BAHIR DAR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER

ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

LECTURE ON :-

ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMERS

1
By: Menargen A.
ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMERS
Out lines
 Introduction

 Construction

 Principle of action

 Ideal & practical transformers

 parameter Determination

 voltage regulation, efficiency

 3-phase transformers

 Three phase transformer connection groups

01/01/2023 2
 Transformers
A transformer is a static device that changes one voltage

level to another voltage level through the medium of magnetic

field and without a change in the frequency.

 It consists of two or more coils of wire wrapped around a common

ferromagnetic core

The transformer winding which receives energy from the

supply mains is called primary winding and the other winding

which delivers electrical energy to the load is called secondary

winding.
01/01/2023 3
 Cont….
 If the secondary winding has more turns than the
primary winding, then the secondary voltage is higher
than the primary voltage and the transformer is called
a step- up transformer.
 When the secondary winding has less turns than the primary
windings then the secondary voltage is lower than the
primary voltage and the transformer is called step - down
transformer.
01/01/2023 4
 The winding which is used in a transformer is called transformer winding

 LV winding
 HV winding

Step down transformer

Step up transformer

01/01/2023 5
 Cont…
a step-up transformer can be used as a step-
down transformer, in which the secondary of step-
up transformer becomes the primary of the step-
down transformer.

Actually a transformer can be termed a step-up or

step-down transformer only after it has been put into
service. 6
 Cont….
Most important tasks performed by transformers are:-
i) Changing voltage and current levels in electrical power systems
ii) Matching source and load impedances for maximum power
transfer in electronic and control circuit
iii) Electrical isolation (isolating one circuit from another )
Transformers are used extensively in ac power systems.
AC electrical power can be generated at one central location,
its voltage stepped up for transmission over long distances at
very low losses and its voltage stepped down again for final use.7
01/01/2023
Types of Transformers
Depending on construction,
Core type
Shell Type
Depending on application,

 Step up transformer/unit transformer

 Sub station transformer/step down transmission line voltage to

distribution level

 Distribution transformer/ to final used voltage

 Instrument transformer/ special transformers ( CT, PT)

 Single phase /three phase transformer 8

 CONSTRUCTION OF TRANSFORMERS
There are basically two types of transformer,
I. core-type
II. shell-type.
The two types differ from each other by the manner
in which the windings are wound around the
magnetic core.

01/01/2023 9
 Cont….
 The magnetic core of a transformer is made up of stacks of
thin laminations (0.35mm) of cold-rolled grain oriented
silicon steel sheets lightly insulated with varnish.

 Silicon steel has the desirable properties of low cost, low

core loss and high permeability at high flux density

(1 to 1.5T).

 The primary and secondary coils are wound on the core and
are electrically insulated from each other and from the core.
10
01/01/2023
 Core type winding
 The coils used are form wound and they are of the form
circular, oval, or rectangular.

 The circular cylindrical coils are used in most of the core

type transformers because of their mechanical strength. 11
 Cont…
The windings surround a considerable part of
steel core.
 The vertical portions of the core are usually called limbs or
legs and the top and bottom portions are called yoke.
 This means that for single-phase transformers, core-type
has two-legged core
 Most of the flux is confined to high permeability core.
 However, some of the flux leaks through the core legs
and non-magnetic material surrounding the core.
12
 Cont…
 A reduction in this leakage flux is desirable as it improves
the transformer performance considerably.

 Since the low voltage winding is easiest to insulate, it is placed nearest to

the core. 13
 Shell type
The steel core surrounds a major part of the windings.

01/01/2023 14
 Cont..
 In both core and shell-type transformers, the individual
laminations are cut in the form of long strips of L's, E’s and
I's as shown in Figure.
 The laminations are then tightened by means of clamps and
bolts.

01/01/2023 15
 Core material types
 For frequency ranging (20-400Hz) 0.35mm thick silicon steel
laminations
 For frequency 20-20kHz iron core
 For high frequency in communication circuit powdered ferromagnetic
alloys
 For special cases non magnetic /air core
eg Radio, measuring devices
Transformer cooling mechanism
Low power transformer (<25KVA), air cooled
Large power transformers(>25KVA) , oil is the best coolant media
In oil-cooled transformer, the oil serves as a coolant and also as an insulation
medium.
01/01/2023 16
 Principle of Transformer Action

01/01/2023 17
 Cont…
 The primary winding P is connected to an alternating voltage
source,V1
 An alternating current Im starts flowing through N1 turns.
 The alternating MMf sets up an alternating flux ɸ which is confined
to the high permeability iron path.
 The alternating flux induces voltage E1 in the primary P and E2 in
secondary S.
 If a load is connected across the secondary, load current starts
flowing.
18
01/01/2023
 Principle of electromagnetic induction between the two coupled
circuits/coil.
 When the primary coil is connected to an alternating voltage (Vp)
source, Alternating current (Ip) starts to flow through the primary
winding (Np).
 The resulting MMf = NpIp, produces an alternating flux (𝜙) in the
core.
 This alternating flux induces emf in the primary (Ep) and in the
secondary (Es) windings.

