Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Al-Mustaqbal University
College of Engineering & Technology
Medical Instrumentation Techniques Engineering Department
Electrical Technology
Third Class

Weeks 7 & 8

Three Phase Transformers

By Osamah Jaber Ghayyib

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1. What is a three phase transformers

Three-phase transformers are passive machines that pass electrical energy between circuits.
In the secondary circuit, a magnetic flux induces an electromotive force (emf), thus stepping up
(increase) or stepping down (decrease) voltages without altering the frequency. There are
different kinds of electrical systems, and therefore transformers have to operate alongside
compatible systems. A three-phase transformer works with a three-phase AC (alternating current)
electrical system to provide consumers with stable and device-safe electricity. Depending on the
industry or application, the size, design, volt-ampere rating, and load-bearing capabilities of the
three-phase transformer will differ.

Fig.1 A three-phase transformer having three sets of windings on both primary and secondary
sides

2. Construction of a Three Phase Transformer

Three-phase transformers can be categorized depending on their construction. There are
two types of 3-phase transformers: the core-type with primary and secondary windings wound on
one core and the shell-type transformer that combines three 1-phase transformers.

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 Fig.2 Types of three phase transformer (a) Core type (b) Shell type.

2.1 Core-type
In core-type three-phase transformers, the core has three limbs within the same plane. Each
limb contains primary and secondary windings, and these windings are evenly split among the
three limbs. It's not uncommon to hear of high voltage (HV) and low voltage (LV) windings.

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 As a low voltage winding is easier to insulate, these windings are closer to the core than
the higher voltage coils. The latter windings wrap around the former, with insulative material
between them. This construction has the windings magnetically linked with one another, with one
winding using the other pair of limbs as return paths for its magnetic flux (see Figure 2(a)).

2.2 Shell-type
The shell-type 3-phase transformer is three separate 1-phase transformers. The three phases
of this transformer have their magnetic fields virtually independent, and this transformer's core
has five limbs as seen in Figure 2 (b).

The HV and LV windings exist around the three main limbs. Like the core-type 3-phase
device, the low voltage coil is nearest the core. The two outermost limbs serve as the flux's return
paths.

Magnetic flux divides in two as the field approaches the yoke. It's common for the outer
limbs and the yoke to be half the size of the main limbs. You can decrease the transformer's height
by reducing the yoke's size.

3. Three Phase Transformer Connections

A three phase transformer or 3φ transformer can be constructed either by connecting

together three single-phase transformers, thereby forming a so-called three phase transformer
bank, or by using one pre-assembled and balanced three phase transformer which consists of three
pairs of single phase windings mounted onto one single laminated core.

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 Fig.3 Symbols of winding connections.

The advantages of building a single three phase transformer is that for the same kVA rating
it will be smaller, cheaper and lighter than three individual single phase transformers connected
together because the copper and iron core are used more effectively. The methods of connecting
the primary and secondary windings are the same, whether using just one Three Phase
Transformer or three separate Single Phase Transformers.

The possible connections that will be reviewed in this section are:

● Input star (Y), output delta (Δ)

● Input delta (Δ), output star (Y)

● Input delta (Δ), output delta (Δ)

● Input star (Y), output star (Y).

3.1 Input (Y), Output (𝚫)

The connection diagram with primary as star and secondary as delta is shown in Figure 4.
This type of connection is mostly used in step-down applications. The high-voltage side (star
connected) can be grounded, which is desirable. Given the primary line voltage, V and line current

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I and turn ratio k = N2/N1. The phase voltage of the primary side is given as 𝑉⁄ and the phase
√3
current is same as the line current.

/k

k
k

Fig.4 Star-delta three-phase transformer connection.

The phase voltage is transformed to the secondary phase voltage as:-

𝑉𝑃2 𝑉𝑃2 𝑉
=𝑘 ⟹ =𝑘 ⟹ 𝑉𝑃2 = 𝑘
𝑉𝑃1 𝑉⁄ √3
√3

The primary side phase current is transformed to the secondary side phase current as:

𝐼𝑃1 𝐼 𝐼
=𝑘 ⟹ =𝑘 ⟹ 𝐼𝑃2 =
𝐼𝑃2 𝐼𝑃2 𝑘

The secondary phase quantities are now transformed to the line quantities as:

Line Voltage = Phase Voltage (because of delta connection)

