OMAR SH. ALYOZBAKY et al : THE BEHAVIOUR OF THREE PHASE THREE- LEG 11KV TRANSFORMER CORE .

The Behaviour of Three Phase Three- Leg 11KV Transformer Core Type Design
Under Sinusoidal and Non-Sinusoidal Operating Conditions for Different Core
Materials

Omar Sh. Alyozbaky 1,2 *, Mohd Zainal A. A.Ab Kadir 2, Mahdi Izadi 2 , Chandima Gomes 2, Norhafiz B. Azis 2
1
Electrical Department, Collages of Engineering, University of Mosul, Iraq.
2
Centre for Electromagnetic and Lightning Protection Research (CELP)
Faculty of Engineering, University Putra
Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

*Corresponding author: E-mail: O.SH.Alyozbaky@gmail.com

Abstract - Ansys Maxwell software, which is FEM-based software, was utilized to run the simulations for various operation conditions.
The FEM technique enabled software to simulate and analyze various electromagnetic parameters including flux lines, flux density,
losses, etc., under varying solutions very accurately. This paper investigates the behavior of three-phase three-leg in power
transformer core type design under sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal operating conditions. Three types of cold-rolled grain-oriented
core materials grades(M4,M5,M6)have been chosen to compare the core losses in steady-state and transient operation condition. The
influence of magnetic hysteresis, flux couplings in the core-structure and material performance in three-phase transformers has been
simulated. Simulation results of core loss behaviour based on the different materials are presented and discussed.

Keywords - Power transformer, core losses, magnetic flux, core materials

1. INTRODUCTION However, most of the investigations have been performed

A transformer is a static device with the capability of
transferring electrical energy from a certain voltage and
current level to another by electromagnetic induction and with
no power change. No-load and load losses are two primary
groups of transformer losses: .no-load loss involves the
energy needed to maintain the continuity of different magnetic
flux in the core, and independently of the loading of the
transformer. On the other hand, Load loss originates from
losses of resistance from windings, and depends on the power
of the load current.
Power transformer considering one of the most important
component of power system and their efficiency is reach to
98% [1]. In EU-25, core loss accounts for almost 70% of total
transformer losses while the operating (or energy) efficiency)
is 93.38%. Thus, there is worldwide concern about the core
losses which should be reduced [2]. Different methods have
been proposed in the literature for the reduction of these losses
[3-8].
The magnetic field is three dimensional (3-D) in nature
and surrounds the transformer core, and solving 3D models
poses many problems such as a protracted simulation time,
and requires full computer equipment (hard disk, ram and
cpu). Applying 2-D models significantly shortens the
computation time and complexity of the problem [10].
Achieving precise 3-D modelling of the core with its
laminations is not possible. In light of these problems,
engineers and transformer designers have attempted to use 2-
D simulations [7,8, 9,10] instead of the 3-D core model.
for the three-phase transformer three-limb core. For instance,
Valkovic [11, 12] has investigated the effect of core design,
joint geometry, core material, and induction on core losses.
E.G teNyenhuis et al. [13] applied 2-D FDM (finite
difference method) to examine magnetic loss and flux
distribution in cores with this structure. The core losses
depend on the physical properties of the core material, the
instant value of the magnetic field in the laminations, the
construction parameters of the joint zone, and how often it is
operated, all of which are shown in [14-17] The techniques of
the core model are presented in [18-19].
The working hours for the distribution transformer are 24
h, which shows normal core loss, regardless of the load
delivered. Consequently, the unbroken loss of energy enlarges
the magnetic core beyond the energy loss from the
transformer’s conductive material [20]. When the
performance characteristics of the steel improve, reduction of
the core size can be achieved. By using higher quality
material, the result will be enhanced operating flux density. As
such, for a given flux in core, it is possible to minimize the
core area with improved flux density.
If flux density is maintained at a consistent level, the
reduced core size will decrease the mean turn length of copper,
which could provide compensation for the additional copper
content due to the additional turns required. Consequently, the
coil will require less copper and insulation. With a reduced
core and coil, the tank size can be reduced, resulting in a
reduction of the required insulating oil as show in Fig. 1. The
aim of this paper is to highlight the issue of understanding the
behaviour of core materials in different operation conditions.

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OMAR SH. ALYOZBAKY et al : THE BEHAVIOUR OF THREE PHASE THREE- LEG 11KV TRANSFORMER CORE .

In addition, to investigation which is the important core

parameters that affected by sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal
power supply.

