TRANSFORMER

FUNDAMENTALS
The Transformer : Introduction
The introduction of transformer in 1884, overcoming the technical and
economical limitations associated with the original DC (direct current)
commercial system, made practical the eventual availability of electric
power to almost every home, office and factory.
– The first commercial AC system using transformers was put in
operation two years later (1886) in Great Barrington,
Massachusset, USA
– AC power was transmitted at 2000 volts over 30 km of line built at
Cerchi, Italy
From these small beginnings, the electric power industry has grown to the
giant, almost universal, force the the good of mankind the world has ever
seen.
For all practical purposes, this industry today is entirely a supplier of
alternating current; and its development is entirely due to the
“transformer”.
Discoveries That Led To The Invention
Of The Transformer
In a permanent magnet, magnetic flux flows from one pole to the other
pole
Discoveries That Led To The Invention
Of The Transformer
A current–carrying conductor produces a magnetic field
Discoveries That Led To The Invention
Of The Transformer
A current–carrying coiled conductor produces a stronger magnetic field
Discoveries That Led To The Invention
Of The Transformer
A current–carrying coiled conductor placed on a magnetic material
produces an even stronger magnetic field
Discoveries That Led To The Invention
Of The Transformer
Voltage is induced on a coiled conductor placed beside an energized coiled
conductor
Discoveries That Led To The Invention
Of The Transformer
A conductor cutting across a stationary magnetic field induces an
alternating voltage within itself

The magnitude of the magnetically induced voltage is proportional to the

flux density, the length of the wire and the velocity at which it cuts the
magnetic flux, i.e., E = BlV X 10-8 volts
Definition / Principle of Operation
 A “static”
static electrical device :
– which transfers electrical energy from one set of terminal to
another.
– transform electrical energy into magnetic energy then back to
magnetic energy without a change in frequency.
– Done thru the principle of electromagnetic induction

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
– First Law Of Electromagnetism
• A current carrying conductor produces a magnetic field

– Second Law of Electromagnetism

• A current carrying conductor surrounding a stationary magnetic
field produces alternating voltage.
Definition / Principle of Operation
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

– When an electric circuit is supplied with a voltage, that circuit must

take sufficient amount of current from the source to build up a
counter-electromotive force equal and opposite to the applied
voltage.

** ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION is the creation of an electric field

by a time varying magnetic field.
Transformer Construction
There are two general types of transformer, distinguished from each other
by the manner in which the primary and secondary coils are placed around
the laminated steel core.

CORE TYPE – The coils surround a considerable part of the magnetic

circuit.

SHELL TYPE - The magnetic circuit surround a considerable part of the

electric circuit (i.e., windings)
Basic Parts Of A Transformer
Magnetic Circuit or CORE
Electric Circuit or Windings
Major and Minor Insulations
Clamping Structure
Insulating / Cooling Medium
Enclosure or Casing
Insulator for Line Leads
Core
 Part of a transformer that serves as a path for the flow of magnetic
flux. It also serve to “intensify” the magnetic field resulting from a
current in a coil.

 Can either be of the wound type of stacked type

Core Loss
Core Loss Component

Hysteresis Loss
Dependent on the type of material used. Minimized by the proper
composition of the iron and proper annealing
Core Loss
Core Loss Component

 Eddy-Current Loss
Caused by the current circulating in the core. Minimized by
laminating the core.
Factors Affecting Core Loss
 Silicon Content
 Impurity Level
 Degree of Grain Orientation
 Grain Size
 Surface Insulation
 Core Weight
 Steel Thickness
 Joint Closure
 Strain
Common Core Material
 Non-Grain Oriented Silicon Steel
 Grain Oriented Silicon Steel
 High Permeability Grain Oriented Silicon Steel
 Laser-Etched Silicon Steel (NSC)
 Plasma-Irradiated Silicon Steel (KSC)
 Amorphous Steel
Consideration For Core Materials
 Core Loss
 Exciting Current
 Saturation Flux Density
 Process
 Availability
 Cost
Winding (Coil)

 Arrangement of conductors wound on an insulating form with each turn

insulated from all the other turns

 Usually, the conductors are wound on top of each other

Winding Arrangement
Broadly speaking , there are only two classes of coil arrangement :

