IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, Vol. 11, No.

4, November 1996

205 1

HARMONIC ANALYSIS OF TRANSIENT CURRENTS

DURING SYMPATHETIC INTERACTION
H. S. Bronzeado

P. B. Brogan

Companhia Hidro ElCtrica do Slio Francisco CHESF

Rua Delmiro Gouveia, 333
50761-901 Recife, Brazil

R Yacamini

University of Aberdeen
Department atf Engineering
AB9 2UE - Aberdeen, Scotland

TRANSFORMER INRUSH

ABSTRACT

2.0

The phenomenon of sympathetic interaction between transformers,

which is very likely to occur when a transformer is energised onto a
system to which there are other transformm already connected,
changes sigmfkantly the duration and the magnitude of the transient
magnetising currents in the transformers involved. This phenomenon
is discussed in the paper, with the harmonic content of the transient
currents and its associated overvoltages being analysed. It is shown
the importance of taking into consideration the saturation characteristics of the transformers already in operation when studying transformer transient inrush.

It is very well known that the transient magnetising current that

occurs during the energisation of a transformer (inrush current) is
produced by the transformer cone saturation caused by the switchingon. This current, which is characterised as being almost entirely
unidirectional, rises abruptly to its maximum value in the first halfcycle after the transformer beirig energised and thenceforth decays
until the normal steady-state magnetising conditions in the transformer are reached.

Keywords: Transformer inrush; temporary harmonic overvoltages,

sympathetic interaction; power system harmonics

Figure 1 shows the transient inrush current for a typical singlephase, 15 MVA, 230ld3kV169kV transformer switched onto the
system to which there were ncl other transformen connected. The
switch was closed at the momcent the voltage passes through zero
going positive and the residual flux in the transformer was zero.

INTRODUCTION

1.0

The transient phenomenon that occurs when a transformer is energised has been with us since the transformer was invented. Much
research has been carried out in order to explain the nature of the
transformer inrush current and to derive its mathematical formulations [l 41. However, one of the aspects of this transient which has
been largely ignored in the relevant literature is the effect of the
inrush current on the other transformers whch are already connected
to the system.

(I

In general, the transformer inrush current is calculatedassumingthat

the transformer is energised onto a system to which there are no
other transformers connected. In practice, however, transformers are
usually energised in either series or parallel with other transformers
which are already in service.
On systems with appreciable series resistance, such as those with
long transmissioc lines, this may result in a transient interaction
between the incoming transformer and those that are in operation,
changmg si@icantly the duration and magnitude of the inrush
current [5, 61. This phenomenon, which is not normally considered
in pdwer system transient studies, is discussed in this paper. Emphasis is given to the harmonic content of the transient current that
flows through the supply system during this phenomenon and their
effects on the power system.

96 WM 288-1 PWRS A paper recommended and approved by the IEEE

Power System Engineering Committee of the IEEE Power Engineering
Society for presentation at the 1996 IEEWPES Winter Meeting, January 2125, 1996, Baltimore, MD. Manuscript submitted July 31, 1995; made
available for printing November 30, 1995.

Figure 1 - Typical transformer inrush current (without sympathetic

interaction).

2.1

I n r h Current Decay

The mechanism by which the clecay of the inrush current is accomplished may be illustrated in figure 2. It can be noted that whea the
inrush current flows through the system from the generator, the
voltage impressed on the terminals of the transformer is equal to the
system voltage source (e.m.0 minus the voltage drop across the
system impedance. Examination of the voltage waveshape shows
that the effect of the resistance is to decrease the area (integral) of
the positive voltage wave and to increase the area of the negative
voltage wave, thus making the resultant voltage at the transformer
terminals asymmetrical. As the transformer flux is strictly proportional to the area of the impre:;sed voltage, it is evident that under
this conditions, the positive flux generated in each cycle in the transformer is less than the negative flux generated by an amount equal
to [l]:

0885-8950/96/$05.000 1996 IEEE

2052
3.0
SYMPATHETIC
TRANSFORMERS

Ap = :+T ( R - i)dt
where Ay is the flux change per cycle, R is the total senes resistance i n the clrcuit, 2 is the current through th~sresistance and T
is the penod of a cycle Note that R includes the resistance of the
transformer wnding
Voltage, flux
Bcurrent

-exist

Tronsformer winding flux that would

if there wos no system resistance
Reduced transformer winding flux
existing when system resistance

time

Figure 2 - The eEect of system impedance on transformer inrush

inrush.

