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Overview of Transformers

Technical Report · July 2021

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.20343.55202

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Al-Ma’moon University College
Electrical Power Techniques Engineering Department
AC Machines Report

‫ عباس محمد جعفر‬-:‫اسم الطالب الرباعي‬

‫ الثالثة‬-: ‫المرحلة الدراسية‬
‫ المسائية‬-: ‫الدراسة‬
E2.3-: ‫الشعبة‬

Supervised by
Assist. Lec. Karrar S. Faraj

2020-2021
 Today transformers play a vital role in the transmission system. Transmitting
electricity with high voltages and low currents will help us reduce the thickness of the
transmission wires and thus the cost, it also increase the efficiency of the system. For this
reason a standard transmission system can be anywhere between 22KV to 66KV, while
some generators in the power plant has an output voltage of only 11kV and the household
AC appliance require only 220V/110V. So where does this voltage conversion take place
and who does it? The answer to the question is transformers. From the power plant to the
home there will be transformers in the system which will either step-up (increase voltage)
or step-down (decrease voltage) the voltage to maintain the efficiency of the system. This is
why the transformers are called as the heart of an electrical transmission system.

A transformer is a passive electrical device that transfers electrical energy from one
electrical circuit to another, or multiple circuits. A varying current in any one coil of the
transformer produces a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core, which induces a
varying electromotive force across any other coils wound around the same core. Electrical
energy can be transferred between separate coils without a metallic (conductive) connection
between the two circuits. Faraday's law of induction, discovered in 1831, describes the
induced voltage effect in any coil due to a changing magnetic flux encircled by the coil.

Since the invention of the first constant-potential transformer in 1885, transformers

have become essential for the transmission, distribution, and utilization of alternating
current electric power. A wide range of transformer designs is encountered in electronic and
electric power applications. Transformers range in size from RF transformers less than a
cubic centimeter in volume, to units weighing hundreds of tons used to interconnect the
power grid.

Say you have one winding (also known as a coil) which is supplied by an alternating
electrical source. The alternating current through the winding produces a continually
changing and alternating flux that surrounds the winding.
If another winding is brought close to this winding, some portion of this alternating flux
will link with the second winding. As this flux is continually changing in its amplitude and
direction, there must be a changing flux linkage in the second winding or coil. According to
Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, there will be an EMF induced in the second
winding. If the circuit of this secondary winding is closed, then a current will flow through
it. This is the basic working principle of a transformer.

Let us use electrical symbols to help visualize this. The winding which receives electrical
power from the source is known as the ‘primary winding’. In the diagram below this is the
‘First Coil’.

The winding which gives the desired output voltage due to mutual induction is
commonly known as the ‘secondary winding’. This is the ‘Second Coil’ in the diagram
above.
A transformer that increases voltage between the primary to secondary windings is defined
as a step-up transformer. Conversely, a transformer that decreases voltage between the
primary to secondary windings is defined as a step-down transformer.
Whether the transformer increases or decreases the voltage level depends on the relative
number of turns between the primary and secondary side of the transformer.
If there are more turns on the primary coil than the secondary coil than the voltage will
decrease (step down).

If there are less turns on the primary coil than the secondary coil than the voltage will
increase (step up).

While the diagram of the transformer above is theoretically possible in an ideal

transformer – it is not very practical. This is because in the open air only a very tiny portion
of the flux produced from the first coil will link with the second coil. So the current that
flows through the closed circuit connected to the secondary winding will be extremely
small (and difficult to measure).
The rate of change of flux linkage depends upon the amount of linked flux with the second
winding. So ideally almost all of the flux of primary winding should link to the secondary
winding. This is effectively and efficiently done by using a core type transformer. This
provides a low reluctance path common to both of the windings.
 The purpose of the transformer core is to provide a low reluctance path, through
which the maximum amount of flux produced by the primary winding is passed through and
linked with the secondary winding.
The current that initially passes through the transformer when it is switched on is
known as the transformer inrush current.

There are different configurations for both single-phase and three-phase systems.

 Single-phase Power
 Three-phase Power
 Delta and Wye Defined
 Three-phase Transformers

Electrical transformers can be classified into different categories depending upon

their end-use, construction, supply, and purpose.

On the Basis of Design

 Core Type Transformer

 Shell Type Transformer

On the Basis of Supply

 Single Phase Transformer

 Three Phase Transformer

On the Basis of Purpose

 Step Up Transformer
 Step Down Transformer
On the Basis of Use

 Power transformer
 Distribution transformer
 Instrument transformer: This electrical transformer is further sub-categorized into
current and potential transformers
o Current transformer
o Potential transformer

These transformers are used to relay and protect instruments simultaneously.

On the Basis of Cooling

 Self-Cooled Oil-Filled Transformers

 Water-Cooled Oil-Filled Transformers
 Air-Cooled (Air Blast) Transformers

The major parts of a single-phase transformer consist of:

1. Core: The core acts as a support to the winding in the transformer. It also provides a
low reluctance path to the flow of magnetic flux. The winding is wound on the core . It is
made up of a laminated soft iron core in order to reduce the losses in a transformer. The
core diameter is directly proportional to copper losses and inversely proportional to iron
losses.

2. Windings: Windings are the set of copper wires wound over the transformer core.

3. Insulation Agents: Insulation is necessary for transformers to separate windings from

shorting the circuit and thus facilitating the mutual induction. Insulation agents have
influence in durability and the stability of a transformer.
  The frequency of input and output power is the same
 All transformers make use of electromagnetic induction laws
 The primary and secondary coils are devoid of electrical connection (except for auto
transformers). The transfer of power is through magnetic flux.
 No moving parts are required to transfer energy, so there are no friction or windage
losses as with other electrical devices.
 The losses that do occur in transformers are smaller than those in other electrical
devices.

1. Main Voltage Conversion (MAINS TRANSFORMERS)

2. Switch Mode Power Supplies (SMPS BOARDS)
3. Electrical Isolation (ISOLATION TRANSFORMERS)
4. Voltage Conversion Transformers
5. Impedance Matching (RF TRANSFORMERS)
6. Autotransformers
7. Current Transformers
8. Potential Transformers

N1 – number of turns in primary.

N2 – number of turns in secondary.
Φm – maximum flux in weber (Wb).
T – time period. Time is taken for 1 cycle.
The flux formed is a sinusoidal wave. It rises to a maximum value Φm and decreases to
negative maximum Φm. So, flux reaches a maximum in one-quarter of a cycle. The time
taken is equal to T/4.
Average rate of change of flux = Φm/(T/4) = 4*fΦm
Where f = frequency
T = 1/f
Induced emf per turn = rate of change of flux per turn
Form factor = rms value / average value
Rms value = 1.11 * (4*fΦm) = 4.44 fΦm [form factor of sine wave is 1.11]
RMS value of emf induced in winding = RMS value of emf per turn * no of turns
Primary Winding
Rms value of induced emf = E1 = 4.44 fΦm * N1
Secondary winding:
Rms value of induced emf = E2 = 4.44 fΦm * N2

This is the emf equation of the transformer.

For an ideal transformer at no load condition,
E1 = supply voltage on the primary winding.
E2 = terminal voltage (theoretical or calculated) on the secondary winding. .

Comparing system output with input will confirm transformer efficiency. The system
is called better when its efficiency is high.

Transformers are useful devices and learning how to design and work with them can
come in very handy! While we have covered the basics here, designing a transformer right
from scratch is something that can discussed in another entire article hence lets have that for
some other time. So now, when you see a transformer again you will know why it is there
and how it works.
 1. https://www.electrical4u.com/what-is-transformer-definition-working-principle-of-
transformer/
2. https://byjus.com/jee/transformer/
3. https://components101.com/articles/transformer-basics-types-working
4. https://www.galco.com/comp/prod/trnsfmrs.htm
5. https://www.dfliq.net/blog/the-basics-of-electrical-transformers/
6. https://electricalfundablog.com/transformer-works-parts-types-
applications/#Three_Phase_and_Single_Phase_Transformer

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