Working Principles of Electrical

Transformer

TOPIC 2
Working Principles of Transformer

Remember that, transformer is a static device

(and doesn’t contain on rotating parts, hence no
friction losses), which convert electrical power
from one circuit to another without changing its
frequency.
- It Step up (or Step down) the level of AC
Voltage and Current.
Working Principles of Transformer

• Transformer works on the principle of

mutual induction of two coils or Faraday
Law’s Of Electromagnetic induction.
• When current in the primary coil is
changed the flux linked to the secondary
coil also changes.
• Consequently an EMF is induced in the
secondary coil due to Faraday law’s of
electromagnetic induction.
Working Principles of Transformer

• When an alternating voltage Vp is applied to the

primary coil, an a.c. current flows in the primary
coil.
• This a.c. current sets up a changing magnetic
field in the iron core.
• The flux through the primary coil is linked to the
flux in the secondary coil through the iron core.
• This alternating magnetic field induces an e.m.f.
in both the coils.
Working Principles of Transformer

• The output voltage in the secondary coil Vs will

give rise to an a.c. current in the coil itself.

• Thus, electrical energy can be delivered to any

devise at the output.

• Since there is no flux leakage, the rate of flux

change (dθ / dt) at the primary coil and the
secondary must be the same.
 Working Principles of Transformer

• Ideal Transformer
V p / V s = Ep / E s (ideal)
Where:
V p – primary voltage
V s – secondary voltage
E p - induced EMF at the primary windings of transformer
E s - induced EMF at the secondary windings of transformer

The transformer which is free from all types of

losses is known as an ideal transformer. It is an
imaginary transformer that has no core loss, no
ohmic resistance, and no leakage flux.
Working Principles of Transformer

• The induced voltage of transformer winding on each is given below

with respect to the number of turns of coil (N)
E = - N (dθ/dt), volts (Eqn. 1)
Ep = - N p (dθ/dt), volts (Eqn. 2)
E s = - N s (dθ/dt ), volts (Eqn.3)
where:
Np – primary turns of coil
Ns – secondary urns of coil
Working Principles of Transformer

• Ideally, the ratio of primary voltage to secondary voltage is

practically equal to the ratio of the no. of primary turns of coils to
secondary turns of coil of transformer, hence;

Vp / Vs = E p / Es = [ - N p ( dθ/dt) ] / [- N s ( dθ/dt ) ] (Eqn.4)

Working Principles of Transformer

• In addition, an ideal transformer is 100%

efficient.
VA input = VA output

( Vp ) (Ip ) = ( Vs) (Is), volt-amp

Working Principles of Transformer

• Transformer Voltage and Current Ratios

The transformation ratio is also determine considering
ideal operation of transformer with voltage ratio (Vp /Vs)
is equal to the inverse ratio of current (Is / Ip) in both
secondary and primary current.

( Vp / Vs ) = ( Is / Ip ) (Eqn.5)

•
Working Principles of Transformer

• Transformer Induced EMF Equation

• When a sinusoidal voltage is applied to the primary winding
of a transformer, alternating flux (ϕm) sets up in the iron
core of the transformer.

• This sinusoidal flux links with both primary and secondary

winding. The function of flux is a sine function.

• The rate of change of flux with respect to time is derived

mathematically and shown on the next slide.
Transformer Induced EMF Equation

Let:
ϕm - be the maximum value of flux in Weber
f - be the supply frequency in Hertz
Φ - is the flux per turn in Weber

Remember that,
1 Weber (Wb) = 1 x 10 (exp) 8 lines of force of Maxwell
• As shown in Figure 2, the flux changes from +
ϕm to – ϕm in half a cycle of 1/2 f seconds.

By Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetism

Let Ep be the Emf induced in the primary winding
Ep = - Np dϕ / dt, volt (Eqn. 6)
Then the flux ϕ is due to AC supply then ϕ = ϕm
sin(w)t
Ep = − Np dϕ / dt, volt
Ep = − Np d(ϕm sin wt) /dt
Ep = − Np w ϕm cos wt, or
Ep = Np w ϕm (-cos wt), volt

