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Modeling of phase-shift zigzag transformers in ATP

Conference Paper · October 2004

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Modeling of phase-shift zigzag transformers in ATP

Hans Kr. Høidalen, NTNU, Norway Electrical Power Engineering

O.S. Bragstadspl. 2F
N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
Tel: 73594225 / Fax: 73594279
hans.hoidalen@elkraft.ntnu.no
Roald Sporild, ABB, Norway Automation Technologies Division
P.O.Box 6540 Rodeløkka
N-0501 Oslo, Norway
Tel: 22872547 / Fax: 22352811
roald.sporild@no.abb.com

Abstract - In large industry production facilities, twelve pulse rectifier units are often used
for the conversion to DC-current. In order to improve the harmonic signature from the plant
versus the grid, several transformer units are internally phase-displaced by means of
combined couplings involving Z-arrangement. A new transformer model for these facilities
has been developed in ATP and implemented in ATPDraw. The paper describes the theory for
this phase-displacement and how the transformers are specified in ATP.

Keywords: Saturable transformer, harmonics, phase-shift, zigzag, test report, ATPDraw.

1 Introduction
In the power supply to large industrial plants involving AC-DC converters, power quality is a
problem. The current on the AC-side contains harmonics of the order k⋅n±1, where k is the
number of pulses in the rectifying bridge and n=1, 2… Filters on the high voltage AC side are
expensive and alternative solutions are often beneficial. When several AC-DC converters are
installed in parallel, power transformers with different phase-shifts can be used to cancel out
the harmonic currents. In a particular industrial plant in Sunndalsøra-Norway five 12-pulse
AC-DC converters are installed in parallel with phase shifts -12, -6, 0, +6, and +12, which
results in an equivalent 60-pulse system.

A zigzag coupling on the primary side and two secondary sides with 30 degrees internal phase
shift supplying a 12-pulse rectifying bridge is investigated in this paper. The modeling of
zigzag transformers with the saturable transformer components in ATP [1] is reported in [2].
In that paper the more normal zigzag transformer with two equal winding parts resulting in 30
degrees phase shift is investigated. In the present paper the analysis in [2] is extended in the
case of an arbitrary phase shift of <-60,0> and <0,60> degrees based on [3].

2 Modeling of zigzag winding

This section outlines how to model a zigzag winding compatible with the saturable
transformer model in EMTP. The short circuit and magnetizing characteristics are handled
along with the zero-sequence behaviour.

Two basic zigzag couplings are used for negative and positive phase shifts as shown in fig. 1.

Phase + Uz- - U y+ Leg Phase + Uz- - U y+ Leg

A I A I

B II B II
III III
C C
Z Y Z Y

a) Negative phase shift b) Positive phase shift

Fig. 1 Investigated zigzag couplings.

For negative phase shifts the zigzag winding of phase A consists of one part on leg I and one
part on leg III in the opposite direction. The total voltage of phase A is shown in fig. 2.

I Uy Uy I

60-α 60-α
UA UA Uz
Uz

α α

III II III II

a) Negative phase shift b) Positive phase shift

Fig. 2 Voltages of the zigzag winding of phase A.

The absolute values of the phase voltages of each winding part are
Uy sin(α)
n= = (1)
Uz sin(60 − α)
|UA |
| U z |= (2)
cos(α ) + n ⋅ cos(60 − α )
| U A | ⋅n
| U y |= (3)
cos(α ) + n ⋅ cos(60 − α )
with α equal to the absolute value of the phase shift.

The voltage vectors are

UA
Uz = and (4)
1 + n ⋅ ∠ − 60 o

U A ⋅ n∠ − 60 o
Uy = (5)
1 + n ⋅ ∠ − 60 o

The same equations apply to the positive phase shift case.

The winding resistance, the leakage inductance, and the magnetizing impedance of the total
zigzag winding are now divided in two parts as illustrated to fig. 3.

Phase A Rz Lz Phase A Im Iz

+ +
Uz Leg I Lmz Uz
- -

Ry Ly Leg I
N Phase B Iy

- -
Leg III Lmy Uy
U y ∠120 o

+
+ I m ∠ − 120o

a) Short circuit b) Open circuit

Fig. 3 Distribution of the short-circuit and open-circuit impedances. Positive sequence,

negative phase shift.

