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Transformer Tertiary Winding

We are going to buy 3 phase 500kva 33kv/400v oil filled transformer 50HZ distribution
transformer , are we need tertiary winding?

Transformer tertiary winding 03/05/2010 11:52 AM

Providing a tertiary winding for a transformer may be a costly affair. However, there are certain
constraints in a system which calls for a tertiary transformer winding especially in the case of
considerable harmonic levels in the distribution system. Following is an excerpt from the book
"The J&P Transformer Book".

Tertiary winding is may be used for any of the following purposes:

1) To limit the fault level on the LV system by subdividing the infeed that is, double secondary
transformers.

2) The interconnection of several power systems operating at different supply voltages.

3) The regulation of system voltage and of reactive power by means of a synchronous capacitor
connected to the terminals of one winding.

It is desirable that a three-phase transformer should have one set of three-phase windings
connected in delta thus providing a low-impedance path for third-harmonic currents. The
presence of a delta connected winding also allows current to circulate around the delta in the
event of unbalance in the loading between phases, so that this unbalance is reduced and not so
greatly fed back through the system.

Since the third-order harmonic components in each phase of a three-phase system are in phase,
there can be no third-order harmonic voltages between lines. The third-order harmonic
component of the magnetising current must thus flow through the neutral of a star-connected
winding, where the neutral of the supply and the star-connected winding are both earthed, or
around any delta-connected winding. If there is no delta winding on a star/star transformer, or the
neutral of the transformer and the supply are not both connected to earth, then line to earth
capacitance currents in the supply system lines can supply the necessary harmonic component. If
the harmonics cannot flow in any of these paths then the output voltage will contain the harmonic
distortion.

Even if the neutral of the supply and the star-connected winding are both earthed, then although
the transformer output waveform will be undistorted, the circulating third-order harmonic
currents flowing in the neutral can cause interference with telecommunications circuits and other
electronic equipment as well as unacceptable heating in any liquid neutral earthing resistors, so
this provides an added reason for the use of a delta connected tertiary winding.
If the neutral of the star-connected winding is unearthed then, without the use of a delta tertiary,
this neutral point can oscillate above and below earth at a voltage equal in magnitude to the third-
order harmonic component. Because the use of a delta tertiary prevents this it is sometimes
referred to as a stabilizing winding.

When specifying a transformer which is to have a tertiary the intending purchaser should ideally
provide sufficient information to enable the transformer designer to determine the worst possible
external fault currents that may flow in service. This information (which should include the system
characteristics and details of the earthing arrangements) together with a knowledge of the
impedance values between the various windings, will permit an accurate assessment to be made
of the fault currents and of the magnitude of currents that will flow in the tertiary winding. This is
far preferable to the purchaser arbitrarily specifying a rating of, say, 33.3%, of that of the main
windings.