Three-Phase Transformers

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Chapter 5. Three-Phase Transformers
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Three-Phase
Transformers
1/33
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Objective
This chapter presents a general summary of three-phase
transformers and its practical aspects related to the
operation in AC steady-state systems.
Dr. Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt 2/33

Introduction
3/33
Introduction
• A power transformer is defined as:
• "A power transformer a static piece of apparatus with two

or more windings which, by electromagnetic induction,
transforms a system of alternating voltage and current into
another system of voltage and current usually of different
values and at the same frequency for the purpose of
transmitting electrical power.“
• BS EN 60076-1:2011, Power transformers, Part 1: General.

Sub-section 3.1.1 of Terms and definitions General.

Introduction
• In the UK high-voltage, long-distance transmission systems
operate at 275 kV and 400 kV;
• Distribution systems operate most commonly at 132 kV, 66 kV

and 33 kV, with local systems operating at 11 kV down to
415 V.
• All of these systems have three-phases.
• Transmission and distribution systems operate at high voltages

in order to reduce loses and improve efficiency.
• However, it is clear that for such systems to work three-phase

transformers are required to link sections operating at different
voltages.
basics
Three-phase transformer
6/33
Three-phase transformer basics
• The primary windings of three identical single-phase
transformers are connected to a 3-phase supply, and each
winding is connected between a pair of lines. That situation
is depicted in Fig. 5.1(a).
a1 c1
a2 b1
b2 c2
1 2 3
a1
a2
(a) Single-phase transformers connected to a three-phase supply: three-phase transformer bank.

Fig. 5.1. Three-phase transformer arrangements: (a) bank and (b) unit. Magnetic flux directions
are shown.
• Under normal balanced conditions, the three voltages, and
consequently the three fluxes, are mutually displaced by
120, so that 1 +  2 +  3 = 0
• If the three transformers are placed side-by-side, with a
common yoke top and bottom, there is no need to provide a
return path for the flux. This arrangement, shown in Fig.
5.1(b), is the very common 3-limb construction.
(b) Three-limb transformer:
1  2  3 Three-phase transformer unit.
a1 b1 c1
a2 b2 c2
Fig. 5.1. Three-phase transformer
arrangements: (a) bank and (b) unit.
Magnetic flux directions are shown.
• In Fig. 5.2(b), the lengths of the magnetic paths for the
three phases are not quite equal, and the magnetising
currents are consequently not balanced, with the centre
phase being lower.
• Very large transformers use the five-limb construction of
Fig. 5.2., which has windings only on the centre three
limbs.
1  2  3
(b) Three-limb transformer:
Three-phase transformer unit.
a1 b1 c1
a2 b2 c2
Fig. 5.1. Three-phase transformer
arrangements: (a) bank and (b) unit.
Magnetic flux directions are shown.
• Five limb transformers have balanced phases, but because
the yokes and outer limbs carry only half the flux of the
centre limbs their size can be reduced.
• The reduction in height can ease transportation difficulties.
1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1  2  2 3 3
2 2 2 2 2 2
These heights are

reduced because
1 2 3 the yoke flux is
reduced
Fig. 5.2. Illustrative example of a 3-phase 5-limb transformer core. Magnetic flux directions
are shown.

• A 3-phase transformer bank costs less, weighs less,
requires less floor space and has a slightly higher
efficiency than three single-phase transformers of the same
total rating.
• The VA rating of each phase (or each transformer of a

group of three single-phase transformers) is one-third of
the total VA rating of the bank, regardless of the
connection or core type used.
• The voltage and current ratings of the individual phases or

transformers depend on the connection used.

