Petrochemical Transformer: SEL-787 Page 1 of 4 20120718

Event Analysis Introduction Session

Petrochemical Transformer: SEL-787 Transformer
Differential Current Trip
Introduction
Basic transformer protection includes a transformer differential relay. Because power transformers have
different voltage levels at the primary and secondary sides, the currents at each side are different for the
same power level. This means that current transformer (CT) ratios must be different at the primary side
and the secondary side of the transformer. This current difference must be accounted for in the settings of
the current differential relay. The transformer may also have a delta-connected primary winding and a
wye-connected secondary winding. This means that the CTs must be connected such that the phase shift
of the delta-to-wye transformation is compensated for before the current differential relay can compare
the difference between the primary- and secondary-side currents. In modern microprocessor-based current
differential relays, this phase and magnitude compensation can be done internally in the relay through
programmable settings. These settings must be correct for the current differential to operate correctly.
These settings should be verified during commissioning of the transformer.
Date and Time of Trip Event
Date: May 24, 2012 (Thursday)
Time: 12:32:18.163
Targets: 87 (differential current)
Event: differential trip
Currents at Time of Trip
IAW1 = 942 A at 0 degrees (4.16 kV, A-phase current)
IBW1 = 945 A at 240 degrees (4.16 kV, B-phase current)
ICW1 = 947 A at 120 degrees (4.16 kV, C-phase current)
IAW2 = 285 A at 30 degrees (13.8 kV, A-phase current)
IBW2 = 284 A at 270 degrees (13.8 kV, B-phase current)
ICW2 = 285 A at 150 degrees (13.8 kV, C-phase current)
Settings That Caused Trip
W1CT := WYE (4.16 kV CTs connected in wye)
W2CT := WYE (13.8 kV CTs connected in wye)
CTR1 := 400 (4.16 kV CT ratio is 2000/5 or 400/1)
CTR2 := 120 (13.8 kV CT ratio is 600/5 or 120/1)
MVA := 10.5 (transformer power rating is 10.5 MVA)
ICOM := Y (internal CT compensation to be used)

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W1CTC := 6 (180-degree compensation used on a 4.16 kV winding)
W2CTC := 0 (no internal compensation used on a 13.8 kV winding)
VWDG1 := 4.16 (Winding 1 is at 4.16 kV)
VWDG2 := 13.80 (Winding 2 is at 13.8 kV)
E87 := Y (enable transformer differential element)
TAP1 := 3.64 (4.16 kV current tap = 10.5 MVA 1000/(4.16 kV 1.73 400) = 3.64)
TAP2 := 3.67 (13.8 kV current tap = 10.5 MVA 1000/(13.8 kV 1.73 120) = 3.67)
O87P := 0.30 (minimum differential trip is at 0.3 pu of tap)
SLP1 := 25 (differential restraint Slope 1 is at 25 percent)
TRXFMR := 87R OR (restrained differential set to trip the transformer)
OUT103 := TRIPXFMR OR (output 103 set to trip the transformer breaker)
Summary of Trip
The SEL-787 tripped on the current differential element when the differential current went above the
0.3 pu of tap threshold and above the 25 percent restraint slope threshold.
Cause of Trip
The differential current can be calculated using the current values shown below:
IAW1 pu = IAW1/(CTR1 TAP1) = 942/(400 3.64) = 0.65 pu at 0 degrees
IBW1 pu = IBW1/(CTR1 TAP1) = 945/(400 3.64) = 0.65 pu at 240 degrees
ICW1 pu = ICW1/(CTR1 TAP1) = 947/(400 3.64) = 0.65 pu at 120 degrees
IAW2 pu = IAW2/(CTR2 TAP2) = 285/(120 3.67) = 0.65 pu at 30 degrees
Using the Winding 1 CT compensation of 6:
I1W1C1 = (2 (IAW1) + IBW1 + ICW1)/3
I1W1C1 = (2 (0.65 at 0) + 0.65 at 240 + 0.65 at 120)/3 = 0.65 pu at 180 degrees
Using the Winding 2 CT compensation of 0:
I1W2C1 = IAW2 = 0.65 pu at 30 degrees
IOP1 = I1W1C1 + I1W2C1 = 0.65 at 180 + 0.65 at 30 = 0.34 pu differential current
IRT1 = 0.65 + 0.65 = 1.3 pu
SLOPE = IOP1 100/(IRT1) = 0.34 100/1.3 = 26 percent
The differential current is above the minimum value of 0.3 pu and above the slope of 25 percent due to
the incorrect CT compensation values being used.

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Graphs and Pictures
The graph below shows the currents recorded by the SEL-787.

The plot below shows the magnitudes and angles of the currents at the time of the trip.

Conclusions
The relay tripped because of incorrect CT current connection compensation settings of W1CTC = 6 and
W2CTC = 0.
Recommendations
Winding 2 is a delta-wound, 13.8 kV winding, so W2CTC = 0 is a correct setting. The delta winding
actually removes the zero-sequence currents for a ground fault on the 4.16 kV side. Winding 1 is a wye-
connected, 4.16 kV winding. Given the polarity that the CTs have, W1CTC should be set to 7, as shown
in the following calculations.

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Using the Winding 1 CT compensation of 7:
I1W1C1 = (IAW1 + IBW1)/1.73
I1W1C1 = ((0.65 at 0) + 0.65 at 240)/1.73 = 0.65 pu at 150 degrees
Using the Winding 2 CT compensation of 0:
I1W2C1 = IAW2 = 0.65 pu at 30 degrees
IOP1 = I1W1C1 + I1W2C1 = 0.65 at 150 + 0.65 at 30 = 0.0 pu differential current
IRT1 = 0.65 + 0.65 = 1.3 pu
SLOPE = IOP1 100/(IRT1) = 0 100/1.3 = 0 percent
So W1CTC should equal 7.