Network Protection & Automation Guide
17-6
17.6 DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION OF
GENERATOR-TRANSFORMERS
A common connection arrangement for large generators is to
operate the generator and associated step-up transformer as a
unit without any intervening circuit breaker. The unit
transformer supplying the generator auxiliaries is tapped off
the connection between generator and step-up transformer.
Differential protection can be arranged as follows.
17.6.1 Generator/Step-up Transformer Differential
Protection
The generator stator and step-up transformer can be protected
by a single zone of overall differential protection (Figure 17.8).
This will be in addition to differential protection applied to the
generator only. The current transformers should be located in
the generator neutral connections and in the transformer HV
connections. Alternatively, CTs within the HV switchyard may
be employed if the distance is not technically prohibitive. Even
where there is a generator circuit breaker, overall differential
protection can still be provided if desired.
Figure 17.8: Overall generator-transformer differential protection
The current transformers should be rated according to Section
16.8.2. Since a power transformer is included within the zone
of protection, biased transformer differential protection, with
magnetising inrush restraint should be applied, as discussed in
Section 16.8.5. Transient overfluxing of the generator
transformer may arise due to overvoltage following generator
load rejection. In some applications, this may threaten the
stability of the differential protection. In such cases,
consideration should be given to applying protection with
transient overfluxing restraint/blocking (e.g. based on a 5
th
harmonic differential current threshold). Protection against
sustained overfluxing is covered in Section 17.4.
17.6.2 Unit Transformer Differential Protection
The current taken by the unit transformer must be allowed for
by arranging the generator differential protection as a three-
ended scheme. Unit transformer current transformers are
usually applied to balance the generator differential protection
and prevent the unit transformer through current being seen
as differential current. An exception might be where the unit
transformer rating is extremely low in relation to the generator
rating, e.g. for some hydro applications. The location of the
third set of current transformers is normally on the primary
side of the unit transformer. If located on secondary side of
the unit transformer, they would have to be of an exceptionally
high ratio, or exceptionally high ratio interposing CTs would
have to be used. Thus, the use of secondary side CTs is not to
be recommended. One advantage is that Unit Transformer
faults would be within the zone of protection of the generator.
However, the sensitivity of the generator protection to unit
transformer phase faults would be considered inadequate, due
to the relatively low rating of the transformer in relation to that
of the generator. Thus, the unit transformer should have its
own differential protection scheme. Protection for the Unit
Transformer is covered in Chapter 16, including methods for
stabilising the protection against magnetising inrush
conditions.
17.7 OVERCURRENT PROTECTION
Overcurrent protection of generators may take two forms.
Plain overcurrent protection may be used as the principal form
of protection for small generators, and back-up protection for
larger ones where differential protection is used as the primary
method of generator stator winding protection. Voltage
dependent overcurrent protection may be applied where
differential protection is not justified on larger generators, or
where problems are met in applying plain overcurrent
protection.
17.7.1 Plain Overcurrent Protection
It is usual to apply time-delayed plain overcurrent protection to
generators. For generators rated less than 1MVA, this will
form the principal stator winding protection for phase faults.
For larger generators, overcurrent protection can be applied as
remote back-up protection, to disconnect the unit from any
uncleared external fault. Where there is only one set of
differential main protection, for a smaller generator, the
overcurrent protection will also provide local back-up
protection for the protected plant, in the event that the main
protection fails to operate. The general principles of setting
overcurrent relays are given in Chapter 9.
In the case of a single generator feeding an isolated system,
current transformers at the neutral end of the machine should
energise the overcurrent protection, to allow a response to
winding fault conditions. Relay characteristics should be
selected to take into account the fault current decrement
behaviour of the generator, with allowance for the
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