Open Delta Transformer Connection

electricalpereview.com/open-delta-transformer-connection/

Zach Stone, P.E. February 8, 2018

How much power can an open delta transformer deliver?

How much power can an open delta deliver compared to a standard three phase delta
transformer?

Where does the power formula for the open delta transformer connection come from?

What are the phasor diagrams for an open delta transformer?

1/23
What about the current and voltages for an open delta transformer?

What are the advantages of an open delta transformer?

If you’ve ever tried finding this information on the open delta transformer connection in
a book, or on the internet, you’ve no doubt come across over simplified diagrams and
empty explanations that left you grasping for more information and still feeling
uncertain.

To fix that, we made a complete step by step break down analysis on the open delta
transformer connection starting with a standard three phase delta connection and
finishing with a two-winding open delta connection.

This is by far the most complete and in-depth information you will find on the internet
or elsewhere on the subject of open delta transformer connections.

What’s in this article? – Open Delta Transformer Connection:

Click below to jump to any section.

1. Three Phase Delta Transformer Connection Diagram

2. Three Phase Delta Transformer Phase Voltages
3. Three Phase Delta Transformer Phase and Line Current
4. Three Phase Delta Maximum Power Formulas
5. Three Phase Sample PE Exam Practice Problem
6. Open Delta Transformer Connection Diagram
7. Open Delta Transformer Phase Voltages
8. Open Delta Transformer Line Current
9. Open Delta Transformer Phase Current
10. Open Delta KCL Relationship For Phase and Line Current
11. Open Delta Phase and Line Current Phasor Diagram
12. Open Delta Maximum Power Formula
13. Open Delta Max Power vs Standard 3ø Delta Max Power
14. Three Open Delta Sample Exam PE Practice Problem Examples
1. Example 1 – Three single phase transformers rated for 10MVA
13.8kV/4,160V
2. Example 2 – Two single-phase transformers rated for 10MVA
13.8kV/4,160V
3. Example 3 – Calculate the percentage difference in output power between
the two

1. Three Phase Delta Transformer Connection

Diagram
Let’s start by looking at the standard three phase delta connection.

2/23
Below is a diagram of three single phase transformers connected in delta to form a three
phase delta transformer. For the sake of this article let’s assume we are working with a
balanced, positive ABC sequence system.

(Go back to top)

2. Three Phase Delta Transformer Phase Voltages

For our phasor diagrams, let’s use a reference of zero degrees for the A phase line to
neutral voltage of the system, meaning that the A-phase voltage of the delta, which is
equal to the A line voltage of the system, will be at a reference of 30 degrees.

With the chosen reference angle and a balanced, positive sequence system we can
determine the delta phase voltages:

3/23
Here is the resulting phasor diagram for the delta
phase voltages:

(Go back to top)

3. Three Phase Delta Transformer Phase and Line

Current
Next, let’s assign the three phase delta phase and line currents that will occur during
maximum power conditions.

Maximum power conditions for a transformer exist when the power factor is unity.

When this is true, the delta phase current will be exactly in phase with the delta phase
voltage, and the active power output in watts (P) will be equal to the apparent power
volt-amp rating (S) of the transformer:

4/23
Since we know that each delta phase current is now in phase with each delta phase
voltage, the phase currents will have the same angle as their respective phase voltage.
This lets us determine the complex value of each delta phase current.

From there, we can determine each system line current since by definition they are
larger by a factor of √3 and lag by 30º compared to their respective delta phase current:

Notice each phase current has the same angle as the previously determined delta phase
voltage since power factor is equal to unity.

Here is the resulting delta phase current and system line current phasor diagram:

5/23
(Go back to top)

4. Three Phase Delta Maximum Power Formulas

If we graph the delta phase current and delta phase voltage on the same phasor diagram
we can verify that power factor is unity since the angles are equal for each pair of phase
current and phase voltage.

Recall that this is the correct relationship that will result in maximum power output for
the delta transformer:

6/23
Now, let’s solve for the total three phase power of the delta transformer during these
conditions by adding up the power delivered by each of the three windings.

Theta is equal to the difference between the phase voltage angle and the phase current
angle. Since these angles are equal, theta is equal to zero for each pair:

The maximum power delivered by a three phase delta transformer is equal to three
times the delta phase voltage magnitude times the delta phase current magnitude.

(Go back to top)

5. Three Phase Delta Sample PE Exam Practice

Problem

7/23
Example – Determine the maximum power of a three phase transformer if
three individual single-phase transformers rated for 150kVA and
4,160V/480V are connected in delta.

Let’s use the previous formula we derived to solve for maximum power.

Note that we can use either the secondary phase voltage with the secondary phase
current, or the primary phase voltage with the primary phase current and still get the
same answer.

In our calculations we are using the secondary values:

The maximum output power of this

transformer configuration is 450kW.

Since the active power output in watts is

equals the apparent power rating of a
transformer in volt-amps during
maximum power conditions, we can
check our work by adding up the power
ratings of each individual single-phase
transformer used to make the three
phase transformer:

8/23
So far so good, this is the easy stuff.

Now that we are familiar with the maximum power relationships for the three phase
delta transformer, let’s look at what happens when one winding is removed and we are
left with the open delta transformer connection.

(Go back to top)

6. Open Delta Transformer Connection Diagram

Let’s pretend that while in service, the “B” phase of a standard three phase delta
transformer failed, this is the winding located between the B and C connection. Let’s
also pretend that the other windings were left intact and unaffected by the failure.

This results in an open delta transformer configuration that looks like this:

9/23
(Go back to top)

7. Open Delta Transformer Phase Voltages

Just as before, we will use a reference of zero degrees for the A phase line to neutral
voltage of the system, meaning that the A-phase voltage of the delta, which is equal to
the A line voltage of the system, will be at a reference of 30º.

So far, nothing has changed for the delta A-phase and C-phase voltage, but we are not so
sure about the delta B phase voltage just yet:

Let’s pretend we can connect a voltage meter across

the B to C connection where the missing winding
and measure what the new open delta voltage is
across B to C.

We will use a positive polarity reference at B and a

negative polarity reference at C, just like what the
line would see prior to the winding failure.

Looking at this as a KVL loop, we can see

that we have two voltages in series which we can add by summing the
values.
10/23
Starting from the B to C connection we have negative A-phase delta voltage followed by
the negative C-phase delta voltage from the A to C connection.

Let’s use a delta phase voltage magnitude of 1 so that we can plug these values into our
calculator and see if the magnitude and angle increases or decrease in value:

The magnitude of the voltage across

the missing winding has neither
increased or decreased in value, it is
equal to the previous magnitude of
the same balanced phase voltage.

The angle of the voltage across the

missing winding has also neither
increased or decreased in value. It is
still equal to the angle of the voltage that was there prior to the winding failure.

The surprising finding is that the connected three phase system sees no
difference in the supply voltage with the missing winding!

The open delta phase voltages are identical to the three phase delta voltages prior to the
winding being removed:

The resulting open delta phase voltage phasor

diagram is identical to the previous delta phase
voltage phasor diagram with all three windings in
service:

11/23
(Go back to top)

8. Open Delta Transformer Line Current

Now let’s inspect the open delta phase and line current. This is where it gets a little bit
more difficult.

We will start with the line current.

First, recognize that there is no change in the system line voltage since the open delta
phase voltage is identical to the three phase delta phase voltages. The result of this is
that the angles of each system line current will be the same as before.

The magnitudes of the system line currents will still be balanced and equal, but will be
different in value since the previous KCL formulas for a three phase delta no longer
apply with the missing winding:

12/23
(Go back to top)

9. Open Delta Transformer Phase Current

Now let’s look at the open delta phase current.

Recognize that when we look at each of the single-phase transformers individually, even
though the B phase transformer is no longer connected, it does not affect the full load
amps of each of the two remaining single phase transformers that make up the two
remaining windings of the open delta transformer.

The result is that each phase current in the two remaining open delta windings will have
the same magnitude as before.

However, since the KCL relationship has been changed by removing a connection
between the B an C phase, the angles will be different than before:

(Go back to top)

10. Open Delta KCL Relationship For Phase and Line

Current
Let’s look at the open delta connection again and see if we can set up KCL formulas to
relate the open delta phase and line currents:

13/23
Let’s start with the C-line and C-phase current since they have the easiest
relationship:

Looking at the open delta digram, the C line current is now equal to the C phase current
for the open delta connection since the B winding is missing.

Since we know the magnitude of the C line current, and the angle of the C phase current,
we can determine the complex value for both:

The C-line current and the C-phase

current both have a magnitude
equal to the previous phase current
magnitude with an angle of 120
degrees.

Next, let’s move on to the B

line and phase current since
they have the next easiest
relationship:

Looking at the open delta diagram,

the B-phase current is equal to the negative B-line current since they are flowing in
opposite directions. This is the same as multiplying the complex value by negative one
14/23
to change the direction.

Multiplying a vector by negative one does not change the magnitude, it only rotates the
vector by positive or negative 180 degrees.

Since the B-phase current equals the negative B-line current, we know that their
magnitudes are equal.

We already know the B-phase current magnitude and the B-line current angle.

We can find the missing B-phase angle by rotating it 180 degrees and solving for the
complex values for both:

The B phase and line current are

equal in magnitude, and 180
degrees apart.

Last, let’s move on to the A

line current since it requires
summing up the two previous
open delta phase currents that
we just solved for.

Looking at the open delta diagram

and using KCL node equations, the
A-line current is now equal to B-
phase current minus the C-phase
current.

We will use a phase current

magnitude of 1 so that we can plug
these values into our calculator and
solve to see if the magnitude or
angle increases or decreases with
this new KCL relationship:

15/23
The A-line current has a
magnitude equal to the phase
current magnitude with an angle
of 0º degrees.

