Transformer Losses
Transformer Losses
A transformer is an electrical apparatus which is used to convert an alternating current from one
voltage to another. It can be designed to step up or step down voltages based on the number of
turns in the coil in primary and the secondary coil. It works on the magnetic induction principle.
1. Resistance of windings – The wire used in the winding of the coil of the transformer contributes
to heat loss due to electric heating.
As per Joule’s law of heating,
P = i2 R
Where, P is the rate of heat generated in the wire of resistance R when i is the electric current in
the wire.
2. Flux leakage– Due to error in the design of the core of the secondary coil, all the magnetic flux
produced in the primary coil may not be linked to the secondary coil. That is the reason for the flux
leakage.
3. Eddy currents – When the magnetic field in primary coil changes then it induces currents in the
secondary coil and also currents in the iron core itself. These currents flow in little circles in the iron
core and are called eddy currents. The eddy currents cause heat loss.
4. Hysteresis – The magnetization of the core is repeatedly reversed by the alternating magnetic
field. The repeating core magnetization process expends energy and this energy appears as heat.
2. Heat loss due to eddy current can be reduced by the lamination of the iron core.
3. The heat generated can be kept to a minimum by using a magnetic material which has a low
hysteresis loss. Hence, soft iron is often chosen for the core material because the magnetic domains
within it changes rapidly with low energy loss.