Al-Hussein Bin Talal University

Electrical Engineering Department

Electrical Machines Lab.
Experiment No. 2: Single Phase Transformer Equivalent Circuit
Prepared by: Dr. Mahmoud Alnaanah. Last Update: 13. Apr. 2023

Objectives
1. To understand the general construction and work principles of single phase transformer.
2. To understand the theory behind the operation of single phase transformer.
3. To find the equivalent circuit of a transformer by performing open and short circuit tests.

Theory
General construction
In general, a transformer is constructed by having two coils that share the same ferromagnetic (i.e. iron)
core through which magnetic flux flows. The magnetic flux in the core is produced by the current flowing
in the coils. Electrical transformers are used to transform voltage and current levels in electrical circuits.
The terminal that is connected to the electrical source is called the Primary Side, while the one connected
to the load is called the Secondary Side. The general construction and the symbols of a single phase
transformer are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: The construction and the symbols of a single phase transformer

.
Voltage and current transformation
According to Faraday's law, the voltage induced at the terminals of each coils is:
dΦ
V induced =−N
dt
Where:
V induced : The induced voltage on the terminal.

N : The number of the coil turns.

Φ : The flux flowing through the shared magnetic core.
The minus sign means that if a current flows due to the induced voltage, then the magnetic flux produced
by the current will oppose the voltage-inducing flux.

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Since the induced voltage is proportional to the derivative of the flux, electrical transformer works only
for alternating current (AC) and does not work for direct current (DC).
The ratio between the primary and the secondary voltages is:
dΦ
−N Primary
V Primary dt N
V Secondary
= = Primary =a
d Φ N Secondary
380V 110V D L 1093
D E L OR E N Z O
−N Secondary
dt n=291 n=210
⇒V Primary =a V Secondary 220V 0V
TRANSFORMER 500VA
a is called the turns ratio. 220-380V/2x110V

AUTOTRANSFORMER 500VA
Since the transformer is a passive device, the 110V 220/380V
n=400
input power must ideally equals the output
power, therefore: n=210

0V 0V
P Input =POutput PE
V Primary I Primary =V Secondary I Secondary
⇒ a V Secondarry I Primary =V Secondary I Secondary
⇒ a I Primary =I Secondary Figure 2: The transformer used in the experiment
1
⇒ I Primary = I Secondary
a
Which means that if a transformer increases the voltage level by a certain ratio it will reduce the current
level by the same ratio.
R source IP IS
Impedance transformation
When the impedance on the secondary side of the transformer is VES VP VS ZS
referred to the primary side, its magnitude is multiplied by a2 .
On the other hand, the impedance in the primary side is multiplied NP:NS

by 1/a2 when it is referred to the secondary side, as follows:

Secondary is reflected to the primary
VP VSa 2VS 2
ZP= = =a =a Z S R source IP
I P I S /a IS
2
⇒ Z P =a Z S VES ZP
VP
Z P : Equivalent impedance seen by the primary side.

Z S : Equivalent impedance connected to the secondary side. Figure 3: Impedance referring

Core type and shell type transformers

The core of an electrical transformer is constructed using a ferromagnetic material (usually iron) because
of its high magnetic permeability.
The varying magnetic flux will induce voltages inside the magnetic core itself, which in turn produces
circulating currents inside the core, these currents are called eddy currents. The core of the transformer is
laminated to minimize the path through which eddy currents flow and hence to minimize the losses in the
core that appear as heat.
Figure 4 shows the core and shell types for transformer construction, usually shell type is used in
manufacturing because it has a better mechanical strength and less losses▼.

▼ https://circuitglobe.com/difference-between-core-type-and-shell-type-transformer.html
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 Figure 4: Core type (to the left) and shell type (to the right) transformer construction

Transformer equivalent circuit

The equivalent circuit if a transformer is shown in Figure 5:

Figure 5: The equivalent circuit of the transformer

RP , R S : Resistances that represent the copper losses (i.e. losses in the winding wires) on the primary and
the secondary sides respectively.
X P , X S : Reactances that represent the leakage flux in the primary and the secondary sides respectively.

RC : A resistance that represents the core losses (Hysteresis + Eddy currents)

X M : A reactance that represents the magnetization current, which is the current that produces to the
magnetic flux in the core of the transformer.

Open-circuit and short-circuit tests

Open-circuit and short-circuit tests are performed in order to measure the equivalent circuit parameters of
a transformer.
In open-circuit test, the secondary side is left open and the rated voltage is applied at the primary side of
the transformer (which is usually selected to be the low-voltage side in order to reduce the amount of the
measured voltage).
In open-circuit test, only a small amount of current passes through the transformer, and the voltage across
RP , RS , X P , and X S is neglected when compared to the voltage across RC and X M , therefore:

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 2 2
V OC V OC
POC = ⇒ RC =
RC POC
I 1 1 1
Y OC = OC = + ⇒ XM=
V OC RC J X M I OC 2 2

√( V OC) ( )
−
1
RC

In short-circuit test, the secondary side is short-circuited and the voltage at the primary side is increased
carefully until the rated current flows in the primary side (which is usually selected to be the high-voltage
side in order to reduce the amount of the measured current).
In short-circuit test, RS and X S are parallel with RC and X M and since their value are much smaller
than RC and X M then most of the current will flow through them and hence RC and X M are neglected.

The equivalent resistance Req found in the short-circuit test is the total series resistance referred to the
primary side and equals RP + a2 R S , the same is applied to the equivalent reactance X eq which equals
2
X P +a X S .

