WINDING CONNECTIONS

Three phase transformers have windings connected in wye, delta or zig-zag inside
the
tank. These connections for single phase transformers are made outside the tanks.
When a neutral is required then, it is economical to choose a wye or a zig-zag. If a
neutral is required on a delta side, then a grounding transformer is needed.
Neutrals usually have a lower insulation level compared to the lines. Such windings
can
be economically designed with graded insulation. To reduce no-load loss and end
clearances to the core; other factors permitting, such windings can be designed as
center-fed windings. Compared to the taps in delta, taps at neutral result additional
cost
savings in the tap changers, tank size, oil quantity etc.
When both HV and LV are wye connected, a stabilizing winding (buried tertiary) may
be
needed for suppression of third harmonics and for neutral stabilization. The
determining
factors are based on the type of core (core type transformers with three-phase three
limbed cores does not require a stabilizing winding, but some users specify a
stabilizing
winding), the system and the neutral connection in the system. This often leads to a
choice to have one of the main windings delta connected. Protection costs should be
considered in determining whether the HV or the LV should be delta connected.
In certain cases when the LTC is electrically connected to the low voltage winding
(considering that the voltage of this winding is not high), it can be considerably
cheaper
to use delta connection for the low voltage winding. A delta connected winding has
a
lower current by 3 and this could avoid the use of a series transformer to reduce
the
current in LTC. However, this has some disadvantages. If the insulation level of this
winding is high, then the cost advantage could be lost. As well, very few three-
phase
LTCs for delta connections are available. Instead, three single-phase LTCs are to be
used. In such a case, shifting the LTC on to the wye-connected HV needs to be
explored. Based on how the transformer is operated, this could make the
transformer a
variable flux design.
By connecting the windings in wye/zig-zag rather in wye/delta, the need for a
grounding
transformer on the delta can be eliminated. Often in a wye/zig-zag transformer, it is
economical to limit the single line to ground fault current to not exceed the three-
phase
fault current, by connecting a neutral grounding reactor of suitable reactance in the
zigzag neutral. Without the grounding reactor, single line to ground fault currents in
a
wye/zig-zag transformer will be high compared to that of wye/delta transformer with
the
same parameters (same MV.A and positive sequence impedance). A wye/zig-zag
transformer costs about 6% more than a wye/delta transformer. In general, a
wye/zigzag transformer with a grounding reactor costs less compared to a wye/delta
transformer
with a grounding transformer. As it is difficult and costly to have taps on a zig-zag
winding; the taps are normally on the wye winding. In a step-down transformer
when the
zig-zag winding is the output winding, users prefer to have taps on the zig-zag
winding.
This is because; taps on the input winding to compensate for regulation will make
the
transformer a variable flux unit. Disadvantages of the variable flux taps are
discussed
under Types of Taps.
Users should be aware that when there is no delta in the transformer (wye/wye or
wye/zig-zag) the harmonics will flow in to the system. A method to prevent the
harmonics flowing in to the system is discussed under Vector Group.