Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:
[email protected] Key learnings from free webinar about “Mastering Transformers”
1.)when I say the transformer rating is 100VMA is it input or
output?
Answer:-
It is neither input nor output because the transformer is not 100%
efficient because it will be the losses real power losses and reactive
power loss as well
As per IEC 60076-1,
“3.4.6 Rated power Sr:-
Conventional value of apparent power assigned to a winding which,
together with the rated voltage of the winding, determines its rated
current
Note:-
pg. 1
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
Both windings of a two-winding transformer have the same rated power
which by definition is the rated power of the whole transformer”
Explanation:-
The rated voltage determines the rated current & if you multiply
the voltage with current then you will get the apparent power.
when the apparent power is fixed for the transformer as per IEC
60076, then like once the voltage is known it decides what is the
rated current
When it comes to the two winding transformer it has the same
rated power by definition is the rated power of the whole
transformer like both the windings of these two winding
transformers have the same rated power
What does it mean?
The transformer rating is same for both windings, the transformer
is not 100% efficient, there is the real power loss and there will be
the reactive power loss so the apparent power of both the winding
of transformer are one and same.
Hence both the winding have the same rating including the losses
that transformer can meet its rating
What I mean?
When I have 2500kVA transformer, including losses it can go and
meet up to the maximum of 2500kVA.
It does not mean these it can meet the 2500kVA load because there
will be the always loss in the transformer including the loss the
transformer can handle 2500kVA
So, the transformer rating is input or output
Answer:-
Including the losses the transformer can meet up to its rating
pg. 2
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
Obviously, it means “input” when I say including losses because
output + Losses=Input
Transformer rating means it is the input with respect to
IEC 60076
2.)Altitude & Temperature specification in Transformer:-
pg. 3
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
When we say the transformer rating that is only about 1000meter
sea level
If you are going to install your transformer above 1000meter then
it is by-default it is de-rated
You are talking about the temperature, the temperature of the
cooling air at the inlet to the cooling equipment which is not
exceeding 40deg at any time 30deg monthly average and 20deg
yearly average
And not below
-25deg Celsius in the case of outdoor transformer
-5deg Celsius in the case of transformer where both the
transformer and coolant are installed in the indoors
Then again you need to look at monthly average & yearly average
is defined in 3.12 of these clauses of these IEC 60076-1
(i.)if your ambient Temp is 50deg Celsius:-
If your ambient temperature of site goes above 40deg then
say ex:- 50deg
Then again you must be very clear you have to specify what is the
design ambient temperature and you have to tell what the monthly
average and yearly average is etc.,
It is just not the design temperature which is the maximum
temperature which is also important to have the data like monthly
and yearly
Typically
This monthly average is 10deg Celsius less than the
design ambient temperature
pg. 4
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
Then yearly average is further 10deg Celsius less than
monthly average these may not true for some countries
you need to careful.
It means what I say max temp is 40deg Celsius and yearly average
is 20deg Celsius.
It is not true for few countries
you must be bit careful with such conditions
when you define the rating, you also need to ensure that you are
define the proper terms and condition as well
when you are specify the rating of transformer try to go through
the standards IEC 60076 at least once
3) Transformer loss & typically how much losses etc.,
As per IEC 60076,
The losses of the transformer, losses again depend on
HV terminal voltage
power factor of the load
LV terminal voltage
whether the transformer have OLTC or not.
what is impedance of transformer.
What is X/R ratio of transformer
pg. 5
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
Case:1 Unity power factor
If I am having 25MVA transformer,110/11kV that can be loaded up
to 24750kVA if the load is with unity power factor
pg. 6
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
Case:2 Power factor is 0.9
The same transformer can be loaded up to 23703kVA if the power
factor of the load is 0.9
pg. 7
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
Case:3 Transformer have OLTC
The same transformer has the OLTC then these transformers can
be loaded which is slightly higher, it can load up to 23838kVA for
the same power factor of load is 0.9
How does it happens?
I am increasing the loading in the simulation software still my HV
power consumes reaches its rated value
pg. 8
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
5.) Transformer rating defined in terms of IEC standard & ANSI
standard
As discussed earlier,
Transformer rating is the input as per the IEC which means
including losses
For Example:
if you have 25MVA load, then you cannot use the 25MVA
transformer you have to find out the losses then you
increase the rating accordingly IEC world is concern
In case of ANSI standard,
When the transformer is rated in ANSI it is the output
It means you need not worry about increase the transformer rating
to meet the load but brings the losses that is how it is define in
ANSI
6.)why transformer is rated in KVA?
pg. 9
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
Few textbooks says copper loss depends on current and iron loss
depends on voltage and hence transformer rated in kVA
But the fact is Transformer don’t have any independent constraint
on real power or reactive power.
