DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION EXAMPLES

Example 1:
Consider a ∆ Y-connected, 20-MVA, 33/11 -kV transformer with differential
protection applied, for the current transformer ratios shown in Figure 1. Calculate the
relay currents on full load. Find the minimum relay current setting to allow 125
percent overload.

Solution
The primary line current is given by

Figure 1

The secondary line current is

The C.T. current on the primary side is thus

 DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION EXAMPLES

Figure 2

The C.T. current in the secondary side is

Note that we multiply by √3 to obtain the values on the line side of the ∆ connected
C.T.’s. The relay current on normal load is therefore

I r = Ip, - is = 5.832 - 4.545 = 1.287 A

With 1.25 overload ratio, the relay setting should be

Ir = (1.25)(1.287) = 1.61 A
 DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION EXAMPLES

Figure 3
Example 2
The delta-wye transformer in Figure 3 is rated as follows: 50 MVA, V∆ = 115 kV VY=
69 kV Ncy =: 600/5.

Find a suitable ratio Nc∆ for the delta connected CTs on the 69 kV side.

Solution
First we compute the transformer full-load line currents.
 DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION EXAMPLES

With full-load line current flowing, the restraint coil in the secondary circuit of the
wye-connected CT's will see only 251.02/120 or about 2 amperes, which is well
within its rating. We note that the ratio of the full load currents is 1.667, which agrees
with the rated voltage ratio:

This presents an interesting problem since a ratio of 350 would be a CT ratio of 750/5,
which is not a standard rating. Hence, the desired ratio is about halfway between two
standard ratings: 300 and 400.
It is best to choose the higher value, which gives higher voltage on the secondary side
of the CT. This tends to minimize the effects of secondary lead resistance, which is
analogous to our using high-voltage transmission to minimize losses.
Therefore, we set
Nc∆ = 400 = 2000/5
We may compute the differential current that will flow under full load conditions as
follows:

If we select a percentage differential relay with a 50% threshold, we will have an

excellent margin of security.
With full-load line current flowing, the restraint coil in the secondary circuit of the
wye-connected CT's will see only 251.02/120 or about 2 amperes, which is well
within its rating. We note that the ratio of the full load currents is 1.667, which agrees
with the rated voltage ratio.
 DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION EXAMPLES

Example 3
Consider a delta-wye-grounded transformer shown in Figure 4. The transformer is
rated 42 MVA, 69 kV delta-12.5 kV wye. The transformer has load tap changing of
±10%. The transformer is to be protected by a percentage differential relay, which is
an electromagnetic induction disk relay with two restraint coils and one operating
coil. A one-line diagram of the relay and its connection to the transformer is shown in
Figure 4.

Figure 4

The relay has taps of 5.0, 5.5, 6, 6.6, 7.3, 8.0, 9.0, and 10.0. The relay is nominally a
50% percentage differential relay, which means that the operating current must be at
least 50% of the restraint current to cause tripping. Determine the current transformer
ratios and select an appropriate tap setting for this relay.

Solution
First we need to calculate the maximum or rated current at both voltage levels. First,
at the 69 kV terminals under full load, we have

A 400/5 CT ratio will be about right for this side. Then the full load relay current on
the 69 kV side will be

For the 12.5 kV side, the full load current is computed as

A 2000/5 CT ratio will be about right for this side. Then the full load relay current for
the 12.5 kV side will be

The relay is provided with taps so that the ratio of the two relay currents win balance
the relay as closely as possible. Thus, the ratio of the relay currents determines the
relay tap ratio. Let's assume that the 5 tap will be used for the 4.36 A side. Then we
can compute the ratio as follow:
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There is no relay tap of 9.57, but a tap of 10 is close. If we use this tap for the 12.5 kV
side, the relay mismatch under normal load conditions is computed as

This is the error due only to the tap mismatch. There are also errors due to the fact
that the transformer has load tap changing and a CT error of about five percent. To be
conservative, we assume that all errors apply at their maximum amount at the same
time. Thus we compute
LTC error 5.0%
CT error 10.0%
Relay error 4.5%
Total 19.5%

Then the sensitivity margin is

Margin = 50% - 19.5%= 30.5%
This is a safe margin and the foregoing calculations are acceptable.

"POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION" P. M. Anderson, IEEE,

1999
DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION EXAMPLES
 DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION EXAMPLES

Courtesy of Practical Power Systems Protection, Les Hewitson , Elsevier, 2004.