DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION OF A THREE-PHASE TRANSFORMER

Objective

• To analyse the differential protection scheme as applied to a three-phase power transformer

• To describe the operation and setting of differential protection.
• To explain the transformer supply voltage and current waveforms during the differential
relay operation.
• To evaluate the differential protection performance.

Introduction

The differential protection scheme can be used to protect both the primary and secondary windings
of a three-phase transformer against earth faults and phase-to-phase faults. This is possible because the
efficiency of the power transformers is high and the magnetizing current is negligibly small. In a differential
protection scheme a circuit compare the current entering the protective equipment to the
current leaving the equipment, in each phase. Any difference of current of sufficient magnitude
operates a relay, which in turn indicates fault clearance. Figure 1 shows a simplified diagram of a single-phase
differential protection scheme.

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The currents entering and leaving the protected equipment (Ipin and lpout) are sensed through two
identical current transformers. When there is no fault in the protected equipment, currents Ipin
and Ipout are equal and the currents at the transformer secondaries are also equal (Isin = Isout)
because the current transformers are identical. When the current transformers are connected with
the polarities indicated in Figure 1 , the secondary currents flow round the circuit and no current flows in the
coil of the protective relay (IR = 0), which can be an overcurrent relay. However, when a fault
occurs in the protected equipment, currents lpin and lpout are no longer equal. Consequently,
currents Isin and Isout are also no longer equal. The current resulting from the difference
between these two currents (Isin – Isout) flows in the protective relay coil. This trips the protective relay,
there by, initiating fault clearance. Similar differential protection scheme can be employed for
the protection of transformers. In this case, when the turns ratio of the protected transformer is
not unity, the primary and secondary currents are different, and thereby, current transformers with
different turns ratio are required for the CT secondary currents to be equal and the residual current IR to be
zero under no fault condition. When protecting three-phase power transformers, some additional considerations
must be taken into account:

• There is a 30° phase shift between the primary and secondary currents of a three-phase power
transformer that is connected delta-wye or wye-delta and supplies a balanced load.
• When a three-phase power transformer is connected delta-wye or wye-delta, the zero sequence current on
the wye side of the power transformer has no replica on the delta side.

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The 30° phase shift must be compensated and the zero sequence current on the wye side of the
power transformer must be eliminated, for the CT secondary currents to be equal under no fault
condition. This is achieved by proper connections of the current transformer secondary windings. A
general rule for connecting the current transformers states that the CT secondary windings should be
connected in delta when the power transformer windings are connected in wye, and vice versa.
Figure 2 shows typical connections of the current transformers for three-phase power transformers
connected delta-wye and delta-delta. Note that it is assumed that the ratios of the current transformers have been selected so
that the secondary currents supplied by the two groups of current transformers are equal, thereby ensuring
balance of the currents in the differential protection system.

In practice, it is very difficult to maintain perfect balance of the currents in a differential protection
system protecting a three-phase power transformer. This is mainly due to the following factors:

• Change in the power transformer turns ratio (on transformers with a tap-changing facility).
• Current transformer mismatch (difficulty in having current transformers with ratios that perfectly
balances the differential protection system).
• Transformer magnetizing current.

All these factors unbalance the differential protection system and produce a residual current IR in the
differential relay coil. This residual current increases as the line currents flowing through the three-phase power
transformer increase. Therefore, the current setting of the differential relay must be increased to prevent undesired relay
tripping, thereby reducing the system sensitivity. Differential relays with bias coils are often used in
transformer differential protection systems to reduce the negative effect of current unbalance
on the system sensitivity. Figure 3 shows the bias characteristic of a differential relay. This
characteristic shows that the current required to trip the differential relay (differential operating
current) increases as the current flowing through the transformer increases. Note that, in general, the
sensitivity of transformer differential protection systems is less than that achieved in differential
protection systems protecting the stator windings of a synchronous generator.

