USER MANUAL

Equivalent Circuit of Three Winding Transformer

What is Tertiary Winding? What is Three Winding Transformer?

In some high rating transformer, one winding in addition to its primary and secondary winding is used.
This additional winding, apart from primary and secondary windings, is known asTertiary winding of
transformer. Because of this third winding, the transformer is called three winding transformer or 3
winding transformer.

Advantages of Using Tertiary Winding in Transformer

Tertiary winding is provided in electrical power transformer to meet one or more of the following
requirements-

1. It reduces the unbalancing in the primary due to unbalancing in three phase load.
2. It redistributes the flow of fault current.
3. Sometime it is required to supply an auxiliary load in different voltage level in addition to its main
secondary load. This secondary load can be taken from tertiary winding ofthree winding
transformer.
4. As the tertiary winding is connected in delta formation in 3 winding transformer, it assists in
limitation of fault electric current in the event of a short circuit from line to neutral.

Stabilization by Tertiary Winding of Transformer

In star-star transformer comprising three single units or a single unit with 5 limb core offers high
impedance to the flow of unbalanced load between the line and neutral.
This is because, in both of these transformers, there is very low reluctance return path of unbalanced flux.
If any transformer has N turns in winding and reluctance of the magnetic path is R L, then,

Where I and Φ are electric current and flux in the transformer.

Now, from equation (1) & (2), it can be rewritten as,

 From this above mathematical expression it is found that, impedance is inversely proportional to
reluctance. The impedance offered by the return path of unbalanced load current is very high where
very low reluctance return path is provided for unbalanced flux.

In other words, very high impedance to the flow of unbalanced electric current in 3 phase system is offered
between line and neutral. Any unbalanced electric current in three phase system can be divided into three sets of
components likewise positive sequence, negative sequence and zero sequence components. The zero
sequence electric current is actually co-phasial electric current in three lines. If value of co-phasial electric
current in each line is Io, then total electric current flows through the neutral of secondary side of transformer is
In = 3.Io. This electric current cannot be balanced by primary electric current as the zero sequence electric
current cannot flow through the isolated neutral star connected primary. Hence the said electric current in the
secondary side set up a magnetic flux in the core. As we discussed earlier in this chapter, low reluctance path
is consequently; the impedance offered to the zero sequence electric current is very high. The delta connected
tertiary winding of transformer permits the circulation of zero sequence electric current in it. This
circulating electric current in this delta winding balances the zero sequence component of unbalance load, hence
prevents unnecessary development of unbalance zero sequence flux in the transformer core. In few words it can be
said that, placement of tertiary winding in star - star-neutral transformer considerably reduces the zero sequence
impedance of transformer.

Rating of Tertiary Winding of Transformer

Rating of tertiary winding of transformer depends upon its use. If it has to supply additional load, its
winding cross - section and design philosophy is decided as per load, and three phase dead short circuit on its
terminal with power flow from both sides of HV & MV.

In case it is to be provided for stabilizing purpose only, its cross - section and design has to be decided from
thermal and mechanical consideration for the short duration fault currents during various fault conditions
single line -to-ground fault being the most onerous.
Equivalent Circuit of 3 Winding Transformer
While drawing the equivalent circuit of a three winding transformer, each of the winding is represented by its equivalent
resistance and reactance. The exciting current is neglected this is shown in the Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 Single phase equivalent circuit of three winding transformer

All the parameters values are reduced to a common rating base and respective voltage bases. The
primary, secondary and tertiary windings are respectively indicated by subscripts 1, 2 and 3. The
circuit is simplified by neglecting the exciting current.

The division of load between the secondary and tertiary winding is arbitrary. External circuits are
respectively connected between terminals 1, 2, 3 and the common terminal.
As exciting current is neglected,

Ī1 + Ī2+ Ī3 = 0

The determination of impedance in the above equivalent circuit is carried put from three simple
short circuit tests.

