Chapter 1- Materials used in Electrical Equipments

Ferromagnetic materials : Relative permeability much greater than

unity. (μr >>1)<

Paramagnetic materials : μr slightly greater than 1. (i.e, μr>1)

Diamagnetic materials : μr slightly less than 1

 Solid core materials
Are normally used for the parts of magnetic circuits carrying steady
flux such as cores of d.c electromagnets, relays and field frames of d.c
machines.

Basic requirements used for steady magnetic fields is high

permeability, particularly at high value of flux densities.

Eg: soft iron, cast-steel, cast-iron & ferro-cobalt (alloy of 15% Cobalt
and 65% of iron)
 Electrical sheets materials
Early days : Sheets materials used for the magnetic ckts of electrical
machines & cores of transformer was iron with low content of carbon
and other impurities

Major disadvantages :- “Ageing”: deterioration of magnetic

performance in service caused by increase in coercive force &
hysteresis loss….causes.. Overheating…breakdown….

 At the beginning of 20Th century (Si+iron) alloy was discovered …

improvement in magnetic properties….eliminates ageing problem
….reduced (hysteresis+eddy) losses…..
 Hot rolled and Cold rolled steel sheets

Hot rolled sheets(HRC) : are thin sheets of steels

manufactured by rolling the steel at high
temperature….crystals are disposed in random fashion
….crystallographic axes of individual crystals do not
take up any special alignment with respect of
direction of rolling, with sheet surface or with each
other ….as a result …HRS has low value of
permeability…
Cold rolled grain oriented sheet steel
(CROS) :
Have superior magnetic properties in comparison to hot rolled.

CROS is manufactured by a series of cold reduction and intermediate

annealing .
 Rolling is done to give particular direction to all its crystals ..so called
as grain oriented steel.
CROS is suitable for use in transformers & also for large turbo
alternators..
 Special purpose Alloys
 Self study………………………..from manual……
 Class of insulating materials
Class refers to the maximum allowable temperature
rise that the insulation material can withstand…which
after such temperature the insulating ability will be
degraded…
Classification of insulating materials
 Insulating materials for transformers

Fibrous materials of (class-A) are commonly used for both air cooled
and oil-cooled transformers.
High grade asbestos paper tape (class B) is used in air cooled
transformer of portable welders & in aircraft so as to reduce weight.
 cotton or oiled cambric is used for taping the coils of air-cooled
transformers, the coils being impregnated after taping.
Pressboard or presspaper is used as spacers, packing between coils,
barriers between coils and tank…….etc….
Cellulose
Varnished paper/ varnish tape
Varnish fiber glass
Asbestos
Mica
 Transformer Oil

Consists of 4 generic class of organic compounds namely:

(i). Aromatics,
(ii). Paraffins (higher %)
(iii). Napthenes
(iv). Olefines
 Vegetables & animals oil are not used in transformer as they form
fatty acids & attacks the fibrous insulating materials (paper-consists of
cellulose-(C6H10O5)n).
Transformer with tubes
 Application of insulating materials

…………self study from manual……..

Classification of electrical conducting materials:

(i) Materials of high conductivity (Silver, Copper, Aluminium etc..)
(ii) Materials of high Resistivity (manganin, Nichrome, constantan etc.)