Module V

Single-Phase Transformer
By
Dr. Aurobinda Bag
Transformer (Introduction)
• The transformer is probably one of the most useful electrical devices.
• It can change the magnitude of alternating voltage or current from one
value to another.
• This useful property of transformer is mainly responsible for the use of
alternating currents rather than direct currents as electric power is
generated, transmitted and distributed in the form of alternating
current.
• Transformers have no moving parts, so it has very high efficiency
(nearly 99%).
Transformer
• A transformer is a static piece of equipment used either for raising or
lowering the voltage of an ac supply with a corresponding decrease or
increase in current.
• It essentially consists of two windings, the primary and secondary,
wound on a common laminated magnetic core as shown in Fig.
• The winding connected to the a.c. source is called primary winding (or
primary) and the winding connected to load is called secondary
winding (or secondary).
• The alternating voltage V1 whose magnitude is to be changed is applied
to the primary.
• Depending upon the number of turns of the primary (N1) and secondary
( N 2 ), an alternating e.m.f. E 2 is induced in the secondary.
• This induced e.m.f. E 2 in the secondary causes a secondary current I 2 .
• Consequently, terminal voltage V2 will appear across the load.
• If V2 > V1 , it is called a step up-transformer.
• On the other hand, if V2 < V1 , it is called a step-down transformer.
Working
• When an alternating voltage V1 is applied to the primary, an alternating
flux φ is set up in the core.
• This alternating flux links both the windings and induces e.m.f.s E1 and
in them according to Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic induction.
• The e.m.f. E1 is termed as primary e.m.f. and e.m.f. E 2 is termed as
secondary e.m.f.
• Note that magnitudes of E2 and E1 depend upon the number of turns
on the secondary and primary respectively.
• If N2 > N1, then E2 > E1 (or V2 > V1) and we get a step-up
transformer.
• On the other hand, if N2 < N1, then E2 < E1 (or V2 < V1) and we get
a step-down transformer.
• If load is connected across the secondary winding, the secondary
e.m.f. E2 will cause a current I2 to flow through the load.
• Thus, a transformer enables us to transfer a.c. power from one circuit
to another with a change in voltage level.
Important Points:
(i) The transformer action is based on the laws of electromagnetic
induction.
(ii) There is no electrical connection between the primary and
secondary.
The a.c. power is transferred from primary to secondary through
magnetic flux.
(iii) There is no change in frequency i.e., output power has the same
frequency as the input power.
(iv) The losses that occur in a transformer are:
(a) core losses—eddy current and hysteresis losses
(b) copper losses—in the resistance of the windings
• In practice, these losses are very small so that output power is nearly
equal to the input primary power.
• So, a transformer has very high efficiency.
E.M.F. Equation of a Transformer:
• Consider that an alternating voltage V1 of frequency f is applied to the
primary as shown in Fig.
• The sinusoidal flux φ produced by the primary can be represented as:

• The instantaneous e.m.f. e1 induced in the primary is

• It is clear from the above equation that maximum value of induced
e.m.f. in the primary is
• The r.m.s. value E1 of the primary e.m.f. is

