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Loading Considerations When Paralleling Transformers

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NANDHAKUMAR A
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8 views

Loading Considerations When Paralleling Transformers

Uploaded by

NANDHAKUMAR A
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Loading considerations when paralleling transformers.

The main purpose for parallel operation are to meet the load demand which exceeds the
rating of existing transformer, reliability, and power quality. For parallel connection of
transformers, primary windings are connected to source bus-bars and secondary windings are
connected to the load bus-bars.

For successful parallel operation, the transformers require:

Many of us are knowing that these parameters are important when paralleling
transformers, but there are some misconceptions of when circulating currents actually
exist.!

Transformers are appropriate for parallel operation when their turn ratios, %Z, and X/R ratios
are the same. Connecting transformers in parallel when any one of these parameters is
unequal or not same; results in either circulating currents or unwanted current division. In
both this situation the efficiency gets reduce, as well as it reduces the maximum amount of
load that the combined transformers can carry. Many times auto-tap transformers are used to
adjust voltage levels due to loading conditions. These tap changes produce circulating current
in parallel-operated transformers.The circulating currents represent the current flowing at no
load in the high and low voltage windings, excluding exciting currents.
Typically, transformers should not be operated in parallel when:

 The division of load is such that, with the total load current equal to the combined
kVA rating of the transformers, one of the transformers is overloaded.
 The no-load circulating currents in any transformer exceed 10% of the full load rating.
 The combination of the circulating currents and full load current exceed the full load
rating of either transformer.

Different cases among kVA rating, Impedance, and Voltage Ratio for parallel operation are
discussed here-under:

Case 1: Same kVA rating having equal Impedance and Ratios:

The standard method of connecting transformers in parallel is to have the same kVA rating,
%Z, and turn ratios. Paralleling is usually done by closing the tie-breaker between two
transformers. By connecting transformers in parallel with the same parameters results in
equal load sharing and no circulating currents in the transformer windings.

Case 2: Different kVA rating with equal Impedance and Ratios:

However, it’s not common practice for new installations, sometimes two transformers with
different kVA ratings and having same %Z are connected to one common bus. In this
situation, the current division causes each transformer to carry its rated load. As the voltage
ratios are same, there will be no circulating currents flowing in transformer.

By this example, it can be conclude that, with different kVA rating of transformers connected
to one common bus, the current division loaded to each transformer is to its kVA rating. Here
the same %Z plays key role in this case.

Case 3: Same kVA rating and Ratio with unequal Impedance:


Mostly in practice, plants are trying to extent their electrical network by connecting existing
transformer in parallel with same kVA rating, with unequal percentage impedance.

We need to understand that the current divides in inverse proportions to the impedance, and
larger current flows through the smaller impedance. Thus, when subjected to heavy loading,
the transformer with lower %Z can be overloaded while the transformer with higher %Z will
be lightly loaded.

Here in this case the %Z of transformers are not same, Load division between both
transformers is not equal, and thus they cannot be loaded to their combined kVA rating. At
below combined rated kVA loading, the transformer with 4% impedance is overloaded by
2.15%, while transformer with 5.75% impedance is loaded by 72.8%.

Case 4: Different kVA rating with same Ratios & unequal Impedance:

Once in a while two transformers in plants facilities are connected to one common bus with
different kVA and unequal percent impedance. However, there may be that one situation
where two single-ended substations may be tied together via bussing or cables to provide
better voltage support when starting large loads.

If the %Z and kVA ratings are different, care should be taken when loading these
transformers.

Here, Transformer-2 (1000 kVA) is overloaded with a less than combined rated load as %Z
of it is lower than the Transformer-1(2000 kVA).

Case 5: Same kVA rating having equal Impedance with different Ratios:

Small differences in voltage cause a large amount of current to circulate. It is important to


have same tap position for paralleled transformers. Circulating current is completely
independent of the load and load division. If transformers are fully loaded there will be a
considerable amount of overheating due to circulating currents.

Case 6: Different kVA rating with different Ratios, having unequal Impedance:

This combination would be very unlikely in practice. If both the ratios and the impedance are
different, the circulating current (because of the unequal ratio) should be combined with each
transformer’s share of the load current to obtain the actual total current in each unit.

For unity power factor, 10% circulating current (due to unequal turn ratios) results in only
half percent to the total current. At lower power factors, the circulating current will change
dramatically.
From all this, we can say that loading considerations for paralleling transformers are simple
except kVA rating, %Z, or ratios are different. Load division in each transformer be equal
will when %Z and turn ratio are same for paralleled transformer, whereas unequal load
division will occur when kVA rating is same and %Z are different. The same is true for
different kVA rating and unequal %Z. Circulating currents only exist if the turn ratios do not
match on each transformer.

Ref:

1). IEC-60076-8 Power Transformer Application Guide, and

2). Application Guide: Loading of Transformer; Schneider electric.

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