Dashboard NCEES PE Power — Oct 2025 Blueprint 7. Electric Power Devices A. Transformers

A. Transformers

Transformer action, autotransformers, 3-winding, three-phase connections, parallel operation, tap changers, Scott connection.

Lessons

Lesson 1

Transformer action under load

Why loading the secondary forces the primary to draw more current.

Freshman ~7 min
Lesson 2

Auto-transformer — savings, tertiary, applications

Single shared winding → S_winding/S_load = (1-1/a). Sweet spot a ≤ 3. Tertiary delta winding for triplen harmonics + neutral stability. Grid 138/230/345 kV ties, motor starters, voltage regulators.

Junior ~11 min
Lesson 3

Three-winding transformers

Three magnetically-coupled windings, three short-circuit impedances (Z_ps, Z_pt, Z_st) → Y-equivalent legs Z_p, Z_s, Z_t. Regulation cross-coupling. GSU + station service application. 87T with 3 CT inputs.

Junior ~11 min
Lesson 4

Three-phase transformer connections + vector groups

Yy0, Dd0, Yd1, Dyn11 — clock-notation phase displacement, paralleling rules, open-delta operation.

Sophomore ~10 min
Lesson 5

Transformer parallel operation

Essential conditions (V ratio, phase sequence, vector group, polarity). Load divides inversely with Z_pu on common base. Voltage-ratio mismatch → circulating current. ANSI 90 OLTC parallel control.

Junior ~11 min
Lesson 6

Transformer tap changers — NLTC and OLTC

On-load and off-circuit tap changers, the diverter/selector make-before-break mechanism, ±10 % range in 16 steps, why taps live in the HV winding, and OLTC control with line-drop compensation.

Junior ~10 min
Lesson 7

Scott connection — three-phase to two-phase conversion

Two single-phase transformers (main M + teaser T at 86.6 %) convert 3-φ to balanced 2-φ output in quadrature. Geometric derivation, phasor proof, and modern use in single-phase traction substations.

Junior ~10 min