AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
CREDIT HOURS ENG. PROGRAM
ENERGY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Major Task
Part (1)
Buchholz Relay Report

Name: Hosam Mohamed Elsayed

ID: 20P7985

Bench: 47
Introduction:
Since 1910, transformer expansion tanks, also known as conservators, have been
utilized to help slow the aging of transformer oil. Max Buchholz, a senior
councilor at the Prussian electricity company in Kassel, Germany, developed the
Buchholz relay in the early 20th century. While examining transformer damages,
he discovered that a significant amount of heat generated by an electric arc could
destroy the insulation material and produce gas. He devised a solution to collect
gas bubbles under the cover of the main tank and redirect them via a pipe into the
expansion tank. By observing the color and quantity of the gas, it was possible to
determine whether it was flammable and what had occurred within the
transformer. Buchholz received his first patent in 1921, and his invention was
manufactured by various companies in Europe. Although Buchholz relay is now
over a century old, it has undergone continuous improvement and development.
The lower float was updated in the mid-1920s to function more reliably in the
presence of strong gas flow, and in the mid-1930s, it was connected to a baffle
plate to improve sensitivity to flow. The baffle plate has since become a standard
component of the Buchholz relay. In the 1960s, the relay was further improved to
withstand vibration and shock and prevent false tripping, while in the late 1990s,
an electronic Buchholz protection was introduced.
Buchholz Relay
What is a Buchholz Relay?
A Buchholz Relay is a gas-actuated relay that serves as a protective measure in
oil-immersed transformers to safeguard against various types of faults. Named
after its inventor, Buchholz, it is designed to raise an alarm in the case of incipient
faults and to disconnect the transformer from the supply in the event of severe
internal faults. Typically located in the pipe connecting the conservator to the
main tank, it is a common practice to use Buchholz relays in oil-immersed
transformers with ratings exceeding 750 kVA.
Buchholz relays are used as a safety measure in certain electrical transformers,
choke coils, high voltage electrical capacitors, and reactors to prevent damage
from spreading in the event of a short circuit, arcing, or other harmful electrical
problems such as an explosion or developing overheating condition. Each
Buchholz relay acts as a circuit breaker and is typically mounted on the top of oil-
filled electrical transformers, which have an oil reservoir tank known as a
conservator. The device's primary function is to maintain the transformer's
insulating quality by managing the supply of circulating oil from the conservator
and detecting air leaks in the system. Safety switches, such as the Buchholz relay,
are vital components of today's power distribution systems. They are designed to
prevent localized accidents from causing damage to broader sections of the
system, which could otherwise propagate and overload other transformers further
down the line.
Mounting arrangement:
A Buchholz relay is located on the pipe connecting the main tank and the
conservator of the transformer. The pipe is normally tilted at an angle of 5 degrees
to the horizontal to facilitate oil flow.
Construction of Buchholz Relay:
The constructional details of the Buchholz relay can be seen in Figure 4, which
depicts a domed vessel containing two mercury switches. The upper mercury
switch is connected to a float that is hinged, as shown, while the lower mercury
switch is connected to a flap and a mechanism that is also hinged, as depicted in
Figure 4. The alarm circuit contacts are located at the upper mercury switch, while
the trip circuit contacts are located at the lower mercury switch. During incipient
faults, the upper mercury switch is activated, and during severe faults, the lower
mercury switch is activated.
Working Principle of Buchholz Relay:
The operating principle of the Buchholz relay is straightforward and relies on a
mechanical phenomenon. When a small internal fault occurs within a transformer,
such as insulation errors between turns, a malfunction in the transformer core, or
high temperature, the transformer oil breaks down into various hydrocarbon gases,
Co, and CO2. The gas generated due to oil decay accumulates in the upper part of
the Buchholz container, causing a drop in oil level. This lowers the position of the
float and activates the mercury switch, which stops the contact switches and
strengthens the alarm circuit. In some cases, air bubbles may accumulate in the
upper part of the Buchholz container due to oil outflow on the main tank, causing
a drop in oil level and activation of the alarm circuit. By collecting the
accumulated gases from the pockets at the top of the relay and analyzing them,
one can determine the type of fault present in the transformer. Different types of
faults in the transformer can also cause a flow of oil that strikes the baffle plate
and activates the mercury switch of the lower element. This switch triggers the trip
circuit of the circuit breakers connected to the transformer, immediately isolating
the faulty transformer from the rest of the electrical power system by inter tripping
the circuit breakers linked to both the sides of LV and HV of the transformer. This
is how the Buchholz relay operates.

