21, rue dArtois, F-75008 PARIS

http : //www.cigre.org

2016 CIGRE-IEC Colloquium

May 9-11, 2016
Montral, QC, Canada

Transient Recovery Voltage at Transformer Limited Fault Clearing

H. Kagawa
Tokyo Electric power Company
Japan

A. Janssen
Liander N.V.
the Netherlands

D. Dufournet
Consultant
France

H. Kajino, H. Ito
Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Japan

SUMMARY
Severe Transient Recovery Voltage (TRV) after the current interruption may appear when a fault
occurs in the immediate vicinity of a power transformer without any appreciable capacitance between
the transformer and the circuit breaker. These faults are called Transformer Limited Fault (TLF), that
may cause higher Rate-of-Rise of TRV (RRRV) than the standard values specified for terminal fault
test duties T10 and T30 of IEC 62271-100 and IEEE standard C37.06[1][2].
The TRV parameters, that include voltage drop across the transformer, 1st/2nd/3rd pole-to-clearfactors, amplitude factor, rate of rise of recovery voltage, fault current levels have been investigated.
TRV at the primary side and secondary side of a power transformer for TLF conditions were
investigated in the circuit including a power transformer using different system and transformer
parameters. Large capacity and high voltage power transformers were developed to reduce the number
of legs (iron cores) and coil-groups in order to realize compact and reduced-weight designs. The
requirement for a compact design may reduce the equivalent surge capacitance of the transformer
resulting in a more severe Transient Recovery Voltage (TRV) in Transformer Limited Fault (TLF)
duty. Calculations shows RRRV exceeds the standard values for T10 and T30 for 800/500kV.
Therefore, further consideration will be needed for standardization.
Impedance frequency responses from the primary, secondary and tertiary windings of the
transformer were also measured by the Frequency Response Analysis (FRA) and then TRVs were
reproduced by the simplified transformer model with a series connection of parallel circuit of
inductance, capacitance and resistance evaluated by the FRA measurements. A simplified transformer
model with a series connection of parallel circuits with capacitance (C), inductance (L) and resistance
(R) was estimated based on the FRA measurements corresponding to the number of resonant
frequencies. The comparison between the measured TRVs and the reproduced TRVs provide detailed
technical information on switching phenomena related to TLF conditions. The results may be used by
IEC and IEEE to define frequencies for the specification of TRV wave shapes in case of TLF shortcircuit current interruption.

KEYWORDS
Transformer Limited Fault, Circuit Breaker, Transient Recovery Voltage, Rate of Rise of TRV,
Amplitude factor, Frequency Response Analysis.

Kajino.Hiroki@bx.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp

1. Introduction
Severe Transient Recovery Voltage (TRV) after the current interruption may appear when a fault
occurs in the immediate vicinity of a power transformer without any appreciable capacitance between
the transformer and the circuit breaker. These faults are called Transformer Limited Fault (TLF), that
may cause higher Rate-of-Rise of TRV (RRRV) than the standard values specified for terminal fault
test duties T10 and T30 of IEC 62271-100 and IEEE standard C37.06. Upon a request of IEC
TC17/SC17A that had to revise its standards to cover UHV switchgears, CIGR decided in 2006 to
establish WG A3.22 Technical Requirements for Substation Equipment exceeding 800 kV in
cooperation with several related Study Committees (SCs)[3][4]. Since IEC TC17/SC 17A also
requested background information on TRV parameters when clearing TLF at voltages from 100 kV up
to and including 800 kV, CIGR A3.28 Switching Phenomena for EHV and UHV Equipment
studied TRV for TLF conditions with system and equipment parameters used in different countries[5].
Recently, TLF interruptions were reported, but there are insufficient actual survey
results[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. In this paper, the TRV parameters, that include voltage drop
across the transformer, 1st/2nd/3rd pole-to-clear-factors, amplitude factor, rate of rise of recovery
voltage, fault current levels have been investigated.
2. Transformer limited faults
One of the most severe fault current interruption duties of a circuit breaker is the clearing of a
transformer limited fault (TLF). In Figure 1 the two topology conditions of a TLF are given: the
transformer fed fault (TFF) and the transformer secondary fault (TSF). In both conditions the
transformer characteristics are the dominant factors that determine the short-circuit current, its ACand DC-components, the power frequency recovery voltage (first, second and third pole to clear factor
by its neutral treatment; the voltage drop), and the higher frequency TRV.
Due to the dominancy of the transformer impedance, the power frequency voltage drop across the
transformer forms the basis to establish the TRV. This voltage drop is a function of the primary shortcircuit current fed by the transformer to a secondary fault Ip (TSF) and the short-circuit current from
the network in case of a fault at the primary side (without a contribution by the transformer itself) Ip
(net). Usually at voltage levels of 100 kV and above the transformer windings are Y-connected and the
neutral is solidly earthed or earthed through a reactor or resistor to limit the single phase fault current
to that of three-phase faults. In either case the X0/X1-ratio will be close to 1.0 or less. Consequently the
first-pole-to-clear factor (kpp) for TLF will be about 1.0. The first-pole-to-clear factors as specified in
the IEC Standard for circuit-breakers (1.2 for UHV and 1.3 for EHV) are thus certainly larger than
those observed in service conditions. In cases where transformer neutrals are isolated from earth or
connected by Petersen coils (resonance earthing), kpp has to be specified as 1.5.
3. Voltage drop across the Transformer limited faults
To show the relationship between voltage drop across the transformer and the TLF current, the simple
scheme of Figure 2 is introduced. Here Is (net) is the short-circuit current contribution by the network
at the secondary side without the transformers contribution and Ip (TLF) is the TLF current to be
cleared by the circuit breaker at the primary side.