01/01/2023 19
 Cont…
N1 I1

R
Where N1= primary winding number of turns

I1 = current in the primary winding

R = reluctance of magnetic circuit

Using faraday’s law, Ep and Es are determine as

N p d
Ep  
dt
Ep
Where, = induced voltage in the primary winding

Np = no of turns in the primary winding

Nsd
The 01/01/2023
voltage induced in the secondary winding is,
Es  
dt 20
Taking the ratio,
Ep Np
  a Np ip (t) = Ns is (t)
Es Ns

a is known as transformation ratio

Based on the value of transformation ration ratio (a), transformers can be classified

1. step up Es> Ep, Np/Ns=a<1

2. Step down Es<Ep, Np/Ns=a>1

3. Isolation Ep=Es, Np=Ns, a=1

21
 Ideal Two Winding Transformers
For a transformer to be an ideal one, various assumptions are as follows:

 The primary and secondary windings have zero resistance (Winding

resistances are negligible).

 All the flux set up by the primary links the secondary windings i.e. all of
the flux is confined to the magnetic core.

 The core losses (hysteresis and eddy current losses) are negligible.

 The core has constant permeability

 It may however be noted that it is impossible to realize such a

transformer in practice , yet for convenience, we will start with such a
transformer and step by step approach an actual transformer. 22
 Ideal Transformer With Out Load

Primary is connected to the source and secondary

is left open.

01/01/2023 23
Suppose the current Im due to V1 is sinusoidal

Ie = Imsin(wt)

The mmf =NpIp and therefore , the core flux will be

sinusoidal.

The flux will follow the variation of Ie if Im=0, flux=0,

01/01/2023 24
The induced voltage in the primary , due to

01/01/2023 25
:.The RMS value of the induced emf E1 in the primary
winding is

Since the primary winding resistance is negligible hence e1,

at every instant, must be equal and opposite of V1. That is,

01/01/2023 26
Similarly , the emf induced in the secondary is,

Transformation ratio
rmsE p 4.44 fN pmax EP N p
   a
rmsEs 4.44 fN smax Es N s
01/01/2023 27
Example.1.An ideal transformer with a 300 turn primary connected to a
480 V, 60 Hz supply line needs to output 120 V from the secondary. If a
100 Ω resistor is connected across the secondary, determine:
A) How many turns the secondary must have to output the desired
voltage.
B) The current through the resistor,
C)The current drawn through the primary.

01/01/2023 28
 The voltage across the secondary is given in the problem statement as 120 volts.
Using ohms law,  , we can solve for the current in the loop ( I2 )

A.

B. The voltage across the secondary is given in the problem statement as 120 volts. Using ohms
law, V =i * R , we can solve for the current in the loop ( i2 )

01/01/2023 29
C.

01/01/2023 30
 Power in an Ideal Transformer

The power supplied to the transformer by the primary circuit is

given by the Equation,

Where  p is the angle between the primary voltage and the primary
current.
The power supplied by the transformer secondary circuit to its loads is
given by the equation,

Where θs = the angle between the secondary voltage and the secondary
31
current.
 Cont…
• The primary and secondary windings of an ideal
transformer have the SAME power factor –
because voltage and current angles are unaffected
θp = θs = θ
• Pout = Vp Ip cos θ = Pin
• Output power = Input power

01/01/2023 32
 Practical Transformer(No load)
 The characteristics of a real transformer approximate the

characteristics of an ideal transformer,

 The primary of the transformer is connected to an ac power

source, and the secondary winding is open- circuited.

01/01/2023 Fig. a Real transformer with no load 33

 Cont....
When an ac power source is connected to a transformer as
shown in Figure above, current flows in its primary circuit,
even when the secondary circuit is open-circuited.
This current is the current required to produce flux in a real
ferromagnetic core. It consists of two components:

1. The magnetization current IM , which is the current

required to produce the flux in the transformer core.

2. The core-loss current which is the current required to make

up for hysteresis and eddy current losses.
01/01/2023 34
 The Dot Convention
The dots help to determine the polarity of the voltages and
currents in the core without having to examine physically the
windings.
 A current flowing into the dotted end of a winding produces
a positive magneto-motive force, while a current flowing
into the undotted end of a winding produces a negative
magneto-motive force.
 If the primary voltage is +ve at the dotted end of the
winding wrt the undotted end, then the secondary voltage
will be positive at the dotted end also.
 If the primary current of the transformer flows into the
dotted end of the primary winding, the secondary current
will flow out of the dotted end of the secondary winding.
01/01/2023 35
 Practical Transformer (Equivalent Circuit)

I1 X1 I1’ X2
R1 N1 : N 2 I2 R2
Io

Ic Im
Load
V1 V2
RC Xm E1 E2

V1 = primary supply voltage

V2 = 2nd terminal (load) voltage E1 = primary winding voltage
E2 = 2nd winding voltage I1 = primary supply current
I2 = 2nd winding current I1’ = primary winding current
Io = no load current
 Cont…
The secondary current ( Is ) produces leakage flux in the
secondary winding.

