Comparison of methods for measuring zero sequence
impedances in 3-phase core-type transformers
Elmer Sorrentino
Universidad Simón Bolívar, Venezuela; and UC3M, Spain
elmersor@usb.ve
Abstract-This paper deals with two topics about the
measurement of zero sequence impedances in 3-phase core-type
transformers. The first topic is a comparison of 3 methods to
perform the measurement in a 3-phase winding: a) parallel
connection of windings; b) series connection of windings; and c)
measurement of elements of the phase impedance matrix. A
brief theoretical discussion about these methods is included. The
second topic is a comparison of 2 methods for measuring the
zero-sequence impedance for the Dyn connection: a) with all the
delta branches short-circuited; and b) without short-circuiting
the delta branches. The results for the Dyn connection are
compared with the obtained ones for YNyn connection, by using
the standardized method for this test (parallel connection of star
windings). A discussion about the results is included.
Index Terms-Zero sequence impedance in transformers.
I. INTRODUCTION
The standardized method for the measurement of zero
sequence impedances (Z0) in transformers considers only the
connection of one star winding to the power source, and the
three branches of this star winding must be connected in
parallel during the test [1-3]. However, there are other
possible options for the Z0 measurement: a) series connection
of the windings, which is equivalent to a Z0 test for an open-
delta connection (this method is proposed in some old books
[4-5], but it is not applied in the reviewed recent literature
about this topic); b) measurement of the individual elements
of the phase impedance matrix, in order to compute the
sequence impedance matrix, which would be a direct
application of the method of symmetrical components [6].
The main difference between the methods with parallel or
series connection of the windings is on the forced variables:
the positive and negative sequence voltages are forced to be
null in the parallel case, while the positive and negative
sequence currents are forced to be null in the series case. The
methods based on parallel connection or series connection of
the windings are useful to find only the Z0 values, while the
measurement of the phase impedance matrix allows the
computation of all the sequence impedances.
On the other hand, the standardized method for the Z0
measurement can be applied to a Dyn connection, with or
without short-circuiting all the delta branches. The first case
implies that all the individual voltages of the delta branches
are forced to be null. Only the zero sequence voltage is forced
to be null in the second case. Theoretically, these two ways
for Z0 measurement are different between themselves, and
their results are compared here with the obtained one for the
same windings in YNyn connection.
Juan Carlos Burgos
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), Spain
jcburgos@ing.uc3m.es
The aim of this paper is the comparison of the results of the
Z0 measurements by using the afore-mentioned methods, in
order to obtain the relevant conclusions.
II. COMPARISON OF THREE METHODS FOR MEASURING Z0
A. Brief introductory discussion about the methods used for
measuring Z0
The method of symmetrical components [6] allows for the
computation of a sequence impedance matrix (Z+,-,0) from the
phase impedance matrix (Za,b,c). The transformation matrix
(A) is required for this calculation (Z+,-,0=A-1 Za,b,c A) [6]. In
many three-phase equipments, the sequence impedance
matrix is close to diagonal but it is not exactly a diagonal
matrix. Therefore, the element z00 of Z+,-,0 is not exactly
equals to 1/y00 (y00 is an element of Y+,-,0; Y+,-,0=Z+,-,0-1).
For the measurement of Z0, the methods based on parallel
or series connection of the windings are different between
themselves because they are forcing different variables to be
null. The element y00 of Y+,-,0 is directly measured when the
parallel connection of windings is applied (Fig. 1), because
the positive and negative sequence voltages are forced to be
null (only the zero-sequece voltage is not null in this case).
The element z00 of Z+,-,0 is directly measured when the series
connection of windings is applied (Fig. 2), because the
positive and negative sequence currents are forced to be null
(only the zero-sequece current is not null in this case).
+ a b c
3I0
V0
- n
I0 y 00 y 0+ y 0- V0
I+
I-
= y 0+ y ++ y +-
y 0- y+- y --
V+
V-
V+=V- =0 ⇒ I0 = y 00 V0
Fig. 1. Measurement of Z0 with the windings in parallel connection. Only the
transformer side connected to the power source is shown in the figures 1, 2
and 3. The other sides of the transformer might be open or closed for the
circulation of the zero-secuence currents.
