Mitigation of sympathetic interaction between power
transformers fed by long Over Head Lines caused by
inrush transient currents
J. Pontt, IEEE Senior Member, J. Rodriguez, IEEE Senior Member, J. San Martin, IEEE Student Member,
R. Aguilera.
Department of Electronics, Technical University Federico Santa Maria
Av. España 1680, Valparaíso, CHILE
E-mail: jpo@elo.utfsm.cl, jrp@elo.utfsm.cl, juan.sanmartin@usm.cl, ricardo.aguilera@usm.cl
Abstract - Maintenance and operation of electrical systems
in mining facilities fed by long Over Head Lines (OHL’s)
require configurations with two or more power transformers
for ensuring high reliability and availability. This work
presents the methodology developed for the study of an actual
problem related with the connection of three power
transformers operating in parallel, addressing the phenomenon
of sympathetic interaction when the DC-component of inrush
transient currents of the incoming transformer generate
additional saturation in the already connected transformers.
Non expected operation and tripping of electrical protective
devices may be caused by the asymmetrical voltages and
prolonged transient harmonic overvoltages, affecting the
reliability of the whole electrical systems. Simulation and
experimental results of an actual power system validate the
methodology proposed for the study and design of mitigation
methods.
Keywords: Inrush Current, sympathetic Inrush current, Power
Transformers.
I. INTRODUCTION
Inrush currents in power transformers are very common
problem and many methodologies to mitigate them were
developed, and the most common is synchronous closing or
controlled switching and series compensators [1]-[9].
Moreover, if more than one transformer is connected, the
inrush current produces an induced inrush current into the
other transformer operating in parallel. This phenomenon is
named Sympathetic inrush current [10], [11].
In this work, a new methodology employing the tap
changer is proposed. Simulation results provide a better
performance and inrush current reduction if a minimum turn
number is used in the power transformer under energization.
The major impedance of windings provides a lower inrush
current. In this way, sympathetic inrush current induced on
the other transformers operating in parallel is also reduced.
Moreover, if inrush current is reduced, the voltage, at the
0197-2618/07/$25.00 © 2007 IEEE
secondary side, experiment a lower variation, achieving a
safe operation of equipments connected to the transformers.
This method has been applied in a mining plant, where
two power transformers 220/23 kV 100 MVA each one
operate in parallel. When a new transformer was connected
in parallel, inrush current and sympathetic inrush currents
appeared causing equipment tripping and high swells in the
23 kV busbar voltage. When the method was applied, a
considerable reduction of this effect was reached.
II. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
A simplified diagram of the electrical system is shown in
Fig. 1. Two actual power transformers 220/23 kV 100 MVA
each one, named T1 and T2, operate in parallel to supply
power to the mining facility through 2 overhead line of 178
km length. Due to the expansion of the plant, a new
transformer was required (T3). This one was connected next
to the transformer T2. When the new transformer was
energized the first time, the inrush current of T3 generates a
very high distorted voltage at the 220 kV and 23 kV
busbars. Due this phenomenon, equipment connected at the
23 kV busbar was tripped by undervoltage.
III. ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM
Fig. 2 shows the 23 kV profile measured by the
instrumentation of the plant when the fault was occurred,
and table 1 summarizes the voltage variation.
To allow a safe operation of the electrical system, a
study was required to investigate the problem and to
propose some mitigation methods. In this way, several
simulations were carried out to find the best connection
sequence for transformer T3. In a first step, the analysis has
considered the search or the worst possible cases in order to
know them and prevent to the personnel about them. In a
second step, simulation has been used to search the best
instant to connect the new transformer reducing the inrush
current effect.
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 Fig. 1: Simplified electrical System Diagram

2. The best case: according to the previous

Measured 23 kV BusBar Voltage explanation, the best case occurs when the
1,06
transformer winding is connected at the maximum
1,04
voltage of the supply. In this case, the integral of
RMS Voltage [p.u.]

1,02
the voltage (Flux) can not reach high values and
1,00
0,98
the reached saturation level is lower than the worst
0,96
case, but it is not zero.
0,94 3. Possible solutions: to mitigate the inrush current
0,92 effects at the 23 kV side, several options have been
0,90 tested in simulations. But only one of them was
accepted due to the high cost of the other solutions.
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09:44:10
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09:44:30
09:44:40
09:44:50

a. Synchronous closing: This option allows

Phase a Phase b Phase c Time switching each winding of the transformer at the
Fig. 2: 23 kV busbar voltage profile during the fault maximum of the voltage, reducing the inrush
occurred. Transformer T3 was connected in central tap. current.
b. Independent connection of transformer through
Table 1: Summary of measurement results single overhead line: in this option, each
RMS Average Voltages [kV] transformer must be connected to the supply
independently, using only one overhead line.
Phase a Phase b Phase c
c. Tap changer utilization: to reduce the inrush
23,61 23,41 23,40 current, a higher impedance of the winding is
Minimum RMS Voltage measured [kV] required, so, connecting the transformer using the
22,11 21,86 22,63 maximum number of turns (lowest tap) in the
Variation Magnitude ∆V [kV] windings to increase the impedance and reducing
1,50 1,55 0,78 the inrush current and their effects. This
Variation ∆V [%] possibility was accepted due to their reduced cost
6,34% 6,62% 3,32% and easy application.

