TRANSFORMER

Pabitra Mandal(Gaighata Govt. Polytechnic)

❑ Transformer is a static A.C. device used to change
high voltage low current A.C. into low voltage high
current A.C. and vice-versa without changing the
frequency.

1. It transfers electric power from one circuit to

another.

2. It does so without a change of frequency.

3. It accomplishes this by electromagnetic

induction.

4. Where the two electric circuits are in mutual

inductive influence of each other.
➢ The operation of transformer is based on the
principle of MUTUAL INDUCTION.

➢ According to which an e.m.f. is induced in a coil

when current in the neighbouring coil changes.

➢ Coil connected to the A.C source is called

Primary coil and neighbour coil where emf is
induced is called Secondary coil.
 Construction

There are basically two types of iron-core construction. They differ in the
way the core is constructed to accommodate the windings.

Core Type

Transformer

Shell Type
 Core Type Transformer

❑ In core type transformer ,the winding surround a considerable part of the

core.
▪ It consist of two separate coils, one on each of the two opposite
legs of a rectangular core.

▪ Its disadvantage is the large leakage fluxes associated with it.

The large leakage fluxes cause poor voltage regulation.

▪ In actual construction, these are always interleaved to reduce

leakage flux. That means half of HV and Half of LV winding have
been placed concentrically on each limb.

▪ The two coils are insulated from each other and the steel core.
 Shell Type Transformer
❑ In shell type transformer ,the core surrounds a considerable portion
of the windings.

➢ To minimized leakage flux to minimum we used shell type construction.

➢ Here the two windings are wound concentrically.

➢ The higher voltage winding is wound on top of lower voltage winding.

➢ The low voltage winding is then located closer to the steel.

➢ This arrangement is preferable from an electrical insulating point of

view.
➢ Core are build up of lamination cut from silicon steel.
➢ Core material nearly have 3% silicon and 97% iron.
➢ Silicon contain reduces hysteresis losses.
➢ Most laminated material are cold rolled and often specially
annealed to orient the grain or iron crystals.
➢ This provide high permeability and low hysteresis to the
flux.
➢ Transformer lamination are usually 2.5 to 0.27mm thick for
50hz operation. This is done to reduce eddy current loss.
➢ Laminations are coated by a thin layer of varnish or paper
to insulate them from each other.
➢ Coils are pre-wound ,so to placed coil into core, core must
then made in atleast two section.
➢ The lamination of core type may be made up of ‘ U ‘and ‘ I
‘or ‘ L’ .
➢ The lamination of shell type made up of ‘ E ‘ and ‘I’ .
 More details about transformer Core:

➢ The joint are tightly made and the laminations interleaved so as to

minimized the reluctance of the magnetic circuit.
➢ The whole core is stacked to proper dimension and the laminations are
bolted together firmly.
➢ In large transformer ,a stepped core arrangement is used to minimized the
use of copper and reduce copper loss.
➢ This construction guarantees that each length of copper conductor
embraces the maximum cross sectional area of steel.

❑ The forces due to alternating magnetic field and forces that exist between
parallel conductor (carrying current) act on the core laminations and
winding. Insufficient clamping of laminations usually result in a humming
sound. This generates objectionable and audible noise by the iron core of
the transformer.
 Various Constructional Parts, Accessories and their Function

1. Tank or Frame
2. Core
3. Windings
4. Radiator
5. Bushing
6. Conservator
7. Pressure Relief Device
8. Transformer oil
9. Buchholz Relay
10. Temperature gauge
11. Breather
12. Oil Level Indicator
 1. Tank or Frame: It protects the transformer core and windings and provides mechanical support to all accessories. It
is made of M.S Plate.

➢ Core is made from cold rolled grain oriented silicon steel. It provide magnetic path for magnetic flux.
➢ The L.V. windings is normally close to the core and the H.V. windings is kept around the L.V. windings. This provide
the path for electric current.
2.Conservator Tank: It provide space for the oil during change in
temperature. It is shape of drum ,mounted on top of the transformer.
Conservator is connected to transformer tank through a pipe. An oil
level indicator is fitted to the conservator tank.

3.Breather:A pipe connected to top of the conservator allow the

internal air to go out or get in through the breather.It is in the form of
cylinder.Silica gel is placed in breather. The silica gel removes moisture
from air and allow dry air to get in.
➢ The colour of fresh silica gel is blue and colour changes to pink
when it absorbs moisture from air.

4. Temperature gauge: It is fitted with transformer which indicates the

temperature of transformer oil and windings.
Buchholz Relay: It is a gas operated relay which gives alarm during overload and trips in case of severe fault inside
transformer.
➢ The Buchholz relay provided with two hinged floats operate as given below:-
Gas produced by abnormal conditions in the transformer, collects in the Buchholz relay which lowers the oil level so
that the top float gradually comes down and ultimately operates the mercury switch when it reaches a certain level.
This switch is usually connected to external alarm circuit.
➢ Abnormal condition associated with major fault cause a
surge in the transformer oil which moves towards the
expansion vessel. This surge displaces the lower float
operation the mercury switch associated with it. This switch
usually is connected to the external trip circuit.

