Transformer Over Excitation Protection

Basic Theory of Transformer

Where:
VP - is the Primary Voltage
VS - is the Secondary Voltage
NP - is the Number of Primary Windings
NS - is the Number of Secondary Windings
(phi) is the Flux Linkage

The Transformers Turns Ratio

Emf = Turns x Rate of Change Flux

Where:
- is the flux frequency in Hertz, = /2
- is the number of coil windings.
- is the flux density in webers
Over Excitation Protection

Over Excitation may be of concern on direct connected generator unit transformer. Excessive
excitation current leads directly to overheating of core and unlaminated metal parts of transformer,
which in turn cause damage to adjacent insulation and leads to ultimate failure. ANSI/IEEE
C57.12.00.1980[2], require that transformer shall be capable of operating continuously at 10% above
rated secondary voltage at no load without exceeding the limiting temperature rise. The requirement
applies for any tap at rated frequency.

Direct Connected generated transformer are subjected to a wide range of frequency during
the acceleration and deceleration of the turbine. Under these condition the ratio of the actual
generator terminal voltage to the actual frequency shall not exceed 1.1 times the ratio of transformer.

Generator Terminal Voltage ( 1.1 ) Transformer Rated Voltage

Actual Frequency Transformer Rated Frequency

While Over excitation protection is usually only a concern for generator step-up transformer, it can
occasionally be a problem for transformer remote from generation station during of light load or
system restoration conditions.

Assuming Number of turns constant, Flux is directly proportional to V/F. Here V is supply voltage
and f is frequency of supply.

In case of any Transformer, signal for supply voltage V is taken from PT. Let us assume that
Transformer Primary is connected with 132kV. Thus normal voltage of primary of Transformer will
be 132kV at a frequency of 50Hz. Also assume that the PT ratio is 132kV/110V.

Therefore,

V/F ratio = Per Unit Value of Voltage / per unit Value of Frequency = 1/1 =1

Thus at a V/F ratio of 1 the transformer will operate satisfactorily. So the question arises which V/F
ratio may cause the over fluxing. For answering this we need to have a look at Hysteresis curve of
the core material and form the curve we can judge at which flux level transformer can be subject for
a particular safely.

Normally the setting of over fluxing is kept 1.1 time of p.u. This means at a flux level of 1.1x1pu =
1.1pu the transformer will operate safely but above 1.1 the transformer core will be subjected to
overflux.

Does this mean that at a ratio of 1.1pu transformer shall be tripped instantaneously? No it doesnt
mean so. Because Transformer core may tolerate such an overflux for some short time duration and
hence instantaneous tripping is not required. Therefore, wise decision is to give an INVERSE
characteristic to the tripping which mean more the ratio of V/F less will be time of tripping.
Now we consider two cases:

Case-1: Transformer Primary voltage rises to 146 kV while frequency is 50.1 Hz

As primary f transformer rises to 146 kV at frequency f = 50.1 Hz

The PT secondary voltage = 146 x 110 / 132 = 121.66 V

Hence V/F = (121.66/110) / (50.1/50) = 1.106 / 1.002 = 1.12

Thus the relay will pick up and as the characteristics is inverse, the relay will trip after some time
because we have kept the setting 1.10. If the primary voltage is maintaining at 146kV, then we can do
nothing and the relay will definitely trip.

Case-2: Transformer is provide with Tap Changer

Suppose the transformer is provided with tap changer. As the transformer is provided with tap
changer in primary side, we can increase the tap position from the nominal value which will result in
increase in the value of N1 (Primary number of turns) and hence,

But this is not going to help us as we have taken the voltage signal from the PT which is connected to
the primary side i.e. and primary side voltage is maintained at 146kV, hence V/F will be same. Thus
we observe that, even though we have tap changer, in the present scenario we can do nothing to
prevent tripping of transformer on overfluxing though the transformer is not actually in overflux
condition(as we have increased the number of turns in the primary side).

Therefore, to take advantage of tap changer, we can make a provision of taking voltage signal from
the secondary side PT of transformer relay. In such case, if the primary turn of transformer is
increased then its reflection on secondary side PT will be observed proportionally and tripping on
overflux protection can be prevented.

In case of no load operation of transformer, we can give voltage signal to relay from the primary side
PT.

In this way the purpose will be served without compromising the overflux protection. Thus we see,
how important is tap changer in preventing tripping of transformer of transfer from overfluxing.

It is recommended that the relay be connected to the secondary side of the transformer or fixed
winding turns side of auto transformer with OLTC (ANSI/IEEE C37.91.1980).