Application Guide

Volume V

AG2010-04

Setting the SEL-387A REF Element

for a Typical Medium-Voltage,
Low-Resistance-Grounded Transformer
Rekha T. Jagaduri

INTRODUCTION
A common power transformer configuration for industrial plants supplying radial mediumvoltage distribution systems uses delta-wye power transformers that are low-resistance grounded
to reduce the single-line-to-ground fault current magnitude. Typically, the single-line-to-ground
fault current magnitude is limited to 400 A by sizing the neutral grounding resistor accordingly.
The differential elements (87R and 87U) in the SEL-387A Current Differential and Overcurrent
Relay may not be sensitive enough to detect internal single-line-to-ground faults in the wye
winding. To improve sensitivity, apply one of the two optional restricted earth fault (REF)
protection elements. Also known as directional ground (67G) or zero-sequence neutral
differential protection (87N), REF uses ground current in the transformer neutral as a polarizing
reference and zero-sequence current derived from the calculated residual current (IG or 3I0) as its
operating quantity to detect single-line-to-ground faults in the transformer wye winding. Tripping
is supervised by zero-sequence current thresholds and a positive-sequence current restraint
setting.
As shown in Figure 1, the REF element should be used to provide sensitive protection for
winding-to-ground faults in the wye-connected, low-side transformer winding. The element is
restricted in the sense that protection is restricted to ground faults within a zone defined by
neutral CTs (current transformers) and low-side phase CTs. This application guide provides two
REF application examples that can be used to develop REF settings for the SEL-387A.

Figure 1

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Resistance-Grounded Delta-Wye Transformer

SEL Application Guide 2010-04

APPLYING THE REF ELEMENT

The REF element in the SEL-387A uses a directional element (32I) that measures the phase angle
between the transformer neutral current (IN) and the winding residual current (IG). This
measurement determines the direction if there is a fault inside or outside of the protected
(restricted) zone.
Figure 1 shows a low-resistance-grounded delta-wye transformer with a medium-voltage 400 A,
low-resistance-grounded system low side. The REF element shown in Figure 1 can typically
distinguish between internal and external faults. However, an REF element cannot detect ground
faults close to the neutral point of the low-resistance-grounded-connected transformer, as
explained in [1].
For the examples in this application guide, we use an SEL-387A ordered with a secondary input
current option of 5 A phase, 5 A neutral, including 2xREF elements (part number
0387A0xxxxxX3xx, where a lowercase x indicates a flexible option).
The residual current sensitivity threshold (50GP2) associated with setting the REF element must
be checked. The following two criteria must be satisfied to determine the threshold:

The 50GPn setting must be greater than any natural 3I0 unbalance caused by load
conditions.

The 50GPn setting must be greater than a minimum value determined by the relationship
of the CTRn values used in the REF function. Use (1) to determine the second criterion
for 50GPn.
50GPn = 0.05 Inom

CTRn
CTRN

(1)

Figure 2, Figure 3, and Figure 4 show the REF logic using the second REF element available in
the relay. Thresholds a0|I1W1| and a0|I1W2| in Figure 2 are fixed positive-sequence current restraint
factors used to ensure that the ratio of zero-sequence to positive-sequence current is above a
threshold (a01 setting, in this example) for REF element security (e.g., CT saturation during a
three-phase fault) [2].

Figure 2

SEL Application Guide 2010-04

REF Enable/Block Logic

Date Code 20100512

In Figure 3, we see that the relay enables the 32I directional element (forward or reverse) by
calculating a torque product (real part of the operating current [Iop] product and polarizing
current conjugate [Ipol*]). The 32In element calculates the real part of IOP times IPOL* (IPOL
complex conjugate). This equates to |IOP| times |IPOL| times the cosine of the angle between
them. The result is positive if the angle is within 90 degrees, indicating a forward or internal
fault. The result is negative if the angle is greater than +90 degrees or less than 90 degrees,
indicating a reverse or external fault. The relay compares the output of the 32I element to positive
and negative thresholds to ensure security for very small currents or for an angle very near
+90 or 90 degrees. If the 32I output exceeds the threshold test, it must persist for at least
1.5 cycles before the Relay Word bit 32IF2 (forward) or 32IR2 (reverse) asserts. Assertion of
32IF2 constitutes a decision to trip by the REF function [3]. This calculation is allowed if the two
Relay Word bits 32IE and 50GC2 assert (AND2).
A second path for assertion of the 32IF2 Relay Word bit is shown in Figure 3. This bypass of the
normal REF logic is used for situations where the line-end breaker is open and the wye-side
transformer terminals are isolated from the power system, but a fault to ground on the wye
transformer winding is fed from another energized transformer winding. The AND1 gate asserts
if 32IE2 is asserted but 50GC2 (residual current pickup) is not. This assertion indicates that the
neutral current is above pickup but 50GCn is not asserted, indicating no line-end current flow.
This logic covers the situation of an internal wye-winding fault with the line-end breaker open.

Figure 3

Figure 4

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REF Directional Element

REF Protection Output

SEL Application Guide 2010-04

APPLICATION EXAMPLES
This section covers two application examples with SEL-387A REF protection settings and logic
settings.