So there is leakage reactance voltage drop Esl =jXsIs

secondary winding resistance voltage drop = Isrs

Total voltage drop in the secondary =Is (rs + jXs)=Iszs

Kirchhoff’s voltage low in secondary loop is,

Es=Vs + Is( rs+ jXs)=Vs+Iszs

(r1+jx1) and (r2+jx2) are the leakage impedances of the primary

and secondary windings respectively. 37
01/01/2023 38
KVL For primary and secondary of a practical transformer are

V p  E p  I p (rp  jx p )

Es  Vs  I s (rs  jxs )
'
I1  I  I e
1

Ie  IC  Im

01/01/2023 39
 Single Phase Transformer (Referred to Primary)
Actual Method

R1 X1 N1: N2
I1 I2’ X2’ I2
Io R2 ’

Ic Im
Load
V1
RC Xm E1 E2 V2

2
 N1 
'  N1  R2 '    R2 OR R2 '  a 2 R2
E1  V2   V2 OR V2 '  aV2  N2 
 N2  2
N 
I2 X 2 '   1  X 2 OR X 2 '  a 2 X 2
I2 '   N2 
a
Single Phase Transformer (Referred to Primary )
Approximate Method

R1 X1 I2’ N1: N2
I1 R2’ X2’
Io I2

Im
Ic
Load
V1 Xm
RC E1 E2 V2

2
N 
R2 '   1  R2 OR R2 '  a 2 R2  N1 
'
 N2  E1  V2   V2 OR V2 '  aV2
 N2 
2
 N1  I
I2 '  2
X 2 '    X 2 OR X 2 '  a 2 X 2 a
 N2 
Chetan Upadhyay
 Equivalent resistances and inductances
N1 2 ,
re1 r1  r2 ( )  r1  r2
N2
N2 2
re 2 r2  r1 ( )  r2  r1,
N1
N1 2
xe1  x1  x2 ( )  x1  x2,
N2
N2 2
xe 2  x2  x1 ( )  x2  x1,
N1
 The equivalent circuit must be referred either to its
primary side or to its secondary side in problem solutions.
01/01/2023 42
 Cont…

(a) The transformer model referred to its primary voltage level.

(b) The transformer model referred to its secondary voltage43 leve
 Parameter Determination
There are two important tests to determine the parameters of the
equivalent circuits, the voltage regulation and the efficiency. These are
 Open circuit test
 Short circuit test

 The equivalent circuit parameters can also be obtained from the

physical dimensions of the transformer core and its winding details.
 Complete analysis of the transformer can be carried out, once its
equivalent circuit parameters are known.

44
 Open Circuit (or No-Load) Test
 In No-Load Test, a voltmeter, wattmeter and an
ammeter are connected on the low voltage side of the
transformer.
 The high voltage side is left open circuited.
 The rated frequency voltage applied to the primary, i.e. low
voltage side, is varied with the help of a variable ratio auto-
transformer.
 When the voltmeter reading is equal to the rated voltage
of the L.V. winding , all three instrument readings are
recorded.
01/01/2023 45
 Cont…

01/01/2023 46
 Ammeter Readings
 The-ammeter records the no-load current or exciting
current Ie.
 Since Ie is quite small (2 to 6%) of rated current), the
primary leakage impedance drop is almost negligible,

Voltmeter reading
for all practical purposes, the applied voltage V1 is
equal to the induced emf E1.
i.e. V1= E1
The primary winding is the low voltage side.
01/01/2023 47
 Wattmeter Reading
Reads the input power
i.e.
Pin  V p I p cos 
consists of core loss and ohmic loss.

Pin  V p I p cos   Pc  pomic

Pin  V p I p cos   Pc
The core loss power is also can be found by
Pc
2
Pc  I c Rc Rc  2
and Ic
01/01/2023 48
 Cont…
• if Pin, Iin, and Vin are the input power, current, and voltage,
respectively, the core loss Pc is given by
 
Pc =Pin-Iin2 R1
 
• The primary induced voltage is expressed in phasor form by
E1=Vin<00 - (Iin<o) (R1+jX1)
 
• Where o = no load power factor angle
=Cos-1 (Pin/Vin Iin)
01/01/2023 49
 Cont…
The general formula for open circuit test is,
2
Pc  I c Rc
I c  I e cos 
I m  I e sin 
Pc
Ic 
V1
Pc  V1 I e cos 
Pc  coreloss
V1  applyedvoltage
01/01/2023 I e  exitingcurrent 50
 Cont…

01/01/2023 51
 Short-Circuit Test
 The low voltage-side of the transformer is short-
circuited and the instruments are placed on the
high voltage side.