The total short-circuit resistance and inductance as obtainable from measurements are
R = R z + R y and L = L z + L y respectively as shown in fig. 3a). The winding resistance is
proportional to the number of windings turns while the leakage inductance is proportional to
the square of this number. Since the winding voltages Uz and Uy are proportional to the
number of turns this gives R y = n ⋅ R z and L y = n 2 ⋅ L z . As a result
R R⋅n
Rz = ∧ Ry = (6)
1+ n 1+ n
L L ⋅ n2
Lz = ∧ Ly = (7)
1 + n2 1 + n2

The total magnetizing impedance as obtainable from measurements is Z m = U A / I m . According

to fig. 3b) the magnetizing current in the two winding parts is
Uz −U y
Im = + Iz ∧ − I m ∠ − 120 o = + Iy (8)
Z mz Z my
When the transformer is unloaded I z + I y ⋅ n = 0 . From this (8) can be reformulated as
Uz Uy
I m ⋅ (1 − n∠ − 120 o ) = −n⋅ (9)
Z mz Z my

Inserting (4) and (5) into (9) gives after some manipulation
UA  1 n 2 ∠ − 60 o 
Im = ⋅ −  (10)
1 + n + n2  Z mz Z my 
 

The magnetizing inductance is proportional to the square of the number of windings,

Lmy = n 2 ⋅ Lmz . If the magnetizing impedance is assumed to be purely inductive the total
measurable appearant magnetizing inductance is Lm = U A /( jωI m ) , where UA is the phase
voltage. The absolute value is taken since a phase shift in the magnetizing current will be
introduced in the zigzag winding. From (10) the magnetizing inductances in each winding
part are obtained
Lm ⋅ | 1 − ∠ − 60 o | Lm
Lmz = = (11)
1+ n + n 2
1 + n + n2
L ⋅n 2
Lmy = m (12)
1 + n + n2

In the saturable transformer model in EMTP a magnetizing branch is added to the primary
winding only. In this case Zmy in (10) must be set to zero. This results in
Lm
LEMTP
mz = (13)
1 + n + n2

The zero sequence reluctance can similarly to the magnetizing inductance be found from fig.
3b). In this case the current I 0 = I m in phase B on leg I is equal in amplitude, but opposite in
phase to the current in phase A. This also applies to voltages across the two winding parts, so
that U y 0 = −n ⋅ U z 0 and U z 0 + U y 0 = U A . The relationship I z 0 + I y 0 ⋅ n = 0 is still valid. This gives
U z0 − U y0 U A0  1 n2 

I0 = + I z0 ∧ − I0 = + I y 0 ⇒ I 0 (1 − n) = ⋅ + (14)
Z 0z Z0y 1 − n  Z 0 z Z 0 y 


The zero sequence impedance is mostly inductive and for a 3-leg core mostly linear. The zero
sequence inductance is proportional to the square of the number of windings. This gives
U A0 2 U A0 2 ⋅ n2
L0 z = ⋅ ∧ L0 y = ⋅ (15)
ω ⋅ I 0 (1 − n )2 ω ⋅ I 0 (1 − n )2

The saturable transformer component in EMTP supports only a zero-sequence reluctance in

the primary winding. In this case Z0y is zero and
U A0 1
LEMTP = ⋅ (16)
0z
ω ⋅ I0 (1 − n )2
The reluctance specified in EMTP is R0 = U 2 / 3L0 where U is the voltage across the winding
where the reluctance is connected. This gives
U z20 ω ⋅ I 0 ⋅ U A0
R0 = = (17)
3 ⋅ L0 z
EMTP
3

3. ATPDraw implementation
A new component called SATTRAFO is introduced in ATPDraw from version 4.0. This is a
general 3-phase saturable transformer component with 2 or 3 windings. The component
completely replaces the old GENTRAFO and that component is automatically replaced by
SATTRAFO when loading an older circuit. The new SATTRAFO component supports all
phase shifts between Y- and D- windings (not just Y, Dlead, Dlag, Y180 as in GENTRAFO)
as well as Autotransformers and zigzag windings. For a zigzag winding the user can specify
the phase shift <-60,0> and <0,60> degrees and the voltage and short circuit impedance
distribution is automatically calculated by ATPDraw according to (2), (3), (6), and (7). The
phase shift is specified related to a Y-winding. The two couplings in fig. 1 are used dependent
on the sign of the phase shift. ATPDraw does not recalculate the magnetizing branch and zero
sequence reluctance. This must be done manually by the user according to (13) and (17). The
internal 3-phase node of the zigzag winding is given a name Txxxx where the number xxxx is
the incremented transformer number. Several zigzag windings are supported in a single
transformer. The dialog box of the new SATTRAFO component is shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 4 ATPDraw dialog box of the new SATTRAFO component.