𝑉
𝑉𝐿2 = 𝑉𝑃2 = 𝑘 , 𝐼𝐿2 = √3𝐼𝑃2 = √3 𝑘𝐼
√3

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3.2 Input Delta (𝚫), Output Star (Y)
The connection diagram with input delta and output star is shown in Figure 5. This type of
transformer connection is used for step-down applications. Given the primary line voltage, V and
line current I and turn ratio k = N2/N1. The phase voltage of the primary side is the same as line
voltage (delta connection) and the phase current is 𝐼⁄ . The phase voltage is transformed to the
√3
secondary phase voltage as:-

𝑉𝑃2 𝑉𝑃2
=𝑘 ⟹ =𝑘 ⟹ 𝑉𝑃2 = 𝑘𝑉
𝑉𝑃1 𝑉

The primary side phase current is transformed to the secondary side phase current as

𝐼⁄
𝐼𝑃1 √3 = 𝑘 𝐼
=𝑘 ⟹ ⟹ 𝐼𝑃2 =
𝐼𝑃2 𝐼𝑃2 𝑘 √3

The secondary phase quantities are now transformed to the line quantities as

Line Current = Phase Current (because of delta connection)

𝑉𝐿2 = √3𝑉𝑃2 = √3 𝑘𝑉 , 𝐼𝐿2 = 𝐼𝑃2 = 𝐼

k
kV

Fig.5 Delta-star connection of three-phase transformer

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3.3 Input Delta (𝚫), Output Delta (𝚫)
The connection diagram with input delta and output delta is shown in Figure 6. This type
of transformer connection is used for a reliable power supply system. If one of the transformers
is faulty, it can be removed and the whole system run in open-delta mode or V connection. The
output power can still be supplied in this mode. The 58% of the rated can be supplied in open-
delta mode. The voltage current relationship can be obtained in the same way.

Given the primary line voltage, V and line current I and turn ratio k = N2/N1. The phase
voltage of the primary side is the same as line voltage (delta connection) and the phase current is
𝐼⁄ .
√3

The phase voltage is transformed to the secondary phase voltage as

𝑉𝑃2 𝑉𝑃2
=𝑘 ⟹ =𝑘 ⟹ 𝑉𝑃2 = 𝑘𝑉
𝑉𝑃1 𝑉

I
k

𝒌
√𝟑𝒌

Fig.6 Delta-delta connection of three-phase transformer.

The primary side phase current is transformed to the secondary side phase current as

𝐼⁄
𝐼𝑃1 √3 = 𝑘 𝐼
=𝑘 ⟹ ⟹ 𝐼𝑃2 =
𝐼𝑃2 𝐼𝑃2 𝑘 √3

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 The secondary phase quantities are now transformed to the line quantities as

Line Voltage = Phase Voltage (because of delta connection)

√3 𝑘𝐼
𝑉𝐿2 = 𝑉𝑃2 = 𝑘𝑉 , 𝐼𝐿2 = √3𝐼𝑃2 = = 𝑘𝐼
√3

3.4 Input Star (Y), Output Star (Y)

The connection diagram of star primary and star secondary is shown in Figure 7. This type
of connection is not very commonly in use because of the problem with the exciting current
(distorted current with harmonic content). Given the primary line voltage, V and line current I
and turn ratio k = N2/N1. The phase voltage of the primary side is given as 𝑉⁄ and the phase
√3
current is same as the line current.

I
k

k
k

Fig.7 Star-star connection of three-phase transformer.

The phase voltage is transformed to the secondary phase voltage as

𝑉𝑃2 𝑉𝑃2 𝑉
=𝑘 ⟹ =𝑘 ⟹ 𝑉𝑃2 = 𝑘
𝑉𝑃1 𝑉⁄ √3
√3

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 The primary side phase current is transformed to the secondary side phase current as

𝐼𝑃1 𝐼 𝐼
=𝑘 ⟹ =𝑘 ⟹ 𝐼𝑃2 =
𝐼𝑃2 𝐼𝑃2 𝑘

The secondary phase quantities are now transformed to the line quantities as;

𝐼
𝑉𝐿2 = √3 𝑉𝑃2 = 𝑘𝑉 , 𝐼𝐿2 = 𝐼𝑃2 =
𝑘

Example 1: A three phase transformer has delta connected primary and a star connected
secondary working on 50 Hz three phase supply. The line voltages of primary and secondary are
3300 V and 400 V respectively. The line current on the primary side is 12 A and secondary has a
balanced load at 0.8 lagging p.f. Determine the secondary phase voltage line current and the
output.

