THREE PHASE

TRANSFORMER

Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology

FEST, Hamdard University
 3 ∅ TRANSFORMER
 Major power distribution today are all 3∅ systems

 Two ways of constructing a three phase

transformer

i. Take 3 single phase transformers & connect them in 3∅

banks (Fig # 2-36)

ii. Make three phase transformer consisting of three sets of

windings wrapped on a core (Fig # 2-37)
 3 ∅ TRANSFORMER CONSTRUCTION
METHODS
METHOD # 1

 In an event of trouble, each 1∅ unit could be

replaced individually

 Very rarely used

 3 ∅ TRANSFORMER CONSTRUCTION
METHODS
METHOD # 2 (Preferred Method)

 Lighter

 Smaller

 Cheaper

 Slightly more efficient

 3 ∅ TRANSFORMER CONNECTIONS
 Primary Sides
• Connected in Y or ∆ fashion

 Secondary Sides
• Connected in Y or ∆ fashion

 Four possibilities
3 ∅ TRANSFORMER CONNECTIONS
1. Y- Y CONNECTION
 PROBLEMS WITH Y-Y CONNECTION
i. If loads are unbalanced, then voltages on the phase of the
transformer can become severely unbalanced
ii. Third harmonic voltage can be large
 PROBLEM SOLUTION
Harmonics in Three Phase Transformers.
The harmonic is the distortion in the waveform of the
voltage and current. It is the integral multiple of some
reference waves. ... The phase magnetizing currents
in transformer should contain third harmonics and
higher harmonics necessary to produce a sinusoidal flux.

1. Solidly ground the neutrals of the transformer

2. Add a 3rd (Tertiary) winding connected in ∆

 1. Solidly Ground The Transformer
Neutrals

 Specially primary winding neutral

 Any 3rd harmonic current built up is grounded

through neutral as it provides a return path for
any current imbalances in the load
2. Add a 3rd Tertiary Winding Connected
in ∆
 Add a 3rd tertiary connected in ∆ to the transformer bank

 The 3rd harmonic voltage in ∆ will add up & keep circulating in ∆ thus
suppressing the 3rd harmonic voltages in the same manner as grounding the
transformer neutrals
 Y- Y CONNECTION
 Very few Y-Y transformers are used

 The same job can be done by one of the other

types of 3∅ transformer
2. Y - ∆ CONNECTION
ADVANTAGES
1. Since secondary is ∆ connected, there is no
problem of 3rd harmonic

2. More balanced w.r.t unbalanced loads since ∆

partially redistributes any imbalance that
occurs
DISADVANTAGES
1. Secondary voltage is shifted 30 ∘ relative to
primary voltage of transformer

2. Phase shifting from primary to secondary has

problems with transformer paralleling
operation
3. ∆-Y CONNECTION
∆-Y CONNECTION

 Same advantages & same phase shift as in Y-∆

 Similar to Y-∆, secondary lags primary by 30∘

4. ∆ - ∆ CONNECTION
∆ - ∆ CONNECTION

 No phase shift

 No problems with unbalanced loads or

harmonics
5. Zig-Zag CONNECTION