recall that,
- cos wt = sin (wt - 90)
Therefore,
Ep = Np w ϕm sin (wt - 90), volt
In radian form,
Ep = Np w ϕm sin (wt – π/2), volt (Eqn. 7)
So the induced Emf lags by 90 ⁰ . Note that the
maximum value of Emf in the transformer is
expressed as,
Ep (max) = Np w ϕm (Eqn. 8)
Since w = (2π) f , rad. /revolution
Ep (max) = (2π) f Np (ϕm ) (Eqn. 9)
Note that the maximum value of primary voltage
can be expressed as,
 Ep max = √2 x Erms, volts or,
Ep rms = Ep max / √2
Since from Eqn 9,
Ep (max) = (2π) f Np (ϕm )
Ep rms = (2π) f Np (ϕm ) / √2
But, 2 / √2 = √2 0r 1.414……
Hence,
Ep rms = 1.414 π f Np (ϕm ), volts or
Ep rms = 4.414 π f Np (ϕm ), volts
Similarly, E s rms = 4.414 π f Ns (ϕm ), volts
So the effective induced EMF (voltage) of transformer at each side is expressed
as,

Ep = 4.414 π f Np ϕm x 10 (exp) (-8), volts (Eqn 10)

Es = 4.414 π f Np ϕm x 10 (exp) (-8), volts (Eqn 11)

 Transformer Turns Ratio (Transformation Ratio)
Now dividing the equations 10 and 11,
Ep / Es = 4.44 f ϕm Np x 10 (exp) -8 / 4.44 f ϕm Np x 10 (exp) -8

Ep / Es = Np / Ns (turns ratio)
The turns ratio is equal to the voltage ratio and also called as
transformation ratio hence,
Ep / Es = Np / Ns = K

From Eqn 5, the transformation ratio of transformer is a turns ratio can be referred also
to inverse current ratio since Vp is approximately equal to Ep and Vs is approximately
equal to Es then the transformation ratio (K) is also expressed in Eqn. 12.

Ep / Es = Np / Ns = Is / I p = K (Eqn 12)
Magnetic Field Intensity and Flux Density in Transformer

• Magnetic Flux Intensity

• The magnetic flux density or magnetic
induction is the number of lines of
force passing through a unit area of
material, B.
• The unit of magnetic induction is the
Tesla (T).
Magnetic Field Intensity and Flux Density in Transformer

• Magnetic Flux Density is also the amount of

magnetic flux through unit area taken
perpendicular to direction of magnetic flux.
• Flux Density (B) is related to Magnetic Field (H)
Intensity and it is represented as,

[B=μH ] (Eqn 13)

Flux density (B) is in Webers per square meter

1 Weber / sq m. = 1 Tesla
Magnetic Field Intensity (H) = Amp /meter
Transformer EMF Equation by Maximum Flux Density and Core Area

Equations 10 and 11 can be expressed in terms

of maximum flux density and cross sectional
area of the iron core.
The flux density of in the magnetic circuit
(core) is calculated using the equation 14 below.
[ Bm = φm / A ] (Eqn. 14)
Where :
• Βm – flux density in lines per sq area (Maxwell's/sq. in)
1 weber = 1 x 10 exp (8) Maxwell's
Problem solving relevant to the topic (i.e. transformation ratio, EMF,
magnetic flux and flux density)

• Problem Solving 1:
Supposed a single-phase transformer has total no. of primary
turns of coils of 1200 with magnetic flux in the iron core of 0.5M
Maxwells at 60 Hertz.

Calculate the full-load current in the secondary winding when

the output capacity is 7.0kVA and the transformation ratio is
10:1.
Problem solving relevant to the topic (i.e. transformation ratio, EMF,
magnetic flux and flux density)

Solution:
For the full-load current in the secondary winding of transformer at 7kVA
output.
P = V I, volt-amp
Since the applied voltage (V) is practically equal to the induced EMF of
transformer,
Vp=Ep ; Vs=Es

The induced voltage equation (E) of transformer is given as;

E = 4.44 f ϕ N, volts
Problem solving relevant to the topic (i.e. transformation ratio,
EMF, magnetic flux and flux density)

Since the no. of turns of coil is available at the primary side:

Ep = 4.44 fp ϕ p Np, volts
The power frequency on both sides of transformer is constant (without change in
frequency)
f p = f s, Hz
The magnetic flux (main flux) pass along the primary is the same magnetic flux that
pass in secondary winding of a transformer through the magnetic iron core.
Hence the induced EMF in the transformer winding at the primary side
Note 1 weber = 1 exp (8) magnetic lines of force in Maxwell) = 1 volt
Problem solving relevant to the topic (i.e. transformation ratio,
EMF, magnetic flux and flux density)

Therefore from Eqn. 10

Ep = 4.44 f Np ϕ Maxwells
1 x 10 (exp) (8) Maxwells / weber x 1 weber / volt
= 4.44 (60)(1,200)(500,000) x 1 exp (-8) volts
= 1,598.40 volts

