Parallel Operation of Distribution

Transformer

TOPIC 10
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

• The Transformer is said to be in Parallel Operation when its

primary winding is connected to a common voltage supply, and the
secondary winding is connected to a common load.

• The reliability is increased with parallel operation than to have a

single larger unit (trade-off)

• The connection diagram of the parallel operation of a transformer

is shown in the Figure 1.
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

Principles of Paralleling Operation of

Transformers
👉Remember:
• For supplying a load in excess of the rating of an
existing transformer, two or more transformers may
be connected in parallel with the existing
transformer.

• The transformers are connected in parallel when

load on one of the transformers is more than its
capacity.
Figure 1. Pole-mounted ONAN
distribution transformers
operating in parallel
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

Principles of Paralleling Operation of

Transformers

👉Remember:
• The reliability is increased with parallel operation
than to have single larger unit.
• The cost associated with maintaining the spares is
less when two transformers are connected in
parallel.
• It is usually economical to install another
Figure 2.KVA capacity augmentation
transformer in parallel instead of replacing the
through addition of transformer unit
existing transformer by a single larger unit.
connected in parallel with the
existing unit
 Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

• Principles of Paralleling Operation of

Transformers

👉Remember:
• The cost of a spare unit in the case of two
parallel transformers (of equal rating) is also
lower than that of a single large transformer. In
addition, it is preferable to have a parallel
transformer for the reason of reliability.
Figure 2.KVA capacity augmentation
• With this at least half the load can be supplied
through addition of transformer unit
with one transformer out of service. connected in parallel with the
existing unit
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

Condition for Parallel Operation of Transformer

• When we connect the primary windings of two

transformers to a common supply voltage and the
secondary windings of both the transformers to a
common load, the connection thus resulting to a
parallel operation of transformers.

• For parallel connection of transformers, primary

windings of the Transformers are connected to
source bus-bars and secondary windings are
connected to the load bus-bars.
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

Various conditions that must be fulfilled for the successful

parallel operation of transformers.
Remember: Some of these conditions are convenient and some
are mandatory.
• Same voltage and Turns Ratio (both primary and secondary
voltage rating is same)
• Same Percentage Impedance and X/R ratio
• Identical Position of Tap changer
• Same KVA ratings
• Same Phase angle shift (vector group are the same)
• Same Frequency rating
• Same Polarity (determined by polarity test)
• Same Phase sequence
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

👉Among the convenient conditions of transformers are:

• Same voltage Ratio and Turns Ratio

[ Vp / Vs ] of T1 = [Vp / Vs ] of T2
[ Np / Ns ] of T1 = [Np / Ns ] of T2
• Same Percentage Impedance
[ %Ze of T1 = %Ze of T2 ]
• Same KVA Rating
[ KVA of T1 = KVA of T2 ]
• Same Position of Tap changer (important consideration)
[ % Tap position of T1 = % Tap position of T2 ]
SUBTRACTIVE POLARITY ADDITIVE POLARITY
👉 The mandatory conditions are:
• Same Phase Angle Shift or Phase Difference
( cos ø of T1) = ( cos ø of T2 )
• Same Polarity
(T1 and T2 must be of Subtractive Polarities) or
(T1 and T2 must be of Additive Polarities)
• Same Phase Sequence
(Orientation of the windings at the primary and
secondary side of T1 and T2 must be the same)
• Same Frequency
Both T1 and T2 must be at 60 Hz

👉Remember
When the convenient conditions are not met
paralleled operation, it is possible but not optimal.
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

Conditions on Transformer Voltage Ratios and Turns Ratios (on each tap)
• If two transformers of different voltage ratio are connected in parallel with
same primary supply voltage, there will be a difference in secondary voltages.

👉Remember
• When 2 transformers connected in parallel have slightly different voltage ratios,
then due to the inequality of induced emfs in the secondary windings, a
circulating current will flow in the loop formed by the secondary windings under
the no-load condition, which may be much greater than the normal no-load
current.
• The current will be quite high as the leakage impedance is low.
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

• When the secondary windings are loaded, this circulating current will tend to
produce unequal loading on the two transformers, and it may not be possible to
take the full load from this group of two parallel transformers, thus one of the
transformers may get overloaded.
• Now when the secondary of these transformers are connected to same bus,
there will be a circulating current between secondary’s and between primaries
also.
• As the internal impedance of transformer is small, a small voltage difference
may cause sufficiently high circulating current causing unnecessary extra I2R
loss.
• The ratings of both primaries and secondary’s should be identical.
• In other words, the transformers should have the same turn ratio i.e.
transformation ratio.
Condition on Transformer % Z and X/R ratios

👉Remember
1) The current shared by two transformers running in parallel should be proportional to
their kVA or MVA ratings (in case of substation)
2) The current or KVA carried by these transformers are inversely proportional to their
internal impedance [ or KVA = 1 / Ze]
3) Difference in the ratio of the reactance value to resistance value of the per unit
impedance results in a different phase angle of the currents carried by the two
paralleled transformers [ X/R ratio ];
- one transformer will be working with a higher power factor and the
other with a lower power factor than that of the combined output.
Hence, the real power will not be proportionally shared by the transformers but the
KVA load
4) If two transformers connected in parallel with similar per-unit impedances they
will mostly share the load in the ratio of their KVA ratings.
[ KVA load = KVA load shared by T1 + KVA load shared by T2 ]
5) Impedance of transformers running in parallel are inversely proportional to
their MVA rating or [MVA = 1 / Ze ].
5.1) Percentage or per unit values of impedance should be identical for all the
transformers run in parallel.
5.2) For 2 transformer connected I parallel their KVA ratios is equal to the
inverse ratio of their impedance [ kVA 1 / KVA 2 ] = [ Ze 2 / Ze 1]

Remember this,
When 2 transformers operating at different p.u. unit impedance (Zpu) and same
power factor, they shared different KVA load. One of these 2 transformers will
experience an overload condition.