INTERACTION

BETWEEN

As far us the search is concerned, the occurrence 01 saturation m the

already Lonnected transformers dunngthe mush transient of a
incommg transformer was first reported by Hayward [5], in 1941,
dunng field tests made for the purpose of detemunrng the reason for
false operation of the transformer differential relays He found that
transient magnetismg currents of higher magmtude could flow not
only in the transformer bemg swtched but also in other parallel
transformers and that the transient penod of these currents were
very long, with the currents decaymg at a much slower rate than
would the inrush current of the transformer being swtched-on if
other transformers were not connected.

Recently an investigation was camed out III order to examme thls

phenomenon at Fortaleza Substation of the Compadua Hidro Eletnca do Siio Francisco - CHESF, B r a d The Static Var Compensator (SVC) transformer connected to the 230kV busbar was oflen
tnpped out due to the hgh level and long duration offset magnetismg current m the transformer, caused by the swtchmg-on of one of
the three-phase, lOOMVA, 230/69kV transformers onto that busbar
Simlar occurrence was also noticed during the energisation of large
shunt reactors near SVC and HVDC converters [SI

The sympathetx mterachon was meshgated m the laboratory usmg

This flux change per cycle is responsible for reducing the initial small transformers [5, 61 Power system simulations were also caroffset flux which usually appears in transformers being energised. ned out on the electncal system shown m figure 3 It was used two
As the flux in a transformer controls the magnetising current (via the identical smgle-phase 1SMVA, 230/\/3/69kV transformers The
B H curve), it is evident from the above that the resultant flux and inductance of each transformer was of 0 3H (saturated core) and
its corresponding transformer magnetising current immediately 1400H (non-saturated core). These values were calculated assuming
begin to decay an amount which is largely a hction, ofthe resis- the transformer being energised from the high voltage side (outer
tance of the circuit and that the decay will continue until the magnet- wnding )
ising cumnts in the transformers become normal (steady-state magnetising flux).
2.2

As generally accepted the magnitude and duration of the transformer

inrush current depends basically on:

..____.______....___.___~

Factors Affecting Inrush Current

system

e.m.f.
The point on the voltage wave at which the transformer is
energised.
2. The residual tlux in the transformer core and its sign with
respect to the first half-cycle of the steady state alternating
I
flux.
3. The saturation or maximum flux density of the ferromagnetic
material of the transformer core.
Figure 3 - Circuit used to investigate sympathetic mteraction
The total impedance of the circuit through which the inrush
4.
current flows.
Figure 4 shows the transient currents which are representative of the
simulations where TZ is energised m parallel wth the unloaded
This is true when just one hansformer is mvolved, i e. when the transformer TI. As can be seen in thls figure, the sympathetic intertransformer is swtched onto a system wthout any other transformer achon phenomenon takes place between the two transformers, with
in service However, m general, there are one or more transformers the peaks of the offset magnetismg current I , (sympathetic magnetalready connected to the system when another one is to be energised
In this case an interaction between the transformers may be pro- ising current) and to the inrush magnehsing current I 2 occumng m
duced, whch changes dramatically the duration and magrvtude of the opposite direction to each other, on alternate half cycles. Note
the inrush current [7] This mteraction, called Sympathetic interac- that the supply current i,, (figure 4c) is the sum of the currents I ,
tion, occurs due to saturation m the transformers already in service
and, therefore, it should be taken into account if an accurate analysis and I?
of transformer m s h transients is demanded Thus, a new item
could be included in the list above as a factor that affects the m s h The sympathetic mteraction may be explamed as follows: Before the
switch S is closed only the magnetising current of the unloaded
current, i e
transformer TI flows through the system. When the transformer TIis
5. The saturatlon level reached by the transformers already con- energised a transient inrush current is drained Gom the generator (e.
m. f.), which flows through the system. Due to the ai. ost entirely
nected to the system
1.

