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Sympathetic Interaction Phenomenon in Series-Connected Power

Transformers

Conference Paper · September 2019

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Herivelto De Souza Bronzeado Nelson CLODOALDO De Jesus

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 Sympathetic Interaction Phenomenon in
Series-Connected Power Transformers
Herivelto de Souza Bronzeado
Presidência da República
COMAN/COENGE/DILOG/SA/SG/PR
bronzeado@ieee.org
Abstract -- In power systems with appreciable series
resistances, such as those with long transmission lines, the
transformers already connected to the supply system can
experience unexpected saturation during the inrush transient of
incoming transformers. This saturation, which is initiated by
the asymmetrical voltage drop across the system resistance
produced by the inrush current, demands magnetising currents
of high magnitude in the already connected transformers. This
initiates a transient interaction between the transformers, a
“sympathetic interaction”, which will affect both the magnitude
and duration of the inrush current, which may cause some
inconveniences in the system operation, such as false operation
of transformer protection and, concomitantly, prolonged
voltage dips and temporary harmonic overvoltages.
Sympathetic interaction between transformers connected “in
series” will be analysed in the paper.
Keywords: Transformer transient inrush; transformer
saturation; sympathetic interaction; series-connected
transformer.
I. INTRODUCTION
T RASIENTS caused by energisation of large power transformers
are one of the more common issue in the operation of power
systems. The challenge of predicting transformer transients,
especially inrush current, has been with us since the last decade of
the 19th century, when it was first reported. This inrush current has
received considerable attention, as protective devices must
discriminate between transient inrush currents and fault currents.
Transformer inrush currents are normally calculated assuming
that the transformer is energised onto a system to which there are no
other transformers connected to. In practice, however, it is almost
certain that there will be one or more transformers already in
operation when another one is to be energised. On systems with
appreciable series resistance, such as those with long transmission
lines, a transient interaction between the incoming transformer and
those that are in operation may develop, changing dramatically the
duration and magnitude of the inrush current and also prolonging the
transformer inrush transient.
Under most practical system conditions, transformer inrush
currents are of little consequence. In some cases, however, a
combination of circumstances may be obtained, which result in this
current being of such consequence as to impair the proper system
operation [1].
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
Herivelto de Souza Bronzeado (bronzeado@ieee.org) is with the Presidência
da República (COMAN/COENGE/DILOG/AS/SG/PR), Brazil.
Nelson Clodoaldo de Jesus (nelsonclodoaldo.jesus@gmail.com) is with
GSI – Engenharia e Consultoria LTDA, Brazil.
Paper submitted to the Conferência Brasileira sobre Qualidade de
Energia Elétrica (CBQEE 2019), São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo,
Brazil,. September 1-4, 2019.
Nelson Clodoaldo de Jesus
GSI – Engenharia e Consultoria LTDA
nelsonclodoaldo.jesus@gmail.com
If, for example, the harmonics components of the inrush current
coincide with resonance points in the power system, harmonic
overvoltages and currents of high magnitude will build up, causing
the operation of equipment protection such as surge arresters and
capacitor banks over-current relays.
It was observed that the sympathetic interaction occurs in both “in
parallel” and “in series” connected transformers. A connection “in
parallel” means that the primary windings of the transformer being
energised will be in parallel with the primary windings of the
transformer already connected; a connection “in series” here means
that the primary windings of the incoming transformer will be
connected to the secondary windings of the transformer already in
operation. The sympathetic interaction between transformers
connected “in series” is discussed in this paper.
II. TRANSFORMER INRUSH
It is very well known that the transient magnetising inrush current
in a transformer is produced by saturation in the transformer core.
This current, which is characterised as being almost entirely
unidirectional, rises abruptly to its maximum value in the first half
cycle after the transformer being energised and, thenceforth, decays
until the normal steady-state magnetising conditions in the
transformer are reached.
As generally accepted, the magnitude and duration of the inrush
current depend on:
• The point on the voltage wave at which the transformer is
energised.
• The amount of residual flux in the transformer core and its sign
with respect to the first half-cycle of the steady state alternating
flux.
• The saturation condition or maximum flux density of the
ferromagnetic material of the transformer core.
• The total impedance of the circuit through which the inrush
current flows.
This is true when only a single transformer is involved in the
transient, i.e., when the first transformer is switched onto the system.
However, in case of having one or more transformers already
connected to the system, which is very much more common, the
duration and magnitude of the inrush current may change
significantly. This happens due to core saturation of the transformers
in service produced by the asymmetrical voltage on them provoked
by the inrush current of the incoming transformer. Thus, a new item
should be included as a factor that also affects the inrush current:
• The saturation level reached by the transformers that are
already connected to the system.
This suggests that a transient interaction, sympathetic interaction,
is established between the energising and the already energised
transformers, prolonging the transformer inrush transient [2].
 III. OCCURRENCES OF SYMPATHETIC INTERACTION Fig. 2 shows the transient currents measured during the laboratory
tests with the two small transformers, where the transformer Ts2 was
As far as the search is concerned, the occurrence of sympathetic
energised in series with the unloaded transformer Ts1. As can be seen
interaction between transformers was first reported by Hayward [2]
in this figure, the sympathetic interaction phenomenon takes place
during field tests made for determining the reason for false operation
between the two transformers, with the current isys in the transformer
of the transformer differential relays. He found that transient
Ts1 being the sum of the inrush current of Ts2 (i2) reflected on the
magnetising currents of high magnitude could flow not only in the
primary side of Ts1 (i’2) and the sympathetic magnetising current in
transformer being energised but also in other parallel transformers
the transformer Ts1 itself (i1), i.e. isys = i1 + i’2.
already connected to the system. Also, he found that the transient
period of these currents were very long, with the currents decaying at
a much slower rate than would be the inrush current of the transformer
being switched onto a system if other transformers were not
connected to.