Advantages of Buchholz Relay:

1. It is an important protection and monitoring device for insulating liquid-filled
transformers with the conservator and choke coils.
2. It is the simplest form of transformer protection. A Buchholz relay is a
fundamental device for transformers, it keeps internal gas accumulation and oil
flow monitored and under control.
3. It detects incipient faults much earlier than the other forms of protection.
4. It also allows separate monitoring of oil-filled bushings or cable terminal boxes.
It is mounted in the cooling cycle of the device to be protected and responds to
faults such as gas generation, loss of as well as high flow rates of the insulating
liquid.
5. The Buchholz relay is suitable for open-air as well as indoor installations.
6. The Buchholz relay is installed in the pipe between the tank of the device to be
protected (transformer, reactor) and the conservator. During normal operation, it is
filled completely with insulating liquid. Due to buoyancy, the float of the single-
float relay and both floats of the double-float relay are at their top position. The
upper and lower switching systems form a functional unit in the single-float
Buchholz relay so that in the event of a fault the transformer is immediately
disconnected from the power system.
7. Normally a protective relay does not indicate the appearance of the fault. It
operates when a fault occurs. But Buchholz relay gives an indication of the fault at
a very early stage, by anticipating the fault and operating the alarm circuit. Thus,
the transformer can be taken out of service before any type of serious damage
occurs and accidents can be prevented.
8. It has a high degree of ingress protection.
9. It can operate at very high and low temperatures effectively.
10. The Buchholz relay does not need periodic maintenance; however, it is
advisable to regularly check the electric contact and the free movement of the
float.
11. The relay is designed to withstand corrosion.

Disadvantages of Buchholz Relay:

1. Only transformers and other electrical equipment that absorbed oil can use the
Buchholz relay.
2. The relay only detects defects when the oil level is below a certain threshold.
3. Special cable protection is required because the relay does not protect connected
connections.
4. The Buchholz relay’s response time is a little too long.
5. With a minimum working duration of 0.1 seconds and an average time of 0.2
seconds, the relay is slow to function.
6. The mercury switches must not be set too sensitively because the relay will
operate due to bubbles, vibrations, earthquakes, mechanical shocks, etc.
7. It is not cost-effective to use the relay in transformers with a rating of less than
500 kVA.
Applications of Buchholz Relay:
1. Local overheating
2. Entrance of air bubbles in oil
3. Core bolt insulation failure
4. Short-circuited laminations
5. Loss of oil and reduction in oil level due to leakage
6. Bad and loose electrical contacts
7. Short circuit between phases
8. Winding short circuit
9. Bushing puncture
10. Winding earth fault.

Testing of Buchholz Relay:

1. Electrical Test The earthing insulation is subjected to about 2000V for 1 minute
to test the insulation strength.
2. Leakage Test The Buchholz relay is filled with oil and is subjected to a
temperature of 90 degree Celsius. The leakage rate is tested after 30 minutes.
3. Functional Test The testing of the Buchholz relay can be done on a specially
designed PLC-controlled testing unit. Under this test, the response from various
contact points within the relay is recorded and tested.