– CONCENTRIC WINDING

– INTERLEAVED (Pancake) WINDING

Types of Winding Construction
 CONCENTRIC CORE FORM

– Layer-Wound

– Helical
Types of Winding Construction
 CONCENTRIC CORE FORM

– Spiral

– Cross-over
Types of Winding Construction
 DISK WINDING
Winding Design Criteria
 Sufficient dielectric strength against various voltage stresses such as
lightning or switching surges

 Adequate winding ventilation

 Adequate mechanical strength

 Minimum cost

 Specified maximum losses

Common Considerations For Winding
Materials
 Load Loss
 Winding Temparature Rise
 Short Circuit Withstand Capability
– Tensile Strength
– Capability To Adjust Electrical Center
 Insulation
 Process
 Availability
 Cost
Insulation System
What is insulation?
Insulate : (1) to cause to be in detach or isolated position, (2)Physics-To
prevent passage of heat or electricity or sound into or out of, by
interposition, of an appropriate insulator
– Insulator : (1) a material that insulates, a non conductor of
sound, heat or electricity. (2) A device that insulates

– Conductor : a substance or medium that conducts heat, sound or

an electric charge

Electrically Speaking…..
Insulator-the electrons are held firmly by the nucleus, and a
relatively high potential difference produces only a very small
movement of electrons from atom to atom
Insulation System
Purpose of Insulation
To prevent electrical breakdown between the various parts which
make up a transformer

Causes of Insulation Breakdown

1. Corona
2. Sudden surge of voltage beyond the transformer’s ability to
protect itself
3. Gradual weakening of insulation due to thermal deterioration
Basic Insulation System

Basic insulation
system of a core
type power
transformer
Basic Insulation System
BIL is the crest value
of the impulse
voltage which a
given unit is required
to withstand without
failure. These
designated minimum
levels may be from 2
to 3 ½ times the
normal operating
voltage depending
on the degree of
reliability required.
Basic Insulation System
Solid insulation is required in a transformer, wherever a difference ins
potential exists between two points. The selection of insulation is
generally made in proportion to the anticipated overvoltages and with a
safety margin to compensate for decreases due to normal service ageing.
Various components are designed to work best together and achieve
which is called the coordination of insulation within the insulation
system.
Insulating Medium
1. Liquid
 Provide dielectric strength
 Provide Efficient Cooling
 Protects the Insulation System

2. Solid Insulating Materials

 Ability to withstand the relatively high voltages encountered in
normal service
 Ability to withstand the mechanical and thermal stresses during
normal operation and fault condition.
 Ability to prevent heat accumulations (heat transfer)
 Ability o maintain desired characteristics for an acceptable service
life period given proper maintenance
Common Consideration For Cooling
/Insulating Medium
 Insulation Strength
– DBV Withstand
– Impulse Withstand
– Corona Resistance
 Dielectric Constant (Permittivity)
– Heat Dissipation Rate
– Thermal Conductivity
 Stability
 Hygroscopicity
– Oxidation Stability
– Viscosity
 Compatibility with other materials immersed in it
 Flammability (For indoor transformers)
Common Consideration For Cooling
/Insulating Medium
 Compatibility with other materials immersed in it
 Flammability (For indoor transformers)
 Thermal Shock Resistance (For dry type transformers)
 Mechanical Strength
 Process
 Availability
 Cost
Clamps
 Holds the core-coil assembly (considered the heart of a transformer)
securely in place
 Provides a sturdy construction that gives the transformer unit
additional withstand capability
 Permanently place the core-coil assembly safely inside the enclosure
Casing (Tank)
The transformer case or tank, generally made of steel, provides
mechanical protection for the complete core-coil assembly and a container
for the liquid coolant/insulant, if one is used.

TYPES :

1. Sealed Type with Air Cushion

2. Free-Breathing Type of Open Type

 With air space above the oil at atmospheric pressure, which
allows air to enter or escape from this space with pressure
and temperature changes.
 Equipped with and open, unidirectional, or dehydrating
breather
Casing (Tank)

3. Conservator or Expansion Tank Type

 Equipped with an auxiliary expansion tank above the
transformer which has a volume of 3 to 10 percent of that of
the transformer itself
 The insulating fluid completely fills the transformer tank and
the lower half of the expansion tank
 This type reduces oxygen and moisture absorption and
retards sludge formation

4. Automatic Inert Gas Pressure Type

 TRANSFORMER RATING AND
SPECIFICATION

The electrical Industry has developed standards as basis for

the establishment of performance, limited electrical and
mechanical interchangeability and safety requirements of
equipment

Copyright 1996-98 © Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc.

