Abstract

Inrush current is an important issue for three-phase

transformers security and stability. It has close relationship
with flux variation of three-phase transformers. Harmonic
effects in power systems have been significantly increasing in
the last decade. It results in more complicated for
investigating inrush current. In this paper, SIN
m
(et)
waveforms represent non-sinusoidal waveforms because
studies on SIN
m
(et) waveforms appear to be simpler for
more predictable results. A flux analysis of three-phase
transformer for inrush current is proposed in this paper. The
results are very helpful to estimate harmonics effect for inrush
current.
Keyword: Transient analysis; Transformers; Harmonics
1. Introduction
Three-phase transformers are key components in power
systems and power plants. They are also widely applied to
uninterruptible power supply. Security and stability of
transformers are both important and necessary to system
operation. The large transient current of transformers due to
flux saturation in the core often causes the mal-function of the
protective relaying system, costing time and money as the
engineers have to examine closely the transformer and the
protective system, to check for faults. The large transient
current also causes serious electromagnetic stress impact and
shortens the life of transformers. The overvoltage [1]-[2]
resulting from the inrush current could happen and cause
serious damage to power apparatus. So it is very important to
solve the effect of inrush current.
In recent years, various protective systems for
transformers, based on the differential relaying system, were
developed. Various techniques based on complex circuits or
microcomputers [3]-[6] are proposed to distinguish inrush
current from fault current. However, the transformer still
must bear with large electromagnetic stress impact caused by
the inrush current.
Non-sinusoidal voltage and current have significantly
increased in power system due to broad application of solid-
state controlled devices and fluorescent lamps. Transformer is
the most sensitive component in response to power system
harmonics. As non-sinusoidal harmonics have been generated
from many sources, harmonics flow through many
transformers and cause a compound effect to the power system.
Focusing on the drawbacks of the above protection, an
active suppression method [7]-[8] is developed by our group.
The suppression method is very simple and effective. The flux
of transformers is controlled to non-saturation by developed
method. Non-sinusoidal excitation strongly influences the flux
variation of three-phase transformers. Therefore, it is
necessary to investigate the effect of non-sinusoidal excitation
to flux variation for inrush current. In this paper, a flux
analysis of three-phase transformers for inrush current under
non-sinusoidal excitation is proposed. The maximum flux
value of three-phase transformers is calculated and discussed
in detail. It is very helpful to estimate the effect of active
suppression method for suppressing inrush current.
2. The Proposed Method
2.1 Flux Analysis under Sinusoidal Excitation

Suppose that the connection circuit between three-phase
transformer (AY) and power source is shown in Fig. 1. The
source line voltages in Fig. 1 are

V
RS
=V sine| (1)
V
ST
=V sin(e|-t/3) (2)
V
TR
=V sin(e|-4t/3) (3)

V|
V$
V[
R
S
T
A
B
C
t
R
= t
1
t
S
= t
1
t
T
= t
2
3-Phase
Transformer
3-Phase
Source
Fig. 1. The connection circuit between three-phase transformer and power
source.

Estimation of Transformer Inrush Current under Harmonic Source
C. L. Cheng, S. C. Chern, Q. S. Chen, F. Y. Lin
Department of Electrical Engineering
National Formosa University
Huwei, Yunlin, 632, Taiwan
clcheng@nfu.edu.tw
1081 142440178X/06/$20.002006IEEE PSCE2006
Where the symbol V represents the peak value under
sinusoidal excitation. It is used as compared base value in
following discussion. The source has RST phase sequence.
The switches on lines R, S, T are closed at t
1
, t
1
and t
2
respectively. It is used as compared base value in following
discussion. The flux linkages of A, B, C windings of the three-
phase transformer, are computed as

A
=
)
t
t
RS
dt V
1
=
e
V
(coset + coset
1
) (4)
B
=
)

2
1
2
1
) (
t
t
RS
dt V +
)
t
t
ST
dt V
2
=
e
V
{|
2
1
(zz, et
2
-coset
1
)+cos(et
2
-2t/3 )| cos(e|-t/3)}
=
e
V
{[
2
3
zz, (e|t/2)
2
1
cose|| cos(e|-t/3)} (5)
C
=
)

2
1
2
1
) (
t
t
RS
dt V +
)
t
t
TR
dt V
2
=
e
V
{[
2
1
(zz, et
2
-coset
1
)+cos(et
2
-4t/3)| cos(e|-4t/3)}
=
e
V
{[
2
3
zz, (e|+t/2)
2
1
coset
1
| cos(e|-4t/3)} (6)

