Combined Auxiliary and Earthing transformer and related Issues
The key function of the Earthing transformer is to provide Earthing to the delta-connected winding of the main
transformer, typically 63/20 kV YNd1 or d11.Transformer shall be core type, three phase, oil immersed, self-cooled
and shall have two separate windings as interconnected star (zig-zag) on the high voltage side and star with neutral
on the low voltage side. HV side will be directly connected to the main power transformer. The neutral point of the
interconnected zig-zag winding shall be grounded solidly or via resistor. Generally, the Earthing transformer will
include an auxiliary winding for LV supply.
In some cases, using of combined Auxiliary and Earthing transformer in transmission and subtransmission
substations leads to some problems such as malfunction of earth fault relay and burning of sensitive low voltage
devices which are connected to LVAC busbar. Power transformers used in the subtransmission substations of the
power grid specially in Iran have YNd connection. Therefore, grounding transformer is used to create an artificial
neutral on the medium voltage side. The phase to ground capacitor may have a high value in the medium voltage
network, however it depends on total length of downstream cable feeders.
For the investigation of above-mentioned issue, a single line diagram model of the network is sketched as figure
below. In normal operations, the grid transformer (GT) is energized along with ET/AUX transformer and the 20 kV
network and at this condition all of CBs have been closed.
1) Sizing of Earthing transformer:
The Earthing/auxiliary transformers shall have a Zero Sequence Impedance (Zo) value designed to limit the fault
current to secondary current of main transformer. Therefore, when phase to ground fault happen fault current will be
three times of zero sequence current.
𝑆𝑛 = 40 𝑀𝑉𝐴 , 𝑉𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝: 𝑌𝑁𝑑11, 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝐿𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙: 63⁄20 𝑘𝑉
Nominal Secondary current:
40 ∗ 1000
𝐼𝑠𝑛 = = 1156 𝐴
√3 ∗ 20
While Single Line-To-Ground Fault (L-G) occurs at phase C, fault current based on sequence network analysis will
be 3I0 and fault current go equally through each phase of Earthing transformer:
According to fault condition:
𝑉𝑎 = 𝑉𝑏 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉𝑐 = 0; 𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑏 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼𝑐 = 𝐼𝑓
I0 1 1 1 0
I = 1 1 2 0 𝐼 = 1 × 𝐼 = 1 × 𝐼 𝐼⇒𝑓=𝐼𝑐 𝐼 = 3 × 𝐼
1 3 0 3 𝑐 3 𝑓 𝑓 0
I 2 1 2
I c
20⁄ 20⁄
𝑉𝑝ℎ √3 = √3 = 30 Ω
𝐼0 = =→ 𝑍0 = ⁄𝑝ℎ
𝑍0 𝐼𝑠𝑛⁄ 1156⁄
3 3
2) Sizing of Auxiliary transformer: It shall be calculated on the basis of load list of substation.
3) Resonant voltage and current
In order for analysis resonance phenomena, at the first the sequence network of the system is drawn as below:
The voltages and impedances indicated in above figure are as follows:
VPN: the applied phase to neutral system voltage (infinite source)
Z1(sys), Z2(sys), Z0(sys): the equivalent positive, negative, and zero sequence source impedance values, respectively
ZTX: the transformer impedance (since the return path for the transformer has negligible impedance, the positive,
negative, and zero sequence impedance values, for the transformer are all the same)
Z1(F), Z2(F): the impedance values for the all of outgoing feeders before the PG (phase to ground) fault.
C0 , C1 and C2: Capacitive coupling between the feeders conductors and the adjacent grounded surface.
In order to simplify the network, since the 20 kV system is studied, instead of its upstream network the equivalent
Thevenin circuit has been replaced. In the event of a single-phase fault on at the 20 kV outgoing feeder, the equal
positive and negative sequence components of the total distributed shunt capacitive reactance (XC1 and XC2), shown
in figure above, are so large compared to the system impedances parallel to them that they can be neglected and
simplified network can be reduced to figure below:
In some cases, such as interruption of the phase-to-ground fault current in one of the output feeders, a kind of
resonance is created in the network that not only damages the grounding transformer but also causes problems
related to the burning of sensitive low voltage devices which are connected to LVAC busbar. In faul condition,
protection and control system sends interruption signal to CB. Upon opening of CB the resonance between the
grounding transformer and the phase-to-ground capacitor of the medium voltage output feeders happen.
The resonance phenomenon is classified as a group of temporary overvoltages for which oscillations with frequency
of 𝑓𝑟 are non-damping or poor damping. The duration can be maintained for a long time. The oscillation result is to
saturate the cores of transformers and increase the value of currents in primary winding.
1
𝑓𝑟 =
2𝜋√𝐿0𝐸𝑅 × 𝐶0
Consequently, resonant voltage may be transferred to secondary winding of ET/AUX transformer and spread in
LVAC network and damages sensitive low voltage devices which are fed by LVAC system.
One of the main ways to reduce the resonant current and voltage created after the breaker is opened is to put a
Resistance(NGR) in the neutral of ET winding and create a RLC circuit and damping of resonant signal will be
damped in a short time based on value of NGR.