Fig. 1. Relation between a smaller core and the transformer price, when the
performance characteristics of the steel improve. Fig. 2. 1000KV Transformer model

II. ANSYS MAXWELL

ANSYS Maxwell is a high-performance interactive software

package that utilizes finite element analysis (FEA) to provide
solutions for electric, magneto-static, eddy current and
transient problems. Maxwell’s solutions for the
electromagnetic field problems are achieved by solving
Maxwell's equations in a finite region of space with suitable
boundary conditions and, when required, with user-specified
initial conditions so as to obtain a guaranteed and unique
solution [21]. Maxwell equations used to solve the
electromagnetic field problems are:
Faraday's induction law:
1 Fig. 3. Dimension (mm) of the core Transformer

Gauss' law of magnetism:

B. Materials Use
. 0 2
Ampere's circuital law: The materials of HV, LV windings and core laminations
˳ μ˳ ˳ ∗ 3 were copper and cold–rolled grain oriented silicon steel
(CRGO) grades M4, M5 and M6, respectively. Oil was used
Gauss' law of electricity: to fill the space between windings and core. On the other hand,
. 4 the magnetizing curves or B-H curves of magnetic core
˳ materials to software is presented. For examples Fig. 4 shows
the B-H curve for grade M4. The calculation of core loss,
III. CASE STUDY coefficients related to hysteresis and eddy current losses for
M4 laminations were calculated in relation to the B-P (flux
A. Transformer Model density versus core loss) curve it was introduced. The B-H and
P-B curves were obtained from the manufacturer’s data. A
The main apparatus consists of a core model for three- typical B-P curve for M4 core is presented in Fig. 5 [22].
phase transformer which rating 1000KVA, 11 KV / 0.433 KV
,50Hz, assembled with three limbs as shown in Fig 2. The real
dimension of core is shown in Fig.3. Core stack in T-joint
section as butt–lap 90ᵒ is assembled from grain oriented
silicon steel (CRGO) with 0.3 mm thickness laminations.

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OMAR SH. ALYOZBAKY et al : THE BEHAVIOUR OF THREE PHASE THREE- LEG 11KV TRANSFORMER CORE .

important for many core transformer designs. Fig..6 shows a

diagrammatic representation of these results.

Fig. 4. The B-H curve [22]

Fig.6. Diagram Results in Transient solution

FEM has been proven to be a beneficial method of

obtaining a precise characterization of the electromagnetic
behaviour in magnetic components such as transformers. Fig.
7 is a flowchart that illustrates the steps of the transformer core
design used in this study and provided in “Transformer
modelling.” The core design simulation can be attained with
Ansys Maxwell software together with the core lamination
material.

Fig.5. B-P curve [22]

IV. METHODOLOGY FOR SIMULATION

A. ANSYS Maxwell Solver Software

In Ansys Maxwell solver software, there are three types

of solutions: magneto static (Dc), eddy current (Ac), and
Transient (a very comprehensive solution) that can be
sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal and any kind of time variation
can be represented. This study focus on the one type of
simulation solution to calculate some parameters which affect
the loss profile. The transient solver type of solution can be
used in more comprehensive study in relation to actuator,
transformer, inductance, motor, permanent magnetic and
energy driven applications. In addition, it can be used in low
and high frequency applications and to calculate the magnetic Fig.7. A flowchart of the transformer design in the simulation.
field in any each step time. Many sources such as voltage and
current can be used in transient solution and applied to The simulation’s output data namely: flux density, flux
windings and permanent magnetic fields. The materials here flow, energy density and permeability are required for
can have linear or non-linear properties. determining the losses of the transformer and the inductance
Magnetic field (H) and current density (J) are in the time design of the windings as well as the processes of the Ansys
domain, and some of the results in transient solution can be Maxwell simulation are shown in the flowchart presented in
obtained, such as Magnetic flux density (B), forces, Torques, Fig. 8.
Core loss and flux linkage, the results of which are very

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OMAR SH. ALYOZBAKY et al : THE BEHAVIOUR OF THREE PHASE THREE- LEG 11KV TRANSFORMER CORE .

