Construction of Transformer

The transformer consists of two main parts:

I. Iron Part:

The transformer is classified into two types according to the iron core, the first one called core type and the second one called
shell type.

II. Copper Part (winding):

The transformer has two windings wound on the iron core, one is connected to the supply called primary winding and the other
connected to the load and called secondary winding. The winding has two types: concentric and sandwich winding.

The different constructions for the transformer are shown in Fig. 1 showing Core type (Concentric and Sandwich windings), and
Shell type (Concentric and Sandwich windings).

It is observed from the above figure that in the core type the winding encircles the iron core, while in shell type the iron core
encircles the winding.
Fig. 1: Transformer different constructions.
The Exact Equivalent Circuit of a Transformer

Modeling the copper losses: resistive losses in the primary and secondary
windings of the core, represented in the equivalent circuit by RP and RS.
Modeling the leakage fluxes: primary leakage flux is proportional to the
primary current IP and secondary leakage flux is proportional to the
secondary current IS, represented in the equivalent circuit by XP (=fLP/IP) and
XS (=fLS/IS).
Modeling the core excitation: Im is proportional to the voltage applied to the
core and lags the applied voltage by 90o. It is modeled by XM.
Modeling the core loss current: IC is proportional to the voltage applied to the
core and in phase with the applied voltage. It is modeled by RC.
 Equivalent Circuit of the practical transformer
1. At no load condition

No load Transformer equivalent circuit

Phasor diagram of transformer at no load

2. At loading condition

Transformer equivalent circuit at loading condition

 Exact equivalent circuit of the transformer
I. Referred to the primary winding

Transformer equivalent circuit referred to the primary side

Phasor diagram of exact equivalent circuit of the transformer referred to the primary side
II. Referred to the secondary winding

Transformer equivalent circuit referred to the secondary side

 Approximate equivalent circuit of the transformer
I. Referred to the primary winding

Neglecting the voltage drop in the primary impedance due to the no load current I0

Approximate transformer equivalent circuit referred to the primary side

Equivalent impedance of the transformer referred to the primary side (= R eq1 + j Xeq1).
II. Referred to the secondary winding

Approximate transformer equivalent circuit referred to the secondary side

 Transformer Voltage Regulation
Because a real transformer has series impedance within it, the output voltage of a transformer varies with the
load even if the input voltage remains constant. The voltage regulation of a transformer is the change in the
magnitude of the secondary terminal voltage from no-load to full-load with the primary voltage held constant. .
 Experimental determination of transformer parameter
1. Open circuit test (No load test)
The open circuit test is used to determine the turns ratio a, the iron losses Piron, the equivalent resistance for the iron
(core) losses Rc, and the magnetizing reactance Xm. This test is usually done at rated voltage and frequency.

Neglect the primary impedance R1, X1 with respect to Rc, Xm

because the primary impedance is very small compared to
the magnetizing branch.

Open circuit test connection diagram

Open circuit test equivalent circuit

 2. Short circuit test
The short circuit test is used to determine the primary winding resistance R1, the primary winding leakage reactance X1, the
secondary winding resistance R2, the secondary winding leakage reactance X2, and the copper losses at full load Pcufl. This test
must be done at reduced voltage, to limit the short circuit current to safe value near the full load value.

Neglect the magnetizing impedance Rc, Xm with respect to Req1,

Xeq1 because the transformer equivalent impedance is very small
compared to the magnetizing branch.

Short circuit test connection diagram

Short circuit test equivalent circuit

 Losses of transformer
I. Copper losses

The copper losses is due to the winding resistance R1, and R2, and it depends on the current. So, it is called dependent
or variable losses.

(for exact equivalent circuit).

(for approximate equivalent circuit referred to primary side).

(for approximate equivalent circuit referred to secondary side).

II. Iron losses

The iron losses due to the flux flowing in the iron, and it is independent of the load, so it is called independent or fixed
losses.

III. Stray losses

The stray losses is due to the stray flux in the surrounding parts of the transformer such as bolts and oil tank.
The power flow of the transformer will be as shown

Transformer power flow

 Efficiency of transformer
The efficiency of the transformer is defined as the ratio of the useful output electrical power to the input electrical power

Assume x to be the per-unit loading

It is observed that for constant power factor, any variation in the per-unit loading affects the efficiency

Condition for maximum efficiency:

Efficiency variation with the per-unit loading