Precautions for Buchholz Relay Installation: 1. The

conductor connection must have a paper connection while contacting the terminals
instead of rubber because it may damage by the coil.
2. The floats of the transformer must be check for air stiffness by, for instance,
immersing them in warm oil to make a surplus force in them.
3. The connection pipe and relay cover should have 1.5-3 % slope and not have
any projecting exterior to make sure clear of the gases into the conservator.
Differential Relay:
What is a differential relay?
A differential relay is one that operates when the phase difference between at least
two identical electrical quantities exceeds a fixed amount. While most relays work
by detecting when any quantity goes beyond a fixed value, a differential relay
works based on the difference between two or more identical electrical quantities.
The purpose of a differential relay is to provide high-speed, sensitive, and
naturally selective protection. However, these relays cannot protect against turn-
to-turn winding faults in machines and transformers due to the small increase in
the generated current by these faults, which remain below the relay's pickup
sensitivity.

Differential Relay Working Principle:

The working principle of a differential relay is based on comparing the phase
angle and magnitudes of two or more identical electrical quantities. The
application of this relay for comparing these two electrical quantities within a
circuit is simple and results in a positive action.
For example, if a large current flows through the protected line compared to the
current leaving it, additional current must be supplied
to the fault. Therefore, the difference between the
two electrical quantities can control a relay to isolate
the circuit. Under normal operating conditions, the
entering and leaving currents are equivalent in phase
and magnitude, so the relay does not operate.
However, if a fault occurs in the system, the flow of
currents will no longer be equivalent in phase and
magnitude.
The differential relay is designed to allow the difference between the entering and
leaving current to flow through the relay's operating coils. As a result, the relay
coil can be energized in fault conditions due to the different quantity of the
current. The relay functions and opens the circuit breaker to trip the circuit.
The differential relay circuit shown above includes two current transformers that
are connected to any face of the power transformer. For example, one CT may be
connected on the primary side, and the other on the secondary side of the power
transformer. This relay simply compares the current flow on both sides. If there is
any imbalance in the current flow within the circuit, the relay will operate. These
relays can be classified as current differential, voltage balance, or biased
differential relays.

Comparison between Buchholz Relay and Differential

relay:
Differential protection is typically provided in electrical power transformers with
a rating of more than 5MVA. The advantages of using differential protection for
transformers are numerous compared to other protection schemes. While the
Buchholz relay can detect faults occurring within the insulating oil of the
transformer, it cannot detect faults occurring outside of it. Additionally, flashovers
at the bushings are not adequately covered by the Buchholz relay, whereas
differential relays can detect such faults. Moreover, while the Buchholz relay is
provided in the transformer to detect any internal faults, the differential protection
scheme can detect faults more quickly. Differential relays generally respond to
faults occurring inside the differential protection zone of the transformer. The
table below illustrates a comparison between both relays.
Conclusion:
A century after its invention, the Buchholz relay remains one of the most crucial
protective devices for power transformers. This maintenance-free relay remains on
guard for years, protecting the expensive transformers. It is a smart device that can
be automated to allow remote users to check the status of their machine.
References:
1. Admin (2021) How does a Buchholz Relay Work?, MB Drive Services.
Available at: https://mb-drive-services.com/how-does-a-buchholz-relay-work/
(Accessed: 20 May 2023).
2. Eeeguide (2023) Buchholz relay: Construction: Operation: Advantages:
Disadvantages, EEEGUIDE.COM. Available at:
https://www.eeeguide.com/buchholz-relay/ (Accessed: 20 May 2023).
3. Everything you need to know about buchholz relay (2022) icrfq.net. Available
at: https://www.icrfq.net/buchholz-relay/#Advantages_of_Buchholz_Relay
(Accessed: 20 May 2023).
4. ElectricalTerminology (2021) Buchholz relay advantages and disadvantages
explained!, cropped images. Available at:
http://www.electricalterminology.com/buchholz-relay advantages-and-
disadvantages/ (Accessed: 20 May 2023).
5. Admin (2021) How does a Buchholz Relay Work?, MB Drive Services.
Available at: https://mb-drive-services.com/how-does-a-buchholz-relay-work/
(Accessed: 20 May 2023).
6. (No date) Govt. Women Engg. college - gweca.ac.in. Available at:
http://gweca.ac.in/files/section/department/109_Model_Question_Paper_Power_s
ystem_plan ing.pdf (Accessed: 21 May 2023).
AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
CREDIT HOURS ENG. PROGRAM
ENERGY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Major Task
Part (2)
Problems

Name: Hosam Mohamed Elsayed

ID: 20P7985

Bench: 47
AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
CREDIT HOURS ENG. PROGRAM
ENERGY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Major Task
Part (3)

Name: Hosam Mohamed Elsayed

ID: 20P7985

Bench: 47
Question 1:
Fault (1):

Primary protection is Relay 14 so CB7 will trip after 0.1 seconds.

