Connections and working principles of three-phase

distribution transformers
electrical-engineering-portal.com/three-phase-transformer-connections

By Edvard February 8, 2019

Three-Phase Transformers
A three-phase service can be supplied by one three-phase transformer unit or by
interconnecting three single-phase transformer units. One three-phase unit is smaller than an
equivalent size bank consisting of three single-phase units.

Three-Phase Transformer Connections

One three-phase transformer tends to be used in underground vaults or as a pad-mount

transformer (Figure 1). An illustration of a three-phase transformer is shown in Figure 2.

One three-phase unit is easier to install because the polarity and interconnections between
the phases are fixed. The use of three single-phase units is common in overhead distribution.

Figure 1 – 1000kVA 3-phase padmounted transformer

(photo credit: newdirectionutilities.com)

When single-phase transformers are banked together, they can be interconnected to supply
more than one type of service. For example, three transformers with 120/24 V
secondaries can supply a 120/208, 240/416, or a 240 V three-wire service.
Fewer specialized emergency spare transformers are needed when single-phase
transformers are used.

Figure 2 – Three-phase wye-wye transformer

Let’s start now with fundamentals of 3-phase distribution transformers and their
connections:

1. Typical Nameplate for Three-Phase Unit

2. Banking Three Single-Phase Units
3. Wye or Delta Connections
1. Primary Delta Transformer Connections
2. Primary Wye Transformer Connections
3. Wye-Wye Transformer Banks
4. Delta-Delta Transformer Banks
5. Wye-Delta Transformer Banks
6. Delta-Wye Transformer Banks
7. Open-Delta Transformer Banks
4. Scott Connections
5. Connecting Three-Phase Transformer Banks in Parallel
6. Angular Displacement of Wye-Delta and Delta-Wye Transformer Banks
7. Angular Displacement of Substation Transformers
8. Voltage Unbalance on a Three-Phase Service

1. Typical Nameplate for Three-Phase Unit

A transformer nameplate (Figure 1) should be checked to determine which three-phase
configuration and voltage the transformer is able to supply.
 Figure 3 – Nameplate for three-phase transformer unit

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2. Banking Three Single-Phase Units

When interconnecting three single-phase transformers into a three-phase transformer bank
(see featured image at the top), there are four specifications to look for when choosing a
transformer:

Spec #1 – The voltage rating of the transformer primary coil must be compatible with the
applicable circuit.

The voltage impressed across the primary coil will depend on whether the coil is connected
in a wye (phase-to-neutral) or a delta (phase-to-phase) configuration.

Spec #2 – The transformer must be able to deliver the needed secondary voltage. The
supplied secondary voltage will be dependent on:

1. The voltage rating of the secondary coil.

2. Whether the transformer secondaries are interconnected in a wye or delta
configuration.
3. Whether the secondary coils inside the transformer are connected together in series or
in parallel.

Spec #3 – If equipped with tap changers, the transformers must be on the same voltage tap.
Dual-voltage transformers must be set on the proper voltage.
Spec #4 – The impedance of the transformers in the bank should be within 0.2 % of each
other to avoid having the transformer with the lowest impedance taking a greater share of the
load.

In other words, if one transformer has an impedance of 2 %, then the impedance of

the other transformer should be between 1.8 % and 2.2 %.

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3. Wye or Delta Connections

A transformer coil must have a potential difference across it in order to operate. To have a
potential difference across a transformer coil, the polarity of a terminal at one end of a coil is
positive and the polarity of the terminal at the other end of the coil is negative.

There are two ways to get a voltage across a transformer coil:

1. One way is to connect a coil between a phase and another phase. When each of the
three transformers has its coils connected between the phases AB, BC, and CA, the
transformers are interconnected in a delta configuration.
2. The second way is to connect a coil between a phase and the neutral. When each of
the three transformers has its coils connected between a phase and a common
neutral, the transformers are interconnected in a wye configuration.

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3.1 Primary Delta Transformer Connections

The three ways to connect a transformer primary into a delta (phase-to-phase)
configuration are shown in Figure 4 below.

Note how labeling the polarity of the transformers on a drawing reduces confusion when
making connections. Each transformer coil in a delta primary or delta secondary is connected
phase to phase.

