Circulating Current in Parallel Transformers

Circulating current in parallel transformers When two transformers are in a parallel group, a transformer with a higher tap position will typically have a higher (LV side) no-load voltage than the other one with a lower tap position. These unequal no-load voltages (unequal tap positions) will cause a circulating current to flow through the parallel connected transformers. A transformer with higher no-load voltage (typically higher tap position) will produce circulating current, while a transformer with lower no-load voltage (typically lower tap position) will receive circulating current. When load is connected on these two parallel transformers, the circulating current will remain the same, but now it will be superimposed on the load current in each transformer, i.e. for a transformer producing circulating current, this will be added to its load current, and for a transformer receiving circulating current, this will be subtracted from its load current. Thus voltage control of parallel transformers with the circulating current method aims to minimize the circulating current while keeping the voltage at the target value. In case of a parallel operation of transformers, the electric current carried by these transformers are inversely proportional to their internal impedance. Think of it as two parallel impedances in a simple circuit behind a voltage source, you will have equal currents through each impedance only if you have two identical impedances, in some cases as stated above, tapping could be a problem, the other one is the actual manufacturing tolerances which could diverge by almost 5-10%, if the transformers are manufactured by different suppliers or not within the same batch. So, the difference in current between the currents through these two impedances is basically the circulating current as it is not seen outside these parallel impedances. The currents that are produces due to magnetic flux circulation in the core are called eddy currents and these eddy currents are responsible for core losses in transformer. While the circulating currents are the zero sequence currents that may be produces due to following causes. 1- when there is three phase transformer the (3rd, 5th, 7th....) harmonic currents which are called zero sequence currents from all the three winding of three phase transformer add up and become considerable even in loaded conditions these currents have no path in Y/Y connection of transformer so a tertiary winding is provided co conduct these currents but in Y/d or D/y connection these currents circulate in delta winding. 2- Whenever there is unbalanced loading in transformer. In which with positive sequence, negative sequence and zero sequence currents are also produced which cause circulating currents. 3- When the transformer banks are used and the transformers have phase between them then circulating currents are produced between them, than transformers in the bank get loaded without being shearing the power to the load.

1 L.

F. Blume & A. Boyajian, Transformer Connections, Chapter VII (Schnectady: General Electric, 1940).

Table 1: Overall Connection Summary Transformer Parallel Connection Types Equal Loading Unequal Loading Overloading Concerns Circulating Currents Recommended Connection Equal impedances— Equal ratios— Same kVA Yes No No No Yes Equal impedances— Equal ratios— Different kVA No Yes No No Yes Unequal impedances— Equal ratios— Same kVA No Yes Yes No No Unequal impedances— Equal ratios— Different kVA No Yes Yes No No Unequal impedances— Unequal ratios— Same kVA Yes No Yes Yes No

Unequal impedances— Unequal ratios— Different kVA No Yes Yes Yes No

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Same Voltage Ratio

If two transformers of different voltage ratio are connected in parallel with same primary supply voltage, there will be a difference in secondary voltages. Now say the secondary of these transformers are connected to same bus, there will be a circulating current between secondaries and therefore between primaries also. As the internal impedance of transformer is small, a small voltage difference may cause sufficiently high circulating current causing unnecessary extra I2R loss. Same Percentage Impedance The current shared by two transformers running in parallel should be proportional to their MVA ratings. Again, current carried by these transformers are inversely proportional to their internal impedance. From these two statements it can be said that, impedance of transformers running in parallel are inversely proportional to their MVA ratings. In other words, percentage impedance or per unit values of impedance should be identical for all the transformers that run in parallel. Same Polarity Polarity of all transformers that run in parallel, should be the same otherwise huge circulating current that flows in the transformer but no load will be fed from these transformers. Polarity of transformer means the instantaneous direction of induced emf in secondary. If the instantaneous directions of induced secondary emf in two transformers are opposite to each other when same input power is fed to both of the transformers, the transformers are said to be in opposite polarity. If the instantaneous directions of induced secondary emf in two transformers are same when same input power is fed to the both of the transformers, the transformers are said to be in same polarity. Same Phase Sequence The phase sequence or the order in which the phases reach their maximum positive voltage, must be identical for two parallel transformers. Otherwise, during the cycle, each pair of phases will be short circuited. The above said conditions must be strictly followed for parallel operation of transformers but totally identical percentage impedance of two different transformers is difficult to achieve practically, that is why the transformers run in parallel may not have exactly same percentage impedance but the values would be as nearer as possible