Protecting Oil Type Transformer with Buchholz Relay

Introduction to Buchholz Relay

Buchholz relay is a gas-actuated relay installed in oil immersed transformers for protection against all kinds of faults. Named afteri ts inventor mr. Max Buchholz (1875–1956) in 1921, relay is used to produce an alarm in case of incipient (i.e.slow-developing) faults in the transformer and to disconnect the transformer from the supply in the event of severe internal faults.

It is usually installed in the pipe connecting the conservator to the main tank. It is a universal practice to use Buchholz relays on all such oil immersed transformers having ratings in excess of 750 kVA. The Buchholz relay is a protective rely for equipment immersed in oil for insulating and cooling purpose.

The Buchholz relay operates even on very slight faults which are just in process of developing, so that greater damage may be prevented.

Protection Range

The relay is particularly effective in case of:

1. Falling oil level owing to leaks
2. Short circuited core laminations
3. Short – circuits between phases
4. Broken-down core bolt insulation
5. Earth faults
6. Bad contacts
7. Puncture of bushing insulators inside tank
8. Overheating of some part of the windings

In the event of a fault, oil or insulations decomposes by heat, producing gas or developing an impulse oil flow. To detect these phenomena, a Buchholz relay is installed.

Construction and technical characteristics

Casing Non porous weatherproof compact casting of light aluminium alloy painted.

Cover Non porous weatherproof compact casting of light aluminium alloy painted. On the cover are located : the terminal box, the valve of pneumatic test, the breather cock, the button for mechanical test of alarm and trip circuits.

Inspection windows Special tempered glass with graduated scale in cm³.

Contacts – They can be mercury switches or magnetic actuated switches (reed contacts). On request it’s possible to supply change-over switches.

Switches characteristics
Rated voltage: 24 ÷ 250V AC or DC
Rated current: 0,5 A (10000 tests)
Breaking capacity: 2 A AC (cos = 0,4 ÷ 25% – 50Hz) 2A DC (T = L / R = 40 msec).

Mechanical protection degree IP 54

Insulation 2000V 50Hz between terminals and earth for a 60 seconds time.

Working temperature Oil temperature range: – 25 / +115°C.

Vibration test (in normal operative conditions)
Oscillation amplitude: 2mm
Time diagram:
0Hz ÷ 100Hz 30 sec.
100Hz (200 vibrations/sec.) 60 sec.
100Hz ÷ 0Hz. 30 sec.

Contacts capacity to withstand vibrations
Mercury sw: 150 horizontal vibrations/sec. (75Hz) first signals of closing contacts 120 vertical vibrations/sec. (75Hz) first signals of closing contacts.
Magnetic sw: 200 horizontal vibrations/sec. (100Hz) no one signal of closing contacts 200 vertical vibrations/sec. (100Hz) no one signal of closing contacts.

Function of Buchholz relay

In the following the operation of a Buchholz relay is explained using the example of a double-float  Buchholz relay. The relay is built in the connecting pipe between the transformer tank and the  conservator. During normal operation it is filled completely with insulating liquid.

Due to buoyancy the  floats are at their top position. If a fault occurs inside the transformer, the Buchholz relay responds as  follows:

Gas accumulation

Fault: Free gas is available in the insulating  liquid.

Response: The gas in the liquid moves upwards, accumulates in the Buchholz relay and displaces the insulating liquid level. The moving float actuates a switch contact (magnet contact tube). An alarm signal is tripped. The lower float is not affected as from a certain gas volume the gas flows through a piping to the conservator.

Insulating liquid loss

Fault: Insulating liquid loss due to leakage.

Response: As the liquid level falls the top float moves downward. An alarm is tripped. If the liquid loss continues, conservator and piping as well as the Buchholz relay will be emptied. As the liquid level falls, the lower float moves downward. The moving float actuates a switch contact so that the transformer is disconnected.

Insulating liquid flow

Fault: A spontaneous incident generates a pressure wave moving in the direction of the conservator.

Response: The liquid flow reaches a damper arranged in the liquid flow. If the flow rate exceeds the operating threshold of the damper, the latter moves in flow direction. Due to this movement a switch contact is actuated so that the transformer is disconnected.

The upper and lower switching system form a functional unit in the single-float Buchholz relay. In case of a fault, the single-float Buchholz relay normally isolates the transformer immediately from the mains system.

Wiring Diagrams

Standard Wiring Diagram

Mounting Sketch

References:

1. Terman – Buchholz relay broshure
2. EMB Elektromotoren und Gerätebau Barleben GmbH – Transformer Protection Relays (Buchholz Principle)