VECTOR SYMBOL IN TRANSFORMERS

by: K.Sivakumar, Manager – Training, Larsen & Toubro Limited, Switchgear

Training Centre, Coonoor (T.N.)

(Article published in the January 2010 issue of Electrical India magazine)

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Synopsis: Transformer is a very important link in any electric power supply
network. Hence, it is all the more important to understand the
specifications and ratings of the transformer. Most of the specifications
and ratings – like Power rating in kVA, Primary and Secondary Voltages,
Frequency, No. of phases, Primary & Secondary Currents – are self-
explanatory. But, some other specifications like percentage impedance,
type of cooling, vector symbol require a little study to understand. One of
the important specifications – the vector symbol or the vector group of a
transformer – is taken up for discussion in this article.

Introduction: As we are aware, transformer is a device which converts

power at one voltage level to power at another voltage level. By the rated
voltage ratio, one can know the magnitude of the rated primary and
secondary voltages and by the rated frequency rating of the transformer,
one can know the rate of change of these voltages. But, it is also important
to know the phase relationship between the HV side voltage and the LV
side voltage. This phase relationship between the HV side and LV side
voltages is denoted by the vector symbol of the transformer.

Winding Connections: Now, what will you call the connection shown in Fig.
(1)? DELTA? Then what will you call the connection shown in Fig. (2)?
Same DELTA? Is there not a difference between Fig. (1) & Fig. (2)? There, in
fact, is a difference in end connections of the windings and hence, in the
direction of current flow in each winding. In Fig. (1), for example, in ‘U’
winding, current would flow from A1 to A2, whereas in Fig. (2), it will be from
A2 to A1. Isn’t it? Then, how can we give the same name to both
connections? So, one can be given the name “NORMAL DELTA” and the
other, as the current direction is reverse when compared to the first, can be
given the name, “REVERSE DELTA”.

Now, which one is normal delta and which one is reverse delta? One would
believe that Fig. (1) is normal delta and Fig. (2) is reverse delta.

R C1 R
C2 A1 A2

W U W U

A2 A1
C1 Y C2 Y
B2 V B1 B1 V B2
B B

Fig. (1) Fig. (2)

But, surprisingly, the connection shown in Fig. (2) is called Normal Delta
and that in Fig. (1) is called Reverse Delta. Similar nomenclature is given
for Star Connection too. Fig. (3) is Reverse Star and Fig. (4) is Normal Star.

R R
A1 A2
U U
C2 A2 C1 A1
W B2
V W B1
V
C1 B1 C2 B2
Y Y

B B

Fig. (3) Fig. (4)

So, in a two winding transformer, when one has two sets of three windings
each, one has a choice of connecting each of the two sets in any of the four
types of connections as above. The possibilities are as per Table (1) below:

HV Winding Connection LV Winding Connection

Normal Star (NS) Normal Star (NS)

Normal Delta (ND) Normal Delta (ND)

Normal Star (NS) Reverse Star (RS)

Normal Delta (ND) Reverse Delta (RD)

Normal Star (NS) Normal Delta (ND)

Normal Delta (ND) Normal Star (NS)

Normal Star (NS) Reverse Delta (RD)

Norma Delta (ND) Reverse Star (RS)

Table (1)

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Let us analyse one type of connection for example, say, Normal Star/
Normal Star. For this vector group representation, the winding connections
would be as shown in Fig. (5):

A1 B1 C1 a1 b1 c1

U V W u v w
A2 B2 C2 a2 b2 c2

1U 1V 1W 1N 2u 2v 2w 2n
s
Fig. (5)

In the above connection, if supply voltage is given across terminals 1U-1V,

then both the ‘U’ winding and the ‘V’ winding will have the line voltage
impressed between them. Individually, each of the above windings will
experience the phase voltage. When the primary ‘U’ winding is impressed
upon a voltage, it will induce an EMF, in proportion to the turns ratio, in its
secondary winding ‘u’. So, also with windings ‘V’ & ‘v’. These secondary
induced voltages will be in phase with their respective primary applied
voltages. Now, if we draw a vector diagram for the above connection, it will
be as shown in Fig. (6):

VU

V1U-1V
vu

vw v2u-2v

VW vv VV

Fig. (6)

As can be seen from the vector diagram, when one applies a voltage
across the primary terminals 1U-1V, he gets a voltage across the
secondary terminals 2u-2v and the phase displacement is 0o. That is, there
is no phase displacement between the primary voltage and the secondary
voltage. This is called as the 0o phase displacement group.

