IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 14, No.

2, April 1999

450

An Investigation of the Harmonic Characteristics of Transformer Excitation Current Under

Nonsinusoidal Supply Voltage
Ahsan H. Chowdhury, Student Member
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712

Ewald F. Fuchs, Fellow

University of Colorado at Boulder
Boulder, CO 80309

W. Mack Grady, Senior Member

University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712

Keywords - Single-phase transformer, transformer

excitation current, nonsinusoidal supply voltage, harmonics.

Abstract - This paper investigates the effect of supply

voltage harmonics on the excitation current of a typical 25 kVA
single-phase distribution transformer. A complete analytical
model is developed to calculate the time domain waveform and
the harmonic components of the excitation current. The key
findings are
The phase angles of the supply voltage harmonics
determine whether or not those voltage harmonics increase
or decrease the distortion of the input current (with respect
to the sinusoidal supply voltage case). A peaked input
voltage wave distorted by 3rd, 7th, l l t h , ..., harmonic
components, or a flattened input voltage wave distorted by
5th, 9th, 13th,..., harmonics, creates a flattened current
(i.e., decreases the current harmonics and distortion). A
flattened input voltage wave distorted by 3rd, 7th, llth,
..., harmonic components, or a peaked input voltage wave
distorted by 5th, 9th, 13th,..., harmonics, creates a peaked
current (i.e., increases the current harmonics and
distortion).
The 3rd harmonic component in the supply voltage has the
highest effect on the current harmonics and distortion. The
effect of higher voltage harmonics gradually diminishes
with frequency. The magnitudes of the individual current
harmonics follow the same decreasinglincreasing pattern of
changes as does current distortion variation. The
corresponding variations in harmonic current phase angles
is negligible.

INTRODUCTION
In this paper we propose a new technique for generating
the dynamic (instantaneous) transfer curves for magnetization
and core loss in a transformer core using simple experimental
measurements. We develop closed form analytical models to
calculate (a) the time domain waveform of the transformer
excitation current under any nonsinusoidal supply voltage, and
(b) the magnitude and phase angles of the harmonic
components of this current. The complete model is
implemented on a computer and applied to examine the effect
of supply voltage harmonics on the harmonic current
characteristics of the excitation current of a typical 25 kVA
single-phase distribution transformer. The model is verified
experimentally. Previous work on the study of transformer
current harmonics uses fundamental supply voltage only. We,
however, show that the harmonic characteristics of transformer
excitation current are significantly different for nonsinusoidal
input voltage compared to the sinusoidal voltage case.
96 SM 433-3 PWRD
A paper recommended and approved by the
IEEE Transmission and Distribution Committee of the IEEE Power
Engineering Society for presentation at the 1996 IEEE/PES Summer
Meeting, July 28 - August 1, 1996, Denver, Colorado. Manuscript
submitted December 29, 1995; made available for printing May 21,
1996.

MODEL FORMULATION
The circuit model for harmonic analysis of an unloaded
single-phase transformer is shown in Figure 1 [l], [3]. The
nonlinear behavior of the core-loss and the magnetic saturation
are represented by variable resistance R( v,) and variable
inductance L(h),respectively [ 11. Voltage drop in the primary
winding impedance is neglected.

1,

"0

Figure 1: Circuit Model for an Unloaded Single-phase

Transformer
The circuit components are
vs.vo
RI, L1
R2, L2
h,L(h)

Instantaneous input and output voltages,

Primary winding impedance,
Secondary winding impedance (seen by primary),
Instantaneous flux linkage and variable
inductance of the primary winding (low voltage
side),
R(v,)
Variable resistance of the transformer core,
in , i f , ic Instantaneous input excitation current, plus its
magnetizing and core-loss components.

Figures 2 and 3 show the dynamic saturation

(magnetization) and core-loss transfer characteristics of a
typical 7200/240/120 V, 25 kVA single phase distribution
transformer [4], [ 5 ] . The hysteresis component of core-loss
(supply voltage frequency-dependent part [4]) is neglected in
the model (i.e., core-loss is a function of supply voltage
magnitude only). Since the transformer no-load excitation
current is very small compared to its rated load current, and
because the lower order harmonics, especially the 3rd and 5th,
are the dominant voltage harmonics in most distribution
systems, the above assumptions are reasonable for studying
the effects of voltage harmonics on distribution transformers.
Our objective is to determine the circuit components in
Figure 1, given the measured data in Figures 2 and 3. The
solution procedure is based on piecewise linearizing the
transfer curve data in Figures 2 and 3, and calculating the
instantaneous values of currents if and i, through linear
interpolation between two points on any linear section of the
transfer curve for a given corresponding instantaneous
magnitude of the input voltage v, or flux linkage h.

