LESSON 5: PARALLEL OPERATION

OF A TRANSFORMERS
ENGR. RONNIE A. CADALIN, REE, RME, MATVE
When the primaries and secondaries of
the two or more transformers are
connected separately to the same
incoming and outgoing lines to share the
load, the transformers are said to be
connected in parallel. The two single-
phase transformers A and B are placed
in parallel as shown in Fig. 2.56. Here
the primary windings of the two
transformers are joined to the supply
bus-bars and the secondary windings are
joined to the load through load bus-bars.
Under this conditions;
V1 = Primary applied
voltage
V2 = V = Secondary load
voltage.
5.1 Necessity of Parallel Operation
The following are the reasons for which transformers are put in parallel.
1. When the load on the transmission lines increases beyond the capacity of the
installed transformer. To overcome this problem one way is to replace the
existing transformer with the new one having larger capacity (this is called
augmentation of transformer) and the other way is to place one more
transformer is parallel with the existing one to share the load. The cost of
replacing the transformer is much more than placing another one in parallel
with the existing one. Hence, it is desirable to place another transformer in
parallel when the electrical load on the existing transformer increases beyond its
rated capacity.
2. Sometimes, the amount of power to be transformed is so high that it is not
possible to build a single unit of that capacity, then we have to place two or
more transformers in parallel. Hence, parallel operation of transformers is
necessary when the amount of power to be transformed is much more than
that which can be handled by single unit (transformer).
3. At the grid sub-stations, spare transformers are always necessary to insure the
continuity of supply in case of breakdown. The size of spare transformer
depends upon the size of transformers placed at the grid sub-station. Therefore, it
is desirable to place transformers of smaller capacity in parallel to transform the
given load which in turn reduces the size of the spare transformer. Hence, it is
desirable to do parallel operation of transformers if we want to keep the spare
transformer of smaller size.
5.2 Conditions for Parallel Operation of One-phase Transformers
The following conditions are to be fulfilled if two or more transformers are to be
operated successfully in parallel to deliver a common load.
(i) Both the transformers should have same transformation ratio i.e., the voltage
ratings of both primaries and secondaries must be identical. If this condition is not
exactly fulfilled i.e., if the two transformers ‘A’ and ‘B’ have slight difference in
their voltage or transformation ratios, even then parallel operation is possible.
Since the transformation ratios are unequal, primary applied voltage being equal,
the induced emfs in the secondary windings will not be equal. Due to this inequality
of induced emfs in the secondary windings, there will be, even at no-load, some
circulating current flowing from one secondary winding (having higher induced
emf) to the other secondary windings (having lower induced emf).
(ii) Both the transformers should have the same percentage impedance. If this
condition is not exactly fulfilled, i.e., the impedance triangles at the rated kVA’s
are not identical in shape and size, even then parallel operation will be possible,
but the power factors at which the transformers operate will differ from the power
factor of the load. Therefore, in this case the transformers will not share the load in
proportion to their kVA ratings.
3. Both the transformers must have the same polarity i.e., both the transformers
must be properly connected with regard to their polarities. If this condition is
not observed, the emfs in the secondary windings of the transformers which
are parallel with incorrect polarity will act together in the local secondary
circuits and produce the effect equivalent to a dead short circuit.
4. In case of 3-phase transformers, the two transformers must have the same
phase-sequence i.e., the transformers must be properly connected with
regard to their phase-sequence. If this condition is not observed, it will have
the same effect as discussed above when the polarity of two single phase
transformers is not the same. Phase-sequence is also checked as discussed
above.
5. In case of 3-phase transformers, the two transformers must have the
connections so that there should not be any phase difference between the
secondary line voltages i.e., a delta-star connected transformer should not be
connected with a delta-delta or star-star connected transformer. If this
condition is not fulfilled, it will cause a heavy circulating current which may
damage the transformers.
5.3 Load Sharing between Two Transformers Connected in Parallel
The load sharing between two transformers connected in parallel depends
upon the various conditions are as discussed below:
1. When the two transformers have the same voltage ratios and their
impedance voltage triangles are identical in size and shape. The condition
for which the transformers have the same voltage ratio and impedance
voltage triangles is known ideal condition or ideal case. Let E be the no-
load secondary voltage of each transformer and V the terminal voltage
The load current:
IL∠𝐿= I1 ∠1 + I2 ∠2

Current shared by two transformers:

Z 2 ∠ 1
I1 ∠1= 𝑥 I ∠
Z1 ∠1 + Z2 ∠2 L 𝐿

Z 1 ∠ 1
I2 ∠2= 𝑥 I ∠
Z1 ∠1 + Z2 ∠2 L 𝐿 Where: I ∠ = load current
L 𝐿
I1 ∠1 = current in x’former 1
Apparent power by each transformers: I2 ∠2 = current in x’former 2
Z 2 ∠ 2
S1 ∠1= 𝑥 SL ∠
Z1 ∠1 + Z2 ∠2 SL ∠ = load apparent power
S1 ∠1 = x’former appa. power
Z 1 ∠ 1 S2 ∠2 = x’former appa. Power
S2 ∠2= 𝑥 SL ∠ Z1 ∠1 = impedance of the 1st x’former
Z1 ∠1 + Z2 ∠2
Z2 ∠2 = impedance of the 2nd x’former
2. When the two transformers have the same voltage ratios but different voltage
triangles. In this case, no-load voltages of both secondary are equal in
magnitude as well as in phase i.e., there is no phase difference between E1 and
E2 which will only be possible if the magnetizing currents of the two transformers
are not very different from each other or nearly the same. Under these
conditions, both sides of two transformers can be connected in parallel, and no
current will circulate between them on no-load.
Z1 ∠1 and Z2 ∠2 = impedances of the two transformers
I1 ∠1 and I2 ∠2 = the currents of the two transformers
I∠ = total load current
V∠ = common terminal voltage.