This phenomenon was also observed at Fortaleza Substation

(CHESF, Brazil) in 1980’s. The transformer bank of the Static Var
Compensator (SVC), 200 MVA, 230/26 kV, was frequently tripped
out when a transformer of 100 MVA, 230/69 kV, was switched onto
a 230 kV common busbar. The trip out was caused by an offset
magnetising current of high level and long duration in the SVC
transformer. Similar occurrence was also noticed during energisation
of large shunt reactors [3]. Besides, at Bandeirantes Substation
(FURNAS, Brazil), 2 SVC transformers of 100 MVA, 345/10.5 kV
were also tripped out by the neutral overcurrent protection during a
special field test to obtain the saturation curve of a nearby transformer
of 225 MVA, 345/230 kV. As sympathetic interaction phenomenon
was not well known at that time, these occurrences were not
understood at first.

IV. INTERACTION BETWEEN TRANSFORMERS “IN SERIES”

The interaction between transformers in both “in parallel” and “in
series” configurations was first investigated by H. Bronzeado in 1993
during his MSc work at University of Aberdeen, using two single
phase transformers of 5kVA [4]. Since then, various researchers have
studied this subject [8-20].

In this section, the sympathetic interaction between transformers

connected “in series” is analysed. Here, series-connected
transformers is when a transformer is energised through the
secondary winding of a transformer with its primary winding
connected to the supply system. Fig. 1 shows the electrical system
configuration used in the investigation. A resistance R in series with
the system resistance was added for analysing its influence on the
sympathetic interaction phenomenon.
Fig. 2 – Transient currents measured during the occurrence of sympathetic
interaction in series-connected transformers - laboratory tests.
a) Current in the transformer Ts1 (isys = i1 + i’2);
b) Current in the transformer Ts2 (i2).
This phenomenon can also be shown by simulating two identical
three-phase transformers of 180 MVA, 275/66 kV, connected “in
series” (see Fig. 3). The simulation results are shown in [4], which
suggest that the interaction between series transformers is more than
somewhat similar to the interaction occurring between the
transformers in parallel. In Fig. 4 the transient currents calculated in
one of the thre-phases is shown. The currents shown in Fig. 4c is the
sympathetic magnetising current in the transformer T1.

Fig. 1 - Circuit used to investigate the sympathetic interaction phenomenon Fig. 3 - Electrical system configuration used to investigate the sympathetic
for series-connected transformers. interaction between series-connected power transformers.
 Note that when T2 is energized its transient inrush current i2 flows
through the secondary of transformer T1 producing a corresponding
“inrush current” i’2 in the primary of T1. This current (i’2) is added to
the current i1 to yield the total current isys ,which flows through the
circuit formed by the supply system and the primary winding of T1.
Thus:
It should be observed that when (4) is satisfied, the first two terms
of (6) add to zero. In this condition, the flux change ∆λs2 will depend
fundamentally on the voltage drop across the total resistance in the
circuit formed by the secondary winding of T1 and the primary
winding of T2. This indicates, paradoxically, that the total resistance
in the primary side of transformer T1, i.e., Rsys + rp1, does not
contribute effectively to the decay of the inrush current in transformer
T2 during the sympathetic interaction.

  (1) It is important to observe that this interaction is greatly reduced if

the series resistance of the supply system is small and, also, if the
It should be noted that the transformer T1 “sees” the inrush current resistance of the circuit between the transformers is relatively large.
i2 as a load current. The flux change per cycle ∆λs1 in transformer T1 The latter could represent the case where the transformers are
can be given by: separated by an appreciable length of transmission line.

