QUESTION: Can I apply the T60 Restricted Ground Fault (87G) protection on

autotransformers?
Yes, Restricted Ground Fault (RGF) will work on autotransformers!
Consider the following setup:
AUTOTRANSFORMER
RESTRICTED GROUND
FAULT PROTECTION
i2

HV
i1

CT2

LV

CT1

i3

T60

CT3
(single ground CT)
Ig

For the primary currents as shown, the following apply:

i 2 = i1 + i3 , or, i 2 i1 = i3.
The RGF element adds the residual current 3Io and the ground current Ig. An internal
fault result in a sum greater than zero because the measured current entering and leaving
the transformer is not the same
During normal load conditions the total residual current (3Io), the ground CT current (Ig)
and therefore the ground differential current (Igd), is zero. The RGF element therefore
does not operate.
During an external fault, assuming no CT saturation, 3Io and Ig is not zero but the sum
Igd current is zero, and therefore the RGF element still does not operate;
3Io is calculated, from the configured relay source (SRC). In this case it is the sum of i1 ,
and i 2 .

The T60 currents summation settings (URPC) for this case look like this:

CT1, CT2 from the diagram = CT F1 and CT U1 Phase CT respectively

CT3 = CT F1 Ground CT.
The configured SRC 1 can now be used for RGF element setting:

The per unit (pu) value required in the RGF settings is calculated based on the maximum
phase CT primary current as one unit.
An internal fault is detected by the RGF element, when the sum of 3Io from the SRC1
(F1+U1), and Ig, is not zero.
The sensitivity is controlled the slope setting which is the ratio of ground differential
current to maximum phase current.
The time delay setting is used to delay the RGF element operation. It is useful for
external faults with CT saturation to allow adjacent protection to operate or for the
saturation to subside.

--- end of public record ---Author: Lubo Sevov

Date: June 27, 2001
Products: transformer relays
Keywords: restricted ground fault protection, autotransformers
Reviewed by: David Van Der Merwe
Reviewed on: June 28, 2001
Approved by: Bogdan Kasztenny
Approved on: June 28, 2001