Suppose that the switches on lines R, S, T are closed at the
same time, that is t
2
= t
1
, the flux linkages of A, B, C windings
of the three-phase transformer become

A
=
)
t
t
RS
dt V
1
=
e
V
(cose| + cose|) (7)
B
=
e
V
[ cos(e|-t/3)| cos(e|-t/3)| (8)
C
=
e
V
{[
2
3
zz,(e| +t/2)
2
1
cose||cos(e|-4t/3)}
=
e
V
[ cos(e|-4t/3)| cos(e|-4t/3)| (9)
Observing Eqs. (7)-(9), the reachable maximum value of flux
linkages is different depending on t
1
. Suppose that switches on
lines R, S and T are closed at et
1
=t/2, simultaneously. The
reachable maximum absolute values of flux linkages on A, B,
C windings are computed as

,
A
| s
e
V

,
B
| s 1.866
e
V

,
C
| s 1.866
e
V


The reachable maximum value flux linkage on winding A is
e
V
. It is the least value, the same as steady-state condition.
However, the reachable maximum value flux linkage on B and
C windings is 1.866
e
V
, much more than normal value
e
V
.
The relation between line voltage and flux linkage at
et
1
=et
2
=t/2 is shown in Fig. 2. The flux saturation results in
serious inrush current. Besides, the reachable maximum value
of flux linkage on A, B, C windings cannot increase or
decrease simultaneously. This means that the reachable
maximum value of flux linkage cannot be suppressed by
powering on switches A, B, C, simultaneously.
f
l
u
x

l
i
n
k
a
g
e

/

l
i
n
e

v
o
l
t
a
g
e

/

V
Ve
Fig. 2. The relation between line voltage and flux linkage at et1=et2=t/2,
m= 1. (line voltage :VRS /V, :VST /V, :VTR /V, flux linkage
: ,
A
/
e
V
| s , ,,
B
/
e
V
| s 1.866, ,,
C
/
e
V
| s 1.866)
After analyzing flux linkage variation, selecting et
1
=t/2, et
2
=t,
the following results can be obtained from Eqs. (4)-(6).

,
A
| s
e
V

,
B
| s
e
V

,
C
| s
e
V


The reachable maximum absolute values of flux linkages on A,
B, C windings are the least value
e
V
, the same as steady-state
condition. The relation between line voltage and flux linkage
at et
1
=t/2, et
2
=t, is shown in Fig. 3. This cannot cause flux
saturation. Hence the inrush current can be effectively
eliminated.
1082
f
l
u
x

l
i
n
k
a
g
e

/










l
i
n
e

v
o
l
t
a
g
e

/

V
Ve
Fig. 3. The relation between line voltage and flux linkage at et1=t/2, et2=t,
m= 1. (line voltage :VRS /V, :VST /V, :VTR /V, flux linkage
: ,
A

/
e
V
| s , ,,
B
/
e
V
| s 1, ,,
C

/
e
V
| s 1)
2.2 Flux Analysis under Non-sinusoidal Excitation
The distorted sinusoidal waveforms are described by m-
order of sine functions in a convenient and generalized manner
as:
V
RS
=V
max
SIN
m
(et) (10)
V
ST
=V
max
SIN
m
(e|-t/3) (11)
V
TR
=V
max
SIN
m
(e|-4t/3) (12)
Where V
max
is the peak value of voltage, and m is the order of
sinusoidal waveform. Graphs of (10) are presented in Fig. 4.
This function covers a wide spectrum of distortions, which
exist in power system. The advantage of this approach
consists of the fact that only one parameter of the exponent m
can describe the distortion clearly. Strictly speaking, (10)-(12)
are not typical for all distorted waveforms. However, it is
more generalized and predictable for analyses and simulations.
In this paper, only the generalized functions of (10)-(12) are
used.