Transformer can be loaded up to its apparent power independent of
power factor.
Hence transformer is rated in kVA
Irrespective of power factor, the transformer can be loaded up to
apparent power
What is the real power?
There is no independent constraint
What is reactive power?
There is no independent constraint
So, you can load the transformer up to its rated apparent power
hence it is rated in kVA
When it comes to transformer, you have the two different voltages,
if you are specify in ampere
Then you must specify HV ampere separately & LV ampere
separately
So, it is always the transformer is better to rated in kVA
7.) How to define the Generator rating
pg. 10
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
If you talk about the Generator,
you have the independent real power constraint which is
coming from the turbine input
you will have the independent reactive power constraint
which is coming from rotor heating limits.
You have the minimum real power constraint which comes
from wide smoke & vibrations.
You will be having minimum reactive power constraints
which is coming from stability limits
If you look at the generator, the generator not to define with one
parameter.
You must define at least one or two parameters
S.No. Parameter constraints Reason
1 Real power constraints Due to turbine input
2 Reactive power Rotor heating limits
constraints (Excitation circuit limitation)
3 Minimum Reactive power Your stability limits
constraints
4 Minimum Real power Wide smoke(For Diesel
constraints Generator case)
Vibration(For thermal power
plant case)
These are the things you need to look at define the generator
Note:-
Transformer is rated in kVA because transformer no
independent constraints
pg. 11
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
8.)How you rating the cable, Transmission lines?
If you look at cables, transmission lines all these things are either
rated in Amps or you multiply with root three of voltage & current
get the Apparent power of kVAr & MVAr
In transmission line & cable both the ends are rated in same
voltage for the transmission line and cable. So, you rated in Amps
or kVA or MVA
Note:
If you have static equipment like transformer, cable,
transmission lines only one parameter is good
enough to rating either apparent power or Ampere.
9.)Shall I buy the transformer just because of cheap?
Answer:
Absolutely No.
pg. 12
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
Cost of energy lost in the transformer in its lifetime is much
higher than the total cost of transformer
Shall we treat No load loss and load loss in the same way?
We need to understand the transformer total operating cost(TOC)
and lifetime cost rather than looking at the capital investment.
How to select the vendor based on the cost
Not only seeking the capital investment also load loss and no-load
loss need to look
10.)what is Total operating cost for transformer?
a.) Cost of energy lost in the transformer in its lifetime is much higher
than the total cost of transformer
Explanation:-
You are investing some capital money for your transformer
Buy the transformer you are investing some money(capital
investment)
It is just not a capital investment; you must talk about the
transformer called “TOC” which is Total operating cost.
Total operating cost= capital investment+Losses+ consume time
during operating maintenance
If you take the transformer data sheet
Example:-
If you take the data sheet for 750kVA transformer in
that data sheet have no load loss and load loss
No load loss is 970W & Load loss is 7300W
pg. 13
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
Calculation to validate:-
Given:-
Transformer rating =750kVA
No load loss=970W
Load loss=7300W
Solution:-
Assume 25years is the calendar life of these transformer
=(25y*365d*24hr*970W)/1000.
=(25*365*24*970)/1000
Energy loss, due to no-load loss =212430kWh
From the above calculation, I am not talking about the load loss
I am just talking about no-load loss
if you are just keep energizing the transformer for 25years without
connecting any load these will be the energy loss
If you use the Indian tariff(commercial tariff) approx. Rs.11/- for each
kWh means
=212430*11
=Rs.2335730/-
Now you can understand because Transformer no-load loss alone
in its lifetime
you lose 212MW and 23lakhs 35thousand 730
rupees
pg. 14
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
For your kind information, 750MVA &11/0.433kV transformer
cost itself is less than these or more over the cost of transformer is
equal to these
“We are talking about no-load loss only not about load loss”
23lakhs in the transformer no-load loss without connecting any
load just because of energizing the transformer.
The cost of 750kVA transformer is less than these no-load cost
11.)How transformers are validate during pre-bid?
