AUTHORIZED COPY

Document title

Construction and Maintenance Installation Interface

Instructions for Verifying Transformer Bank Differential
Relays (AC)
Document number

CON-TRMC-00530
Applies to: Transmission Department - Carolinas

Keywords: construction; construction and maintenance installation interface test instructions

A. GENERAL

1. Transformer bank differential relays must be accurately verified to have the correct
phase and magnitude of current in each relay winding initially as well as any time
that a change is made to any of the current circuit network. This verification consists
of reading both current phase angles and magnitudes using a proper reference
voltage or current and recording the values on the appropriate form then calculating
the percent mismatch and analyzing the results.

For initial test on bank differential relays, one winding of each relay must be
referenced against a known potential source (normally a-n) to ensure that the relays
have the correct phase currents and are 120 degrees apart. All other readings may
be taken with this same potential reference, or to decrease the final mismatch error
due to changing load currents the readings may be taken with the test equipment
connected to phase currents against currents. Also, the polarity of the test
equipment connections may be varied to simplify the recorded data and make it
more useful in the future. These polarities must be clearly indicated on the interface
document checklist.

B. VERIFYING DIFFERENTIALS

1. Before any actual differential readings are taken, the built in or engineered percent
mismatch should be calculated. Electromechanical type schemes use relays with
discrete taps to compensate for the difference in high-side versus low-side current
magnitudes and delta-wye connected auxiliary CTs to compensate for the 30
degree phase shift on delta-wye transformer banks. Due to the limited number of
choices for relay taps and CT ratios there will be an inherent mismatch in the system
and one can expect to measure some differential current.

2. Programmable, microprocessor- based differential relays do not have discrete taps

and therefore there is no built in or engineered percent mismatch. The relay settings
can compensate exactly for any given combination of CT ratios and transformer
phase shift so auxiliary CTs are not required and no inherent differential current
would be expected. For accurate readings, associated with SEL Differential Relays,
system load conditions should be greater than 0.1 Amp secondary. 0.5 Amp
secondary is recommended for best results. The manufacturers Commissioning
Test Worksheet must be used for verifying SEL Differential Relays.

CON-TRMC-00530 Rev. 2 (12/10) Page 1 of 7

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3. Differential relay trips must be enabled when any bank is first energized and after a
reasonable period of time (usually 5-10 minutes), should be disabled (requires ECC
approval FRM-TRMX-01036) while picking up load and left disabled until verified.

4. Place the voltage regulator on the neutral position (if voltage conditions permit) to
reduce reading errors. This applies to T/D stations with a total station regulator in the
differential zone.

5. Check differential relays with inputs from all current sources. Care should be taken
where current sources are paralleled to ensure any potential problems are not
masked due to low current levels from an individual source. One method for dealing
with low current levels on distribution feeders is to line tie the feeders so that all
available load is on one breaker, take differential readings then repeat this operation
for all remaining breakers.

6. For electromechanical type schemes, high-side currents measured at the relay

would be expected to be 180 degrees out of phase with low-side currents measured
at the relay since autotransformers do not create a phase shift or auxiliary CTs
correct the phase shift for delta-wye banks.

7. For programmable, microprocessor type schemes, high-side currents measured at

the relay test device would be expected to be 180 degrees out of phase with low-
side currents measured at the relay test device for autotransformers. For delta-wye
banks, high-side currents measured at the relay test device would be expected to be
180 degrees out of phase with low-side currents plus or minus 30 degrees since
there are no auxiliary CTs to correct the phase shift outside of the relay.

8. Progress Energy standard Delta-Wye transformer connections are such that the
transformer secondary voltage leads primary voltage by 30 degrees in the Eastern
service area and the secondary voltage lags primary voltage by 30 degrees in the
Western service area. Therefore, one should expect 150 degrees between high and
low side current inputs for microprocessor type relays in the Eastern service area
and 210 degrees between high and low side current inputs for microprocessor type
relays in the Western service area.

9. Do not place differential relays in service on T/D transformer banks unless sufficient
load is available to take reliable readings. Take readings at a later date when load is
greater. Transmission transformer banks should not be left in-service with the
differential relay trips disabled.

