12/29/2015 Transformer,Construction,Working,Types&Application

Transformer, Construction, Working, Types Application &

Limitations

Electrical Technology 02/03/2012

Basic Concepts, Electrical & Electronics Notes and Articles, Electrical Interview Questions, Inductance & Magnetism,
Questions/Answers (Electrical), Transformer
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WhatisaTransformer,Construction,Working,Types&Application

Table of Contents [Hide]

What is a Transformer, Construction, Working, Types & Application

Introduction to Electrical Transformer

Construction of a Transformer | Parts of a Transformer

Types of Transformers

Types of Transformers w.r.t Cores

Types of Transformer w.r.t uses

Types of Transformer w.r.t Cooling

Types of Instrument Transformer

Operating & Working Principle of a Transformer

Limitation of the Transformer

Electromagnetism

Field Flux

Electromagnetic Induction

Faradays Laws Of Electromagnetic Induction

Faradays First Law

Faradays Second Law

Lenzs Law
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Uses and Application of Transformer

Advantages of 3-Phase Transformer over 1-Phase Transformer

IntroductiontoElectricalTransformer
What is a Transformer?

In Very Simple words.

Transformer is a device which:

1. Transfer Electrical power from one electrical circuit to another Electrical circuit.

2. Its working without changing the frequency.

3. Work through on electric induction.

4. When, both circuits take effect of mutual induction.

5. Cant step up or step down the level of DC voltage or DC Current.

6. Can step up or step down the level of AC voltage or AC Current.

1500 kVA Transformer by Siemens | Electrical Technology

Without transformers the electrical energy generated at generating stations wont probably be sufficient
enough to power up a city. Just imagine that there are no transformers.How many power plants do you

think have to be set up in order to power up a city? Its not easy to set up a power plant. It is expensive.

Numerous power plant have to be set up in order to have sufficient power. Transformers help by
amplifying the Transformer output (stepping up or down the level of voltage or current).

When the number of turns of the secondary coil is greater than that of primary coil, such a transformer is

known as step up transformer.

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Likewise when the number of turns of coil of primary coil is greater than that of secondary transformer,

such a transformer is known as step down transformer.

ConstructionofaTransformer|PartsofaTransformer

Parts of a Transformer

1 Oil filter valve 17 Oil drain valve

2 Conservator 18 Jacking boss

3 Buchholz relay 19 Stopper

4 Oil filter valve 20 Foundation bolt

5 Pressure-relief vent 21 Grounding terminal

6 High-voltage bushing 22 Skid base

7 Low-voltage bushing 23 Coil

8 Suspension lug 24 Coil pressure plate

9 B C T Terminal 25 Core

10 Tank 26 Terminal box for protective devices

11 De-energized tap changer 27 Rating plate

12 Tap changer handle 28 Dial thermometer

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13 Fastener for core and coil 29 Radiator

14 Lifting hook for core and coil 30 Manhole

15 End frame 31 Lifting hook

16 Coil pressure bolt 32 Dial type oil level gauge

TypesofTransformers

There are two basic Types of Transformers

Check Also

1. Single Phase Transformer

2. Three Phase Transformer

Below are the more types of transformer derived via different functions and operation etc.

TypesofTransformersw.r.tCores Thyristor & Silicon Controlled

Core Type Transformer Rectifier (SCR) | All about

Shell Type Transformer Thyristors

Thyristor and SCR (Silicon

Berry Type Transformer Controlled Rectifier)
Construction, Operation,
TypesofTransformerw.r.tuses
Characteristics Introduction
to Thyristor The word
Large Power Transformer Thyristor

Distribution Transformer

Small Power Transformer

Sign Lighting Transformer

Control & Signalling Transformer

Gaseous Discharge Lamp Transformer

Bell Ringing Transformer

Instrument Transformer

Constant Current Transformer

Series Transformer for Street Lighting

TypesofTransformerw.r.tCooling

Self Air Cooled or Dry Type Transformer

Air Blast-Cooled Dry Type

Oil Immersed, Self Cooled (OISC) or ONAN (Oil natural, Air natural)

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Oil Immersed, Combination of Self Cooled and Air blast (ONAN)

Oil Immersed, Water Cooled (OW)

