FP_A.

1_CYPC_An analysis and lessons learned of the main transformer

differential protection action caused by the excitation inrush current

[PAPERTITLE]
An analysis and lessons learned of the main transformer differential

protection action caused by the excitation inrush current

Liu Gang, China Yangtze Power Co. Ltd.,0086 15287060165,liu_gang4@cypc.com.cn

Ye Zhaoli China Three GorgesCorporation.,0086 15928899665,ye_zhaoli@ctgpc.com.cn
Chen Zhe China Yangtze Power Co. Ltd.,0086 15287060306,chen_zhe1@cypc.com.cn
Chen Xiaoming China Yangtze Power Co. Ltd.,0086 15287060123,chen_xiaoming@cypc.com.cn
Zou Yi China Yangtze Power Co. Ltd.,0086 15287060182,zou_yi1@cypc.com.cn

[Overview]
In this paper, starting from the operation of the power grid equipment,In the process of 500kv transformer
no-load charge causes of larger excitation inrush current are analyzed in theory ,Reveals the main transformer
no-load charging why not avoid the impact of the excitation current and lead to the main transformer differential
protection action of the real reason,Through the relevant wave record, protection action report and combined
with actual elaborated the reasons and characteristics of excitation inrush current appears, it is concluded that
the action principle of main transformer differential protection and proposes some improvement and prevention
measures.

[Methods]
For transformers, analyzes its no-load closing excitation inrush mechanism, and analyze the variation law of
no-load transformer core flux. According to the conclusions that inrush current characteristics and identification
methods, and application in practice, analysis the main transformer no-load charging why failed to escape the
influence of magnetizing inrush current and lead to the real reason for the differential protection action of main
transformer.

[Results]
This paper analyzes the transformer no-load closing why failed to escape the influence of magnetizing inrush
current, the real reason for the differential protection action of main transformer is transformer DC resistance
measurement to magnetic lead to the variation of magnetizing inrush current, transformer differential protection
caused by action.
[Conclusions]
Transformer no-load closing failed to escape the magnetizing inrush current in transformer differential
protection action in this paper ,and this paper proposes some improvement and prevention measures.

[Key Word]
transformer,excitation inrush current,second harmonic,differential protection

1.Excitation inrush current mechanism and factors affecting its size

1.1 Mechanism of excitation inrush current
Taking single-phase transformer as an example, explains the mechanism of excitation inrush current when
it no-load charging.
Assume that the power supply voltage is sinusoidal function U U m s i n ( w t ) . If you ignore the
influence of loop resistance,the resistance of the transformer winding and transformer winding leakage
reactance. No-load charge moment flux in the transformer core and the relationship between the applied voltage
as follows.
d (1)
W U m s in ( t )
dt
To solve first-order differential equations:
U (2)
m
c o s ( t ) C
W

In the formula: W: Number of turns of the charging side transformer, : Magnetic flux in the core,
U m :The size of the Power voltage, :Initial fault current angle, :Angular frequency , C :Integration
constant, Be determined by the initial conditions.
When t=0, to keep the closing moment flux conservation, is the core of the magnetic flux can't mutations.
So:
U
C m
cos S
W (3)
In the formula: is before closing the residual flux in the core.
So: U m c o s( t ) U m c o s (4)
S
W W
If considering the influence of loop resistance,the resistance of the transformer winding and transformer
winding leakage reactance impact the time constant. The flux is:
Um Um t
t
(5)
co s( t ) co s e T S m co s( t ) m co s e T S
W W
U
m m

In the formula: W , T is Time constant, related to the influence of loop resistance,the resistance
of the transformer winding and transformer winding leakage reactance.
By the formula (5) to be seen, the first one is the forced component of the magnetic flux, and the second
one is the free component of magnetic flux. At the instant of the transformer no-load charging, magnetic flux in
core consists of three parts: m c o s ( t ) , m c o s and the residual flux S . If the voltage
instantaneous value is zero for transformer no-load charging, the initial fault current angle 0 . If you
ignore the influence of loop resistance,the resistance of the transformer winding, the time constant T of the
formula (5) for infinity, free component of flux does not decay. If the direction of remanence m and
 m cos m after closing the same direction, the maximum magnetic flux in the core can achieve is
2 m S
. If the remanence S 0 .9 m
, the maximum magnetic flux in the iron core can be close to
three times of the steady-state flux amplitude in normal operation, which makes the transformer core saturation,
and the exciting current surge, resulting in inrush current.
1.2 Factors that affect the magnitude of excitation inrush current
By the formula (5) to be seen, are the major factors affect the magnitude of the excitation inrush current:
(1)Power voltage. U m , Before charging power supply voltage, the greater the , the greater
m m
W

the excitation inrush current.