If the impedance of T1 and T2 are different,

then T1 and T2 will shared a different amount
of KVA load. Therefore, either T1 or T2 will
suffered from overloading.
6) Percentage impedance or per unit values of impedance should be identical
for all the transformers run in parallel.
6.1) Load is mostly equal because it is possible to have two transformers
with equal per-unit impedances but different X/R ratios. In this case the line
current will be less than the sum of the transformer currents and the combined
capacity will be reduced accordingly.
[ X / R ratio of T1 is not the same with T2 ]
then, [ I 1 + I 2 is less than the line current ] - load mismatch

7) When connecting single-phase transformers in three-phase banks,

proper impedance matching becomes even more critical.
7.1) In addition to following the three rules for parallel operation, it
is also a good practice to try to match the X/R ratios of the three series
impedances to keep the three-phase output voltages balanced.

Remember:
X / R ratios of 3 transformers when connecting in three-phase system
should be equal
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

8) When single-phase transformers with

the same KVA ratings are connected in
a Y-∆ Bank, impedance mismatches
can cause a significant load unbalance
among the transformers.
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

Consideration on Circulating Current in 2 Transformers in Parallel

Connection
The standard method of calculation of connecting transformers in parallel is to have
the same turn ratios, percent impedances, and kVA ratings.
Case 1: Equal Impedance, Ratios and Same kVA
KVA load of T-1 = [ (KVA 1) / (KVA 1+ KVA 2) ] x Load KVA
KVA load of T-2 = [ (KVA 2) / (KVA 1+ KVA 2) ] x Load KVA

👉Remember:
• Connecting transformers in parallel with the same parameters results in
equal load sharing and no circulating currents in the transformer
windings.
• From above calculation it is seen that different kVA ratings on
transformers connected to one common load, that current division causes
each transformer to only be loaded to its kVA rating. The key here is that
the percent impedance are the same.
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

• Problem 1:
Connecting two 2000 kVA, 5.75% impedance transformers in
parallel, each with the same turn ratios to a 4000 kVA load.
Determine the KVA load shared by each transformer.
• Solution:
With equal impedances %Z1 = %Z2 = 5.75%
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

Case 2: Equal Impedances, Ratios and Different kVA

This Parameter is not in common practice for new installations,
sometimes two transformers with different kVAs and the same
percent impedances are connected to one common bus.
👉Remember:
• The current division causes each transformer to carry its rated
load.
• There will be no circulating currents because the voltages (turn
ratios) are the same.
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

• Current Division Calculation in Parallel Transformer:

Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

• Problem 2:
Connecting 3000 kVA and 1000 kVA transformers in parallel, each
with 5.75% impedance, each with the same turn ratios, connected
to a common 4000 kVA load. Determine the KVA load shared by each
transformer.
• Solution:
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

Case 3: Unequal Impedance but Same Ratios and kVA

• Mostly used this parameter to enhance plant power capacity by connecting existing
transformers in parallel that have the same kVA rating, but with different percent
impedances.

👉 Remember:
• This is common when budget constraints limit the purchase of a new transformer
with the same parameters.
• The current divides in inverse proportions to the impedances, and larger current
flows through the smaller impedance.
• Thus, the lower percent impedance transformer can be overloaded when subjected
to heavy loading while the other higher percent impedance transformer will be
lightly loaded.
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

Problem 3:
• Two 2000 kVA transformers in parallel, one with 5.75% impedance
and the other with 4% impedance, each with the same turn ratios,
connected to a common 3500 kVA load.
• Solution:
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

Case 4: Unequal Impedance and KVA, and Equal Ratios

• This scenario of transformers used rarely in industrial and commercial facilities
connected to one common bus with different kVA and unequal percent
impedances.
• However, there might be that one situation where two single-
ended substations may be tied together via bussing or cables to provide better
voltage support when starting large Load.

Remember:
If the percent impedance and kVA ratings are different, care should be
taken when loading these transformers.
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

Case 4: Unequal Impedance and KVA, and Equal Ratios

• This scenario of transformers used rarely in industrial and commercial facilities
connected to one common bus with different kVA and unequal percent
impedances.
• However, there might be that one situation where two single-
ended substations may be tied together via bussing or cables to provide better
voltage support when starting large Load.

Remember:
If the percent impedance and kVA ratings are different, care should be
taken when loading these transformers.
Parallel Operation of Distribution Transformer

Problem 4:
• Two transformers in parallel with one 3,000 kVA (kVA1) with 5.75%
impedance, and the other a 1,000 kVA (kVA2) with 4% impedance,
each with the same turn ratios, connected to a common 3500 kVA
load.
• Solution:
Task Assignment in Parallel Operation of Transformer