Oil Immersed, Forced Oil Cooled

Oil Immersed, Combination of Self Cooled and Water Cooled (ONAN+OW)

Oil Forced, Air forced Cooled (OFAC)

Forced Oil, Water Cooled (FOWC)

Forced Oil, Self Cooled (OFAN)

TypesofInstrumentTransformer

Current Transformer

Potential Transformer

Constant Current Transformer

Rotating Core Transformer or Induction regulator

Auto Transformer

Operating&WorkingPrincipleofaTransformer

Transformer is a static device (and doesnt contain on rotating parts, hence no friction losses), which

convert electrical power from one circuit to another without changing its frequency. it Step up (or Step
down) the level of AC Voltage and Current.

Transformer works on the principle of mutual induction of two coils or Faraday Laws Of Electromagnetic

induction. When current in the primary coil is changed the flux linked to the secondary coil also changes.

Consequently an EMF is induced in the secondary coil due to Faraday laws of electromagnetic induction.

The transformer is based on two principles: first, that an electric current can produce a magnetic field
(electromagnetism), and, second that a changing magnetic field within a coil of wire induces a voltage

across the ends of the coil (electromagnetic induction). Changing the current in the primary coil changes

the magnetic flux that is developed. The changing magnetic flux induces a voltage in the secondary coil.

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A simple transformer has a soft iron or silicon steel core and windings placed on it(iron core). Both the

core and the windings are insulated from each other. The winding connected to the main supply is called

the primary and the winding connected to the load circuit is called the secondary.

Winding (coil) connected to higher voltage is known as high voltage winding while the winding connected
to low voltage is known as low voltage winding. In case of a step up transformer, the primary coil (winding)

is the low voltage winding, the number of turns of the windings of the secondary is more than that of the

primary. Vice versa for step down transformer.

Good to Know:

Transformer Always rated in kVA instead of kW.

As explained earlier, EMF is induced only by variation of the magnitude of the flux.

When the primary winding is connected to ac mains supply, a current flows through it. Since the winding

links with the core, current flowing through the winding will produce an alternating flux in the core. EMF is
induced in the secondary coil since the alternating flux links the two windings. The frequency of the
induced EMF is the same as that of the flux or the supplied voltage.

Click image to enlarge | Working of a Transformer

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By so doing (variation of flux) energy is transferred from the primary coil to the secondary coil by means
of electromagnetic induction without the change in the frequency of the voltage supplied to the

transformer. During the process, a self induced EMF is produced in the primary coil which opposes the
applied voltage. The self induced EMF is known as back EMF.

LimitationoftheTransformer

To understand the main points, we have to discuss some basic terms related to transformer operation. So
lets back to basic for a while.

A transformer is an AC machine that steps up or steps down an alternating voltage or current. A

transformer being an AC machine however cannot step up or down a DC voltage or DC current. It sounds
a bit weird though. You might be thinking so are there not DC transformers?

To answer the two questions whether there are or there are not DC transformers and know why

transformer cannot step up or step down a DC voltage its necessary we know how electric current and
magnetic field interact with each other in transformer operation.

Electromagnetism
The interaction between magnetic field and electric current is termed electromagnetism. Current carrying

conductors produces magnetic field when current passes through it. Movement of electrons in a
conductor will result to electric current (drifted electrons) which occurs as a result of the EMF set up
across the conductor.

The EMF set up across the conductor can be in form of that stored in chemical energy or magnetic field.

Current carrying conductor placed in a magnetic fields will experience mechanical force while a conductor
placed in a magnetic field will have its electrons drifted which will results to electric current.

FieldFlux

Two magnets of unlike poles will attract each other while magnets of like poles will repel each other (so it

is with electric charges). Every magnet is surrounded by a force field and is represented by imaginary lines
emanating from the north pole of a magnet going into the south pole of the same magnet.

Read the important terms related to Field Flux and Magnetic Filed with formulas Here

The lines linking the north and south pole of a magnet which represents force field which
links coils in a transformer is termed as magnetic flux.