0885-8977/99/$10.00 0 1996 IEEE

451

magnetization (saturation) characteristic (Figure 2). The coreloss component i, of in is calculated using the piecewiselinearized instantaneous core-loss characteristic (Figure 3).
Figures 2 and 3 show that both the transfer curves are
nonlinear, single-valued, have odd symmetry, and pass
through the origin.
In Figure 2, let (10,
ifo), (11, ifl) ,..., (A,, if,) ,..., ( h ~ ,
ifN) be the given set of measured points for the positive portion
of the magnetization curve. The curve is linearized between the
adjacent points, so that line ab in Figure 2 represents the n-th
piece of the positive portion of the instantaneous magnetization
curve, connecting (&-I, if,-l) and (A,,, if,) with slope p,.
' I

-4
-2
4
Magnetization Current i (amps)

-6

Figure 2: Piecewise-Linear Measured Instantaneous

Magnetization (Saturation) Transfer Characteristic of a Typical
25 kVA Single-phase Distribution Transformer (measured at
the low voltage terminals)

Interpolation proceeds as follows:

300

When h(t) falls within any linear section, say ab, of Figure
2, so that h,-l e h(t) I A,,, the instantaneous value of if at that
instant is

200

-3
2

100

>
v

In Figure 3, let (vo, ico), (VI, ic1) ,..., (v,, ic,) ,..., (VN,
icN) be the given set of points for the positive portion of the
core loss transfer curve. Line cd represents the n-th piece of
the positive portion of the instantaneous core loss curve,
connecting ( ~ ~ -icn-l)
1 , and (v,, ic,) with slope s,. Note that
there are a total of 2N linear pieces in each of the curves.

iAt) = ifn-l + p, (Vt) - h,-~),

or

iht) = (if,-l - p, &-I) + Pn

-100

A&)

sin(hot + ah). (3)

Similarly, when vn-1 e v(t) 5 v,, the instantaneous core

-200

loss current becomes

ic(t) = (icn-l - s, Vn-1) + S ,

-300

-0.5
0
0.5
Core-Loss Current i (amps)

-1

v,(h)

cos(hot + a h ) ,

(4)

and the total instantaneous input excitation current is then

Figure 3: Piecewise-Linear Measured Instantaneous CoreLoss (neglecting hysteresis) Transfer Characteristic of a

Typical 25 kVA Single-phase Distribution Transformer
(measured at the low voltage terminals)

(5)
i,(t) = iAt) + i,(t).
The lengthy development of the corresponding Fourier
coefficients for ikt), i,(t), and i,(t) is given in the Appendix.

On the first step in developing our model, consider a given

nonsinusoidal supply voltage

GENERATION OF THE TRANSFER CURVES AND

EXPERIMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

vs(t) =

V,(h)

cos(hot + a h ) ,

(1)

The corresponding instantaneous flux linkage in the core is

&(h) sin(hot + ah),

=
h

where
V,(h) = peak value of harmonic order h voltage,
&(h) = peak value of harmonic order h flux linkage,
o = fundamental angular frequency (radiadsec),
a h = phase angle of harmonic order h voltage.
The magnetization component if of input current in is
calculated using the piecewise-linearized instantaneous

In the previous section, the analytical models for the time

domain currents and their harmonic components were derived
using the two instantaneous transfer curves (Figure 2: h vs. if,
and Figure 3: vs vs. i,). Here, we describe the technique to
generate these transfer curves from simple voltagekurrent
measurement data.
Table 1 shows a typical set of experimental data required to
generate both transfer curves, where voltage v, and current i,
are expressed as
Vp(h) sin(hot + ph),

ve(t) =
h

i,(t) =

Ip(h) sin(hot + Sh),

and where the fundamental voltage phase angle p1 is zero.

