CAUSE OF FAULTS IN POWER TRANSFORMER

Transformers are prone to variety of faults :

1. The most common type of fault being the winding to core faults
It is because of weakening of insulation.
2. Phase faults inside the transformers are rare. However , such faults
may occur on terminals , which fall within the transformer protection
zone.
3. Power transformers are generally provided with on-line tap
changing (OLTC) gear. This is another major area of occurrence of fault.
4.All large transformers are oil immersed type.There is a possibility of
oil leakage.
5. Transformers experience large inrush currents that are rich in
harmonic content at the time of switching if they happen to be
unloaded.
6. A transformer may develop inter turn faults giving rise to local hot
spots within the winding.
7. Transformers may suffer from over fluxing due to under frequency
operation at rated voltage. Over fluxing may also be caused when the
transformer is subjected to over voltage at the rated frequency.
8. In case of sustained overload conditions , the transformer should not
be allowed to operate for long duration.
PROTECTION OF POWER TRANSFORMERS
• PERCENTAGE DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION
This scheme is employed for the protection of transformers against
internal short circuits. It provides the best overall protection for
internal faults . However in case of ungrounded or high impedance
grounding it cannot provide ground fault protection.
The following factors affect the differential current in transformers and should be
considered while applying differential protection.
These factors can result in a differential current even underbalanced power in & out
conditions:
1.Magnetizing inrush current:
• The normal magnetizing current drawn is 2–5% of threated current. However during
Magnetizing inrush the current can be as high as 8–30times the rated current for
typically 10 cycles, depending upon the transformer and system resistance.
2. Over excitation:
This is normally of concern in generator transformer units.
Transformers are typically designed to operate just below the flux saturation level. Any
further increase from the max permissible voltage level (or Voltage/Frequency ratio), could
lead to saturation of the core, in turn leading to substantial increase in the excitation
current drawn by the transformer.
3. CT Saturation:
External fault currents can lead to CT saturation. This can cause relay
operating current to flow due to distortion of the saturated CT current.
4. Different primary and secondary voltage levels, that is the primary &
secondary CT’s are of different types and ratios
5. Phase displacement in Delta-Wye transformers.
Transformer Differential Relay To account for the above variables less
sensitive Percentage Differential Relays with percentage characteristics in the
range of 15 to 60% are applied to transformers. Additionally, in modern
microprocessor and numeric relays harmonic restraints can be applied.
Transformer faults:
Transformer is a static device plus it is protected by the
main circuit breaker thus there is almost no possibility of
external fault to it.
 Open Circuit Fault

Internal fault Over Heating Fault

Winding Short Circuit

Fault
Open Circuit Short Circuit
Fault Fault
One Phase
Becomes Open Relatively
Dangerous
Cause Rise In
Temperature

Detected By Need Extra Caution

Temperature Alarm
 Size Of T/F

LOAD COOLING
TYPE & SYSTEM
NATURE Deciding
Factors Of
Requiring
Protection
System

T/F
IMPORTA
LOCATION
NCE OF
IN
T/F
NETWORK
BUCHHOLS RELAY PROTECTION SYSTEM

Applicable For Oil Immersed Transformer. Positioned b/w T/F Oil

Reservoir And T/F Oil Tank.
Used For Transformers Ratings Above 750KVA.
Where Piping Is Inclined By
It Provides Protection From All Kinds Of Faults. 9.5 Degree.

Utilize Hydrogen Producing From Heat Will Create Hydrogen From T/F
Fault Heat. Oil.
If Fault Occurs Then Heat If There Is Hydrogen In T/F Oil Tank
Immersed There Is Fault.
BUCHHOLS RELAY
 Identification
Of Fault

Slow Fault Fast Fault

Cause Sudden
If hydrogen pressure Immense Heat
Little Hydrogen Inrush Of T/F Oil
is as much to actuate Generated Which
Gathered On The Which Actuate
the tilted switch then Create Lots Amount
Top Of Relay Tilting Switch Of
T/F fault is detected Of Hydrogen Gas
Buchholz Relay
BUCHHOLS RELAY FUNCTIONAL
DIAGRAM
 Slow Earth Fault Or Leakage Protection

A severe earth fault leads in to a severe short circuit situation but the initiation occurs with a
slow and simple earth fault.

“Earth fault” means one of the core is being connected or leaked to the grounding.

This happens when insulation is damaged and coil is in touch with transformer body and body
of transformer is certainly connected to the ground for safety.

A slow earth leakage does not do any big harm but if it is not rectified it would lead in to a
severe fault.
 We can use any simple earth fault detecting circuit and relay mechanism .
• We are using Core Balancing
Current Transformer Mechanism.

• The current transformer primary

is measuring the vector sum of the
three phase current which is zero
in normal situation.

• If there is some value it would be

in permissible range.

• when one of the phase is carrying

unbalanced current due to its
associated core being earthed there
will be some value in core
balancing CT’s secondary, this
TRANSFORMER EARTH FAULT RELAY PROTECTION
current can actuate the tripping
circuit.
Range:

The sensitivity of earth leakage relay might be miliampers

range to several ampers
 Combined Earth Fault And Overload Fault Protection
Simple earth leakage relay can only protect
against the slow earth leakage fault.

We can combine both earth leakage fault and

short circuit fault protection in a single circuit
as follows.

Here two over load relays can detect individual

over load plus phase to phase fault .

And also the earth fault relay is connected to

the junction point of the secondary's of three
phase CT.

Under normal condition the current in the

junction will be zero and in abnormal
condition there will be current in the junction
to actuate the earth fault relay.