Restricted Earth Fault Protection of Transformer

Restricted Earth Fault (REF) protection is basically a Differential Protection. The only
difference in between the Differential Protection and REF Protection is that, latter
protection is more sensitive as compared to the former protection scheme. In earlier
posts we have already discussed Differential Protection of Transformer and various
characteristics of Differential Protection. In this post we will focus on Restricted earth
Fault protection.

For the sake of understanding REF Protection, we take a Transformer of configuration

DYn i.e. HV side of Transformer is Delta connected while the LV side is Start connected
and neutral is grounded solidly.

As shown in figure above, there are a total of four Current Transformers (CTs), three
CTs connected in each phase i.e. R, Y and B and one CT connected in neutral. The
secondary of these four CTs are connected in parallel. The parallel connected CT
secondary are then connected to REF Relay Coil. Basically REF protection Relay
element is an over current element.

Under balanced condition i.e. under normal operation the sum of currents through the
secondary of CTs will be zero and current in neutral CT will also be zero. But as soon
as a fault takes place in the secondary winding of Transformer, the current in R, Y and
B phase will no longer be balanced. Also under earth fault a current will flow through the

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neutral CT. Because of this unbalance, the summation of current will not be zero but it
will have some finite value and hence the relay will pick up. It shall be noted that for a
fault outside the Transformer i.e. for through fault Restricted Earth Fault Protection will
not operate as in this case of through fault, the vector sum of currents in CT secondary
will be zero. This is the reason; such kind of protection scheme is for restricted zone
and hence called Restricted Earth Fault Protection.

Now, it is normal to ask that Differential Protection is also a zone protection and it
shall operate for any internal fault in Transformer, then why do we need extra
Restricted Earth Fault Protection?

This is really a very smart question. See, what happens is, the setting of differential
protection is normally kept at 20%. So, differential relay shall pick if the differential
current exceeds 0.2 A. Now let us consider a case where earth fault occurs just near the
neutral point as shown in figure below.

Since the location of fault is very near to the neutral point, the voltage driving the fault
current will be very less and hence the reflection of such a low current in primary side of
transformer will also will be low. Thus in such case, Transformer differential protection
may not operate as its setting is quite high at 20%. Therefore for protection of
Transformer from such a fault we need more sensitive protection scheme which is
implemented by using Restricted Earth Fault Protection. The sensitivity of REF
protection is superior as compared to Differential Protection. Normally the setting of
REF protection is kept as low as 5%. Basically the sensitivity of REF protection
increases as we are using CT in neutral of transformer and whenever an earth fault take
place it is damn sure that current will complete its path through the neutral and hence
increasing the sensitivity of REF protection.

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