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COLLEGE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
ACAPDEV- AC APPARATUS AND DEVICES
LABORATORY EXPERIMENT MANUAL

EXPERIMENT #7: PARALLEL OPERATION OF THREE-PHASE TRANSFORMERS

I. OBJECTIVES

1. To demonstrate on how to connect three- phase transformers in parallel.

2. To determine the load sharing of each transformer.

II. DISCUSSION

For supplying a load in excess of the rating of an existing three-phase transformer,

two or more three- phase transformers may be connected in parallel with the existing
three- phase transformer. The transformers are connected in parallel when load on
one of the transformers is more than its capacity. The reliability is increased with
parallel operation than to have single larger unit.

When two three-phase transformers are operating in parallel, their primaries are
connected to common busbars, also their secondaries are connected to common
busbars. It is necessary to follow conditions outlined below, for satisfactory operation
of the transformers:
1. Same voltage and Turns Ratio (both primary and secondary voltage rating per
phase is same)
2. Same Percentage Impedance and X/R ratio
3. Identical Position of Tap changer
4. Same KVA ratings
5. Same Phase angle shift (vector group are same)
6. Same Frequency rating
7. Same Polarity
8. Same Phase sequence

If the voltage ratios of each phase of the two transformers are not identical but differ
by a small margin, the voltages of each phase on open circuit secondaries are not
identical but differ by a small margin, and this will cause circulating current between
the secondaries.

When the per unit impedance, or percentage impedance of both the transformers is
equal, their regulation is equal.

The currents shared by the two transformers are proportional to their ratings if their
ohmic impedances are inversely proportional to their ratings and their per unit

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LABORATORY EXPERIMENT MANUAL

impedances are equal. A difference in quality of per unit impedance – ratio R/X –
results in phase difference between the currents carried by the two transformers, so
that one transformer will work at higher power factor and the other at lower power
factor.

III. INSTRUMENTS AND COMPONENTS

ITEM NO. DESCRIPTION QUANTITY

AC voltmeter 1
AC ammeter 1
Transformer Trainer ( 230V/115V) 1
Variable AC power supply 1
Incandescent lamp (100W, 230V) 3

IV. PROCEDURE

1. Connect the circuit shown in Fig. 7.1. Use a balanced load. Have your instructor
check your setup before proceeding.
2. With ZL = infinity (no load), turn on the power source. If the windings are properly
phased, no load or secondary line current should be flowing.
3. Turn off the source. You are now ready to load the two three-phase transformers
connected in parallel.
4. Measure and record the line voltage and the line currents of each three-phase
transformers and the load line currents IA, IB and IC. for each of the load given in
Figure 7.1

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V. CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS

FIGURE 7.1 Experimental Circuit: Three-phase transformers in parallel

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VI. DATA AND RESULTS

BALANCED DELTA LOAD

VAB VBC VCA IA1 IA2 IB!

111.1 V 113 V 111.9V 0.246A 0.247A 0.298A

IB2 Ic1 IC2 IA IB IC

0.28A 0.253A 0.25A 0.502A 0.506A 0.504A

BALANCED WYE LOAD

VAB VBC VCA IA1 IA2 IB!

113.6V 115.6V 114.10V 0.104A 0.102A 0.106A

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IB2 Ic1 IC2 IA IB IC

0.105A 0.106A 0.106A 0.216a 0.22A 0.221A

VII. PROBLEMS

1. What are the conditions for parallel operation of two three-phase transformers?

 The line voltage ratio of two transformers must be equal.

 The per unit impedance of each transformer should be equal and they
should have same ratio of equivalent leakage reactance to the equal
resistance(X/R).
 The transformers should have same secondary winding polarity.
 The Transformers should have same phase sequence (Three phase
transformer)
 The transformers should have the zero relative phase replacement
between the secondary line voltages.(Three phase transformers)

2. What will happen if the polarity is not the same?

For the change in supply terminals which will in turn change the polarity then
nothing will happen, Because it will just invert the output terminals polarity.

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3. What is the effect of imbalance in the ratio of turns of the two transformers?

When two transformer are connected in parallel condition, and the polarity of
transformer are opposite to each other then a large circulating current flow
through out the winding, therefore a very small current flow thro, the load
.therefore lifespan of transformer will be reduced

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LABORATORY EXPERIMENT MANUAL

4. How does the percentage impedance affect the parallel operation

Two transformers connected in parallel with similar per-unit impedances
they will mostly share the load in the ration of their KVA ratings. Here 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.

A 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; 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.

5. A 400 kVA at 0.8 pf lagging 3 phase load is supplied by 2-3 phase

transformers 1 and 2 with equal voltage ratings. Their equivalent series
impedances referred to the secondaries are Ze1Two three- phase transformers A
and B with equal voltage ratings are connected in parallel supplying a common
three-phase load of 120 kVA at 0.9 power factor lagging. Transformer A is rated
75 kVA with equivalent impedance of ZA = 0.004 + j0.02 ohm per phase , while
transformer B is rated 50 kVA with equivalent impedance of ZB = 0.006 + j0.03
ohm per phase. Find the kVA load of each transformer.

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LABORATORY EXPERIMENT MANUAL

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VIII. CONCLUSION