BUCHHOLZ RELAY AND ITS OPERATION

Buchholz relay is an important protection and monitoring device used to protect

Large oil immersed transformers (generally rated above 750 kVA) against
incipient faults (slow developing faults) such as core heating, insulation failure
of windings, fall of oil level due to leaking and other such internal faults.
Buchholz relay was invented by Max Buchholz in 1921. It is a gas actuated
relay installed in oil immersed transformers, for protection against many types
of internal faults in transformers which have rating of 750 kVA or above (It is
considered to be uneconomical to use Buchholz relay for the transformers rated
less than 750kVA).
We all know that Relay is a sensing device, which is used to sense the faults in
the system. If any fault occurs in the system then the relay will send the signal
to the circuit breaker to trip the circuit. The same concept applies with the
buchholz relay.
Buchholz relay is used to perform two actions as follows:
It is used to give an alarm in case of incipient (slow developing) faults, or we
can say that it gives an alarm when there is a less severe condition.
It is used to give signal to the trip circuit when there is a severe internal fault.
Hence, it is used to disconnect the circuit from the supply.
Buchholz relay is installed on the pipe which is used to connect the conservator
and the transformer main tank as shown in figure below.
Construction
Buchholz relay is a domed shape vessel filled with liquid and it is placed in the
connecting pipe between conservator and the main tank. As we have already
discussed that it performs two actions hence, to perform these actions, it has two
sections as shown in fig. below.
The upper section has a float connected to a hinge. A mercury switch is present
just above the float. An alarm circuit is connected with this mercury switch
which gives sound during incipient faults occur in the transformer tank.
Lower section consists of a mercury switch mounted on a hinged type flap. The
flap is located in the direct path of the flow of oil from transformer tank to
conservator, as shown in fig. below. This mercury switch gets closed during
severe internal faults and it is connected with the circuit breaker to trip the
circuit.
A drain cock or test cock is provided at the bottom of the relay, and a release
cock is provided at the top of the relay, release cock is used to release the
pressure of the gases in the chamber, also it is used to check the type and quality
of gases released during faults.
A glass slid is present with scales to check the oil level inside the relay from
outside.
Working of buchholz relay: -
As we have discussed earlier that there are two functions performed by the
buchholz relay, so we will discuss both of them in detail.
1. If any internal fault occurs in the transformer like insulation failure of
windings, core heating etc. which causes heat. This heat in the
transformer main tank will be responsible for the decomposition of some
transformer oil.
The products of decomposition contain more than 70% of hydrogen gas. Now
as the hydrogen gas being light tries to move towards conservator and it gets
entrapped in the upper part of relay chamber. As these gases are very light in
nature so, they are not able to move the flap (lower section) present in the front.
These gases go directly to the upper part of relay and when a sufficient amount
of gas accumulates, then it exerts pressure on the float to cause it to tilt
downside. So that the mercury switch gets closed. This completes the alarm
circuit and it will give an alarm.
We do not call immediate removal of the faulty transformer in the above-
mentioned conditions, because sometimes air bubbles in the oil circulation
system of a healthy transformer may operate the float. Steps are taken to verify
the gas and its composition whether they are harmful or not.
Sometimes, the alarm circuit gets closed even when there is no fault like, some
air bubbles formed in the oil. That’s why we have employed an alarm circuit
first and then a trip circuit.
2. Now, if a serious fault occurs in the transformer tank, then there will be
enormous amount of gas is generated in the main tank. Now, not only the
gases but the oil present in the main tank will start moving towards the
conservator via Buchholz relay. When oil enters into the relay, it will hit
the flap present in front, and this flap will tilt the other part which
ultimately tilts the mercury switch, and the contacts of mercury switch
gets closed and it completes the trip circuit. Now, the circuit breaker will
trip the circuit from main supply.
Analogy to understand the both functions in a proper way:
Let us take an example of milk which is to be boiled. When we start boiling the
milk, initially some vapours will release and they move upwards, but we don’t
stop boiling here, we are still observing the milk. This is the first case.
Now, after some time when milk is almost boiled, then along with the vapours,
the milk also starts coming upwards or out of the beaker. Now, in this situation
we stop giving heat to milk. It means we trip the circuit. This is the second case.
Advantages
1. It is the simplest form of transformer protection.
2. It detects the incipient faults much earlier than the other forms of
protection.
3. In case of major faults, the transformer can easily be isolated through
Buchholz relay and accidents can be prevented.
Disadvantages
1. This relay can only be used with oi immersed transformers equipped with
conservator tanks.
2. This device can detect only faults below oil level in the transformer.
3. This relay will not provide protection for connecting cables. Hence,
separate protection system is used for connecting cables.