Transformer Tests

The performance of a transformer can be calculated on the basis of equivalent circuit

which contains four parameters, the equivalent resistance R01 as referred to primary
(or secondary R02), the equivalent leakage reactance X01 as referred to primary (or
reactance in secondary X02), the core loss conductance G0 (or resistance R0) and the
magnetizing susceptance B0 (or reactance X0).
These constants or parameters can be easily determined by two tests
(i) open-circuit test and
(ii) short-circuit test
Open-Circuit or No-Load Test
The purpose of this test is to determine no-load loss or core loss and no-load current
I0 which is helpful in finding X0 and R0.
Low voltage side connected with normal voltage and frequency and high voltage
side is left open.
A wattmeter W, voltmeter V and an ammeter A are connected in the low-voltage
winding i.e. primary winding in the present case as shown in Fig. 32.43.
The voltage V1 is measured using the voltmeter (V). With normal voltage applied to
the primary, normal flux will be set up in the core, hence normal iron losses will
occur which are recorded by the wattmeter (W). As the primary no-load current I0 (as
measured by ammeter, A) is small, Cu loss is negligibly small in primary and null in
secondary. Hence, the wattmeter reading represents practically the core loss under
no-load condition (and which is the same for all loads).
The no-load vector diagram is shown in Fig. 32.16.
If W0 is the wattmeter reading as shown in Fig. 32.43, then
W V I cos  ; Since the current is practically all-
0 10 0
 cos  W /V I exciting current when a transformer is
0 0 10 on no-load (i.e. I0=I) and as the voltage
I   I sin  ; drop in primary leakage impedance is
0 0
I w  I cos  small, hence the exciting admittance
0 0
Y0(=1/Z0) of the transformer is given by
X V / I  ;
0 1 I0=V1Y0 or Y0=I0/V1.
R V / I w
0 1
The exciting conductance G0 is given
by W0=V12G0 or G0(=1/R0)= W0 /V12.
The exciting susceptance
B (1/ X )  Y 2  G2
0 0 0 0
 Short-Circuit or Impedance Test
This is an economical method for determining the following:
(i) Equivalent impedance (Z01 or Z02), leakage reactance (X01 or X02) and total
resistance (R01 or R02) of the transformer as referred to the winding in which the
measuring instruments are placed.
(ii) Cu loss at full load. This loss is used in calculating the efficiency of the
transformer.
(iii) Knowing Z01 or Z02, the total voltage drop in the transformer as referred to
primary or secondary can be calculated and hence regulation of the transformer
determined.
In this test, one
winding, usually
the low-voltage
winding is solidly
short-circuited by
a thick conductor
as shown in Fig.
32.45.
A low-voltage (usually 5 to 10% of normal primary voltage) at correct
frequency is applied to the primary and is cautiously increased till
full-load currents are flowing both in primary and secondary (as
indicated by the respective ammeters).
Since the applied voltage is a small percentage of the normal voltage,
the mutual flux  produced is also a small percentage of its normal
value.
Hence, core losses are very small with the result that the wattmeter
reading represents the full-load Cu loss or I2R loss for the whole
transformer i.e. both primary Cu loss and secondary Cu loss.
The equivalent circuit of the transformer under short-circuit condition
is shown in Fig. 32.46.
If VSC is the voltage required to circulate rated load currents.
X  Z 2  R2
Then Z01=VSC/I1. Also W=I1 R01.  R01=W/I1 and
2 2 01 01 01
If R1 and X1 can be measured, then knowing R01 and X01, we can find
R2’=R01-R1 and X2’=X01-X1.
Hence, the secondary resistance and reactance can be calculated by
using the following equation: R2= R2’K2; X2= X2’K2 .
Example 32.36 Obtain the equivalent circuit of a 200/400 V, 50 Hz, 1-phase
transformer from the following data:
O.C (Open Circuit) test: 200V, 0.7A, 70W on l.v (low voltage) side
S.C (Short Circuit) test: 15V, 10A, 85W on h.v (high voltage) side
Calculate the secondary voltage when delivering 5kW at 0.8 pf (power factor)
lagging, the primary voltage being 200V.
Solution: From O.C Test: V1I0cos0=W0. 200×0.7×cos0=70.
cos0=70/(200×0.7)=0.5 and sin0=0.866.
Iw=I0cos0= 0.7×0.5=0.35 A. I=I0sin0= 0.7×0.866=0.606 A.
R0=V1/Iw=200/0.35=571.4 . X0=V1/I=200/0.606=330 .
From S.C Test: It may be noted that in this test, instruments have been placed in the
secondary i.e high-voltage winding whereas the low voltage side i.e primary has
been short circuited. Where K=400/200=2;
Z02=VSC/I2=15/10=1.5 . Z01=Z02/K2=1.5/4=0.375 .
Also, I22R02=W; R02=85/100=0.85 . R01=R02/K2=0.85/4=0.21 .
X  Z 2  R2  (0.375)2  (0.21)2  0.31  X  Z 2  R2  (1.5)2  (0.85)2 1.24 
01 01 01 02 02 02
The equivalent circuit is shown in Fig. 32.49.
The values of parameters are referred to primary i.e. low voltage side.
Output kVA=5/0.8=6.25; Output current, I2=6.25×1000/400=15.6 A
Total transformer drop as referred to secondary
=I2(R02cos2+X02sin2)
=15.6× (0.85×0.8+1.24×0.6)=22.2 V
V2= 400-22.2=377.8 V
Example 32.3 A single-phase transformer has 400 primary and 1000
secondary turns. The net cross sectional area of the core is 60 cm2. If
the primary winding be connected to a 50 Hz supply at 520 V,
calculate (i) the peak value of the flux density in the core, and (ii) the
voltage induced in the secondary winding.
N 1000
Solution: K 2  2.5
N 400
1

