GL - Sizing of Grounding Transformer

ABB AB 1JNS012647D66930
Guideline
Resp. dept. Lang: Revision: Page:
PS FACTS / PSFA/FACTS
Prepared: Prepared date: Approved: Approved date: en 1 (11)
Status:
VRS Satish 2014-04-02 Olofsson Peter X 2015-07-22 Approved
Guideline - Sizing of Grounding Transformer
Summary
This document provides a detailed guideline to design the sizing of Grounding
transformer impedance and Grounding transformer neutral resistor. The impedance of
grounding transformer is chosen in such a way that for a stiff line to ground fault
condition, the fault current magnitude is easy to detect by earth fault relays in SVC
branches. The current is detectable still with significant impedance in the fault itself.
©Copyright 2011 ABB. The information contained in this document has to be kept strictly confidential.
Any unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution or disclosure to third parties is strictly forbidden.
ABB reserves all rights regarding Intellectual Property Rights
ABB AB 1JNS012647D66930
Guideline
Status:
Table of Contents
1. Introduction.............................................................................................................. 3
2. Types of Grounding Transformers ......................................................................... 3
3. Design procedure for Sizing of Grounding transformer ....................................... 5
4. References ............................................................................................................. 10
REVISION....................................................................................................................... 11
ABB AB 1JNS012647D66930
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1. Introduction
The purpose of grounding transformer is to provide circulation of reasonable Zero-
sequence current in the SVC during single phase to ground faults that can be
detected by the SVC relay protective system. Selectivity for the SVC branches can
thus be achieved when an earth fault occurs inside these branches. This document
provides the instructions to design the Grounding transformer impedance and
Grounding transformer neutral resistor.
SVCs include in most cases an Ynd connected power transformer between the SVC
medium voltage bus and the high voltage power system. The medium voltage bus is
either practically floating (galvanic connection to ground via potential transformers,
arresters and capacitor discharge resistors only) or connected to ground via high
impedance grounding transformers.
In case of a “floating” system, practically no current occurs in case of a fault. The
fault is detected by voltage rise in the unfaulted phases. The SVC is tripped and all
branches disconnected. The main circuit breaker closes again and an automatic
sequence closes the disconnect switches for the branches, one by one until the fault
is detected. The SVC is tripped again and the faulted branch disconnected. The
SVC is then re-closed. The complete sequence is run in less than five minutes.
In case of high impedance grounded system, the grounding transformer provides
circulation of reasonable Zero-sequence current in the SVC during single phase to
ground faults that can be detected by the SVC relay protective system.
The impedance of grounding transformers (normally zigzag connected) is chosen to
give a fault current of about 500 A for a stiff line to ground fault. (500 A is in the
range of 10% of the load current in the TSCs and TCRs.) This current magnitude is
easy to detect by earth fault relays in the branches. The current is detectable still
with significant impedance in the fault itself. In case of a fault the complete SVC is
tripped and the faulted branch disconnected. The SVC is then re-closed in less than
a minute.
However with the presence of grounding transformer, to find out the faulty
equipment is easy. There is a possibility for the presence of grounding transformer,
creates a series resonance with the faulty equipment and causes over stresses to
the faulty equipment which leads to the failure of the faulted equipment and also the
grounding transformer. So design the impedance of the grounding transformer to
limit the fault current to the specified value without any resonance between the
faulty equipment and the grounding transformer.
2. Types of Grounding Transformers

The most commonly used grounding transformers are the zigzag and wye-delta type
[1].
The two alternatives are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
1. Zigzag grounding transformer connected to ground via resistor.
2. Wye-delta transformer connected to ground via resistor.
ABB AB 1JNS012647D66930
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Figure 1: Zigzag Grounding transformer configuration with neutral grounding resistor
Figure 2: Wye-delta transformer configuration with neutral grounding resistor

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3. Design procedure for Sizing of Grounding transformer

To design the grounding transformer impedance, the following ground faults at
different locations in the SVC have to be simulated with maximum continuous SVC
bus voltage with the TCR blocked.
The following faults were simulated:
1. Single-phase to ground fault on SVC bus. TSC switched in and blocked
again.
2. Single-phase to ground fault on SVC bus. TSC switched in and running.
3. Single-phase to ground fault on SVC bus. TSC not switched in.
4. Single-phase to ground fault inside TSC delta between valve and capacitor.
TSC switched in and blocked again.
TSC switched in and running.
TSC not switched in.
7. Single-phase to ground fault inside TSC delta in between Capacitor bank.
TSC switched in and blocked again.
TSC switched in and running.
TSC not switched in.
For simplicity, the impedance of the transformer was modelled separate from the
transformer. This impedance is one third of the phase impedance in the transformer.
The current through the impedance is three times the current in one transformer
phase and the voltage drop over the impedance is the phase voltage, see Figure 3
Calculation of reactance:
The following is true for a fault on the SVC bus and full capacitive operation:
U ph
U ph  3I 0  Z  Z 
3I 0
Where U ph is the maximum continuous line to line voltage
500
Standard Assumption: I fault  500 A  I 0  A
3
U ph
Z
3I 0
Z
L H ; f is the system frequency
2 f
Z 0  3  Z  / phase; Z 0 is the each phase winding impedance

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Figure 3: Currents in the transformer
Note: The fault location giving the maximum current is between the capacitor and valve
having the TSC valve blocked and the capacitor uncharged. The capacitive reactance will
then affect the result and the grounding transformers reactance is calculated from
U ph
I fault 
Z  Z TSC
U ph
 Z0   3Z TSC
I0
Z is used as a starting value for the transformer reactance in the PSCAD model. The
transformer reactance are then adjusted in order to get a neutral rms current < 500A
Assumption of Resistance:
In the PSCAD model, the resistance of the transformer is chosen to be approximately 15
% of the reactance [1].
To be done in PSCAD Model:

