Giulio Licitra, ERAMUS

Laboratory work No. 1

SINGLE-PHASE TRANSFORMER TEST

Aim of the work: 1. To get acquainted with the work and characteristics of single-phase transformer.
2. To master the methods of measuring the main transformer operating parameters.

Task: 1. Examine the connection circuits of measuring devices and the values that
   they measure.
2. Experimentally obtain a single-phase transformer operating
    characteristics.
3. To study the variation of the primary current curve shape under load change
     from no load to nominal power.

Theoretical part

A transformer is an electromagnetic device that changes the energy parameters of an alternating

current of the same frequency.
The operation of transformers is based on the mutual induction phenomenon of two or more windings.
The largest group of transformers consists of three-phase power transformers, which increase the
voltage at the electrical source and reduce it at the point of use, i.e. transforms the voltage. Their
power is very high - hundreds and thousands of kilovolt-amps (kV · A).
Single-phase transformers are used in various technical fields (automation, electronics, etc.) and at
home. Their power is low - up to a few volt-amperes (V · A).
In addition to them there are special transformers: rectifiers, welding, measuring, impulse and so on.
The simplest single-phase transformer consists of a closed magnetic core and two non-electrically
connected windings: primary and secondary. They are coiled by a common magnetic flux, so there is a
magnetic connection between the windings. A transformer winding that draws power from an
electrical source is called primary, and which supplies power to the receivers - secondary.

Transformer tests

The transformer is characterized by the following parameters: apparent power Sv (V · A or kV · A);

primary and secondary rated currents I1v and I2v; primary rated voltage U1v and secondary no-load
*
voltage U20 =U2v; short-circuit and no-load power P1k and P10; relative short-circuit voltage uk ;
frequency of the mains voltage; winding connection group and other test data. They can be used to
determine how the secondary voltage changes when transformer is put umder load, what are the
losses, windings impedance and other important data for transformer operation.
The following transformer tests shall be performed: no-load, short circuit and load test (for low power
transformers).
The idle test is performed by connecting the primary winding to the rated voltage network and leaving
the secondary winding open (Figure 1).

Figure 1. No-load test circuit diagram

 During the no-load test measurements are taken of voltage U1v, current I10 and power P10 for
the primary winding and voltage U20 for the secondary.
The measurement data shall provide:
E1 U1
1. Transformation coefficient k   .
E2 U 20
2. Magnetic (steel) loss Pm= Ppl = P10.

The short-circuit test is performed by short-circuiting the secondary winding and connecting
the primary winding to a lowered primary voltage source that the current ind both windings would be
same as rated (Figure 2).

Figure 2. The short-circuit test connection diagram

The short-circuit test measures the voltage U1k, current I1v and power P1k for the primary
winding and current I2k= I2v for the secondary.
The measurement data shall provide:
U1k
1. Relative short-circuit voltage uk  100 %.
*

U1v
2. Electrical (Copper) Loss Pel= Pcu = P1k..

Performance characteristics

The external characteristic shows the dependence of the secondary voltage and the load, i.e. secondary
current. This is one of the most important performance characteristics of the transformer. The
secondary voltage of power transformers has little to no affect while load is changing. However, there
are receivers that are very sensitive to voltage changes. For example, when the mains voltage is 1%
different from the rated voltage, the luminous flux of the incandescent lamp is 3.5% compared to their
rated values. For most other industrial receivers the allowed voltage drop is 5% and for some 10%.

Figure 3. External characteristics of the transformer under various loads:

1 - active; 2 - active-inductive; 3 – capacitive.
 Work connection diagram
METREL
U1 U2
M
I1 I2
P1 P2
cos 1 cos  2

T
U 1v  220 V
Ra

Figure 4. Transformer test connection diagram: T is test transformer, M is meter

Methodology of work

1. Familiarize yourself with the working scheme (Fig. 4), the devices used in it and their purpose.
1.1. Check that the power switch QF1 is in the off position.
1.2. Set the slider of the load rheostat Ra to the maximum resistance position.
1.3. Check that the measuring range of the secondary circuit devices corresponds to the measured
values: voltage 40 V, current 5 A.
1.4. After completing p. 1.1-1.3. requirements, connect the test circuit to the supply voltage.
1.5. Switch on the mains voltage with the automatic switch QF1.
2. No-load test.
2.1. Disconnect one load rheostat wire so that secondary current is zero.
2.2. Write the following data in the data table: U1v, I10, P10 and U20.
2.3. Draw the voltage and current curves from the meter METREL or computer screen and record the
percentage of the 3rd harmonic in the primary current curve.
2.4. Calculate the voltage transformation coefficient from the test data and determine the magnetic
losses.
3. Short circuit test.
3.1. Adjust the slider of the autotransformer AT so that the supply voltage is zero. Check that the
meter METREL shows a primary voltage U1=0.
3.2. Connect the rheostat wires to transformer and set the slider so that the resistance of load rheostat
is zero.
3.3. With the autotransformer AT, slowly increase the primary voltage until the secondary current
reaches the nominal (rated) current, i.e. 5 A.
3.4. Write the following data in the data table: U1k, I1k, P1k and I2k.
3.5. Draw the voltage and current curves from the meter METREL or computer screen and record the
percentage of the 3rd harmonic in the primary current curve.
3.6. After finishing the short circuit test reset test scheme: Set the load rheostat slider to the maximum
impedance position and the autotransformer to a rated supply voltage of 220 V.

4. Performance characteristics.
4.1. The performance characteristics is obtained by changing the load (secondary) current from 0 to
5A with a load rheostat every 1 A. Measure and record the following data during the test:
in the primary winding U1, I1, P1 and in the secondary winding U2, I2, P2.
4.2. Calculate the power and efficiency ratios of the primary circuit for each load value and write the
data in a table.
4.3. To observe the change of the primary current curve shape and harmonic composition while the
transformer is under load.
4.4. Switch off the power supply at the end of the test with the QF circuit breaker.

Content of the report

1. Job task and work connection diagram.

2. No-load, short circuit and performance characteristics test data.
3. Operating characteristics plotted in one figure: U2, I1, P1, , cos = f(I2).
4. Magnetic and electrical losses, transformation coefficient, relative short circuit voltage and relative
voltage change.
5. Primary current curves for three values of load currents.
6. Conclusions about: the shape of the primary current curve and its harmonic composition, the
variation of the secondary voltage under load of the transformer and its relative change, the variation
of the efficiency and power coefficient under load of the transformer, magnetic and electrical losses -
what percentage they consist of the rated transformer power.

Control questions

1. What changes when the transformer is loaded compared to the no-load conditions?
2. Why does the secondary voltage decrease when the transformer is loaded?
3. Draw the equivalent diagram of the transformer and explain the physical meaning of its elements.
4. Explain what would change in a transformer if its magneto core had a small air gap.
5. Explain what would change in a transformer if its magneto conductor were made of a solid
ferromagnetic material.
6. Why is the power factor cos not equal to zero when the load current is zero?
7. What are the causes of primary current distortion during idle mode?
8. What power describes transformers?
9. What are the losses in transformers?
10. What does steel loss on transformers depend on?