Unit – II

Transformers
What is a Transformer?

• A transformer is a static electrical machine which transfers electrical

energy from one circuit to another without changing the frequency.

• A transformer is a static electrical machine which raises or lowers

voltage or current at the same frequency.

• It works on the principle of MUTUAL INDUCTION.

Transformer
• It consists of two windings insulated from each other and wound on a
common core made up of a magnetic material.

• AC voltage is connected across one of the windings called primary

winding.

• Load is connected to the other winding called the secondary winding.

• In both windings, EMF is induced by electromagnetic induction.

Transformer
 Constructional details
• Main Components of a Transformer are,
 Magnetic core
 Primary & Secondary windings
 Insulation of windings
 Conservator tank & Explosion vent
 Bushings
 Buchholz relay
 Breather
 Cooling arrangements
 Magnetic Core
• Magnetic circuit consists of an iron
core.
• Core is made up of stacks of thin
laminations (0.35mm thickness) of Cold
Rolled Grain Oriented (CRGO) silicon
steel.
• These laminations are lightly insulated
with varnish.
• Two types of magnetic circuit are core
type and shell type.
Magnetic Core
Core type construction
• In the core type, the windings are wound around two legs of a
rectangular magnetic core.

• Windings surround the core & it has only one magnetic path.
Shell type construction
• In shell type, the windings are wound around the center leg of a
three-legged core

• Core surrounds the windings.

Windings

• A transformer has two windings namely primary and secondary.

• These windings consist of a series of turns called coils, wound around

the core.

• Transformer windings are made of solid or stranded copper or

aluminium strip conductors.
Conservator and Explosion Vent
• Conservator is used to provide adequate
space for the expansion of oil when
transformer is loaded or when ambient
temperature changes.

• Explosion Vent is used to discharge

excess pressure developed inside the
transformer during loading, to the
atmosphere.
 Breather
• It sucks the moisture from the air which is taken by transformer so that
dry air is taken by transformer.
 Bushings
• Transformers are connected to high voltage
lines.
• Extreme care should be taken to prevent
the conductors touching the transformer
tank.
• So the connections in and out of the
transformer are made by the use of
bushings.
• Bushings are normally porcelain insulators.
Buchholz Relay
• It is a safety device connected between main tank and conservator
tank.
• In case of slow developing faults, it sounds an alarm to alert the
operator.
• If serious fault occur in the transformer, it disconnects the
transformer to protect it.
Methods of Cooling of Transformers
• Air natural
• Air Blast
• Oil natural
• Oil blast
• Forced circulation of oil
• Oil and water cooled
• Forced oil and water cooled
Losses in a Transformer
• The power losses in a transformer are of two types, namely;
 Core or Iron losses
 Copper losses
Core or Iron losses (Pi)
Copper losses (PC)
 Summary
Core loss Copper loss or I2R loss

It is the Constant loss It is a variable loss

Does not change even as the Also called as I2R loss

load current changes Proportional to square of the load

Proportional to supply voltage current

and frequency Occurs in the winding resistances

It is dissipated as heat

Impedance
Ratio
Shifting
Impedances

• When transferring resistance or reactance from primary to secondary,

multiply it by K2.

• When transferring resistance or reactance from secondary to primary,

divide it by K2.
Equivalent Circuit of a Transformer
Simplified Equivalent Circuit of a Transformer
Equivalent Circuit Referred to Primary Side
Equivalent Circuit Referred to Primary Side
Equivalent Circuit Referred to Secondary Side
Equivalent Circuit Referred to Secondary Side
Testing of Transformers
• The circuit constants, efficiency and voltage regulation of a
transformer can be determined by two simple tests.
(i) Open-circuit test
(ii) Short-circuit lest
Open Circuit Test
 This test is conducted to determine R0 & X0
 Rated voltage is applied on LV side & HV side is kept open.
 At no load, current taken by the transformer is 3-5% of full load
current. So I2R loss is negligible.
 Therefore power consumed by the transformer on no load is
considered as core loss.
Open Circuit Test
Data observed from the test
 Supply voltage = V0 volts
 No load current = I0 amps
 Iron losses = W0 watts
W0 = V0I0 CosФ0
CosФ0 = W0/(V0I0)
IW = I0 CosФ0
Im = I0 SinФ0
R0 = V1/IW
X0 = V1/Im
Short Circuit Test
 This test is conducted to determine R02 & X02
 LV side of the Tfr is short circuited & the test is conducted on HV side.
 A low voltage is applied on the HV side to circulate the rated current
on both the windings.
 Power drawn during this test is considered as copper loss.
Short Circuit Test
Data observed from the test
 Applied voltage = VSC volts
 Short circuit current = ISC amps
 Copper losses = WSC watts
WSC = ISC2R02

R02= WSC/ISC2

Z02=VSC/ISC

X02=[Z022-R022]1/2
Efficiency
Efficiency
Condition for Maximum Efficiency
Condition for Maximum Efficiency
Condition for Maximum Efficiency
Output kVA Corresponding to Maximum Efficiency
Output kVA Corresponding to Maximum Efficiency
Voltage Regulation
Voltage Regulation at Different Power factors
Obtain the equivalent circuit of a 200 / 400 V, 50 Hz, 1 phase
transformer from the following test data:
O.C. test: 200 V, 0.7 A, 70 W – on L.V side.
S.C. test: 15 V, 10 A, 85 W – on H.V side.
Calculate the secondary voltage when delivering 5 kW at 0.8 p.f
lagging, the primary voltage being 200 V.
From OC Test From SC Test
Equivalent Circuit Referred to Primary Side
Equivalent Circuit Referred to Secondary Side
All Day Efficiency
All Day Efficiency
• Constant loss occurs during the whole day but copper loss occurs only
when the transformer is loaded.

