SINGLE PHASE

TRANSFORMERS
Compiled and presented by
Mr. D. Nedrick

What is a transformer
A

transformer is a device used for

changing voltage values in a circuit.

The

change is brought about by using

the magnetic effect of an alternating
current.

Induced e.m.f. (electromotive

force)
When

a conductor cuts, or is cut by,

magnetic lines of force, an e.m.f.
(voltage) is induced into that
conductor.

Self-induced e.m.f
The

e.m.f. which is induced in a coil due

to the changing flux in the coil cutting
the conductors of the coil.
This self-induced e.m.f. is in opposition
to the voltage producing it. The selfinduced e.m.f, tends to limit the current
in the circuit: it chokes the current
flowing in a coil when it is carrying an
alternating, or changing, current.
The greater the change in the current
the greater the e.m.f.

Self Induced EMF

E.m.f. due to Mutual

Inductance
When

a coil A carrying an alternating,

or changing, current is placed beside
another coil B, an e.m.f. will be
induced into coil B.
This e.m.f. induced into coil B, termed
the e.m.f. of mutual inductance, is in
opposition to the force producing it.

Mutual Inductance

NOTE:

There is no direct electrical connection

between the two coils, only a magnetic
connection (i.e., a magnetic linkage).
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Double-wound
Transformer
Construction:

The construction of the

double-wound transformer is as follows:

(1) primary winding (insulated copper conductors)

(2) secondary winding (insulated copper
conductors)
(3) core (silicon steel laminations)
8
(4)
INSULATION

Construction contd

 1.

There are two coils, insulated from

one another, and wound round a
silicon steel core.
2. The windings consist of insulated
copper conductors, wound on a bobbin
or former of insulating material.

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 The

3. The Core of the

Transformer

core of the transformer is made up of layers

of stampings, or laminations of silicon steel.
These sheets of steel are insulated from one
another with shellac, paper, or kaolin.
Silicon steel is used because it retains very little
magnetism and provides a low reluctance
(magnetic 'resistance') path for the magnetic
lines of force.
There are two basic types of core: (a) the core
type; and (b) the shell type. The vertical parts of
the core are termed the limbs.
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12

The Core

4.

The larger transformers are fitted

into a welded sheet-steel case which is
filled with oil for cooling purposes.
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Cycle of Operation

There

are two distinct circuits: (a) the

primary winding (coil A) to which the
incoming supply is connected, and (b)
the secondary winding (coil B) across
which the load is connected.
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How Does the Transformer

Work?

15

Contd
The

cycle of operation is as follows:

1.

An alternating current supply (IA) flows in

the primary winding A.
2. This alternating current produces an
alternating magnetic field linking the
primary and secondary windings.
3. The variation of magnetic flux induces (a)
an e.m.f. of self-inductance into the primary
winding, and (b) an e.m.f. of mutual
inductance into the secondary winding.
16

Contd
4.

When a load is connected across the

secondary winding B a current (I B) flows
through it.
5. The field due to this alternating
secondary current (IB) has a
demagnetizing effect on the primary
winding and to neutralize this effect a
greater current must flow in the primary
winding.
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Transformation Ratio
The

ratio of the input voltage (the primary

voltage VA) to the output voltage (VB) is
determined by the ratio of the turns.

18

Contd
For

example: if the primary winding

has 500 turns and the secondary
winding has 1000 turns, the ratio will
be two to one (2:1) step-up. Thus 100V
applied across the primary will produce
200V across the secondary. The ratio is
the same for voltage current and the
number of turns hence:
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Contd
Turns

ratio = Vs/Vp; Ns/Np; Ip/Is therefore the

formula
Vs/Vp = Ns/Np = Ip/Is (the use of any two
ratio constitute a formula)
Where: Vs = Secondary Voltage

Vp = Primary voltage

Ns = Number of turns on the secondary

Np = Number of turns on the primary

Is = Current through the secondary coil

Ip = Current through the primary coil

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Example
A

transformer has a step-down ratio of

20:1. Calculate the secondary voltage
when the primary is supplied at 240V d.c.
Trick you, transformer is used isolate dc
circuits anyways work it a.c.
N P = VP
Ns
VS cross multiply
N P x V S = VP x N S
VS = V P x N S

NP
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Example Solution
VS

= 240V x 1

20

= 12V
How much current would flow if a 6
load is connected across the secondary
winding?
I = V/R
= 12V/6
= 2A
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Solution 2
Calculate

the primary Current.

NP/NS = IS/IP Cross multiply
NP x I P = I S x N S
IP = IS x NS

NP
= 2A x 1t

20t
= 0.1A
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Exercise
1.