Note: The e.m.f. E1 induced in the primary lags behind the flux φ by 90°.
Likewise, e.m.f. E2 induced in the secondary lags behind flux φ by 90°.
Parts of Transformer
• The basic parts of a transformer are the core, the primary winding, and
the secondary winding.
• Apart from these parts, there are various other components such as
insulation, transformer oil, cooling arrangements, protection relays,
etc. present in larger transformers.
1. Core
• The core provides a low reluctance path for electromagnetic flux and
supports the primary and secondary windings.
• It is made by stacking thin sheets of silicon steel which are separated
by thin insulating material.
• To minimize the hysteresis and eddy current loss silicon steel is used
as magnetic core material.
• There are two types of core constructions: core type and shell type.
• In shell-type construction, the windings are surrounded by the core.
• In core type construction, the core surrounded by winding.
2. Winding
• The transformer carries two windings:
• Primary winding
• Secondary winding
• These winding consists of several turns of copper or aluminum
conductors, insulated from each other.
• Out of the primary winding and secondary winding, the one that is
rated for higher voltage is known as High voltage (HV) winding and
the other is known as Low voltage (LV) winding.
• The high-voltage winding conductors are thinner than the low-voltage
conductors and surround the LV winding from the outside.
• The LV winding is placed close to the core.
3. Insulation
• Insulation is required between the windings and the core, between
windings, between each turn of the winding.
• The insulators should have high dielectric strength, good mechanical
properties, and high-temperature withstand ability.
• Paper, cotton, etc are used as insulation in transformers.
4. Tank
• The main tank is a part of a transformer that serves two purposes:
[Link] the core and the windings from the external environment.
[Link] as a container for oil and support for all other transformer
accessories.
5. Terminals
• For connecting incoming and outgoing cables, terminals are present in
transformers.
• They are mounted upon the bushings and connected to the windings’
ends.
The primary function of the bushing is to prevent electrical breakdown between the
enclosed conductor and the surrounding earthed metal work.
6. Transformer oil
• Both the transformer’s core and windings are submerged within the
lubricant, allowing the transformer oil to act as a coolant.
• The design of transformer coils can involve copper that is capable of
carrying a high current, which, in turn, makes these components
extremely hot.
• Transformer oil is an exceptional heat conductor and can effectively
reduce the copper coils’ temperature, stopping them from burning.
7. Oil Conservators:
• The oil conservator is moved on top of the transformers and is located
well above the tank.
• The transformer oil expands and contracts with an increase and
decrease in temperature.
• The oil conservator provides adequate space for oil expansion.
• It is connected to the main tank through a pipe.
• A level indicator is fitted to the conservator to indicate the oil level inside.
Theory of an Ideal Transformer
• An ideal transformer is one that has
(i) no winding resistance
(ii) no leakage flux i.e., the same flux links both the windings
(iii) no iron losses (i.e., eddy current and hysteresis losses) in the core
• Consider an ideal transformer on no load i.e., secondary is open-
circuited as shown in Fig.(i).
• Under such conditions, the primary is simply a coil of pure inductance.
• When an alternating voltage V1 is applied to the primary, it draws a
small magnetizing current Im which lags behind the applied voltage by
90°.
• This alternating current Im produces an alternating flux φ which is
proportional to and in phase with it.
• The alternating flux φ links both the windings and induces e.m.f. E1 in
the primary and e.m.f. E2 in the secondary.
• The primary e.m.f. E1 is, at every instant, equal to and in opposition to
V1 (Lenz’s law).
• Both e.m.f.s E1 and E2 lag behind flux φ by 90°.
• Magnitudes of E1 and E2 depend upon the number of primary and
secondary turns.
• Fig. (ii) shows the phasor diagram of an ideal transformer on no load.
• Since flux φ is common to both the windings, it has been taken as the
reference phasor.
• The primary e.m.f. E1 and secondary e.m.f. E2 lag behind the flux φ
by 90°.
• E1 and E2 are in phase.
• But E1 is equal in magnitude to V1 and 180° out of phase with it.
Voltage Transformation Ratio (K):
• We know,
Practical Transformer:
• A practical transformer differs from the ideal transformer in following
respects.
• The practical transformer has (i) iron losses (ii) winding resistances
and (iii) magnetic leakage, giving rise to leakage reactances.
(i) Iron losses:
• Since the iron core is subjected to alternating flux, there occurs eddy current
and hysteresis loss in it.
• These two losses together are known as iron losses or core losses.
(ii) Winding resistances.
• Since the windings consist of copper conductors, it immediately follows
that both primary and secondary will have winding resistance.
• The primary resistance R1 and secondary resistance R2 act in series with
the respective windings as shown in Fig.
• When current flows through the windings, there will be power loss as
well as a loss in voltage due to IR drop.
• E1 will be less than V1 while V2 will be less than E2.
(iii) Leakage reactances:
• Both primary and secondary currents produce flux.
• The flux φ which links both the windings is the useful flux and is
called mutual flux.
• However, primary current would produce some flux φ which would
not link the secondary winding.
• Similarly, secondary current would produce some flux φ that would
not link the primary winding.
• The flux such as φ1or φ2 which links only one winding is called
leakage flux.
• The leakage flux paths are mainly through the air.
• The effect of these leakage fluxes would be the same as though
inductive reactance were connected in series with each winding of
transformer that had no leakage flux.
• The effect of primary leakage flux φ1is to introduce an inductive
reactance X1 in series with the primary winding as shown in Fig.
• Similarly, the secondary leakage flux φ2 introduces an inductive
reactance X2 in series with the secondary winding.
• There will be no power loss due to leakage reactance.
• The presence of leakage reactance in the windings is voltage loss due
to IX drop.
Practical Transformer on No Load:
• Consider a practical transformer on no load i.e., secondary on open-
circuit as shown in Fig.(i).
• The primary will draw a small current I0 from supply (i) the iron
losses and (ii) a very small amount of copper loss in the primary.
• Hence the primary no load current I0 is not 90° behind the applied
voltage V1 but lags it by an angle φ0< 90° as shown in the phasor
diagram in Fig.(ii).
• As seen from the phasor diagram in Fig.(ii), the no-load primary
current I0 can be resolved into two rectangular components viz.
(i) The component IW in phase with the applied voltage V1.
• This is known as active or working or iron loss component and
supplies the iron loss and a very small primary copper loss.

(ii) The component Im lagging behind V1 by 90° and is known as

magnetizing component.
• It is this component which produces the mutual flux φ in the core.
• It is emphasized here that no load primary copper loss (i.e. ) is
very small and may be neglected.
• Therefore, the no load primary input power is practically equal to the
iron loss in the transformer i.e.,
• No load input power, W0 = Iron loss