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Three-Winding Transformer - Short and Open

Circuit Tests

Short-circuit and open-circuit tests are to be performed on a 3-winding transformer to

determine the parameters of the equivalent circuits of it.

Short-Circuit Test
The equivalent impedances Z1, Z2 and Z3 referred to a common base can be determined
by performing three short-circuit tests as follows −

Test 1

In the first test, the secondary winding is short circuited, the tertiary winding is kept open
circuited and a low voltage being applied to the primary winding so that full-load current
flows in the secondary winding (see the figure above). Then, the voltage, current and
power input to the primary winding is to be measured.

Let V1, I1 and P1 be the voltmeter, ammeter and wattmeter readings respectively. Now, if
Z12 is the short circuit impedance of primary and secondary windings with tertiary winding
open. Then,

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V1
Equivalent impedance, Z 12 =
I1

P1
Equivalent resistance, R12 =
2
I
1

And,
−−−−−−−−−
2 2
Equivalent leakage reactance, X 12 = √Z − R
12 12

From the equivalent circuit it can be seen that the impedance Z12 is a series combination of
Z1 and Z2, i.e.,

Z 12 = R12 + jX 12 = Z 1 + Z 2 … (1)

Test 2

In the second test, the tertiary winding is short circuited and the secondary winding is kept
open. A low voltage is applied to the primary winding, which circulates full-load current in
the tertiary winding. If Z13 is the short-circuit impedance of primary and tertiary windings
with secondary winding open, then,

Z 13 = Z1 + Z 3 … (2)

Test 3
In the third test, the tertiary winding is short circuited and the primary winding is kept
open. A low voltage is applied to the secondary winding so that full-load current flows in
the short circuited tertiary winding. If Z23 is the short circuit impedance of secondary and
tertiary windings with primary open, then,

Z 23 = Z2 + Z 3 … (3)

Now, from the eqns. (1), (2) and (3), the impedances Z1, Z2 and Z3 can be obtained (all
should be referred to primary side) as follows −

1
Z1 = ( Z 12 + Z 13 − Z 23 ) … (4)
2

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1
Z2 = ( Z 23 + Z 12 − Z 13 ) … (5)
2

1
Z3 = ( Z 13 + Z 23 − Z 12 ) … (6)
2

Where,

Z1 = R1 + jX 1 ; Z 2 = R2 + jX 2 ; Z 3 = R3 + jX 3

Note - The impedances Z12 and Z13 are referred to primary side since the instruments are
connected in the primary side. The impedance Z23 is referred to secondary side. Hence, it
has to be referred to the primary side and only then eqns. (4), (5) & (6) can be used for
calculating Z1, Z2 and Z3.
Chapters Categories

Open-Circuit Test
The open circuit test on a three winding transformer is performed to determine the core
loss, magnetising impedance and turn ratios. In the open circuit test, the primary winding is
energized with both secondary and tertiary windings on open circuit. Then, we get,

V1
Voltage ratio between primary and secondary, K12 =
V2

V1
Voltage ratio between primary and tertiary, K13 =
V3

V2 V 2 /V 1 K13
Voltage ratio between secondary and tertiary, K23 = = =
V3 V 3 /V 1 K12

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