Dire Dawa Institute of Technology

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

ECEg - 3132: - Electrical Engineering Laboratory IV

Laboratory Experiment No. 2 –
Single phase transformer test: i) Open circuit test
ii) Short circuit test
iii) Finding efficiency from open & short circuit test
Objective
 To understand the basic working principle of a transformer.
 To obtain iron loss or no-load loss, exciting current and load loss or copper loss.
 To obtain the equivalent circuit parameters from OC and SC tests and to calculate efficiency &
voltage regulation at various loads.

Apparatus required
Digital multi meter-----------------------------------2
Digital/Analog wattmeter--------------------------- 1
Single phase transformer --------------------------- 1
Variable ac power supply----------------------------1
DC power supply-------------------------------------1
Name Plate Details
H.V. side L.V. side
1. KVA : ______________ _____________
2. Voltage : ______________ _____________
3. Current : ______________ ______________
4. Frequency : ______________ ______________

Theoretical hints
The physical basis of the transformer is mutual induction between two circuits linked by a common
magnetic field. Transformer is required to pass electrical energy from one circuit to another, via the
medium of the pulsating magnetic field, as efficiently and economically as possible. This could be
achieved using either iron or steel which serves as a good permeable path for the mutual magnetic flux.

1
 The practical transformer has coils of finite resistance. Also, all the flux produce by the primary current
cannot be confined into a desired path completely as an electric current. Though a greater proportion
links both the coils (mutual flux), a small proportion called the leakage flux links one or other winding,
but not both. It does not contribute to the transfer of energy from primary to secondary. On account of
the leakage flux, both the windings have a voltage drop which is due to ‘leakage reactance’.
To predict the performance of a transformer, the equivalent circuit shown can be used; and therefore all
the circuit parameters must be known. The equivalent circuit parameters are determined by performing
OC and SC tests.
Experiment – 1
Open circuit test – By performing the open circuit test, shunt branch parameters Xo and Ro can be
determined.
Procedure
1. Connect the circuit as shown in fig 2.1and see that vaiac is in minimum position.
2. Apply rated voltage to the LV winding by varying the variac.
3. Note down the readings of voltmeter (V1), ammeter (Io) and wattmeter (W) in table 2.1.
4. Disassemble the circuit and return everything to its previous posit

Fig 2.1 Circuit diagram for open circuit test

Table 2.1 Open circuit test result
Rated voltage of No load Power, [W] Cos φo, No-load 𝑅𝑜 𝑋𝑜
LV winding current Io Iron losses power factor 𝑉1 𝑉1
= =
V1 (Poc) 𝐼𝑤 𝐼𝜇

50

60

70

2
 80

𝐶𝑜𝑠 ∅0 = 𝑃𝑂𝐶 /(𝑉1 𝐼𝑜 ) Magnetizing current, 𝐼𝜇 = 𝐼𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∅𝑜

𝑉
Loss component, 𝐼𝑤 = 𝐼𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∅𝑜 magnetizing reactance, 𝑋𝑜 = 𝐼 1
𝜇

𝑉
No load loss component resistance, 𝑅𝑜 = 𝐼 1
𝑤

Experiment – 2
Short circuit test – By performing the short circuit test, load loss (copper loss) winding resistance and
leakage reactance are determined.
Procedure
1. Connect the circuit as shown in fig. 3. and keep the variac in minimum position.
2. Adjust the variac voltage such that rated current flows through the HV windings.
3. Note down the readings of voltmeter (Vsc) ammeter(I1sc and I2sc) and wattmeter (Wsc) in table 2.
4. Disassemble the circuit and return everything to its previous position.

Fig. 2.2 Circuit diagram for short circuit test

Table 2.2 Open circuit test result
HVS Supply LVS power loss 𝑉𝑆𝐶 𝑃𝑆𝐶
𝑍02 = 𝑅02 = 2
Short circuit current voltage Short circuit current PSC, [W] 𝐼1𝑆𝐶 𝐼1𝑆𝐶

I1sc, [A] Vsc, [V] I2sc, [A]

1

𝑉
Total impedance referred to the H.V. side, 𝑍02 = 𝐼 𝑆𝐶
1𝑆𝐶

3
 𝑃
Total resistance referred to the H.V. side,𝑅02 = 𝐼2𝑆𝐶
1𝑆𝐶

2 2
Total reactance referred to the HV side, 𝑋02 = √𝑍02 − 𝑅02
𝑅02 𝑋02
Therefore, total resistance and reactance referred to L.V. side (Primary side) 𝑅01 = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑋01 =
𝐾2 𝐾2
𝑉
Where ‘k’ is transformation ratio and is given by 𝑉2 .
1

Calculation of Efficiency and regulation:

After getting equivalent circuit parameters, efficiency and regulation at any desired load and power
factor can be calculated as follows.
Let X = Loading factor. (That means X= 1 for full load and X = 0.25 for 25% of full load)
Output Power = X * Full load KVA * PF, [W]
Input power = Output power + losses = X * Full load KVA * PF + (X2*PCU + Ploss)
Where, PCU = Full load copper losses from short circuit test and
Ploss = No load or iron losses from open circuit test.
Pout
Now, 𝜂= 𝑥100%
Pin
𝑋∗𝐼2 𝑅𝑜2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ ±𝑋∗𝐼2 𝑋𝑜2 𝑠𝑖𝑛∅
%V. R = 𝑥100%
𝑉2

Where, I2 = Secondary full load current rating

R02 = Resistance of the winding referred to secondary
X02 = Reactance of the winding referred to secondary
Cos ∅ = Power factor
V2 = Secondary rated voltage.
Using above formulae, complete the table 1 and 2 and draw graphs. Model graphs were shown in figure
below
Table 2.3: Efficiency calculations:
Fraction of PF = Cos
load (x) 1.0 0.8
1/4
1/2
3/4
1

Questions to be answered

4
 1. Which winding (LV or HV) should be kept open while conducting OC test? Justify your answer.
2. Assume that the transformer has the following name plate ratings: 40 kVA, 440 V/ 11 kV, 50 Hz.
what do these numbers imply?
3. Assume that you have been given a transformer manufactured for the supply voltage and
frequency 110 V and 60 Hz respectively. What voltage will you apply if this transformer is
to be used in this country? Justify your answer.
Results and conclusion: