8.6 Three-phase transformer protection
Protection of three-phase transformers requires that primary and secondary currents of the three
phases be compared individually to achieve differential protection of the three-phase transformer.
The major difference between three-phase transformer protection and that of three single-phase
transformers is the necessity to deal with the effect of a wye–delta transformation. Under normal
load conditions, the currents in the primary and secondary windings are in phase, but the line currents
on the wye and delta sides of the three-phase transformer are out of phase by 30◦. Since current
transformers are usually connected in the line – and not in the winding on the delta side – this
phase shift causes a standing differential current, even when the turns ratio of the main transformer
is correctly taken into account. The difficulty is resolved by connecting the current transformers
in such a manner that they undo the effect of the wye–delta phase shift produced by the main
transformer. The current transformers on the wye side of the power transformer are connected in
delta, and the current transformers on the delta side of the power transformer are connected in wye.
Recall that a delta connection can be made in two ways: one whereby the delta currents lag the
primary currents by 30◦ and the other whereby the delta currents lead the primary currents by 30◦.
It is of course necessary to use the connection which compensates the phase shift created by the
power transformer. The best method of achieving the correct connections is by carefully checking
the flow of the currents in the differential circuits when the power transformer is normally loaded.
Under these conditions, when the CT connections are correct, there will be no (or little) current in
the differential circuit. In addition to the phasing consideration discussed above, it is also necessary
to adjust the turns ratios of the CTs so that the delta connection on the wye side of the power
transformer produces relay currents that are numerically matched with the relay currents produced
by the wye-connected CTs. Thus, the delta CT winding currents must be (1/
√
3) times the wye CT
currents.