TRANSFORMER

Transformer is a device used to increase or decrease the

voltage of a.c. supply.
The transformers only works with alternating current (a.c.).
The diagram below shows how transformer works.

It makes use of electromagnetic induction.

When the primary coil has alternative current flowing
through it. It is thus an electromagnet, and produces an
alternating magnetic field.
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 The core transports this alternating field around the
secondary coil.
Now secondary coil is a conductor in a changing magnetic
field. A current is induced in the coil.

There are two types of transformers:

1. Step-up transformer
A step-up transformer is used to increase the output voltage,
so there are more turns on the secondary coil than primary coil
as shown below.

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2. Step-down transformer
A step-down transformer is used to decrease the output voltage,
so there are more turns on the primary coil than secondary
coil as shown below.

The ratio of number of turns tells us the factors by which the

voltage will be changed. Hence we can write an equation, known
as transformer equation, relating two voltages Vp and Vs, to the
number of turns on each coil, Np and Ns.

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Ideal Transformer equation

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Transformer Efficiency

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Example
A step-up transformer increases the voltage of a.c supply from 110V to
220V. The primary coil dissipates the power of 1.1kW. And the
efficiency of transformer is 100%.
(a) If the turns in the primary are 400, how many turns are in the
secondary?
(b) How much current flows in each coil?

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Expected Answers

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Exercise
1. A transformer has a primary coil of 8400 turns and a secondary coil of 3500 turns. Find the output voltage if
240V is supplied to the primary coil.
2. A power plant supplies 25kV voltage of a.c. supply. The voltage increases to 230kV through a step-up
transformer.
(a) If 15000 turns coil is in the primary, calculate the number of turns in the secondary.
(b) 230kV of voltage is transformed again through a step-down transformer. The turns ratio of the primary coil
to the secondary coil in the transformer is 115 to 6. Calculate the voltage of the secondary coil.
3. 240V of voltage is supplied to the primary coil and 5A of current flows through it. Find the current flowing
through the
secondary coil if the output voltage is 120V and the efficiency is 100%.
4. A refrigerator that is rated at 120V 480W is connected to the transformer. The transformer is connected to
the power
supply of 240V. Assuming that the efficiency is 100%. Calculate;
(a) the current through the refrigerator.
(b) the current from the power supply.
(c) If the turns in the primary are 8500, how many turns are in the secondary?

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Advantages of high voltage transmission
From the power houses the electricity is transmitting by high
voltage, using step up transformer as shown below. This is
because using higher voltage for power transmission reduces
power loss in the transmission cables.

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Environmental and cost implications of underground
power transmission compared to overhead lines.
To prevent sparking, the only effective way of insulating the
cable is to keep huge air spaces around them. That’s why
we have to be suspended from pylons. Underground cables
are more difficult to insulate and must be used at lower
voltages, to transmit same power they have to carry higher
current. This means that we have to use thicker cables and
it will be very expensive to lay. Despite the extra cost.
Underground cables are used in areas of outstanding
natural beauty hence the destruction of ground.

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