Three phase connection of Single-Phase Transformers

Introduction
The primary and secondary windings of three single-phase transformers can be connected in different
configurations to meet specific 3-phase system requirements. For single-phase transformers with equal
transformation ratio of the phase windings, the ratio of the line voltages and their phase relations
depends on the winding connection. Based on the phase relation between primary and secondary
voltages, the vector group of the transformer is determined. Identification of the transformer vector
group is very important for connecting three phase transformers in parallel.

Aim
1. To connect three single-phase transformers in (a)Star/delta(Yd1, Yd11) (b)Star/Star(Yy6) and
to obtain the no-load line voltage ratios and phase relations for each connection.
2. To observe the components in the magnetizing currents and induced voltages for different con-
nections, with and without the neutral being connected.
3. To observe the zero sequence currents with balanced and un-balanced load, with and without a
load neutral connection.

Theory
12
11 1
A
2
10
a

9 3
30 ◦ lag

8 4

5
7
6

Figure 1: Clock convention

The vector group of a three phase transformer indicates the phase difference between the primary
and secondary sides, introduced due to that particular configuration of transformer windings connection.
In a vector group representation, first symbol in capital letters is for high voltage, second symbol in
small letters is for low voltage and third symbol for phase displacement based on clock convention. The
minute hand is used to represent the primary phase to neutral voltage and always shown to occupy
the position 12. The hour hand represents the secondary phase to neutral voltage and may, depending
upon phase shift, occupy position other than 12 as shown in figure 1.
Star/delta connection: Consider the system shown in figure 2-3. The primary windings are con-
nected in star and the neutral point of the supply is available. The secondary windings are connected

1
in delta. Let us consider that the secondary delta is not closed (say, one arm is open). From the three
phase current expressions, it can be noted that the fundamental currents in the windings are phase
shifted by 120 from each other, while the third harmonic currents are all in phase (co-phasal).

If the neutral of the primary star is connected to the supply neutral, since the source voltage to neu-
tral is sinusoidal, the flux in the core will be sinusoidal but the exciting current will be non-sinusoidal.
Next, consider the case when the neutral of the primary is kept isolated and the secondary continues to
be open delta. The phase voltages are non-sinusoidal, containing the fundamental and third harmonic
voltages.

Now, if the delta is closed, then the net third harmonic voltage will give rise to a third harmonic
current which will circulate in the delta connected windings. This will partly provide the missing third
harmonic component of the primary exciting current and consequently the flux and induced voltage
will be closer to being sinusoidal.
A1 A2
a2 a1 A1
A a
◦
30
a1
B1 B2 b2 b1
b2 b1 A2
B C2 c2
b B2
a2
c1
C1 C2
c2 c1
c C1 B1
C

Figure 2: Star/delta (Yd11) connection and its phasor diagram

A1 A2 a2 a1
A a A1
c2 a1
30◦
c1
b2
B1 B2 A2
B b C2 B2
b2 b1 a2
b1

C1 C2 B1
C c C1
c2 c1

Figure 3: Star/delta (Yd1) connection and its phasor diagram

Star/star connection : See the system shown in figure 4. With no neutral connection, the triple
frequency components of the excitation currents are suppressed, thereby causing large triple frequency
components in the flux. Triple frequency component will be present in the phase voltages of both the
windings, but these will not appear in the line voltages. With the neutral connection (4 wire system),
the triple frequency components will disappear from the induced voltages in all the windings while the
magnetizing currents of the primary will contain all the harmonics.
If a load is connected to the secondary side as shown in Fig. 5, and if unbalance is created for
the load, we can observe the zero sequence currents depending on whether or not the neutrals are

2
 A1 A2 a2 a1
A1 b1 c1
A a

b2 b1
B1 B2 A2 180◦
b
B C2 B2

c2 c1
C1 C2
c C1 B1 a1
C

Figure 4: Star/Star (Yy6) connection and its phasor diagram

connected to the source neutral. For a star-star transformer with both neutrals connected to the source
ground, as in Fig. 6, the phasor sum of three unbalanced phase currents is equal to three times the
zero sequence current and it can flow in both the primary and secondary of the transformer. When
the neutral of only one winding is grounded as shown in figure 7, the phase currents of the ungrounded
winding must add up to zero. This implies that the zero sequence currents cannot exist in the winding
that is not connected to the source neutral and hence the zero sequence currents cannot exist even in
the transformer side with neutral connected to the source neutral. Note that IIp ' NNs
p
for each phase.
s

3 phase load

A a2 a1
A1 A2

B b2 b1
B1 B2

c2 c1
C
C1 C2

Figure 5: Zero sequence currents

Figure 6: Yy transformer with both neutrals grounded

3
 Figure 7: Yy transformer with only one neutral grounded

Procedure:
Using a Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO), observe the waveforms of the voltages and currents men-
tioned below for different connections. Using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), find the percentages of
3rd, 5th and 7th harmonics with respect to the fundamental.

Star/delta(Yd1, Yd11)

(i) Line voltage, phase voltage and line current of the primary, when neutral is isolated and the sec-
ondary delta is open. (ii) Line voltage and phase voltage of the primary, line voltage of the secondary
and the current flowing in the delta of the secondary when the primary neutral is still isolated but the
secondary delta is closed. (iii) Now connect the primary neutral to the source neutral. Observe the line
voltage, phase voltage , line current of the primary and current through the neutral-ground connection
wire.

Star/Star(Yy6)

(i) Line voltage, phase voltage and line current of the primary when neutral is not grounded. (ii)
Line voltage, phase voltage and line current of the primary when neutral is grounded. Also observe
the current through the neutral-ground connection wire. (iii) Line voltage and phase voltage of the
secondary with (a) primary neutral isolated and (b)primary neutral grounded.

Star/Star transformer with star connected load

(i) First connect both primary and secondary neutral to the source neutral and vary the load rheostat
in any one phase to create unbalance. Observe the zero sequence currents in the neutral wire. (ii) Now
remove the grounding on the secondary side and observe the phase to neutral voltage in unbalanced
condition.

This document is prepared by Neethu S. (Research Scholar, 2014 batch).