• The performance of such transformers is judged on the basis of

energy consumption during the whole day (i.e., 24 hours).

• This is known as all-day or energy efficiency.

All Day Efficiency
All Day Efficiency
• A 40kVA distribution transformer has iron loss of 500 W and full load
copper loss of 500 W. the transformer is supplying a lighting load. The
load cycle is as under: Full load for 4 hours, half load for 8 hours and
no load for 12 hours. Calculate the all day efficiency.
All Day Efficiency
• A transformer has its maximum efficiency of 0.98 at 15 kVA at UPF.
During the day it is loaded as follows:

Duration Load Power Factor

12 hours 2 kW at 0.5 p.f
6 hours 12 kW at 0.8 p.f
4 hours 18 kW at 0.9 p.f
2 hours No load

• Find the “All Day Efficiency”.

Auto Transformer
• An autotransformer has a single winding on an iron core and a part of
winding is common to both the primary and secondary circuits.
Auto Transformer
 Theory of Autotransformer
• Winding 1-3 - N1 turns - pri winding
• winding 2-3 - N2 turns - sec winding
• Input current is I1
• Output current is I2
• Portion 1-2 of the wdg has N1 - N2 turns and voltage across this portion
of the winding is V1 - V2.
• The current through the common portion of the winding is I2 - I1.
Theory of Autotransformer
Output of Autotransformer
Saving of Copper in Auto Transformer

• For the same output and voltage transformation ratio, an autotransformer

requires less copper than an ordinary 2-winding transformer.

• Weight of Cu required in a winding is α current X turns

Advantages of Autotransformers

• An autotransformer requires less Cu than a two -winding transformer

of similar rating.
• Autotransformer operates at a higher efficiency than a two-winding
transformer of similar rating.
• An autotransformer has better voltage regulation than a two-winding
transformer of the same rating.
• An autotransformer has smaller size than a two-winding transformer
of the same rating.
Advantages of Autotransformers

• An autotransformer requires smaller exciting current than a two-

winding transformer of the same rating.
• These advantages decrease as the ratio of transformation increases.
So an autotransformer has advantages only for low values of
transformation ratio.
Disadvantages of Autotransformers

• There is a direct connection between the primary and secondary.

Therefore, the output is no longer isolated from the input.
• It is not safe for stepping down a high voltage to a low voltage.
• The short - circuit current is much larger than for the two-winding
transformer of the same rating.
• This reduces the effective resistance and reactance.
Applications of Autotransformers

• Autotransformers are used to compensate for voltage drops in

transmission and distribution lines. When used for this purpose, they
are known as booster transformers.
• Autotransformers are used for reducing the voltage supplied to a.c.
motors during the starting period.
• Autotransformers are used for continuous variable supply.
Three Phase Transformers
• Large scale generation of electric power is usually 3 phase at 13.2 kV
or higher.
• But transmission voltage is 110 kV, 132 kV and 400 kV.
• Generated voltage needs to be increased.
• Hence 3 phase transformers are used.
• 3 single phase transformers can be used to construct a 3 phase
transformer.
• But it occupies more space and 15% more costlier than using a single
unit.
Three Phase Transformer Connections
• Star / Star (Y – Y)
• Delta / Delta (Δ – Δ)
• Star / Delta(Y – Δ)
• Delta / Star (V – Y)
Star / Star (Y/Y) Connection
Delta / Delta (Δ/Δ) Connection
Star / Delta (Y/Δ) Connection
Delta / Star (Δ /Y) Connection
Parallel Operation of Transformers
• Two transformers are said to be connected in parallel when their
primary windings are connected to a common supply bus bar and
secondary windings are connected to a common load.
Necessary for Parallel Operation of Transformers

• For supplying a large load, it is uneconomical to have a single large

transformer.
• There is a scope for future expansion of a substation to supply a load
beyond the capacity of the transformer installed.
• Uninterruptible supply is possible even if one of the transformer fails
or if it is taken out for maintenance.
Conditions for satisfactory Parallel Operation
• Transformers should be properly connected with regard to their
polarities.
Conditions for satisfactory Parallel Operation
• The voltage ratings and voltage ratios of the transformers should be
identical.
Conditions for satisfactory Parallel Operation
• The impedances of the transformers should be equal.
• If this condition is not met, the transformers will not share the load
according to their kVA ratings.
• It can be corrected by inserting proper amount of resistance
Conditions for satisfactory Parallel Operation
• The reactance/resistance ratios of the transformers should be the
same in order to avoid circulating currents.
• The power factor of the load supplied by the transformers will not be
equal.
• One transformer will be operating with a higher and the other with a
lower power factor than that of the load.