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Anonymous Poster #1

MV/LV Transformer Winding Configuration

06/03/2024 5:51 AM

The decision has been made to operate the low voltage system ungrounded. The low voltage system receives power from the MV/LV transformer, and the MV system, which is high resistance grounded. Which winding configuration is more suitable for the MV/LV transformer: Delta-Wye (wye neutral ungrounded) or Delta-Delta? The loads do not contain any single-phase loads.

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Guru

Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 1367
Good Answers: 105
#1

Re: MV/LV Transformer Winding Configuration

06/03/2024 10:46 PM

That is a particularly bad decision. High Resistance grounding offers many compelling advantages over ungrounded, so it is obvious that little to no research was executed towards this decision. If the MV system is high resistance grounded, that is unusual, because of the charging current magnitude, assuming MV is 2.3kV to 4.16kV, of higher. It would be more likely to be medium resistance grounded, 200A or higher, to provide ground fault selectivity and the low voltage system would be high resistance grounded, with all of the advantages of ungrounded operation, and none of the disadvantages.

Delta-Wye would be the obvious transformer winding, allowing Line to Neutral loads, although most facilities use additional transformers for small L-N loads attached to the main transformer. This saves carrying a full rated neutral through your distribution, cost and reliability considerations. KIS.

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Anonymous Poster #1
#3
In reply to #1

Re: MV/LV Transformer Winding Configuration

06/04/2024 12:58 AM

Yeah, it is medium resistance grounded about 55A. Actually, we don't have any line to neutral loads at low voltage (0.69kV)

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Guru

Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 1367
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#6
In reply to #3

Re: MV/LV Transformer Winding Configuration

06/04/2024 9:15 AM

You must have some new technology that allows you to sense ground faults on your MV system down to 5-6 amperes, protecting for ground faults down to the bottom 10% of your windings. Sensitivity of ground fault protective devices was the reason that no lower than 200A ground resistor was used on MV distribution systems. You need enough current so the GF sensors (zero sequence sensors, 20A at 4kV for example) actually work reliably.

The ringing and high transient voltages for certain arcing faults on your ungrounded LV system, plus the ability to trace & locate your ground fault are two of the advantages of HR grounding. Maybe your distribution system is so simple that ground faults are a rare and/or easily located event. Also KIS.

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Guru

Join Date: May 2018
Location: Under the spreading Bunya Trees, South Burnett, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 807
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#2

Re: MV/LV Transformer Winding Configuration

06/04/2024 12:46 AM

How do you plan to protect the LV phases should a ground fault occur with no earth reference on that configuration? One phase could have an earth fault and it is not until you get a second earth fault on another phase will the failures become obvious.

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Anonymous Poster #1
#4
In reply to #2

Re: MV/LV Transformer Winding Configuration

06/04/2024 12:59 AM

We have an insulation monitoring system (from bender) to monitor the ground faults.

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Power-User

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 343
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#5
In reply to #4

Re: MV/LV Transformer Winding Configuration

06/04/2024 2:51 AM

Will the Insulation monitoring system that you propose to have, identify the faulty feeder as well or it will just say there is an earth fault in so and so phase in the system.

I too feel (like other learned contributors to the post) that High resistance grounding is the appropriate thing to adopt.

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