The equivalent resistance and reactance are found as follows:

2 P SC
PSC =I SC Req ⇒ Req =
I 2SC
V SC V SC 2
Z SC =
I SC
=R eq + J X eq ⇒ X eq=
√( I SC ) 2
−Req

The equivalent circuits for the transformer in open-circuit and short-circuit tests are shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6: The equivalent circuit for the transformer in (a) open-circuit and (b) short circuit test.

The equivalent circuits of the transformer (refereed to the primary side) is shown in Figure 7

Practical Transformer
R eq J X eq Ideal
Transformer

RC J XM
`

a:1
Figure 7: The equivalent circuit of the transformer referred to the primary side

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Procedure
From the nameplate of the transformer find its rated voltage and current for the low and the high voltage
sides, S=V Primary I Primary =V Secondary I Secondary .

Open-circuit test
1. Connect the low-voltage side through the measuring equipment to the power supply and leave the
secondary side open-circuited. Connect the multimeters to measure the primary side voltage and
current.
2. Turn the supply on and increase the primary voltage in 10 steps until the rated voltage is reached.
In each step fill the value of the primary voltage and current, at rated voltage fill the value of
voltage, current, and power in Table 1.
3. Reduce the power of supply and turn it off.

Table 1: Values for open-circuit test

Step V OC I OC POC RC XM
1 - - -
2 - - -
3 - - -
4 - - -
5 - - -
6 - - -
7 - - -
8 - - -
9 - - -
10

Short-circuit test
1. Connect the high-voltage side to the power supply through the measuring equipment and make the
secondary side short-circuited. Connect the multimeters to measure the primary side voltage and
current.
2. Turn the supply on and carefully increase the primary current in 10 steps until the rated current is
reached. In each step fill the value of the primary voltage and current, at rated current fill the value
of voltage, current, and power in Table 2.
3. Reduce the voltage of supply and turn it off.

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 Table 2: Values for short-circuit test

Step V SC I SC PSC Req X eq

1 - - -
2 - - -
3 - - -
4 - - -
5 - - -
6 - - -
7 - - -
8 - - -
9 - - -
10

Report
Provide a report for the experiment and present the following in it:
1. Complete the connection of the open-circuit test and the short-circuit test on the figure provided at
in last page.
2. Show the measured values for V, I, and P in Table 1 and Table 2.
3. Show the calculated values RC , X M , Req , and X eq in Table 1 and Table 2.

4. Plot V OC (Y-axis) vs I OC (X-axis).

5. Plot V SC (Y-axis) vs I SC (X-axis).

6. Show the calculations for RC and X M at rated voltage.

7. Show the calculations for Req , and X eq at rated current.

8. Draw the equivalent circuit of the transformer with its parameters referred to the high-voltage
side.
9. Draw the equivalent circuit of the transformer with its parameters referred to the low-voltage side.
10. Answer the following questions:
1. Is the plot for V OC vs I OC linear? Why?

2. Is the plot for V SC vs I SC linear? Why?

3. What is the relation between eddy current losses and the supply frequency? What is the
relation between hysteresis losses and the supply frequency?
4. What is the relation between the harmonics in the power system and the electrical
transformer? How is that related to magnetization curve of the transformer?
11. What are the values of RC , X M , Req , and X eq for an ideal transformer.

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12. For the shown ideal transformer V E =100V.
200 Ω I1 I2
Find I 1 , I 2 , V 1 , and V 2 .

V ES 50
V1 V2 Ω
2:1

13. For the shown ideal transformer E=100V. R=25 Ω. R I

Find I 2 .

VE

2:1

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 Open Circuit Test

Th1
a 200V . 8A 200V . 10A
0÷430V . 5A
off stop
0÷430V . 5A b 0÷240V . 8A 0÷240V . 10A
0÷225V . 1A
MAINS MAINS 40 60 on
1 1 1 off 40 60
start O
O 1 a b
O 20 80
O O 20

0 100%

0 100% L1 L2 L3 L+ L+ L-
K1 L1 L2 L3 N L1 L2 L3 L-
D L 1 0 1 3 M2
D E L OR E NZ O

A V

A uAmA com VΩHz

A uAmA com VΩHz

D E L O R E NZ O E L E C TR IC A L P OWE R D IG ITA L ME A S U R ING U N IT

DL 1 0 0 6 5 N

R1 R1

RS485 L+ L- L1 L2 L3 N RS485

IN 380V 110V D L 1093

D E L OR E N Z O

PE L+ L- ! L1 L2 L3 N n=291 n=210

220V 0V
OUT TRANSFORMER 500VA
220-380V/2x110V

AUTOTRANSFORMER 500VA
110V 220/380V
n=400

n=210

0V 0V
PE

Short Circuit Test

Th1
a 200V . 8A 200V . 10A
0÷430V . 5A
off stop
0÷430V . 5A b 0÷240V . 8A 0÷240V . 10A
0÷225V . 1A
MAINS MAINS 40 60 on 60
O 1 1 1 off 40
start
O 1 a b
O 20 80
O O 20

0 100%

0 100% L+ L-
K1 L1 L2 L3 N L1 L2 L3 L1 L2 L3 L+ L-
D L 1 0 1 3 M2
D E L OR E NZ O

A V

A uAmA com VΩHz

A uAmA com VΩHz

D E L O R E NZ O E L E C TR IC A L P OWE R D IG ITA L ME A S U R ING U N IT

DL 1 0 0 6 5 N

R1 R1

RS485 L+ L- L1 L2 L3 N RS485

IN 380V 110V D L 1093

D E L OR E N Z O

PE L+ L- ! L1 L2 L3 N n=291 n=210

220V 0V
OUT
TRANSFORMER 500VA
220-380V/2x110V

AUTOTRANSFORMER 500VA
110V 220/380V
n=400

n=210

0V 0V
PE

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