Open Delta Transformer Configuration

Sometimes three single-phase transformers are connected as a delta high side, delta low side.
When one transformer fails, needs repair, or needs maintenance, the two remaining
transformers can continue to provide three phase power to the load. Other times only two
transformers may be installed initially with the intent to add a third transformer in the future as
load grows.

Operating a delta/delta bank with only two transformers is referred to as open delta.

Open delta is typically employed in rural areas especially during emergency situations where
one transformer may be removed due to failure until a new transformer or spare transformer is
installed. Note that as an alternative, end users may elect to purchase four single phase
transformers to begin with. Three transformers would be in service while the fourth transformer
would be stored as a spare.

Open delta may also serve station auxiliary load. If a neutral is needed, a center tap will be
available such as in case of 240V with center tap allowing 120V. The center tap would be
grounded.

One difference between a three-phase transformer (one tank) and a bank of three single phase
transformers (three separate tanks) is that when there is a problem with the three-phase
transformer, the transformer needs to be taken out of service while the bank can continue to
serve load if one of the transformers is removed with some limitations that will be discussed
later.

Figure 1—three single phase transformers connected as delta/delta. The delta will be
established externally. It is important to maintain proper electrical clearances. If this was a
three-phase transformer, the delta/delta configuration would be established internally at the
factory.
Figure 2—One transformer is removed to form an open delta/open delta (or open delta).

Figure 3—Three single phase transformers (three tanks) with delta/delta connection made
externally. Each single-phase transformer’s high side winding ends are brought out to two
external bushings, H1 & H2. Similarly, the ends of each low voltage winding are terminated at
two bushings, X1 & X2.
Figure 4—one transformer is removed to form an open delta.

One question that may be asked: how much power can be supplied to the load with two
transformers in an open delta configuration?

An immediate answer may be two-thirds (or 66.7%) of the total capacity (all three transformers
connected). That is, if each transformer is rated 150kVA, then the remaining two transformers
2
can supply 2*150=300kVA (or 3*450kVA=300kVA. Total available capacity is 3*150kVA=450kVA).

However, the remaining two transformers can only supply 57.7% of the total capacity (capacity
of all three transformers combined) or 86.6% of the capacity of the two transformers. That is,

• 57.7%*450=260kVA or
• 86.6%*300=260kVA
• 260kVA is less than 300kVA of the combined two transformer capacity. This will ensure
no transformer is loaded beyond its rating.

Below is some reasoning behind 57.7% and 86.6%.

In the following analysis, a balanced system with counterclockwise, positive sequence phase
rotation—i.e, “ABC” or “abc” will be assumed.

1) Normal Delta/Delta operation (all three transformers in service):

We will call all delta (phase current) magnitudes: 𝐼𝑝ℎ such that |𝑰𝒃𝒂 | = |𝑰𝒂𝒄 | = |𝑰𝒄𝒃 | = 𝑰𝒑𝒉

We will call delta voltage magnitudes: 𝑉𝑝ℎ such that |𝑽𝒂𝒃 | = |𝑽𝒃𝒄 | = |𝑽𝒄𝒂 | = 𝑽𝒑𝒉
Any reference can be picked for currents and voltages, assuming counterclockwise phase
rotation.

Let’s assume line current “a” as a reference at 0 degrees. Given the system is balanced, then all
three phases will be separated by 120 degrees.

Figure 5—Secondary delta and line currents and delta voltages

𝐼𝑎 = √3𝐼𝑝ℎ /_0˚

𝐼𝑏 = √3𝐼𝑝ℎ /_-120˚

𝐼𝑐 = √3𝐼𝑝ℎ /_120˚

Figure 6—Line current phasors

In a delta connection, phase currents (flowing inside delta) lead line currents by 30 degrees for
positive sequence and are smaller than line currents by √3.
𝐼𝑎
𝐼𝑏𝑎 = ∗ 1/__30˚ = 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_(0˚+30˚) = 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_30˚
√3