When two or more transformers are interconnected in a delta configuration, the coils are
connected in series with each other. To connect a coil in series, each positive terminal of
one coil is connected to a negative terminal of another coil.
If a transformer primary is to be delta connected on a wye circuit, the voltage rating of the
primary coil must be equal to the phase-to-phase voltage of the circuit.
 Figure 4 – Three types of delta connections

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3.2 Primary Wye Transformer Connections

The three ways to connect a transformer primary into a wye (phase-to-neutral) configuration
are shown in Figure 5. Note how labeling the polarity of the transformers on a drawing
reduces confusion when making connections.

Each transformer coil in a wye primary or wye secondary is connected phase to neutral.

When two or more transformers are interconnected in a wye configuration, the coils are
connected in parallel with each other. To connect a coil in parallel, each positive terminal is
connected to a phase and each negative terminal is connected to a neutral.

Figure 5 – Three types of transformer wye connections

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3.3 Wye-Wye Transformer Banks

Figure 6 shows the connections for a typical three-phase wye-wye transformer bank. A wye-
primary-wye-secondary transformer bank can supply 120/208 Vt, 240/416 V, 277/480 V, or
347/600-volt services. The phase-to-phase voltage is √3 or 1.73 times the phase-to-neutral
voltage.

The voltage across each transformer coil is equivalent to the phase-to-neutral voltage.

The primary neutral must be connected to the secondary neutral in a wye-

wye transformer bank. This neutral connection provides a path for any fault current
or current from an unbalanced load to get back to the source.
There is a potentially lethal voltage between the primary and secondary neutrals if they are
not connected together.

Figure 6 – Wye-Wye transformer bank

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3.4 Delta-Delta Transformer Banks

Figure 7 shows the connections for a typical delta-delta transformer bank. A delta-primary-
delta-secondary transformer bank supplies three-phase power at 120 V, 240 V, 480 V, or 600
V.

The voltage across each transformer secondary coil is equivalent to the voltage supplied to
the customer, which is the phase-to-phase voltage.
The load on a delta-delta transformer bank needs to be well balanced. Any unbalance will
result in circulating currents within the service as the unbalanced current tries to find its way
back to the source.

To ensure that the utility is supplying a balanced voltage to the customer, the three
transformers must have similar impedance and be on the same voltage tap.
 Figure 7 – Delta-delta transformer bank

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3.5 Wye-Delta Transformer Banks

Figure 8 shows the connections for a typical wye-delta transformer bank. A wye-delta
transformer bank supplies three-phase delta services at 120 V, 240 V, 480 V, or 600 V.

A wye-delta bank must have transformers with insulated H2 bushings. The H2 bushings are
interconnected to each other, but they are not connected to system
neutral or grounded. The neutral connection is left floating (ungrounded) and, therefore, can
have a high potential on it.

It must not be treated like a grounded neutral by anyone working on the transformer bank.
If the H2 bushings were connected to the system neutral, the transformer bank would carry
extra current not related to the current needed to supply the normal service load.

If the primary wye circuit is unbalanced, extra current flows through the delta secondary as it
tries to balance itself through the secondary of the transformer bank. If one phase on the
primary circuit is faulted to ground, the high unbalanced current flows through the delta
secondary.

When the H2 is connected to the system neutral, the transformer bank automatically
becomes a wye-open-delta transformer bank if one of the primary phases is opened.
The two energized transformers continue to provide three-phase power but are subject to
burnout because of overload. Two transformers now carry the load normally supplied by
three transformers.
 This arrangement has a capacity of 57.7 percent of the capacity of three transformers.

Figure 8 – Wye-Delta transformer bank

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3.6 Delta-Wye Transformer Banks

Figure 9 shows the connections for a typical delta-wye transformer bank. A delta-primary-
wye-secondary transformer bank can supply standard wye services.

The secondary neutral should be well grounded because of the unavailability of a primary
system neutral.
 Figure 9 – Delta-Wye transformer bank

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3.7 Open-Delta Transformer Banks

A three-phase delta service can be supplied with two single-phase transformers. This type of
service is called an open delta because the delta configuration is missing one side,
preventing it from being a closed loop.

Figure 10 shows the open-delta loop with the availability of three phases.

Figure 10 – Open-delta configuration

To feed an open-delta, three-phase secondary service, three primary wires are needed. A
wye primary would need two phases and a neutral, and a delta primary would need three
phases.

This hookup is sometimes used as an economical way to feed a small three-phase delta
load. One of the two transformers is often called the lighting transformer and is sized larger
in order to feed the single-phase portion of the load.
The smaller transformer is often called the power transformer and is there .to help provide
the three-phase load, typically a motor. A three-phase wye secondary service cannot be fed
from two transformers.