E 520
(i) Bm  1   0.976 Wb/m2
4.44 fN A 4.445040060104
1
E
(ii) 2  K ; E  KE  2.5250 1300V
E 2 1
1
Example 32.4 A 25 KVA transformer has 500 turns on the primary
and 50 turns on the secondary winding. The primary is connected to
3000V, 50 Hz supply. Find the full-load primary and secondary
currents, the secondary emf and the maximum flux in the core.
Neglect leakage drops and no-load primary current.
N 50  1  0.1
Solution: K  N2  500 10
1
Now, full load I1=2500/3000=8.33 A.
Full load I2=I1/K=108.33=83.3 A
EMF per turn on primary side= 3000/500= 6 V
So, secondary emf= 650= 300 V
E 3000
Also, m  1   27 mWb
4.44 fN 4.4450500
1
Example 32.11 A single phase transformer has 1000 turns on the
primary and 200 turns on the secondary. The no load current is 3 A
at a pf 0.2 lagging. Calculate the primary current and pf when the
secondary current is 280 A at a pf of 0.8 lagging.

Solution: V2 is taken as reference cos-1(0.8)=36.87o sin(36.87o)=0.6;

K=200/1000=1/5.
I  280 36.87 A; I '  (280 / 5) 36.87  56 36.87 A
2 2
  cos1(0.2)  78.5; sin  0.98
1 1
I  I  I '  3  78.5  56 36.87 A
1 0 2
I  I  I '  3(0.2  j0.98)  56(0.8 j0.6) A
1 0 2
I  45.4  j36.54  58.3  38.86 A
1
Thus I1 legs behind the supply by an angle 38.86o.
 Polarity Test and Voltage Ratio
Test
This test aims at finding
• The voltage ratio between HV and LV windings
from which one can determine the NHV/NLV.
• The polarity of the secondary winding with
reference to the primary winding.
• When the HV winding voltage rating is more
than the supply voltage , it is preferable to
connect the LV side as primary and HV side as
secondary.