We can check our work by

verifying that we already
determined that the A-line current
had an angle of 0º in our previous
steps.

(Go back to top)

11. Open Delta Phase and Line Current Phasor

Diagram
The open delta phase and line currents we determined are:

Let’s draw all three line currents and both phase currents on the same phasor diagram.

Note that the C-line current and the C-phase current are equal and share the same
vector:

16/23
Last step, it’s time to finally understand where the formula for open delta power comes
from.

(Go back to top)

12. Open Delta Maximum Power Formula

Even though the open delta can still serve a three phase load provided it has enough
capacity, to find the maximum power we will only be looking at the two windings that
remain.

Let’s draw a phasor diagram that shows both pairs of the remaining phase values, the A-
phase voltage and current, and the C-phase voltage and current.

Note that we are not using line values because we want to find the complex sum of both
remaining individual single phase transformers that each make up the two remaining
phase windings of the open delta transformer:

17/23
Even though the open delta configured transformer is operating at maximum power
conditions the phase currents and phase voltages are no longer perfectly in phase and
have a displacement between them that is no longer equal to zero degrees.

Let’s take the complex sum of both remaining windings to determine the total
maximum power that the open delta transformer can deliver:

The maximum three phase power that the open delta configured transformer can
deliver is √3 times the phase voltage magnitude times the phase current magnitude.

(Go back to top)

18/23
13. Open Delta Max Power vs Standard 3ø Delta Max
Power
Intuitively we know that an open delta transformer cannot supply as much power as a
standard three phase delta since one of the windings is missing.

Since we already derived the formulas for both maximum open delta power and
maximum standard delta power, let’s see if we can determine the percent difference.

This only works we are comparing an open delta three phase transformer with the same
single phase transformer ratings. For example, if a three phase delta transformer loses
one of its windings, or, if the same rated single phase transformers are used to make
both a three phase delta transformer and an open delta transformer.

In both cases, the magnitudes of the phase voltage and phase current will be equal
between the two types of delta transfomers:

An open delta transformer can only supply 57.7% of the power that a three phase delta
transformer with equal single phase transformer ratings can deliver.

This is quite a large decrease in power when only losing a third of the
overall three phase transformer windings.

19/23
(Go back to top)

14. Three Open Delta Sample Exam Practice

Problem Examples:
Ex 1. Three single phase transformers rated for 10MVA 13.8kV/4,160V are
connected in delta to form a three phase transformer. Determine the
maximum power that this three phase transformer can deliver.

We can solve this two ways.

The first method:

The second method:

Note that both methods yield the same

maximum value of 30MW of power delivery by
the three phase delta transformer.

The first method we used the secondary voltage

and the secondary FLA for the phase voltage
and phase current magnitudes.

We could have just as easily used the primary

voltage and the primary FLA instead (try it and
verify the results).

(Go back to top)

Ex 2. Two single-phase transformers rated for 10MVA 13.8kV/4,160V are

connected in open delta to form a three phase transformer. Determine the
maximum power that this three phase transformer can deliver.

Time to use the max power formula for an open delta transformer:

20/23
Notice that the three phase open delta transformer with two windings will only deliver
17.3MW compared to the previous 30MW with three windings.

The trick here is that with open delta, we can’t just add the power ratings of both
windings (10MW + 10MW ≠ 17.3MW).

Again we used the secondary voltage and the secondary FLA for the phase voltage and
phase current magnitudes but we could have just as easily used the primary voltage and
primary FLA values instead to get the same results (try it and verify).

(Go back to top)

Ex 3. Three single phase transformers rated for 10MVA 13.8kV/4,160V are

connected in delta to form a three phase transformer. While in operation,
one winding fails without damaging the other two. The transformer
continues to provide power in an open delta configuration. Determine the
percentage of power that the open delta configuration is able to supply
compared to when all three windings were in service.

We can solve this two different ways.

Since we already did the math in the previous two examples, let’s use the previous
values we calculated to find the percentage of power that the open delta can supply
compared to when all three windings were in service.

We can do this by dividing the max power we determined for the open delta transformer
by the max power we determined for the delta transformer.

The first method:

21/23
The 17.3MW of power that the open delta can deliver is only 57.7% of the previous
30MW of power that the transformer was able to deliver before the winding failure.

The second way to calculate this is to compare the formulas for open delta maximum
power to standard delta maximum power.

Since the phase voltage magnitudes and phase current magnitudes are equal, they will
cancel.

The second method:

22/23
Notice that we still get the same answer without having to know the actual values of the
phase voltage or phase current magnitudes!

(Go back to top)

15. Thoughts? Questions? Comment Down Below.

Have you ever come across a real open delta during your career in the industry?

Is this the first time you’ve seen a full-length explanation on the open delta
configuration?

Have any lingering questions after working your way to the bottom of this article?

Join the discussion by leaving your comment down below.

We respond to all comments in a timely manner.

23/23