Review of Transformer Basics

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET LAHORE.

 Transformer Definition Revisited
Transformer is a static electromagnetic
machine with two or more windings, linked
with common magnetic field.

The transformer performs the following

functions,

Changes the voltage level

Changes the current level
Changes the impedance
Can provide isolation
Filters dc from a waveform that is a mixture of
ac and dc

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Types of Transformers

Transformers are classified into three categories,

(a) Position of windings with respect to core

Core type Shell type

(b) Transformation ratio

Step up Step down

(c) Type of service

Power Distribution

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

Position of Winding with respect to Core
1. CORE TYPE TRANSFORMER
The windings of a core type transformer surround a
considerable part of the core.
A single phase core type transformer consists of a
magnetic frame with two limbs, upper and bottom yoke
forming the magnetic circuit.
A 3-phase core type transformer consists of a
minimum three limbs.

Core Type

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

Position of Winding with respect to Core

2. SHELL TYPE TRANSFORMER

The core of a shell type transformer surround a
considerable part of the windings.
The windings are enclosed by two empty parts of the core
giving transformer an appearance of a shell.
A single-phase shell type transformer consists of a
magnetic frame with a central limb and two side limbs,
completing the path of magnetic flux.

Shell Type

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

Position of Winding with respect to Core

COMPARISON BETWEEN CORE TYPE & SHELL TYPE

TRANSFORMER

Construction: Core type transformers can be assembled

and dismantled more easily as compared to shell type.
Repair: In core type transformers, repair can be done more
easily as compared to shell type, because more portion of
the windings is accessible.
Cooling: In core type transformers, cooling of winding is
better, because windings encloses the core whereas in
shell type cooling of core is better.
Leakage Reactance: Leakage Reactance of shell type
transformer is smaller as compared to core type, because
of better flux linkage between low voltage and high voltage
winding.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

Position of Winding with respect to Core
COMPARISON BETWEEN CORE TYPE & SHELL TYPE
TRANSFORMER

Mechanical Forces: Shell type transformers are more

robust mechanically compared to core type, because of
better support to windings against electromagnetic
forces (windings enclosed by core).
Application: Shell type transformers are used for low
voltages and large output. On the other hand, core type
transformers are used for high voltage and
comparatively smaller output.

CONCLUSION: Core type transformers

are more commonly used because of
much better heat dissipation facilities.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Transformation Ratio
1. STEP UP TRANSFORMER
It transforms low voltage, high current a.c system into
high voltage, low current a.c system.
The secondary winding consists of large number of
turns and primary winding consists of few turns.

2. STEP DOWN TRANSFORMER

It transforms high voltage, low current a.c system into
low voltage, high current a.c system.
The secondary winding consists of few turns and
primary winding consists of large number of turns.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Type of Service
1. POWER TRANSFORMER
These transformers are above 500 kVA and are used in
generating stations.
They are not operated for 24 hours a day.
They are designed to have maximum efficiency at or near
full load (nearly 80% of full load).
Iron losses are 5-6 times as compared with distribution
transformer.
2. DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER
These transformers are upto 500 kVA and are used at
distribution level.
They are operated for 24 hours a day.
They are designed to have maximum efficiency at or near
50% of full load.
FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE
 Construction
The transformers mainly consists of following circuits.
1. MAGNETIC CIRCUIT
The magnetic circuit consists of limbs, yoke and clamping circuit
(providing the path for flux).

2. ELECTRIC CIRCUIT
The electric circuit consists of low voltage & high voltage
windings and sometimes a tertiary winding.

3. DIELECTRIC CIRCUIT
The dielectric circuit consists of insulations in different forms
and different places in transformer i.e. core to LV, LV to HV etc.

4. TANK & ACCESSORIES

Tank & accessories, such as cooling devices, conservator,
breather, bushings, protective devices.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

Various Parts Of Transformers

Core
Windings
Transformer Tank/Tank Cover
Conservator
Breather
Cooling Arrangements
Tap changer
Bushings
Accessories

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

Constructional Features of a Transformer

FIGURE SHOWING DIFFERENT PARTS OF A TRANSFORMER

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 CORE
The function of the core is to
guide the magnetic flux
created by currents that flow
in the windings.
It is magnetic link between
the primary and secondary
windings.
It is made of high quality thin
electrical silicon steel sheet
laminations to reduce
hysterisis loss. The core is
laminated to reduce eddy
current loss.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

P3

Parts of Core

The part of the

magnetic circuit
which carry the
transformer windings
are called limbs or
Single-phase Transformers legs..
legs

Those parts which

connect the legs and
serve for closing the
magnetic circuit are
called yokes
yokes..
Three-phase Transformers

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

Slide 14

P3 PKK1758, 2/19/2004
 Windings
Transformer Windings form the electrical circuit of a
transformer. They are made from high conductivity
copper with several layers of insulating paper of high
dielectric strength.

Among individual coils, there are cooling ducts

through which oil flows and carries away heat
generated by losses in windings.