Fig. 4. The standard distorted excitation function SIN
m
(wt) with same root-
mean-square value Vrms =110 V.
Observing Fig.4, distortion parameter m=1 represents pure
sinusoidal excitation. The discussion of sinusoidal excitation is
presented in above section. Under non-sinusoidal excitation,
distortion parameter m=10 and m=0.1 are discussed as
following respectively. Suppose that three excitations is
measured at same effective value V
rms
=110 V. The peak value
V
max
of line voltage can be calculated with respect to distortion
parameter m=1,10,0.1 under same root-mean-square value
V
rms
=110 V. The calculated results are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 shows the peak value V
max
= 155.7 volt at m=1, V
max
=
262.1 volt at m=10 and V
max
= 121.2 volt at m=0.1.
Table 1. The peak value Vmax of line voltage with respect to distortion
parameter m, under same effective voltage Vrms =110 V.
distortion
parameter m
5 0 0, 0,
V
rms
(volt) 0 0 0 0 0
V
max
(volt) 55,7 ,7 (, 43,9 ,

2.2.1 Distortion parameter m=10
V
RS
=V
max
sin
10
e| (13)
V
ST
=V
max
sin
10
(e|-t/3) (14)
V
TR
=V
max
sin
10
(e|-4t/3) (15)

The source has RST phase sequence. The switches on lines R,
S, T are closed at t
1
, t
1
and t
2
respectively. The flux linkages of
A, B, C windings of the three-phase transformer, are computed
as

A
=
)
t
t
RS
dt V
1
max
1
10240
V
e
=
(-2sin10e| + 25sin8e| -150sin6e|
+600sin4e| -2100sin2e| +2520et)
1
|
t
t
(16)
B
=
)

2
1
2
1
) (
t
t
RS
dt V +
)
t
t
ST
dt V
2
= - max
1
20480
V
e
(-2sin10e| + 25sin8e| -150sin6e| + 600
sin4e| -2100sin2e| +2520et)
2
1
|
t
t
+ max
1
10240
V
e
[-2sin10(e|-
t/3) +25sin8(e|-t/3) -150sin6(e|-t/3) +600sin4(e|-t/3) -
2100sin2(e|-t/3) +2520(e|-t/3)|
2
|
t
t
(17)
C
=
)

2
1
2
1
) (
t
t
RS
dt V +
)
t
t
TR
dt V
2
= - max
1
20480
V
e
(-2sin10e| + 25sin8e| -150sin6e| +600 sin4e| -
2100sin2e| +2520et)
2
1
|
t
t
+ max
1
10240
V
e
[-2sin10(e|-4t/3) +
1083
25sin8(e|-4t/3) -150sin6(e|-4t/3) +600sin4(e|-4t/3) -
2100sin2(e|-4t/3) +2520(e|-4t/3)|
2
|
t
t
(18)

Observing Eqs. (16)-(18), the reachable maximum value of
flux linkages is different depending on t
1
. Suppose that
switches on lines R, S and T are closed at et
1
=et
2
=t/2,
simultaneously. The reachable maximum absolute values of
flux linkages on A, B, C windings are computed as

,
A
| s 0,(5
e
V

,
B
| s 1.289
e
V

,
C
| s 1.302
e
V


The reachable maximum value flux linkage on winding A is
0,bz)
e
V
. It is a small value, less than steady-state condition.
This cannot cause flux saturation. However, the reachable
maximum value flux linkage on B and C windings is
1.289
e
V
and 1.302
e
V
, more than normal value
e
V
. The
relation between line voltage and flux linkage at et
1
=et
2
=t/2
is shown in Fig. 5. The flux saturation results in qz,;(q
inrush current.
1.285
2.569
0
-
2.569
-1.285
1.285
2.57
0
-2.57
-
1.285
Ve
1
1
2
2
3
3
Fig. 5. The relation between line voltage and flux linkage at et1=et2=t/2,
m= 10. (line voltage :VRS /V, :VST /V, :VTR /V, flux linkage
: ,
A

/
e
V
| s 0,(5, ,,
B
/
e
V
| s 1.289, ,,
C

/
e
V
| s 1.302)
Selecting et
1
=t/2, et
2
=t, the following results can be
obtained from Eqs. (16)-(18).

,
A
| s 0,(5
e
V

,
B
| s 0.911
e
V

,
C
| s0.910
e
V


The reachable maximum absolute values of flux linkages on A,
B, C windings are less than
e
V
. The relation between line
voltage and flux linkage at et
1
=t/2,et
2
=t is shown in Fig. 6.
This cannot cause flux saturation. Hence the inrush current
can be effectively eliminated.
Ve
Fig. 6. The relation between line voltage and flux linkage at et1=t/2, et2=t,
m= 10. (line voltage :VRS /V, :VST /V, :VTR /V, flux linkage
: ,
A

