Nebey BMC Res Notes (2020) 13:17

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4880-1 BMC Research Notes

RESEARCH NOTE Open Access

Automatic load sharing of distribution

transformer for overload protection
Abraham Hizkiel Nebey*

Abstract 
Objective:  Load sharing provides sufficient protection to distribution transformer under overloaded conditions.
Due to overload on transformer, the efficiency drops and windings get overheated and may burn. By sharing a load
current on transformer for each phase the transformer was protected. Therefore, the objective of this study was to
protect transformers from overloaded conditions by sharing the load.
Result:  The system automatically connects and disconnects switch to share the transformer loads. The controller was
managed the load according to rules.
Keywords:  Transformer overload, Fuzzy logic controller, Dangila, Mat lab/Simulink

Introduction intervention were being given both at the community

Overloading protection means detecting problems with level and energy centres [8]. The efforts were not organ-
distribution transformer and isolating from the load. ized at the level of practice and this is due low number of
Fuzzy logic controller is an intelligent tool that serves as researches to explore overloading protection in Ethiopia
an overloading protection for distribution transformers. [9–11]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to protect the
It has logical rules which protects distribution transform- distribution transformers in Dangila town, Ethiopia.
ers against overloading conditions [1].
Overloading protection for the distribution trans- Main text
former can reduce around 20% of electric power inter- Methods
ruption [2]. Protection and overloading protection in Study setting and period
a particular, is one of the measurement strategies to A Failure Modes and Effects Analysis were conducted in
improve power system’s reliability status. Dangila town from April 1 to June 3, 2019. Dangila is the
In Ethiopia, many customers were suffering from elec- capital city of Dangila woreda in Amhara regional state.
tric power interruptions. There were many malfunctions It is 78 km away from Bahir Dar which is the capital city
distribution transformers in Dangila town. Major causes of Amhara regional state. The city has five sub towns, one
of this malfunction of the distribution transformer was substation, which gives serves to the town and the sur-
overloading conditions which can be easily prevented rounding people.
through overloading protection [3–5]. Currently, the Questionnaires were distributed to Ethiopia Electric
practice of overloading protection in Ethiopia is low [3, Utility maintenance staffs. The questionnaire assesses the
6, 7]. consequences of failures in terms of electric power inter-
Even though the government of Ethiopia developed ruption, damage of the components or further damage of
strategies for energy supply, there is the varying level of subsequent sub systems.

Measurement
*Correspondence: [email protected] Data were collected using interview and direct meas-
Bahir Dar University Institute of Technology, P.O.Box 26, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia urement. The questionnaire was prepared to collect

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Nebey B
 MC Res Notes (2020) 13:17 Page 2 of 6

the relevant data [3, 12]. Two weeks were given for data Real power
collectors and supervisors for 3  days on methods of KVAB =
PF
extracting the information through interviewing, and (4)
242.245 KW
direct measurement. = = 303 KVA.
0.8
From this the transformer rating was selected above this
Mathematical modelling for determining KVA ratings value because the transformer rating was greater than the
There were a mathematical equation for determining actual load. This was done for safety purposes and expan-
KVA rating of transformer, one and two. sion, in case more loads were added at a later date. There-
From the collected data following parameters were fore, the transformer rating was approximately 315 KVA.
calculated.
Mathematical modelling of two load sharing of transformers
For load assessment area of A Two transformers of equal voltage ratios were selected for
Real power working in parallel. This can avoid a circulating current
between the transformers [13–16].
P = (175020 + 14700 + 34000 + 4050) W From the above (Fig. 1) circuit the following parameters
= 227770 W . were calculated.
= 227.770 kW  
IA ZA = IB ZB = IL ZL = V say (5)
From this the load current can be calculated
real power ZA = RA + XA (6)
IL = √
3 ∗ Vs ∗ pf
. (1) ZB = RB + XB (7)
227770 W 227770 W
= = = 433 A
1.73 ∗ 380 ∗ 0.8 526 V Here,
Then to find the KVA rating of the transformer A, IL = IA + IB (8)
real power And ­Zequ is the equivalent impedance of the two trans-
KVAA =
PF . (2) formers given by,
227.770
= kW = 285 KVA. Z A ZB
0.8 Zequ = (9)
ZA + ZB
From this the transformer rating was selected. For safety
purposes and expansion, in case more loads were added From Eqs. (5), (6) and (7)
at a later date. Therefore, transformer rating was approxi-
V IL ZL ZB
mately 315 KVA. IA = = = IL (10)
ZA ZA Z A + ZB
For load assessment area of B
In similar way:
Rated power were the sum of the entire total load that
delivered to the consumer.
Real power = (18340 + 187285 + 34000) W
= 239625 W .
= 23.9625 KW
From these load currents was calculated as;
real power
IL = √
3 ∗ vs ∗ pf
(3).
23.9625 KW 23.9625 KW
= = = 455.5 A.
1.73 ∗ 380v ∗ 0.8 V 526 V
Then to find the KVA rating of the transformer B
Fig. 1  Equivalent circuits of parallel transformers
Nebey BMC Res Notes (2020) 13:17 Page 3 of 6

