TRANSFORMER

A transformer is an electrical device which, by the principles of electromagnetic

induction, transfers electrical energy from one electric circuit to another, without
changing the frequency. The energy transfer usually takes place with a change of
voltage and current. Transformers either increases or decreases AC voltage.
Transformers are used to meet a wide variety of needs. Some transformers can be
several stories high, like the type found at a generating station or small enough to hold
in your hand, which might be used with the charging cradle for a video camera. No
matter what the shape or size, a transformers purpose remains the same: transforming
electrical power from one type to another.

How Transformers Work

The main principle of operation of a

transformer is mutual inductance between
two circuits which is linked by a common
magnetic flux. A basic transformer consists
of two coils that are electrically separate
and inductive, but are magnetically linked
through a path of reluctance.

As shown above the electrical transformer

has primary and secondary windings. The
core laminations are joined in the form of
strips in between the strips you can see
that there are some narrow gaps right through the cross-section of the core. These
staggered joints are said to be imbricated. Both the coils have high mutual inductance.
A mutual electro-motive force is induced in the transformer from the alternating flux that
is set up in the laminated core, due to the coil that is connected to a source of
alternating voltage. Most of the alternating flux developed by this coil is linked with the
other coil and thus produces the mutual induced electro-motive force. The so produced
electro-motive force can be explained with the help of Faradays laws of Electromagnetic
Induction as

e=M*dI/dt

If the second coil circuit is closed, a current flows in it and thus electrical energy is
transferred magnetically from the first to the second coil.
The alternating current supply is given to the first coil and hence it can be called as the
primary winding. The energy is drawn out from the second coil and thus can be called
as the secondary winding.

In short, a transformer carries the operations shown below:

1. Transfer of electric power from one circuit to another.

2. A Transfer of electric power without any change in frequency.
3. Transfer with the principle of electromagnetic induction.
4. The two electrical circuits are linked by mutual induction.

It is important to remember that transformers do not generate electrical power; they

transfer electrical power from one AC circuit to another using magnetic coupling. The
core of the transformer is used to provide a controlled path for the magnetic flux
generated in the transformer by the current flowing through the windings, which are also
known as coils.
There are four primary parts to the basic transformer. The parts include the Input
Connection, the Output Connection, the Windings or Coils and the Core.

 Input Connections - The input side of a transformer is called the primary

side because the main electrical power to be changed is connected at this point.
 Output Connections - The output side or secondary side of the transformer is
where the electrical power is sent to the load. Depending on the requirement of
the load, the incoming electric power is either increased or decreased.
 Winding - Transformers have two windings, being the primary winding and the
secondary winding. The primary winding is the coil that draws power from the
source. The secondary winding is the coil that delivers the energy at the
transformed or changed voltage to the load. Usually, these two coils are
subdivided into several coils in order to reduce the creation of flux.
 Core - The transformer core is used to provide a controlled path for the magnetic
flux generated in the transformer. The core is generally not a solid bar of steel,
rather a construction of many thin laminated steel sheets or layers. This
construction is used to help eliminate and reduce heating.
Transformers generally have one of two types of cores: Core Type and Shell
Type. These two types are distinguished from each other by the manner in which
the primary and secondary coils are place around the steel core.
o Core type - With this type, the windings surround the laminated core.
o Shell type - With this type, the windings are surrounded by the laminated
core.

When an input voltage is applied to the primary winding, alternating current starts
to flow in the primary winding. As the current flows, a changing magnetic field is set up
in the transformer core. As this magnetic field cuts across the secondary winding,
alternating voltage is produced in the secondary winding.

The ratio between the number of actual turns of wire in each coil is the key in
determining the type of transformer and what the output voltage will be. The ratio
between output voltage and input voltage is the same as the ratio of the number of turns
between the two windings.

A transformers output voltage is greater than the input voltage if the secondary winding
has more turns of wire than the primary winding. The output voltage is stepped up, and
considered to be a "step-up transformer". If the secondary winding has fewer turns than
the primary winding, the output voltage is lower. This is a "step-down transformer".

Transformer Configurations
There are different configurations for both single-phase and three-phase systems.

 Single-phase Power - Single-phase transformers are often used to supply power

for residential lighting, receptacle, air-conditioning, and heating needs. Single
phase transformers can be made even more versatile by having both the primary
winding and secondary winding made in two equal parts. The two parts of either
winding can then be reconnected in series or parallel configurations.
In other words, for a transformer there is no direct electrical connection between the two
coil windings, thereby giving it the name also of an Isolation Transformer. Generally,
the primary winding of a transformer is connected to the input voltage supply and
converts or transforms the electrical power into a magnetic field. While the job of the
secondary winding is to convert this alternating magnetic field into electrical power
producing the required output voltage as shown.

