% -40% of 5 amps., or similar. Both the relays shall be mounted on the 13.8 kV control/ relay
panel.

7.

TRIPPING RELAYS:

7.1
7.2

A tripping relay shall be provided on each transformer 13.8 kV control/ relay panel.
The tripping relay shall be operated from:(i)
(ii)
(iii)

Biased differential relay.

13.8 kV restricted earth fault relay.
Buchholz relays trip contacts.

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Specification No: 15/2/3

(iv)
(v)

Rev. No:

33 kV backup. overcurrent and earth fault relay.

Standby earth fault relay.

The tripping relay shall open both the 33 kV and 13.8 kV circuit breakers, and shall be a hand
reset type.
Relay to have hand reset contacts and hand reset flag. 8 pairs of contacts 6 N.O. and 2 N.C.
7.3

The winding temperature instrument shall be arranged to trip the 13.8 kV , transformer circuit
breaker only. Indication of a winding temperature trip shall be given at the relay panel. -

8.

AUTOMATIC VOLTAGE CONTROL (AVC) :

8.1

The requirements of the AVC scheme are contained in SCECO equipment

Specification No. l/4.

9.

TRIP CIRCUIT SUPERVISION:

9.1

The 33 kV circuit breaker shall have trip circuit supervision fitted. It will monitor the integrity of
the tripping circuit of the 33 kV circuit breaker in both open or closed position with trip pulse
being present or not. This relay is mounted at the 33 kV switchgear's low voltage compartment.

9.2

The 13.8 kV circuit breaker shall have a trip circuit supervision as stated above. This relay is
mounted at the 13.8 kV control/relay panel.

10.

CT & VT REQUIREMENT:
These are shown on SCECO Drawing No. SC/P/672/17.

11.

PROTECTION AND CONTROL LAYOUT:

Refer to SCECO drawing SC/P/672/16.

012/ 74350/ EH-GA/ SM.

16-5-1406(26-1-1986)

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