What is Earthing Transformer or

Grounding Transformer
Stability on External Earth Fault(E/F) on Delta Side of Star-
Delta Power Transformer
If the earthing transformer on the Delta Side is outsides the Zone
of protection the Earth Fault(E/F)in the delta system outside Current
Transformer(CT) locations would produce current distributions as
shown which circulate within the differential CT secondaries and is
kept out of operating coils.
Zig-Zag or inter connected star grounding transformer has
normal magnetising impedance of high value but for E/F, currents
flow in windings of the same - core in such a manner that the
ampere turn cancel and hence offer lower impedance.
In cases where the neutral point of three phase system is not
accessible like the system connected to the delta connected side of
a electrical power transformer, an artificial neutral point may be
created with help of a zigzag connected earthing transformer.
This is a core type transformer with three limbs. Every phase
winding in zigzag connection is divided into two equal halves. One
half of which is wound on one limb and other half is wound on
another limb of the core of transformer.
1st half of Red phase winding is wound on the 1st limb of the core
and 2nd half of same Red phase is wound on 3rd limb.
1st half of Yellow phase winding is wound on the 2nd limb of the
core and 2nd half of same Yellow phase is wound on 1st limb.
1st half of Blue phase winding is wound on the 3rd limb of the core
and 2nd half of same Blue phase is wound on 2nd limb.
End point of all three winding ultimately connected together and
forms a common neutral point. Now if any fault occurs at any of the
phases in delta connected system, the zero sequence fault current
has close path of circulating through earth as shown in the figure.
In normal condition of the system, the voltage across the winding of
the earthing transformer is 1/√3 times of rated per phase voltage of
the system. But when single line to ground fault occurs on any
phase of the system, as shown in the figure, zero sequence
component of the earth fault current flows in the earth and returns
to the electrical power system by way of earth star point of the
earthing transformer. It gets divided equally in all the three
phases. Hence, as shown in the figure, the currents in the two
different halves of two windings in the same limb of the core flow in
opposite directions.
And therefore the magnetic flux set up by these two currents will
oppose and neutralize each other. As there is no increase in flux due
to fault current, there is no change of dφ/dt means no choking
effect occurs to impede the flow of fault current. So it can be
concluded like that, the zigzag type earthing or grounding
transformer maintains the rated supply voltage at normal current
as well as when a solid single line to ground fault current flows
through it.
The rated voltage of an earthing or grounding transformer is the
line to line voltage on which it is intended to be used. Current rating
of this transformer is the maximum neutral current in Amperes that
the transformer is designed to carry in fault condition for a specific
time. Generally the time interval, for which transformer designed to
carry the maximum fault current through it safely, is taken as 30
second.