Transformer Construction (single-phase)

Where:

VP - is the Primary Voltage

VS - is the Secondary Voltage

NP - is the Number of Primary Windings

NS - is the Number of Secondary Windings

Φ (phi) - is the Flux Linkage

Notice that the two coil windings are not electrically connected but are only linked
magnetically. A single-phase transformer can operate to either increase or decrease the
voltage applied to the primary winding. When a transformer is used to “increase” the
voltage on its secondary winding with respect to the primary, it is called a Step-up
transformer. When it is used to “decrease” the voltage on the secondary winding with
respect to the primary it is called a Step-down transformer.
However, a third condition exists in which a transformer produces the same voltage on
its secondary as is applied to its primary winding. In other words, its output is identical
with respect to voltage, current and power transferred. This type of transformer is called
an “Impedance Transformer” and is mainly used for impedance matching or the
isolation of adjoining electrical circuits.
The difference in voltage between the primary and the secondary windings is achieved
by changing the number of coil turns in the primary winding ( NP ) compared to the
number of coil turns on the secondary winding ( NS ).
As the transformer is basically a linear device, a ratio now exists between the number of
turns of the primary coil divided by the number of turns of the secondary coil. This ratio,
called the ratio of transformation, more commonly known as a transformers “turns ratio”,
( TR ). This turns ratio value dictates the operation of the transformer and the
corresponding voltage available on the secondary winding.
It is necessary to know the ratio of the number of turns of wire on the primary winding
compared to the secondary winding. The turns ratio, which has no units, compares the
two windings in order and is written with a colon, such as 3:1 (3-to-1). This means in this
example, that if there are 3 volts on the primary winding there will be 1 volt on the
secondary winding, 3 volts-to-1 volt. Then we can see that if the ratio between the
number of turns changes the resulting voltages must also change by the same ratio.

 Three-phase Power - Power may be supplied through a three-phase circuit

containing transformers in which a set of three single-phase transformers is used,
or on three-phase transformer is used. When a considerable amount of power is
involved in the transformation of three-phase power, it is more economical to use a
three-phase transformer. The unique arrangement of the windings and core saves a
lot of iron.
 Delta and Wye Defined - There are two connection configurations for three-phase
power: Delta and Wye. Delta and Wye are Greek letters that represent the way the
conductors on the transformers are configured. In a delta connection, the three
conductors are connected end to end in a triangle or delta shape. For a wye, all the
conductors radiate from the center, meaning they are connected at one common
point.
 Three-phase Transformers - Three-phase transformers have six windings; three
primary and three secondary. The six windings are connected by the manufacturer
as either delta or wye. As previously stated, the primary windings and secondary
windings may each be connected in a delta or wye configuration. They do not have
to be connected in the same configuration in the same transformer. The actual
connection configurations used depend upon the application.

A three phase transformer or 3φ transformer can be constructed either by

connecting together three single-phase transformers, thereby forming a so-called
three phase transformer bank, or by using one pre-assembled and balanced
three phase transformer which consists of three pairs of single phase windings
mounted onto one single laminated core.

The advantages of building a single three phase transformer is that for the same
kVA rating it will be smaller, cheaper and lighter than three individual single
phase transformers connected together because the copper and iron core are
used more effectively. The methods of connecting the primary and secondary
windings are the same, whether using just one Three Phase Transformer or
three separate Single Phase Transformers.

Three Phase Transformer Connections

 The primary and secondary windings of a transformer can be connected in
different configuration as shown to meet practically any requirement. In the case
of three phase transformer windings, three forms of connection are possible:
“star” (wye), “delta” (mesh) and “interconnected-star” (zig-zag).
The combinations of the three windings may be with the primary delta-connected
and the secondary star-connected, or star-delta, star-star or delta-delta,
depending on the transformers use. When transformers are used to provide three
or more phases they are generally referred to as a Polyphase Transformer.

A Transformers Turns Ratio

Assuming an ideal transformer and the phase angles: ΦP ≡ ΦS

Note that the order of the numbers when expressing a transformers turns ratio value is
very important as the turns ratio 3:1 expresses a very different transformer relationship
and output voltage than one in which the turns ratio is given as: 1:3.

Types of Transformers

Types by Design

The types of transformers differ in the manner in which the primary and secondary coils
are provided around the laminated steel core. According to the design, transformers can
be classified into two:

1. Core- Type Transformer

In core-type transformer, the windings are given to a considerable part of the core. The
coils used for this transformer are form-wound and are of cylindrical type. Such a type of
transformer can be applicable for small sized and large sized transformers. In the small
sized type, the core will be rectangular in shape and the coils used are cylindrical. The
figure below shows the large sized type. You can see that the round or cylindrical coils
are wound in such a way as to fit over a cruciform core section. In the case of circular
cylindrical coils, they have a fair advantage of having good mechanical strength. The
cylindrical coils will have different layers and each layer will be insulated from the other
with the help of materials like paper, cloth, micarta board and so on. The general
arrangement of the core-type transformer with respect to the core is shown below. Both
low-voltage (LV) and high voltage (HV) windings are shown.

Core Type Transformers

The low voltage windings are placed nearer to the core as it is the easiest to insulate.
The effective core area of the transformer can be reduced with the use of laminations
and insulation.

2. Shell-Type Transformer

In shell-type transformers, the core surrounds a considerable portion of the windings.

The comparison is shown in the figure below.

Core Type and Shell Type Transformer Winding

The coils are form-wound but are multi layer disc type usually wound in the form of
pancakes. Paper is used to insulate the different layers of the multi-layer discs. The
whole winding consists of discs stacked with insulation spaces between the coils. These
insulation spaces form the horizontal cooling and insulating ducts. Such a transformer
may have the shape of a simple rectangle or may also have a distributed form. Both
designs are shown in the figure below:

Shell Type Transformers Rectangular Form

Shell Type Transformers Distributed Form

 A strong rigid mechanical bracing must be given to the cores and coils of the
transformers. This will help in minimizing the movement of the device and also prevents
the device from getting any insulation damage. A transformer with good bracing will not
produce any humming noise during its working and will also reduce vibration.

A special housing platform must be provided for transformers. Usually, the device is
placed in tightly-fitted sheet-metal tanks filled with special insulating oil. This oil is
needed to circulate through the device and cool the coils. It is also responsible for
providing the additional insulation for the device when it is left in the air.