HV (primary) side LV (secondary, tertiary) side

CB1

CB2

Source

Transformer
F1: Transformer fed fault F2: Transformer secondary fault

Ep

Source

Uc

Kaf: Amplitude factor of TRV, Kaf=Uc/Ep

Uc: TRV peak, Ep: Source voltage peak

Figure 1: Transient Recovery voltage (TRV) for Transformer limited Faults (TLF)

HV (primary) side LV (secondary, tertiary) side

Source

CB
TFF

TFF: Transformer fed fault

Ip(TLF): TLF current at primary side
Is(TLF): TLF current at secondary side
Is(net): Short-circuit current

Transformer
Ip (TLF)

Is (TLF) Is (net)

Figure 2: Scheme for voltage drop (V) calculation

120

V = 1 Is(TLF)/Is(net)

V (%)

100

I(net)=1.0* Rated breaking current

I(net)=0.75* Rated breaking current
I(net)=0.60* Rated breaking current
I(net)=0.50* Rated breaking current
I(net)=0.30* Rated breaking current
I(net)=0.25* Rated breaking current
I(net)=0.10* Rated breaking current
China 1050/525 kV power transformer
Thai 550/242 kV power transformer

80
60
40
20
0

60

40

20

Is(TLF) / Rated breaking current(%)

Figure 3: Voltage drop across the transformer(V) for various values

The TFF short-circuit current at the primary side to be cleared by the primary circuit breaker, Ip (TLF),
can be determined by Is (TLF) and the transformer ratio. Moreover, by Is (TLF) and Is (net) the
voltage-drop across the transformer V can be calculated. When expressed as a percentage of the
supply voltage, the voltage drop V is equal to 100% - Is (TLF) as a percentage of Is (net):
V = 1 Is (TLF) / Is (net)
(1)
The larger the ratio Is (TLF)/Is (net) the smaller the voltage drop (i.e. the smaller is the influence of
the transformer impedance).
The voltage drop across the transformers in the UHV and EHV network in Japan is investigated as
shown in Figure 4. These values can be given by the ratio of the system impedance to the impedance
of transformer and the rated short-circuit current are specified as 50kA for 1100kVand 275kV, 63kA
for 500kV. The voltage drops across the transformers are confirmed almost less than 0.9.
4. First-pole-to-clear factors for TLF conditions
Depending on the neutral treatment of the network and the involved transformer, the X 0/X1 ratio will
vary within wide bands. But, for effectively earthed networks and transformers with an earthed

Voltage drop ratio of transformer(p.u)

1
0.9

0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5

UHV
primary
(1000kV)

UHV
Secondary
(500kV)

500kV
Primary
(500kV)

500kV
Secondary
(275kV)