The individual elements of the phase impedance matrix
(Za,b,c) can be measured (Fig. 3), by feeding only one phase
(the voltage measurements in each phase are necessary). The
knowledge of Za,b,c allows the direct computation of Z+,-,0. C. Results
The element z00 of Z+,-,0 may be directly compared with the The results of this section of this paper are for the YNyn
values obtained with the previous methods. connection. The zero-sequence impedances can be measured
in each star connected winding, with the other star winding in
open-circuit or in short-circuit [1]. The following three cases
+ a b c were analyzed in this paper:
I0 a) Case 1: Z0 test, with the high voltage winding connected
3V0 to the source, and the low voltage winding short-circuited.
The transformer is without ferromagnetic screens in this case.
- b) Case 2: Z0 test, with the high voltage winding connected
to the source, and the low voltage winding short-circuited.
V0 z00 z0+ z0- I0 The transformer is with ferromagnetic screens in this case.
V+
V-
= z0+ z++ z+-
z0- z+- z--
I+
I-
c) Case 3: Z0 test, with the high voltage winding connected
to the source, and the low voltage winding in open-circuit.
I+=I-=0 ⇒ V0 = z00 I0 The transformer is without ferromagnetic screens in this case.
The results of the measurements for the phase impedance
Fig. 2. Measurement of Z0 with the windings in series connection.
matrix of each case are in Tables I, II and III.

TABLE I
+ Ia a b c PHASE IMPEDANCE MATRIX FOR CASE 1 (VALUES IN %)
A b c
Va a 5.044 /72.4º 0.111 /-81.9º 0.095 /-83.0º
- n b 0.111 /-81.9º 5.052 /72.2º 0.078 /-60.0º
c 0.093 /-82.8º 0.078 /-60.0º 5.133 /72.4º
Va zaa zab zac Ia
Vb
Vc
= zab zbb
zac zbc
zbc
zcc
Ib
Ic
TABLE II
PHASE IMPEDANCE MATRIX FOR CASE 2 (VALUES IN %)
A b c
Ib=I c=0 ⇒ Va= zaa Ia ; Vb= zabI a ; Vc= zac Ia a 5.070 /71.8º 0.099 /-74.1º 0.086 /-71.5º
Fig. 3. Measurement of the individual elements of the phase matrix b 0.099 /-74.1º 5.079 /71.7º 0.076 /-48.2º
impedance. The example of measurements for phase a is shown (the c 0.084 /-71.0º 0.076 /-48.2º 5.166 /71.8º
procedure for the measurements in phases b and c is similar to this one).
TABLE III
PHASE IMPEDANCE MATRIX FOR CASE 3 (VALUES IN %)
B. Transformer used as an example
The tests were carried out in a 3-phase, core-type, 500 kVA A b c
transformer. The six terminals of the high voltage windings a 8218 /40.9º 5939 /-144.4º 2217 /-128.5º
are available. Therefore: a) the high voltage windings can be b 5576 /-142.1º 11330 /35.3º 5686 /-148.4º
star or delta connected; b) the Z0 tests can be performed with c 2271 /-130.0º 6137 /-143.0º 8452 /41.1º
these windings in series or parallel connection. The rated
voltage of each high voltage winding is 13.0395kV (for the For case 3, the currents required for the measurements of
tap position used for the tests of this paper). The low voltage the phase impedance matrix were not sinusoidal, because
windings are permanently star connected, and the rated only one phase of the transformer is fed, and the secondary is
voltage is 480 V (line-to-line). open. Therefore, the main path for the magnetic flux is
This is a dry-type transformer. A subset of the tests were through the core in this case. In all the other cases, the
carried out with ferromagnetic screens in three lateral sides of currents were approximately sinusoidal because: a) the
the transformer (Fig. 5). The material of these screens is steel secondary is short-circuited for cases 1 and 2; b) the other
(3mm of thickness), and their distance to the windings is measurements for case 3 are for zero-sequence, and the main
25cm. path for the magnetic flux is not through the core in such
condition. In all the cases, the rms values of currents and
voltages were applied for computing the impedance modulus,
and the active and apparent power were used for computing
the angle of the impedances.
