Transformer

Introduction:

The transformer works on the principle of electromagnetic induction. A

transformer is an electrical device, having no moving parts, which by mutual
induction transfers electric energy from one circuit to another at the same
frequency, usually with change in values of voltage and current.

Working principle of a Transformer:

Transformer consists of two windings insulated from each other and wound
on a common core made up of magnetic material. Alternating voltage is
connected across one of the windings, called primary winding. In both the
windings, emf is induced by electromagnetic induction. The second winding
is called the secondary winding.

When the primary winding is connected an ac source, an exciting current

flows through the winding. As the current is alternating , it will produce an
 alternating flux in the core which will be linked by both the primary and
secondary windings. The induced emf in the primary winding(E1) is almost
equal to the applied voltage V1 and will oppose the applied voltage. The emf
induced in the secondary winding (E2) can be utilized to deliver power to
any load connected across the secondary. Thus, power is transferred from
the primary to the secondary circuit by electromagnetic induction.

The flux in the core will alternate at the same frequency as the frequency of
the supply voltage. The frequency of induced emf in secondary is the same
as that of the supply voltage. The magnitude of the emf induced in the
secondary winding will depend upon its number of turns.

In a transformer, if the number of turns in the secondary winding is less than

those in the primary winding, it is called step-down transformer.

When the number of turns in the secondary winding is higher than the
primary winding, it is called a step-up transformer.

Classification of transformers:
Transformers are classified on the basis of

i) construction

1) Core type transformer

2) Shell type transformer

ii) voltage output:

1) Step down transformer

2) Step up transformer

iii) input supply:

1) Single phase transformer

2) Three phase transformer

Construction details of Transformer:
The main components of a transformer are

i) The magnetic core

ii) Primary and secondary windings

iii) Tank, oil, cooling arrangement, temperature gauge, oil gauge

iv) Buchholz relay

Magnetic core:

Magnetic circuit consists of an iron core. The transformer core is generally

laminated and is made out of a good magnetic material like silicon steel. The
thickness of laminations or stampings varies from 0.35mm to 0.5mm. The
laminations are insulated from each other by coating them with a thin coat of
varnish.

The two types of transformer cores are:

Core type

Shell type

Core type transformer:

The windings surround a considerable part of core and has only one magnetic path.
It has two limbs for the two windings and is made up of two L-type stampings.
Shell type transformer:

The core surrounds the considerable part of windings. The two windings are
carried by central limb. The core is made up of E and I stampings and has three
limbs.

Primary and secondary winding:

The windings are made of copper. Enamel insulation is used as the inter-turn
insulation for low voltage transformers.

Tank:

A small oil tank may be mounted above the transformer and connected to main
tank by a pipe. Its function is to keep the transformer tank full of oil despite
expansion or contraction of the coil with the changes in temperature.

Temperature gauge:

To indicate hot oil or hottest spot temperature.

Oil gauge:

To indicate the oil level present inside the tank.

Buchholz relay:

It is possible to mount gas operated relay in this pipe to give an alarm in case of
minor fault and to disconnect the transformer from the supply mains in case of
severe faults.
EMF equation of Transformer:

• N1 = Primary winding turns

• N2 = Secondary winding turns

• Фm = Maximum flux in the core ( Weber )

• = Bm × Ai

• Bm = Maximum flux density in the core ( Weber / meter2 )

• A = area of core ( Meter2 )

• F = Frequency of alternating supply ( Hz )

• V1= supply voltage across primary in volts

• V2= terminal voltage across secondary in volts

• I1=Full load primary current in amperes

• I2=full load secondary current in amperes

• E1=EMF induced in the primary in volts

• E2=EMF induced in the secondary in volts

Since applied voltage is alternating in nature, the flux established is also an

alternating one. It is clear that the flux is attaining its maximum value in one
quarter of the cycle, T/4 seconds.

• Therefore the average value of induced emf per turn is given by

E = Фm / ( T / 4 )

= 4f Фm

• As the flux varies sinusoidally, the induced emf will be sinusoidal.

• Form factor = RMS Value / Average Value

Form factor = 1.11

RMS value of induced emf per turn = Form factor × Average emf

= 1.11 × 4f Фm

• RMS value of induced emf in the transformer primary winding

• E1 = 4.44f Фm× N1

= 4.44f N1Фm

E1 = 4.44f BmAN1
 • Similarly the RMS value of induced emf in the transformer secondary
winding

• E2 = 4.44f Фm× N2

= 4.44f N2Фm

E2 = 4.44f BmAN2

Transformation ratio(K):
In case of ideal transformer, the input volt-ampere is equal to output volt-
ampere,
i.e.
V1I1=V2I2
V1/V2=I2/I1
TurnRatio K=N1/N2=E1/E2=V1/V2=I2/I1