Three-phase connections
12/33
13/33
14/33
• The star-delta connection is common in stepping down from
a high to a medium or low voltage, since an earthed neutral may
then be provided on the HV side.
• Similarly, a delta-star connection is common when a voltage
is stepped up to a high voltage. Delta-star is also used in
distribution systems where a neutral point is required for single-
phase loads.
• In a delta-delta connection, one transformer may be
removed for repair or maintenance, and the supply may be
maintained. The arrangement of the two remaining
transformers is called an open-delta connection.
• The star-star connection is seldom used, because of the
problems involved in harmonic reduction.
• In rectifier circuit applications secondary phase windings are
sometimes inter-connected to produce a 6-phase output or to
improve load distribution between phases.
Transformer groups
16/33
Transformer groups
• A large number of possible transformer connections are
specified in standards, where they are arranged in groups
that have the same primary to secondary phase
displacement.
• The most common groups, listed in Table 5.2, are:
• Group 1: Zero phase displacement (Yy0, Dd0, Dz0).
• Group 2: 180° phase displacement (Yy6, Dd6, Dz6).
• Group 3: 30° lagging phase displacement (Dy1, Yd1,
Yz1).
• Group 4: 30° leading phase displacement (Dy11, Yd11,
Yz11).
• The groups are derived from BS EN 60076-1:2011, Power
transformers, Part 1: General. Annex D.
Transformer groups
• Connections are designated by letters; Y or y for star, D or
d for delta and Z or z for zig-zag, upper case is used for the
high voltage (HV) windings and lower case for the low
voltage (LV) windings.
Vab VAB
30°
A a
+ + Van
VCA -
+ Van Vab -Vbn
+ -
C VAB n - Vbn
- - + -
-
VBC + Vcn b
+ Vcn Vbn
B c
VCA VBC
Group 4: +30° (Dy11)
Fig. 5.3. Delta-star 3-phase transformer: Group 4: Dy11.

3-phase transformer groups
A2 a2 A2 b1 c1
Yy0 Yy6 n
N n N
C2 B2 c2 b2 C2 B2 a1
A2 a2 A2 b c1
b1
Dd0 C A c a Dd6 C A
a c
C2 B B2 c2 b b2 C2 B B2 a1
A2 a4 A2 c3
b3
a b a b c
Dz0 C A Dz6 C A c n
b c
c n a b a
C2 B B2 c4 b4 C2 a3
B B2
Group 1 (0°) Group 2 (180°)

A2 a2 Dy11 A2 a2
Dy1 A B C A n b2
c2 n
C2 B2
C2 C B2 b2 B c2
A2 a2 A2 a2
c b
Yd1 Yd11 a
N c2 a N b2
C2 B2 b C2 B2 c
b2 c2
A2 a4 A2 a4
a
Yz1 c b
a Yz11 b b
N c N c b4
c4 n n
a a
C2 B2 b C2 B2
b4 c4 c
Group 3 (-30°) Group 4 (+30°)

Equivalent circuits
20/33
Equivalent circuits
• Three-phase transformers are usually represented by the
conventional (approximate) single-phase equivalent circuit
Fig. 5.4, with the phases, assumed to be the same.
VP 1 Ip1 jX1
Ip1 R1 X1 I P2 IP 2 Ip1 R1
+ IP0 + V
+ P2
+ Z1 Ip1
VP 1 rm xm V P2 VP 2
EP1 f2 I P2
- IP 0a - IP 0r - - f1
N1:N2
Ideal IP0
Transformer
Fig. 5.5. Approximate phase equivalent circuit (left) and phasor diagram (right).
Equivalent circuits
• The primary circuit phase resistance R1, which is equivalent to the
primary and referred secondary phase resistances.
• The primary circuit phase reactance X1, which is equivalent to the
primary and referred secondary phase leakage reactances.
• The core loss resistance rm taking an active current IP0a, such that
is one-third of the total core loss. I P 0a 2rm
• The magnetizing reactance xm taking a reactive current IP0r which is
the magnetizing current per phase.
Ip1 R1 X1 I P2 IP 2
+ IP0 +
+
+ Z1
VP 1 rm xm V P2 VP 2
EP1
- IP 0a - IP 0r - -
N1:N2
Ideal
Transformer
Equivalent circuits
• An ideal transformer of turns ratio N1:N2 having the following
characteristics:
• The core material has infinite relatively permeability, i.e. it
has zero reluctance.
• The core material exhibits no hysteresis (and therefore no

hysteresis loss).
• The core material is non-conductive, i.e. it has infinite

resistivity (and therefore no eddy current loss).
• All flux set up by one winding links the other, i.e. mutual
coupling is perfect.
• The windings have zero resistance (and therefore no

