Transformer Over Fluxing Protection

The transformer over fluxing protection protects the transformer from overheating of the core caused by the over fluxing in the transformer. The voltage and frequency ratio(v/f) is responsible factor for over fluxing in transformer. In this post we will learn the transformer over fluxing protection.

The Flux density of the CRGO Core:

The cooled rolled grain oriented(CRGO) core is used in the transformer. The flux produced in the primary travels through the magnetic core and gets linked to the secondary. The maximum flux density of the CRGO core is 1.9 Tesla and if the core is magnetized above the rated capacity, the core gets saturated. The saturation of the core cause heating in the core and the other parts of the transformer. The flux density in the core should not increase above the rated flux density of the core to avoid over fluxing in the core.Therefore the designed flux density of the core is always kept below the maximum rated flux density of the core. The over fluxing relay is used to protect the transformer against over fluxing. The over fluxing relay measures the ratio of V/f to calculate the flux in the core.

The magnetization curve of the different material is as given below.

The transformer is designed for the flux density of 1.7 Tesla so that 110 % increase in the flux density can be allowed. The maximum over fluxing in transformer shall not exceed 110% of the designed flux density, and the transformer can be operated continuously at 110 % of the designed flux density. However, the operation of the transformer above 110% and up to 130 % of the flux density can be allowed for a shorter period of the time. If the flux density increases to 140 %, the transformer shall be tripped instantaneously to avoid the permanent damage. The flux density in the core is proportional to the ratio of V/f. The flux in the core remains constant for the constant V/f ratio. The mathematical expression of the flux density is as given below

The voltage induced in the primary when the sinusoidal voltage is applied is

E=4.44 ΦfN

Φ=E/4.44f N

The Number of turns in the primary is constant for a given transformer

Φ=K* E/f

The induced voltage is approximately proportional to the applied voltage if the primary impedance is ignored.

Φ=K*V/f ———-(1)

The flux density in the core of the core is as given below.

B=Φ/A

Where A is the cross section area of the core that is also constant.

B=K/A*V/f

B=K1*V/f ———–(2)

B ∝ V/f

Thus the flux density in the core is directly proportional to the ratio of V/f if the number of turns of the primary is fixed.

Over fluxing protection:

The sudden increase in the voltage due to transients in the power system may cause over fluxing, however, the transient over voltage or overshoot die down very fast. Therefore, the instantaneous tripping of the transformer is undesirable.

The flux density is proportional to the ratio of voltage to frequency(V/f) and the ratio must be detected if its value is greater than unity. The over fluxing function is generally incorporated in the microprocessor-based transformer protection relay in which all the transformer protections like differential protection, overcurrent, over voltage, under voltage, Restricted Earth fault protection, voltage unbalance, vector shift detection, over frequency, under frequency, and over fluxing protection can be programmed and enabled.

The transformer protection relay measures the input voltage and the supply frequency. The block diagram of the over fluxing, over/under voltage and over/under frequency relay is as given below.

microprocessor based transformer over fluxing relay

The relay measures the voltage and the frequency of the supply source. It calculates the ratio of the Volt/hertz on a real-time basis and compares the measured value with the setpoint. The relay is programmed for an inverse definite minimum time (IDMT characteristics). The setting of the over fluxing can be done for the 110 to 140 % of the rated flux of the transformer. The protection scheme of the transformer is as given below.

Over fluxing protection for the transformer provided with a tap-changer:

The flux in the transformer core is proportional to the V/f and inversely proportional to the number of turns in the primary. The transformer without tap-changer has the fixed number of turns in the primary and the flux is directly proportional to the V/f ratio. Let us take the case of the step-down transformer 132/6.6 KV. The 132 KV is stepped down to 110 volts and fed to the over fluxing relay. The ratio of V/f is equal to 2.2(110/50).

The over fluxing relay is set at 110 % of the nominal flux density. The relay is set at 110% that is at 2.42(1.1*2.2) and the relay will not get tripped if the V/f ratio is equal to 2.42. If the V/f ratio increase from 2.2, the inverse definite minimum time characteristics will issue a trip command after a time lag as decided by the inverse definite minimum time(IDMT) curve. If the V/f ratio is 3.08, the relay will trip the transformer breaker instantaneously.

The tap changer is fitted at the high voltage side of the transformer for increasing or decreasing the number of turns of the primary. If the incoming supply voltage increases, the secondary voltage can be reduced by inserting the additional turns in the primary winding through tap changer, and thus the flux in the transformer gets reduced. However, the relay will observe the over fluxing condition because the measuring point of the voltage and the frequency is taken from primary supply. Under this condition, the relay will sense the over fluxing, even though,, the flux in the core is well within the permissible range.

In this situation, the over fluxing relay has to be prevented from issuing the trip command to the circuit breaker. The secondary voltage increases proportionally with decrease in the number of the primary turns and the same can be observed on the secondary side PT, and the tripping on over flux protection can be prevented.

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