275kV
Primary
(275kV)

Figure 4: Examples of voltage drop ratio of EHV and UHV power transformers

neutral the X0/X1-ratio will be smaller than 1.0, thus leading to a reducing effect on the first pole-toclear factor (kpp). In other conditions, though, where transformer neutrals are not (always) connected
to earth kpp may rise up to 1.5. This, however, is an exception and in general it can be stated that at
the transformer side, connected to networks of 100 kV and above, the first pole-to-clear factor for TLF
conditions will be close to 1.0 or even lower. Figure 5 shows typical calculated values of kpp for TLF
conditions with a delta connection for a tertiary winding of transformers, where kpp for TLF
conditions for a primary side range from 1.0 to 1.15 and those for a secondary side lower than 0.95
[13]. The kpp specified in IEC for terminal fault T10 and T30 (i.e. 1.2 for UHV and 1.3 up to 800 kV)
are certainly higher than those commonly observed in real cases for TLF conditions. They may be
used as conservative values for standardization purposes.
A very special case refers to tertiary windings (-windings) in UHV transformers as applied in
China and Japan. These windings, with rated voltages of 123 kV or 145 kV in China and 154 kV in
Japan may be used for shunt compensation. When circuit breakers are applied in connection to such
tertiary windings the duties are very extreme and form therefore no basis for standardization purposes.
Third-pole-to-clear factor: Ktp
Second-pole-to-clear factor: Ksp
First-pole-to-clear factor: Kpp

1.5
1.4

1.4
1.3

Kpp<1.15

1.2
1.1
1

525kV/275kV/63kV-1500MVA trans.

0.9

525kV/242kV/22kV-1000MVA trans.

0.8

1050kV/525kV/147kV-3000MVA trans.
700kV/300kV/11.9kV-1650MVA trans.

0.7

700kV/300kV/11.9kV-510MVA trans.

0.6

Pole-to-clear factor[pu]

Pole-to-clear factor[pu]

1.3

Third-pole-to-clear factor: Ktp

Second-pole-to-clear factor: Ksp
First-pole-to-clear factor: Kpp

1.5

Kpp<0.95

1.2
1.1
1

525kV/242kV/22kV-1000MVA trans.

0.9

525kV/275kV/63kV-1500MVA trans.

0.8

700kV/300kV/11.9kV-510MVA trans.

0.7

1050kV/525kV/147kV-3000MVA trans.

0.6

0.5

700kV/300kV/11.9kV-1650MVA trans.

0.5
0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0
2.5
XX0/X1
[pu]
0/X1 [pu]

3.0

(a)Primary side

3.5

4.0

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

X0/X
X0/X1
[pu]
1 [pu]

(b) Secondary side

Figure 5: Typical evaluations of first-pole-clear factor (Kpp) for TLF conditions

5. TRV TLF conditions at the primary side and secondary side
Figure 6 shows the plots of TRV peak and RRRV calculated with different system and transformer
parameters. The RRRV at the primary side can be covered by the new recommendation for UHV
ratings, but exceed the existing specifications in the IEC standard for 800 kV and 550 kV ratings.
Figure 7 shows the plots of TRV peak and RRRV calculated with different system and transformer
parameters. The RRRV at the secondary side exceeds the existing specifications in the IEC standard
for 525 kV (1100 kV for primary), 300 kV (800 kV for primary) and 242 kV (550 kV for primary)
ratings. The maximum RRRV at the secondary side is calculated as 11.0 kV/s for 550 kV, 13.3 kV/s
for 300 kV and 17.0 kV/s for 245 kV transformers for secondary side TFF.

(a) TRV peak

(b) RRRV

Figure 6: TRV for TLF conditions at primary side of transformer

(b) TRV peak

(b) RRRV

Figure 7: TRV for TLF conditions at secondary side of transformer

6. Transformer models
Typical responses obtained by FRA measurements with the first-pole-to-clear at the primary,
secondary sides of a 1500 MVA shell-type transformer are also shown in Figure 8. The same circuit as
that used for the TRV measurements was used for the FRA measurements.
30

20

26.4 dB

R1=20.89kW

Measurement

-10

82 .
L1=

-20

-40
-50
101

7.90 kHz

H
1m

C1=
4

940

pF

Calculation by simplified transformer

model with single connection of
parallel set of L, C and R

-30

102

R2=1.97kW

Gain Z (dB)

