CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF TRANSFORMERS

Transformer is a static device that transfers electric energy from one alternating-current circuit
to one or more other circuits, either increasing (stepping up) or reducing (stepping down) the
voltage. This transformation takes place without change in frequency (Constant Frequency).

Construction of Transformer
• There are two basic parts of transformer
1. Magnetic core
2. Winding or coils
• The core of the transformer is either square or rectangular.
• The vertical portion is called limb
• The top and bottom horizontal portion is called Yoke
• The core is made up of Laminations.
• It is laminated to minimize eddy current losses.

• The transformer consists of two inductive coils electrically separated but linked
through magnetic circuit.
• One of the coil is connected to a source of alternating voltage. This coil is called
primary coil.
• The other coil is connected to the load. This coil is called secondary coil.
 • The primary winding has N1 number of turns and the secondary winding has N2
number of turns

Working of Transformer

• Transformer works on the principle of Mutual Induction.

• When two coils are inductively coupled and if current in one coil is changed
uniformly then an emf get induced in the other coil.
• The induced emf can drive a current when the circuit/path is closed.
• When primary winding is excited by an alternating voltage, it circulates an alternating
current.
• The alternating current produces alternating flux.
• This alternating flux links with the secondary coil/winding.
• As the flux is alternating, mutually induced emf gets developed in the secondary
coil according to faradays law of electromagnetic induction.
• When the load is connected to secondary coil, current will be flowing through it.
• Thus, without any physical electrical connection, an electrical energy is transferred
from primary to secondary.
 TYPES OF TRANSFORMERS

Based on the type of core there are two main types of transformers. They are
• Core type Transformer
• Shell type Transformer
Depending on the voltage level, the transformer has three categories.
• Step Down Transformer
• Step Up and Transformer
• Isolation Transformer.

Core type transformer

• It has single magnetic circuit

• The core is rectangular and have two limbs
• The winding encircles the core. The windings are cylindrical.
• The coils/windings are placed on both limbs.
• The Low voltage coils are placed near core and the High voltage coils surrounds the
low voltage coil.

Shell type transformer:

• It has double magnetic circuit
• The core has three limbs
• Both the windings are placed on the central limb.
• Sandwich type of coils are used. (HV coils are placed between two LV coils)
 • The Low voltage coils are placed near core and the High voltage coils surrounds the
low voltage coil.

Comparison between core type and shell type

Step Down Transformer

• A step-down transformer converts the primary voltage level to a lower voltage across
the secondary output. This is achieved by the ratio of primary and secondary windings.
• For step-down transformers the number of windings is higher across the primary side
than the secondary side. Therefore, the overall winding ratio of primary and secondary
always remains more than 1.
• In electronics, many applications run on 5V, 6V, 9V, 12V, 24V or in some cases 48V.
To convert the single-phase power outlet voltage 230V AC to the desired low voltage
level, Step Down transformers are required.
• In instrumentation as well as in many electrical types of equipment, Step-Down
transformer is the primary requirement for the Power section. They are also used in
power adapters and cell phone charger circuits.
 • In electrical, step down transformers are used in electrical distribution system which
works on very high voltage to ensure low loss and cost-effective solution for long
distance power delivery requirements. To convert the high voltage to a low voltage
supply line, Step down transformer is used.

Step Up and Transformer

• Step Up transformer is exactly opposite of the step-down transformer. Step up
transformer increase the low primary voltage to a high secondary voltage. It is achieved
by the ratio of primary and secondary winding ratio.
• For the Step Up transformer, the ratio of the primary winding and the Secondary
winding remains less than 1. That means the number turns in secondary winding is
higher than the primary winding.
• In electronics, step up transformers often used in stabilizers, inverters etc where low
voltage is converted to a much higher voltage.
• A step-up transformer is also used in Electrical power distribution. High voltage is
required for power distribution related application. Step up transformer is used in the
grid to step up the voltage level before the distribution.