(7)

452

Table 1: Sample Set of Experimental Data of an Unloaded

7200/240/120V, 25kVA Single-phase Distribution Transformer
Voltage
Current
Fundamental rms
Harm. Fundamental rms
voltage = 252.0 volts current = 2.77 amps
Angle
Amplitude
Angle 4mplitude
%
deg.
%
deg.
100
-76
100
0
Fund.
3
72.4
-75
2.0
83
45.2
-73
2.9
168
5
24.9
-72
7
0.3
-49
12.9
-70
0.6
9
160
5.7
-7 1
11
0.5
173
0.2
13
-1
1.6
-66
15
0.1
86
0.3
-92

With the objective of recommending the maximum

allowable limit of EIF for any acceptable set of experimental
data, we performed experiments with a 25 kVA 7200/240/120
V single phase transformer in our laboratory and took many
sets of measurements. For each set, we simulated the time
domain waveform of the input current (in). The discrepancy
between the experimental and corresponding simulated
waveforms for in is quantified by calculating the mean square
error (MSE) and visually observing the deviation between the
two waveforms. We defined MSE as

The expression for corresponding flux linkage is

Resolving i, into two orthogonal components [4] yields

i,(t) = il(t) + iz(t),
where
il(t) =

where, Vms( 1) is the rms value of the fundamental component

of v,. Each set of experimental data (Table 1) has a single EIF
value. Note that for any set of experimental data, if each of the
ph is either 0' or +180, then EIF = 0 (i.e., we can calculate
any portion of the transfer curves from that set of experimental
data with no error). Equation (13) indicates that we can also
keep the EIF reasonably low by limiting the individual
harmonic voltage magnitudes V (h), regardless of the harmonic
phase angles. If the suppfy voltage contains only a
fundamental component, then EIF = 0, since p1 is referenced to
0. The derivation of EIF is presented in the Appendix.

c
N

Ip(h) cos(6h) sin(hwt)

(9)

Ip(h) sin&) cos(hot).

(10)

MSE =

and
i2(t) =
h

t=1,2,3,...

{ inexp(t) - insim(t) 12/N

rms value of inexp

x 100%.

(14)

Figure 4 shows the variation of MSE with EIF. Based on

Figure 4, we recommend EIF I 1.35 as a reasonable upper
limit for accepting a data set for use in determining modeling
parameters.

If the individual voltage harmonic phase angles ph in

Equations (6) and (8) are either 0' or +180, then i, will be in
phase with v,, and i, will be in phase with A,, and we can
completely separate the core-loss i, and magnetization if current
components in Equations (9) and (10) so that
iJt) = il(t) =

2 Ip(h) cos(6h) sin(hwt),

(11)

Ip(h) sin(6h) cos(hwt).

idt) = i2(t) =
h

Therefore, the points for the dynamic magnetization transfer

curve (Figure 2) can be generated by calculating he and if for
different values of time t using Equations (8) and (12).
Similarly, the points for the instantaneous core loss transfer
curve (Figure 3) can be calculated using Equations ( 6 ) and
(1 l), respectively.
In practice, however, it is almost impossible to keep all ph
at 0' or +180 during an experiment, so we cannot completely
separate i, and if from total current i,. Nevertheless, if the p h
are near 0' or +180, we can calculate the transfer curves with
acceptable error.
To quantify the errors involved in calculating any portion of
the transfer curves from any given set of experimental data, we
propose the following semi-empirical definition of the error
index factor (EIF) for that set of data:

0.5
i
Error Index Factor (EIF)

1.35 1.5

Figure 4: Effect of Error Index Factor (EIF) on % Mean

Square Error (MSE)

To generate complete transfer curves from multiple

available sets of experimental data, we use the following
algorithm:
a) Exclude those sets of data with EIF > 1.35.
b) Find the most-peaked values of v, (V,k,t) and he (hpkst)
among all the sets under consideration. hekstand Vpkstare
the maximum ranges for dynamic magnetization and core
loss transfer curves, respectively.
c) Arrange the sets of data in ascending order of EIFs.
d) Calculate all points of those portions of the transfer
curves spanned by experimental data, using the lowest
available EIF.

453
e) Calculate the remaining points of the transfer curves, or
any part of those from the next set of data in EIF order. If
the range of this set of data does not cover any portion of
the curves under calculation, then proceed to the next data
set in ascending order.

23

3 60

8 40

f) Continue until all the points of both the transfer curves

are generated.

120

The complete model was implemented on a computer and

verified against experimental results for a wide variety of
nonsinusoidal supply voltages. The model agrees well with the
experimental results.

HARMONIC CHARACTERISTICS
We now proceed to use our model to investigate the effect
of supply voltage harmonics on the response of excitation
current of a typical single-phase distribution transformer. We
conducted a large number of simulations, with a wide variation
of harmonic characteristics in the supply voltage.