Since Ep = V p and Es = Vs
Solving for the full-load primary current (Ip): Ip = Pp / Vp
I p = 7,000 VA / 1,598.40 V
= 4.379 Amps.
Problem solving relevant to the topic (i.e. transformation ratio,
EMF, magnetic flux and flux density)

For the secondary full-load current of transformer:

With transformation ratio of a =10:1, the transformer is a step-up transformer.
From eqn. 2,
a = Ep/Es ; a = Np / Ns ; a = Is / Ip
Therefore,
Is=aIp
I s = 10 x 4.379 Amps.
= 43.790 Amps.
Problem solving relevant to the topic (i.e. transformation ratio,
EMF, magnetic flux and flux density)

For the secondary full-load current of transformer:

With transformation ratio of a =10:1, the transformer is a step-up transformer.
From eqn. 2,
a = Ep/Es ; a = Np / Ns ; a = Is / Ip
To check:
Therefore, Ps = (Vs) (Is)
Is=aIp Is = 7.0 x 1000 VA / (1,598.40 /10)
I s = 10 x 4.379 Amps. = 43.794 Amps
= 43.790 Amps.
Transformer Volts per Turn of Transformer (Topic 1C)

• Volts per turn (V/turn) is the voltage dropped

across each turn of a coil or the voltage induced
into each turn of the secondary coil.

• Each transformer has a design value for the volts

per turn (i.e. design sheet, c – v/t)

• For example, if a transformer primary has 120

turns with a source of 120 V, it has 1 V/turn
Transformer Volts per Turn (Topic 1C)

Remember !
• The volts per turn of a transformer in either side of
transformer is the same.
Ep / Np = Es / N s = 4.44 f ϕ x 10 (exp) -8 Eqn.15
• In design calculation of transformer, V/T of
transformer is based on manufacturers standard.

• This is the practical approach to determine the no.

of turns at either side of transformer.
 Problem solving relevant to Volts / Turn (V/T) of Transformer and
Frequency

Problem no. 2

Calculate the total magnetic flux in a 60-Hertz transformer in which the induced
EMF is 4-volt per turn of the winding.

Solution:
For the total magnetic flux,
Ep = 4.44 (f) (φ m) (Np) x 10 exp (-8),volts
But from eqn 15
Ep / Np = 4.44 (f) (φ m)(10)exp (-8),volts /turn
Hence, the total magnetic flux,
φ m = (4.0) / 4.44 (60) x 10 exp (-8) Maxwells
= 1,505,501.501 Maxwells
Problem solving relevant to Volts / Turn (V/T) of
Transformer

Problem no. 3

If from problem no. 2, consider that the transformer is supplied with 50-Hertz
frequency source at 4.0 volts per turn, what is the change in the total magnetic
flux?

Solution:

For the change in the magnetic flux of transformer when the frequency is
changed from 60-Hz to 50-Hz.

Let Δ φ = change in magnetic flux due to change in frequency

Problem solving relevant to Volts / Turn (V/T) of
Transformer

Solving for the φ @ 50Hz

φ m = (4.0) / 4.44 (50) x 10 exp (-8) Maxwells
= 1,801,801.802 Maxwells (New magnetic flux)

Now the change in the magnetic flux can be solved using the equation below,
Δ φ = [ φ @ 50Hz - φ @ 60Hz ]
= [1,801,801.802 - 1,505,501.501 ] Maxwells
= 296,300.30 (or 300,000 Maxwells)
This Δ φ is also the difference in the total magnetic flux due to change in the
source frequency.
 Remember:

✓If the transformer is operating under normal condition and with

sudden change in the source frequency, the total magnetic flux
passes through the core is also change.
✓There will be an increase in the magnetic flux if the operating
frequency is below 60 Hz.
✓ Δ φ – difference in the total magnetic flux.
✓ In most cases, when the 60-Hz transformer is operating at faith
frequently change in the source frequency, more hysteresis and
eddy current losses
Flux density and cross-sectional area of transformer

• Problem no. 4 (TA-Assignment 1)

A iron-core reactor is to be connected across 120-volts, 50-Hz
source.
a) Neglecting the resistance drop, calculate the no. of magnetic
lines of force which must be set in the core if there are 400
turns of coil.
b) What is the cross-sectional area of the core necessary for this
reactor if the flux density should not exceed 5x 10 4 lines per sq.
inch.?