Course: Basic Electrical & Electronics

Topic: Concept of Transformer

School: Engineering & Technology
What is a Transformer?

A transformer is defined as a passive electrical device that

transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through
the process of electromagnetic induction. It is most
commonly used to increase (‘step up’) or decrease (‘step
down’) voltage levels between circuits.
Other word

A Transformer is a static electrical machine which

transfers AC electrical power from one circuit to the
other circuit at the constant frequency, but the
voltage level can be altered that means voltage can
be increased or decreased according to the
requirement
Transformer
 Working Principle of Transformer

The working principle of a transformer is very simple. Mutual

induction between two or more windings (also known as coils)
allows for electrical energy to be transferred between circuits.

It works on the principle of Faraday’s Law of

Electromagnetic Induction which states that “ the
magnitude of voltage is directly proportional to the rate
of change of flux
 Transformer Theory
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’
step-up transformer.
A transformer that increases voltage between the primary
to secondary windings is defined as a step-up transformer.
Conversely, a transformer

If there are less turns on the primary coil than the

secondary coil than the voltage will increase (step up).
 step-down 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).
 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
 Transformer Parts and Construction

The three main parts of a transformer:

 Primary Winding of Transformer
 Magnetic Core of Transformer
 Secondary Winding of Transformer
Primary Winding of Transformer
Which produces magnetic flux when it is connected to an electrical
source.

Magnetic Core of Transformer

The magnetic flux produced by the primary winding, that will pass
through this low reluctance path linked with secondary winding and
create a closed magnetic circuit

Secondary Winding of Transformer

The flux, produced by primary winding, passes through the core,
will link with the secondary winding. This winding also wounds on
the same core and gives the desired output of the transformer.
 Necessity of a Transformer

Usually, electrical power is generated at 11Kv. For economical

reasons AC power is transmitted at very high voltages say 220 kV or
440 kV over long distances. Therefore a step-up transformer is
applied at the generating stations.
Now for safety reasons the voltage is stepped down to different
levels by step down transformer at various substations to feed the
power to the different locations and thus the utilisation of power is
done at 400/230 V.
 Construction of a Transformer

It mainly consists of

1. Magnetic circuit (consisting of core, limbs, yoke and damping

structure)

2. Electrical circuit (consisting of primary and secondary

windings)

3. Dielectric circuit (consisting of insulations in different forms

and used at different places)

4. Tanks and accessories (conservator, breather, bushings, cooling

 Types of Transformer

1.Position of the windings concerning the core

 Core type
 Shell type

2.According to the transformation ratio or number of

turns in the windings

1. Step up
• Step down
 Types of services

1) Power transformer
2) Distribution transformer
3) Instrument transformer
4) Current transformer
5) Potential transformer
6) Auto-transformer
 On the basis of the supply

1. Single-phase
2. Three-phase
EMF Equation is given below

EMF Equation of the Transformer

Where E1 and E2 are the voltages and N1, N2 is the number

of turns in the primary and the secondary windings
respectively
 Losses in the Transformer
1.Core or iron losses
 Hysteresis loss
 Eddy current loss

2.Copper losses

3.Stray losses
 Efficiency of the Transformer

Transformer efficiency is defined as the ratio of the

output power to the input power and is expressed in the
equation below
Power transformer
Distribution transformer
Instrument transformer
Current transformer
Potential transformer
Auto-transformer
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