Effect of Supply Voltage Waveshape on Current

Waveshape
Figure 5 shows the effect of supply voltage waveshape,
when distorted by the 3rd harmonic component (peaking and
flattened cases), on the input current waveform. For the
peaking case, the peaks of the fundamental and the harmonic
voltages coincide. For the flattened case, the negative peak of
the harmonic coincides with the positive fundamental peak. It
is observed that a peaking supply voltage wave, distorted by
3rd, 7th, 1lth, ..., harmonic components, yields a flattened
current, while a flattened voltage wave yields a peaking current.
The THDI of the current waveforms in Figure 5 are 60% and
93% respectively (compared to the THDI = 72% for sinusoidal
input voltage with the same fundamental magnitude).

0
1

5
7
9 1 1 1 3 1 5
Harmonic Number h

Figure 6: Effect of Supply Voltage Waveshape (P is for

Peaking, and F is for Flattened) on Individual Current
Harmonics of Figure 5
Figure 7 shows that a 5th harmonic in the supply voltage
waveshape has the opposite effect of the 3rd. A peaking
supply voltage waveform, distorted by 5th, 9th, 13th,...,
harmonic components, yields a peaking current, while a
flattened voltage wave has the opposite effect.
400 .

e
c
v1

$ 200

v
U

r;

v1
CI

;
-200

-400
0

90

180
270
Angle (degrees)

360

Figure 7: Voltage and Current Waveforms using 10%Peaking

(P) and Flattened (F) 5th Harmonic Voltages

Effect of Supply Voltage Harmonics on THDI

Figure 8 shows the response of transformer excitation
current THDI for variations of individual supply voltage
1
1

I +10%7th
0

90

180
270
Angle (degrees)

360

Figure 5: Voltage and Current Waveforms using 10% Peaking

(P) and Flattened (F) 3rd Harmonic Voltages
Figure 6 presents the corresponding harmonic spectra of the
current waveforms. Note that the flattened supply voltage
waveform significantly increases the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th
current harmonic magnitudes, which account for most of the
distortion in the current waveshape.

&?

B
20

1Reference
THDI = 7 1.5%
(for sinusoidal supply voltage)

-*-

- I

10
15
Harmonic Voltage (%)

20

Figure 8: Effect of Individual Supply Voltage Harmonic

Magnitudes (in % of Fundamental) on THDI

454

harmonic magnitudes. Note that THDI increases monotonically

with the magnitude of the flattened 3rd, 7th, 1lth,..,, or peaked
5th, 9th, 13th,..., harmonic voltage components (0' phase shift
relative to fundamental). THDI decreases for the opposite
condition in the supply voltage harmonics (-fS18O0relative phase
shift). It is seen in Figure 8 that for a given harmonic voltage
magnitude, the two curves for 3rd harmonic voltage
approximately give the upper and lower bounds for the range of
THDI.
Figure 9 describes the effect of phase shift of the supply
voltage harmonic components. During the variation of phase
angle, the magnitude of the voltage harmonic is held constant at
10%. It is seen in Figure 9 that the THDI variation has a "bell
shape" characteristic.

Figures 8, 9, and 10 show that information on harmonic

voltage magnitude (i.e., the knowledge of THDV) is
insufficient to predict the THDI. Rather, we need the
magnitude, phase angle, and order of the input voltage
harmonic components. More specifically, the phase angles of
the supply voltage harmonics determine whether or not current
harmonics increase or decrease relative to the sinusoidal supply
voltage case. The 3rd harmonic voltage has the maximum
effect on THDI. The difference in excitation current as
compared to the sinusoidal supply voltage case gradually
diminishes for higher-order input voltage harmonics. Also, it
is observed that if the input voltage contains only the
fundamental component, then THDI increases with supply
voltage magnitude.
Effect of Supply Voltage Harmonics on Current
Harmonics
The impact of individual voltage harmonic magnitudes on
individual current harmonics is demonstrated in Figures 11.
The magnitudes (in P.U. of fundamental) of each of the
harmonics of the input current increase with increasing voltage
harmonic magnitude (as expected). This trend for harmonic
current magnitudes is the same for flattened 7th, l l t h , 15th,...,
or peaked 5th, 9th, 13th,..., harmonic voltages. These curves
slope downward when peaked 3rd, 7th, l l t h ,..., or flattened
5th, 9th, 13th,..., harmonic voltages are applied.
$0.9
Y