Gain Z (dB)

10

103

104

-20
-30
-40
-50

105

Frequency (Hz)

-10

-60
101

14.1 dB
5.89 dB

R1=5.09kW

10

20

Measurement
C=1
334
8.04 kHz
0p
H
H
F
m
m
6 4 .2 0
9
.
15.5
kHz
17 L 2=
=
2
L
,
+
H
1
C=1/(1/C1+1/C2)
L=L 3.76 m
C1=28482 pF
1
L 1=
Calculation by simplified transformer C2=25092 pF
model with double connections of parallel
set of L1, L2, C1, C2, R1 and R2
102

103

104

105

Frequency (Hz)

(a)Primary side

(b) Secondary side

Figure 8: FRA measurement with a 525 kV1500 MVA transformer

TRV waveform can be reproduced by a simplified transformer model with a series connection of
multiple parallel circuits of L, C and R based on the FRA measurements and/or a manufacturer model
based on the transformer design. The L, C, and R values applicable to the simplified transformer
model can be evaluated from the slope of the gain and the gain at these resonant points. The simplified
transformer model for the primary and secondary side can be obtained by the response of the FRA
measurement as shown in the Figure 8. Frequency responses were also calculated with these
simplified transformer models and plotted in the Figure 8. Both calculations showed good agreements
with the measured FRA characteristics. Figure 10 shows the TRV waveforms reproduced by the
simplified transformer models based on the FRA measurements. The calculated TRV waveforms also
showed good agreement with the measured TRVs. Thus it is confirmed that the simplified transformer
model with a series connection of multiple parallel circuits sets of L, C, and R based on the FRA
measurements can reproduce the TRV waveform for TLF conditions very precisely.

C1

R1

R1

L1

C2

R2

L2

L1

C1=4940 pF, R1=20.89kW ,L1=82.1 mH

(a)Primary side

C1

C1=28482 pF, R1=5.09 kW, L1=13.76 mH

C2=25092 pF, R2=1.97 kW, L2= 4.20 mH

(b) Secondary side

Figure 9: Simplified transformer models for primary and secondary side

150
0
-150

150

Measurement
Calculation

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Time (ms)

-300

Measurement
Calculation

75

Voltage (V)

Voltage (V)

300

0
0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

-75

0.4

0.5

Time (ms)

-150

(a)Primary side

(b) Secondary side

Figure 10: TRV reproduced by simplified transformer models

7.

Detailed manufacture transformer models

Figure 11 shows the cross sectional diagram of transformer coils with two groups used for TRV
measurement. The design of the coil is divided into the primary windings (H), secondary windings
(M) and tertiary windings (L). Each group has five separate coils consisting of a pair of primary (H)
coils, two pair of secondary (M1 and M2) coils and two pair of tertiary (L1 and L2) coils. The circuits
between the coils are modeled with a series connected resistance and inductance as well as capacitance
as shown Figure 12. The circuits from each terminal to the ground are modeled with the capacitance.
The capacitance from the tertiary coil to the ground is expressed as CLE, and that between the tertiary
coil and secondary coil is expressed as CLM.

Figure 11: Cross sectional diagram of the transformer coil

Figure 12: Manufacturer transformer model with five elements model for three-phase
autotransformer 525/275/63 kV, 1500 MVA

150

300

100
0
-100 0
-200
-300

0.2

0.4

Measurement
Time [ms]

(a)Primary side

0.6

Voltage [V]

Voltage [V]

100

Calculation

200

Calculation conditions :
CLE x 1/10, Dividing CLM(usingCLM1,CLM2)

50

Calculation

0
-50 0
-100
-150

0.2

0.4

0.6

Measurement

Time [ms]

(b) Secondary side

Figure 13: TRV reproduced by the manufacturer transformer model

TRV for the primary side was calculated with the manufacturer transformer model based on the
transformer design and compared with the measured TRV by the capacitor current injection method
shown in the Figure 13. TRV reproduced by the model shows good agreement with the measurements.
Relatively large capacitance between the tertiary winding and ground (CLE) could be considered as a
main contributor for TRVs deformation. TRV was also calculated with the capacitance (CLE) which is
reduced 1/10 in order to confirm the influence of the capacitance on the TRV peak deformation.