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 Figure 3. Typical bias characteristics of a differential relay.
Transformer magnetizing inrush, discussed in the first exercise of this unit, is another source of
unbalance in transformer differential protection systems. This is because the magnetizing inrush current in the
energized winding of a transformer is not replicated in the other windings of the transformer. This appears as a
current unbalance to the differential protection system, which superficially, cannot be distinguished
from a current unbalance caused by a fault in the transformer. When magnetizing inrush is severe, the
current unbalance may easily exceed the current required to trip the differential relay and
cause undesired disconnection of the power transformer. Fortunately, transformer magnetizing
inrush is a transient phenomenon occurring on transformer energization. Undesired transformer
disconnection can therefore be avoided by adding a short time delay to prevent the differential
protection system from tripping on transformer magnetizing inrush.
Note that after the magnetizing inrush, the magnetizing current stabilizes to a very low value. This current,
however, causes a slight current unbalance that is stable under normal operating conditions. To
preserve the system stability, this slight current unbalance must be taken into account when setting
the differential relay operating current.
To obtain additional information on transformer differential protection, refer to section 16.7, entitled
"Differential protection", in the third edition of the Protective Relays Application Guide published by GEC
Alsthom Measurements Limited.

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Procedure Summary
In the first part of the exercise, set up the equipment in the EMS Workstation and the Protective
Relaying Control Station.
In the second part of the exercise, connect the equipment as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In this
circuit, power transformers connected delta-wye are protected by a differential protection system
which mainly consists of a current sensitive relay and line current transformers. When a fault
occurs in the power transformers, the overcurrent) relay trips. This energizes time delay relay TD1.
Once the time delay is elapsed, contact TD1-A closes to initiate a trip current in the coil of control relay CR1.
Contact CR1-C closes to memorize the fault and light up the corresponding reset button. Contact
CR1-B opens to open contactor CR2, thereby disconnecting the power transformers from the
three-phase power source.
Open contactor CR3 to prevent operation of the differential protection system. Check whether or not the
differential protection system is perfectly balanced when no load is applied to the power transformers. Adjust
the current setpoint of the overcurrent relay.
With the power transformers supplying power to a balanced three-phase load, initiate earth faults at
the primary and secondary windings of the power transformers and observe what happens in the
differential protection system.
You will close contactor CR3 to allow operation of the differential protection system. You will verify
whether or not the differential protection system is stable on transformer magnetizing inrush. You will
initiate earth faults and a phase-to-phase fault in the power transformers, and observe the operation of the
differential protection system.

Equipment Required Protective Relaying Control Station:

(record the equipment rating)

1. AC/DC current sensitive relay: __________
2. EMS: ____________________________

Workstation (record the equipment rating)

1. Power supply: _________________________

2. Interconnection module: _________________

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 3. Universal fault module: __________________
4. Faultable transformers: __________________
5. Transmission grid – A: _________________
6. Current transformers: ___________________
7. Resistive loads: ________________________
8. AC ammeter: __________________________
9. AC voltmeter: _________________________

PROCEDURE

CAUTION!
High voltages are present In this laboratory exercise! Do not make or modify any banana
jack connections with the power on unless otherwise specified!

Setting Up the Equipment

1. Ensure that the Protective Relaying Control Station is connected to a three-phase power source.
Make sure the DC Power Supply of the Protective Relaying Control Station is turned off.

Install AC/DC Current sensitive relay in the Protective Relaying Control Station.

2. Make the following settings on the Universal Fault Module:

TD1 time delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1 s

SST1 time interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~5 s
SS12 time interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ 1 0 s
Note: The control knobs for adjusting the time delay and time intervals are located on
time delay relay TD1 and solid-state timers SST1 and SST2 in the Universal Fault Module.

3. Install the Interconnection Module, Power, Supply, Universal Fault Module, Faultable Transformers,
Transmission Grid "A", Current Transformers, Resistive Load, AC Ammeter, and AC Voltmeter in
the EMS Workstation.
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 Make sure the Power Supply is turned off and its voltage control knob is set to the O position. Connect
the Power Supply to one of the three-phase power outlets on the back panel of the Protective Relaying
Control Station.
On the Current Transformers module, make sure that all switches are set to the I (close) position
to short-circuit the secondary’s of the current transformers.

Differential Protection of a Three-Phase Power Transformer

4. Connect the Interconnection Module installed in the EMS Workstation to the Interconnection Panel
of the Protective Relaying Control Station using the supplied cables.

Connect the equipment as shown in Figures 4 and 5

Note: Since a single AC/DC Current Sensitive Belay is available, terminals A2 and A3 are
connected to terminal A4 to avoid disturbing the operation of the differential protection system.

