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Posted By: BigJohn Open Delta Buck-Boost - 06/13/09 12:13 AM
I have a couple of buck-boost transformers that I think are grossly undersized, and I'm hoping someone can check my math:

Two 3kVA, 600V, delta-connected auto-transformers should have a line current of 5 amps, correct?

3000VA * 2 * 0.87 (because it's an open delta) / 1.73 / 600V primary = 5.0A

Thanks a bunch.

-John
Posted By: frenchelectrican Re: Open Delta Buck-Boost - 06/13/09 09:34 AM
Originally Posted by BigJohn
I have a couple of buck-boost transformers that I think are grossly undersized, and I'm hoping someone can check my math:

Two 3kVA, 600V, delta-connected auto-transformers should have a line current of 5 amps, correct?

3000VA * 2 * 0.87 (because it's an open delta) / 1.73 / 600V primary = 5.0A

Thanks a bunch.

-John


BigJohn.,

I came up complety diffrent number than your numbers.

Here is my verison.,,

3000VA X .87 ÷ 1.73 ÷ 600 = 2.51 amps

The 1.73 is allready taken care for triphase { it dont matter if open delta or close delta or wye format }

But just wondering why you add X 2 in there so if you try that again like my formaila and also I did used the electrician caluacator to see and the answer and it came pretty close it show 2.8amps on that one.

Merci,Marc
Posted By: Trumpy Re: Open Delta Buck-Boost - 06/13/09 10:00 AM
Guys,
Is there any allowance for the actual impedance ratio of the transformer(s)?
BTW, this is a percentage, could be as low as 2.3%, could be as high as 8.0%, per transformer.
Posted By: frenchelectrican Re: Open Delta Buck-Boost - 06/13/09 06:53 PM
Mike.,

Normally for B/B transfomer I don't useally invoke the impedance ratio not very often unless you are dealing with very large B/B set up.

BigJohn.,

I forgot to add to this the B/B is undersized by design due the secondary part will change the voltage by very small step so you can really load a bit however double check with the manufacters for specs.

Merci,Marc
Posted By: BigJohn Re: Open Delta Buck-Boost - 06/13/09 07:32 PM
Originally Posted by frenchelectrican
But just wondering why you add X 2 in there...
Marc, I multiplied by two because I was adding the kVA of each transformer... which I now don't think is right.

So, these things are supposed to be able to handle 2.5 amps... but somehow they've been running a 10HP 480V pump for days and days. I have to go look and see how they're holding up, but by all rights they should have been smoked a long time ago... right?

The more I think about this the less I understand.

-John
Posted By: frenchelectrican Re: Open Delta Buck-Boost - 06/14/09 01:51 AM
BigJohn,.
If you have time check out this link { it is in PDF file format }

Buck/Boost transfomer { PDF }

It have the chart that you can able tell if you have correct one for this appaction.

Merci,Marc
Posted By: JBD Re: Open Delta Buck-Boost - 06/15/09 04:10 AM
John, you are correct.

Another way to look at it is: An open delta transformer has 57.7% of the capacity of a closed delta. If you had 3 transformers it would be equal to a 9KVA unit. With an open delta it is effectively a 5.19kVA transformer bank; input amps would be about 5.0A @ 600V

3*57.7% = 2*86.6%
Posted By: BigJohn Re: Open Delta Buck-Boost - 07/09/09 04:09 PM
Alright, this buck boost business is still killing me:

So, I have 5220VA available. I'm bucking down 120 volts(600V down to 480V).

For some mysterious reason, I only use the bucking voltage when calculating my buck/boost capacity: So, 5220VA/120V = 43.5A of capacity on two open-delta 3kVA buck boost.

Now, is that right, or do I still divide 43.5A by 1.73 to get 25.1A?

crazy -John crazy
Posted By: Scott35 Re: Open Delta Buck-Boost - 07/19/09 10:20 AM
BigJohn;

Please pardon the latency in my delay.

The key factor for sizing a Voltage Buck/Boost Autotransformer arrangement, is the capacity of the _Secondary Winding(s)_ - in Amperes.

Two examples:

1: Load requires 5.0 KVA @ 230 Volts, supply Voltage is 208 Volts:

a: 230V - 208V = 22 Volts difference.
b: Most common Secondary Voltage for small Transformer = 24 Volts.
c: Voltage output will be 232 Volts for this arrangement.
d: 5,000 VA / 232 Volts = 21.56 Amps.
e: Minimum Ampacity for Secondary Winding = 21.56 Amps.
f: 21.56 Amps x 24 Volts = 518 VA.
g: Minimum Secondary Winding capacity = 518 VA (Transformer rating)
h: Closest common size of Transformer = 0.750 KVA (750 VA), which is good for 31.25 Amps through the Secondary Winding(s).

