Parallel Operation of

Single Phase
Transformers
Introduction:

Load on a practical transformer such as a distribution transformer it grows over

time.

As more and more houses are electrified more on the load of each house
increases, so does the load on the transformer.

So, it may very well happen that within the life time of a distribution transformer or
any other transformer, a transformer that was designed to be sufficient for a given
load over a period of time; the transformer may reach its rated load and the load
may even exceed it.
There are 2 methods by which such a situation can be handled;
• One is replace the transformer by a larger transformer. However, it has
some
practical limitations.

For example, the larger transformer should again, should be planned for future expansion;
which means, that the transformer rating should be relatively large compared to the present
pick load.

This also means, particularly for distribution transformer that, the new transformer
will be operating at light load for most of the time which is not a very efficient utilization of
the transformer.
• The other approach is to connect a similarly rated transformer in parallel to the
existing transformer; this has certain advantages.

For example, even if the new transformer is of the same rating as the old transformer; then
at least it allows for a growth of 100 percent in the load before a further replacement
becomes necessary.
Second thing, this new transformer need not always be connected.
When the load is not sufficient only one transformer may be connected and it can supply at
its rated capacity.
Maintenance also becomes easy; because you need to keep only one spare small
transformer.
So, for these reasons parallel operation of transformers are important.

Here, we will find out how to connect two single phase transformer in parallel; what are the
conditions for that and how to analyze parallel connected transformers.
Suppose, we have 1 single phase
transformer connected to the load, to the
source on the primary side and supplies the
load on the secondary side.

This is let us say transformer 1.

Let us connect another transformer parallel

to this; the primary of the second
transformer will be connected in parallel to
the source side, also the secondary.

However, while connecting the secondary

in parallel one should be careful about the
instantaneous polarity of the voltages.
For example, this is the instantaneous positive terminal of the parallel
connected primaries and this is the instantaneous positive terminal of the
secondary of the first transformer.

Then the instantaneous positive terminal of the second transformer must be

connected to the instantaneous positive terminal of the first transformer and the
other terminal should be connected as shown in fig.

If not, then one can easily understand if this polarity is reversed; then even
without this load, there will be a short circuit through the transformer winding
and a very large current will flow when this switch S is closed, .

So, this should be protected against such situation.

So, before connecting the transformers in parallel, their instantaneous polarities
should be
checked and connected accordingly.

This is the first condition for connecting 2 transformers in parallel, but this is not all.

Obviously, one can appreciate that the no load voltages of the transformers should
not be very different for the same reason.

Because even if we assume that there is no load and the transformer secondary no
load voltages are different.

Then when you close this switch, there will be a circulating current flowing through
the secondaries, which will be limited only by the series impedance of the
transformers.

So, even at no load, a very large current can flow; if the no load voltages of the two
transformers are very different.
So, the transformers to be connected in parallel, should have instantaneous the
correct polarity terminals connected together and then no load voltages should be
very close; if not exactly equal.

There are few other conditions which are not essential, but desirable.

And of course, the total kVA rating of the 2 transformers must be greater than the
total kVA demand of the load.

It is for that purpose only that we are connecting the transformers in parallel.

Now, let us see what other desirable conditions we can find out.

For that we will need to analyze this parallel connected transformer and in the
beginning, we will assume that the transformers have identical; no load primary and
secondary voltages.
Parallel operation of transformer:

• For more reliable operation of load two or more transformers are connected in
parallel.

Conditions:

 The transformers should have same turns ratio

 Same polarity at the output end
 Equivalent leakage impedance inversely proportional to their KVA rating

Desirable :

• The ratio of equivalent leakage reactance to resistance remain same for each
parallel transformer
• Rating should be equal
The equivalent circuit of the first transformer with respect to the load side can be shown to
be like this; we have derived this before. Let us say this series impedance is Z1=R1+ j X1.

Since, the secondary transformer, the second transformer input are and output are connected
to the same source and the same load; effectively the series impedance of the second
transformer will come in parallel to the first transformer.

Therefore, the total equivalent circuit of the parallel connected transformers can be
represented something like this. So, this is Z2=R2+ j X2.

Let us say the total current drawn by the first transformer is I1’; the current drawn by the
second transformer is I2’ and total load current is I´L.

Then one can easily derive that

Auto Transformer
Introduction

So far we have considered a 2-winding transformer as a means for changing the level of a
given voltage to a desired voltage level.

It may be recalled that a 2-winding transformer has two separate magnetically coupled coils
with no electrical connection between them.

In this lesson we shall show that change of level of voltage can also be done quite effectively
by using a single coil only.

Suppose you have a single coil of 200 turns (= NBC) wound over a iron core as shown in figure
1.

If we apply an a.c voltage of 400 V, 50 Hz to the coil (between points B and C), voltage per
turn will be 400/200 = 2 V.
Figure 1: Transformer with a single coil
If we take out a wire from one end of the coil say C and take out another wire tapped from any
arbitrary point E, we would expect some voltage available between points E and C.

The magnitude of the voltage will obviously be 2 × NEC where NEC is the number of turns
between points E and C.

If tapping has been taken in such a way that NEC = 100, voltage between E and C would be 200
V. Thus we have been able to change 400 V input voltage to a 200 V output voltage by using a
single coil only.

Such transformers having a single coil with suitable tapings are called autotransformers.