All the above impedances are referred to a common base from the equivalent circuit,

Subtracting equations (2) and (3)

 Subtracting equations (4) and (1)

The open circuit test can be performed on any one of the three windings. This helps in obtaining the
core loss, magnetizing impedance and turns ratio.
Objective:

The objectives of this experiment are to find the approximate per phase equivalent circuit
parameters of a 3-winding transformer using short circuit and open circuit tests.

Apparatus:
1. 3- winding transformer equipment
2. 3- Phase Variac
3. 3- Phase Wattmeter

Open Circuit Test

The open circuit test can be performed on any one of the three windings. This helps in obtaining
the core loss, magnetizing impedance.

Procedure

1. Make sure the three phase supply (MCB) is in switched off position and Variac should be
zero position.

2. Connect the circuit diagram as per above figure. Note that Voltmeters and ammeters are
internally connected.

3. Now switched on the 3 Phase Power Supply and vary the Variac upto 440V.

4. Note down the readings of wattmeter, primary voltage, primary current, secondary
voltage and tertiary voltage.

5. After taking readings bring Variac to zero position and switched off 3 Phase supply.

Tabular Column

Primary Winding Secondary Winding Tertiary Winding

Voltage Current Wattmeter Secondary Voltage Tertiary Voltage
(VRY) (IRY) reading
Short Circuit Test

The series branch parameters of the three phase transformer equivalent circuit are obtained
from three different short circuit tests, as follows:

1. Voltage to primary winding, secondary winding short circuited and Tertiary winding
open.

2. Voltage to primary winding, Tertiary winding short circuited and secondary winding
open.

3. Voltage to secondary winding, Tertiary winding short circuited and primary winding
open.

Procedure

1. Make sure the three phase supply (MCB) is in switched off position and Variac should be
zero position.

2. Connect the circuit diagram as per above figure. Note that Voltmeters and ammeters are
internally connected.

3. Now switched on the 3 Phase Power Supply and vary the 3-phase Variac slowly upto
rated current of the Secondary winding (i.e. 5 Amps).

4. Note down the readings of 3-phase wattmeter, primary voltage, primary current,
secondary Current and tertiary voltage.

5. After taking readings bring Variac to zero position and switched off 3-Phase supply.

Tabular Column

Primary Winding Secondary Winding Tertiary Winding

Voltage Current Wattmeter Secondary Current Tertiary Voltage
(VRY) (IRY) reading
Procedure

1. Make sure the three phase supply (MCB) is in switched off position and Variac should be
zero position.

2. Connect the circuit diagram as per above figure. Note that Voltmeters and ammeters are
internally connected.

3. Now switched on the 3 Phase Power Supply and vary the 3-phase Variac slowly upto
rated current of the tertiary winding (i.e. 5 Amps).

4. Note down the readings of 3-phase wattmeter, primary voltage, primary current,
secondary Voltage and tertiary Current.

5. After taking readings bring Variac to zero position and switched off 3-Phase supply.

Tabular Column

Primary Winding Secondary Winding Tertiary Winding

Voltage Current Wattmeter Secondary Voltage Tertiary Current
(VRY) (IRY) reading
Procedure

1. Make sure the three phase supply (MCB) is in switched off position and Variac should be
zero position.

2. Connect the circuit diagram as per above figure. Note that Voltmeters and ammeters are
internally connected.

3. Now switched on the 3-Phase Power Supply and vary the 3-phase Variac slowly upto
rated current of the Tertiary winding (i.e. 5 Amps).

4. Note down the readings of 3-phase wattmeter, Secondary voltage, Secondary current,
Primary Voltage and tertiary Current.

5. After taking readings bring Variac to zero position and switched off 3-Phase supply.

Tabular Column

Secondary Winding Primary Winding Tertiary Winding

Voltage Current Wattmeter Primary Voltage Tertiary Current
(VRY) (IRY) reading