CONSTRUCTION OF AN ELECTRIC TRANSFORMER

Department of physics

KLUniversity
INDEX
 Intruduction
 Methdology
 Result and Discussion
 Future Scope
 Reference
INTRODUCTION
The transformer is one of the most common devices found in electrical
system that links the circuits which are operating at different voltages
.These are commonly used in applications where there is a need of AC
voltage conversion from one voltage level to another. It is possible either
to decrease or increase the voltage and currents by the use of transformer
in AC circuits based on the requirements of the electrical equipment or
device or load. Various applications use wide variety of transformers
including power, instrumentation and pulse transformers.

In a broad, transformers are categorized into two types, namely,

electronic transformers and power transformers. Electronic transformers
operating voltages are very low and are rated at low power levels. These
are used in consumer electronic equipments like televisions, personal
computers, CD/DVD players, and other devices. The term power
transformer is referred to the transformers with high power and voltage
ratings. These are extensively used in power generation, transmission,
distribution and utility systems to increase or decrease the voltage levels.
However, the operation involved in these two types of transformers is
same. So let us go in detail about the transformers.
Methodology
AIM : To prepare an Electric Transformer
Materials Required :

 Magnet Copper Wire

 Plates or sheets of Silicon Iron in the shapes of “I” and letter
“E”
 Press board or Wax paper
 Masking tape to hold the paper and the wire
 Screws and Brackets
 Form work or Spool
 Fevikwik
 Knife
 Cello Tape
Transformer
A transformer can be defined as a static device which helps in the
transformation of electric power in one circuit to electric power of the
same frequency in another circuit. The voltage can be raised or lowered
in a circuit, but with a proportional increase or decrease in the current
ratings.

In this article we will be learning about Transformer basics and working

principleThe main principle of operation of a transformer is mutual
inductance between two circuits which is linked by a common magnetic
flux.

A basic transformer consists of two coils that are electrically separate

and inductive, but are magnetically linked through a path of reluctance.
The working principle of the transformer can be understood from the
figure
As shown above the electrical transformer has primary and secondary
windings.

Working Principle of Transformer

The transformer working depends upon Faraday’s

electromagnetic induction law. The mutual induction phenomenon
between two or more winding is responsible for power
transformation.

According to Faraday’s laws, “The Rate of change of flux linkage

with respect to time is directly proportional to the EMF induced in
a conductor or coil”.

E= N dϕ /dt

Where,

E = Induced EMF

N = the number of turns

dϕ = Change in flux

dt = Change in time

Types of Transformers
There are several transformer types used in the electrical power
system for different purposes, like in power generation,
distribution and transmission and utilization of electrical power.
The transformers are classified based on voltage levels, Core
medium used, winding arrangements, use and installation place,
etc. Here we discuss different types of transformers are the step
up and step down Transformer, Distribution Transformer,

Potential Transformer, Power Transformer, 1-ϕ and 3-ϕ

transformer, Auto transformer, etc.

Transformers Based on Voltage Levels

These are the most commonly used transformer types for all the
applications. Depends upon the voltage ratios from primary to
secondary windings, the transformers are classified as step-up
and step-down transformers.

Step-Up Transformer
As the name states that, the secondary voltage is stepped up with
a ratio compared to primary voltage. This can be achieved by
increasing the number of windings in the secondary than the
primary windings as shown in the figure. In power plant, this
transformer is used as connecting transformer of the generator to
the grid.

Step-Down Transformer
It used to step down the voltage level from lower to higher level at
secondary side as shown below so that it is called as a step-down
transformer. The winding turns more on the primary side than the
secondary side.
In distribution networks, the step-down transformer is commonly
used to convert the high grid voltage to low voltage that can be
used for home appliances.
CORE – TYPE TRANSFORMER
In core – type transformer, the windings are given to a considerable part
of the core . The coils used for this transformer are form– wound and are
cylindrical type . Such a type of transformer can be applicable for small
sized and large sized transformers . In the small sized type , the core will
be rectangular in shape and the coils used are cylindrical.
SHELL - TYPE TRANSFORMER
In shell type transformers the core surrounds a considerable portion of
the windings . The comparison is shown in the figure below

The coils are form – wound but are multi layer disc type usually wound
in the form of pancakes .paper is used to insulate the different layers of
multi – layer discs . The Whole winding consists of discs stacked with
insulation spaces between the coils .
These insulation spaces from the horizontal cooling and insulating ducts
.such a transformer may have the shape of a simple rectangle or may
also have a distributed form .

SHELL – TYPE LAMINATIONS AND CORE – TYPE

LAMINATIONS
Transformer Construction
The simple construction of a transformer, you must need two coils
having mutual inducta1nce and a laminated steel core. The two coils are
insulated from each other and from the steel core. The device will also
need some suitable container for the assembled core and windings, a
medium with which the core and its windings from its container can be
insulated.