It is possible to connect a conventional 2-winding transformer as an autotransformer or one

can develop an autotransformer as a single unit.
2-winding transformer as Autotransformer

Suppose we have a single phase 200V/100V, 50Hz, 10kVA two winding transformer with
polarity markings.

Then the coils can be connected in various ways to have voltage ratios other than 2 also, as
shown in figure 2
Let us explain the one of the connections in figure 2(a) in detail.

Here the LV and the HV sides are connected in additive series.

For rated applied voltage (100V) across the LV winding, 200V must be induced across the HV
winding.

So across the whole combination we shall get a voltage of 300V.

Thus the input voltage is stepped up by a factor of 3 (300 V/100 V).

Now how much current can be supplied to a load at 300 V?

From the given rating of the transformer we know, IHV rated = 50 A and ILV rated = 100 A.
Therefore for safe operation of the transformer, these rated currents should not be exceeded in
HV and LV coils.

Since the load is in series with the HV coil, 50A current can be safely supplied. But a current
of 50A in the HV demands that the LV winding current must be 100A and in a direction as
shown, in order to keep the flux in the core constant.

Therefore by applying KCL at the junction, the current drawn from the supply will be 150A.

Obviously the kVA handled by the transformer is 30 kVA and without overloading either of
the windings.

It may look a bit surprising because as a two winding transformer its rating is only 10 kVA.
The explanation is not far to seek.
Unlike a two winding transformer, the coils here are connected electrically.

So the kVA transferred from supply to the load side takes place both inductively as well as
conductively – 10kVA being transferred inductively and remaining 20kVA transferred
conductively.

The other connections shown in (b), (c) and (d) of figure 2 can similarly explained and left to
the reader to verify.
Autotransformer as a single unit

Look at the figure 3 where the constructional features of an auto transformer is shown.

The core is constructed by taking a rectangular long strip of magnetic material (say CRGO)
and rolled to give the radial thickness.

Over the core, a continuous single coil is wound the free terminals of which are marked as C
and A.

A carbon brush attached to a manually rotating handle makes contact with different number
of turns and brought out as a terminal, marked E.

The number of turns between E & C, denoted by NEC can be varied from zero to a maximum
of total number of turns between A & C i.e, NAC.

The output voltage can be varied smoothly from zero to the value of the input voltage simply
by rotating the handle in the clockwise direction.
This type of autotransformers are commercially known
as varic or dimmerstat and is an important piece of
equipment in any laboratory.

Now we find that to change a given voltage V1 to another

level of voltage V2 and to transfer a given KVA from one
side to the other, we have two choices namely by using a
Two Winding Transformer or by using an
Autotransformer.

There are some advantages and disadvantages associated

with either of them.

To understand this aspect let us compare the two types of

transformers in equal terms.
It may be noted that in case of an autotransformer, the portion EC is common between the
primary and the secondary.

At loaded condition current flowing through NEC is (I2 – I1).

Therefore, compared to a two winding transformer lesser cross sectional area of the conductor
in the portion EC can be chosen, thereby saving copper.
We can in fact find out the ratio of amount of copper required in two types of transformers
noting that the volume of copper required will be proportional to the product of current and
the number of turns of a particular coil.

This is because, length of copper wire is proportional to the number of turns and cross
sectional area of wire is proportional to the current value i.e.,
 Power transferred inductively=(V1-V2)I1
Total power at the output end=V2I2
Power transfer conductively=V2I1 (not
considering the secondary current , simply
considering secondary to be a part of primary)

Power transferred inductively=1-K

Power transfer conductively=K
Here we have assumed that N1 is greater than N2 i.e., a is greater than 1.

The savings will of course be appreciable if the value of a is close to unity.

For example if a = 1.2, copper required for autotransformer will be only 17% compared to a
two winding transformer, i.e, saving will be about 83%.

On the other hand, if a = 2, savings will be only 50%. Therefore, it is always economical to
employ autotransformer where the voltage ratio change is close to unity.

In fact autotransformers could be used with advantage, to connect two power systems of
voltages say 11 kV and 15 kV.

Three similar single units of autotransformers could connected as shown in the figure 6 to get
variable balanced three phase output voltage from a fixed three phase voltage.

Such connections are often used in the laboratory to start 3-phase induction motor at reduced
voltage.
Advantage:

•Less costly
•Better regulation
•Low losses as compared to ordinary two winding transformer of the same rating.
•Saving of copper windings.

Disadvantage:

•The secondary winding is not insulated from the primary winding. If an auto transformer is used to supply low
voltage from a high voltage and there is a break in the secondary winding, the full primary voltage comes across
the secondary terminal which is dangerous to the operator and the equipment. So the auto transformer should not
be used for interconnecting high voltage and low voltage systems.
•Used only in the limited places where a slight variation of the output voltage from input voltage is required.

Application:

•It is used as a starter to give up to 50 to 60% of full voltage to the stator of a squirrel cage induction motor during
starting.
•It is used to give a small boost to a distribution cable, to correct the voltage drop.
•It is also used as a voltage regulator
•Used in power transmission and distribution system and also in the audio system and railways.
Apart from being economical, autotransformer has less leakage flux hence improved
regulation.

Copper loss in the common portion of the winding will be less, so efficiency will be slightly
more.

However its one major disadvantage is that it can not provide isolation between HV and LV
side.

In fact, due to an open circuit in the common portion between E & C, the voltage on the load
side may soot up to dangerously high voltage causing damage to equipment.

This unexpected rise in the voltage on the LV side is potentially dangerous to the personnel
working on the LV side.