Solution

𝑉𝐿1 = 3300 𝑉 , 𝐼𝐿1 = 12 𝐴 , Secondary power factor = 0.8

Primary side : 𝑉𝑃1 = 𝑉𝐿1 = 𝟑𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝑽

𝑉𝐿2
Secondary side : 𝑉𝑃2 = ⁄ = 400⁄ = 𝟐𝟑𝟎. 𝟗𝟒 𝑽
√3 √3

𝑉𝑃2 230.94
𝑘= = = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟔𝟗𝟗
𝑉𝑃1 3300

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 𝐼𝐿1
Primary side : 𝐼𝑃1 = ⁄ = 12⁄ = 𝟔. 𝟗𝟐𝟖 𝑨
√3 √3

Secondary side :

𝐼𝑃1 𝐼𝑃1 6.928

𝑘= ⟹ 𝐼𝑃2 = = = 𝟗𝟗. 𝟏𝟏 𝑨
𝐼𝑃2 𝑘 0.0699

Since secondary is connected in star

𝐼𝑃2 = 𝐼𝐿2 = 𝟗𝟗. 𝟏𝟏 𝑨

Power output = √3 𝑉𝐿2 𝐼𝐿2 cos 𝜙𝐿 =√3 × 400 × 99.11 × 0.8 = 𝟓𝟒. 𝟗𝟒 𝐤𝐖

Example 2: A 3-phase, 50-Hz transformer has a delta-connected primary and star-

connected secondary, the line voltages being 22,000 V and 400 V respectively. The secondary
has a star connected balanced load at 0.8 power factor lagging. The line current on the primary
side is 5 A. Determine the current in each coil of the primary and in each secondary line. What is
the output of the transformer in kW?

Solution

It should be noted that in three-phase transformers, the phase transformation ratio is equal
to the turn ratio but the terminal or line voltages depend upon the method of connection employed.

𝑉𝑃1 = 22,000 V , 𝑉𝑃2 = 400 /√ 𝟑 V

k = 𝑉𝑃2 /𝑉𝑃1 = 400/(22000 × √ 3) =1/𝟓𝟓√ 𝟑

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√3
𝐼𝑃1 =𝟓/√ 𝟑 A , k=𝐼𝑃1 /𝐼𝑃2 ⟹ 𝐼𝑃2 = 𝐼𝑃1 /𝑘 = 1 = 275 A
55√ 3

Pout = √ 3 𝑉𝐿2 𝐼𝐿2 cos 𝜙𝐿 = √ 3 × 400 × 275 × 0.8 = 15.24 kW

3.5 Single phase transformer vs three phase transformer

Following are the main differences between a 1-phase and a 3-phase transformer.

No Single Phase Transformer Three Phase Transformer

Single-phase transformer has only one
Three-phase transformer has three-primary windings
1 primary winding and one secondary
and three secondary windings.
winding.
In case of three-phase transformer, there are three input
terminals for line wires and one terminal is for neutral
(depending upon the type of primary winding
Single-phase transformer has two input
2 connection), and similarly, at the output, three line
terminals and two output terminals
terminals and one neutral terminal be provided, again
the presence of neutral terminal depends upon the type
of secondary winding connection.
The size of a single-phase transformer is
3 A three-phase transformer is relatively larger in size.
small.
A single-phase transformer cannot be used A three-phase transformer can be used to supply both
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for supplying a three-phase load. 1-phase and 3-phase loads.
The primary and secondary windings may be
configured as follows.
No specific winding configuration exists in Delta – Delta (Δ-Δ)
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case of a single-phase transformer. Delta – Star (Δ-Y)
Star – Star (Y-Y)
Star Delta (Y-Δ)
6 It costs less. Cost is little bit higher

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 Single-phase transformers are used for small
loads such as to supply single-domestic
Three-phase transformers are used for supplying high
loads like pumps and lightings, etc., used in
power single-phase as well as three-phase loads as
7 various electronic devices like in TVs,
induction motors, etc. Also used in power systems for
mobile chargers, etc. for voltage regulation,
power transmission and distribution
in home inverters for stepping up voltage,
etc.

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