2053
unidifectional characteristic of this inrush current, the voltage drop
across the series resistance R, makes the voltage at the transformer's busbar (point of common coupling) asymmetrical. As the
flux in a transformer is strictly proportional to the area (integral) of
the voltage waveform at the transformer terminals, the flux generated in the transformer TI begins to be asymmetrical by an amount
which may be given by:

Ap,

=I:'T

[(Rs+r,)-i,+Rs-i2]d

where Ap, is the flux change per cycle in the transformer TI and
r, is the winding resistance of TI.

(4)
I

Thereafter, the polarity of the flux change per cycle Aq, inverts,
reducing the flux in the transfainner TI. As a result, the sympathetic
current i, begins to decay, as does the inrush current z, . Under this
condition, the voltage on the taminals of the transformers presents a
waveshape nearly symmetrical and the flux change per cycle in each
transformer will depend basically on the winding resistance of each
transformer, i. e.:
(5)

As the transformer TI is in service, the offset flux in it is zero. Thus,

the flux change per cycle Aq, will produce an increasingly offset and
flux in the transformer TI which drives TI into saturation. As a
consequence, a sympathetic magnetising current z, is generated in
this transformer, increasing gradually from the steady-state to a
considerable magnitude when the transformer saturates Illy. It
should be noted that the polarity of the transformer saturation is
determined by the sign of Ap, .

(r2. i , ) - dt

Ap2=
(AI

i2

13k12k-

At the same time, a flux change per cycle Ap, is produced in the
transformer Tz,which may be given by:

1 lklk-

Inrush Magnetizing Current

i n the Transformer T

900
800

(3)

600

where r2 is the winding resistance of the transformer T2.

Since the polarity of Ap, is opposite in sign to the initial offset
flux in the incoming transformer Tz caused by its energisation, the
effect of Ap, is to reduce this initial offset flux, producing the well
known phenomenon of inrush current decay discussed before.

(AI

i1

loot

From equations 2 and 3, it can be seen that, at the beginning of the

inrush transient, both flux changes per cycle Ap, and Ap, will
depend mainly on the voltage drop caused by the inrush current i, .
Initially, as the transformer TI is not saturated, its magnetising
current is very small (steady-state magnetising current) and essentially symmetrical then it does not cause any appreciable flux change
per cycle.
When the transformer T1 becomes saturated, as it saturates with the
opposite polarity to transformer Tz, the peaks of the sympathetic
magnetising current Z, will occur with opposite polarities to the
inrush magnetising current i, (on alternate half cycles). As a consequence, the volta e asymmeq on the busbar caused by the inrush
current 1, durinjone half-cycle is gradually reduced by the voltage
drop produced by the sympathetic magnetising current Z, during the
subsequent half-cycle. This will decrease both flux change per cycle
Ap, and Ap,, reducing the rate of change of the magnitude of
both the increasing current Z, and the decaying current Z, . A few
cycles later the flux change per cycle dp, reaches zero and hence
i , stops increasing. Within this cycle:

Sympathetic Magnetizing Current

i n the Transformer T I

W
O

2Wm

LOOm

bWm

BOOm

12

1L

16

18

Figure 4 - Transient currents during sympathetic interaction.

