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Z-Tolerance:
As per IEC60076, if the two-winding transformer of the system tapping position at
1. principal tapping
• When the impedance value is ≥10 percent±7.5 percentage of the declared value.
• When the impedance value is <10 percent±10 percentage of the declared value.
2. any other tapping of the pair
• When the impedance value is ≥10 percent±10 percentage of the declared value.
• When the impedance value is <10 percent±15 percentage of the declared value.
Ex: If we order a transformer with 8% percentage impedance, its actual Z% after manufacturing may
be any value between 7.2% (-10% of 8) to 8.8% (+10% of 8), unless it is specifically agreed with the
manufacturer at the time of ordering.
In ETAP,
• Negative tolerance is taken into consideration for Short Circuit whereas,
• Positive tolerance is taken into consideration for Load Flow, Motor Starting, Harmonics,
Transient Stability, optimal power flow& Arc Flash.
Figure 1 Z-tolerance table from ETAP

•
For instance, if Z-tolerance is ±7.5, then ETAP automatically take the negative sequence for
the short circuit.

Z-variation:
To enter transformer impedance variations concerning the tap settings. If these values are not zero, then
the final 2-winding transformer impedance will be calculated based on the nominal tap impedance
values (entered for Positive and Zero Sequence Impedances, %Z fields), transformer primary and
secondary winding tap positions (from both the fixed tap and the LTC tap settings) and impedance
variation at –5% tap and +5% tap. Linear interpolation is used to calculate the final transformer
impedance.
Figure 2 %Tap position

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% Variation @ -5% Tap

Use this field to enter transformer impedance variation at –5% tap position, in the percentage of the
transformer impedance at nominal tap position. This value is used to adjust the transformer impedance
due to either the primary or secondary winding tap changes.
Zt at –5% Tap = (Zt at Nominal Tap) * (100 + % Variation @ –5% Tap)/100
% Variation @ +5% Tap
Use this field to enter transformer impedance variation at +5% tap position; in the percentage of the
transformer impedance at nominal tap position. This value is used to adjust the transformer impedance
due to either the primary or secondary winding tap changes.
Zt at +5% Tap = (Zt at Nominal Tap) * (100 + % Variation @ +5% Tap)/100
In this model, the transformer of 2.5 MVA, 33/0.415 two winding transformers are used, and the Grid
has a Short circuit current of 25kA and X/R ratio of 14.
Figure 3 Single Line Diagram

Case1: Without imp tolerance and variation: -

Here the %z is 6.25, RMS current is 56.222kA
Case2: With impedance tolerance: -
Since %z is <10, the tolerance is ±10, the short circuit will consider negative tolerance ( -
10%) according to standard because it gives more short circuit current.
Case3: With impedance tolerance and variations: -
Here the %Z-variations is ±5 and Z-tolerance is ±10 given along with the fixed tap of -10%.
The fault is created at the LV bus, the variation in RMS current at the LV bus can be observed with the
impedance tolerance and variations are shown below in Figure 4.

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Figure 4 3-phase fault current

Note: For short circuit studies we do not consider changing taps. According to assumptions, the
transformer impedance is taken at the nominal tap, the impedance correction factor is enough to
compensate for the voltage variations. But tap changing is necessary for Load flow analysis.

Manual calculations:
For case 2:

%Z=6.25
Z-tolerance is ±10(it takes -ve tolerance for short circuits)
=6.25*0.9
=5.625
For case 3:

%Z=6.5
Z-tolerance is ±10
%Z-variations is ±5
=6.25*0.9
=5.625
If tap at -10%, then
=5.625*0.9
=5.0625.
We can verify the above-calculated values for cases 2 & 3 in the ETAP SC report.
Figure 5 ETAP SC result

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Conclusions:
Impedance tolerance:
• If the transformer is tested then there is no need for imp tolerance and variations
• If the transformer is in the design stage, imp tolerance is needed.
• While running Short circuit studies, ensure that the tap position is zero or nominal tap for two
winding transformers.

Impedance variation:
• It is mandatory for Load Flow, if we go for the highest tap it will increase the impedance
likewise if we go for the lowest tap it will decrease the impedance.
• It will have an impact on reactive power compensation in solar power plants

References:
1) ETAP help book
2) https://powerprojects.newzenler.com/courses/sca
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