The data specified in fig. 4 will produce an ATP-file as shown below:

TRANSFORMER THREE PHASE TX0001 25.2

TRANSFORMER T1A 1.E11 0
1. 1.28
9999 Z1A D2A
1Z1A T0002C -.0084.103215.6797
2 T0002A -.0014.00279.93446
3D2A D2C .00061 .0174 .693 Y3A
4Y3A .0002.00585 .4
TRANSFORMER T1A T1B
1Z1B T0002A Z1B D2B
2 T0002B
3D2B D2A
4Y3B Y3B
TRANSFORMER T1A T1C
1Z1C T0002B
2 T0002C
3D2C D2B Z1C D2C
4Y3C
Y3C

4. Case study
This section outlines in details how to model a 3-winding transformer based on the test report
and the result of using it to supply a 12-pulse rectifying bridge.
4.1 Test report

Coupling: ZN0d11y
Rated power: 24.8 MVA
Rated primary voltage: 10.735 kV
Rated secondary voltage: 693 V
Rated tertiary voltage: 693 V
Rated frequency: 50 Hz
Open circuit current: 0.0056 pu
Short circuit impedance 1-2: 0.0084 + j0.1015 pu
Short circuit impedance 1-3: 0.0084 + j0.1015 pu
Short circuit impedance 2-3: 0.0210 + j0.1887 pu
Phase shift Z (ref. 3): -7.5 deg.

This will result in the standard per unit equivalent circuit for the short circuit impedances

1 Z1 Z2 2 Z1 = ( Z12 + Z13 − Z 23 ) / 2 = −0.0021 + j 0.00715 [ pu ]

Z 2 = ( Z12 + Z 23 − Z13 ) / 2 = 0.0105 + j 0.0944 [ pu ]
Z3 3 Z 3 = ( Z13 + Z 23 − Z12 ) / 2 = 0.0105 + j 0.0944 [ pu ]

Fig. 5 Per unit equivalent circuit

4.2 Winding 1, zigzag

sin(7.5o )
The zigzag winding 1 is further split in Z and Y parts with n = = 0.165 .
sin(60 − 7.5o )
The total winding voltage is U A = 10.735 / 3 kV = 6.2 kV
The voltages across each winding part are calculated by ATPDraw from (2) and (3):
10.735 / 3
U 1z = kV = 5.68 kV (18)
cos(7.5 ) + 0.165 ⋅ cos(60 o − 7.5o )
o

U 1 y = 5.68 kV ⋅ 0.165 = 0.934 kV (19)

The short circuit impedance is

Z1 = (− 0.0021 + j 0.00715) ⋅ (10.735 kV )2 / 24.8 MVA = −0.00976 + j 0.0332 [Ω]
The individual resistance and inductance in each winding part is calculated by ATPDraw from
(6) and (7):
1
R1z = −0.00976 ⋅ [Ω] = - 8.4 [mΩ]
1 + 0.165
(20)
0.165
R1 y = −0.00976 ⋅ [Ω] = - 1.4 [mΩ]
1 + 0.165
0.0332 1
L1z = ⋅ [H] = 0.103 [mH]
2π ⋅ 50 1 + 0.1652
(21)
0.0332 0.1652
L1 y = ⋅ [H] = 2.79 [ µH]
2π ⋅ 50 1 + 0.1652

If the HV winding 1 is chosen as the primary winding, the magnetizing branch will be added
to the first winding part (Z) of the zigzag winding. This is probably not a good choice, and
alternatively the magnetizing branch should be added to the low-voltage Y-coupled winding.
This could be done externally or by choosing winding 3 as the primary. The magnetizing
branch added to winding 1 should be calculated from (13).
The measured inductance is
1/ 3
Lm = pu = 0.328 pu = 0.368 ⋅ (10.735 kV )2 / 24.8 MVA = 1.52 [H]
2π ⋅ 50 ⋅ 0.0056

and the inductance that should be added to winding 1Z in EMTP:

Lm
LEMTP
mz = = 1.28 [H]
1 + n + n2

If a measurement of the zero sequence impedance is missing a reasonable assumption for this
particular transformer is to set it to 2/3 of the positive sequence magnetizing current. Further,
the zero sequence inductance added in EMTP is one half of the real value according to (15)
and (16). This gives
U z20 5.682 5.682
R0 = ≈ 2⋅ = = 25.2 [Ω]
3 ⋅ LEMTP
0z
EMTP
2 ⋅ Lmz 1.28

