J.M.

PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

Chapter

A Case Study of the

Commissioning Test of a
Differential Protection Scheme for
a Three Winding Transformer

10

he transformer is one of the most important hardware in the electrical power system.

An

important consideration in transformer protection is the high cost of the transformer and the
relative long outage time that occurs when a transformer fails.

The most common form of

transformer protection is differential protection, whose zone of protection is bounded by the location of the
protection current transformers (CTs) between the transformers high voltage and low voltage terminals.
The differential protection should operate for a fault within the zone of the CT and should not operate for a
fault outside the zone of the CT. The major advantage of the differential protection is the fast speed of
operation to detect a fault as compared to transformer
PowerGrid

protection based on overcurrent relays.

The use of

overcurrent relays for transformer protection will result in

230kV

a comparatively longer operation time for a fault because

of the need to co-ordinate with upstream overcurrent
relays.

300MVA
Yd 11, 230/19kV

A differential protection does not require co-

ordination with other protection scheme, and whose

speed of operation is essentially instantaneous for all in-

19kV

zone faults. The CT ratio, polarity and connection must

CT1

58/23/35MVA
19/6.6/22kV

all be correct in order for the correct operation of the

differential protection. Hence it is imperative that the

G
CT2

CT3

19kV
250MW

differential protection be commissioned before first time

energization of the transformer. The article will share my

6.6kV

22kV

19kV primary CT1

- located at transformer
6.6kV secondary CT2 - located at 6.6kV switchgear
22kV tertiary CT3
- located at 22kV switchgear

FIGURE 10.1 : Single Line Diagram

experience in the commissioning of a differential

protection for a three winding transformer at a power
station as shown in Figure 10.1.

Three Winding Transformers

The equivalent circuit for a three winding transformer can be represented by a star of impedance as shown
in Figure 10.2. The impedance of any of these branches can be determined by considering the short circuit

J.M. PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

impedance between any pairs of windings with the third winding in open circuit. Therefore we will have:

Zps

impedance at primary with secondary short-circuit and Tertiary open circuit.

Zpt

impedance at primary with Tertiary short-circuit and secondary open circuit.

Zst

impedance at secondary with Tertiary short-circuit and primary open circuit.

The impedance values of Zps,

Primary
19kV

Primary
19kV

Zpt and Zst have physical meaning and

can be measured.

Ip

However the

equivalent circuit values of Zp, Zs and Zt

Zp = -6%

are fictitious and cannot be measured.

It is possible to have negative values for

Ip

one of the impedance.

The values of

Zps, Zpt, Zst may be based on different

Is

It

Zt= 25%

Zs= 37%
Is = 40% x Ip

Secondary Tertiary
6.6kV
22kV

It = 60% x Ip

Secondary
6.6kV

Tertiary
22kV

FIGURE 10.2 : Equivalent Circuit of 3 Winding Transformer

base values and hence these impedance

values must be converted to the same
base values before the start of any
calculations.

The capacity of the

primary winding is often chosen as the

common base values.

Table 10.1 shows the nameplate data and the normalized values of impedance for

Zps, Zpt and Zst.

Capacity
Primary

58MVA

Nameplate
Impedance

Impedance at
58MVA Base

Zps = 12.5%, 23MVA

Zps = 31%,

Voltage
Primary

= 19kV

Secondary 23MVA

Secondary = 6.6kV

Zpt = 12%, 35MVA

Zpt = 19%,

Tertiary

Tertiary

Zst = 62%, 58MVA

Zst = 62%,

35MVA

= 22kV

TABLE 10.1 : Impedance and Vector Group Data

The normalized values of the impedance to 58MVA base are ;

Zps

Z p + Zs

31%

Zpt

Z p + Zt

19%

Zst

Z s + Zt

62%

Solving the three equations,

Zp = - 6% ; Zs = 37% ; Zt = 25%

Phase angle
Difference
Primary to
Secondary = 30o
Primary to
o
Tertiary = 30
Secondary to
Tertiary = 0o

J.M. PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

Commissioning
An external 3 phase, 400 volts diesel generator was connected at the 19kV side with three different
combinations of open/short circuit at the 6.6kV and 22kV.
The three combinations were ;
Connection

19kV

6.6kV

22kV

Figure 10.3A

Generator connection

Short circuit

Open circuit

Figure 10.3B

Generator connection

Open circuit

Short circuit

Figure 10.3C

Generator connection

Short circuit

Short circuit

The KVA rating of the external generator was calculated using the impedance data of the three
winding transformer of Table 10.1.

