UNIT:

TRANSFORMERS

What is a
Transformer?
A Transformer is a device that transfers

electrical energy from one electrical

circuit to another electrical circuit through
the medium of magnetic field without
changing its frequency.
The

electric circuit which receives energy

from the supply is known as the Primary
winding while the circuit that transfers
energy to the load is termed as the
secondary winding.

Various Important functions of

Transformers are:1)

For increasing or decreasing the voltage

or current levels from one circuit to the
other circuit.

2)

For matching the impedance of a source

and its load for maximum power transfer
in electronics and control circuits.

3)

For isolating DC while permitting the flow

of AC between the two circuits or for
isolating one circuit from another.

Transformer
Construction
There

are two general types of

transformers, the Core type and the
Shell type.
These two types differ from each other
by the manner in which the windings are
wound around the magnetic core.

 In

core type, the windings surround a

considerable part of the steel core as
shown in fig(a)

In

the shell type, the steel core surrounds

a major part of the winding as shown
above in fig(b)

 Most

of the flux is confined to the core however,

some flux leaks through the core legs and non
magnetic material surrounding the core. This flux is
known as the leakage flux.

In

core type this is achieved by placing half of the

LV winding over one leg and the rest half on the
other leg. Similar thing is done for the HV winding
as well.

As

shown in the fig. LV winding is placed adjacent

to the core and HV outside, in order to minimize
the amount of insulation required.

Shell

type transformers are preferred for lowvoltage low-power levels whereas core type is used
for high-voltage high power levels.

Transformer

suffers from mainly

Four types of losses:

a)

Iron Loss

b)

Copper Loss or Ohmic Loss

c)

Stray losses (Leakage Flux)

d)

Dielectric losses (Losses in insulating

Material)

Principle of Operation
A

transformer work on the principle of

electromagnetic induction between two
(or more) coupled circuits or coils.
According to this principle, an emf is
induced in a coil if it links a changing flux.
Schematic diagram of a two winding
transformer shown in the fig.

 The

primary winding P is connected to an

alternating voltage source, therefore an
alternating current Ie starts flowing
through N1 turns.

The

alternating mmf N1Ie sets up

alternating flux which is confined to high
permeability iron path as shown in fig.

The alternating flux induces voltage E1

in the primary P and E2 in the secondary
S. if the load is connected across
secondary a current will start to flow.

Thus

the transformer action requires the

existence of alternating mutual flux
linking the various winding on a common
magnetic core.