Parallel Operation of Transformers

If two or more transformers are connected to a same supply on the primary side and to a same
load on the secondary side, then it is called as parallel operation of transformers.

Fig. 1 : Two transformers in parallel

Necessity of Parallel Operation of Transformers

 Increased Load: When load is increased and it exceeds the capacity of existing
transformer, another transformer may be connected in parallel with the existing
transformer to supply the increased load.
 Non-availability of large transformer: If a large transformer is not available which can
meet the total requirement of load, two or more small transformers can be connected in
parallel to increase the capacity.
 Increased reliability: If multiple transformers are running in parallel, and a fault occurs in
one transformer, then the other parallel transformers still continue to serve the load. And
the faulty transformer can be taken out for the maintenance.
 Transportation is easier for small transformers: If installation site is located far away,
then transportation of smaller units is easier and may be economical.

Polarity of Transformer Windings

In AC system, there are no fixed positive and negative poles in AC system, and hence,
transformers cannot have fixed positive and negative terminals. The relative direction in which
primary and secondary windings of a transformer are wound around the core determines the
relative direction of the voltage across the windings. If the windings of the two coils of a
transformer are wound in the same direction, the applied voltage and the induced voltage will
have the same direction in both the windings.
In this case, induced voltage waveform in the secondary winding will be in phase with the
applied voltage waveform. This condition is known as “no phase shift.”

If the two coils of a transformer are wound in the opposite direction, the applied voltage and the
induced voltage will have the opposite direction in both the windings.

In this case, secondary induced voltage waveform will be out of phase (by 180º) with the applied
voltage waveform.

Similar polarity ends of the windings of a transformer are those ends that acquire simultaneously
positive or negative polarity because of emfs induced in them. These are indicated by dot
convention as shown in Figure.

Fig. 2: Polarity of Transformer winding

Knowledge of polarity of transformer windings is essential when single-phase transformers are

connected in parallel or three-phase configurations. An understanding of polarity is also required
to connect potential and current transformers to power metering and protective relays.

Polarity Test of Transformer

Assume that to determine the polarity of 220/12 V transformer. It may be determined by a simple
voltage measurement, as follows:

 Place a connection between the high-voltage and low-voltage terminals as shown in Fig. 3.
 Apply a low voltage, 220 volts, to the two high-voltage terminals.
 Measure the voltage between H2 and X1 terminals.
 If the voltage is lower than the voltage across the high-voltage terminals, the transformer
has subtractive polarity and the jointed ends (H1, X2) are of same polarity.
 If it is higher, the transformer has additive polarity and the jointed ends (H1, X2) are of
opposite polarity.
 Fig. 3: Polarity test of 220/12V transformer

This increase or decrease in measured voltage takes place because when we connect both the
windings and apply voltage to the primary winding, it becomes an autotransformer.

When both the windings are wound in the same direction, the flux of each winding is also in the
same direction i.e., it gets added and as a result, we get added voltage at the voltmeter.

Whereas when both the windings are wound in the opposite direction, the flux of each winding is
also in the opposite direction i.e. it gets subtracted and as a result, we get subtracted voltage at
the voltmeter.

Two Transformers are in Parallel:

When two or more transformers are to be operated in parallel in order to supply load through a
common bus, it is necessary to satisfy certain conditions. The first condition to be satisfied is that
primary and secondary windings have to be connected to their respective bus bars of similar
voltage levels with due regard to polarity. All transformers terminals connected to a particular
bus must have the same polarity. Fig. 4 shows transformers to be connected in parallel with a
voltmeter V shown between X2 of transformer II and the bus to which X2 of the other transformer
is to be connected. If the voltmeter reads zero or near zero, the condition of proper polarities is
satisfied and the terminal X2 of transformer II can be connected to the bus connecting X2 of the
other transformer. Otherwise, the voltmeter V will read double or near double the voltage across
X1-X2 of the transformer indicating improper polarities.

Further conditions can be derived from voltage-current relations of Kapp diagram. It is

understood that transformers having widely different ratios of transformation cannot be operated
in parallel. However, there may be slightly different voltage ratios of transformers acting in
parallel. It is therefore necessary to determine current distribution amongst transformers with
unequal voltage ratios operating in parallel, so that the effect of unequal voltage ratios can be
studied.

Fig. 4: Parallel operation of two single phase transformers

Let, V1 and V2 be the common primary and secondary voltages of the transformers operating in
parallel. If primary quantities are expressed in terms of secondary, the equivalent values of the
primary voltage are to be V1/a1, V1/a2, V1/a3 etc. for the transformers the ratio of transformation
of which are respectively a1, a2, a3, etc. The impedance drops, which in each case is the phasor
difference between V1/a1 and V2, subscript k taking the values 1, 2, 3, etc. for different
transformers can be written as,
𝑉1 𝐼1
− 𝑉2 = 𝐼1 𝑍𝑒1 =
𝑎1 𝑌1

𝑉2 𝐼2
− 𝑉2 = 𝐼2 𝑍𝑒2 =
𝑎1 𝑌2

𝑉1 𝐼3
− 𝑉2 = 𝐼3 𝑍𝑒3 =
𝑎3 𝑌3
….. ….. (1)

Ze1, Ze2 etc. are the equivalent impedances referred to the secondary of the transformers, while
1 1
𝑌1 = 𝑍 and 𝑌2 = 𝑍 etc. are the corresponding admittance. Fig. 5 illustrates equation (1) for two
𝑒1 𝑒2
transformers.