Assume that same rating as 11/0.4kV with 750kVA transformers
get quote from manufacturer A, manufacturer B & manufacturer C.
Then each manufacturer come up with some data sheets with their
product
S.No. Manufacturer No-load Loss Load Loss
1 Manufacturer “A” High Mid
2 Manufacturer “B” Low High
3 Manufacturer “C” Mid Low
From the above three Manufacturer whom you to select?
In terms of price,
whether Manufacturer A is better, or B is better or C is better
we consider the plant load factor also
If it is thermal plant operated with plant load factor of 90% &
more which one is better.
If it is solar plant in which plant load factor of 20-25% then which
one is better also the things in the blog
pg. 15
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
Shall I treat No-load loss and load loss in the same way?
Answer:
No.
When No-load loss & load loss are same?
If the transformer is load 100%,24/7 and 365days then no-load loss
and load loss can be treat in same way, but the transformer can
never be loaded in 100%,24/7,365days
if it is the load based on the load factor it will vary
if it is the thermal plant based on the thermal power plant, plant
load factor it will vary
So, loading on the transformer will not be 100%
No-load loss given the more weightage
load loss given the less weightage
The difference in weightage will high when your plant load factor
or load factor is less
12.)what are the conditions for paralleling the transformer?
Condition-1:-
The first and prime most matter which is mandatory to make two
transformers parallel is the phase shift/Vector Group
pg. 16
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
if you are using the delta-star transformer, these will make phase
shift between HV winding & LV winding by 30deg or 90deg or
150deg 04 210deg or 270deg or 330deg
It means Dyn1 or Dyn3 or Dyn5 or Dyn7 or Dyn9 or Dyn11 any
one
“What is the phase shift which is created by the first transformer in
which the same phase shift must be applicable for the second
transformer also”
if the condition has not been satisfy which results in the short
circuit, you will never ever be able to parallel the transformer
For example:-
First transformer is Dyn1 transformer and select the second
transformer is Dyn11 transformer
Then you try to connect the two transformers in parallel which
results in short circuit and huge current will flow then it damage
the equipment’s etc.,
You will never ever be able to parallel the transformer when their
phase shift or the angle which is changing from HV to LV then it
is not matching.
These is the one and only “mandatory condition” for parallelling
the transformer apart from these all-other conditions are optional
The other conditions also make the severe impact, but these impact
as not as severe as compared to the phase shift condition
Condition:2
If one transformer is 110/11kV and another transformer is
110/11.5kV it means that the voltage ratio must be matched.
If the voltage ratio is different then there will be the circulating
current but still you will be able to parallel the transformer
It is not preferable; it has some consequences, but you can still
parallel it
pg. 17
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
There will be some circulating current that will reduce the effective
loading of transformer there will be increase losses etc.,
But you can still able to parallel the transformer
Condition:3
Transformer impedance has to match if the transformer impedance
is not matching then the loading of the transformer is not matched
but still the transformer can be parallel
But I am not saying that keep one transformer impedance has 8%
and another transformer impedance has 10% & keep it parallel I
am not saying it
It is advantage to have the same impedance on the transformer they
will be loaded, or load will be equally distribute among the
transformer
Even if you miss this condition there will not be severe damage
like what has happen in the first condition “Phase shift”.
13.)Can we parallel the YNd1 and Dyn1 transformers
Just because of the phase shift of 30deg cannot parallel YNd1 with
Dyn1
One of the transformers have star solidly ground system and other
transformer have delta
You will be having the earthing consequences if one transformer is
fail then other transformer make the un-ground system etc.,
Hence, it is not advisable to make parallel these two transformer
YNd1 & Dyn1 transformer.
Even though phase shift between two transformer is 30deg(same)
but one is YNd1 and another Dyn1
14.)What is the permissible overload percentage for the oil
immersed transformer
IEC 60076-7 is talking about the overloading for oil immersed
transformer
pg. 18
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
15.)Why stabilizing winding used in two winding EHV transformer
It’s depend if you have star grounded on the HV winding & star
grounded on LV winding of auto transformer, then you need the
delta winding as the stabilizing winding.
So, it is dependent again the manufactures.