Isolation Transformer
• Isolation transformer does not convert any voltage levels. The Primary voltage and the
secondary voltage of an isolation transformer always remain the same. This is because
the primary and the secondary winding ratio is always equal to the 1. That means the
number of turns in primary and secondary winding is same in isolation transformer.
• The isolation transformer is used to isolate the primary and secondary. The transformer
does not have any electrical connections between primary and secondary, it is also used
as an isolation barrier where the conduction happens only with the magnetic flux. It is
used for safety purpose and to cancel noise transfer from primary to secondary or vice-
versa.
 EMF EQUATION OF TRANSFORMER
(i) Derive the EMF equation of the transformer

(ii)Describe Voltage and current transformation ratio

Let
Voltage and current transformation ratio (K):
 TUTORIAL

1. The primary winding of a 50Hz transformer has 480 turns and is fed from 5400V
supply. The secondary winding has 20 turns. Find the peak value of flux in the core and
the secondary voltage.
2. A transformer with an output voltage of 2200 V is supplied at 220 V. If the secondary
winding has 2000 turns, then calculate the number of turns in primary winding.
3. A single phase 3300/240 V, 50 Hz transformer has a maximum magnetic flux of 0.0315
Wb in the core. Calculate the number of turns in primary and secondary windings.
4. The voltage ratio of a single-phase, 50 Hz transformer is 5,000/500 V at no load.
Calculate the number of turns in each winding if the maximum value of the flux in the
core is 7.82 mWb.

5. A transformer with 1000 primary turns and 400 secondary turns is supplied from a 220
V AC supply. Calculate the secondary voltage and the volts per turn.
6. The secondary winding of a 50 Hz single phase transformer has 500 turns and has the
flux of 0.06 Wb. Find the EMF induced in the secondary winding of the transformer.
7. The no load current of a transformer is 10 A at a power factor of 0.25 lagging, when
connected to 400V, 50 Hz supply. Calculate a) Magnetizing component of no load
current b) Iron loss c)Maximum value of flux. Assume the number of turns in the
primary winding is 500.

Tutorial 1
The primary winding of a 50Hz transformer has 480 turns and is fed from 5400V
supply. The secondary winding has 20 turns. Find the peak value of flux in the core and
the secondary voltage.

Tutorial 2
A transformer with an output voltage of 2200 V is supplied at 220 V. If the secondary
winding has 2000 turns, then calculate the number of turns in primary winding.
Tutorial 3
A single phase 3300/240 V, 50 Hz transformer has a maximum magnetic flux of
0.0315 Wb in the core. Calculate the number of turns in primary and secondary
windings.
Tutorial 4
The voltage ratio of a single-phase, 50 Hz transformer is 5,000/500 V at no load.
Calculate the number of turns in each winding if the maximum value of the flux in the
core is 7.82 mWb.

Tutorial 5

A transformer with 1000 primary turns and 400 secondary turns is supplied from a 220 V
AC supply. Calculate the secondary voltage and the volts per turn.
Tutorial 6
The secondary winding of a 50 Hz single phase transformer has 500 turns and has the flux
of 0.06 Wb. Find the EMF induced in the secondary winding of the transformer.
E2=4.44 f ∅ 𝑁2
E2 = 4.44*50*0.06*500
E2 = 6660
Tutorial 7

The no load current of a transformer is 10 A at a power factor of 0.25 lagging, when

connected to 400V, 50 Hz supply. Calculate a) Magnetizing component of no load current
b) Iron loss c)Maximum value of flux. Assume the number of turns in the primary winding
is 500.
 Equivalent circuit of a single-phase transformer referred to primary and secondary.

Let

Hence the no load equivalent circuit is

When the load is connected to the transformer then secondary current I2 flows. This cause
voltage drops across R2 and X2. Due to I2, primary draws an additional current.

Hence the equivalent circuit becomes

It is simplified further by transferring all the values to the primary or secondary.

Thus, the equivalent circuit of transformer referred to primary is

Where,

The equivalent circuit of transformer referred to secondary is

Where,
IDEAL TRANSFORMER
Explain the behaviour of transformer on no load, with phasor diagram.

Ideal Transformer on No load:

• Consider an ideal transformer on No load (I2=0).

• The supply voltage is V1 and the primary current is I1 that produces flux in the core. I1
is also called magnetizing current (Im) since it magnetizes the core.
• As the transformer is ideal, the winding resistance is zero and it is purely inductive.
Hence the magnetizing current (Im) lags the voltage V1 by 900.
• This magnetizing current produces alternating flux which is in phase with Im.
• The flux links with both winding produces the induced emf E1 and E2 in the primary
and secondary windings respectively.
• According to Lenz law, induced emf opposes the cause producing it i.e., supply
voltage V1
• Hence E1 and E2 is in opposite phase with V1. E1 and E2 are in Phase with each other.