Transformer Specifications
Information Usually Required

– Power Required (KVA) PRI SEC

KVA TAPPING
– Primary Voltage VOLTAGE VOLTAGE

– Secondary Voltage 50 13200 240 2.5%,2A2B

50 13200 120/240 2.5%,2A2B

• Losses
• Percent Impedance 50
13200GrdY/
7620
240/120 2.5%,1A3B

• Efficiency
50 13200 120/240 2.5%,2A2B
• Weight and Dimension
• Applicable Standard
Transformer Standards
Standards are:

– Voluntary and consensus standard

– Use is wholly voluntary
– Use may become mandatory when required by a duly constituted
legal authority or when specified in a contractual relationship
Transformer Standards
Some commonly known Standards:

1. ANSI / IEEE – American National Standards Institute / Institute of

Electrical And Electronics Engineers (ANSI C57.12)
2. NEMA – National electrical Manufacturer’s Association
3. IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC Pub. 76-1)
4. BS – British Standards
5. ASTM – American Society for Testing of Materials
Transformer Rating
WHY KVA ?

Transformers are rated in volt-amperes (or KVA) rather than watts, since
the characteristics of the circuit and its load(s) affect the power factor of
the power being transformed, a poor power factor can cause large current
flow in the coils of the transformer, producing losses and heat, with
relative little actual power being delivered.

The rating takes into account the current flow and the voltage applied is
the volt-ampere rating
Transformer Rating - Preferred
Single-Phase Single-Phase Three-Phase Three-Phase
5 1250 15 25000
10 1667 30 3750
15 2500 45 5000
25 3333 75 10000
37.5 5000 112.5 12000
50 6667 150 15000
75 8333 225 20000
100 10000 300 25000
167 12500 500 30000
250 16667 750 37000
333 20000 1000 50000
500 25000 1500 60000
833 33333 2000 75000
Transformer Polarity
1. Additive Polarity
 8.66 KV and Below & 200 KVA and below

2. Subtractive Polarity
Transformer Cooling Class
1. Liquid-Immersed Air-cooled
1. Class OA : liquid-immersed, self-cooled
2. Class OA/FA : liquid-immersed, self-cooled/forced-air-cooled
3. Class OA/FA/FA : liquid-immersed, self-cooled/forced-air-cooled/
forced-air-cooled
2. Liquid-Immersed Air-cooled /Forced-Liquid Cooled
1. Class OA/FA/FOA : liquid-immersed, self-cooled/forced-air-
cooled/forced-liquid-cooled
2. Class OA/FOA/FOA : liquid-immersed, self-cooled/forced-air-
forced-liquid-cooled/forced-air-forced-liquid-cooled
3. Liquid Immersed Water-Cooled
1. Class OW : liquid-immersed, water-cooled
2. Class OW/A : liquid immersed, water-cooled/self-cooled
4. Others
Voltages
1. Primary (Input)
2. Secondary (Output)
3. Vector Group (if three-phase)
1. Yy0
2. Dd0
3. Dy1
4. Yd1
Voltage Designation:Single-Phase
Terminal Markings
Voltage Designation:Three-Phase
TRANSFORMER STANDARD
COMPARISON

ANSI & IEC

Considering only the major differences
Transformer Standards
Criteria IEC ANSI
1. Transformer Input to the primary Apparent power available at
Capacity terminals the secondary terminals

2. Temperature Principal (rated) Tap Tap at w/c the winding rise

Rise Test is max. (lowest tap)

3. Tolerance
 Total 10 % 6%
 No-Load 14.27% 10%
 Load Loss 14.27% --
Transformer Standards
Criteria IEC ANSI
4. Ambient Temperature,o C
 Max 40 40
 Max (24h) 30 30
 Max ave (annually) 20 30

5. BIL (Full Wave, Kv)

 2.5 Kv Class, PT 45 Kv 60 Kv
 8.7 Kv Class, DT 60 Kv 95 Kv
 15 Kv Class, PT 75 Kv 110 Kv
 69 Kv Class, PT 325 Kv 350 Kv
Transformer Standards
Criteria IEC ANSI
4. Loading Guides
 Normal Winding Rise 65 o
C 65 o
C
 Max Hot-Spot Temp 140 C
o
180 C
o

 Max Current Cycling 150 % 200 %

 Maximum Current
Emergency 200 % --