Transformer Faults

Faults in auxiliary equipment's

Faults in T/F windings and connections
Overloads and external short circuits
Tank faults
Inter turns faults on T/F windings
Open circuit faults
 Faults in auxiliary equipment's

1. T/F Oil
Used for cooling and insulation
Faults like decrease in oil level and moisture
inclusion may damage the T/F
2. Gas Cushion
Fault: when oxygen and moisture enter into the
oil through gas spaces.
Remedy: a pressure vacuum gauge is attached
with the sealed tank moreover, we place silica gel
into the breather.
 3. Core & Winding Insulation
Causes:
low quality material
Poor insulation
Improper joining of connections and joints
Faults in T/F windings and connections
Internal Faults in Power Transformer
The principle faults which occurs inside a power
transformer are categorized as,
Insulation breakdown between winding and earth.
Insulation breakdown in between different phases.
Insulation breakdown in between adjacent turns i.e.
inter - turn fault.
 Overloads and external short circuits

Due to over load

Excess amount of heat produced in winding
Strict observation over the winding and oil
temperature
We can limit the external c.c by T/F reactance.
 Tank faults

Due to the leakage of oil

Breather disorder will cause a moisture in the
oil
Cooling ducts and pipes may be closed due to
the accumulation of impurities
 Open circuit faults

When any phase of the T/F become open.

In case of such fault we can manually
disintegrate the T/F.
 T/F Protection Schemes
1. P.A OVER HEATING
2. P.A OVER CURRENT
3. P.A OVER FLUXING
4. P.A OVER VOLTAGE
5. P.A RESTRICTED EARTH FAULTS
6. P.A UNRESTRICTED EARTH FAULTS
7. P.A PARALLEL OPERATION OF T/F
8. T/F DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM
9. BUCHHOLZ PROTECTION
 P.A OVER HEATING

T/F temperature should be in the range of 95

Main cause is over loading
At 65, cooling fans become on.
In case of further load , when temperature
reaches to 95, the alarm buzzer will be on.
At 105, T/F is tripped.
 Different types of T/F cooling
ONAN
ONAF
OFAF
 P.A OVER CURRENT

USE OF FUSES
OVER CURRENT RELAYS
P.A UNRESTRICTED EARTH FAULTS
 P.A RESTRICTED EARTH FAULTS

Restricted Earth Fault (REF) means an earth

fault from a restricted/localized zone of a
circuit. The term "REF protection method "
means not to sense any earth faults outside
this restricted zone. This type of protection is
prevalent in Dyn group of transformers (Delta
Primary and Star Secondary). The basic
scheme for REF Protection is as below
 BUCHHOLZ PROTECTION

Buchholz relay in transformer is an oil

container housed the connecting pipe from
main tank to conservator tank. It has mainly
two elements. The upper element consists of
a float. The float is attached to a hinge in such
a way that it can move up and down
depending upon the oil level in the Buchholz
relay Container. One mercury switch is fixed
on the float. The alignment of mercury switch
hence depends upon the position of the float.
 The lower element consists of a baffle plate and
mercury switch. This plate is fitted on a hinge just in
front of the inlet (main tank side) of Buchholz relay
in transformer in such a way that when oil enters in
the relay from that inlet in high pressure the
alignment of the baffle plate along with the
mercury switch attached to it, will change.
 Buchholz Relay Principle
The Buchholz relay working principle of is very simple. Buchholz relay function is based on
very simple mechanical phenomenon. It is mechanically actuated. Whenever there will be a
minor internal fault in the transformer such as an insulation faults between turns, break
down of core of transformer, core heating, the transformer insulating oil will be decomposed
in different hydrocarbon gases, CO2 and CO. The gases produced due to decomposition of
transformer insulating oil will accumulate in the upper part the Buchholz container which
causes fall of oil level in it.
Fall of oil level means lowering the position of float and thereby tilting the mercury switch.
The contacts of this mercury switch are closed and an alarm circuit energized. Sometime due
to oil leakage on the main tank air bubbles may be accumulated in the upper part the
Buchholz container which may also cause fall of oil level in it and alarm circuit will be
energized. By collecting the accumulated gases from the gas release pockets on the top of
the relay and by analyzing them one can predict the type of fault in the transformer.
More severe types of faults, such as short circuit between phases or to earth and faults in the
tap changing equipment, are accompanied by a surge of oil which strikes the baffle plate and
causes the mercury switch of the lower element to close. This switch energized the trip
circuit of the circuit breakers associated with the transformer and immediately isolate the
faulty transformer from the rest of the electrical power system by inter tripping the circuit
breakers associated with both LV and HV sides of the transformer.