AGK Electrics

Lesson 23: Power Conversion

Transformer Principles
• Steps up or steps down
AC voltage only.
• Works via
electromagnetic
inductance.
• Primary and secondary
coils wound around a
soft iron core
• Enhances the
electromagnetic field
 Step Up Transformer
• Secondary has more turns than primary

Secondary
Coil

Primary Higher output

Coil voltage
 Step Down Transformer
• Secondary has fewer turns than primary

Secondary
Coil
Primary
Coil
Lower output
voltage
Transformer Operation
• Primary coil connected to AC input voltage.
• Secondary coil connected to AC output.
• Changing magnetic field interacts with both
coils.
Transformer Step-up/ Down
• Secondary coil voltage proportional to coil
turn ratio.
• Step-down transformer.
• Secondary has fewer turns
• Step-up transformer.
• Secondary has more turns
Rectifiers
• Diodes used sequentially
• Standard diode acts like a one way valve

Two way above

certain voltage
Transformer Rectifier Unit
• Converts AC to DC at different voltages.
• Typically 115/200 V Three Phase AC to
28V DC
• Abbreviated to ‘TRU”
 AC to DC Rectifier
• Transformer Rectifier Unit
• Transformer and rectifier is included in the same
unit(TRU)
• Reduces and rectifies the 115 v 400 Hz AC to a DC
Voltage of 14 V or 28 V
• Reverse current protection is not required due to diodes
which allows one direction flow only.
Static Inverter
• Converts DC voltage to AC.
• 28V DC typically inverted to single phase
115V 400Hz.
• electronic solid state, no moving part,
modern inverter.
 DC to AC - Inverters
• Generally used in light aeroplanes
• Still needed for large aeroplanes if all generators
fail. ( most common need is 26 V AC instead of 115
V AC)
•.
 ROTARY INVERTER
• Rotary Inverter – used in older aircraft, contains a DC
motor which drives an AC generator – frequency
control is required(400 Hz)
 STATIC INVERTER
Static Inverter – uses semiconductor to create the required
waveform and support the required voltage and current.
No rotating parts
 Auto - Transformer
• No electrical isolation between primary and
secondary windings ( movable brush)
• Amount of winding across which the output is
taken from can be varied, thus varying the
output voltage ( called as variac)
• Often used for light dimmers
 Current Transformer
• A transformer with only secondary winding can be used to
sense whether current is flowing through the conductor. The
conductor will then act as the primary winding. It is used for
sensing current.
• If there is an AC current flowing in the conductor, varying
magnetic field around it will induce a voltage in the current
transformer.
• Often used for ammeters without having to connect an
ammeter in series with the load.
•