Again the output current is the phasor sum of the secondary currents I1, I2, I3 etc. of the
transformers. Therefore,

𝑌𝑘
𝐼 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 + 𝐼3 = 𝑉1 ∑ − 𝑉2 ∑ 𝑌𝑘
𝑎𝑘

𝑉1 ∑(𝑌𝑘 /𝑎𝑘 )−𝐼

or, 𝑉2 = ∑ 𝑌𝑘
…….. (2)
 Fig. 5: Two transformers in parallel

Anyone currents I1, I2, I3 etc. may be found by eliminating V2 from the relevant relationship in
equation (1) by means of equation (2). Thus from the first of equation (1),

𝐼 𝑉1 𝐼+𝑉1 ⌊∑(𝑌𝑘 )/𝑎1 −∑(𝑌𝑘 /𝑎𝑘 )⌋

𝐼1 = ( − 𝑉2 ) = …. …. (3)
𝑍𝑒1 𝑎1 𝑍𝑒1 ∑ 𝑌𝑘

Sometimes in place of total load current I, load impedance ZL = 1/Y may be specified. In that
case, I=V2Y and from equation (2)

The transformer currents are found from equations (1) and (4). Thus

𝐼 𝑉 𝑉1 ⌊∑(𝑌𝑘 +𝑌)/𝑎1 −∑(𝑌𝑘 /𝑎𝑘 )⌋

𝐼1 = 𝑍 (𝑎1 − 𝑉2 ) = … …. (5)
𝑒1 1 𝑍𝑒1 ∑ 𝑌𝑘 +𝑌

It is clear from equation (3) that the current through any one of the parallel transformers consists
of two components, one of which is proportional to I and the other proportional to V1 and
therefore constant. The latter component exists even at no-load (I = 0) and circulates in the
transformer circuits only representing a objectionable constant loss.

Let there be two transformers, then

1 1 𝑌𝑘 1 1
∑ 𝑌𝑘 = + and ∑ = +
𝑍𝑒1 𝑍𝑒2 𝑎𝑘 𝑎1 𝑍𝑒1 𝑎2𝑍𝑒2

On simplification the transformer currents can be obtained from equation (3)

𝑉 𝑉
𝑍𝑒2 ( 1 − 1)
𝑎 𝑎2
𝐼1 = 𝐼+ 1
𝑍𝑒1 + 𝑍𝑒2 𝑍𝑒1 + 𝑍𝑒2
 𝑉 𝑉
𝑍𝑒1 (𝑎1 − 𝑎1 )
𝐼2 = 𝐼− 1 2
𝑍𝑒1 + 𝑍𝑒2 𝑍𝑒1 + 𝑍𝑒2
….. ….. (6)

The distribution of currents is obvious from the equivalent circuit of Fig. 6 by applying the
𝑉 𝑉
( 1− 1)
𝑎1 𝑎2
superposition theorem. The circulating current flows in the direction of I1 when I = 0.
𝑍𝑒1 +𝑍𝑒2

The circulating current can be avoided if a1, a2, etc. are all equal, i.e., a1 = a2 = …. = a as in that
case the coefficient of V1 in equation (2) and equation (6) vanish. Under that condition from
equation (3)

𝐼 𝐼 𝐼
𝐼1 = 𝑍 ; 𝐼2 = 𝑍 ; 𝐼3 = 𝑍 … etc.
𝑒1 ∑ 𝑌𝑘 𝑒2 ∑ 𝑌𝑘 𝑒3 ∑ 𝑌𝑘

Thus current in a transformer winding is inversely proportional to its leakage impedance. So, if
the transformers of same voltage ratings and same transformation ratio have to be loaded
proportional to their kVA ratings, their impedances must be inversely proportional to their
ratings. Or, in other words, per unit impedances of all transformers should be identical.

Fig. 6: Transformers with equal ratios of transformation in parallel

Again consider the phasor diagrams of transformers of equal ratio of transformation working in
parallel as shown in Fig. 6. The currents are
 𝑉1
− 𝑉2
𝐼1 = 𝑎 = 𝑉𝑒 𝑌1
𝑍𝐴
𝐼2 = 𝑉𝑒 𝑌2
𝐼3 = 𝑉𝑒 𝑌3
… … (7)
The currents supplied by the three transformers are not in phase with one another, though I = I1
+ I2 + I3 as phasors. Thus from equation (7)

𝐼 = 𝑉𝑒 (𝑌1 + 𝑌2 + 𝑌3 ) = 𝑉𝑒 𝑌𝑡 …. …. (8)

The currents of the different transformers are determined from equations (7) and (8):
𝑌1 𝑌2 𝑌3
𝐼1 = 𝐼; 𝐼2 = 𝐼; 𝐼3 = 𝐼 … …. (9)
𝑌𝑡 𝑌𝑡 𝑌𝑡

If the currents are all in phase with one another, the magnitude of I will be maximum, that is,
output kVA will be maximum. Thus the current should be divided between the individual
transformers in such a manner that the current are not only in direction proportion to the
respective rating, but also in phase with one another and with the total current.

𝑋𝑒1 𝑋𝑒2 𝑋𝑒3

Obviously for identical phase of currents = = , which means the impedance triangles
𝑅𝑒1 𝑅𝑒2 𝑅𝑒3
of Fig. 5 merge into one. Thus the ratio of equivalent reactance and equivalent resistance should
be equal for all transformers.

Summarizing, the condition for parallel operation of single phase transformers are the following
1. Proper connections to the bus with regard to polarity.
2. Identical voltage ratings.
3. Equal transformation ratio.
4. Equivalent impedance of each transformer to be inversely proportional to its kVA rating
5. Equal ratio of equivalent resistance of each transformer.

The first two conditions are essential and the other conditions are desirable. For parallel
operation of transformers on there phase system, in addition to the above conditions, the question
of phase sequence and angular phase difference have to be considered.