➢ The Buchholz relay is connected in the pipe connection

between the transformer and conservator so that normally
it is completely filled with oil, and the “ ARROW” marked on
the relay is pointing towards the conservator.

➢ The working parts are housed in a chamber with oil sight

window.

➢ There is petcock provided at the top of the relay. These

petcocks are used for releasing all the air trapped in the
transformer or the relay. It can also be used taking out gas
sample.
Bushing :The Bushing of power transformer is a type of porcelain or ebonite post insulator put on the top or side of the
transformer tank through which connections are made to the external circuit.
1.Porcelain insulator bushing used upto 11 KV.
2.Oil filled bushings consisting of a hollow porcelain cylinder of special shape with a hollow tube shaped conductor
through its centre used for the voltage above 33 KV.
3.Capacitor type bushing made of thick layers of bakelized paper alternating with thin graded layers of tin foil being
covered by a porcelain rain shed and filled up with bitumen in the annular space between the rain shed and the bushing
used in outdoor sub-station for the voltage above 33 KV.
Explosion Vent:
The explosion vent is used to expel boiling oil in the transformer during
heavy internal faults in order to avoid the explosion of the transformer.
During heavy faults, the oil rushes out of the vent. The level of the
explosion vent is normally maintained above the level of the conservatory
tank. The mouth of vent is tightly closed using a thin glass or laminated
sheet.

Cooling Tubes:
When transformer is connected to load ,transformer is heated up due to
iron loss and copper loss.To dissipate the heat produced inside the
winding and core,the transformer tank is filled with an insulating oil.
The oil carries the heat to the cooling pipes where the heat is dissipated
to atmosphere.
 Losses in a transformer

No-load losses or Iron losses or Core losses: The core losses consist of two components (i) hysteresis loss (ii) eddy
current loss . Hysteresis loss is due to the cyclic variation of the magnetic flux in the ferrous metal. The eddy current loss
occurs because of the changing flux in the core, inducing a voltage in the core. As a result, circulating eddy current set up
in the core with subsequent I2R loss. This loss measured by open circuit test of transformer.
Hysteresis loss, Wh = Kh B1.6m f watts.
Eddy current loss, We = Ke f2 B2m watts
Load losses: This loss due to ohmic resistance of the transformer winding.The load current through the resistance of the
primary and secondary windings creates I2 R losses that heat up the copper wires and causes voltage drop.This loss also
called copper loss.
Voltage regulation of transformer
The voltage regulation of a transformer is the difference between the no-load and full load secondary voltage expressed
as a percentage of full load voltage.
Voltage regulation = Vnoload – Vload X 100 %
Vload
E.m.f Equation of Transformer:

Suppose , N1 = No. of turns of primary coil &

N2 = No. of turns of secondary coil of a transformer.
Φm = Maximum flux in core ( webers)
= Bm x A
f= frequency of alternating current in Hz
From the figure , it has been seen that the flux Φ increases from its zero
value to maximum value Φm in one quarter of the cycle i.e in 1/4 f second

=4 f Φm Wb/s or volt
Now, rate of change of flux per turn means induced e.m.f in volts.
∴ average e.m.f/ turn = 4 f Φm volt
If the magnitude of flux Φ varies sinusoidally, then the r.m.s value of induced e.m.f is obtained by multiplying the average
value with from factor.

∴ r.m.s value of e.m.f./turn = 1.11 x 4fΦm = 4.44 fΦm volt

Now, r.m.s value of the induced e.m.f in the primary winding
∴ E1 = (induced e.m.f/turn) x No. of primary turns
∴ E1 = 4.44 f Φm N1 (As Φm = Bm x A )
∴ E1 = 4.44 f N1Bm A .....................(i)
Similarly, r.m.s value of the e.m.f. induced in secondary is,

∴ E2 = (induced e.m.f/turn) x No. of Secondary turns

= 4.44 f Φm N2 (As Φm = Bm x A )
⇒ E2 = 4.44 f N2 Bm A .....................(ii)
It is seen from equation (i) and (ii) that E1 / N1 = E2 / N2 = 4.44 f Φm .
from the above equation it is seen that the e.m.f/ turn is the same in both primary and secondary
windings.

Voltage Transformation Ratio :-

From equation (i) and (ii) ,we get
∴ E1 / N1 = E2 / N2 = 4.44 f Φm = K
Constant K is known as voltage transformation ratio.
i) If N2 > N1 i.e K > 1,then transformer is called step-up
transformer.
ii) If N2 < N1 i.e K < 1,then transformer is called step-down
transformer.