High Voltage Transformer Connections Explained

Excerpt from the HV Transformer Design Module

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Three Phase Transformer Connections

Three-phase Transformers are the backbone of electrical power distribution whether Delta or Star
connected windings, each has a place in the electrical systems today.

The three phase transformer consists three transformers either separate or combined with one core.
The primary and secondary of the transformer can be independently connected either in star or delta.
There are four possible connections for a 3-phase transformer bank.

The combinations of the three windings may be with the primary delta-connected and the secondary
star-connected, or star-delta, star-star or delta-delta, depending on the transformer's use. When
transformers are used to provide three phases they are generally referred to as a Polyphase
Transformers.

The primary and secondary windings of a transformer can be connected in different configuration as
shown below to meet practically any requirement. In the case of three phase transformer windings,
three forms of connection are possible: “star” (wye), “delta” (mesh) and “interconnected-star” (zig-zag).

• (Δ-Δ) Delta-Delta connection

• (Y-Y) Star-Star connection

• (Δ-Υ) Delta-Star connection

• (Υ-Δ) Star-Delta connection

• (Δ-ZigZag) Delta-ZigZag connection

Delta Connections

The two of the most used three-phase winding configurations are delta and wye (star) connections. In a
delta configuration, the three windings are connected end-to-end to form a closed path. A phase is
connected to each corner of the delta with the ends of each phase winding connected in series to form a
closed loop with each phase 120 degrees from the other.

Although delta windings are often operated ungrounded, a leg of the delta can be center tapped and
grounded, or a corner of the delta can be grounded. In a wye configuration, one end of each of the three
windings is connected to form a neutral. A phase is connected to the other end of the three windings to
form the neutral, it's usually grounded.
Delta or Mesh Connection (Δ) System is also known as Three Phase Three Wire System (3-Phase 3 Wire)
and it is the most preferred system for AC power transmission while for distribution, Star connection is
generally used.

All three coils are connected in series to form a close mesh or circuit. Three wires are taken out from
three junctions and all the outgoing currents from junction are assumed to be positive.

In delta connection, there are three wires alone and no neutral terminal is taken. Normally a delta
connection is preferred for short distance due to the problem of unbalanced currents in the longer
circuits.

Loading Design

In a delta transformer, the line current does not equal the phase current (as it does in a wye
transformer). Because each line from a delta configured transformer is connected to two transformer
phases, the line current from a 3-phase load will be greater than the phase current by the square root of
3.

To properly size a delta/delta transformer, the transformer phases (windings) must be balanced. You
can do that with a two-step process:

• Step 1. Determine the VA rating of all loads.

• Step 2. Balance the loads on the transformer windings as follows:

o 3-phase loads: one-third of the load on each of the phases.

o Single-phase loads: 100% of the load on Phase A or B. You can place some of the single-
phase load on Phase C when necessary for balance.

If a neutral is provided, L-N loads: 100% of the load on C1 or C2 winding.

Where most of the loads are line-to-line, once you balance the transformer, size it to the load of each
phase. Size the “C” winding using two times the highest of “C1” or “C2.” The “C” winding is actually a
separate unit. If one side has a larger load, that side determines the transformer size.

Wye (Star) Connections

In a wye configuration, three single-phase transformers or windings are connected to a common point
(neutral) via a lead from their secondaries. The other lead from each of the single-phase transformers is
connected to the line conductors. This configuration is called a “wye,” because in an electrical drawing it
looks like the letter Y.

The Wye connection can provide multiple voltages without the need for additional transformers. This
can reduce cost in many applications.

If the primary phase voltage in a typical delta/delta system is 480V, the secondary phase voltage is 240V
(L-L). If the primary phase voltage in a typical delta/wye system is 480V, the secondary phase voltage is
120V(L-N).

Loading Design
Before you can properly size a delta/wye transformer, you must make sure that the secondary
transformer phases (windings) or the line conductors are balanced. Note that balancing the panel (line
conductors) is identical to balancing the transformer for wye transformers. Once you balance the wye
transformer, you can size it according to the load on each phase. The following steps will help you
balance the transformer:

• Step 1: Determine the loads VA ratings.

• Step 2: Put one-third of the 3-phase load on Phase A, one-third on Phase B, and one-third on
Phase C.

• Step 3: Put one-half of the single-phase, L-L load on Phase A and Phase B, or Phase B and Phase
C, or Phase A and Phase C.

• Step 4: Place L-N loads (largest to smallest): 100% on any phase.

Matching the transformer to the anticipated load then requires a high degree of accuracy if you want to
get a reasonable level of either efficiency or power quality.

Another issue is proper transformer loading. As a rule of thumb, 80% loading is a good target. If you
overload the transformer, though, it goes into core saturation and output consists of distorted
waveforms.

identify which loads are high harmonic, such as electronic ballasts, computer power supplies, and
motors with varying loads. At this point, you can efficiently work with a transformer supplier to develop
a good solution.

Delta-Delta (Δ-Δ) Connection

Delta–delta transformers are often used to supply loads that are primarily three phase but may have a
small single-phase component.

The three-phase secondary load is typically a 3 phase motor load while the single-phase component is
often lighting and low voltage power.

The amount of single-phase loading should be kept low because the center-tapped winding must supply
most of the single-phase load. As the single-phase load is increased, the center-tapped winding will
increase its loading more than the other two windings and will eventually overload.

The delta-delta connection nevertheless has one big advantage over the star-delta configuration, in that
if one transformer of a group of three should become faulty or disabled, the two remaining ones will
continue to deliver three-phase power with a capacity equal to approximately two thirds of the original
output from the transformer unit.