'

2054

It is i
nto note that, in this case, the system resistance R,
plays the paradoxid role of keep- both transformers TI and, Tz
saturated (on alternate halfcycles) he currents i, and z2 will be
CoIlcOmttantly C S ~ S ~and eiieet of satumbon in the transfimners.
That is, the voltage drop ILC~OSSthe resistance R, produced by the
cwent i, during one halfkycle reduces the offset flux in TI and, at
the m e time,increases the offsetflux in the transformer Tz. In the
subsequent halfGyce is the current i, that will produce the voltage
drop, which inthe offset flux in the transfwmer TI and, at
the same time,redwesthe offset flux in Tz. This sequence repeats
itself, developing the phemnneMHl of sympathetic interaCtian between the transformers, a c h keeps them saturated for a long peridoftime. Thecurrentszl mdzZ thenwillalsoflowforapm
longed period of time until the transfreach thetr steady-state
magnetisiug conditions.This may take several seconds or perhaps
over minutes, dependmg essentdly on the transformer resistances.

decreasing to zero and tha m c r q

agm These hannmcs change their phase shift ftmn positme to
negabve, or nce-versa, as theu magnitude pt~ssesthrough zero [4].

ties with their peak values

This method of studying the inrush m a t has been used to examine the harmonic content of the inrush current in HVDC mverter
stations and to show how this high level of harmonic current can
cause temporary overvoltages 19, 101. However, the effect of the
sympathetic interaction on the duration and magnitude of the iKush
current has not been taken into account.
Considesring the very simple system shown in figure 3, ifthe transformer TI was not connected the current lr. tbrougb the system
would be the inrush current of the transfixiner T2 itself (figure 1)
The peak values of the harmonic components of this c m t as a
fimction of time is shown in figure 5. However, with TI cmnected to
the system (as shown in the figwe 3) the waveform of the current ins
will be that shown in figure 4c,which is the sum of the magnetising

inrush current i, in the incoming twnsfonner T2 (figure la) and the

HARMOMCANALYSIS

4.0

Note that the h o n i c s of order three and mer show discontinui-

The v m o n of the harmontc content of the transformer unush

current with tune was firstly described analyt~callym reference [4]
The magtutu& and phase sh& of each harmmc componeqt was
obtatned by do- a F m e r aoalysls for each cycle of the mush
cwent seprakly. Flgure 5 show the peak values as a funchon of
tune of the nuun harmomc ampiments of the transfmer mush
curreat showntn*
1 obtalnedby srrmlaf method As can be
seen, the peak value of any harmcrole component dunng one cycle 1s
generally Merent from its peak during another cycle In hcase,
in whch these is no sympthebc mteracbon, the second harmoIllc IS
by far the dormnant one
(A)

ymp&etic magnebsing current 2, in the transformer TI (figure

4b). The peak values of the harmonic components of the current i,,
as a functxon of tune is shown in figure 6.
A comparative analysis of figures 5 and 6 shows that:

In the case withollt

the supply cment

i,,,, which IS essentially equal to the inrush current of T2 (figure
I), presents a high harmonic content with both even and odd ordered harmmc (figure 5).

(A)

600

Ih

600

HaF+Aauc
CURnENT

500

500

-Ill Fundomenloll

400

300

\\

40(

i \

30

IOIDcl
2 00

20
I
~

\ \ \

'

I A

r t .

'"1

loo

\I.
Number

of
1

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

clc*s

Figure 5 - Harmonic components of supply current (without sympathetic intemctim).

25

30

35

40

'vcles

Figure 6 - Hannonic c o r n p a t s of supply current (With mpthetic interaction).

2055
It should be noted that this current decays relatively fast, with its
fundamental and harmonic components reaching relatively low
values after 30 cycles. At the 10th cycle, for example, the three
more predominant harmonic components Io, 4 and 13 are approximately 70A, 110A and 80A, respectively, and at the 30th
cycle all these harmonic currents are around 20A (the nominal
current of the transformer is 113A).