10. Examples of meter connections are shown in figures 1 & 2.

CON-TRMC-00530 Rev. 2 (12/10) Page 2 of 7

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DIFFERENTIAL ERROR CALCULATIONS

1. Calculate the percent mismatch for two winding differential relays as shown below. If
the error is greater than 5%, explain the reason for the error. If the error is greater
than 10%, check circuits for wiring errors and do not place differential relays in
service.
2. For SEL relays, a ratio mismatch of less than < 0.10 is acceptable. If the ratio
mismatch is greater than > 0.10; then, differential currents are too high. Check CT
circuits for wiring errors and do not place differential relay Trips in service. SEL
differential error calculation is performed by use of the manufacturers
Commissioning Test Worksheet.

Note: LS = Low-Side HS = High-Side

LS TAP LS RELAY CURRENT

X 100
HS TAP HS RELAY CURRENT
= % ERROR

[S]

S = Smaller of the ratios: LS/HS Taps or LS/HS Currents

CALCULATING BUILT IN MISMATCH

1. Using the diagram fig. 3 and the formulas below, the built in or engineered
differential mismatch can be calculated. For this example, assume a transformer
loading of 25 MVA, a high-side voltage of 230 kV, and a low-side voltage of 24 kV. A
set of 10/5 (wye/delta) auxiliary CTs are used to further compensate for the
difference between high-side and low-side currents. For field calculations, refer to
the transformer for the actual tap position and correct voltages.

HS PRIMARY CURRENT = 25,000,000 VA/(1.732 X 230,000 V) = 62.8 AMPS

HS RELAY CURRENT = 62.8 A/ HS CTR = 62.8 A/ (200/5) = 1.57 AMPS

LS PRIMARY CURRENT = (230,000 V/ 24,000 V) X 62.8 A = 601.8 AMPS

LS AUX CT CURRENT (WYE SIDE) = 601.8 A/ LS CTR

= 601.8 A / (1200/5) = 2.51 AMPS

LS RELAY CURRENT = (2.51 A/ AUX CTR) X 1.732

= [2.51/(10/5)] X 1.732 = 2.18 AMPS

RELAY RESTRAINT TAP FOR LS WINDING, LS TAP = 5.0

RELAY RESTRAINT TAP FOR HS WINDING, HS TAP = 3.5

CON-TRMC-00530 Rev. 2 (12/10) Page 3 of 7

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THE BUILT-IN PERCENT MISMATCH IS:

LS TAP/ HS TAP = 5.0/3.5 = 1.43

LS RELAY CURRENT/HS RELAY CURRENT = 2.18/1.57 = 1.38 = S

%ERROR = [(1.43 - 1.38)/ 1.38] X 100 = 3.6%

Caution Note:

Typical test circuits illustrated in this procedure may indicate connections, polarities, input
circuit orientations, display layouts, etc. specific to a particular instrument manufacturer.
These metering instruments are typically phase-angle meters, poly-meters, ammeters,
variable voltage sources, etc. and in the past were usually discrete devices. With the
advent of newer technology, the functionality of several instruments may be included in one
programmable device. The validity of these tests, analysis of measurements, and
subsequent value of documentation is dependent on the correct connections to and
programming of the specific instrument being used. Care should be exercised to ensure
that connections are made in accordance with the typical illustrations.

CON-TRMC-00530 Rev. 2 (12/10) Page 4 of 7

 230 KV AUTHORIZED COPY
FIGURE - 1: VERIFYING TRANSFORMER DIFFERENTIALS USING POTENTIAL REFERENCE
87T

300/5

5
AUXILIARY
CTS
10
I E E I I E I E

23 KV AMMETER PHASE ANGLE METER
CONNECT REF.
TO LEADING
CIRCUIT OF METER

R A

1200/5

TEST POINTS

120/1 PT

CON-TRMC-00530 Rev. 2 (12/10) Page 5 of 7

 230 KV AUTHORIZED COPY
FIGURE - 2: VERIFYING TRANSFORMER DIFFERENTIALS USING CURRENT REFERENCE
87T

300/5

5
AUXILIARY
CTS
10
I E E I I E I E

23 KV AMMETER PHASE ANGLE METER
CONNECT REF.
TO LEADING
CIRCUIT OF METER

R A

1200/5

TEST POINTS

120/1 PT

CON-TRMC-00530 Rev. 2 (12/10) Page 6 of 7

 FIGURE - 3: CALCULATING DIFFERENTIAL MISMATCH

A B C
1.57 A 87 T 2.18 A
62.8 A

0.67 A
200/5

230 KV

25 MVA
601.8 A

24 KV

1.26 A
OCB 10/5
AUX

1200/5

2.51 A

CON-TRMC-00530 Rev. 2 (11/10) Page 7 of 7