resistive losses).
Rating and performance
24/33
Rated Power
• The nominal rated power of a transformer is a
conventional value of apparent power (in VA, kVA or
MVA) which the transformer can safely supply under the
manufacturer's specified conditions, i.e. the rating specifies
the output.
• It establishes the rated secondary winding current and
implies the rated primary winding current.
• The rated power has an almost exclusively thermal basis,
the limitation being the maximum working temperature
for which the insulation will have a reasonable economic
life.
S1 = 3VL1 I L1  S2 = 3VL 2 I L 2
S1 = 3VP1 I P1  S2 = 3VP 2 I P 2
Voltage regulation (VR)
• Voltage regulation (VR) is the change in the secondary
voltage between no-load and full-load with the primary
voltage assumed constant.
• It can be expressed directly as a voltage:
Voltage regulation (VR) = no-load voltage – full-load voltage
• but is usually expressed as a fraction of the no-load voltage,
either per-unit or per-cent.
no-load voltage − full-load voltage
Voltage regulation (VR ) % = 100%
no-load voltage
• which can be calculated with the line or phase voltages, or

I P 2
Voltage regulation (VR ) %  ( R1 cos f2  X1 sin f2 ) 100%
VP1

Efficiency ()
• Efficiency () is the ratio of output power and input power.
• It can be expressed either in per-unit or percentage terms.
output power
efficiency,  % = 100%
input power
output power
efficiency,  % = 100%
output power + losses

Power Losses
• The losses in a transformer have two main components:
• Hysteresis and eddy current losses in the core and
• Resistive losses in the windings

Hysteresis and eddy current losses in the core (Pi)
• Core losses are reasonably constant since they vary with
flux and the flux varies by only a few per cent between no-
load and full-load.
• These losses are usually called iron losses (Pi)

Resistive losses in the windings (Pc)
• Total resistive losses (Pc) vary with load since they are
related to the square of the winding currents. These losses
are usually called copper losses.
• So that the efficiency () is defined as:
3VP 2 I P 2 cos (f2 )
= 100%
or 3VP 2 I P 2 cos (f2 ) + Pi + Pc
3VL 2 I L 2 cos (f2 )
= 100%
3VL 2 I L 2 cos (f2 ) + Pi + Pc
• Iron losses (Pi) are represented in the equivalent circuit by
the power dissipated in the shunt phase resistances rm, so
that
( VP1 )
2
Pi = 3  (Watt)
rm
• Copper losses (Pc) are represented in the equivalent circuit
by the power dissipated in the series phase resistances R1,
so that
Pc = 3  ( I P 2 ) R1 (Watt)
2
• The full-load output power = S cos (f2), where S is the

product of the rated secondary voltage and current, i.e. the
apparent power, so that at n times full-load:
n  S cos f2
 fl = 100%
n  S cos f2 + Pi + n2  Pc

• Maximum efficiency ( = 1.0 = 100%) occurs when the
iron loss (Pi) and copper loss (Pc) are equal:
Pi  Pc
• Maximum efficiency occurs therefore at the fraction n of
full load where:
Pi = n2  Pc
• And
n = Pi Pc
• Note: All of the equations in this section are valid for
balanced conditions only, under other conditions individual
phase components of voltage, current and losses must be
considered.

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See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

Chapter 5. Three-Phase Transformers

Presentation · December 2019

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Dr. Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt 2/33

• "A power transformer a static piece of apparatus with two

• BS EN 60076-1:2011, Power transformers, Part 1: General.

Dr. Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt 4/33

• Distribution systems operate most commonly at 132 kV, 66 kV

• All of these systems have three-phases.

• Transmission and distribution systems operate at high voltages

• However, it is clear that for such systems to work three-phase

(a) Single-phase transformers connected to a three-phase supply: three-phase transformer bank.

These heights are

Dr. Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt 10/33

• The VA rating of each phase (or each transformer of a

• The voltage and current ratings of the individual phases or

Dr. Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt 11/33

Dr. Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt 18/33

Group 1 (0°) Group 2 (180°)

Group 3 (-30°) Group 4 (+30°)

• The core material exhibits no hysteresis (and therefore no

• The core material is non-conductive, i.e. it has infinite

• The windings have zero resistance (and therefore no

• which can be calculated with the line or phase voltages, or

Dr. Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt 26/33

Dr. Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt 27/33

• Hysteresis and eddy current losses in the core and

• Resistive losses in the windings

Dr. Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt 28/33

• These losses are usually called iron losses (Pi)

Dr. Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt 29/33

• The full-load output power = S cos (f2), where S is the

Dr. Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt 31/33

Dr. Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt 32/33

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