Ideal Transformer:
The ideal transformer has the following properties

1.No winding resistance

2.No magnetic leakage flux

3.No copper loss

4. No core loss
When an alternating voltage V1 is applied to the primary winding, it draws a very
small magnetising current Im to establish the flux in the core, which lags behind the
applied voltage by 90°.
The magnetising current Im produces an alternating flux ϕm which is proportional to
and in phase with it. This alternating flux (ϕm) links the primary and secondary
windings magnetically and induces EMF E1 in the primary winding and EMF E2 in
the secondary winding.
The EMF induced in the primary winding E1 is equal to and in opposition to the
applied voltage V1 (according to Lenz’s law). The EMFs E1 and E2 lag behind the
flux (ϕm) by 90°, although their magnitudes depend upon the number of turns in the
primary and the secondary windings. From the phasor diagram of the ideal
transformer on no-load, it is clear that the flux is common to both the windings,
hence it can be taken as the reference phasor. Also, the EMFs E 1 and E2 are in
phase with each other, but E1 is equal to V1 and 180° out of phase with it.

Phasor diagram:
Practical Transformer on No load:

If the primary winding is connected to an alternating voltage and secondary

winding is left open, then the transformer is said to be on no load. Let the supply
voltage be V1. This causes an alternating current to flow through the primary.
Since secondary is open, this current is called no load primary current I 0. This I0
establishes a flux φ weber in the core. Thus I0 is not at 90’ degree behind V1, but
lags it by an angle φ0 < 90.
No load input power P0=V1I0cosφ0
From the phasor diagram, it can be seen that the no-load primary current (I0) can be
resolved into two rectangular components viz. active component and magnetising
component.

Active Component
The component IW is in phase with the applied voltage V1 and is known as active
component or iron loss component. This component of no-load current is
responsible for supplying iron loss and a very small primary winding copper loss in
the transformer. The IW is given by,
IW=I0cosφ0

Magnetising Component
The component Im is lagging behind the applied voltage V1 by an angle of 90° and
is known as magnetising component of the no-load current. The magnetising
component is responsible for producing the mutual flux φm in the core of the
transformer and is given by,
Im=I0sinφ0

Therefore, the no-load current I0 is the phasor sum of IW and Im i.e.

I0 = √ (Im2 +Iw2)

No load power factor, cosΦ0 = Iw∕I0

From above discussion, the following points are noted

i) the no-load primary current I0 is very small as compared to the full load primary
current.

ii) As I0 is very small, the no load primary copper loss is negligible. This no load
input power is practically equal to the iron or core loss of the transformer.
Transformer on load:
When the secondary winding is connected to a load, then the transformer is said to
be on load. Due to this load condition, the secondary current I2 is flowing through
the load.

The phase angle between V2 and I2 depends on the type of load. When the load is
resistive I2 will be inphase with V2. When the load is inductive I2 will be lagging
V2 and when the load is capacitive, I2 will be leading V2. Here, the primary
winding draws no-load current I0. This I0 sets up flux.

The secondary current I2 produces flux (ϕ2). This flux opposes the no load flux and
decreases the no load flux. Due to this, induced emf E1 is reduced and V1
dominates over E1 and thus causes additional current I’2 to flow through the
primary. I’2 is also known as load component of primary current. This current is in
antiphase with I2. I’2 establishes a flux(ϕ’2). This flux is equal in magnitude but in
opposite direction of pi2. Hence ϕ’2 and ϕ2 cancel each other.

Thus when the transformer is loaded,

i) the flux passing through core is same as that at no load. i.e., flux is constant at
no-load as well as loaded condition. That is why transformer is also called a
constant flux device.

ii) the total primary current(I1) will be vector sum of I0 and I’2.
Phasor Diagram of Transformer on Load Condition :
The phasor or vector diagrams for a transformer on resistive, inductive, and
capacitive loads are drawn by taking flux Φ as the reference. Let,

V1 = Primary supply voltage.

E1 & E2 = Primary and secondary induced emf's.
Io = No-load primary input current.
I2 = Primary current.
I2 = Secondary current.
I2' = Balancing current or load component of the primary current.

For Resistive (non-inductive) Load :

When the transformer secondary is connected to a resistive load, the current

will be in phase with the voltage.

For Inductive Load :

When the transformer secondary is connected to an inductive load, the current

flowing will lags with respect to the voltage as shown below.
For Capacitive Load :

Similarly, when the transformer secondary is connected to a capacitive load,

the current flowing will leads to the respective voltage as shown below.
Why the transformer rating is expressed interms of KVA?

Copper loss depends on current and iron loss depends upon voltage. Hence the
total loss in a transformer depends upon volt ampere only and not on the phase
angle between voltage and current.