8.4.2 Harmonic content of the inrush current
As we will see shortly, the false operation of a percentage differential relay for a transformer is
prevented by taking advantage of the fact that the inrush current is rich in harmonic components,
while the fault current is a pure fundamental frequency component (except for a possible decaying
DC component). Let us calculate the harmonic components of a typical inrush current waveform.
We will assume a simplified waveform for the inrush current. Let the magnetizing characteristic be
a vertical line in the –i plane, and be a straight line with a finite slope in the saturated region. This
makes the current waveform of Figure 8.6(a) acquire the shape shown in Figure 8.7. The flux in the
core is above the saturation knee point for a total angular span of 2α radians, and the corresponding
current is a portion of a sine wave. For the remainder of the period, the current is zero. Although
this is an approximation, it is quite close to an actual magnetizing current waveform. We may use
Fourier series analysis to calculate the harmonics of this current. Consider the origin to be at the