Transformers

Transformer
An A.C. device used to change high voltage
low current A.C. into low voltage high current
A.C. and vice-versa without changing the
frequency
In brief,
1. Transfers electric power from one circuit to
another
2. It does so without a change of frequency
3. It accomplishes this by electromagnetic
induction
4. Where the two electric circuits are in mutual
inductive influence of each other.

Principle of operation
It is based on
principle
of
MUTUAL
INDUCTION.
According
to
which an e.m.f. is
induced in a coil
when current in
the neighbouring
coil changes.

Constructional detail : Shell

type

Windings are wrapped around the center leg of a

laminated core.

Core type

Windings are wrapped around two sides of a laminated square

core.

Sectional view of transformers

Note:
High voltage conductors are smaller cross section conductors
than the low voltage coils

Shell type

Fig: Sandwich windings

The HV and LV
windings are split
into no. of sections
Where HV winding
lies between two
LV windings
In sandwich coils
leakage can be
controlled

Working of a transformer
1. When current in the primary coil
changes being alternating in
nature, a changing magnetic field
is produced
2. This changing magnetic field
gets associated with the
secondary through the soft iron
core
3. Hence magnetic flux linked with
the secondary coil changes.
4. Which induces e.m.f. in the
secondary.

Ideal Transformers

Zero

leakage flux:
-Fluxes produced by the primary and secondary currents
are confined within the core
The windings have no resistance:
- Induced voltages equal applied voltages
The core has infinite permeability
- Reluctance of the core is zero
- Negligible current is required to establish magnetic
flux
Loss-less magnetic core
- No hysteresis or eddy currents

Ideal Transformers

For

ideal transformer, the energy transferred

will be the same as input. Thus power at
primary is same power at secondary.
Pp = P s
or IpVp = IsVs
Demagnetizing mmf of secondary is equal in
magnitude but opposite in polarity
to
magnetizing mmf of primary.
Ep

IpNp = IsNs

Vp

Is N p

a
E s Vs I p N s

Emf Equation of
Transformer

Practical transformer
There

is always leakage of flux.

The windings have resistance:
The core has finite permeability
- Reluctance of the core is not zero
- current is required to establish magnetic
flux i.e. magnetizing component of
current
Magnetic core is not Loss-less
- Hysteresis or eddy currents

Transformer on No-load
Secondary

current is zero.
Small current (no load current)
flows in primary winding
consisting of two components:
Magnetizing or reactive component of no
load current
Power or active component of no load
current

Phasor diagram: Transformer on

No-load

Leakage Reactance
Actual

flux set up transformer consists of two

components:
1.
2.

At

Useful flux linking with both winding which practically

remains constant at all values of load.
Leakage flux linking with one winding only. It is
dependent on load.

no load leakage flux is negligible.

As load increases leakage flux increases.
Leakage flux produces a elf induced back emf
in respective windings.
They are equivalent to small choke in series
with respective winding, the reactance of
which is called leakage reactance.

Transformer on load

Fig. a: Ideal transformer on load

Fig. b: Main flux and leakage
flux in a transformer

Equivalent Circuit of Transformer

Transformer Equivalent Referred

to Primary Side

Transformer Equivalent Referred

to Secondary Side

Approximate Equivalent
Circuit

Example:
A

150 kVA, 2400/240 V single phase transformer

has following parameters:
r1=0.2
r2= 2X10-3
x1=0.6
x2= 6X10-3
and Rc=10 k Xm = 1.6k
a) Calculate the equivalent resistance and
reactance as seen on HV side.
b) Calculate the equivalent resistance and
reactance as seen on LV side.
c) With secondary open what current will be
drawn from HV side. Also find pf.

Transformer on load assuming no

voltage drop in the winding

Fig shows the Phasor diagram of a

transformer on load by assuming
1. No voltage drop in the winding
2. Equal no. of primary and secondary turns

Transformer Phasor on
Load

Transformer Losses

Generally, there are two types of losses;

i.
ii.

i.

Iron losses :- occur in core parameters

Copper losses :- occur in winding resistance

Iron Losses

Piron Pc ( I c) Rc Popen circuit

2

ii Copper Losses
Pcopper Pcu ( Ip) 2 R p ( I s) 2 Rs Pshort circuit
or if referred , Pcu ( I p) 2 Reqp ( I 2) 2 Reqs

Transformer Efficiency
Output Power
Efficiency ,
100%
Input Power

Pout
100%
Pout Plosses

Vs I s cos

100%
Vs I s cos Pc Pcu

( full load )
( load n )

Vs I s cos
100%
Vs I s cos Pc Pcu

nVs I s cos
100%
2
nVs I s cos Pc n Pcu

Where, if load, n = ,
load, n= ,
90% of full load, n =0.9

Transformer rating
Transformer

rating is normally
written in terms of Apparent
Power.
Apparent power is actually the
product of its rated current and
rated voltage.
Example is A 20kVA, 220/2200V ,
50 Hz single phase transformer.

Transformer rating
There

are two type of losses in a transformer;

1. Copper Losses
2. Iron Losses or Core Losses or Insulation
Losses
Copper losses ( IR)depends on Current which
passing through transformer winding while Iron
Losses or Core Losses or Insulation Losses
depends on Voltage.
So total losses in transformer are dependent on
voltage and current, not on phase difference
between voltage and current.
Thats why the rating of Transformer in kVA, not
in kW.

Open Circuit Test

Open Circuit Test

Performed

on low voltage
winding at rated voltage and
frequency.
High voltage winding is kept
open.
A small current flows i.e. no load
current.
As no load current is 1 to 3% of
full load current, so copper loss is
negligible.

Short Circuit Test

Short Circuit Test

Performed

on High voltage

winding.
Low voltage winding is short
circuited through ammeter.
Input voltage is increased until
full load current flows short
circuited winding.
Normally applied voltage is 5 to
7% of rated voltage.
So flux established in core is

Open Circuit Test Short Circuit Test

Performed on LV side.
At rated voltage.
Copper losses are
negligible.
Gives shunt branch
elements i.e. Rc and
Xm.

Performed on HV side.
At rated current.
Core losses are
negligible.
Gives series branch
resistance and
reactance Req and Xeq.

Example
A 50 kVA, 2200/220 V, 50 Hz, single phase
transformer gave the following results during no
load and short circuit test.
Open circuit test: 220 V, 5 A, 405 W (LV side)
Short Circuit Test: 95 V, 20.2 A, 805 W (primary
side)
Calculate:
a) The no load parameters R 0 and Xm.
b) Equivalent resistance and reactance referred to
primary.
c) Draw circuit model referred to HV side.
d) Efficiency at full load and 0.8 pf lagging.