𝐼𝑏
𝐼𝑐𝑏 = ∗ 1/__30˚ = 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_(-120˚+30˚) = 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_-90˚
√3

𝐼𝑐
𝐼𝑎𝑐 = ∗ 1/__30˚ = 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_(120˚+30˚) = 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_150˚
√3
For simplicity, we will assume the load is resistive with a unity power factor. So, each delta
phase voltage is in phase with its corresponding delta phase current. That is, the angle
difference between voltage and current is 0 .̊ For load with a lagging power factor, current will
lag voltage by a certain angle, which would need to be added in the analysis.

With this unity power factor assumption, the voltages are as follows:

𝑉𝑎𝑏 is in phase with 𝐼𝑏𝑎 so both have the same phase angle.

𝑉𝑏𝑐 is in phase with 𝐼𝑐𝑏 so both have the same phase angle.

𝑉𝑐𝑎 is in phase with 𝐼𝑎𝑐 so both have the same phase angle.

𝑉𝑎𝑏 = 𝑉𝑝ℎ /__30˚

𝑉𝑏𝑐 = 𝑉𝑝ℎ /__ − 90˚

𝑉𝑐𝑎 = 𝑉𝑝ℎ /__150˚

The three-phase power (𝑃3𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 ) provided by the delta transformer bank to the load is

𝑃3𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 = 𝑃𝑎 + 𝑃𝑏 + 𝑃𝑐

𝑃3𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 = |𝑉𝑎𝑏 ||𝐼𝑏𝑎 |cos⁡(𝜃𝑣 − 𝜃𝐼 )+ |𝑉𝑏𝑐 ||𝐼𝑐𝑏 |cos⁡(𝜃𝑣 − 𝜃𝐼 )+ |𝑉𝑐𝑎 ||𝐼𝑎𝑐 |cos⁡(𝜃𝑣 − 𝜃𝐼 )

with (𝜃𝑣 − 𝜃𝐼 ): angle difference between voltage and current, which is 0˚ in this case since they
are in phase from the assumption of unity power factor. This angle would have been different
for lagging power factor and would need to be added to the cosine terms.

𝑃3𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 = 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ cos⁡(0)+ 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ cos(0) + 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ cos(0)

𝑷𝟑𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆 = 𝟑𝑽𝒑𝒉 𝑰𝒑𝒉

2) Open Delta:

Figure 7—Open delta connection

What is the voltage between “a” and “c” (𝑉3)?

KVL: 𝑉3 = −𝑉𝑏𝑐 − 𝑉𝑎𝑏 = −𝑉𝑝ℎ /__ − 90˚ − 𝑉𝑝ℎ /__30˚=𝑉𝑝ℎ /__150˚ which is the same as 𝑉𝑐𝑎

The delta voltage will remain the same, maybe slightly different but the difference is
insignificant.

Line currents:

With the one transformer being removed, 𝐼𝑏𝑎 will flow through the line (𝐼𝑎 ). Line currents will
be limited to delta currents to avoid overloading the two remaining transformer windings. The
line currents will have the same magnitude as phase currents. Line currents will have the same
angles.

𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_0˚ (magnitude of line current is no longer √3 larger than phase current)

𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_-120˚ (magnitude of line current is no longer √3 larger than phase current)

𝐼𝑐 = 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_120˚ (magnitude of line current is no longer √3 larger than phase current)

Delta phase currents:

𝐼𝑐𝑏 = −𝐼𝑐 = (−1) ∗ 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_120˚= (1/_-180˚)*( 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_120˚)= 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_(-180+120)˚ =𝐼𝑝ℎ /_-60˚

𝑰𝒄𝒃=𝑰𝒑𝒉 /_-60˚

Multiplying by (-1) is the same as multiplying by (1 /_180˚) or (1/_-180˚)

𝐼𝑏𝑎 = 𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_0˚

𝐼𝑏𝑎 = 𝐼𝑝ℎ /_0˚

It can be seen that 𝑉𝑏𝑐 and 𝐼𝑐𝑏 are no longer in phase.