Calculate the secondary voltage in a

double-wound transformer having a stepdown ratio of 30:1. The primary voltage is
150V.
2. A double-wound transformer is used to
supply 50 V from the 250 V mains. The
primary winding contains 1500 turns. Find
(a) the number of secondary turns and (b)
the secondary current when the primary
current is 5 A.
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Volts Per Turn

Volts

per turn in a transformer are calculated

by dividing the voltage across the winding
by the number of turns in the winding.
Volts per turn =

winding voltage
no. of turns
25

Example:
A

double-wound transformer has a 240V

primary consisting of 2400 turns. Calculate
the 'volts per turn'.
Volts per turn =

winding voltage
no. of turns

Volts per turn =

240V
2400t

Volts per turn =

0.1

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Exercise
1.

Determine the respective number of

turns in each winding of a doublewound transformer, with a step-down
ratio of 6000V to 250V if the volts per
turn are 2.

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Auto-transformer

This

type of transformer uses the principle

of self-induction. The primary and secondary
are on the same winding and the lines of
force from the primary cut the turns of the
secondary and induce a voltage into them.
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Limitations
NOTE.

This transformer may be used

for step-up or step-down
transformation, but its practical
application is limited, because there is
a direct electrical connection between
the input supply and the output.
The ratio is not greater than 2 to 1
unless special precautions are taken.
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Dual Voltage Transformer

30

Losses in Transformers
A

transformer is a highly efficient piece of

equipment, mainly because there are no
moving parts. There are two sources of
loss.
1. Copper losses: This loss is a heat loss
due to the current flowing through the
copper of the windings. It is termed an I 2R
loss.
2. Iron losses. These are of two types:
(a) Losses due to eddy currents
(b) Hysteresis losses
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Eddy current
Eddy

currents are alternating currents

which are induced into the metal core
of the transformer by the alternating
field in the core.

32

Eddy Current
This

loss is minimized by using laminations.

The laminations are insulated from one
another to keep the eddy current paths
separate, to reduce the e.m.f., and to
increase the resistance per path.

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Hysterisis Loss
Hysteresis

losses are due to the energy used in

the core during the changing cycle of
magnetism.
A certain amount of magnetism remains after
the current has collapsed. This retained, or
residual, magnetism must be neutralized and
the energy used to neutralize it represents a
loss.
This loss is minimized by using a core in which
the residual magnetism is small: silicon steel is
the most common core material as it retains
little magnetism and provides a low reluctance
(magnetic resistance') to the lines of force.
34

Calculation of Transformer
Efficiency
A

transformer is the most efficient

machine because it has no moving parts
and has its efficiency usually about
90% to 98%.
Efficiency, at any power factor, may be
calculated as follows:
Efficiency percent = Output Power x 100

Input Power
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Relationship between VA
input and VA output:
Assuming

that the power factor is

unity (i.e., kVA = kW) and that losses
are negligible (power input = power
output), then
Vs x Is = Vp x Ip

36

Example
A

single phase step down transformer

having a ratio of 10:1 has a primary
voltage of 6600V and a load of
13.2kVA. Since losses are negligible:
VA (primary) x IA = VB (Secondary) x IB
NP /NS = VP/VS
VS

= 6600V/10
= 660V
37

Finding Secondary Current

Since

losses are negligible:

Input = Output
13200VA = 660V x I
I = 20A

38

Exercise
A

240V to 4800V transformer has a

primary current of 95 A and a
secondary current of 4A. What is its
efficiency?

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Types of Cooling
The

losses in a transformer are generated in

the form of heat and it is essential that the
temperature is kept below a certain level
(generally about 80 C). This is achieved by
one of the following methods
1. Air cooling (AN). This method is used with
small transformers. Convection currents in
the air dissipate the heat.
2. Oil immersion (ON). In this method the
transformer winding is immersed in a tank
containing oil.
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Oil Immersion
The

heat is transferred from the windings

through the oil; the dissipation of the
heat is assisted by increasing the surface
area of the tank with cooling tubes.
Variations of the above methods are also
used, for example, forced air blast (AB) or
the forced circulation of oil with a pump
assisted by water cooling (OFW).
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Ratings
A

transformer is rated in kilovoltamperes (i.e., apparent power). Since

the heating of the windings, and hence
temperature rise, depends on the
current, true power (kW) is not used
because the current through the wind
ings will increase as the power factor
decreases but the kilowatts will remain
the same.
42

Applications
The

main application of the transformer is in

distribution systems. The effectiveness of
the transformer in this application may be
illustrated by the following examples:
A 132,000V (132kV) distribution line has a
total resistance of 1 and carries a current
of 30A. Calculate the voltage drop in the line
as a percentage of the total voltage.
Since V = I x R

V = 30A x 1

= 30V

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Example

44

45

Further Applications
Welding

(supplying a low voltage-high

current output), supplies to rectifiers
and radio equipment. The autotransformer is often used for motor
starting, and for discharge lamp
circuits.

46

Past paper questions

A

double-wound power transformer has ten

times as many primary windings as the
secondary windings. The primary winding of the
transformer is connected to a 120 V a.c. supply.
The secondary winding of the transformer is
connected to a load of 60 W. Assume the
transformer losses to be negligible. Calculate
the
(i) secondary voltage
(ii) current in the primary winding
(iii) number of turns in the primary winding if
there are 300 turns on the secondary winding.
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