An open-delta secondary provides three-phase power. The capacity of the

two transformers is reduced to 86.6 percent of the nameplate rating. For example,
two 100kVA transformers are 100 percent loaded when they supply:

0.866 × 100 × 2 = 173 kVA

When one transformer of a normal three-phase delta-delta or wye-delta transformer bank is

found to be defective, the connections can be changed to the configurations shown in Figure
11, which restores the service as an open delta.

The customer should be told to reduce demand on service until the transformer is replaced,
because the two good transformers will now only have the capacity to supply 57.7 percent
of the capacity of three transformers.

Figure 11 – Open-delta transformer connections

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4. Scott Connections
Scott-connected transformers provide two-phase power from a three-phase system. They
can also be used to supply three phases from a two-phase system. Two special single-phase
transformers are used.

Each single-phase transformer has three primary bushings and special taps on the primary
coil where the three-phase primary connections are made.

The transformers can also feed a four-wire two-phase service.

 Figure 12 – Scott-T Connection – 2 and 3 phase wire
connection

More about Scott-connected transformers you can find in this technical article.

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5. Connecting Three-Phase Transformer Banks in Parallel

Three-phase transformer banks are sometimes networked together to a common secondary
to add extra capacity and security to the service.

Each transformer bank on the common secondary network must be similar:

Each bank should have a similar impedance.

Each bank must be on the same voltage tap setting.
Each bank must have the same angular displacement or phase shift.

More about connecting transformers in parallel you can find in this technical article.

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6. Angular Displacement of Wye-Delta and Delta-Wye Transformer Banks

Occasionally, it is necessary to know if there is an angular displacement or phase shift
between the primary and secondary of a transformer.

An example of an angular displacement is the difference between the X1 and X3 of a

single-phase transformer. Even though each leg will read 120 volts from phase to neutral,
the two legs would produce a dead short if they contacted each other.

The X1 is 180 degrees out of phase with the X3.

Similarly, depending on the type of three-phase transformer bank and the way the secondary
connections are made, there is an angular displacement or phase shift between the
primary and the secondary. There is always an angular displacement or phase shift with a
wye-delta or a delta-wye transformer bank.
The secondary will be 30 degrees out of phase with the primary. This means that a
wye secondary of a wye-wye bank, which has a O-degree angular displacement, cannot be
connected in parallel with a wye secondary of a delta-wye bank, which has a 330-degree
angular displacement (Figure 13).

Figure 13 – Angular displacement of wye secondary

There is no way a lines crew can switch secondary connections to allow these two
transformer banks to be connected in parallel.

Similarly, a delta secondary of a delta-delta bank, which has a O-degree

angular displacement, cannot be connected in parallel with a delta secondary of a wye-delta
bank, which has a 30-degree angular displacement (Figure 14).

There is no way a lines crew can switch secondary connections to allow these two
transformer banks to be connected in parallel.

Figure 14 – Angular displacement of delta secondary

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7. Angular Displacement of Substation Transformers
Control-room operators have to be aware of the existence of a phase shift between different
feeders. A line fed from a substation, where the substation transformer is delta-wye, cannot
be connected in parallel with a line fed from a substation where the substation transformer is
wye-wye.

Similarly, lines from a delta-delta substation transformer cannot be connected in parallel with
a line from a wye-delta substation transformer.

To further add to the confusion, a wye-delta or delta-wye transformer bank can also be
connected so that there is a 180-degree phase shift in addition to the 30-degree phase
shift. A lines crew, therefore, should always check with operating control before closing a tie
switch between two feeders fed from different stations.
Phasing sticks can be used for a field test to determine if there is a voltage difference across
an open tie switch.

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8. Voltage Unbalance on a Three-Phase Service

A three-phase service supplied to a customer should not have a voltage unbalance
exceeding one percent.

where the average V is the average of the three voltages and the max or min V are the
voltages that have the greatest difference from the average.

An unbalanced secondary voltage can be caused by:

1. An unbalanced customer load.

2. An unbalanced primary voltage.
3. Banked single-phase units with different kVA ratings.
4. Banked single-phase units with different voltage tap settings.
5. Banked single-phase units with different impedances.

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Reference // Electrical essentials for powerline workers by Wayne Van Soelen