4.3 Winding 2 and 3

The Delta- winding:

The total winding voltage is U A2 = 0.693 kV

The short circuit impedance is

Z 2 = (0.0105 + j 0.0944 ) ⋅ ( )
2
3 ⋅ 0.693 kV / 24.8 MVA = 0.61 + j5.48 [mΩ]
R2=0.61 [mΩ] and L2=17.5 [µH]

The Wye- winding:

The total winding voltage is U A3 = 0.693 / 3 = 0.4 kV

The short circuit impedance is

Z 3 = (0.0105 + j 0.0944 ) ⋅ ( )
2
3 ⋅ 0.4 kV / 24.8 MVA = 0.203 + j1.83 [mΩ]
R3=0.203 [mΩ] and L3=5.85 [µH]

4.4 Simulation of two parallel 12-pulse rectifying bridges

This example is based on a practical situation in an industrial plant in Norway. Two “12-
pulse” rectifying bridges are installed in parallel as shown in fig. 6. The purpose is to show
how the usage of phase-shift zig-zag transformers reduces the harmonic content of the current
on the high-voltage (132 kV) side.

Two situations are simulated and the harmonic contents calculated

• without phase-shift between the two zig-zag transformers (0/0)
• with a 15 deg. phase shift between the two (-7.5/7.5)
 5 uH 5 mF

Cable 0.0265

132/11.3 Diode
HVBUS Zig-zag bridges
Regulation trans form ers 5 uH 5 mF
trans form ers ZN0d11y0
132 kV 22.2 m H 11.3/10.6 kV 10.7/0.693 kV

Cable 0.0265

Fig. 6. Circuit in ATPDraw for simulation of two parallel 12-pulse rectifying bridges.
1000

400 100
[A] Phase shifts zig-zag
300 10 0/0
-7.5/7.5

200
1
100
0.1
0
0.01
-100

-200 0.001

-300 0.0001

-400
1E-005
0.080 0.084 0.088 0.092 0.096 [s] 0.100
0 10 20 30 40 50

Fig. 7a) Current on the 132 kV side. Fig. 7b) Harmonic content of fig. 7a).

Tab. 1. Numbers from fig. 7b). Obtained by PlotXY [4].

Harmonics Current [A] RMS
Zig-zag: 0/0 Zig-zag:-7.5/+7.5
1 261.60 262.24
5 0.12843 0.079998
7 0.05890 0.029712
11 9.84720 0.000767
13 5.79000 0.000788
23 1.89680 1.549300
25 1.46000 1.219200
35 0.73766 0.000280
37 0.63500 0.000335
47 0.41233 0.368940
49 0.37700 0.331470
THD 4.4835 % 0.77615 %

As seen from fig. 7b) the phase-shifting (-7.5/7.5 deg.) of the zig-zag transformers greatly
reduces the harmonics of order 11-13 and 35-37. The two parallel rectifying bridge both of
type 12-pulse thus become a 24-pulse system seen from the HV-side.
 5. Conclusion
Modelling of zig-zag transformers using the SATURABLE TRANSFORMER component in
ATP is presented in this paper. General formulas for the ratios of voltage, resistance and
leakage inductance between the two parts of a zig-zag winding are presented. A new
component in ATPDraw called SATTRAFO handles the calculation of these ratios
automatically and supports all phase shifts of Y, D and Z-coupled windings.

An example shows how to establish a zig-zag coupled SATURABLE TRANSFORMER

component in ATP based on the test report. A second example shows how two parallel 12-
pulse rectifying bridges become an equivalent 24-pulse system seen from the HV-side when a
phase shift of 15 deg. is introduced between two zig-zag coupled transformers.

The results confirm a considerable reduction in THD due to the phase-shift arrangement. This
in turn contributes to a simplified and cheaper filter arrangement as compared to the ordinary
12-pulse converters.

References
[1] Alternative Transients Program (ATP) - Rule Book, Canadian/American EMTP User
Group, 1987-1998.
[2] P. Riedel: “Modelling of zigzag-transformers in the three-phase system”.
[3] SIMSEN- Simulation Software for Power Networks, Electrical Drives and Hydraulic
Systems, http://simsen.epfl.ch/
[4] Massimo Ceraolo: PloyXY- Plotting program for the ATP.

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