ElectromagneticInduction

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Electromagnetic induction is a phenomenon that explains how EMF and current is or can be induced in a
coil when a coil and a magnetic field interact. This phenomenonelectromagnetic inductionis explained by
Faradays laws of electromagnetic induction. The direction of induced EMF in a coil is explained by Lenzs

law and Flemings right hand rule.

FaradaysLawsOfElectromagneticInduction

After Ampere and others investigated the magnetic effect of current, Michael Faraday tried the opposite.
In the course of his work he discovered that when there was change in a magnetic field in which a coil was

placed, EMF was induced in the coil.

This happened only whenever he moved either the coil or the magnet he used in the experiment. EMF was
induced in the coil only when there was change in the field flux (if the coil is fixed, moving the magnet
towards or away from the coil causes EMF to be induced). Thus Faradays laws of electromagnetic

induction states as follows;

FaradaysFirstLaw

Faradays first law of electromagnetic induction states that EMF is induced in a coil when there is a change

in the flux linking the coil.

FaradaysSecondLaw

Faradays second law of electromagnetic induction states that the magnitude of induced EMF in a coil is
directly proportional to the rate of change of flux linking the coil.

e = N d/dt

Where

e = Induced EMF

N = the number of turns

d = Change in flux

dt = Change in time

LenzsLaw

Lenzs law entails how the direction of an induced EMF in a coil can be determined. It thus states that the
direction of induced EMF is such that it opposes the change causing it.

In other words, When an E.M.F is induced in a circuit, the current setup always opposes the motion, or

change in current, which produces it. OR

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An induced EMF will cause a current to flow in a close circuit in such a direction what its magnetic effect
will oppose the change that produced it.

According to this law (which introduced by Lens in 1835), the direction of current can be found. when the
current through a coil changes magnetic field, the voltage is created as a result of changing magnetic field,

the direction of the induced voltage is such that it always opposes the change in current.

in very simple words, lenzs law stating that the induced effect is always such as to oppose the cause that
produced it.

Flemings Right Hand Rule

It states that if the thumb, the forefinger and the middle finger are held in such a way that they are
mutually perpendicular to each other (makes 90 of Angles), then the forefinger points the direction of the

field, the thumb points the direction of motion of the conductor and the middle finger points the direction
of the induced Current (from EMF).

Why Transformers Cant step Up Or Step Down A DC Voltage or Current?

A transformer cannot step up or step down a DC voltage. It is not recommendable to connect a DC supply
to a transformer because if a DC rated voltage is applied to the coil (primary) of a transformer, the flux
produced in the transformer will not change in its magnitude but rather remain the same and as a result

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EMF will not be induced in the secondary coil except at the moment of switching on, So the transformer
may start to smock and burn because;

In case of DC supply, Frequency is zero. When you apply voltage across a pure inductive circuit, then
according to

Xl= 2 f L

if we put frequency = 0, then the overall Xl (inductive reactance) would be zero as well.

Now come to the current, I = V / R (and in case of inductive circuit, I = V / Xl) . basic Ohms Law

If we put Inductive reactance as 0, then the current would be infinite (Short circuit)

So, If we apply DC voltage to a pure inductive circuit, The circuit may start to smoke and burn.

Thus transformers are not capable of stepping up or stepping down a DC voltage. Also there will be no self

induced EMF in such cases in the primary coil which is only possible with a varying flux linkage to oppose
the applied voltage. The resistance of the primary coil is low and as such a heavy current flowing through
it will result to the primary coil burning out due to excessive heat produced by the current.

Also read: Under what condition is D.C supply applied safely to the primary of a transformer?

UsesandApplicationofTransformer

Uses and applications of transformer is discussed already in this previous post.

Advantagesof3PhaseTransformerover1PhaseTransformer

Read the advantages and disadvantages of Single Phase & three phase transformer here.

You may also read:

Transformer Efficiency, All day Efficiency & Condition for Maximum Efficiency

How to Calculate/Find the Rating of Transformer in kVA (Single Phase and Three Phase)?

A (50/60 Hz) Transformer. Which one will give more Output? (When operates on 50 or 60 Hz frequency)

Can we operate a 60HZ Transformer on 50Hz Supply Source and Vice Versa?

Is it possible to Operate a 50Hz Transformer on 500Hz frequency Supply?

EMF Equation of Transformer

Losses in Transformer

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