Figure connection diagram for short circuit test on a transformer

01/01/2023 52
 Cont…
 The applied voltage is adjusted by auto- transformer, to
circulate rated current in the high voltage side. In a
transformer, the primary m.m.f. is almost equal to the
secondary m.m.f., therefore, a rated current in the H.V.
winding causes rated current to flow in the L.V. winding.
 Let VSC, ISC and PSC be the voltmeter, ammeter and
wattmeter readings; then equivalent leakage impedance
referred to H.V. side,
01/01/2023 53
 Cont…

01/01/2023 54
 Polarity Test

 On the primary side of a two-winding transformer, one terminal

is positive with respect to the other terminal at any one
instant.

 At the same instant, one terminal of the secondary winding

is positive with respect to the other terminal.

 These relative polarities of the primary and secondary terminals

at any instant must be known if the transformers are to be
operated in parallel or are to be used in a polyphase circuit.
01/01/2023 55
 Cont…

Figure Polarity test on a two winding transformer

(a) subtractive polarity and (b) additive polarity
01/01/2023 56
 Cont…

 When the voltmeter reads the difference E1–E2, the

transformer is said to possess a subtractive polarity
 when voltmeter reads E1+E2 the transformer has
additive polarity.

01/01/2023 57
 The conditions for parallel operation of transformers.

• Same voltage ratio of transformer.

• Same polarity.
• Same phase sequence.
• Same percentage impedance.

 The ratio of their winding resistances to reactance's should be equal

for both the transformers. This condition ensures that both
transformers operate at the same power factor, thus sharing their
active power and reactive volt-amperes according to their ratings.

01/01/2023 58
Parallel operation of a transformer is necessary b/c

1. It is impractical and uneconomical to have a single large transformer for

heavy and large loads.

2. In substations, the total load required may be supplied by an appropriate

number of the transformer of standard size.
3. There will be scope in future, for expansion of a substation to supply a
load beyond the capacity of the transformer already installed.
4. If there is breakdown of a transformer in a system of transformers
connected in parallel, there will be no interruption of power supply, for
essential services.

5, During maintenance and inspection, the continuity of the supply will not
get disturbed.
01/01/2023 59
 Per unit Value
 A system of dimensionless parameters, is used for computational
convenience and for readily comparing the performance of a set of
transformers or a set of electrical machines.
Actual Quantity
PU Value 
Base Quantity

Where ‘actual quantity’ is a value in volts, amperes, ohms, etc. [VA]base and [V]base are chosen
first.
VA base
I base 
V base
Pbase  Qbase  S base  VA base  V base I base VA base pri  VA base sec
V base V base
2
V base
2
Rbase  X base  Z base   
I base S base VA base V  
base pri
I base  turns ratio
Ybase 
V base V base sec
Z ohm
Z PU

01/01/2023 Z base 60
 Efficiency

01/01/2023 61
 Condition for Maximum Efficiency.

01/01/2023 62
 Voltage Regulation

 One of the main important performance parameter

The difference between the no load and full load secondary voltage
expressed as a percentage of full load voltage.
E s  Vs
VR  * 100%
Vs

At no load VP  E P

N  N
ES  E P *  S   VP * S
 NP  NP
V  aVS
VR  P *100%
aVs

01/01/2023 63
 Three Phase Transformers
 Generation,
 Transmission
 Distribution of electric energy is invariably done through the
use of three-phase systems because of its several advantages
over single-phase systems.
 As such, a large number of three-phase transformers are inducted in
a 3-phase energy system for stepping-up or stepping down the
voltage as required.
 For 3-phase up or down transformation, three units of 1-phase
transformers or one unit of 3-phase transformer may be used.

01/01/2023 64
 Cont…
 When three identical units of 1-phase transformers are used,
the arrangement is usually called a bank of three
transformers or a 3-phase transformer bank.
 A single 3-phase transformer unit may employ 3–phase

core-type construction or three phase shell type construction.

01/01/2023 65
 (a)Three-phase transformer bank, both windings in star;
(b) three-phase core-type transformer

01/01/2023 66
 Three-Phase Transformer Connections
Three-phase transformers may have standard connections

Star -Delta connection is commonly used for stepping down the

voltage from a high level to a medium or low level.
Delta –Star connection is commonly used for stepping Up the
voltage from low level to a high level.

01/01/2023 67
Reading Assignment

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 Thank
You.!!
01/01/2023 79