1. The worst case: is well known that the worst case IV. SIMULATION RESULTS
of inrush current occur when the transformer Considering the accepted possible solution, tap changer
winding is connected to the supply at the zero utilization has been simulated and results are presented in
crossing of the voltage. The magnitude of the this section. It can be noticed that important reduction of the
inrush currents are going to depend on the integral inrush current can be reached. In this way, is possible to
of the voltage (Flux) of the winding and the reduce the voltage swell magnitude at the 23 kV busbar
saturation characteristic of the core. voltages. Fig. 3 shows the simulation results for transformer

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connection using two different tap positions. Table 1 Table 2: Summary of simulation results for voltage
summarizes the most relevant parameters obtained in variations and inrush current peak values
simulation. For example, the RMS voltage variation can be Voltage RMS Voltage RMS Maximum Inrush
reduced about 20%, improving the performance at the 23 Variation variation [%] Current [A]
kV busbar. It must be noticed that the inrush current [kV]
depends on the voltage applied to the winding. If the A B C A B C A B C
winding is delta connected, the line to line voltage must be Central 0.87 0.16 1.36 3.78 0.70 5.93 1213 1212 97
Tap
considered, and for the other hand, if way connection is
Lowest 0.48 0.08 0.70 2.08 0.35 3.06 558 559 28
used, line to neutral voltage must be considered for the Tap
analysis. For simplicity, initial fluxes of transformer
windings are set to zero.
V. TRANSIENT BEHAVIOR OF SYSTEM VOLTAGES AND
23 kV Busbar RMS Voltage CURRENTS DUE TO FILTER SWITCHING
1.05
Tap changer utilization has been tested in the plant and
Voltage [p.u.]

1 measurement results are presented in this section. However,

due to the operation characteristic of the actual circuit
0.95
breaker, there were not possible to appreciate the real effect
0.9
of the solution. For this reason, enhancement of the circuit
0.52 0.54 0.56 0.58 0.6 0.62 0.64 0.66 0.68 0.7 0.72
breaker has been considered for future projects. The
Inrush Current Transformer T3 enhancement proposed consists in the implementation of a
control of the closing of the breaker, detecting the voltage
1000
zero closing and avoiding a worst connection condition.
Current [A]

0 Measured 23 kV BusBar Voltage

1,06
1,04
-1000
RMS Voltage [p.u.]

1,02
0.52 0.54 0.56 0.58 0.6 0.62 0.64 0.66 0.68 0.7 0.72 1,00
Time [s] 0,98
a) 0,96
0,94
23 kV Busbar RMS Voltage
0,92
1.05
0,90
Voltage [p.u.]

12:41:00
12:41:10
12:41:20
12:41:30
12:41:40
12:41:50
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12:42:10
12:42:20
12:42:30
12:42:40
12:42:50
12:43:00
12:43:10
12:43:20
12:43:30
12:43:40
12:43:50
1

0.95 Phase a Phase b Phase c Time

0.9 Fig. 4: 23 kV busbar voltage profile during the fault

0.52 0.54 0.56 0.58 0.6 0.62 0.64 0.66 0.68 0.7 0.72

Inrush Current Transformer T3 Table 3: Summary of measurement results

RMS Average Voltages [kV]
1000
Current [A]

Fase a Fase b Fase c

0
23,44 23,38 23,34
-1000 Measured minimum RMS Voltage [kV]
0.52 0.54 0.56 0.58 0.6 0.62 0.64 0.66 0.68 0.7 0.72
22,20 22,32 22,83
Time [s] Variation Magnitude ∆V [kV]
b) 1,24 1,06 0,51
Fig. 3: RMS voltage and Inrush current for a) Variation ∆V [%]
Connection of Transformer T3 using central Tap, and 5,29% 4,55% 2,19%
b) Connection of Transformer T3 using lowest Tap
position (Maximum number of turns). i.) It can be noticed from Fig 2 and 4 and table 1
and 3 that using a lower tap position the
maximum inrush current can be reduced.
Although measurement results are different

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 due to the circuit breaker operation, in the two
showed cases, the breaker closes contacts near
to the zero crossing of the voltage. For this
reason, it can be observed a similar behavior of
the inrush current. The main difference is the
lower amplitude in the second case
VI. COMMENTS AND CONCLUSIONS.
In this paper, a method to mitigate Inrush current and
their effects have been proposed. This method uses the tap
changer of the power transformer under connection to
increase the winding impedance and reduce the inrush
current. The method has been tested in simulations and in a
mining plant, where a 100 MVA 220/23 kV Power
transformer has been connected to the supply using a lower
tap position. A reduction about 20% of the perturbation
magnitude was obtained. In this way, the 23 kV voltage
profile is maintained over the minimum range allowed and a
safe operation of the equipment is reached.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support
provided by CONICYT-Chile, Proj. 1070725, MIDEPLAN-
CHILE with the Millennium Scientific Initiative (MSI, grant
P04-048-F), Millennium Nucleus on Industrial Electronics
and Mechatronics; the support given by Fundación Andes,
professionals of mining companies and the Technical
University Federico Santa Maria (UTFSM).
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