Reference THDI = 7 1.5%

(for sinusoidal supply voltage)

50

8 0.7

% 0.5

cj.
e0.3
Y

5tr 0.1

t,

lb
1;
3rd Harmonic Voltage (%)

2b

Flattene Supply Vol age Case

U
cd

ru
0

2 0.1
v
Y

90

2!
W

80
I

70

3
10
1'5
3rd Harmonic Voltage (%)

20

Figure 1 1: Variation of Individual Current Harmonic

Magnitudes (in P.U. of Fundamental) with 3rd Harmonic
Voltage Magnitude at the Supply

60

Reference THDI = 7 1.5%

50

(for sinusoidal supply voltage)

7
9
Harmonic Number h

11

13

Figure 10: Effect of Individual Voltage Harmonics on THDI

It is found during simulation that the magnitudes of

individual current harmonics follow the same pattern as THDI
(Figure 9) due to variation of phase shift of the supply voltage
harmonics. Also, changes in phase angles of the individual
current harmonics due to variation of supply voltage harmonics
are insignificant.

455
Figure 12 describes the effect of individual supply voltage
harmonics (10% magnitude, and 0' phase shift) on the
magnitude of individual current harmonic-. It can be Seen from
this figure that the difference between harmonic responses of
the input current for sinusoidal and nonsinusoidal voltages
gradually diminishes when the harmonic order of the distorting
component in the supply voltage increases.

diminish as the harmonic order of the distorting component

in the
4 . Ha"nic responses Of the input excitation Current depend
On the phase
and to a lesser extent on the
magnitudes Of the
5 . Supply voltage harmonics have a insignificant effect on the
phase angles of the individual current harmonics.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We express our appreciation to Mr. Marek Samotyj and the
Electric Power Research Institute for supporting this work.
We also appreciate the valuable contributions of Mr. Michael
Doyle, TU Electric, while taking the measurements in the
power laboratory of the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Reference levels correspond

to sinusoidal supply case

---

Rgfegnce 5th_harAcgrgnt-

------

RgfeEnge Lth_harAcgrgnt-

---------

REFERENCES

0
7
9
Harmonic Number h

11

[l]

Y. Baghzouz, X. D. Gong "Voltage-Dependent Model

for Teaching Transformer Core Nonlinearity," IEEE
Trans. on Power Systems, vol. 8 , no. 2, May 1993, pp.
746-752.

[2]

G. L. Viviani, L. Li, "A Transformer Model for

Investigating the Effects of Harmonics," Proc. of IEEEICHPS 1992, Atlanta, GA, Sept. 23-25, 1992, pp. 271276.

[3]

A. E. Fitzgerald, C. Kingsley, S. D. Umans, Electric

Machinery, 5th Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company,
New York, 1990.

13

Figure 12: Effect of Individual Voltage Harmonics on the

Magnitude of Individual Current Harmonics
Some of the experimental data are presented in Figures 8,
10, 11, and 12, where close agreement with simulated results
can be seen. Figure 10 shows that the model fits the
experimental data better for lower-order supply voltage
harmonics than for higher harmonics. This degradation with
frequency is due to ignoring the effect of hysteresis and interwinding capacitances in the model.

CONCLUSIONS
This paper investigates the effect of nonsinusoidal supply
voltage waveshape and voltage harmonics (magnitude and
phase angle) on the harmonic characteristics of the input
excitation current of a 25 kVA single-phase distribution
transformer. We propose a new procedure to calculate the
instantaneous magnetization and core loss transfer
characteristics of the transformer core from simple voltagecurrent measurements.
Concerning the response of the excitation current
waveshape, harmonics, and THDI of a typical single-phase
distribution transformer with respect to supply voltage
distortion. we show that
Harmonic characteristics of the transformer excitation
current are significantly different under nonsinusoidal input
voltage as compared to sinusoidal supply voltage. The 3rd
harmonic component in the supply voltage has the
maximum effect on the current harmonics and THDI.
A peaked input voltage wave distorted by 3rd, 7th,
1lth, ..., harmonic components, or a flattened voltage wave
distorted by 5th, 9th, 13th,..., harmonics, creates a
flattened current (i.e., attenuates the current harmonics and
distortion). Opposite situations in the voltage waveform
yield peaking currents (i.e., amplified current harmonics
and distortion).
The difference between harmonic responses of the input
current for sinusoidal and nonsinusoidal voltages gradually