The load current:

IL∠𝐿 = I1 ∠1 + I2 ∠2

Equivalent impedance Z:
Z ∠ Z ∠ 
Z ∠ = 1 1 2 2
Z1 ∠1 + Z2 ∠2

Current shared by two transformers:

Z2 ∠2 IL∠𝐿
I1 ∠1 = x I ∠ or
Z1 ∠1 + Z2 ∠2 L 𝐿 Z1 ∠1 +1
Z2 ∠2

Z 1 ∠ 1 IL∠𝐿
I2 ∠2 = x I ∠ or
Z 1 ∠ 1 + Z 2 ∠ 2 L 𝐿 Z2 ∠ +1
2
Z1 ∠1
3. When the two transformers have different voltage ratio and different
voltage triangles. In this case, the voltage ratios or transformation ratios of
the two transformers are different. It means, these no-load secondary
voltages are unequal. Let E1, E2 be the no-load secondary emfs of the two
transformers and ZL be the load impedance across the secondary.
➢It is seen that even when secondaries are on no-load, there will be some
circulating-current in the secondaries because of inequality in their induced emf’s.
This circulating current IC is given by
IC∠ = (E1 ∠1 - E2 ∠2 ) / Z1 ∠1 + Z2 ∠2
➢As the induced emf’s of the two transformers are equal to the total drops in their
respective circuits.
E1 ∠1 = (I1 ∠1 Z1 ∠1) + V2 ∠2
E2 ∠2 = (I2 ∠2 Z2 ∠2) + V2 ∠2
➢Current shared by the two transformers:
E1 ∠1 Z2 ∠2 + (E1 ∠1 − E2 ∠2)ZL ∠𝐿
I1 ∠1 =
Z1 ∠1 Z2 ∠2 + (Z1 ∠1 + Z2 ∠2)ZL ∠𝐿
E1 ∠1 Z2 ∠2 − (E1 ∠1 − E2 ∠2)ZL ∠𝐿
I2 ∠2 =
Z1 ∠1 Z2 ∠2 + (Z1 ∠1 + Z2 ∠2)ZL ∠𝐿
EXAMPLES:

1. load of 500 A, at 0·8 power (lagging), at a terminal voltage of 400 V

is supplied by two transformers are connected in parallel. The
equivalent impedances of the two transformers referred to the
secondary sides are (2 + j3) ohm and (2.5 + j5) ohm, respectively.
Calculate the current and Kva supplied by each transformer and the
power factor at which they operate.

2. Two single-phase transformers connected in parallel supply a load

of 1000 A at 0·8 p.f. lagging. For each transformer, the secondary
emf on open circuit is 3300 V and the total leakage impedances in
terms of the secondary are (0.1 + j0.2) and (0.05 + j0.4) ohm,
respectively. Determine the output current for each transformer and
the ratio of the kW output of the two transformers.
3. Two single-phase transformers I and II rated at 250 kVA, each are
connected in parallel on both sides. Resistance and reactance drops
for I and II are 1% and 6% and 1·2% and 4·8%, respectively. Calculate
the load shared by each and the respective power factors, if the total
load is 500 kVA at 0·8 power factor lagging. Their no-load emf’s are
equal.

4. A transformer ‘A’ having an open circuit emf of 6600 V with impedance

(0.3+j3) ohm referred to secondary is connected in parallel with
transformer ‘B’ having an open circuit emf of 6400 V with impedance
(0.2+j1) ohm referred to secondary side. Calculate the current
delivered by each transformer to a load impedance of (8+j6) ohm.
SEATWORK:
1. Two single phase transformers are connected in parallel. Both of them are
having equal turns and an impedance of (0.5 + j3) ohm and (0.6 + j10) ohm
with respect to the secondary. Determine how they will share a total load of 100
kW at power factor 0.8 lagging. (Ans. Load shared by transformer–I = 78.25
kW at p.f. 0.8155 lag (Load shared by transformer–II = 21.83 kW at p.f. 0.749
lag)

2. A 500 kVA transformer is connected in parallel with a 150 kVA transformer and
is supplying a load of 750 kVA at 0.8 pf lagging. Their open circuit voltages are
405 V and 415 V, respectively. Transformer A has 1% resistance and 5%
reactance and transformer B has 1.5% resistance and 4% reactance. Find (a)
cross-current in the secondaries on no-load and (b) the load shared by each
transformer. (Ans. a.) IC = -161.8∠ − 71.88°; b.) S1 = 484∠-37.4°, S2 = 246∠-
42.87°,