Tertiary Windings in Autotransformers

O. T . FARRY
FELLOW AIEE

A UTOTRANSFORMERS in power systems are usu-

ally Y-connected and commonly have delta-con-
nected tertiary windings. Is the tertiary winding needed?
quence impedance of the autOtransformer and of the
high- and low-voltage systems.
2. Determination of the zero-sequence impedance of
If needed, what should be its size? These are two ques- the high- and low-voltage systems, the high- and low-
tions to consider when applying an autOtransformer. voltage circuits of the autOtransformer, and the neutral
Sometimes the tertiary winding is not needed and circuit of the autOtransformer.
may be a liability. This is particularly true of low 3. Calculation of the line-to-neutral fault current.
coratio units, the applications offering the largest bene- 4. Segregation of the zero-sequence component of the
fit from the use of autotransformers. An analysis of the fault current.
need of a tertiary winding involves its three uses: 5. Separation of the zero-sequence component into
its parts to determine how much flows in the autOtrans-
1. The tertiary winding may carry load at a third
former neutral circuit.
voltage. Sometimes this may justify its inclusion.
6. Comparison of this part of the zero-sequence cur-
2. The tertiary winding may be needed to stabilize
rent with the current rating of the delta-connected
the neutral when unbalanced single-phase line-to-neu-
winding to determine how many times rated current
tral loads are served. This purpose can usually be
may be imposed on the winding.
avoided. If loads of this type must be served, the neutral
might be stabilized by some other means, such as carry- The most severe circulating current will usually oc-
ing a neutral conductor through from the system source. cur in the case of simultaneous line-to-neutral faults on
3. The tertiary winding may be used to suppress the same phase of both the high- and low-voltage sys-
third-harmonic voltages by carrying third-harmonic ex- tems. System grounding at other places will relieve the
citing current. Generally this is an inadequate reason autOtransformer of part of the zero-sequence fault-cur-
for specifying a tertiary winding. The third-harmonic rent. Lowering the ground impedance of the systems
component of exciting current can be supplied through reduces the neutral current in the autOtransformer.
a neutral connection to the system source or a ground- Determination of the zero-sequence impedances is the
ing transformer. Even a ground return circuit may be most illusive part of the calculation. Sometimes the
adequate. A modern core-type unit with grain-oriented zero-sequence impedance of the system can only be
steel has very low third-harmonic exciting current. roughly estimated. In the autOtransformer the zero-
sequence impedances bear some relation to the positive-
If a delta-connected tertiary winding is included, it
sequence impedances. If the autOtransformer is of the
should not be limited in size to 35% of the size of other
shell type or consists of a bank of three single-phase
windings. It should be large enough to withstand short-
units, the zero-sequence impedances are equal to the
circuit currents to which it may be subjected. If the
corresponding positive-sequence impedances. However,
tertiary-winding terminals are brought out, its size
in a core-type 3-phase unit, the zero-sequence imped-
should be adequate to withstand a short circuit at these
ances are lower than the corresponding positive-se-
terminals. Frequently, a minimum-size tertiary is not
quence impedances. For the purpose of estimating the
large enough.-Calculation of short-circuit current of
probable zero-sequence impedances of a normally con-
this type involves the positive-sequence impedances of
structed 3-phase core-type power autOtransformer, the
the autOtransformer and of the connected systems.
following rules have been deduced from the analysis of
If the terminals are not brought out, the problem is a number of designs of units ranging from 34.5 to 230
less serious, but there is still a possibility of excessive kv and having coratios from 0.167 to 0.8:
fault current flowing in a delta-connected tertiary wind-
The zero-sequence impedance of the high-voltage cir-
ing. A line-to-neutral fault on either the high- or low-
cuit, %IZ0H, is about 0.8 times the positive-sequence
voltage system, or both, will produce zero-sequence cur-
impedance, %IZH_L. In individual units the value may
rent, part of which circulates in the tertiary winding.
vary from 0.65 to 0.9, with 0.8 times %IZH.L a fair av-
Steps in calculating the possible magnitude of this
erage to use. The zero-sequence impedance of the low-
current include
voltage circuit, %IZ0L, can be taken as zero. It may be
1. Determination of the positive and negative se- either positive or negative in value ranging from —0.2
to -)-0.2 times %IZH.L. Zero is a convenient average to
use. The zero-sequence impedance of the neutral circuit,
Digest of paper 61-13, recommended by the AIEE Transformers Com- %IZ0N, including the tertiary winding, is largely de-
mittee and approved by the AIEE Technical Operations Department for
presentation at the AIEE Winter General Meeting, New York, N. Y., Jan. pendent on the coratio of the autOtransformer. It can
29-Feb. 3, 1961. Published in AIEE Power Apparatus and Systems, Apr.
1961, pp. 78-85. be estimated by the empirical equation %IZ0N — K X
19
O. T . Farry is with the Wagner Electric Corporation, St. Louis, Mo. 7OIZH-L> where K = 0.5 (coratio)- —0.3.

MAY 1961 Farry—Tertiary Windings in Autotransformers 359