In order to insulate and to bring out the terminals of the winding from
the tank, apt bushings that are made from either porcelain or capacitor
type must be used.

In all transformers that are used commercially, the core is made out of
transformer sheet steel laminations assembled to provide a continuous
magnetic path with minimum of air-gap included. The steel should have
high permeability and low hysteresis loss.

For this to happen, the steel should be made of high silicon content and
must also be heat treated. By effectively laminating the core, the eddy-
current losses can be reduced.
The lamination can be done with the help of a light coat of core plate
varnish or lay an oxide layer on the surface.

For a frequency of 50 Hertz, the thickness of the lamination varies from

0.35mm to 0.5mm for a frequency of 25 Hertz.

Transformer Working

It is important to remember that transformers do not

generate electrical power; they transfer electrical power
from one AC circuit to another using magnetic coupling.
The core of the transformer is used to provide a
controlled path for the magnetic flux generated in the
transformer by the current flowing through the windings,
which are also known as coils.
There are four primary parts to the basic transformer.
The parts include the Input Connection, the Output
Connection, the Windings or Coils and the Core.

Input Connections
The input side of a transformer is called the primary
side because the main electrical power to be changed is
connected at this point.

Output Connections
The output side or secondary side of the transformer is
where the electrical power is sent to the load. Depending
on the requirement of the load, the incoming electric
power is either increased or decreased.
Winding
Transformers have two windings, being the primary
winding and the secondary winding. The primary winding
is the coil that draws power from the source. The
secondary winding is the coil that delivers the energy at
the transformed or changed voltage to the load.

Usually, these two coils are subdivided into several coils

in order to reduce the creation of flux.

Core
The transformer core is used to provide a controlled path
for the magnetic flux generated in the transformer. The
core is generally not a solid bar of steel, rather a
construction of many thin laminated steel sheets or
layers. This construction is used to help eliminate and
reduce heating.
Transformers generally have one of two types of cores:
Core Type and Shell Type. These two types are
distinguished from each other by the manner in which
the primary and secondary coils are place around the
steel core.

When an input voltage is applied to the primary winding,

alternating current starts to flow in the primary winding.
As the current flows, a changing magnetic field is set up
in the transformer core. As this magnetic field cuts across
the secondary winding, alternating voltage is produced in
the secondary winding.
The ratio between the number of actual turns of wire in
each coil is the key in determining the type of
transformer and what the output voltage will be. The
ratio between output voltage and input voltage is the
same as the ratio of the number of turns between the
two windings.
A transformers output voltage is greater than the input
voltage if the secondary winding has more turns of wire
than the primary winding. The output voltage is stepped
up, and considered to be a "step-up transformer". If the
secondary winding has fewer turns than the primary
winding, the output voltage is lower. This is a "step-down
transformer".
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Here the electric transformer is completed with liminated core which is
surrounded by copper and with insulating material.

By connecting the bulb with wire to the switch board the bulb will glow
by 6 volts
CONCLUSION
Since the high voltages carried in the wires are significantly greater than
what is needed in-home, transformers are also used extensively
in electronic products to decrease (or step-down) the supply voltage to a
level suitable for the low voltage circuits they contain.

The transformer also electrically isolates the end user from contact with
the supply voltage. Transformers are used to increase (or step-up)
voltage before transmitting electrical energy over long distances
through wires.

Wires have resistance which loses energy through joule heating at a rate
corresponding to square of the current.By transforming power to a
higher voltage transformers enable economical transmission of power
and distribution.

Consequently, transformers have shaped the electricity supply industry,

permitting generation to be located remotely from points of demand. All
but a tiny fraction of the world's electrical power has passed through a
series of transformers by the time it reaches the consumer.
FUTURE SCOPE
The future prospects of the graduates are very wide and bright.
The demand for environmentally friendly power generation, more
sophisticated electrical and electronic devices, and cheaper and
smarter products mean there is a lot of work for Electrical
Engineers. There are a wide range of challenging paths available
to an Electrical engineer.

The areas they can fit in are Design and Development,

Manufacturing, Automation, Production and Maintenance,
Operation and Control of any equipments or products which work
on electricity.

Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduates can work in

various fields as Power engineering, Instrumentation
Engineering, Communications engineering, Computer
engineering and Media.

The graduates from this discipline can pursue higher education in

IITs, NITs, Deemed Universities and almost all State Universities
and Private Engineering Colleges offering Specialized Courses,
and also can write TOEFL and GRE for pursuing studies in
abroad.

There are a number of good opportunities for getting jobs in India

as well as abroad like in design and construction of power lines, in
the control and management of power stations or in the design
and installation of electrical systems and machinery, such as
transformers, electric motors, power electronics and various
private sector organizations.
Reference
Electric transformer.wikipidia
Quora