PARALLELING OF TRANSFORMER
NEED FOR PARALLELING THE TRANSFORMER:
In the real time scenario the transformer is designed to meet
certain number of loads and after the few years later the loads will
exceeds transformer rating, then there will be a need for a parallel
transformer to handle the load.
Eg: If the current load is 8 MVA and the transformer rating
chosen is 16 MVA considering the future expansion of loads.
With continuous increase in load, either the transformers can be
replaced with a higher rating unit or another transformer of
similar rating can beinstalled in parallel to share the load.
Redundancy is an important factor. The transformers can be
paralleled in 2 * 100% or 3 * 50% manner. In case of two parallel
transformers at 100% loading.
the bus coupler will be open under normal condition and closed
when one transformer fails, so that another transformer can
take up the entire load. While using three transformers at 50%
loading.
Countries like Kuwait opt for 4 * 33% in case of 132/11 kV
distribution transformers.
CONDITIONS FOR PARALLELING
TRANSFORMERS
For paralleling the transformer, the following parameters must
be necessary,
Vector Group Analysis
Transformer Impedance Analysis
Voltage Rating
Tap Ratio
X/R Ratio
MVA Rating
1. VECTOR GROUP ANALYSIS ;
SAME VECTOR GROUP WITH NO LOAD;
A 110 kV grid source connected to a bus. Two number of 30
MVA transformers are stepping down the voltage from 110kV to
11 kV with 12.5% impedance. the secondaries of both
transformers are connected to a common bus.
Above fig will show the Parallel Transformers with same Vector
Group The transformers have same vector group and there is no
load connected, the bus voltages are 100%.
Same Vector Group With No Load
DIFFERENT VECTOR GROUP WITH NO LOAD
In this there change in the vector group transformer T1 is
DYN1 and transformer T2 is DYN 11 in the two parallel
transformer (Change vector to -30).
In LFA study case enable apply transformer phase shift.
In Transformer T1 angle of HV will lead the angle of LV and
Transformer T2 angle of HV will lag behind the angle of LV .
So there is enormous amount energy flow towards both the
transformer in opposite direction. so, it results in short circuit.
Transformers with winding configuration DYN1 cannot be
connected in parallel with DYN11 in real time scenario.
DIFFERENT VECTOR GROUP WITH LOAD;
In this transformer T1 is YND1 and transformer T2 is DYN1 with
two different winding configurations.
When a 50 MVA constant power load is connected to it, both
transformers share the load equally.
In parallel operation, transformers should necessarily have the
same vector group and the phase shift should be identical.
T1 -YNYN0 and T2 -DD0
T1 winding configuration is YNYN0 and T2 is DD0. The winding
pattern is different but there is no phase shift.
T1 -YNYN0 and T2 -DD0 As long as the voltage, phase angle
and frequency remain same at the circled points, there will be no
impact if the winding configurations are star or delta pattern.
The transformers can be put in parallel operation having T1 in
YNYN0 and T2 in DD0 patterns with no phase shift and it does
not affect the power flow. There may be issues arising due to
earthing on one side.
2. TRANSFORMER IMPEDANCE ANALYSIS
Consider two transformers were ordered to be manufactured
with 12.5% impedance. the transformers are manufactured
with a tolerance of +/-7.5% tolerance. i.e., (12.5*7.5)/100 =
0.9375.
So, one transformer has an impedance of 11.5625% and another
has 13.4375%.
Different impedance without load
During no load condition, there is no power flow in the system.
When a load is connected, then it is observed that higher current
flows through lower impedance and lower current flowsthrough
higher impedance.
Also, the losses are higher in T1 compared to T2
The impedance mismatch, allows parallel operation but it
reduces the effective loading of transformer.
Different impedance with load
3. VOLTAGE RATING
When the voltage on T1 LV is increased to 11.5 kV at no load
condition, there is a reactive power flow or circulating current in
the system.
The applied voltage to transformers is 110 kV, and T1 tries to
maintain the bus 2 voltage at 11.5 kV and T2 tries to maintain it
at 11 kV. There is a huge reactive power flow in the system due
to the difference in voltages.
In transformer parallel operation, it is mandatory to have same
voltage levels in order to avoid any circulating current.
It is observed that there is higher reactive power flow through T1
and for a load of 50 MVA, T1 reaches its full loading.
4. TAP RATIO ANALYSIS;
When the T1 tap is changed to 5% on the primary side, it is
observed that the loading on T2 is increased.
When the parallel operating transformers are provided with
OLTC, their AVR will not operate independently but in Master
Slave mode.
If their AVR’s work independently the tap’s will change
independently.
which may result in an uncontrolled reactive power flow leading
to unnecessary over loading of one transformer.
So, in parallel operation, the AVR of one transformer will operate
as a Master to choose the tap setting on which they have to operate
whereas all the other AVRs will follow the master.
5. X/R RATIO ANALYSIS;
When the X/R of T1 is 20 and T2 is 45, it is observed that the real
power flow through T1 is higher compared to T2 and this is
because P α (1/X).
In order to compensate the power flow, higher reactive power is
flowing through T2.
In lower X/R transformer, there is higher real power flow and in
higher X/R transformer, higher reactive power flows.
6. MVA RATING ANALYSIS;
In this T1 is rated with 20 MVA and the T2 is rated with 30 and
the load is connected with 50 MVA .
It is observed that both T1 and T2 are loaded beyond their
capacity which is practically not possible .
Above the figure shows the three transformer parallel with the
rating of T1-30MVA, T2-20MVA, T3-10MVA.the power flow is
equally shared through this three transformer.
The real power flow through the transformer is of T1-17.6 MW,
T2- 14.6MW, T3- 9.08MW.
As per the IEC 60076 for paralleling the transformer highest
rating transformer could be paralleled with a transformer of 1/3 rd
its rating.