16.) If two transformers are satisfactory operation, what is the
allowable max % difference b/w the two transformers
If I am having the same rating of 10MVA transformer
if you have 10MVA transformer parallel with 10MVA transformer
if the impedances are one transformer is 8% and another
transformer is 10%
So, “one transformer is loaded with 1.2 times compared with
another one”
If the transformer loading is come with 15MVA
Then one transformer is load with 5MVA and another transformer
is load with 10MVA because of difference in impedance
Although 2x10MVA transformer, you cannot load 15MVA that is
the limitation of % impedance tolerance
17.)What are the application of transformer
Step-up and Step-down application
Transformer like convert the 3-phase 3-wire system to 3-phase
4-wire system
You can use the transformer to reduce the short circuit current
You can use the transformer to reduce the un-balance
You can use the transformer to suppress the 3rd harmonics or
eliminate the 3rd order harmonics
pg. 19
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
18.)What are the standards available in the transformer
19.)Shall I parallel the 10MVA transformer with 100MVA
transformer?
The standard says it is not advisable why we parallel with two
different ratings say more than 1:2 ratio that means like 10MVA
cannot parallel with more than 20MVA transformer it is not
advisable like still you can try
These can be relate with different terms if you have 3MVA or
10MVA transformer if you are trying to parallel with 100MVA
transformer still that works
pg. 20
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
But if you have the transformer of 1000kVA and 2000kVA then
they may not work because the impedance are big difference in
between the two transformer % of impedance and the load sharing
will not be proportionate
So, there will not be advantage you will be gain when you parallel
1MVA transformer with 2MVA transformer
The objective of paralleling the 1MVA transformer with 2MVA
transformer is the load of 3MVA met
But if you parallel 1MVA transformer with 2MVA transformer
because of difference in impedance the effective rating only about
like 2.3MVA or 2.4MVA.So, you cannot have any benefits
When the transformer rating is less then it is ideally the same
rating of transformer has to be parallel
If the transformer rating is slightly higher then you can parallel
with 50%,60%,70% difference
If you are going with the very high rating of transformer then the
impedance almost same, then you can even parallel 300MVA
transformer with 100VMA transformer
20.) Why delta-star transformer used for distribution side
pg. 21
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
When it comes to the distribution transformer, the transformers are
of delta-star.
HV side is star and LV side is delta.
Reasons:
There will be unbalance in the Low voltage that has to
be minimized
If there is the 3rd order or multiple of 3rd order
harmonics that must be neglected
If there is the single Line to ground fault in the LV
winding that should not reflect on the HV winding as
the Single Line to ground fault
You need to meet all these three criteria which is possible only by
Delta-star grounded transformer
These is the reason why all the distribution transformers are Delta-
Star grounded
21.)Why Star-Delta transformer for Generator Step up
transformer(GSUT)
pg. 22
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
Generator step up transformer should be Star grounded on the HV
winding and delta on the Generator side
Reasons:
Any Single line to ground fault on the grid should not
impact on the Generator
Any 3rd order or multiple of 3rd order harmonics on the grid
should not impact on the generator
Any unbalance on the grid should not come to the generator
22.)Transformer on the Distribution/Transmission side, OLTC
provided on HV winding or LV winding?
OLTC is provided on HV winding of the transformer to regulate the
voltage on the LV winding of transformer
Reasons:-
It provides the HV winding because the current rating is less in HV
winding
During On load tap change in transformer, when you want to move
from one tap to another tap you have to make and break the current
then obviously increase the arc
23% of the faults occurring in the transformer on behalf of On-load
tap changers Transformer is the static device, OLTC is the only
device which is the movable part in the transformer
Whenever you are making or breaking which makes the arc that
reduces the quality of oil
For Example:-
2.5MVA transformer with 11/0.4kV.
pg. 23
Subbiahkannan
Protection & Control Design Engineer
Mail id:[email protected]
If you provide the OLTC in low voltage winding you have to
make/break 4000A.
If you provide the OLTC in High voltage winding(11kV) you have
to just make/break the 131A that is the rated current
So, OLTC is provided on the HV winding of transformer, but it
regulates the voltage on the LV winding of transformer
23.)Transformer on Generator side, OLTC provided on HV winding
or LV winding?
If you give the OLTC on the Generator step up transformer, then
still the OLTC regulate the voltage on the Generator terminal, not
the grid voltage
Grid voltage cannot be regulated
If your Grid is strong, HV voltage cannot be regulated by OLTC of
Generator step up transformer
GSUT also OLTC is provided on HV side that is grid side and
generate the voltage on Generator terminal
Probably the OLTC is provided on GSUT to the extract that
maximum reactive power capability from the generator
pg. 24