8. Conclusion
TRV of TLF conditions were investigated and the following results were obtained.
- The voltage drop across the transformer is shown to be dependent on the ratio of the TLF
breaking current/ Rated breaking current, ranging from 0.9 for low TLF breaking currents up to 0.7
for the highest TLF breaking current (typically 30% of rated breaking current).
- First-pole-to-clear factors (Kpp) for TLF conditions for a primary side ranges from 1.0 to 1.15
and those for a secondary side ranges from 0.95 to 1.0. The reason is that the ratios of the zerosequence to positive sequence impedance (X0/X1) for a primary side is higher than those for a
secondary side, because secondary side impedance (Xs) smaller than primary side impedance (Xp).
-TRV at the primary side and secondary side of a power transformer for TLF conditions were
investigated in the circuit including a power transformer using different system and transformer
parameters. Calculation results shows RRRV exceeds the standard values for T10 and T30 for
800/500kV. Therefore, further consideration will be needed for standardization.
-TRV waveforms were measured with large capacity shell-type transformer by the capacitor
current injection method. Deformation from a sinusoidal shape waveform was observed when the
TRV possess multiple frequency components higher than a main TRV frequency.
-TRV waveforms were reproduced by the simplified transformer model with a series connection of
multiple parallel circuits of L, C, R evaluated by the FRA measurements depending on the number
of the resonant frequency.
-TRV reproduced by the transformer model based on the design shows good agreement with the
measurements by the capacitor current injection method.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
[1] ANSI C37.06.1, Guide for High-Voltage Circuit Breakers Rated on a Symmetrical Current Basis
Designated Definite Purpose for Fast Transient Recovery Voltage Rise Times, 2000
[2] IEC 62271-100, Ed.2.1, 2012-09, High-voltage switchgear and controlgear- Part 100: Alternating
current circuit breakers
[3] CIGRE WG A3.22, Technical Requirements for Substation Equipment Exceeding 800 kV AC,
Technical Brochure 362, December 2008
[4] CIGRE WG A3.22, Background of Technical Specifications for Substation Equipment Exceeding
800kV AC, Technical Brochure 456, April 2011
[5] CIGRE WG A3.28, CIGRE Technical Brochure 570, Switching Phenomena for UHV and EHV
Equipment, February 2014
[6] A. Janssen, D. Dufournet, The Standardization of TRV at Transformer Limited Fault Clearing,
Paper 101, CIGR SC A3 & B3 Nagoya colloquium, September 2015
[7] Draft IEEE C37.06.1 Standard for High-Voltage (>1000 volts) AC Circuit Breakers - Fast
Transient (Transformer Limited Fault) Recovery Voltage Rise Times, April 2015
[8] Y. Yamagata, H. Kagawa, M. Kosakada, M. Toyoda, J. Kida, H. Ito, Considerations on
Transformer Limited Fault duty for GCB in UHV and EHV networks with large capacity power
transformers, CIGRE SC A3 Session 2012, Report A3-108
[9] H. Kagawa, T. Maekawa, M. Kosakada, O. Hosokawa, M. Toyoda, K. Kawasaki, Investigation on
transformer limited faults on large capacity power transformers, Paper 422, CIGRE
International Symposium in Auckland, September 2013.
[10] H. Ito, H. Kajino, Y. Yamagata, K. Kamei, T. Idemaru, H. Shinkai, Study on Transient Recovery
Voltages for Transformer-Limited Faults, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol.29, No.5,
October 2014
[11] A. Janssen, D. Dufournet, J. Veens, Determining the Transient Recovery Voltage at Transformer
Limited Fault Clearing, Paper 601, CIGRE SC A2 Shanghai Colloquium September 2015
[12] H. Kajino, H. Ito, K. Kamei, H. Kagawa, Study on Transient Recovery Voltages for Transformer
Limited Faults, Paper 653, CIGRE SC A2 Shanghai Colloquium September 2015
[13] A. Janssen, D, Dufounet, H.Ito, Transient Recovery Voltage at Transformer Limited Fault
Clearing, CIGRE Science & Engineering February 2016