  (2)

where Rsys is the system resistance and rp1 is the resistance of the
primary winding of T1, or

(3)

The flux change per cycle ∆λs1 will drive the transformer T1 that
was initially in the steady state into saturation, with the offset
magnetizing current i1 increasing gradually until the flux change per
cycle ∆λs1 becomes zero. In this condition,

  (4)

From this point onwards, the flux change per cycle ∆λs1 inverts the
polarity so that the offset magnetizing current i1 starts to decay,
developing the sympathetic interaction between the series
transformers T1 and T2. The rate of decay of the inrush current i2 and,
consequently, the rate of decay of the "primary inrush current" i’2 are
essentially determined by the flux change ∆λs2 in transformer T2,
which can be described by

(5)

or

c
(6) Fig. 4 - Transient currents calculated during a sympathetic interaction between
two identical transformers of 180MVA, 275/66 kV connected “in series”.
where rs1 is the resistance of the secondary winding of T1 and rp2 a) Total current in the primary winding of the transformer T1;
is the resistance of the primary winding of T2 that is connected to the b) Inrush current of the transformer T2;
secondary of T1. c) Sympathetic magnetising current in the transformer T1.
 V. TEMPORARY HARMONIC OVERVOLTAGE [4] Bronzeado, H. S., “Transformer Interaction Caused by Inrush Current”,
MSc Thesis, University of Aberdeen, April 1993.
As discussed before, the sympathetic interaction phenomenon
makes bigger the magnitude and duration of the transient magnetising [5] Bronzeado, H. S., Brogan, P. and Yacamini, R., “Harmonic Analysis of
Transient Currents During Sympathetic Interaction”, Trans. on Power
currents in transformers. This could be a potential source of
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inconvenient in the operation of power systems, mainly in those Nov. 1996
systems that have harmonic resonance at frequencies around odd
harmonics. High levels of harmonic currents flowing in the system [6] Yacamini, R. and Bronzeado, H. S., “Transformer inrush calculations
using a coupled electromagnetic model”, IEE Proc. - Science,
for a relatively long period can cause prolonged temporary
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overvoltages. A harmonic analysis of the currents during the 1994.
sympathetic interaction phenomenon is shown in [5].
[7] Povh D. and Schultz W., “Analysis of Overvoltages caused by
Transformer Magnetizing Inrush Current”, IEEE Trans. In Power
A simple method used to calculate qualitatively system harmonic Apparatus and System, PAS-97, No. 4, pp1355-1365, Jul./Ago. 1978.
overvoltages is to consider the transformer as a harmonic current
source with infinite impedance injecting back harmonic currents into [8] M. Sengul, B. Alboyaci, S. Ozturk, and H. B. Cetinkaya, “Case study of
sympathetic interaction between transformers caused by inrush
the power system. Thawing each harmonic current in phase and transients. ”, International Conference on Power Systems Transients –
magnitude and the effective system impedance also in phase and IPST’05, Montreal, Canada, June 2005.
magnitude, it is then a simple matter to evaluate the resultant voltage
distortion [6]. If the harmonic currents coincide with resonant points [9] Bi Daqiang, Wang Xiangheng, Li Dejia, et al. “Theory Analysis of the
Sympathetic Inrush in Operating Transformers”, Automation of Electric
in the system, harmonic voltages of high magnitude will build up and Power Systems, 2005, 29 (6):1-8.
cause overvoltages. If these temporary harmonic overvoltages attain
high values, they are likely to affect the surge arrests due to the high [10] G. B. Kumbhar and S. V. Kulkarni, "Analysis of Sympathetic Inrush
energy involved in repeated sparkover [7]. In some cases, these Phenomena in Transformers Using Coupled Field-Circuit Approach,"
IEEE Power Engineering Society General Meeting 2017, pp. 1-6.
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VI. CONCLUSIONS Energy Society General Meeting - Conversion and Delivery of Electrical
Energy in the 21st Century, July 2008, pp. 1–8.
The interaction occurring in power transformers connected “in
series” during the inrush transient has been investigated. The results [12] S. Schramm, C. Sihler, and S. Rosado, "Limiting sympathetic interaction
have shown that the inrush current in the transformer being connected between transformers caused by inrush transients", International
to a power system where there are other transformers in operation Conference on Power Systems Transients (IPST’11), Delft, The
Netherlands, 2011.
decays slower than that generally expected when only one
transformer is involved. This phenomenon, which has been called [13] A. A. Mohd Zin, A. H. Hana, and S. P. Abdul Karim, "Sympathetic
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caused by the voltage drop across the system series resistance
produced by the inrush current of the incoming transformer. [14] W. Gong, J. Liu, and X. He, “Research on transformer sympathetic
inrush current in initial period of power system”, Proc. Electricity
Distribution (CICED), 2012 China International Conference, Sept.
The sympathetic interaction can occur in both “parallel” and
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such as voltage dips, false operation of transformer protection and of sympathetic inrush on voltage dips caused by transformer
energisation," IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution, vol. 7, pp.
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It has been found that the value of the system series resistance is [16] G. Tsourakis, I. Milis, and J. Prousalidis, "Transformer sympathetic
inrush: A case study," in Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution
the determining factor in causing this interaction. The impact and and Energy Conversion (MEDPOWER 2012), 8th Mediterranean
duration of sympathetic interaction will depend on the saturation Conference on, 2012, pp. 1-5.
levels reached by the transformers and the energy dissipation pattern
in the system. This phenomenon, therefore, should be considered [17] P. Heretík, M. Kovác, M. Smitková, A. Belán, V. Volcko and P. Heretík,
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VII. REFERENCES [18] U. Rudez and R. Mihalic, "Sympathetic Inrush Current Phenomenon
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