In the case with sympathetic interaction the even ordered harmonic compoflents of the supply current i,, decay rather quickly,
whereas the odd harmonics .increase and continue to be present
for a considerable period of time (figure 6). This supply current,
which is the sum of the inrush magnetising current 2, and the

6.0

CONCLUSION

The phenomenon of sympathetic interaction between transfomers

has been discussed in this papex. It has been shown that this interaction changes dramatically the duration and magnitude of the transformer inrush current and, conscquently, the duration and magnitude
of its hamonic components.
The investigation carried out has shown the importance of taking
into account the saturation characteristicsof the transformers already
connected to the system when transformer inrush transients and
insulation coordination studies me to be accurately done.

It has also been shown that the supply current is greatly affected by
this interaction due to the sympathetic magnetising currents that rise
in the transformers already connected to the system. The harmonic
analysis of the supply current when sympathetic interaction occurs
Eventually this current will have no DC neither even harmonic has shown that the even ordered harmonics of this current decay
components, as can be seen in figure 6. This figure shows that relatively quickly but the odd ordered harmonics increase and rethese harmonics are neghgible after the 20th cycle. In this case, main for a long period of time. This may change significantly the
the peak values of the harmonic components b, 12 and 13, at the temporary harmonic overvoltages which may occur in systems. The
10th cycle, are respectively 30A, 50A and 170A, showing a dra- duration of these overvoltages depends basically on the saturation
matic reduction of Io and 12 and a significant increase of I3 when level reached by the transformers and the energy dissipation pattern
compared with the case without sympathetic interaction, Note in the system considered.
that the 5th harmonic increases to a value that is substantially
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
greater than that in the case without sympathetic interaction.
sympathetic magnetising current i, (figure 4c), becomes increasingly symmetrical as TI goes into saturation.

It should be also noted, by inspection of figure 6, that the h- The authors wish to thank the Companhia Hidro Eletrica do S b
damental component of the supply current presents a hgh value Francisco - CHESF (Brazil) and the ConseIho Nacional de Desenand decays at a relatively very slow rate. This can cause a pro- volvimento Cientifico e Tecnolbgico - CNpq (Brazil) for the study
longed and appreciable transient demand of reactive power, pro- leave and financial support granted to Mr. H. Bronzeado, respecb i n g a sustained voltage drop in the system which may cause tively. The authors would like 10 thank Mr. J. F. de Lima for preparing this paper.
load rejection.
5.0

TEMPORARY HARMONIC OVERVOLTAGES

As discussed before, the sympathetic interaction phenomenon makes

bigger the magnitude and duration of the transient magnetising
currents in the transformers and this could be d potential source of
problem on power systems, mainly in those which have harmonic
resonance at f?equencies around odd harmonics. High levels of
harmonic currents present in the system for a relatively long period
of time can cause prolonged temporary overvoltages.
A simple method used to calculate qualitatively system harmonic
overvoltages is to consider the transformer as a harmonic current
source with infinite impedance injecting back the harmonic currents
into the power system. Thowing each harmonic current in phase and
magnitude and also the effective impedanm of the system in phase
and magnitude, it is then a simple matter to evaluate the resultant
voltage distortion [9]. If the harmonic currents coincide with resonant point in the system, harmonic voltages of high magnitude will
build up and cause overvoltages. If these temporary harmonic overvoltages attain high values they are likely to affect the surge arrests
due to the high energy involved in repeated sparkover [lo]. In some
cases these overvoltages can therefore be the determining factor for
the insulation coordination of system equipment.
From the harmonic analysis of the supply cnrrent discussed before, it
is evident that for systems resonant at even ordered harmonic fiequencies the sympathetic interaction will probably reduce the severity of temporary harmonic overvoltages. However, if the system is
resonant at odd ordered harmonic fkquencies, prolonged temporary
harmonic overvoltagesare likely to occurs.

