LOW IMPEDANCE RESTRICTED EARTH FAULT PROTECTION

P. Bertrand, B. Gotzig, C. Vollet

Schneider Electric, France

1NTRODU.CTION In a nowadays competitive environment, investments must have a minimum global cost. For protection relays, as for any other electrical device, users need standard, packaged solutions, with a minimum engineering study. Restricted earth fault (REF) protection, as other protections, is a good candidate because it needs' no time grading study. Recent evolution in computer relaying have made this protection available in a multi-functional device for transformer application. In such an implementation a low impedance principle in used. No extemal stabilising resistor nor class X CTs are needed, making the installation of the protection straightforward. It is thus possible to build a fully packaged cubicle for transformer protection, 'including CTs and multifunctional relay giving improved transformer protection thanks to a REF protection. The need for sensitivity is half the maximum earthfault current on delta side, but much more on star side. The need for sensitivity of an earth-fault protection system is based on the maximum earth fault current, limited by the grounding impedance. This value may be much lower than the rated current of the transformer. When a phase-to-earth fault occurs in a star-connected winding, at a distance of x% from the neutral point, the value of the fault current is x% of the maximum earthfault. For protecting 90% of the ,transformer winding, the sensitivity of the earth-fault detection must be set to 10% of the maximum earth-fault current, as limited by the neutral impedance. In general, the earth-fault detection .level of a transformer differential protection is not sufficient. WHY TRANSFORMER EARTH-FAULT PROTECTION MUST BE IMPROVED The detection of transformer internal fault must be fast in order to avoid tank explosion or fire. The tripping time of an earth-fault protection system using only residual over-current relays may be very long, due to time-grading . A power transformer is very often protected by a transformer differential protection (87T), which measures primary and secondary phase currents. Such a protection detects any fault occurring inside the transformer and is particularly efficient for interkm fault detection (Bertrand et al., (1) & (2)). In case of a phase-to-earth fault, it is important to know more about its basics. When comparing the primary and the secondary current, it is first of all necessary to take into account the winding connection and to carry out a compensation. Three different methods may be used ; they are explained in Table 1 in the case of a delta-star transformer. These methods are also chosen in order to provide zero sequence current compensation in case of an earth fault occurring outside the protected zone. After compensation, the relay computes the differential current (Id) and the through current (It). The latter inay be obtained in different ways ; we have considered here the maximum value between primary and secondary currents. The differential protection trips when both of the following conditions are satisfied :

Figure 1 : a typical definite time elf protection system for an industrial network. Insulation faults in the transformer are cleared within 1.3s !

Developments in Power System Protection, Conference Publication No.479 0 IEE 2001.

479

Id exceeds a threshold, usually set to about 30% of the transformer rated current IdIt exceeds a threshold, (the slope of the characteristic)here set at 30% Table 1 shows that the earth-fault current must exceed 0.3 to 0.74 times the transformer rated current to be detected. In many cases, this is not satisfactory.

In a system where the neutral impedance has been designed so that the maximum earth-fault current is sufficiently high (more than 50% of the transformer rated current), the REF protection will then ensure effective protection of the transformer. Due to its unit protection characteristic, the REF relay trips instantaneously. A tripping time of 40 ms is a common value for digital relays

REF PRINCIPLE BACK TO THE PAST :DESIGNING A HIGH IMPEDANCE PROTECTION The REF typically protects the star winding of transformer where the neutral point is earthed. It measures the four cyrrents flowing to the star point - one neutral and three phase currents. When an earth fault occurs inside the protected zone, the differential current - sum of these four currents - appears. Due to its unit protection characteristic, the REF protection does not need any time grading, hence it is fast and, furthermore,.sensitive.

The basic principle is bright and simple

...

The stabilising resistor forces the false differential current to flow outside the differential circuit. but the design of the protection needs engineering forces

...

...

In order to find the rate of the stabilising resistor, the value of the wiring impedance must be estimated. The sizing of the CT depends on the value of the resistor. This means that the complete engineering study of the protection must be achieved before ordering the switchgear panel. and the protection brings high voltage and heat dissipation in the cubicle.
data : transformer : 20 MVA 1 1 kV CT: 1250/5 Rct = 2 . 4 0 wiring: R w = 0 . 7 ~ resistor : Rs = 2200 short-circuit current : 3-phase : 8.7 kA ph/earth : 3 kA

...

Rct
RW

Figure 2 : The REF protection is sensitive to the phase-toearth faults inside the protected transformer winding

protection : setting: 10%

HOW REF IMPROVES TRANSFORMER PROTECTION

A REF protection may be as sensitive as 5% of the CT rated current. This limit is due to CT accuracy. For usual protective current transformers class 5P,the maximum error at rated current is +/- 1% (IEC, (3)) ; hence, under normal balanced load conditions, a false differential current may appear, which must not exceed the threshold of the relay.

Moreover, high impedance protection comfortably sized CT winding for its own.

needs a

When an internal fault occurs, CTs are forced into saturation, which could lead other protections sharing the same CT core to an unwanted behaviour.