(2)Initial fault current angle . When the voltage instantaneous value is zero switching, in the closing
moments of the forced component flux reached the maximum value of m . In order to keep the closing
moments of flux conservation, lead free component size flux is m
. The magnetic flux in the core of total flux
and no-load before charging for remanence S
. Half cycle after the maximum magnetic flux in the core
can achieve 2 m S
. So in the power supply voltage instantaneous value of the zero moment of
transformer no-load charging, excitation inrush current value maximum. When initial fault current angle is
9 0 , in the peak voltage instantaneous value is closing, closing force component is zero flux to the
moment, and Magnetic flux free component is zero, only residual magnetism flux S
, the maximum magnetic
flux in core is m S
. So at the instant of the power supply voltage instantaneous value is zero for
transformer no-load charging, the largest excitation inrush current, the power supply voltage instantaneous value
of the maximum moment of transformer no-load charging, numerical minimum excitation inrush current.
(3)Remanence S . Before closing, the greater the remanence in the transformer core, the greater the
excitation inrush current. In addition, when the direction of the remanence of S
and m c o s after closing
at the same time, the direction of excitation inrush current is big, whereas the opposite.
In addition, the magnitude of the excitation inrush current is related to the structure of the transformer, the
core material and the working magnetic density of the design. The smaller the capacity of transformer, no-load
excitation inrush current when charging and its rated current ratio, also the greater the ratio of excitation inrush
current.
Measurement show that: When transformer no-load charging, impedance between transformer and power
supply, the greater the excitation inrush current is smaller. In the end of the transformer substation, charging
transformer no-load excitation inrush current may be less than 2 times the rated current.
2.Excitation inrush current identification methods
Discrimination of excitation inrush current characteristics of differential current in transformer differential
protection. Has been applied in engineering: Second harmonic content high, the asymmetry of waveform and
waveform discontinuous Angle compared three kinds of principle, especially in the first two kinds of the most
common. When is identify the excitation inrush current, the differential protection lock to prevent the
differential protection misoperation.
1Second harmonic brake principle: Second harmonic brake principle is the use of the second harmonic
current in differential current flowing through the differential elements as the amount of braking, distinguish
between travel is internal fault current of short circuit current and excitation inrush current.
Coefficient of secondary harmonics: In ventilation with differential current differential element, contains
fundamental component current and second harmonic component of current, differential current second
harmonic component of current as a percentage of the fundamental component current ratio.When the second
harmonic braking coefficient is greater than the second harmonic coefficient of brake fixed value when K 2 xb
locking differential protection, whereas when less than the coefficient of second harmonic brake fixed value
K 2 xb
open differential protection.
(2)Discontinuous angle principle: When transformer internal fault, fault waveform uninterrupted,
discontinuous angle of i very small. When charging transformer no-load excitation inrush current waveform is
intermittent, intermittent Angle of i great(Generally greater than 60). By discontinuous angle principle of
differential protection, which is based on differential current waveform are continuous and discontinuous angle
to distinguish between the size of the fault current and the excitation inrush current. The so-called discontinuous
angle of i , is in the differential current half cycle, the differential quantity is smaller than the angle which the
braking quantity corresponds.
For discontinuous angle principle of transformer differential protection, composed of another important
physical quantity is lock angle B . According to it, it is determined that the differential current is caused by
fault current and excitation inrush current.

When the discontinuous angle of i , i B , The judgment of excitation inrush current differential

current, and locking differential protection.

When the discontinuous angle of i , i
B , The judgment for fault current differential current, open
differential protection.
3Waveform symmetry principle: In a microcomputer type transformer longitudinal differential
protection, using the algorithm of waveform symmetry, distinguish excitation inrush current and fault current of
transformer. When transformer internal fault, each side current after current transformer transformation,
differential current is basically a power frequency sine wave. If the excitation inrush current, because there are a
number of harmonic component, asymmetric waveform is discontinuous.
When transformer internal fault, the following formula is established:
S K b S (6)
S St
In the formula: S is the week integral value of the differential current, S+ is the week integral value of the
differential current instantaneous value and the instantaneous value of differential current first half cycle. Kb is A
fixed constant, St is the threshold setting value. The expression of St formula is as follows:

S t I d 0 .1 I e
7
In the formula: Id is the week integral value of the differential current, is A constant proportion.
When it is excitation inrush current, the above waveform discriminant relation must not established, ratio
differential protection element is not misoperation.
3.Analysis of 500kV main transformer differential protection misoperation in a power plant.
April 8, 2015, after one power plant # 6 main transformer maintenance light charging process, when
closing the 5051 circuit breaker, the monitoring system reported the following signal: A and B sets of main
transformer differential protection action. High voltage cable first, two sets of RCS931LM remote trip 1 action.
High voltage cable first, two sets of RCS931LM protection tripping action. 5051 circuit breaker accident total
exit action. And so on a series of signals. 5051 circuit breaker has brake, 6 # main transformer wiring diagram as
shown in the figure below.
 (1) 6B main wiring diagram
The differential protection system setting value list as follows:
Main transformer capacity: 890.00 MVA. Rated voltage of high voltage side:550.00 KV. High side TA
ratio:4000:1. Differential protection Starting set value:0.30Ie. Differential protection Quick break value:5.00Ie.
Differential current Alarm set value:0.15Ie. Ratio braking initial slope:0.10. Ratio brake maximum slope:0.70.
Harmonic braking coefficient:0.15.
By the transformer fixed value data, can be the Main transformer high voltage side of the second value of
the rated current.
S 890 MVA (8)
I e N
/ k b / 4000 0 . 234 A
3U N
1 . 732 550 k V