Transformer 1 supplies: 𝑃1 = |𝑉𝑎𝑏 ||𝐼𝑏𝑎 |cos⁡(𝜃𝑣 − 𝜃𝐼 )= 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ cos(30˚ − 0˚)

√𝟑
⁡𝑷𝟏 = 𝑽 𝑰
𝟐 𝒑𝒉 𝒑𝒉

Transformer 2 supplies: 𝑃2 = |𝑉𝑏𝑐 ||𝐼𝑐𝑏 |cos⁡(𝜃𝑣 − 𝜃𝐼 )= 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ cos(−90˚ − [−60˚])

𝑃2 = 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ cos(−30˚])

√𝟑
𝑷𝟐 = 𝑽 𝑰
𝟐 𝒑𝒉 𝒑𝒉
 √3 √3
𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛⁡𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑎 = 𝑃1 + 𝑃2 = 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ + 𝑉 𝐼
2 2 𝑝ℎ 𝑝ℎ
𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛⁡𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑎 = √3𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ
𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛⁡𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑎 √3𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ 1
= = =0.577=57.7%.
𝑃3𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 3𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ √3

➢ This means open delta (two transformers) can only supply 57.7% capacity of a full delta
(three transformers in delta).

𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛⁡𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑎 √3𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ √3

= = = 0.866 = 86.6%.
𝑃𝑡𝑤𝑜⁡𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑠 2𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ 2

➢ This means open delta can only supply 86.6% capacity of the two remaining
transformers.

Transformer 1 reactive power:

1
• 𝑄1 = |𝑉𝑎𝑏 ||𝐼𝑏𝑎 |sin⁡(𝜃𝑣 − 𝜃𝐼 )= 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ sin(30˚ − 0˚) = 2 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ
𝟏
𝐐𝟏 = 𝟐 𝑽𝒑𝒉 𝑰𝒑𝒉

Transformer 2 reactive power:

• 𝑄2 = |𝑉𝑏𝑐 ||𝐼𝑐𝑏 |cos⁡(𝜃𝑣 − 𝜃𝐼 )= 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ sin(−90˚ − [−60˚]) = 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ sin(−30˚])
𝟏
𝑸𝟐 = − 𝟐 𝑽𝒑𝒉 𝑰𝒑𝒉

1 1
So: 𝑄1 = 2 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ 𝑄2 = − 2 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ

➢ It is as if one transformer provides reactive power while the other transformer absorbs
it. It is this energy exchange that makes open delta capacity limited to 57.7% instead of
66.7% (2/3) as would be expected.
Transformer 1:
2 2
√3 1 √3 1
• 𝑆1 = 𝑉 𝐼 + j 2 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ so |𝑆1 | = √( 2 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ ) + (2 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ ) =𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ . This is
2 𝑝ℎ 𝑝ℎ
the rating of transformer 1.

Transformer 2:
2 2
√3 1 √3 1
• 𝑆2 = 𝑉 𝐼 − j 2 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ so |𝑆1 | = √( 2 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ ) + (− 2 𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ ) =𝑉𝑝ℎ 𝐼𝑝ℎ . This is
2 𝑝ℎ 𝑝ℎ
the rating of transformer 2.

Example:

Three single-phase transformers, each rated 150kVA, 7200/600 volts are connected in delta,
delta configuration. One transformer is removed such that the remaining two transformers are
connected in an open delta/ open delta.

• The capacity with all three transformers combined is 3*150=450kVA

• The two transformers combined capacity is 2*150=300kVA
• The maximum power supplied by the open delta bank is 57.7% of the three
transformers: 57.7%*450=260kVA
• The two transformers can supply 86.6% of their rating: 86.6%*300=260kVA

References:

[1] Electric Machinery Fundamentals, 4e, Stephen J. Chapman

[2] Electrical Machines, Drives, and Power Systems, 6e, Theodore Wildi