S. Prusty, M. V. S. Rao, "A Novel Approach for

Predetermination of Magnetization Characteristics of
Transformer Including Hysteresis," ZEEE Trans. on
Magnetics, vol. MAG-20, no. 4, July 1984, pp. 607612.
[5] S. Prusty, M. V. S. Rao, "A Direct Piecewise Linearized
Approach to Convert rms Saturation Characteristic to
Instantaneous Saturation Curve," IEEE Trans. on
Magnetics, vol. MAG-16, no. 1, Jan. 1980, pp. 158160.
H.
W. Dommel, A. Yan, Shi Wei, "Harmonics from
[6]
Transformer Saturation." IEEE Trans. on Power
Systems, vol. 1, no. 2, April 1986, pp. 209-215.

[4]

APPENDIX
Fourier Coefficients of Magnetization Current if
By shifting the origin of the input flux linkage wave h of
Equation (2) by A degrees (positive or negative), and making
the wave odd symmetric, the new flux linkage wave can be
expressed as

&(e)

C &(h)

sin(he+ o h ) ,

which passes through the origin.

pn &(h) sin(h0 + o h ) cos(ke)] d e

h

456

where LF is the number of the linear section of Figure 2 on

which the peak value of A,@) (hpeak)falls (i.e., if hnc Ape*
5 A,+], then LF = n). Also, note that if, = A, = 0. For n 2
(LF+2), Pn = P2LF+2-n, ifn-l = if2LF+1-n* and &-I = kLF+l-n.

Ofo = 0, and 8f2LF+1 = x.

After simplifying Equation (A.2), the final closed form
analytical expression of a k becomes

Fourier Coefficients for Total Input Current in

Let $ be the phase difference between the origins of haand
vawaves. Then, $ = (90 + A - y) degrees, and the resultant
magnitudes of ak and bk are

The individual current harmonic magnitude is

Ik=

dm,

(A.lO)

- U. (A. 11)

and the corresponding phase angle v k = tan-'%

Derivation of Error Index Factor (EIF)

Rewriting Equation (8) yields

he(@)
=

Ap(k) cos(k0 + pk), or

k=1,3,5,...

=
k=1,3,5,..

+
+

pn &(i)[(sin((i+k)Of,.l+oj) - sin((i+k)8fn+oi)}/(i+k)

j=1,3,5,...

TFI ((sin((j-k)ef,-I+oj) - sin((i-k)8fn+oj))/(j-k))

TF2((efn- efn-1) co~(oj)}Il,

where for j = k, TF1 = 0 and TF2 = 1, and for j
and TF2 = 0.

[- Ap(k) COS(&) cos(k0) + err(k) sin(ke)],

where err(k) = h ( k ) sin(pk). Ideally, if the Pk are either 0' or

*18O0, then err(k) = 0, and we can completely separate i, and if
from i,. Empirically defining

(A.4)
#

k, TF1 = 1

Error Index Factor (EIF) =

lerr(k)l

k=1'3'5''"

Ams(l)

loo%,

Fourier Coefficients for Core Loss Current i,

By shifting the origin of the supply voltage wave v, of
Equation (1) by -90, and then by an additional y degrees
(positive or negative) to make it odd symmetric, the new input
voltage wave can be expressed as
va(e) =

v,(h)

sin(he+ Ph).

(A.5)

Since Equation ( A S ) is the same form as (A.l), the

analysis for ack and bck are exactly as above. Therefore,
12LC+l

[(2/k)(icn_l- s, v,-l){sin(kec,) - sin(kec,-I)}

ack =7~ n=l

.. .

s, v,(j)[( sin((j+k)Bcn-l+Pj) - sin((i+k)ecn+pj)}/(j+k)

j=1,3,5,...

BIOGRAPHIES
Ahsan H. Chowdhury, (S'93), is a graduate research
assistant at the University of Texas at Austin. He is now
working toward a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer
Engineering. His areas of interest include harmonic modeling
of nonlinear loads in power systems, power electronics, power
system harmonics, power quality, and power economics.
W. Mack Grady, (SM'83), is a professor of Electrical and
Computer Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.
His areas of interest include power system analysis, power
system harmonics, power quality, and short term load
forecasting. He is the chairman of the IEEE Working Group
on Power System Harmonics and a registered professional
engineer in Texas.
Ewald F. Fuchs, (F'90), is a professor of Electrical
Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder. His
areas of interest include design and optimization techniques of
drive systems, harmonic power flow studies, and finitedifference and finite-element formulations. He received the
1989 PESDEEE Prize Paper Award and the 1989 IEEE Power
System Relaying Committee Award.