Taking Q protective device as an example, according to the protection device to record the waveform, the
main transformer high voltage side of the three-phase current waveform as shown in Figure 2. The maximum
peak value of A, B, C three-phase current are respectively 0.71A, 0.88A and 1.24A, The maximum current
effective value of the C phase is about 3.75 times the rated current. A and B phase bias is half wave side
completely, Have certain discontinuous Angle, C phase towards the negative half wave side completely,
discontinuous Angle is not obvious. From the point of the current waveform, there are some characteristics of
excitation inrush current, but compared with the previous light charging waveform, characteristics of excitation
inrush current is not significant, can't rule out the possibility of transformer internal fault.

(2)High voltage side current waveform

The fault recorder oscillograph can be seen in Figure 4 and figure 3, failure its excitation inrush current
discontinuous Angle is main transformer normal impact current is small, and small ratio of second harmonic,
Less than 15%(the two harmonic brake ratio of the main transformer differential protection is 15%).

(3)Main transformer high voltage side current waveform

 (4)Main transformer into the line current waveform of the confluence
By figure 5 main transformer differential current waveform can be seen(Has been transformed by Y ),
When the protection operation : A phase of fundamental wave is equal to 0.78Ie, the second harmonic is 0.26Ie,
the harmonic content is 33%. B phase of fundamental wave is equal to 1.88Ie, the second harmonic is 0.14Ie,
the harmonic content is 7.4%. C phase of fundamental wave is equal to 1.78Ie, the second harmonic is 0.14Ie,
the harmonic content is 7.9%. RCS - 985TW for both the safety of transformer no-load charging and the
sensitivity when the transformer internal fault, adopt comprehensive harmonic brake mode, select harmonic
maximum phase harmonic brake, the harmonic brake ratio is 0.26Ie/1.88Ie=13.8%harmonic content is small,
slightly below the protection fixed value 15%, so the second harmonic brake to open, the differential current of
the protection action is reached 1.88Ie, which exceeds the value of the differential protection action and the
value of the differential start (0.3Ie), which leads to the two sets of protective action. The analysis of the main
transformer differential current waveform suggests, compared with the typical characteristics of excitation
inrush current, the waveform harmonic content is low, and have some differences, due to the excitation inrush
current waveform by charging transformer residual magnetism, light switching Angle and so on many factors,
different excitation inrush current waveform difference is bigger.

(5)Differential current waveform

As shown in figure 6, the GIS of fault wave record waveform, The main transformer high voltage side of
the three-phase voltage amplitude were 54V, 54V, 53V. In the transformer no-load charging process of high
voltage side voltage change is very small, if transformer internal fault, the voltage should be a certain degree of
change, from the perspective of voltage waveform excitation inrush current is more likely.
 (6)Main transformer high voltage side PT voltage waveform
The transformer no-load charging process there is a large high voltage side of the main transformer zero
sequence current, as shown in Figure 7, zero sequence CT ratio is 400/1, primary side current maximum peak at
584A(The main transformer high voltage side of the rated current is 934A, the peak value is 1321A). However,
according to the previous waveform, the transformer no-load charging process can also occur in a certain
magnitude of the zero sequence current, can't rule out possibility of excitation inrush current.

(7)Main transformer high voltage side of the neutral point of zero sequence current waveform
4.Conclusion and measures
Above all, 6FB electrical primary and secondary equipment have no obvious faults and anomalies, the
insulating value measured normal, and on April 5, 6FB after dc resistance test result in main transformer is
larger residual magnetism. Therefore concluded that the event is, main transformer no-load charging, flux
produced by the main transformer high voltage side and superposition of remanent magnetization direction,
leading to excitation inrush current is too large, and the transformer protection sampling of differential current
value is greater than the set values for the differential protection, and the second harmonic suppression ratio less
than 15% of setting value, the final ratio brake differential and power frequency variation differential protection
action.
To this end, in order to ensure that there is no longer a transformer differential protection malfunction, it is
recommended to take the following measures: (1)Transformer after repair, requiring from zero step-up test
investigation to ensure safety of main transformer, and through the voltage from zero to the main transformer
degaussing. (2)The main transformer up from zero after the normal operation, to maintain sufficient
demagnetization by main transformer no-load running for half an hour.

Reference
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University of Science and Technology; 2004
2.Li fengrong; Transformer longitudinal differential protection and excitation inrush current identification
technology research; North China electric power university;2006
3.He jiali; The principle of power system relay protection; China electric power press2010
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improvement; North China electric power university;2008