After running the whole simulation in a time duration of

200ms, the results comprising core loss, flux line, flux density
and flux leakage were collected. The value of running
simulation (200ms) has been chosen to check the all
simulation it is become steady state response. The second set
of results in this simulation study was obtained by using non-
sinusoidal input voltage supply as shown below:

cos 2 π 50 time 8

cos 2π 50 time 2/3 time 9

cos 2π 50 time 4/3 time 10

V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the simulation window, the geometric model is utilized

Fig. 8. A flowchart of the magnetic analysis.
The development model of the objective design has four
stages: the geometry design, field sources, boundary
conditions, and mesh generation.
for the collection of all the geometric shapes of given case
study in “Transformer modelling,” linking the contained
objects with material properties that were related, field
sources, and boundary conditions and a 3D design of the
transformer was developed as shown in Fig. 10.

B. Input Voltage

As we know the phase shift between three phase power

supply is 120˚. For this simulation the power supply was
obtained by using sinusoidal input voltage supply:

sin 2 π f time (5)

sin 2 π f time 120 (6)
sin 2 π f time 120 (7)

Where Vm is input voltage, and f is frequency

The input voltage in primary winding for three-phase Fig. 10. 3D design of transformer
transformer are show in Fig.9.
Every vertex signifies points and point coordinates which
the user is able to clearly state or Ansys Maxwell can
automatically have computed at the intersection point of two
edges. Each vertex gives a definition of its mesh spacing value
and its label, while the value of the mesh spacing provides a
definition of the estimated distance that separates the mesh
nodes in the vertex neighbourhood. As mentioned in the
literature [7,8,9,10], the 2D design created from 3D design is
presented in Fig. 11, to obtain the results as fast as possible.

Fig. 9. input voltage.

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OMAR SH. ALYOZBAKY et al : THE BEHAVIOUR OF THREE PHASE THREE- LEG 11KV TRANSFORMER CORE .
Fig. 11. 2D design of transformer
There is an association between the property of the mesh
spacing and vertices which is calculated in the current units of
length. Fig.12, presents the mesh in the transformer model
using a fully automatic method
Fig. 12. Mesh diagram analysis
Magnetic fields play an essential role in transformers and
the flux line distribution presented in Fig.13, shows the field
lines are concentrated around the limbs of the core transformer
and especially around the conductors, where increasing
density of current and voltage is marked.
Fig. 13. Flux line distribution
DOI 10.5013/IJSSST.a.17.41.27 27.5
On the other hand, Fig. 14 shows the flux lines between the
core and the low voltage windings in the core transformer
using M4 grade material.
Fig. 14. flux lines between the core and the low voltage windings
One of the most important factors which many researchers
have been paying attention to is a way to reduce the core loss.
The aim in this study is to compare the core loss between
different core materials in a three-phase transformer and so
notes the behaviour of core under different operation voltages.
The flux density (B) distribution on the core flux alternates
between the Yoke and limb. Fig. 15 presents the sinusoidal
voltage supply M4 grade, and the flux density distributed on
the core.
Fig. 15. 2D design of transformer
Most of the manufactories of power transformer are
focusing generally to reduce the losses in transformer
especially, for the loss which always be appeared when the
transformer work. Therefore, core loss considers one of the
important factor for transformer designers who want to reduce
it. The value of core loss in sinusoidal operation voltage about
1220 watt for material grade M4 as shown in Fig. 16.
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OMAR SH. ALYOZBAKY et al : THE BEHAVIOUR OF THREE PHASE THREE- LEG 11KV TRANSFORMER CORE .

Fig. 18. core loss in M6(sinusoidal voltage)

Fig. 16. Core loss in M4 grade (sinusoidal voltage)
On the other hand, Fig.19 shows the core loss for different
We can note the curve response of core loss it was become grade materials (M4, M5 and M6) in non-sinusoidal input
steady state after 75 ms., but we proposed the time is 200ms voltage. Moreover, the percentage increase in core losses as a
to check the core loss still steady state value in this type of
compare when operation in non-sinusoidal power supply
operation condition. between material grade M4 and grade M5 ranging 11.25%
Figure 17 illustrated the core loss in material grade M5. while 27.6 % as a compare between grade M4 with grade M6.
The figure also explained the duration until the value is 1325
watt, because it is running in transient simulation type and the
running time is 200ms.