480

DESCRIPTION OF THE SCHNEIDER'S LOW IMPEDANCE SOLUTION With its digital, multi-functional Sepam relay range, Schneider Electric has developped a low impedance REF protection. The basic principle is to compare the residual current to the differential current. The differential current is given by : Id = Ia+Ib+Ic-In (phase currents are considered positive when flowing to the transformer, neutral current is considered positive when flowing to the earth). When a fault occurs inside the protected zone, the differential current is equal to the current flowing to the earth. When the fault is located outside the protected zone, the differential current is zero, as long as the CT errors remains low. In order to compensate the CT errors and to ensure the stability of the protection in case of an external fault, a restraint quantity is chosen equal to the residual current : Ir = Ia+Ib+Ic The Sepam REF protection is a percentage differential protection ; it trips when both of the following conditions are satisfied : Id exceeds the Ido threshold, adjustable between 5 and 50% of the transformer rated current IdIt exceeds 1.05 (a fixed threshold )

When a three-phase fault occurs outside the protected zone, the phase CTs may saturate ; as seen in the previous case, Ir = Id and the stability of the protection is ensured. In case of a phase-to-earth fault with a long DC time constant (inductive earthing system), leading the phase CT into saturation, the problem is more difficult : Id increases, Ir decreases and the operating point may reach the tripping zone. The stability is achieved by increasing the stabilising current as soon as an external fault is detected An external fault is detected as soon as the following conditions become valid : the residual current.exceeds the seking (Ir > Ido) and remains lower than the.differentia1 current (Ir < Id) From that moment, the restraint current of the protection is increased in order to guarantee the stability of the protection : Ir (external fault) = Ia+Ib+Ic+In/3 Thanks to the stabilising element, the relay does not need specific CTs to work properly. The general CT sizing rule is 5P20, according to IEC (3). With the additional external fault detection system described above, the sizing of the CTs must ensure correct measurement during the first cycle of the fault. In case of an external phase-to-earth fault, this constraint can be expressed in terms of CT saturation current (Isat) with the following rules, where Ief is the maximum value of the current flowing through the earthing impedance of the transformer : REF located on the primary (source side) : Isat > 0.8 Ief REF located on the secondary (load side) : Isat > 2.4 Ief The two requirements differ because on the source side, only one third of the neutral point current flows into the phase CTs. It can be seen that, with 5P20 CTs, the rules are always valid, except when the REF is located on the secondary winding and the limited earth-fault current exceeds 8x the phase CT rated current. This case is usually encountered on LV networks only. In the case of an external two-phase-to-earth fault, the fault current is limited by the short-circuit impedance of the transformer. Many simulations and tests with 5P20 CTs have shown the protection's stability. A limit appears when the maximum 3-phase short-circuit current at the secondary side of the transformer exceeds 13x the phase CT rated current. This means that the short

Id = la+Ib+lc+In

Ir = la+Ib+Ic

Figure 4 : Sepam REF tripping characteristic This principle ensures good stability in case of CT saturation on the source side. If we consider a REF protection located on the primary side of the transformer, one of the requirement is to ensure stability during transformer energisation. Because of the DC component of the inrush current, the phase CT saturate, causing a false differential current. As no current flows through the neutral point, Ir = Id and the Sepam REF protection remains stable (no trip). On the load side, an extra restraint element is needed. We now consider a REF protection located on the secondary winding of the transformer.

481

circuit voltage of the transformer, USC, below 8%. In is that case, the CT sizing rule becomes : Isat > 22x transformer rated current. And this additional rule has been tested with transformer USC values as low as 4%.

compensated by the current flowing to the earthing coil, so that the earth-fault current can have very low values. Using such an earthing system, a REF protection may not be sensitive enough to detect the fault. Furthermore the REF protection principle described above is not adapted : in case of an intemal fault, Ir, the total network capacitive current, will exceed Id, the earth fault, and the protection will not trip. But it must be kept in mind that the low impedance REF overcomes the main disadvantages of the traditional high impedance solution. And, when this solution is included into a Sepam multifunctional relay, it improves the protection scheme for little cost and effort ! BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Bertrand P, Martin E, Guillot M, 1997, "Neural networks, a mature technique for protection relays", CIRED 97 2. Bertrand P, Devalland A, Bastard P, 1993, "A simulation model for transformer,intemal faults, base for the study of protection and monitoring systems", CIRED 93 3. Schiel L, "Stromdifferentialschutzanordnungf i r einen Transformator", Europaische Patentschrift EP 0758497B1 4. 1996, IEC 60044-1 Instrument transformers - Part 1 : Current transformers zero-sequence elimination 1a'-Ib' Ja'= neutral-point current elimination. Scheil(3)

ADVANTAGES O F THE SEPAM REF PROTECTION AND LIMIT OF ITS USE The low impedance principle described above has two limitations. The first limitation is that it cannot be used on a three-CT arrangement :' In case of an internal fault, as the neutral point is not connected to earth, the differential current is equal to the residual current and the protection does not detect the fault. This arrangement appears on the primary side of a power transformer, when the neutral point may or may not be grounded, depending on the exploitation constraints. In-that case, an additional elf protection must enabled when the neutral switch is opened. As a second harmonic restraint is available for this elf protection, stability during transformer energisation is ensured. The second limitation concerns its use with compensated earthing systems. In such systems, the residual capacitive current appearing when an earth-fault occurs is

star-delta compensation

Ja' = Ia'

J5

9
M

Jb'= Ib'
Jc' = IC'

Jb'= -

Ib'-Ia'

Js

IC'-Ia' Jet= -

J5

If

Ja

Jb

Jc

Ja = -

Ia - Ic

compensation

Js Js

Ja = Ia Jb=Ib-

0
0

Ib-Ia a=-

IIa

Ib

IC

J5

Ia + Ib+ Ic 3 Ia + Ib + Ic

Ja = Ia--

JC= -

IC-%

Value of the differential and through Id = :urrents (Id & It) [f : fault current It = II+ [l : load current Fault current detected

y 6

Ia + Ib+ Ic JC= IC3

Id=%lf
It = Il+%lf

In 3 In Jb=b-3 In JC=IC-3
Id = If

y&
0.52 0.74

It = II+ %If
note : the source i! connected to the delta side

- at no load - at rated load

0.45 0.64

0.30 0.38

note : settings as indicated in the text of the document

.tive enough for earth ault detection. A F E protection must be added.

482