/
e
V
| s 0,(5, ,,
B
/
e
V
| s 0,9, ,,
C

/
e
V
| s 0.910)
2.2.2 Distortion parameter m =0.1
V
RS
=V
max
sin
0.1
e| (19)
V
ST
=V
max
sin
0.1
(e|-t/3) (20)
V
TR
=V
max
sin
0.1
(e|-4t/3) (21)

The source has RST phase sequence. The switches on lines R,
S, T are closed at t
1
, t
1
and t
2
, respectively. The flux linkages
of A, B, C windings of the three-phase transformer, are
computed as

0.1
max
1
sin
t
A
t
V tdt e =
)
(22)
B
=
)

2
1
1 . 0
max 2
1
) sin (
t
t
dt t V e
+
)

t
t
dt t V
2
1 . 0
max
)) 3 / 2 ( sin ( t e (23)
C
=
)

2
1
1 . 0
max 2
1
) sin (
t
t
dt t V e
+
)

t
t
dt t V
2
1 . 0
max
)) 3 / 4 ( sin ( t e (24)
Based on MATLAB computation from (22)-(24), the
reachable maximum value of flux linkage is different
depending on t
1
. Suppose that switches on lines R, S and T are
closed at et
1
=et
2
=t/2, simultaneously. The reachable
1084
maximum absolute values of flux linkages on A, B, C
windings are computed as
,
A
| s 1.143
e
V

,
B
| s 1.939
e
V

,
C
| s 1.939
e
V


The reachable maximum value flux linkage on B, C winding is
1.939
e
V
, much more than normal value
e
V
, The relation
between line voltage and flux linkage at et
1
=et
2
=t/2 is shown
in Fig. 7. The flux saturation results in serious inrush current.
Ve

Fig. 7. The relation between line voltage and flux linkage at et1=et2=t/2,
m= 0.1. (line voltage :VRS /V, :VST /V, :VTR /V, flux
linkage : ,
A
/
e
V
| s ,43, ,,
B
/
e
V
| s 1.939, ,,
C
/
e
V
|
s 1.939)
Selecting et
1
=t/2, et
2
=t, the following results can be
obtained from Eqs. (22)-(24).

,
A
| s 1.143
e
V

,
B
| s 1.309
e
V

,
C
| s 1.309
e
V

The reachable maximum value of flux linkage on B, C winding
is 1.309
e
V
, more than normal value
e
V
, The relation between
line voltage and flux linkage at et
1
=t/2,et
2
=t is shown in Fig.
8. This causes minor flux saturation. The minor flux
saturation results in smaller inrush current.
Ve

Fig. 8. The relation between line voltage and flux linkage at et1=t/2, et2=t,
m= 0.1. (line voltage :VRS /V, :VST /V, :VTR /V, flux
linkage : ,
A
/
e
V
| s ,43, ,,
B
/
e
V
| s ,309, ,,
C
/
e
V
| s
1.309)
3. Results and Discussion
A 330VA, 110V/220V single-phase transformer and a
1KVA, 110V/220V three-phase transformer are used for on-
site measurement of inrush current in our laboratory.

3.1 Results under Sinusoidal Excitation
3.1.1 Improper Switching-on
For three-phase transformers, Fig. 9. shows the
experimental result of inrush current (Ip=16A), under et
1
=et
2
=t/2, three-phase transformer banks. The peak value of
the inrush current of winding A, in Fig.9, is effectively
suppressed due to no flux saturation. However, the inrush
current of phases B and C cannot effectively be suppressed
simultaneously. It can be observed that the peak value of the
inrush current of winding C in Fig. 8, Ip= 16A, is more than 5
times the rated phase current.
Fig. 9. Experimental result of inrush current (Ip=16A), under et1 =et2=t/2,
three-phase transformer banks. (1: phase A, 2: phase B, 3: phase C)
3.1.2 Proper Switching-on
According to analysis results of flux linkage variation,
selecting t
1
=4.2ms(et
1
t/2), t
2
=8.8ms(et
2
t), the
experimental result of the inrush current (Ip=2A) is shown in
Fig. 10. The inrush current is effectively suppressed.