Fig. 19. Core loss for different materials in non-sinusoidal input voltage

After running the simulation in three types of core

materials, under different operation conditions, the resulted
showed the increase of core loss it is about 50% in material
Fig. 17. core loss in M5(sinusoidal voltage) grade M4 as a compared in different operation conditions as
shown in Table I.
The different results of core loss in different materials
were obtained. The percentage increase in core losses as a TABLE I: CORE LOSS FOR DIFFERENT MATERIALS IN
compare between material grade M4 and grade M5 ranging SINUSOIDAL AND NON-SINUSOIDAL INPUT VOLTAGE
8.6% when operation in sinusoidal power supply. Core Core loss in Core loss in The percentage %
On the other hand, the core loss in material grade M6 was materials sinusoidal Non- sinusoidal of core loss
supply supply increased
presented in Fig. 18. Gradually increasing from 0 until 1547
Grade M4 1220 watt 1840 watt 50.81 %
watt, and the percentage increase in core losses as a compare
with material grade M4 it is about 26.8 % while 16.75 % as a Grade M5 1352 watt 2047 watt 51.40 %
comparator with material grade M5. Grade M6 1547 watt 2348 watt 51.77 %
It is noted that there is an increase in the proportion of the
core loss when change the material which used in core design.
The reason for this is due to the nature of the behaviour of this The value of the field density (B) is 2.9 Tesla in core
material under different operating conditions and how to transformer grade M4 under sinusoidal voltage, while in non-
interact with them. The nature of the manufactured material sinusoidal voltage is increased to 4.14 Tesla as illustrated in
and the circumstances surrounding them during the fig 20, which means an increase of about 42.75%.
manufacturing stages play these circumstances is an important The scenarios of other materials were used in this study but
factor to improve the quality of this material. Therefore, the with different percentages, for example, the maximum value
response it will be different from material to another material of the magnetic field density (B) happens in grade M6, while
in spite of working in the same operation conditions

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OMAR SH. ALYOZBAKY et al : THE BEHAVIOUR OF THREE PHASE THREE- LEG 11KV TRANSFORMER CORE .
the minimum value is found in M4 grade in different operation
voltages.
Fig. 20. Flux density (B) in grade M4 material in sinusoidal and non-
sinusoidal supplies
In the case of leakage flux, energy is stored alternately in
and discharged from the magnetic fields with each power
supply cycle. It is not a direct loss of power but causes poor
voltage regulation. This prevents the secondary voltage from
achieving a direct proportion of the primary voltage,
especially in cases of heavy load. Typically, by design,
transformers have very low leakage inductance.
Fig.21. illustrates the flux linkage between the phase
windings for different materials of the core transformer.
Furthermore, the percentage increase in flux linkage as a
compare when operation in sinusoidal power supply between
material grade M4 and grade M5 ranging 1.79% while 4.42 %
as a compare between grade M4 with grade M6. While the
percentage increase in flux linkage as a compare between
material grade M4 and grade M5 ranging 3.46% and 4% as a
compare between grade M4 with grade M6 when operation in
non-sinusoidal power supply.
Fig. 21. Flux linkage in different materials with (sinusoidal and non-
sinusoidal voltage)
All the simulation was done using the latest version 16.0
of Ansys Maxwell software in the laboratory of the Centre for
Electromagnetic and Lightning Protection Research (CELP),
Electrical & Electronic Engineering Dept., University Putra
Malaysia, Malaysia
DOI 10.5013/IJSSST.a.17.41.27
VI. CONCLUSION
The full details about flux distribution in the core
transformer was presented with the following outcomes:
1) A precise model for the whole magnetic circuit of the
transformer was obtained in different materials.
2) The exact contribution of parameters which affect to the
core losses was determined.
3) The analysis was employed for the simulation of non-
sinusoidal power supply effects on no-load loss of distribution
transformers. Core design parameters such as the materials
were taken into account. The values of flux linkage, flux
density and core losses derived from grade M6 were greater
than those of grade M4.
The Findings
1. The materials in three-phase transformer have an effect
on the losses inside the core of the transformer.
2. Studies have been made by researchers to find a way to
reduce the no load losses.
3. Research on this trend is already actively ongoing,
although shape and outlines are still not understood. An
insight into what is actually going on in this emerging line is
in order.
4. The behaviour of the core transformer under different
conditions can affect the loss profile. This typically reflects
the types of available apps in the power distribution system
but gives a clear indication of where the gaps are in apps
development and/or evaluation.
5. Researchers have expressed their concerns in the
literature, and many have suggested resolving the seen and
anticipated challenges, the list of which opens many
opportunities for research in this field.
Finally, it was determined that reduction of the core losses
could be achieved by controlling the flux distribution using
good materials.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to thank the Center of Electromagnetic
and Lightning Protection Research (CELP), Electrical &
Electronic Engineering Dept., University Putra Malaysia,
Malaysia, for the support given to this work.
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