Standby Earth-fault Protection in Parallel Neutral Grounded Transformers

Consider below a case of parallel Transformers (6.6/0.433KV), in sectionalized bus-bar scheme.

Neutral of both transformers are interconnected & are solidly earthed & standby earth-fault
Protection CT is installed after neutral bifurcation.

Parallel Transformers
CT in Earth
N A BC
T1

51N

Bus Section
Open

T
2

51N
415 Volt
Switchboar
d

53 > Transformer Protection

During normal operation of electrical system, Inc-1 & 2 remains closed with BC in Open
condition. consider a case of L-G fault in one section; fault current will flow from faulted phase
to source from two different parallel paths indicated by red dotted line. The magnitude of fault
current from two paths will depend upon the resistance offered by the respective paths. Stand
by earth-fault protection CT is installed after neutral bifurcation & hence will transform only the
partial current that will flow from solidly earthed GI strip.
The stand by earth-fault protection is the only available back-up protection & in case of L-G
fault between transformer LT terminals & phase overcurrent CT location i.e. up-to switchgear
end, Due to absence of Restricted Earth- fault protection,51G is the only protection which
should act to isolate the transformer from Upstream breaker. The two parallel paths will
severely affect the protection & automatic changeover scheme in totality. In extreme case,
healthy bus section may get isolated. Troubleshooting of above case will be a cumbersome
exercise.

Solutions:-

1. Stand by earth fault protection CT shall be installed before neutral bifurcation. The total
earth-fault current will be seen &transformed by the CT.
2. An additional CT should be installed in neutral bus bar at switchgear end. The CT ratio &
accuracy shall be same as of respective transformer’s 51G CT.Therefater both CTs shall
be differentially connected to counter the effect of parallel transformer neutral
grounding.

Parallel Transformers CT in
Earth and Neutral
N A BC
T1

51N

Bus Section
Open

T
2

51N
415 Volt
Switchboar
d

54 > Transformer Protection

Note: - The effect of earth-fault in secondary winding of transformers will not propagate to HT
side line terminals and the protection installed on HT side will not operate in case of L-G earth-
fault in transformer LT winding & its bus bar.