Technical Journal

November 2011

Coordination between MV/LV Network and Protection of Distribution Transformer In Electrical Distribution network, Protection coordination between LV circuit breaker located downstream of Transformer and MV circuit breaker located on primary side of the Transformer becomes extremely critical and complicated to ensure proper protection. When a coordination of MV and LV circuit breakers are not carried properly, the resultant is frequent tripping of MV circuit breaker even when a fault is on LV side downstream network. For switching of MV circuit breakers, some time support will be required from local utility company depending on type electrical connection at site which leads to longer down time and production losses. The choice of the protection devices have to consider transient phenomena during which the current may reach values higher than rated current of the Transformer and decays in few seconds. The protection devices should also guarantee that the transformer cannot operate beyond point of maximum thermal overload under short circuit conditions. In accordance to IEC 60076-5 the Transformer is required to withstand value of short circuit current limited to 2 seconds. The below diagram indicates rough profile of the Transformer inrush current curve and corresponding point of withstand for a Transformer.
Withstand point

Inrush current curve

With the above scenario, it is necessary that correct protection is required to be considered both at MV and LV network to avoid unwanted trips and ensure protection release curves are above the inrush current curve and below the withstand point.

Coordination between MV/LV Network and Protection of Distribution Transformer To achieve the protection coordination ensuring both curves (MV and LV curves) to be between these two points and also establish a proper coordination becomes extremely important and critical. Only with protection relays and protection releases which have versatile functionality within can ensure proper coordination The below curve provides clear indication on coordination of protection releases when only standard protection releases are considered on LV circuit breakers. In this case you will observe LV Circuit breaker curve crosses over MV curve at approximately 7.5kA where both MV and LV circuit breakers trip (where maximum short circuit current is around 24kA)

The following curve is developed with an incorporation of protection release which is having additional feature of double short circuit setting in LV circuit breakers.

Coordination between MV/LV Network and Protection of Distribution Transformer

The Protection releases in ABB circuit breakers can be offered with Double S protection function. This function enables two independent and simultaneously active protection thresholds that can be specified. With this feature perfect selectivity is achieved in critical conditions. It can be observed in the picture given here which shows two possible settings for S protections which S and S2.

ABB offers both Air circuit breakers and Moulded case circuit breakers Emax and Tmax range respectively with most advanced protection releases with which perfect selectivity can be achieved between LV and MV circuit breakers. The right selection of protection releases is critical in ensuring effective performance of Electrical network and correct protection for electrical equipments.

In case of further information, please contact

ABB Limited Design Institute 88/3, 88/6, Basavanahalli Village 562123, Bangalore North, Karnataka, INDIA email: Ramprasad.satyam@in.abb.com
004/2011