The windings must be electrically and mechanically

strong to withstand both over-voltages under transient
surges and mechanical stresses during short circuit
and should not attain temperatures beyond the limit
under rated and overload conditions.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Windings

LV Winding HV Winding

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

P1
P2

Windings

Tapping Complete Winding

Winding Assembly
FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE
Slide 17

P1 PKK1758, 2/19/2004

P2 PKK1758, 2/19/2004
 Dielectric Circuit
The dielectric circuit consists of insulation
used at different places in the transformer to
insulate the conducting parts. All the
conducting and magnetic parts of the
transformer must be well insulated from each
other. The insulation can be classified as,

1. MAJOR INSULATION

2. MINOR INSULATION

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Dielectric Circuit
MAJOR INSULATION

It includes the insulation between core and low

voltage winding. The insulation between core and low
voltage winding is provided by an insulating cylinder
of press board (or Synthetic Resin Bonded Paper
cylinders in case of low power transformers). Similar
insulation is used between low voltage and high
voltage windings and between high voltage windings
of different phases.

Mineral oil is used in transformer to improve the

dielectric strength of the insulation. In addition, it also
dissipates the heat from core and windings.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Dielectric Circuit
MINOR INSULATION

It includes the insulation used between the elements

of a given winding i.e. conductor insulation,
insulation between turns, layers and coils.

The insulation of the conductors may be of paper,

cotton or glass tape.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Transformer Tank
For cooling purposes, the transformer is required to
be immersed in oil inside the tank.
Transformer tank is a housing, filled with insulating
oil, for placing core and coil assembly.
The function of transformer tank is to provide a
protective cover to the core, windings and other
internal parts including transformer oil. The tank
also provides external surface for dissipating heat.
Tanks for small transformers are fabricated from
welded mild steel sheets. The lids of these
transformer tanks can be of cast iron.
A number of accessories are provided on the cover
of the tank.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Transformer Tank

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Conservator
Conservator is an airtight cylindrical metal drum
which is supported horizontally on the
transformer lid. The conservator and main tank
are connected by a pipe.

Under increasing load, the oil expands and

similarly, oil contracts under decreasing load.

Small transformers are sometimes not provided

with conservator. So, the oil level has to be kept
some distance below the top cover to provide
space for oil expansion under temperature rise.

When the oil expands, the air is expelled out and

under contraction of oil, air is drawn inside. This
process is called breathing.
FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE
 Conservator
Thus the oil is in contact with air. Exposure to air
speeds up the ageing of the oil due to increased
sludge and acid formation through moisture
absorption and oxidation.

The function of conservator is to keep the main tank

of the transformer completely filled with oil in all
circumstances while the conservator is always
partly filled with oil.

Conservator takes up expansion and contraction of

transformer oil and keeps the main tank full of oil.

This reduces the rate of oxidation of oil because

less oil surface is exposed to air.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Conservator

In this way, the sludge

formation is considerably
reduced and whatever
sludge is formed, settles
to the bottom of the
conservator into a sludge
pan from where it is
periodically removed by
means of drain tap.

Normally, the capacity of

conservator should be
approximately 10 to 12%
of the volume of oil of the 90 MVA, 132/33 kV Transformer
main tank.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Breather
When oil expands air is
expelled out. When oil
contracts air is drawn in.
Air entering the
transformer is passed
through a breather
which absorbs moisture
from the air.
Dehydrating material
used is silica gel crystal
impregnated with cobalt
chloride.
Material is blue when
dry and whitish pink
when damp.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Bushings
Bushings are the means of connecting
transformer with the network / system in
which it is placed.

A bushing is necessary when a conductor is

taken out through a metallic tank. One end of
the bushing goes into transformer tank while
the other end is in the outside air.

Bushing consists of conducting rod, a

porcelain cylinder for isolating the conducting
part.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Bushings

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Tap Changers
Normally it is used to provide adjustment in
system voltage variation so as we get
required output voltage on secondary load
side.
Generally there are two types of tap changer.
Off load Tap changer
On load Tap changer
The selection of tap changer depends on
current, voltage and no. of tappings required.
Tap changer is normally connected to high
voltage winding to provide wide range of
voltage adjustment.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Tap Changers

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Accessories

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Temperature Indicators
Temperature indicators
are precision
instruments, specially
designed for the
protection of
transformers.
Normally two separate
instruments are used
for indicating oil and
winding temperatures.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Temperature Indicators
Temperature indicators perform following
functions,
Indicate maximum oil temperature and
maximum or hottest spot temperature of
winding.
Operate an alarm or a trip circuit at a pre-
determined temperature.
Switch on the cooling equipment when the
winding attains a preset high temperature
and switch it off when the temperature
drops by an established differential (so as
to avoid too frequent on and off operation
of the switch.
FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE
 Oil Level Indicator
Oil Level indicator is
used to monitor the level
of oil in the transformer .
All power transformers
are fitted with a
magnetic oil level gauge
which also incorporates
a mercury switch. The
switch closes and
actuates an audible
alarm in the event of oil
level dropping to near
empty position in the
conservator.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Buchholz Relay

Buchholz relay is a
protection device for
the detection of
incipient faults such as
inter turn faults, core
faults due to core bolt
insulation failure which
gives rise to short
circuit and subsequent
arcing.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE

 Pressure Relief Device
It is used to prevent
the rapid build up of
pressure within the
transformer tank that
might cause an
explosion hazard.
They are designed /
selected to operate
and discharge any
pressure greater than
their set value to the
atmosphere.

FARHAN MAHMOOD UET, LAHORE.