V IL ZL ZA Table 1  Rule base of transformer load

IB = = = IL (11)
ZB ZB Z B + ZA T2L T1L

From the above it has seen that the transformer with Small Medium Large
higher impedance supplies lesser load current and vice Small Not share Not share Share
versa. If transformers of dissimilar ratings were paralleled Medium Not share Not share Share
the transformer with a larger rating shall have a smaller Large Share Share Trip
impedance as it has to produce the same drop as the
other transformer, on a larger current. Thus the ohmic
values of the impedances must be in the inverse ratio of
the ratings of the transformers.
IA ZB
IA ZA = IB ZB , therefore =
IB ZA

Overall controller system

Transformer load one and transformer load two were the
Modelling of fuzzy logic base protective relay input parameters of the controller. ­T1L and ­T2L indicates
The Fuzzy logic interface (Additional file  1: Figure S1) the load of transformer one and load of transformer two
was used to make decisions [17–19]. Thus it is more pre- respectively. The load for each transformer was assumed
cise than conventional relaying techniques. The Fuzzy to the Gaussian random signal generator. The multiport
logic controller was an intelligent tool to manage the conditional switch (Additional file  6: Figure S6) will take
loading condition, so as to protect transformers from an action according to the rules written and loaded in the
overload conditions. fuzzy logic controller.
The proposed fuzzy logic based input was defined as:
Operational definition
T1L, represents the load of transformer one. Overloading protection: If power system protection were
T2L, represents the load of transformer two. used to protect the distribution transformer from over-
loading conditions [20, 28–31].

Result and discussion
Membership function for proposed control Simulation result
The membership function defined how the input is The controller looks the load on transformer first and made
mapped to member values [20–23]. decisions (not share, share and trip) to protect transform-
ers. Therefore, there was no equipment failure and power
T1L, represents the membership function load of interruption due overloading conditions.
transformer one (Additional file 2: Figure S2). It con- In order to evaluate the performance of rule based load
sists small, medium and large. sharing system, three various types of loads were applied at
T2L, represents the membership function load of the output of the distribution transformer
transformer Two (Additional file 3: Figure S3). It con-
sists small, medium and large. Case (I): The two transformers were at normal state.
When the two transformers were at normal state,
The output power was membership functions of the pro- during this time the sharing relay was not energized
posed control system (Additional file  4: Figure S4). The because it feeds its load at normal state.
output linguistic values were not shared, share, and trip Case (II): when one of the transformers was over-
(Table 1). loaded.
When one transformer was at normal state and
Proposed control rule another was overloaded, at this condition the sharing
The control rule content was linguistic variables [24–27]. relay was energized to share the load.
These linguistic descriptions take from if then rule. The Case (III): The two transformers were overloaded for
proposed control had nine rules for transformer over- each phase.
loading protection that consist input antecedents and
consequences of output (Additional file 5: Figure S5). The When two transformers were overloaded, at this condi-
rules are shown in (Fig. 2). tion the relay will trip to protect transformers.
Nebey B
 MC Res Notes (2020) 13:17 Page 4 of 6

Fig. 2  Rule editor

Conclusion Limitations
The work was all about how to supply power intelli-
gently manage an overload condition. The system auto- 1. Possible demand growth rate with population and
matically connects and disconnects switch to share the economic growth rate (load forecasting).
transformer loads. Most of the villages were suffering 2. Further study can be carried out for sensing fault
with electric instructions. This was due to transformer current, surge voltage (consider more parameters).
failure. A recommendation to decrease power interrup-
tion in the town was: Load sharing of transformer to
protect from failures. This load sharing was modelled Supplementary information
to the town; therefore, this transformer load sharing Supplementary information accompanies this paper at https​://doi.
system was the best solution to protect equipment fail- org/10.1186/s1310​4-019-4880-1.
ure and electric instructions.
Intelligent controller was used to make intelligent Additional file 1: Figure S1. Fuzzy logic interface model.
decisions by sensing amount of the load on the trans- Additional file 2: Figure S2. Membership functions of transformer load
former. Rule base fuzzy logic controller manages the one.

load and transformers were protected from overload Additional file 3: Figure S3. Membership functions of transformer load
two.
condition.
Nebey BMC Res Notes (2020) 13:17 Page 5 of 6

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Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University; 2014.
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ing abilities of neural models. arXiv:1904.01557. 2019.
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The date of this study will not be shared publically due to the presence of
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sensitive (confidential) participants’ information.
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Springer; 2018. p. 199–206.
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