Open-Delta or V-V Connection

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The Transformer

3-Phase Transformer Connections

Open-Delta or V-V Connection

See also: Wye-Wye Connection,

Connection Delta-Delta Connection,
Connection Wye-Delta Connection

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Open-Delta or V-V Connection

The open-delta, also known as the V-V connection, is a 3-phase arrangement that makes use of
only two, instead of three, single-phase transformers, as shown in Fig. 6-27. The open-delta
connection is sometimes used in the case of instrument potential transformers for economy. It is
also used initially in load centers, the full growth of which may require several years, at which
time a third transformer is added for the conventional delta-delta operation.

Figure 6-27. Open-delta or V-V connection, (a) Common physical arrangement; (b)
schematic diagram

The rating of two identical transformers operating delta-delta is 1/

of the rating of three
similar transformers, but connected delta-delta. It would seem that this rating should be 2/3
instead of 1/ . However, the line current is also the current in the transformer winding and, if I
is the rated current of each of the two transformers and V the rated voltage, then the rated
3-phase power is
VI. In the case of three transformers, the line current is
times the current
in the transformers windings when connected delta and when the load is balanced. The 3-phase
rating of the three transformers is, therefore, 3VI, where I is the rated current of the transformer

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Open-Delta or V-V Connection

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winding.
If it were not for the leakage impedance of the transformers, the secondary voltages of an
open-delta connection would be balanced when balanced 3-phase voltage is applied to the
primary. This is evident when we let V V and V be the balanced 3-phase primary applied
AB

BC

CA

voltages. Then

and

If the transformer leakage impedances are neglected, and their ratio is a, then the secondary
voltages are

but from Kirchhoff's law

from which

showing that the secondary voltages V , V , and V

ab

bc

ca

are equal in magnitude and displaced from

each other by an angle of 120. This is characteristic of balanced 3-phase systems, and is true
only for ideal transformers. In the case of actual transformers, the secondary voltages will not be
balanced exactly, even when balanced voltages are applied to the primary in an open-delta
arrangement because there are only two transformers and, therefore, only two, instead of three,
leakage impedance voltage drops.
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The Transformer

3-Phase Transformer Connections

Open-Delta or V-V Connection

Last Update: 2011-01-11

13/09/2014 9:01