Perform all the simulations with the designed impedance to get the neutral fault current
less than the given limit (with only Grounding transformer solidly grounded), if not, adjust
the transformer reactance to satisfy the condition.
Procedure for designing the grounding Transformer Neutral Resistor (if required):
After performing all the simulations to satisfy the above mentioned criteria (The maximum
fault current for LG fault should be less than the given Maximum Neutral fault current to
be limited), by choosing the transformer reactance. Then design the value for the
grounding transformer neutral resistor if required.
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I0
I0
I0
3 I0
U ph
Rn
Figure 4: Neutral resistor in the Transformer
Rn is the Grounding transformer neutral resistor.

Ifault-R is the maximum fault current allowed in the grounding transformer neutral grounded
via a resistor (Rn)
U ph
 Rn  Z
I fault  R
Rn is used as a starting value for the transformer neutral resistance in the PSCAD model.
The grounding transformer resistance is then adjusted in order to get a neutral rms
current < Ifault-R
How to Use PSCAD Base Model for Sizing of Grounding Transformer Impedance
The following figure represents the grounding transformer (Zig-Zag) in the PSCAD
model.
Figure 5: Grounding transformer Connection in the PSCAD Model

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From the Figure 5,

 Lzero represents the zero sequence reactance of the grounding transformer,
which represents zero sequence reactance of the windings located as
equivalent reactance in the neutral.
 Rzero represents internal winding resistance of the phase windings located as
equivalent resistance in the neutral (15% of the transformer reactance)
 Rneutral represents the neutral resistance through which grounding
transformer grounded.
In order to design the sizing of the grounding transformer, the following steps has to
be followed:
1. Get the latest .SVC file
2. Load the corresponding .SVC file in the SVC design tool and generate
PSCAD model for to create ArrSimGlobals.txt file as shown Figure 6.
Figure 6: to generate the ArrSimGlobals.txt file from SVC design tool
3. Copy the contents in the ArrSimGlobals.txt file to the Global variable

substitution window of the Base model as shown Figure 7.
Figure 7: Global variable substitution window
4. Place both the Min and Max characteristic files of arrestor in the same
directory of the PSCAD model.
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5. Change the primary side voltage of SVC transformer to the highest

continuous system voltage at secondary side by using the slider as shown in
the following Figure 8.
6. Set the grounding transformer reactance from the calculation in the slider as
shown in Figure 8.
7. Change if the R/X (Transformer resistance to reactance factor, standard
value is 0.15) factor has to be changed in the slider as shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8: Sliders to change the Primary voltage, Reactance and R/X factor
8. The TSC operation can be controlled by the following slider (TSC Blocking
timer) as shown in Figure 9.
This slider has 3 positions
Position 1: Represents Blocking the TSC operation from starting onwards
(TSC not switched in)
Position 2: Represents Blocking the TSC after TSC switched in (TSC
switched in and blocked again)
Position 3: Represents TSC will be in running from starting onwards (TSC
switched in and running)
9. The fault locations can be controlled by the slider (Fault_Location) shown in

the Figure 9
This slider has 4 options
Position 1: Represents there is no fault in the SVC system
Position 2: Represents Single-phase to ground fault on SVC bus.
Position 3: Represents Single-phase to ground fault inside TSC delta
between valve and capacitor
Position 4: Represents Single-phase to ground fault inside TSC delta in
between Capacitor bank
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10. The resistance of the grounding transformer neutral resistor can be

controlled by the slider (Rneutral) as shown in Figure 9
Figure 9: sliders representing TSC Blocking timer, Fault_Location and Rneutral

11. In order to make the simulations to be complete in less time then the
following procedure has to be followed:
For every TSC operating condition (created by position of TSC blocking
timer), Snapshot has to create up to 1.70 sec for multirun.
After linking the snapshot to the project settings, set the simulation time to
0.6 sec and enable the multi run for every fault location.
12. Document all the results in the output excel sheet by using the TS plot and
start the preparation of Equipment data for grounding transformer and
grounding transformer neutral resistor (if required).
4. References
[1] “Grounding of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems”, IEEE std 142,
IEEE Green book
ABB AB 1JNS012647D66930
Guideline
Status:
REVISION
Rev. ind. Page (P) Description Date
Chapt. (C) Dept./Init.

GL - Sizing of Grounding Transformer

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ABB AB 1JNS012647D66930

Guideline - Sizing of Grounding Transformer

2. Types of Grounding Transformers

Figure 1: Zigzag Grounding transformer configuration with neutral grounding resistor

Figure 2: Wye-delta transformer configuration with neutral grounding resistor

3. Design procedure for Sizing of Grounding transformer

Z 0  3  Z  / phase; Z 0 is the each phase winding impedance

Figure 3: Currents in the transformer

To be done in PSCAD Model:

Figure 4: Neutral resistor in the Transformer

Rn is the Grounding transformer neutral resistor.

Figure 5: Grounding transformer Connection in the PSCAD Model

From the Figure 5,

Figure 6: to generate the ArrSimGlobals.txt file from SVC design tool

3. Copy the contents in the ArrSimGlobals.txt file to the Global variable

Figure 7: Global variable substitution window

5. Change the primary side voltage of SVC transformer to the highest

9. The fault locations can be controlled by the slider (Fault_Location) shown in

10. The resistance of the grounding transformer neutral resistor can be

Figure 9: sliders representing TSC Blocking timer, Fault_Location and Rneutral

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