REFERENCES
BLUME L F., CAMlaLI G., FARNHAlW S. B. and
PETERSON H. A., Transformer Magnetizing Inrush Currents and Its Influence on System Operation, AIEE Trans.,
Vol. 63, pp. 366-375, 1944.
O
S

W. Id, WAGNER C. L. and ROCKFELLER

G. D., Magnetizing Inrush Phenomena in Transformer
Banks, AIEE Trans.,Val. 77,pp. 884-892, Oct. 1958.
NAKRA H. and BARTON T. E,Three-phase Transformer
Transients, BEE T m s . on Power Apparatus and System,
Vol. PAS-93,pp. 1810-1819, 1974.
YACAMINI R and ABU-NASSER A., ?Numerical Calculation of Inrush Current in Single-phase Transformer, ZEE
h o c . , Vol. 128, No. 6, pp. 327-334, Nov. 1981.
HAYWARD C. D., Prolonged Inrush Currents with Parallel
Transformer Affect Differential Relaying, AIEE Trans., VoL
60, p ~ 1096-1101,
.
Jan. 11941.
BRONZEADO H. S., Transfomer Interaction Caused by
Inrush Current, MSc Thesis, University of Aberdeen
(Scotland), 1993.

BRONZEADO R S. and YACAMINI R, Sympathetic

Interaction Between Power Transformers, Proc. of 29th Universities Power Engineeiring Conference - W E C , Vol. 1, pp.
236-239, University College Galway, Ireland, Sept. 1994.

PUENT H. R, BURGES M. L, LARSEN E. V. and

ELAI-ILH.,
%nergizaticrn of Large Shunt ReactorsNear Static
Var Compensators and HVDC Converters, IEEE Trans. on
PowerDelivwy, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 629-635, Jan. 1989.

2056

r91 YACAMINI R and ABU-NASSER A., Transfomer Inrush

Current and her Associated Overvoltages in HVDC
Schemes, IEE Proc., Vol. 133, Pt. C, No. 6, pp. 353-358,
Sept. 1986.
[lo1 POVH D. and SCHULTZ W., Analysis of Overvoltages
Caused by Transformer Magnetizing Inrush Current, I E E
Trans. on Power Apparatus and System, Vol. PAS-97, NO.4,
pp. 1355-1365, Jul./AgO. 1978

P. B. Brogan received his Meng (Hons) degree f?om Glasgow University, in June 1993. Since October 1994 he has been a research
student at Aberdeen University.

R Yacamini is currently a reader in the Department of Engineering

at the University of Aberdeen. His previous experience includes 10
years as a design engineer with English Electric and GEC in the
rectifier and high voltage DC transmission fields. During this time

E S. Bronzeado was born in Remigio, Paraiba, Brazil, on April 2,

he made extensive use of physical simulations for control design and

system studies. This industrial period was follawed by 5 years as a
lecturer at W S T where he carried out research, using frequency
domain computer programs, into HVDC and reactive compensators.

1953. He received his degree in Electrical Engineering from the

Universidade Federal da Paraiba, in 1975. Since then, he joined the
Companhia Hidro Elktrica do Siio Francisco - CHESF, where he has
acquired a wide background knowledge of Power System Engineering.

He took up h s post in Aberdeen ~ f1982

l
and has been involved in
consultancy work for the oil industry for most of this period. The
main thrust in hts research has been to develop time domain C A D
analysis packages for power electronic applications.

BIOGRAPHIES

At the beginning of his career, he worked on maintenance of transmission lines and high-voltage equipment. In 1980, he started to
work with Power Quality, being responsible for performing power
system analysis and measurements associated with disturbances
caused by non-linear loads.

In 1993, after nearly 18 years experience of practical power engineering, he went to University of Aberdeen, Scotland (U. K), from
which he received his MSc degree m Power System Engineering. He
is currently working towards his PhD degree. His research interests
include Power Quality, power system transients and modelling of
transformers for transient and harmonic studies.
(E-mail:
doeph%cpul .ufpevm@pd3.npd.ufpe.br, Fax: + 55 81 2274970).