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2: Load requires 7.5 KVA @ 208 Volts, supply Voltage is 240 Volts:

a: 240V - 208V = 32 Volts difference.
b: Most common Secondary Voltage for small Transformer = 32 Volts.
c: Voltage output will be 208 Volts for this arrangement.
d: 7,500 VA / 208 Volts = 36.06 Amps.
e: Minimum Ampacity for Secondary Winding = 36.06 Amps.
f: 36.06 Amps x 32 Volts = 1,154 VA.
g: Minimum Secondary Winding capacity = 1,154 VA (Transformer rating)
h: Closest common size of Transformer = 1.5 KVA (1,500 VA), which is good for 46.88 Amps through the Secondary Winding(s).

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Now for your scenario.

If the Load requirement is 5220 VA _PER PHASE_, the 3 Phase Volt-Amps will be 15,660.

If the _TOTAL 3 PHASE LOAD_ is 5220 VA, the Per-Phase Load will be 1740 VA.

Let's use the 5220 VA Per-Phase Load requirement for this discussion...

Your Load requires an input Voltage of 480 Volts, 3 Phase 3 Wire.
The existing supply Voltage is 600 Volts 3 Phase.

Need to setup the "Autotransformer" connections to "Buck" the Voltage down by 120 Volts, so the output from the Transformer(s) will be capable of supplying no less than 5220 VA @ 480 Volts Per-Phase.

5220 VA / 480 Volts = 10.875 Amps.
The Transformer's Secondary Winding(s) must be able to carry at least 10.875 Amps.

10.875 Amps x 120 Volts = 1,305 VA.

Minimum Transformer rating = 1,305 VA (1.3 KVA).

A 2.0 KVA 600V x 120V Transformer has a Secondary Ampacity of 16.67 Amps.


A 3.0 KVA 600V x 120V Transformer has a Secondary Ampacity of 25.0 Amps.

Connect Two of the Transformers in an Open-Delta arrangement, with the Windings of each Transformer setup in a Series-Subtracting connection.

The 2.0 KVA Transformers would be sufficient, as the maximum Amperes that could be drawn through the Secondaries is 16.67 Amps, and the Load's maximum Amps is 10.875 A.

The 3.0 KVA Transformers would be good for 25.0 Amps per Phase, which may be a better choice (if within budget).

Good luck.

Scott
Posted By: BigJohn Re: Open Delta Buck-Boost - 07/26/09 09:56 PM
Well, it's good to know I was on the right track even if I don't really understand why. Thanks for the replies!

Is there some sort of short-cut to determining how much current the secondary of an autotransformer is designed to handle? How do I determine that from the nameplate information on an buck/boost?

-John
Posted By: JBD Re: Open Delta Buck-Boost - 07/27/09 06:04 PM
Treat the secondary of a "buck boost" no different than the secondary of a standard transformer. Make your intial calculations ignoring the fact you will use it as a buck boost. The amount the transformer can carry has to do with the way its low voltage windings are connected.

So a 500VA transformer with a 12/24V secondary wired for 24V has conductors rated to carry 20.83A.
Posted By: Scott35 Re: Open Delta Buck-Boost - 07/28/09 03:00 AM
BigJohn;

Glad that we all were able to assist with the Buck/Boost Transformer sizing criteria.

As JBD described above, to figure the capacity of the Secondary Windings - in Amperes, divide the Transformer's rated Volt-Amps by the Secondary Voltage.

Using JBD's example Transformer above, these are the results:

500 VA Transformer - Secondary = 12/24V

* Secondary setup in Parallel for _12V_:
500 / 12 = 41.67 Amps maximum load Current through Transformer.

* Secondary setup in Series for _24V_:
500 / 24 = 20.84 Amps maximum load Current through Transformer.

Determine the "Per-Line" Amperes, which the Load Device will require, by dividing the Apparent Power (Volt-Amps) by the Voltage; or, if available, just use the nameplate Amperes of the Device.

If there is any doubt per these figures, feel free to reply as necessary! We are all here to assist.

Scott
Posted By: Tesla Re: Open Delta Buck-Boost - 05/19/10 07:52 AM
BJ...

Wire size, insulation rating, temperature rise...

Coil saturation at 60Hz normally never a concern.

Normally the designer spec'd small gauge high-temp conductors with insulation rated to 150 Centigrade. Even so, there's only so many amperes you can shove through the transformer.

This limit is found when the B-B is trying to bump/buck a lot of current a minimal voltage.

Normally this is no sweat since the typical B-B transform is 277 down to 240 ... or 208 up to 240. You do note that the RATIOS are the SAME. Stacking two such common B-B permits 277 to buck down to 208; which was a proposition on another thread.

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Thus you have multiple limits: how much the magnetic circuit can handle and how much the conductors can handle. There are frequency limits, also, but at 60 Hz you not be troubled.
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