Application of the transformer through-fault current duration

guide to the protection of power transformers

Overcurrent protective devices such as relays and fuses have well-defined operating characteristics that
relate fault-current magnitude to operating time. It is desirable that the characteristic curves for these
devices be coordinated with comparable curves, applicable to transformers (see IEEE Std C57.109-
1985[5]) which reflect their through-fault withstand capability. Such curves for Category I, II, III, and IV
transformers (as described in IEEE C57.12.00-1985[2]) are presented in this Appendix as through-fault
protection curves.

It is widely recognized that damage to transformers from through faults is the result of thermal and
mechanical effects. The latter have recently gained increased recognition as a major concern of transformer
failure. Though the temperature rise associated with high magnitude through faults is typically quite
acceptable, the mechanical effects are intolerable if such faults are permitted to occur with any regularity.
This results from the cumulative nature of some of the mechanical effects, particularly insulation
compression, insulation wear, and friction-induced displacement. The damage that occurs as a result of
these cumulative effects is a function of not only the magnitude and duration of through faults, but also the
total number of such faults.

The through-fault protection curves presented in this Appendix take into consideration that the transformer
damage is cumulative, and the number of through faults to which a transformer can be exposed is
inherently different for different transformer applications. For example, transformers with secondary-side
conductors enclosed in conduit or isolated in some other fashion, such as those typically found in
industrial, commercial, and institutional power systems, experience an extremely low incidence of through-
faults. In contrast, transformers with secondary-side overhead lines, such as those found in utility
distribution substations, have a relatively high incidence of through-faults, and the use of reclosers or
automatic reclosing circuit breakers may subject the transformer to repeated current surges from each fault.
For a given transformer in these two different applications, a different through-fault protection curve
should apply, depending on the type of application. For applications in which faults occur infrequently, the
through-fault protection curve should reflect primarily thermal damage considerations, since cumulative
mechanical damage effects of through-faults will not be a problem. For applications in which faults occur
frequently, the through-fault protection curve should reflect the fact that the transformer will be subjected
to thermal and cumulative mechanical-damage effects of through faults.

In using the through-fault protection curves to select the time-current characteristics of protective devices,
the protection engineer should take into account not only the inherent level of through-fault incidence but
also the location of each protective device and its role in providing transformer protection. Substation
transformers with secondary-side overhead lines have a relatively high incidence of through-faults. The
secondary-side feeder protective equipment is the first line of defense against through-faults, and its time-
current characteristics should be selected by reference to the frequent-fault-incidence protection curve.
More specifically, the time-current characteristics of feeder protective devices should be below and to the

left of the appropriate frequent-fault-incidence protection curve. Main secondary-side protective devices (if
applicable) and primary-side protective devices typically operate to protect for through-faults only in the
rare event of a fault between the transformer and the feeder protective devices, or in the equally rare event
that a feeder protective device fails to operate or operates too slowly because of an incorrect (higher) rating
or setting.
The time-current characteristics of these devices should be selected by reference to the infrequent-fault-
incidence protection curve. In addition, these time-current characteristics should be selected to achieve the
desired coordination among the various protective devices.

In contrast, transformers with protected secondary conductors (for example, cable, bus duct, or
switchgear), experience an extremely low incidence of through-faults. Hence, the feeder protective devices
may be selected by reference to the infrequent-fault-incidence protection curve. The main secondary-side
protective device (if applicable) and the primary-side protective device should also be selected by
reference to the infrequent-fault-incidence protection curve. Again, these time-current characteristics
should also be selected to achieve the desired coordination among the various protective devices.

For Category I transformers (5 -500 kVA single-phase, 15-500 kVA three-phase), a single through-fault
protection curve applies (see Figure A.1). This curve may be used for selecting protective device time-
current characteristics for all applications regardless of the anticipated level of fault incidence.

For Category II transformers (501–1667 kVA single-phase, 501–5000 kVA three-phase), two through-fault
protection curves apply (see Figure A.2).

(1) The left-hand curve reflects both thermal and mechanical damage considerations and may be used for
selecting feeder protective device time-current characteristics for frequent-fault-incidence
applications. It depends on the impedance of the transformer for fault current above 70% of maximum
possible and is based on the I2t of the worst-case mechanical duty (maximum fault current for 2 s).

(2) The right-hand curve reflects primarily thermal damage considerations and may be used for selecting
feeder protective device time-current characteristics for infrequent-fault-incidence applications. This
curve may also be used for selecting main secondary-side protective device (if applicable) and a
primary-side protective device time-current characteristics for all applications, regardless of the
anticipated level of fault incidence.

For Category III transformers (1668–10 000 kVA single-phase, 5001–30 000 kVA three-phase), two
through-fault protection curves apply. See Figure A.3.

(1) The left-hand curve reflects both thermal and mechanical damage considerations and may be used
for selecting feeder protective device time-current characteristics for frequent-fault-incidence
applications. It depends on the impedance of the transformer for fault current above 50% of
maximum possible and is keyed to the I2t of the worst-case mechanical duty (maximum fault
current for 2 s).
(2) The right-hand curve reflects primarily thermal damage considerations and may be used for select-
ing feeder protective device time-current characteristics for infrequent-fault-incidence applications.
This curve may also be used for selecting main secondary-side protective device (if applicable) and
primary-side protective device time-current characteristics for all applications-regardless of the
anticipated level of fault incidence.

For Category IV transformers (above 10 000 kVA single-phase, and above 30 000 kVA three-phase), a
single through-fault protection curve applies (see Figure A.4). This curve reflects both thermal and
mechanical damage considerations and may be used for selecting protective device time-current
characteristics for all applications, regardless of the anticipated level of fault incidence. It depends on the
impedance of the transformer for fault current above 50% of maximum possible and is keyed to the I2t of
the worst-case mechanical duty (maximum fault current for 2 s).
The delineation of infrequent- vs. frequent-fault-incidence applications for Category II and III transformers
can be related to the zone or location of the fault. See Figure A.5.

For convenience, the through-fault protection curves for Category I, II, III, and IV transformers are
summarized in Table A.1.

Fuse or overcurrent relay coordination with the through-fault protection curves, or both, is shown in
Figure A6–Figure A8.

These should be self-explanatory. A primary-side fuse or overcurrent relay on a -primary, Y-grounded

secondary transformer will detect only 57.7% of the Y-side phase-to-ground fault current. The applicable
primary side curves are shifted to the right on the phase-to-ground fault figures to properly show
coordination.

A secondary phase-to-phase fault on a -primary, Y-secondary transformer will result in secondary

currents that are 86.7% of the three-phase fault value. However, the high-side phase currents will be 100%
of the three-phase fault current in the high phase and 50% of the three phase fault current in the other two
phases. The applicable primary-side curves are shifted to the left on the phase-to-phase fault figures to
properly show coordination for the high-side high phase current at the indicated low-side current values.

An example of the application of the new thermal/mechanical limit curves to a three-winding

autotransformer (Y-Y-) with overcurrent relays on the 30 MVA tertiary follows using Table A.2
nameplate data.

The coordination steps are as follows: