Faculty : Faculty of Dentistry.

Department :Radiology.
Academic level : Third Year.

Research Title
"Autotransformers"
Academic Year 2021-2022
Date of submission: 7 / 11 / 2022

Student name : Moatasem Mohamed.

Student I.D. :16050.

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 Introduction:
The autotransformer is a transformer that has single windings as compare to
conventional transformer that is more than one winding, It can operate as step up
or step down transformer in the X- ray machine.
This winding is made of copper.

Figure 1, Difference between auto & conventional transformer

What is an Autotransformer?
It is a type of electrical transformer with only one winding. The “auto” refers
to the single coil acting alone. An auto transformer is similar to a two winding
transformer but varies in the way the primary and secondary winding of the
transformer are interrelated.
While in a conventional transformer, there is two windings are sued the first
one operates as the primary and the second one is used as the secondary winding.
It works on the phenomena of mutual induction.

What is an Autotransformer Theory?

In an auto transformer, one single coil is used as primary winding & secondary
winding. But in two windings transformer two different windings are used for
primary and secondary purpose.

 The winding AB of total turns is considered as primary winding & the portion BC is
considered as secondary.

A circuit diagram of auto transformer :

Figure2, Autotransformer

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The applications of an auto transformer include:

1. Compensating voltage drops by boosting supply voltage in distribution

systems.
2. Auto transformers with a number of tapping are used for starting induction
and synchronous motors.
3. Auto transformer is used in laboratory or where continuous variable over
broad ranges are required.

Advantages of using Auto Transformers:

1. The size of the auto transformer would be approximately 50% of the size of
two winding transformer. The saving in cost of the material is of course not
in the same proportion. The saving of cost is visible when the ratio of
transformer is low, that is lower than 2. Thus auto transformer is smaller in
size and cheaper.
1. For transformation ratio = 2, the size of the auto transformer would be
approximately 50% of the corresponding size of two winding transformer.
For transformation ratio say 20 however the size would be 95 %. The
saving in cost of the material is of course not in the same proportion. The
saving of cost is appreciable when the ratio of transformer is low, that is
lower than 2. Thus auto transformer is smaller in size and cheaper.
2. An auto transformer has higher efficiency than two winding transformer.
This is because of less ohmic loss and core loss due to reduction of
transformer material.
3. Auto transformer has better voltage regulation as voltage
drop in resistance of the single winding is less.
4. Copper savings in auto transformer.

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Disadvantages of Using Auto Transformer
1. Because of electrical conductivity of the primary and secondary windings
the lower voltage circuit is liable to be damaged during higher voltage. To
avoid breakdown in the lower voltage circuit, we must design the low
voltage circuit to withstand higher voltage.
2. Since there is little leakage flux between the main and secondary windings,
the impedance is low. So under fault circumstances, this leads to more
severe short circuit currents.

Autotransformer In X- Ray Machine:

Voltage supplied to the x-ray room is connected to the x-ray generator through
an autotransformer.
It consists of single winding wound on a laminated closed core. works on the
principle of self induction
Function:
1. Supplies voltage for x-ray tube filament circuit
2. Provides voltage for primary of the high voltage transformer.
3.Provides a convenient location for kVp meter.

Figure 3, X-ray machine & autotransformer location

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References:
1. Heathcote, M.J., 1998. The J & P transformer book: a practical technology of the
power transformer. Newnes.
2. Zhou, L., Lin, T., Zhou, X., Gao, S., Wu, Z. and Zhang, C., 2020. Detection of
winding faults using image features and binary tree support vector machine for
autotransformer. IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, 6(2), pp.625-
634.
3. Wang, J., Chen, A., Yao, X., Guan, Q. and Chen, Q., 2021. Input Current Step-
Doubling for Autotransformer-Based 12-Pulse Rectifier Using Two Auxiliary
Diodes. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 69(8), pp.7607-7617.