For the measurements of Z0: a) the results based on parallel
Ferro magnetic connection of the windings are identified as Z0-PW, b) the
screens results based on series connection of the windings are
Fig. 4. Location of ferromagnetic screens for case 2.
identified as Z0-SW, and c) the results based on the phase
impedance matrix are identified as z00. In order to check the b.2) The method of symmetrical components is based on
results of the element z++ of Z+,-,0, this element was also linear transformations, and this case is non-linear. On the
computed by using the average of phase-to-phase other hand, the mutual effect (between different phases) is not
measurements of the impedances (Z+LL). These results are low in this case, and it is not symmetrical, due to the core
shown in Table IV for the three described cases. configuration. Despite of that, the results of Z0-SW and Z0-PW
TABLE IV are similar between themselves for this case. Further work is
COMPARISON OF RESULTS (VALUES IN %) necessary in order to find a proper theoretical explanation to
Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 this fact.
4.919 /71.2º = 4.982 /70.4º = 156.3 /90.0º = b.3) The results of Z0-SW and Z0-PW were measured at the
z00 1.585 + j 4.657 1.669 + j 4.694 0 + j 156.3 same zero-sequence voltage (approximately): 183.1V in each
4.932 /71.1º = 5.009 /70.6º = 69.25 /72.7º = winding. The zero-sequence magnetizing impedance varies in
Z0-SW 1.598 + j 4.666 1.665 + j 4.724 20.64 + j 66.10 function of the zero-sequence voltage [4,6]. It is important to
4.941 /71.1º = 5.006 /70.5º = 69.56 /72.5º = take the measurements at the same zero-sequence voltage in
Z0-PW 1.601 + j 4.674 1.670 + j 4.719 20.93 + j 66.34
order to properly compare Z0-SW and Z0-PW.
5.156 /72.9º = 5.168 /72.4º =
z++ 1.519 + j 4.927 1.564 + j 4.925
13935 /38.4º
5.163 /72.7º = 5.175 /72.5º = c) In general, the following results should be highlighted:
Z+ (LL) 1.539 + j 4.929 1.555 + j 4.936
- c.1) The computation of z00 from the measurement of
individual elements of the phase impedance matrix is
conceptually based on the fundamentals of the method of
D. Analysis of results symmetrical components, but it cannot be properly applied
a) For the cases 1 and 2: for computing the zero-sequence magnetizing impedances.
a.1) The results of the measurements of Z0 are very similar c.2) The results obtained for Z0-SW and Z0-PW were similar
with the three methods. The maximum difference between in all the analyzed cases. The measurement of Z0-PW is the
their modulus is lower than 0.6%. The maximum difference standardized method [1-3], but the measurement of Z0-SW can
between the modulus of z++ and Z+ (LL) is lower than 0.15%. be an interesting option in some cases. For example, some
The values of z++ and Z+ (LL) are conceptually identical, and YNynd transformers have available only two terminals of the
the difference between their results is only due to delta winding (stabilizing winding), in order to open or close
measurement errors. The values of z00 and Z0-SW are also the delta connection; therefore, the Z0 tests for this winding
conceptually identical, but the maximum difference between can be only performed by measuring Z0-SW (and these tests
the Z0 results was casually found for these values. might be interesting for research purposes).
a.2) The values of Z0-SW and Z0-PW are not conceptually
identical, but their results are very similar because the mutual III. COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS FOR MEASURING Z0 IN
terms of the phase impedance matrix are very low. The DYN TRANSFORMERS
mutual terms of the phase impedance matrix are very low
because each transformer leg has a short-circuited winding A. Brief introductory discussion about the applied methods
around it. Thus, the difference between these mutual terms is The standardized method for the Z0 measurement of a Dyn
almost null, and it is insignificant. Therefore, z00 is very connection (i.e., by feeding the star windings in parallel) can
similar to 1/y00 in these cases. be applied without short-circuiting the delta branches (Fig. 5),
a.3) The effect of the ferromagnetic screens is an increment or with all the delta branches short-circuited (Fig. 6). The
in the measured values of the real and imaginary parts of the delta connection implies that the zero sequence voltage is
impedances. This effect is related with eddy currents in the forced to be null in the first case. The second case implies
ferromagnetic screens and with the low reluctance of these that also the individual voltage of each branch of the delta is
paths. This effect was coherently observed with all the forced to be null. These two ways for Z0 measurement are
applied methods. Therefore, the results of these three methods theoretically different between themselves. If only the zero
for measuring Z0 are very similar for the different attributes sequence voltage is forced to be null, then the sum of the
of the impedances (modulus, angle, real and imaginary parts), three induced voltages are forced to be null, but not each
and for their ability to describe the effect of the magnetic induced voltage.
screens for these cases.