Application 1: 69/4.16 kV Transformer

Application 1 is an SEL-387A installed to protect a 69/4.16 kV, 11.2 MVA ONAN (oil natural air
natural) 65-degree-rating power transformer with high-side C800 1200:5 multiratio CTs, low-side
C400 2000:5 CTs, and a C50 200:5 neutral CT.

Application 2: 13.8/4.16 kV Transformer

Application 2 is an SEL-387A installed on a 13.8/4.16 kV, 16.8 MVA ONAN 65-degree-rating
power transformer with high-side C400 1200:5 CTs, low-side C400 2000:5 CTs, and a C50 200:5
neutral CT.

Settings
Table 1 and Table 2 show the SEL-387A REF protection settings and logic settings for
Applications 1 and 2. The dc schematic from which the logic settings were derived is shown in
Figure 5.
Table 1 87T and REF Protection Settings for Applications 1 and 2
Protection Settings

Description

Application 1

Application 2

!CTS21

E32I

Enable 32I2 (SELOGIC control equation)

!CTS2

32IOP2

Operating quantity from W2

a02

Positive-sequence current restraint factor

0.02

0.02

Residual current sensitivity threshold

2.5

2.5

50GP2

Table 2 Logic Settings for Applications 1 and 2

Logic Settings

Application 1 and Application 2

TR1

51P1T

TR2

51P2T + 51NN2T

TR3

87U + 87R + REFP2

OUT101

TRIP1 + TRIP3

OUT102

TRIP2 + TRIP3

OUT103

TRIP3

The CTSn Relay Word bit is the result of a CT saturation detection algorithm in the relay. The inverted
CTS output (!CTSn) is used to enable the 32I2 element and block the REF function on false I0 during CT
saturation.

Note that a setting of 50GP2:= 2.5 A secondary = 2.5 40 = 100 A primary provides REF protection for
75 percent of the secondary winding.

SEL Application Guide 2010-04

Date Code 20100512

+DC

+DC
+DC
SEL-387A
(Partial)
A17
IN101

A19
IN102

A18

A20

52 1
a

52 2
a

A05
A09
OUT103

A15

A06

A16

Alarm

A10

86T
b Trip
ANN

+ Z25
Power
Supply
Z26

A01

GND
Z27

A03

OUT101

OUT102

A02

A04

52 1
a

Fail
ANN

86T
a

52 2
a
52 2
TC

52 1
TC

86T
OP

DC

DC

86T
a

DC

Remaining:
4 Inputs (IN103IN106)
3 Outputs (OUT104, OUT106, OUT107)

Figure 5

General DC Schematic

INFERENCE
Typically, the ground overcurrent pickup on a 400 A grounded system is set less than or equal to
200 A primary to ensure that the element will pick up for most single-line-to-ground faults.
Therefore, a 100 A primary REF pickup is acceptable for most applications. In the previous
examples, the REF element provides protection for 75 percent of the transformer winding
(assume fault resistance Rf = 0). This is shown in Figure 6, which is a linear relation between the
fault current in A primary and the percentage of secondary winding [1].
450
400

IF, Fault Current in A

350
300
250
200
REF Pickup
150
100
50
0
0

20

25

40

60

80

100

120

Percent of Secondary Winding

Figure 6

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REF Element Characteristic

SEL Application Guide 2010-04

In Figure 6, IF is defined by (2).

VL L
3
I F = (Percent of Secondary Winding)
R

(2)

where:
VLL = line-to-line system voltage
R = neutral ground resistance
Therefore, for the Application 1 and Application 2 examples, the minimum fault current is the
following:
4160

I F = 0.25 3 = 100 A
6

(3)

CONCLUSION
Applying the REF (67G or 87N) element in an SEL-387A for a low-resistance-grounded power
transformer is relatively straightforward. This application improves detection of low-side
transformer single-line-to-ground faults without the need to set a reverse ground directional
element in the relay for a low-side main breaker.

REFERENCES
[1]

C. Labuschagne and I. van der Merwe, A Comparison Between High-Impedance and LowImpedance Restricted Earth-Fault Transformer Protection, proceedings of the Minnesota
Power Systems Conference, St. Paul, MN, November 2005. Available:
http://www.selinc.com.

[2]

N. Fischer, D. Haas, and D. Costello, Analysis of an Autotransformer Restricted Earth

Fault Application, proceedings of the 34th Annual Western Protective Relay Conference,
Spokane, WA, October 2007. Available: http://www.selinc.com.

[3]

SEL-387A Instruction Manual. Available: http://www.selinc.com.

SEL Application Guide 2010-04

Date Code 20100512

FACTORY ASSISTANCE
We appreciate your interest in SEL products and services. If you have questions or comments,
please contact us at:
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
2350 NE Hopkins Court
Pullman, WA 99163-5603 USA
Telephone: +1.509.332.1890
Fax: +1.509.332.7990
www.selinc.com info@selinc.com

Date Code 20100512

SEL Application Guide 2010-04

2010 by Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.

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the trademark or registered trademark of their respective
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permission.
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U.S. and Foreign patents.

SEL Application Guide 2010-04

*AG2010-04*
Date Code 20100512