Phasor Diagram of ideal transformer on no load

• The power input to the transformer is V1I1cos𝜃
• For ideal transformer there are no losses and 𝜃=90 and hence Power input = 0
• Hence No-load power factor of transformer is zero lagging.

Practical Transformer on No load:

• In practical transformer, iron core causes hysteresis and eddy current losses due to
alternating flux. The primary coil has copper loss.
• Thus, the primary current has to supply iron losses and copper losses which is denoted
by I0.

• Thus, the no load input current I0 has two components. Magnetizing component Im and
active component Ic

• The total no load current is the vector addition of Im and Ic.

• In practical transformer, no load current I0 is no longer at 900 to V1.

• I0 lags V1 by an angle 𝜑0 which is less than 900.

• Hence cos 𝜑0 is the no load power factor of practical transformer.

• The magnetising current lags V1 by 900

• The core loss component is in phase with V1

• The magnitude of no-load current is given by

• The total power input (W0) on no load is

 TRANSFORMER ON LOAD

• When the transformer is loaded, the current I flows through the secondary winding.
• The magnitude and phase of I2 is determined by the load. If load is inductive, I2 lags
V2. If load is capacitive, I2, leads V2 while for resistive load, I, is in phase with V2.
• There exists a secondary MMF, N2I2 due to which secondary current sets up its own
flux ∅2. This flux opposes the main flux which is produced in the core. Hence the MMF,
N212 is called demagnetizing ampere-turns.

• The flux ∅2 momentarily reduces the main flux, due to which the primary induced EMF
E1 also reduces. Hence the vector difference V1 – E1 increases due to which primary
draws more current from the supply. This additional current drawn by primary is due
to the load hence called load component of primary current denoted as I2’.
• This current I2’is in antiphase with I2. The current I2’ sets up its own flux ∅2’ which
opposes the flux ∅2 and helps the main flux. This flux ∅2’ neutralises the flux ∅2
produced by I2. The MMF i.e. ampere turns N1 I2’ balances the ampere turns N212.
Hence the net flux in the core is again maintained at constant level.
• Key Point: Thus, for any load condition (no load to full load) the flux in the core is
practically constant.
• The load component current I2’always neutralizes the changes in the load. As
practically flux in core is constant, the core loss is also constant for all the loads. Hence
the transformer is called constant flux machine.
Assume Inductive load in which I2 lags E2 by ∅2, Assume Resistive load in which I2 is in phase
with ∅2, and assume capacitive load in which I2 leads E2 by ∅2 as shown below
 LOSSES IN TRANSFORMER
Describe tha various losses in the transformer and explain how will you determine the
efficiency of the transformer

The types of losses in transformer is broadly classified into two types

1. Core loss
2. Copper loss
Core loss
• Due to alternating flux set up in the magnetic core of the transformer, it undergoes a
cycle of magnetization and demagnetization.
• Due to hysteresis effect there is loss of energy in this process which is called hysteresis
loss.
Note: Hysteresis is a common property of ferromagnetic substances. Generally, when the
magnetization of ferromagnetic materials lags behind the magnetic field, this effect can be
described as the hysteresis effect.

• The induced e.m.f. in the core tries to set up eddy currents in the core and hence
responsible for the eddy current losses.
 • The flux in the core is almost constant as supply voltage V, at rated frequency f is
always constant. Hence the flux density B in the core and hence both hysteresis and
eddy current losses are constants at all the loads. Hence the core or iron losses are
also called constant losses.
• The iron losses are minimized by using high grade core material like silicon steel
having very low hysteresis loop and by manufacturing the core in the form of
laminations.

Copper loss

• The copper losses are due to the power wasted in the form of I2R loss due to the
resistances of the primary and secondary windings.
• The copper loss depends on the magnitude of the currents flowing through the
windings.
• If the current through the windings is full load current, we get copper losses at full load.
If the load on transformer is half, then we get copper losses at half load, which are less
than full load copper losses. Thus copper losses are called variable losses.
Total loss = Core loss + Copper loss
• The copper losses depend on current and iron losses depend on voltage. These losses
are independent of the load power factor. Hence though the output power depends on
power factor, the transformer losses are functions of V and I and the rating of the
transformer is specified as the product of voltage and current called VA rating. This
rating is generally expressed in kVA (kilo volt amperes rating).
EFFICIENCY OF TRANFORMER