+ 3I0 a b c A B C
b) For the case 3:
b.1) The result of z00 is inadequate. This result is wrong
V0
because the elements of the phase impedance matrix were
measured in a non-linear condition. Therefore, the linear - n
transformations cannot be coherently applied for this case
(and the fundamentals of the method of symmetrical Fig. 5. First method for the measurement of Z0 of a Dyn transformer: the
components are based on linear transformations). delta windings are not in short-circuit.
 evidently expected: these conditions are 100% equivalent
+ 3I0 a b c A B C because each individual winding of the secondary is short-
circuited in both cases. The result for the case Dyn without
V0 the delta windings short-circuited is slightly different.
- n b) The difference between the modulus of the measured Z0
for the two Dyn tests is 3.7%. This difference is small.
c) These results show that the zero-sequence equivalent
Fig. 6. Second method for the measurement of Z0 of a Dyn transformer:
network might be the same for these three cases, but the
the delta windings are short-circuited.
measured equivalent impedance might be slightly different
for the case Dyn without the delta windings short-circuited.
The same windings can be connected in YNyn condition, in d) Different test reports, from different manufacturers,
order to carry out Z0 measurements. If the transformer is fed were reviewed, and almost all of them show the Z0 tests
by the same side than in the previous cases, and the other star without short-circuiting the delta windings for the case Dyn.
winding is short-circuited (Fig. 7), then the zero-sequence The application of Z0 tests with and without short-circuiting
equivalent network is the same than in the previous cases the delta windings for the case Dyn was only found in one
(Fig. 8). Consequently, the results for this case should be test report [7], and the results were very similar for both
similar to the results of the previous cases. In case of the measurements (this was a 300MVA unit, and the maximum
measurement for the YNyn connection, the three individual difference between measured Z0 values was 0.08%).
induced voltages are forced to be null; therefore, this e) The revision of different test reports indicated that the
measurement should be identical to the second described preferred method for the Z0 measurement in Dyn transformers
method for the Dyn connection (Fig. 6). is without short-circuiting the delta windings. This method
should be more directly related with the practical usefulness
of the Z0 value, because the delta terminals are not short-
+ 3I0 a b c A B C
circuited for the condition of interest (a short-circuit in the
system connected to the star side of the transformer).
V0
- n IV. CONCLUSION
Fig. 7. Measurement of Z0 for the transformer of Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, but with Three methods for the measurement of the zero sequence
the windings in YNyn connection.
impedances were compared: parallel connection of windings,
series connection of windings, and the measurement of the
elements of the phase impedance matrix. The computation of
+ I0 Z1 Z2 the zero sequence impedances from the measurement of
individual elements of the phase impedance matrix cannot be
V0 ZM properly applied for computing the magnetizing impedances.
- The results obtained by using parallel connection of windings
and series connection of windings were similar in all the
Fig. 8. Zero-sequence equivalent network for the transformer in the cases of analyzed cases. The use of parallel connection of windings is
Fig. 5, Fig. 6, and Fig. 7. the standardized method, but the use of series connection of
B. Transformer used as an example windings can be an interesting option in some cases.
The tests were carried out in the 500 kVA transformer Two methods for the measurement of the zero sequence
described in section II.B. The ferromagnetic screens were not impedance in a Dyn transformer were compared: with and
used for the tests of this section. without short-circuiting the delta branches. The difference
between the obtained results with both methods is small.
C. Results When the delta windings are short-circuited, the result is
The results of the Z0 measurements are in Table V. identical to the corresponding one for the same windings in
TABLE V YNyn connection. However, in practice, the preferred method
COMPARISON OF RESULTS (VALUES IN %)
is without short-circuiting the delta branches.
Dyn: Delta w/o Dyn: Delta YNyn: Standard
short-circuit short-circuited test
5.346 /68.7º = 5.154 /68.2º = 5.158 /68.5º = ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Z0-PW 1.946 + j 4.980 1.916 + j 4.784 1.892 + j 4.798
The authors are grateful for the valuable help of the
following persons during the tests: Arnaldo De Gouveia,
D. Analysis of results Evaristo Da Costa, Jorge Melián, Ismael Acosta and Jorge
a) The result for the case Dyn with the delta windings Ramírez (academic and technical staff at USB).
short-circuited is identical to the case YNyn. This result was
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