Improved operation of differential protection of power transformers for internal faults

The possibility of nonoperation of second-harmonic restraint differential protection in the case of internal faults of power transformers was studied. The smaller the setting for harmonic restraint, the longer will likely be the time delay in the operation of the relay. To study this aspect, various internal faults and inrush conditions were tested on a physical model of a three-phase transformer in the laboratory. The data were analyzed by different protection algorithms. Based on the results of these studies, modified schemes for improved operation for internal faults are presented