Setting value for relay 14 will be less than or equal to 0.8 minimum short
circuit current.
First Backup Protection is Relay 16 CB2 will trip after 0.4 seconds.
Second Backup Protection is Relay 17 CB1 will trip after 0.7 seconds.
Fault (2):

Setting value for relay 16 will be more than or equal to 1.25 of relay 14
setting value.
Primary Protection is Relay 16 CB2 will trip after 0.4 seconds.
Backup Protection is Relay 17 CB1 will trip after 0.7 seconds.
Fault (3):

Setting value for relay 17 will be more than or equal to 1.25 of relay 16
setting value.
Primary Protection is Relay 17 CB1 will trip after 0.7 seconds.
Backup Protection can be voltage residual.
Question 1 (Double):
• Fault 1:

When a fault occurs, Relay 13, 4, 1, 10, and 11 will identify it. The first CB
to disconnect will be CB5, which is associated with Relay 13 programmed to
trip within 0.1 seconds.
Additionally, CB3 and CB4, connected to Relays 4 and 1 respectively, have a
𝑇𝑠𝑒𝑡 = 0.4 𝑠𝑒𝑐 as a Backup if Relay 13 fails to respond.
Relays 3 and 5 will not detect the fault due to their directional settings being
incompatible.
Relays 10 and 11 act as backup for Relays 4 and 1, with a 𝑇𝑠𝑒𝑡 = 0.7 𝑠𝑒𝑐.
 • Fault (2):

Relays 4, 1, 10, and 11 will identify the fault. Relay 4 and 1 serve as the
primary protection set to trip at 𝑇𝑠𝑒𝑡 = 0.4 𝑠𝑒𝑐,Relays 10 and 11 act as
Backup protection and set to trip at 𝑇𝑠𝑒𝑡 = 0.7 𝑠𝑒𝑐.
Relays 13 and 15 will not detect the fault due to their directional settings
being incompatible.
 Relays 5 and 3 are incapable of identifying the fault due to their role as
directional relays; their directional settings are set opposite to the fault's
direction.
 • Fault (3):

Relays 5, 1, 10, and 13 are the fault detectors. The directional relay 5 will be
the initial one to trip with 𝑇𝑠𝑒𝑡 = 0.1 𝑠𝑒𝑐, followed by Relay 4 𝑇𝑠𝑒𝑡 = 0.4 𝑠𝑒𝑐
and Relays 10 and 11 will function as backup protection.
Relays 1, 3, and 11 will not trip since the tripping of Relay 5 will stop the
fault in the alternate feeder.
Relay 3 will fail to identify the fault due to its orientation being opposite to
the path of the fault.
Question 3:
• Single Line Diagram Using ETAP:
• Full 1 At Load:
 • Sequence Of Operation At Fault 1:

• Comment On Fault 1:
D1 will be primary protection for fault 1.
Residual Overvoltage Protection will be the backup and will send signals to
CBs a1R, a2R, H1, and H2.
• Fault 2 At Busbar:
 • Sequence Of Operation At Fault 2:

• Comment On Fault 2:
The primary and only protection for fault 2 at the busbar is the residual
overvoltage protection Vr that will send signals to a1R, a2R, H1, and H2.
• Fault 3 At Transformer Terminal:
 • Sequence Of Operation At Fault 3:

• Comment On Fault 3:
Primary Protection for fault 3 is Relay A1R.
Backup Protection is residual overvoltage protection that will send signals to
CBs a1R and H1.