5. Make the following settings:

On the Faultable Transformers

Transformer T1 Fault Switches (FS1 to FS3).............. O
Transformer T3 Fault Switches (FS1 to FS3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O

On Transmission Grid "A"

Switch S1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I (close)
Switch S2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O (open)

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Figure 4 Connection diagram of the equipment in the EMS workstation

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 Figure 5 Connection diagram of the equipment in the protective relaying control station

On the AC/DC Current Sensitive Relay

INPUT switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . … … … AC
MODE switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OVER CURRENT
Current setpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . minimum (fully CCW)
Hysteresis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . … … . . . ~7.5%

On the Universal Fault Module

INITIATE FAULT button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . released position

FAULT DURATION switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . … .0.05 - 5 s

Make sure that the current transformers are connected as shown in Figures 4 and 5 then set
the switches of current transformers CT1 to CT6 on the Current Transformers module to the
O (open) position.

6. On Control Relays 2 of the Protective Relaying Control Station, set the time delay of control relay TD1

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 to approximately 2 s.
Note: -Access to the time delay adjustment knob of control relay TD1 is through a panel on
top of the Protective Relaying Control Station.

Turn on the DC Power Supply of the Protective Relaying Control Station.

On Transmission Grid "A", set switch S3 to the O (open) position to open contactor CR3. This
will prevent operation of the differential protection system and allow the operation of the
AC/DC Current Sensitive Relay to be observed.

7. On the Resistive Load module, set all toggle switches to the O (open) position to temporarily
disconnect the load (resistors R1, R2, and R3) from the secondary windings of the power
transformers.
Turn on the Power Supply and set the voltage control knob so that the line-to-neutral voltage at
the secondary windings of the power transformers

Record the circuit voltages and currents in the following blank spaces.

E1 = ___ V I1 = ___ A

E2 =___V I 2 = ___ A

E3 = ___ V I3 = ___ A

Is the differential protection system perfectly balanced? Briefly explain?

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8. Adjust the current setpoint of the AC/DC Current Sensitive Relay to approximately 110% of the
residual current (I3) measured in the previous step. To do so, slowly turn the current setpoint
adjustment knob clockwise until the tripping indicator (red LED) of the AC/DC Current Sensitive
Relay turns OFF.
On the Resistive Load module, set the resistance of resistors R1, R2, andR 3 to the value
indicated in Figure 2

9. On the Faultable Transformers, set fault switch FS1 of transformer T1 to the I position to insert
an earth fault near the middle of the primary winding of transformer T1. While doing this,
observe the circuit currents and the tripping indicator on the AC/DC Current Sensitive Relay.
Record the circuit voltages and currents in the following blank spaces.

E1 = ______V I1 = ______A

E2 = ______V I2 = ______A

E3 = ______V I3 = ______A

Describe what happens when an earth fault occurs near the middle of one of the power transformer
primary windings.

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 On the Faultable Transformers, set fault switch FS1 of transformer T1 to the O position to remove
the fault.

10. On the Faultable Transformers, set fault switch FS3 of transformer T1 to the I position to
insert an earth fault near the neutral end of the secondary winding of transformer T1. While
doing this, observe the circuit currents and the tripping indicator on the AC/DC Current Sensitive Relay.

Record the circuit voltages and currents in the following blank spaces

E1 = ______V I1 = ______A

E2 = ______V I2 = ______A

E3 = ______V I3 = ______A

Describe what happens when an earth fault occurs near the neutral end of one of the power
transformer secondary windings.

On the Faultable Transformers, set fault switch FS3 of transformer T1 to the O position to remove the
fault.

11. On Transmission Grid "A", set switch S3 to the I (close) position to close contactor CR3. This will
allow operation of the differential protection system.

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12. On Transmission Grid "A", set switch S1 to the O (open) position to open contactor CR1 and remove
power from the power transformers.
Energize the power transformers by setting switch S1 on Transmission Grid "A" to the I (close)
position. While doing this, observe the circuit currents and the tripping indicator on the AC/DC
Current Sensitive Relay.

13. Repeat the previous step at least ten times.

Does the residual current (I3) sometimes exceed the current setpoint of the AC/DC Current Sensitive
Relay on transformer energization?

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