An advantage of the Delta connection is higher reliability. If one of the three primary windings fails, the
secondary will still produce full voltage on all three phases.

The only requirement is that the remaining two phases must be able to carry the load. If one of the
windings in a Wye primary fails, two of the phases of a Delta secondary will see a reduced voltage.
If the secondary is also Wye connected, two phases will have reduced voltage and the other will have
zero volts.

One disadvantage of delta connected three phase transformers is that each transformer must be wound
for the full-line voltage, (in our example above 100V) and for 57.7 per cent, line current. The greater
number of turns in the winding, together with the insulation between turns, necessitate a larger and
more expensive coil than the star connection. Another disadvantage with delta connected three phase
transformers is that there is no “neutral” or common connection.

Star-Star (Υ-Υ) Connection

In the star-star arrangement ( Yy ), (wye-wye), each transformer has one terminal connected to a
common junction, or neutral point with the three remaining ends of the primary windings connected to
the three-phase mains supply. The number of turns in a transformer winding for star connection is 57.7
per cent, of that required for delta connection.

Wye–wye transformers can serve both three-phase and single-phase loads. The single-phase load are
distributed as evenly as possible between each of the three phases and neutral.

One problem inherent to wye–wye transformers is the propagation of third- harmonic currents and
voltages. These harmonics can cause interference in nearby communication circuits as well as other
assorted power quality problems.

Another problem is that the possibility exists for resonance to occur between the shunt capacitance of
the circuits connected to the transformer and the magnetizing susceptance of the transformer,
especially if the circuits include insulated cable. Because of these problems, wye–wye transformers must
be specified and implemented carefully. Adding a third (tertiary) winding connected in delta alleviates
many of the concerns mentioned.

Delta-Star (Δ-Υ) Connection

The delta–wye connection is the most used three-phase transformer connection. The wye-connected
secondary allows single-phase load to be distributed among the three phases to neutral instead of being
placed all on one winding as with a four-wire delta secondary.

If one of the single-phase transformers in the delta–wye bank fails, the entire bank becomes
inoperative.

Also, since the delta–wye transformer introduces a 30° phase shift from primary to secondary as can be
seen by the phasing symbols in Figure 5, it cannot be paralleled with delta–delta and wye–wye
transformers that produce no phase shift.

The star connection requires the use of three transformers, and if any one transformer becomes fault or
disabled, the whole group might become disabled. Nevertheless, the star connected three phase
transformer is especially convenient and economical in electrical power distributing systems, in that a
fourth wire may be connected as a neutral point, ( n ) of the three star connected secondaries as shown.

Star-Delta (Υ-Δ) Connection

The wye–delta transformer is sometimes used to provide a neutral on a three-wire system but also can
serve load from its secondary.

This type of connection is commonly employed at the substation end of the transmission line. The main
use with this connection is to step down the voltage. The neutral available on the primary side is
grounded. Note there is a phase difference of 30° between primary and secondary line voltages.

Commonly used in a step-down transformer, Y connection on the HV side reduces insulation costs the
neutral point on the HV side can be grounded, stable with respect to unbalanced loads. As for example,
at the end of a transmission line. The neutral of the primary winding is earthed. In this system, line
voltage ratio is 1/√3 times of transformer turn-ratio and secondary voltage lags behind primary voltage
by 30°. Also, third harmonic currents flow in the secondary to give a sinusoidal flux.

Advantages

• The primary side is star connected. Hence fewer numbers of turns are required. This makes the
connection economical for large high voltage step down power transformers.

• The neutral point allows both types of loads (single phase or three phases) to be met.

• Large unbalanced loads can be handled satisfactory.

• The Y-D connection has no problem with third harmonic components due to circulating currents
in secondary delta. It is also more stable to unbalanced loads since the delta secondary
connection partially redistributes any imbalance that occurs.

Disadvantages

• In this type of connection, the secondary voltage is not in phase with the primary. Hence it is not
possible to operate this connection in parallel with star-star or delta-delta connected
transformer.

• One problem associated with this connection is that the secondary voltage is shifted by 30
degrees with respect to the primary voltage. This can cause problems when paralleling 3-phase
transformers since transformers secondary voltages must be in-phase to be paralleled.

Delta-ZigZag (Δ-ZigZag) Connection

Delta-ZigZag Connections are used as Grounding Transformers because of their ability to provide a path
for in-phase currents to ground. Using the zigzag connection as a grounding bank is one of the main
applications for this type of connection.

The zigzag configurations are seldom used for typical industrial or commercial use because they are
more expensive to construct than conventional Star connected transformers. But zigzag connections are
useful in special applications where conventional transformer connections aren’t effective.

Advantages

• The ∆ -zigzag connection provides the same advantages as the ∆-Y connection.

• It is typically the less costly for grounding purposes than Y-D Transformer.
• The zigzag connection in power systems is used to trap triple harmonic (3rd, 9th, 15th, etc.)
currents. Zigzag units are installed near loads that produce large triple harmonic currents. The
windings trap the harmonic currents and prevent them from traveling upstream, where they can
produce undesirable effects.

• If a neutral is required for grounding isolation or for supplying single-phase line to neutral loads
when working with a 3-wire, ungrounded power system, a zigzag connection may be the better
solution. Due to its composition, a zigzag transformer is more effective for grounding purposes
because it has less internal winding impedance going to the ground than when using a Star type
transformer.

• There is no phase angle displacement between the primary and the secondary circuits with this
connection; therefore, the ∆-zigzag connection can be used in the same manner as Y-Y and ∆- ∆
transformers without introducing any phase shifts in the circuits.