Transformer

Construction and Working

Definition:

• Electrical transformer is a static electrical machine which

transforms electrical power from one circuit to another circuit,

without changing the frequency. Transformer can increase or

decrease the voltage with corresponding decrease or increase in

current.
 Working Principle of Transformer
• The basic principle behind working of a transformer is the phenomenon of

mutual induction between two windings linked by common magnetic flux.

• Basically a transformer consists of two inductive coils; primary winding and

secondary winding. The coils are electrically separated but magnetically linked

to each other.

• When, primary winding is connected to a source of alternating voltage,

alternating magnetic flux is produced around the winding.

• The core provides magnetic path for the flux, to get linked with the secondary
winding. Most of the flux gets linked with the secondary winding which is called as
'useful flux' or main 'flux', and the flux which does not get linked with secondary
winding is called as 'leakage flux’.

• As the flux produced is alternating (the direction of it is continuously changing), EMF

gets induced in the secondary winding according to Faraday's law of electromagnetic
induction. This emf is called 'mutually induced emf', and the frequency of mutually
induced emf is same as that of supplied emf.

• If the secondary winding is closed circuit, then mutually induced current flows
through it, and hence the electrical energy is transferred from one circuit (primary) to
another circuit (secondary).
 Types of Transformers
• (A) On the basis of construction, transformers can be classified into two types as;
(i) Core type transformer and

(ii) Shell type transformer

Core Type Transformer
In core type transformer, windings are cylindrical former wound, mounted
on the core limbs as shown in the figure above. The cylindrical coils have different
layers and each layer is insulated from each other. Materials like paper, cloth or
mica can be used for insulation. Low voltage windings are placed nearer to the
core, as they are easier to insulate.

Shell Type Transformer

The coils are former wound and mounted in layers stacked with insulation
between them. A shell type transformer may have simple rectangular form (as
shown in above fig), or it may have a distributed form.
B) On the basis of their purpose
1.Step up transformer: Voltage increases (with subsequent decrease in
current) at secondary.

2. Step down transformer: Voltage decreases (with subsequent

increase in current) at secondary.

(C) On the basis of type of supply

1. Single phase transformer

2. Three phase transformer

(D) On the basis of their use
1. Power transformer: Used in transmission network, high
rating

2. Distribution transformer: Used in distribution network,

comparatively lower rating than that of power transformers.

3.Instrument transformer: Used in relay and protection

purpose in different instruments in industries
• Current transformer (CT)
• Potential transformer (PT)
(E) On the basis of cooling employed

1. Self air cooled transformer

2. Air blast cooled transformer

3. Oil filled self cooled transformer

4.Oil filled water cooled transformer

5.Oil filled forced oil cooled transformer

 Construction of an Electrical Transformer

The primary winding, secondary winding and

the magnetic core are the three important of
the transformer. These coils are insulated
from each other.

The main flux is induced in the primary

winding of the transformer. This flux passes
through the low reluctance path of the
magnetic core and linked with the secondary
winding of the transformer.
The major parts of a single-phase transformer consist of

1. Core
• The core acts as a support to the winding in the transformer. It also provides a low
reluctance path to the flow of magnetic flux. The winding is wound on the core as
shown in the picture.

• The core is laminated to reduce the eddy current losses in a transformer.

• It is made up of steel with around 3 to 5 % of silicon to reduce hysteresis loss.

• The factors such as operating voltage, current, power etc decide core composition.
The core diameter is directly proportional to copper losses and inversely
proportional to iron losses.
2. Windings

• Windings are the set of copper wires wound over the transformer
core. Copper wires are used due to:
• High conductivity of copper. This minimizes the loss in a transformer. since conductivity
increases, resistance to current flow decreases.
• High ductility of copper. Ductility is the property of metals that they can be made into very
thin wires.

• There are mainly two types of windings. Primary windings and

secondary windings.
• Primary winding: The set of turns of windings to which supply current is feed.
• Secondary winding: the set of turns of winding from which output is taken.
• The primary and secondary windings are insulated from each other using insulation coating agents.
3. Insulation Agents

• Insulation is necessary for transformers to separate windings from shorting

the circuit and thus facilitating the mutual induction. Insulation agents have
influence in durability and the stability of a transformer.

• Following are used as an insulation medium in a transformer:

• Insulating oil
• Insulating tape
• Insulating paper
• Wood-based lamination
 EMF Equation of Transformer
N1 – number of turns in primary.
N2 – number of turns in secondary.
Φm – maximum flux in weber (Wb).
T – time period. Time is taken for 1
cycle.
The flux formed is a sinusoidal wave.
It rises to a maximum value Φm and
decreases to negative maximum Φm.
So, flux reaches a maximum in one-
quarter of a cycle. The time taken is
equal to T/4.
Average rate of change of flux = Φm/(T/4) = 4*fΦm
Where f = frequency
T = 1/f
Induced emf per turn = rate of change of flux per turn
Form factor = rms value / average value
Rms value = 1.11 * (4*fΦm) = 4.44 fΦm [form factor of sine wave is
1.11]
RMS value of emf induced in winding = RMS value of emf per turn * no
of turns
• Primary Winding

Rms value of induced emf = E1 = 4.44 fΦm * N1

• Secondary winding:

Rms value of induced emf = E2 = 4.44 fΦm * N2

This is the emf equation of the transformer.

For an ideal transformer at no load condition,
E1 = supply voltage on the primary winding.
E2 = terminal voltage (theoretical or calculated) on the
secondary winding.
 Voltage Transformation Ratio

K is called the voltage transformation ratio, which is a constant.

Case1: if N2 > N1, K>1 it is called a step-up transformer.
Case 2: if N2< N1, K<1 it is called a step-down transformer.
 Applications Of Transformer

• Thetransformer transmits electrical energy through wires over long distances.

• Transformers with multiple secondary’s are used in radio and TV receivers wh

ich require several different voltages.

• Transformers are used as voltage regulators.

• A transformer has 600 turns of the primary winding and 20 turns of the
secondary winding. Determine the secondary voltage if the secondary
circuit is open and the primary voltage is 140 V.

• Given

Total number of turns of the primary coil (N1) = 600 turns

Total number of turns of the secondary coil (N2) = 20 turns

Primary voltage (V1) = 140 V

• V2​=(N2/​N1​​)×V1​ = (20/600)x 140 = 4.6 V

Ideal Transformer

The ideal transformer has no loses that is there is no

magnetic leakage and ohmic resistance in its windings. There

won’t be any core losses or I2R.