The required KVA rating of the external generator for the three

different connections were ;

Connection

KVA rating of Generator

Percentage of
Full Load Current

Figure 10.3A

3 x 400 x 119

= 82 KVA

7%

Figure 10.3B

3 x 400 x 195

= 135 KVA

11%

Figure 10.3C

3 x 400 x 416

= 288 KVA

23%

A 3 phase, 400 volts, 300KVA generator was selected for the commissioning test. The calculated
value of 416A at the 19kV winding is about 23% of the full load current and so considered high enough to
commission the differential protection relay. Table 10.2 is the summary of the measured values for Figure
10.3A, Figure 10.3B and Figure 10.3C under external fault conditions. Incorrect CT polarity at the 22kV CT
was suspected because ;

High value of differential current for the case of Figures 10.3B and 10.3C

2 IBias = differential current for the case of Figure 10.3B

The star point of the 22kV CT was reversed to rectify the incorrect CT polarity. Table 10.3 is the
summary of the measured values with the correct CT polarity. The differential protection was considered
stable for the out of zone fault because the differential current was zero. The short circuit at the 22kV side
was relocated to create an in-zone fault and the differential current was non-zero and of high value. The
differential relay was considered commissioned.

J.M. PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

Conclusion
In this case study, the polarity of the 22kV CT was incorrect and fortunately discovered during the
commissioning test.

If such a commissioning test was not done, the differential relay will operate under

normal loading of the transformer, or during an external fault condition.

Out of Zone Fault

22kV Short
Circuit and 6.6kV
Open Circuit
(Fig. 10.3B)
162 A

Out of Zone Fault

6.6kV Short
Circuit and 22kV
Open Circuit
(Fig. 10.3A)
105 A

Out of Zone Fault

I yellow

162 A

105 A

344 A

I blue

162 A

105 A

344 A

I red

0A

289 A

421 A

I yellow

0A

289 A

421 A

I blue

0A

289 A

421 A

I red

137 A

0A

169 A

I yellow

137 A

0A

169 A

I blue

137 A

0A

169 A

I red

91 mA

59 mA

197 mA

I yellow

91 mA

59 mA

197 mA

I blue

91 mA

59 mA

197 mA

I red

183 mA

0A

226 mA

I yellow

183 mA

0A

226 mA

I blue

183 mA

0A

226 mA

External Generator
Connected to
19 kV Side

I red
19kV

6.6kV

22kV

Bias

Diff.

22kV and 6.6kV

Short Circuit
(Fig. 10.3C)
344 A

TABLE 10.2 : Measured Value with Incorrect CT Polarity

In-Zone Fault

In-Zone Fault

In-Zone Fault

Short Circuit
at 22kV

Short Circuit
at 6.6kV

Short Circuit at
22kV and 6.6kV

Out Zone Fault

Out Zone Fault

Out Zone Fault

Short Circuit at
22kV and 6.6kV
Open Circuit
(Fig. 10.3B)

Short Circuit at
6.6kV and 22kV
Open Circuit
(Fig. 10.3A)

Short Circuit at
22kV and 6.6kV
(Fig. 10.3C)

I red

344A

344 A

I yellow

344A

344 A

344A

162A

105A

344A

344A

162A

105A

I blue

344A

344A

344 A

344A

162A

105A

344A

I red
I yellow

421A

0A

0A

0A

289A

421A

421A

0A

0A

0A

289A

421A

I blue

421A

0A

0A

0A

289A

421A

I red

0A

169A

0A

137A

0A

169A

I yellow

0A

169A

0A

137A

0A

169A

I blue

0A

169A

0A

137A

0A

169A

I red

140mA

154mA

97mA

91mA

59mA

197mA

I yellow

140mA

154mA

97mA

91mA

59mA

197mA

I blue

140mA

154mA

97mA

91mA

59mA

197mA

I red

113mA

81mA

194mA

0A

0A

0A

I yellow

113mA

81mA

194mA

0A

0A

0A

I blue

113mA

81mA

194mA

0A

0A

0A

External Generator
Connected to 19kV
Side

19kV

6.6kV

22kV

Bias

Diff.

TABLE 10.3 : Measured Value with Correct CT Polarity

J.M. PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

400V
3 Generator

400V
3 Generator

~
i

Ip

Zp = -6%

Z = 31%

i=

Is

Zs= 37%

Zt= 25%

0.4
0.31 x 19

x Full load
Current

= 6.79% x 1762
= 119A

FIGURE 10.3A : Single Line Diagram

400V
3 Generator

400V
3 Generator

~
i

Ip

Zp = -6%

Z = 19%

i=

It

Zs= 37%

Zt= 25%

0.4
0.19 x 19

x Full load
Current

= 11.08% x 1762
= 195A

FIGURE 10.3B : Single Line Diagram

400V
3 Generator

400V
3 Generator

~
i

Ip

Zp = -6%

Z = 8.9%

i=
Is

Zs= 37%

It

Zt= 25%

0.4
x Full load
0.089 x 19
Current

= 23.65% x 1762
= 416A

FIGURE 10.3C : Single Line Diagram

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