457

Discussion
L. PIERRAT and T. TUN-QUOC (Electricit6 de France, General
Technical Division, Grenoble, France): The authors are
congratulated for an interesting contribution. In this paper, the
authors propose a technique to calculate the instantaneous
magnetization and core loss transfer characteristicsin a transformer
core using simple exprimental measurements. Then the proposed
model is used to investigate the effect of supply voltage harmonics
on the response of the excitation current of a typical single-phase
dismbution transformer. The authors' response to the following
questions would be appreciated:

1) If the authors state that the hysteresis component of core-loss is

neglected in the model, in this case what does the core-loss current
ic represent?
2) Did the authors directly obtain by measurements, the
instantaneous magnetization and core loss transfer characteristics
(if(h) and ic(v)) shown in Figs. 2 and 3?

Figure Cla: Variation of ac B-H loop as a function of

frequency with Bma, and Hm, maintained constant

3) How could the authors keep all p h at 0' or +180 during an

experiment?

*f Bmax

4) The value 1.35 in Fig. 4 is used for all transformers or for only
the typical 25 kVA single-phase dismbution transformer?

, --3
I- - - - - --- .*
- 4

5 ) In practice, for a no-load test of transformer, only V ~ SIrms.

,
and power losses are available (usually at v = 0.9, 1.0 and 1.1 pu,

and without information of harmonic components of voltage and

current), could the method be applied for this minimum information
in order to generate the instantaneous magnetization and core loss
characteristics?

A. H. Chowdhury, W. M. Grady, and E. F. Fuchs:

The authors greatly appreciate the questions raised by Dr.
Pierrat and Dr. Tran-Quoc. Our responses to the individual
questions follow:

To Question #I: The hysteresis loop is widest near the origin

of the h - i coordinate system and negligibly wide above the
"knee" of the h - if characteristic. This means that the
exciting current, i.e.

if + i c ,

Figure Clb: Variation of ac B-H loop as a function of voltage

for a frequency of 60Hz

can be determined from a

single-valued h - if characteristic except near the origin. In

[Cl, Figures 10 to 141 measured and computed exciting
currents are compared and support this conclusion. The core
loss, representing both hysteresis and eddy current [C2] losses,
can be found from the instantaneous current and voltage
waveshapes via integration. In IC21 it is shown that the B-H
loop (valid for one cycle) becomes wider with increasing
frequency due to increased eddy currents. Figures Cla,b
illustrate these influences. In the paper at hand the core-loss
current ic is due to the eddy current losses and hysteresis
losses within the core laminations. In [Cl, Table I] equivaleqt
nonlinear harmonic core-loss resistances Rcn, have been
computed from the no-load current and voltage waveshapes.

(v)

characteristics have
To Question #2: The if (A) and ic
indirectly been determined from current and voltage wave
shapes without imposed voltage harmonics.

To Question #3:

Reference [C3] presents the measuring

circuit where an analog phase-lock circuit has been used to
keep all angles p near 0 degrees or 180 degrees.

To Question #4: To date the value 1.35 of Figure 4 has been

employed for the 25kVA single-phase transformer only.
To Question #5: The answer is no. One needs the
instantaneous current and voltage wave shapes to derive these
characteristics.
References
[Cl] M. A. S . Masoum, E. F. Fuchs, and D. J. Roesler, "Large
Signal Nonlinear Model of Anisotropic Transformers for
Nonsinusoidal Operation, Part 11: Magnetizing and Core-Loss
Currents," IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery, October 1991,
Vol. 6, No. 4,pp. 1509-1516.

458

[C2] E. F. Fuchs, R. Fei, and J. Hong, Harmonic Losses in Method for the Efficiency Measurement of Low-Loss
Isotropic and Anisolropic Transformer Cores at Low Transformers and Inductors Under Nonsinusoidal Operation,"
Frequencies (60-3,OOO Hz), Final Report 19X-SD079C-1, IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery, January 1996, Vol. 11, NO. 1,
prepared for Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., January pp. 292-304.
1991.
[C3]

E. F. Fuchs and R. Fei, "A New Computer-Aided

Manuscript received March 19, 1997.