8/18/23, 11:03 PM (99+) CALCULATION OF LINE-GROUND FAULT CURRENTS IN A THREE-WINDING TRANSFORMER (WYE-WYE WITH …

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CALCULATION OF LINE-
GROUND FAULT
CURRENTS IN A THREE-
WINDING
TRANSFORMER (WYE-
WYE WITH BURIED
DELTA)
Nikhil Ardeshna, P.Eng, P.E. 1 article Following
Sr. Electrical Engineer

September 9, 2020

Open Immersive Reader

AUTHORS:

Nikhil Ardeshna P.Eng, P.E, Sr. Electrical Engineer, Actemium

Canada

Stephen Hill, CET, Engineering Manager, Actemium Canada

ABSTRACT:

There are many references available on the calculation of

fault currents involving transformers (Delta-Wye or Wye-
Wye or Delta-Delta) for various types of faults (3-Phase,
Line-Ground, Line-Line or Line-Line-Ground) on either side
of the transformer but very limited references are available
on the fault currents involving a Three-Winding
Transformer (Wye-Wye and buried tertiary (Delta) winding).
Line-Ground (L-G) fault on the Primary and Secondary side
are discussed in this white paper. Calculation of L-G fault

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8/18/23, 11:03 PM (99+) CALCULATION OF LINE-GROUND FAULT CURRENTS IN A THREE-WINDING TRANSFORMER (WYE-WYE WITH …

currents on Primary, Secondary and Buried Tertiary winding

are important for proper relay settings.

INTRODUCTION:

In a three-winding transformer with Wye-Wye Buried

Tertiary (Delta), the Tertiary winding does not serve loads
and hence also called Buried Stabilizing Winding. The
corner of the Delta winding shall be grounded, and this is
done in a couple of ways. Either only one terminal of the
Delta corner will be brought out or two terminals are
brought outside, and the Delta is formed using a link
between the two bushings. The advantages of adding the
buried Delta in a Wye-Wye transformer:

1. It stabilizes the neutral point of the fundamental

frequency voltages when the neutral is not grounded

2. It provides a circulating path for 3rd harmonics

3. It provides a path for balancing currents when the

transformer Secondary must supply unbalanced loads

The three-winding transformer considered in this paper has

its Primary Wye solidly grounded and Secondary Wye
grounded using a 400A, 20 Ohm Neutral Grounding
Resistor (NGR).

CALCULATION:

In this paper, calculation of fault currents for the following

cases have been discussed:

CASE 1: L-G Fault on Secondary side

CASE 2: L-G Fault on Primary side

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THREE WINDING TRANSFORMER:

Typical impedances available from the manufacturer for this

three-winding transformer are shown below:

ZPS – Leakage imp. measured on Primary side with

Secondary shorted and Tertiary open

ZPT – Leakage imp. measured on Primary side with

Secondary open and Tertiary shorted

ZST – Leakage imp. measured on Secondary side with

Primary side open and Tertiary shorted

The impedances of each winding can be calculated as:

For the calculation scenarios in this paper, the following

values are assumed:

CASE 1: L-G FAULT ON SECONDARY

SIDE (13.8KV)

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Positive, Negative and Zero sequence impedance network

diagram is shown below in Fig. 3. Pre-fault voltage assumed
as 1.05 pu. 

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CASE 2: L-G FAULT ON PRIMARY

SIDE (69kV)

Positive, Negative and Zero Sequence impedance network

diagram is shown below in Figures 7 & 8. Pre-fault voltage
assumed as 1.05 pu. 

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CONCLUSION:

Depending on the fault location, currents flowing on

primary and secondary side are calculated. These
calculations are necessary for the ground fault relay
protection settings. Please note the sample calculation does
not account for any source on secondary side.

REFERENCES:

1. Protective Relaying – Principles and Applications, 3rd

Edition by J. Lewis Blackburn and Thomas J. Domin.

2. IEEE C57.158-2017 - IEEE Guide for the Application of

Tertiary and Stabilizing Windings in Power Transformers
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Published by
Nikhil Ardeshna, P.Eng, P.E. 1 article Following
Sr. Electrical Engineer
Published • 2y

Actemium Canada, Stephen Hill

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Khaleel Ahmed Mohammed and 33 others

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Venky V. • 2nd 2y
Engineering Manager

Well written and informative.

Thank you for sharing.

Like Reply · 1 Reply

Nikhil Ardeshna, P.Eng, P.E. • Following 2y

Sr. Electrical Engineer

Thank you Venky V.

Like Reply

Guru Dalip • 3rd+ 2y

CSU Electrical Supervisor at Bechtel Oil, Gas, & Chemicals

Excellent work Nikhil! Thanks for sharing

Like · 1 Reply · 1 Reply

Nikhil Ardeshna, P.Eng, P.E. • Following 2y

Sr. Electrical Engineer

Thank you Guru Dalip

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