Parallel operation of transformers

Transformers are connected in parallel when the load is in excess of the capacity of
the existing transformer.
A

Primary bus bars B

𝑉1 𝑉2
To avoid local circulating currents and also ensure the transformers share common
load in proportion to their KVA ratings, the following considerations must be
satisfied:
 Primary windings of the transformers must be suitable for the supply system
frequency and voltage.
 Connections must be done correctly in regard to polarity.
 Transformers should have the same transformation ratio.
 Percentage impedance must be equal in magnitude and 𝑋⁄𝑅 ratio must be the
same to avoid circulating currents and operation at different power factors.
 If transformers have different KVA ratings, their equivalent impedances must
be inversely proportional to the individual KVA rating to avoid circulating
currents.
We now consider ideal and non-ideal cases:

Transformers with same voltage ratio and identical impedance voltage

ZA
IA
I2
ZB
IB

V1 E
V2
E

Phasor diagram
 C

𝑉2 A
0

𝐼𝐴
𝐼𝐵
B
I

Current 𝐼𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼𝐵 of the individual transformers are in phase with the load current
𝐼and are inversely proportional to the respective impedances. We have:

𝐼 = 𝐼𝐴 + 𝐼𝐵

𝑉2 = 𝐸 − 𝐼𝐴 𝑍𝐴 = 𝐸 − 𝐼𝐵 𝑍𝐵 = 𝐸 − 𝐼𝑍𝐴𝐵
𝑍𝐵 𝑍𝐴
𝐼𝐴 = 𝐼 ; 𝐼𝐵 = 𝐼
𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵 𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵
Equal voltage ratios but non-identical voltage triangle

ZA ZA
IA I IA
I
ZB IB
IB ZB
nt
V1 E
V2 E=EA=EB V2
E

Phasor diagram

E
𝐼𝐴 𝑍𝐴 = 𝐼𝐵 𝑍𝐵
𝑉2
0 𝐼𝐵 𝑋𝐵
𝐼𝐴 𝑋𝐴
𝐼𝐵
𝐼𝐴 𝑅𝐴
𝐼𝐴
𝐼𝐵 𝑅𝐵
I

There are two impedances in parallel, 𝑍𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑍𝐵 .

The voltage drop across the impedances in parallel are the same. Hence we have:
 𝐼𝐴 𝑍𝐴 = 𝐼𝐵 𝑍𝐵 = 𝐼𝑍𝐴𝐵
𝑍𝐴 𝑍𝐵
𝑍𝐴𝐵 =
𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵
𝑍𝐴 𝑍𝐵
∴ 𝐼𝐴 𝑍𝐴 = 𝐼 ×
𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵
𝑍𝐴 𝑍𝐵 1 𝑍𝐵
∴ 𝐼𝐴 = 𝐼 × × =𝐼×
𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵 𝑍𝐴 𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵
𝑍𝐴 𝑍𝐵
∴ 𝐼𝐵 𝑍𝐵 = 𝐼 ×
𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵
𝑍𝐴 𝑍𝐵 1 𝑍𝐴
∴ 𝐼𝐵 = 𝐼 × × =𝐼×
𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵 𝑍𝐵 𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵
𝑍𝐵 𝑍𝐴
∴ 𝑉2 𝐼𝐴 = 𝑉2 𝐼 × 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉2 𝐼𝐵 = 𝑉2 𝐼 ×
𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵 𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵
If 𝑉2 𝐼 × 10−3 = 𝑆, is the combined load KVA, then:
𝑍𝐵 𝑍𝐴
𝑆𝐴 = 𝑆 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝐵 = 𝑆
𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵 𝑍𝐴 + 𝑍𝐵