Transformer

Working principle

Transformer works on the principle of Mutual electromagnetic induction. When AC voltage is

applied to the primary winding, it produces alternating flux in the core. This flux links with the
secondary winding and according to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, an emf is
induced in the secondary winding and the current flows in the secondary circuit if load is
connected.

Construction:

 1 phase transformer essentially consists of following components:

1)Winding: Two windings(called Primary and secondary) of copper/aluminium placed around

core and insulated from each other and core
2) Core: Made up of thin silicon steel laminations

 In big size transformers, core-winding assembly is kept immersed in oil tank. Oil act as cooling &
insulating medium.
 There are 2 type of transformer construction:
1. Core type transformer: Winding surrounds the core.
2. Shell type transformer: core surrounds the winding
 Vertical portion of core is called ‘limb’ or ‘leg’. Horizontal portion of core is called as ‘yoke’. Core
is made of E, I or L type laminated sheets stacked together.

 The supply is connected to primary winding and load is connected to secondary winding.

List of losses occurring in transformer

(1) Core/Iron losses: depends upon magnetic flux and remains constant since flux remains
constant. It is divided into two types: (a) Eddy current losses (b) Hysteresis losses
(2) Copper losses (also called I2R losses) – in windings due to Resistance and current

Core and Shell Type transformers

Point of difference Core Type Shell Type
Definition Winding surrounds the core Core surrounds the winding
Winding Primary & secondary winding Primary & secondary winding
are placed on the side of limbs are placed on the central limb
Leakage flux Losses More Less
Limb 2 3
Copper required More (as HV & LV windings are Less
one above hence diameter of
HV is more hence more copper)
Application High voltage, low current Low voltage, high current
transformer transformer
Insulation required Less More

Why transformer rating is given in KVA?

 At the time of manufacturing of a transformer, the nature of load is not known. The output power
factor is a function of load.
 Also copper loss depends on current and iron loss depends on voltage. Hence total losses depend
on current and voltage only and not on power factor.

Type/classification of transformer depending upon construction:

 Core Type
 Shell Type

Type/classification of transformer depending upon Supply system:

 Single phase transformer
 Three phase transformer

Type/classification of transformer depending upon voltage rating:

 Step up
 Step Down

Type/classification of transformer depending upon power rating:

 VA
 KVA

Type/classification of transformer depending upon application:

 Voltage transformer
 Power transformer
  Distribution transformer
 RF transformer

Applications of transformers

 Used to step up/step down the ac supply

 Isolate 2 circuits electrically
 Used in power supply, voltage regulator etc.

Step up & Step down transformer

Point of Step-up transformer Step-down transformer

comparison
Diagram

Definition Used to increase the output voltage. Used to reduce the output voltage.
Winding  Low voltage winding is primary  Low voltage winding is secondary
winding with less no. of turns winding with less no. of turns
 High voltage winding is secondary  High voltage winding is primary
winding with more no. of turns winding with more no. of turns
Current  Primary – High  Primary – Low
 Secondary – Low  Secondary – High
Coil  Primary winding is thick  Primary winding is thin
conductor  Secondary winding is thin  Secondary winding is thick
size
Application  Power plant  Doorbell
 X-ray machine  Power supply in domestic appliances
 Microwave

4 major parts of transformer and state material used for construction:

Part Material
Copper
Primary and Secondary winding
Core Silicon Steel
Transformer Tank Mild/Cast Iron
Transformer Oil

Various ratios of transformer

Voltage/EMF ratio: The ratio of secondary load voltage V2 to the primary supply voltage V1 is
known as the voltage ratio. i.e. V2/V1
Current Ratio: The ratio of secondary current I2 to the primary current I1 is known as the current
ratio. i.e. I2/I1
Turns ratio: The ratio of secondary winding turns N2 to the primary winding turns N1 of transformer
is known as the turns ratio. i.e. I2/I1
Transformation ratio: the turns ratio or emf ratio is called as transformation ratio.
The ratio of secondary emf E2 to the primary emf E1 is known as the
transformation ratio.
Also the ratio of secondary turns N2 to the primary turns N1 is known as the
transformation ratio.
Transformation Ratio =𝐸2/𝐸1=𝑁2/𝑁1
Or 3 formulas of transformation ratio k:

k =Secondary No. of turns/Primary No. of turns=N2/N1

k =𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒/𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒=V2/V1
k =𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡/𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡=I1/I2

i) k < 1 Step down Transformer

ii) k > 1 Step up Transformer

Efficiency of Transformation: The ratio of Output power (P2) to Input power (P1) is known as
the Efficiency.
Efficiency η =𝑃2/𝑃1 ×100
Regulation: The change in secondary terminal voltage from no load to full load expressed as
fraction of no load voltage or full load voltage, with primary voltage kept constant, is called
voltage regulation.
Let VNL = No load secondary voltage
VFL = Full load secondary voltage
So % Voltage Regulation-up =𝑉𝑁𝐿−𝑉𝐹𝐿/𝑉𝐹𝐿×100
% Voltage Regulation-down =𝑉𝑁𝐿−𝑉𝐹𝐿/𝑉𝑁𝐿×100

20 kVA, 3300/240 V, 50 Hz single phase transformer has 80 turns on secondary winding. Calculate
number of primary winding turns, full load primary and secondary currents.
V1=3300 V, V2=240 V, N2=80

V2/V1=N2/N1=I1/I2
240/3300=80/N1
N1=(3300*80)/240=1100
KVA = V1*I1/1000
20= 3300*I1/1000
I1=20*1000/3300=6.06 A

KVA= V2*I2/1000
20 = 240*I2/1000
I2=20*1000/240 = 83.33 A
Construction of Autotransformer:
Autotransformer has only one winding, part of the winding is common for primary
and secondary, as shown in the figure. This single winding is placed on Spiral core.
The facility is provided to change the no. of secondary turns. It is done by movable
contact whose position can be changed by rotating the knob. Their exists electrical
connection between primary and secondary.

Diff point Autotransformer Two winding transformer

Symbol

Winding Only one winding (common to both Primary & 2 separate windings for primary and secondary
secondary)
Electrical connection Electrical connection between Primary and No electrical connection between primary and
secondary secondary i.e. they are isolated
Efficiency High Low

Copper required More Less

Cost Less More
Use Special application where variable voltage is Used where fixed voltage is required
required

Disadvantage of Autotransformer
1. No isolation between primary and secondary winding
2. If the secondary side winding becomes open-circuited, load current stops flowing through
the primary winding stopping the transformer action resulting in the full primary voltage
being applied to the secondary terminals.
3. If the secondary circuit suffers a short-circuit condition, the resulting primary current would
be much larger than an equivalent double wound transformer due to the increased flux
linkage damaging the autotransformer

Isolation Transformer
The isolation transformers operate in the same way as other transformer types. But the main task is
to provide the galvanic isolation in the electrical system and often operated with N2/N1=1 i.e. No. of
primary and secondary turns are same.
The main purpose of the isolation transformer is safety and protection of electronic components and
the persons against electrical shock.
It physically separates the power supplying from primary side and a secondary side circuit
connected.
It suppress the electrical noise from supplying or electromagnetic induction which is important in sensitive devices like medical
devices.

Use: computers, measurement devices (e.g. Oscilloscope, medical monitoring devices etc.) or
specific industry power electronic devices.