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NEC Article 450 // Transformers Vaults

Transformer protection consists of both overload protection and short circuit protection. Overload protection is usually accomplished via proper selection of the secondary overcurrent protective device.

An example of transformer overload and short circuit protection (photo credit: ABB; Mariano Berrogain)
An example of transformer overload and short circuit protection (photo credit: ABB; Mariano Berrogain)

NEC Article 450 gives specific primary and secondary overcurrent device ratings that may not be exceeded. These vary depending upon the accessibility of the transformer to unqualified persons and the impedance of the transformer.

The smallest protective device that allows the rated full-load current of the transformer gives the best practical overcurrent protection.

Increasing the secondary overcurrent device size beyond this may be necessary for short-term overloads or for coordination with downstream devices, but in any case the requirements of NEC Article 450 must be met!

Short circuit protection involves comparison of the transformer damage curve per IEEE Std. C57.109-1993 with the primary overcurrent device time-current characteristic. In general, the damage curve must be to the right and above the primary overcurrent device characteristic.

Another constraint on the primary overcurrent device is that it must be capable of withstanding the inrush of the transformer without tripping (and without damage for currentlimiting fuses).


Example //

An example time-current characteristic showing protection for a 1000 kVA 13.2 kV Delta:

480 Y/277 V, 5.75%Z dry-type transformer is shown in Figure 1. The transformer is protected with a 65E current-limiting primary fuses and a 1200 A electronic-trip secondary circuit breaker. As can be seen from the figure, the fuses do withstand the inrush without damage since the inrush point is to the left and below the fuse minimum melt curve.

Example protection for a 1000 kVA, 13.2 kV Delta: 480 Y/277V, 5.75%Z dry-type transformer
Figure 1 – Example protection for a 1000 kVA, 13.2 kV Delta: 480 Y/277V, 5.75%Z dry-type transformer

The transformer is protected from short circuits by the primary fuses. The secondary circuit breaker provides overload protection at the full-load current of the transformer. Note that the primary fuse and secondary circuit-breaker characteristics overlap for high fault currents; this is unavoidable and is considered acceptable. Note also that the fuse curve and the transformer damage curve overlap; this is unavoidable but these should overlap at the lowest current possible.

For currents below the fuse/transformer damage curve overlap the secondary circuit breaker must protect the transformer.

The lower the point of overlap, the more likely the fault is an external fault on the load side of the secondary circuit breaker and therefore greater chance the secondary circuit breaker will effectively protect the transformer for faults in this region.

Also note that the transformer damage characteristic is shown twice. Because transformer is a delta-wye transformer, a ground-fault on the secondary side of the transformer will result in only 57.7% of the maximum three-phase primary fault current while one secondary winding experiences the full fault current.


This is illustrated in Figure 2, as well as the corollary for delta-delta transformers.

Fault-current flow for delta-wye transformer L-N faults and delta-delta transformer L-L faults
Figure 2 – Fault-current flow for delta-wye transformer L-N faults and delta-delta transformer L-L faults

The damage characteristic has therefore been shifted to 57.7% of its published value to account for secondary line-to-ground faults. Also, the shifted curve has another, more conservative curve shown; this is the frequent-fault curve and is applicable only to the secondary overcurrent device since faults between the transformer secondary and the secondary overcurrent protective device should not be frequent.

Additional devices, such as thermal overload alarms/relays and sudden-pressure relays, are also available for protection of transformers. These are typically specified with the transformer itself and can provide very good protection. However, even if these devices are installed the primary and secondary overcurrent devices must be coordinated with the transformer as described above.

Differential protection for transformers is very effective for transformer internal faults.

If differential protection is supplied it is the primary protection for internal faults and will operate before the primary overcurrent device. The primary overcurrent device serves as a backup protective device for internal faults in this case.

Reference: System Protection – Bill Brown, P.E., Square D Engineering Services

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Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

7 Comments


  1. Felipe Sikat
    Apr 03, 2021

    Good day,
    In the Philippines, it is very common to see 3 single phase transformers, the 3, 230vac secondary windings are connected in delta.
    However, the center tap of each transformer are joined together and then grounded. To my surprise, when the power is ON, no explosion happens, the delta connected transformer secondary is 230 vac.
    Theoretically is it really possible to do that, well in fact previously only one of the center taps of the delta secondary winding is grounded.
    Thanks for any explanation on this regards.


  2. somnath
    Jan 06, 2016

    dear sir , i want to overload the transformer by using variable resistor and my aim is to measure the temperature rise of the transformer, so please tell me how i will do it, or u may suggest me any other possible method to overload a transformer. please mail me if possible ([email protected])


  3. Dharmendra
    Feb 12, 2015

    Hello

    Sir

    How we calculate 2 phase power for three phase we know this formula p=sqr3(V.I.pf)


  4. VIPIN K MATHEWS
    Feb 05, 2015

    Hi
    I am not an EE. I need your help to choose a device which can protect my home appliances. The power issue happened thrice last year and I lost my washing machine, LED TV(burnt off). The issue was sometimes when the line wires touches together the electricity appears in both phase and neutral of the power plugs and the appliances got burnt off. Is there any device can drip / protect the house from such issue. I have seen ELCB was not dripping on that day at my neighbour house when electricity appeared in both phase and neutral of the plug points.

    Expect your suggestion…
    Thanks
    Vipin


    • swamy
      Feb 09, 2015

      Good site


    • swamy
      Feb 09, 2015

      Dear Vipin
      I think your house is having 3 phase supply and at the incoming side you might have installed 4 pole MCB if due to mechanism fault the 4th pole which is neutral does not connect such problems arise replace 4 pole MCB with 3 pole and solidly connecting the neutral


  5. faisal
    Jan 29, 2015

    Better if videos are provided.

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