1085

Fig. 10. Experimental result of inrush current (Ip=2A), under t1 =
4.2ms, t2 =8.8ms, three-limb three-phase transformers.
(1: phase A, 2: phase B, 3:phase C)
3.2 Influence of Non-sinusoidal Excitation
In this paper, the influences of non-sinusoidal excitation
to flux linkage are investigated in detail. The results are
helpful for suppressing inrush current. Table 2 shows the
comparison of reachable maximum absolute values of flux
linkages on A, B, C windings under various conditions.
Observing Table 2, non-sinusoidal excitation strongly
influences flux saturation of core in three-phase transformers.
Under et
1
=t/2,et
2
=t/2, ); maximum flux linkage on A, B,
C windings is 1.866
e
V
at m=1, 1.302
e
V
at m=10, 1.939
e
V
at
m=0.1. The flux saturation is more serious at m=0.1 and much
less serious at m=10. The similar results exist on other
switching-on conditions. In conclusion, the non-sinusoidal
excitation, more close to m=0.1, causes more serious flux
saturation. On the contrary, the non-sinusoidal excitation,
more lose to m=10, cause less flux saturation. Under
et
1
=t/2,et
2
=t, ); maximum flux linkage on A, B, C
windings is 1
e
V
at m=1, 0.911
e
V
at m=10, 1.309
e
V
at m=0.1.
Flux linkage 1
e
V
is the smallest value among all sinusoidal
excitations m=1. Consequently, switching-on angle of et
1
=t/2,
et
2
=t, can be applied to suppress inrush current very well for
three-phase transformers. However, for non-sinusoidal
excitation m=0.1, the flux linkage 1.309
e
V
at
et
1
=t/2,et
2
=t,is not the least value. Comparing the flux
linkages under non-sinusoidal excitation m=0.1, flux linkage
1.309
e
V
at et
1
=t/2,et
2
=t, is more than 1.275
e
V
at
et
1
=95,et
2
=180. The switching-on angle of et
1
=t/2,et
2
=t,
is no more the best selecting for suppressing inrush current.
By changing switching-on angles, the maximum flux linkage
can be decreased from 1.309
e
V
|z ,75
e
V
z| et
1
=95, et
2
=180.
In conclusion, non-sinusoidal excitation strongly influences
flux saturation and flux saturation can be improved by proper
switching-on.
4. Conclusion
This paper proposed an effective flux analysis of three-
phase transformers in detail for estimating inrush current. The
effect of non-sinusoidal excitation to inrush current is
investigated and discussed in detail. In this paper, m-order
sine functions bring some representative discussions for this
topic. The results can be applied to improve the protective
relaying system of three-phase transformers [9]. Furthermore,
the experimental examination of non-sinusoidal excitation to
inrush current for three-phase transformers is being
investigated in our lab.
5. Acknowledgment
This work is supported by the National Science Council under
research project: NSC93-2213-E150-025.

References
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[2] R. Yacamini and A. Abu Nasser, Transformer Inrush Current and
Their Associated Overvoltage in HVDC Schemes, IEE Proc. Vol. 133,
Pt. C, No. 6, September 1986, 353-358.
[3] P. Lin, O. P. Malik, D. Chen, G. S. Hope, Y. Guo, Improved
Operation of Differential Protection of Power Transformers for
Internal Faults, IEEE PES winter Meeting, New York, January 26-30,
Paper Number 92 WM 206-3 PWRD.
[4] T. S. Sidhu and M. S. Sachdev, 1992, On-Line Identification of
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IEEE PES winter Meeting, New York, January 26-30, Paper Number
92 WM 205-5 PWRD.
[5] Guzman, A., Zocholl, Z., Benmouyal, G., Altuve, H.J., A current-
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Method for Transformer Inrush Current, Proceedings of the
IASTED International Conference on POWER AND ENERGY
m=1 m=10 m=0.1
A B C A B C A B C
et1=et2 =90 1. 1.866 1.866 0.651 1.289 1.302 1.143 1.939 1.939
et1 =90
et2 =180
1. 1 1 0.651 0.911 0.910 1.143 1.309 1.309
et1 =90
et2=170
1 1.152 1.150 0.651 0.952 0.810 1.143 1.160 1.391
et1 =90
et2=190
1 1.151 1.151 0.651 0.800 0.965 1.143 1.391 1.162
et1=100
et2 =180
1.174 1.087 1.087 0.923 1.060 1.060 1.279 1.241 1.241
et1 =85
et2=180
1.087 1.044 1.044 0.796 0.850 0.850 1.210 1.342 1.342
et1 =95
et2 =180
1.088 1.044 1.044 0.797 0.996 0.996 1.211 1.275 1.275
Table 2. The comparison of reachable maximum absolute values of flux linkages
( V / e) on A, B, C windings under various conditions.
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SYSTEMS, April 18-20, 2005, Krabi, Thailand, pp.14-18.
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