In vector group or vector symbol notation, the HV winding is represented in

capital letters – ‘D’ for Delta Connection and ‘Y’ for Star Connection and the
LV winding is represented in small letters – ‘d’ for delta connection and ‘y’
for star connection. The phase displacement of the LV side voltage with
respect to the HV side voltage is represented as a clock hour number. In
the clock hour number representation, the HV winding is represented by
the longer hand or the minute hand and the LV winding is represented by
the smaller hand or the hour hand.

Going by the above and assuming that the above transformer is a step-
down transformer, the clock hour representation would be that of 12 O’
Clock or 0 O’ Clock. Isn’t it? So, the above connection can simply be
represented as ‘Yy0’. The first ‘Y’ for the HV winding connection, which is
Star and the small ‘y’ for the LV winding connection, which, too, is star. The
phase displacement, which, as per the above vector diagram is 0o, is
represented by the following ‘0’, which is the relevant clock hour number.

Also, it is to be noted that if the neutrals are brought out in star windings, it
has to be denoted by a ‘N’ subscripting the ‘Y’, in case of HV winding
neutral and by a ‘n’ subscripting the ‘y’ in case of LV winding. In the above
vector group, if both the HV & the LV neutrals are brought out, then the
vector group notation would be YNyn0.
Now, we can re-construct Table (1) into Vector Group Notations as below
(Table-2):

HV Winding LV Winding Phase Phase Vector

Connection Connection Displacement Displacement of Group
of LV with LV with respect Notation
respect to HV to HV (as Clock
(in o) Hour Number)
Normal Star Normal Star 0o 0 Yy0
Normal Delta Normal Delta 0o 0 Dd0
Normal Star Reverse Star 180o 6 Yy6
Normal Delta Reverse Delta 0o 6 Dd6
Normal Star Normal Delta + 30o 11 Yd11
Normal Delta Normal Star + 30o 11 Dy11
Normal Star Reverse Delta - 30o 1 Yd1
Normal Delta Reverse Star - 30o 1 Dy1

Table (2)

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Now, we will do similar analysis for another vector group, which is the
most popular in the industry, (i.e.) Dyn11. Going by the above definitions,
Vector Group Dyn11 signifies that the HV winding is connected is Normal
Delta and the LV winding is connected in Normal Star, with the LV neutral
brought out, and the LV Voltage is leading the HV Voltage by 30o.

(Remember clock hour position 11 is + 30o, with anti-clockwise vector

rotation). Now, for this vector group representation, the winding
connections would be as per Fig. (7):

A1 B1 C1 a1 b1 c1

U V W u v w
A2 B2 C2 a2 b2 c2

1U 1V 1W 2u 2v 2w 2n
s
Fig. (7)
In the above connection, if supply voltage is given across terminals 1U-1V,
then the ‘U’ winding will have the line voltage impressed on it. When the
primary ‘U’ winding is impressed upon a voltage, it will induce an EMF, in
proportion to the turns ratio, in its secondary winding ‘u’. This secondary
induced voltage will be in phase with the primary applied voltage. Now, if
we build a vector diagram for the above connection, at this stage, it will be
as per Fig. (8):

VU = V1U-1V

vu = v2u-2n
vw = v2w-2n

VW = V1W-1U vv = v2v-2n VV = V1V-1W

Fig. (8)

But, when a voltage is applied across terminals 1U-1V, a voltage is to be

availed across terminals 2u-2v. From, the above connection diagram,
voltage 2u-2v is nothing but the vector sum of voltages 2u-2n & 2n-2v.
Now, modify the above vector diagram as in Fig. (9):

VU = V1U-1V
30o

v2u2v

vu = v2u-2n
v2n2v
vv = v2v-2n

VW = V1W-1U vw = v2w-2n VV = V1V-1W

Fig. (9)

As can be seen from the above re-drawn vector diagram for vector group
Dyn11, the secondary (LV) voltage vector 2u-2v, leads the primary (HV)
voltage vector by 30o.
Similar analysis can be made for all the other vector groups too.

Note: Please note that it is not possible to have Reverse ….. / Normal ……
Whatever may be the connection, the HV winding is taken as reference or
normal and the connection of the LV winding is verified if it is normal or
reverse with respect to the HV winding.

Conclusion: It is believed that the concept of Vector Group Notation of

transformers is understood. In a subsequent article, let us see how this
vector group can be ensured by performing the Vector Group Test at site.

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References:

i) J & P Transformer Book

ii) Design of Electrical Systems for Large Projects – by Mr.

N.Balasubramanian – Rukmini Publishers, Chennai.