Transformers

Engr. Michael Ernie F. Rodriguez

Instructor I
Transformer

• Transformer is a stationary machine of high efficiency

by means of which AC power maybe changed from
one voltage to another without changing its
frequency. It is a simple and efficient machine that
changes the level of energy from high voltage to low
voltage and vice versa.
• A transformer has three parts: the core, the primary
winding, and the secondary winding.
Parts of a Transformer

1. Core – made up of laminated sheets of iron which interlinks

two coils of insulated wire placed upon it.
2. Primary Winding – winding that is connected to an AC
power source of suitable voltage.
3. Secondary Winding – winding that is connected to the
load.
Core

E1 N1 N2 E2

Primary Secondary
Working Principle of a Transformer

• A transformer operates on the principle of mutual

inductance between two inductively coupled coils. It consists
of two windings in close proximity and are coupled by
magnetic induction.
• One of the windings called primary is energized by a sinusoidal
voltage. The second winding, called secondary, feeds the load.
• The alternating current in the primary winding sets up an
alternating flux in the core.
• The secondary winding is linked by most of this flux and emfs
are induced in the two windings. The emf induced in the
secondary winding drives a current through the load
connected to the winding.
Working Principle of a Transformer

• Energy is transferred from the primary circuit to the secondary

circuit through the medium of the magnetic field.
• In brief, a transformer is a device that:
1. transfers electric power from one circuit to another;
2. it does so without a change of frequency; and
3. it accomplishes this by electromagnetic induction
Types of Transformers
(According to Use)
Power Transformer
• Big transformer installed in power plants and central
substations and must be designed with high efficiency
at rated capacity.

Distribution Transformer
• Small transformer mounted on poles to supply a
group of customers and must be designed with high
all day efficiency.
Types of Transformers
(According to Construction)
Core Type
• The winding surrounds the bigger portion of the core
and is good for medium voltage and high capacity.

Shell Type
• The core surrounds the bigger portion of the
windings and is good for low voltage and high
capacity.
Types of Transformers
(According to Number of Turns)
Step Down
• The number of turns on the primary side is greater
than the number of turns on the secondary side.

Step Up
• The number of turns on the primary side is less than
the number of turns on the secondary side.
Ideal Transformer

An ideal transformer is a lossless transformer.

𝐸 = 4.44𝑁𝑓𝜙𝑚 ; 𝜙𝑚 = 𝐵𝑚 𝐴

where: E = voltage induced in the windings, in volts (V)

N = number of turns in the windings
f = frequency of the voltage induced, in Hertz (Hz)
fm = maximum flux in the core, in weber (Wb)
Bm = maximum flux density in the core, in Tesla (T)
A = csa of the core, in sq. meters (m2)
Ideal Transformer

EXAMPLE: A single-phase transformer has 300 primary turns

and 750 secondary turns. The net cross sectional area of the
core is 64 sq cm. If the primary voltage is 440 V, 60 Hz, find the
maximum flux density in the core.
𝐸 = 4.44𝑁𝑓𝜙𝑚 ; 𝜙𝑚 = 𝐵𝑚 𝐴
𝐸
𝐸 = 4.44𝑁𝑓𝐵𝑚 𝐴 → 𝐵𝑚 =
4.44𝑁𝑓𝐴
2
2
1𝑚
𝐴 = 64 𝑐𝑚 × = 0.0064 𝑚2
100 𝑐𝑚
𝐸 440
𝐵𝑚 = = = 0.86 𝑇
4.44𝑁𝑓𝐴 4.44(300)(60)(0.0064)
Ideal Transformation Ratios

𝐸1 𝑁1
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜: = =𝑎
𝐸2 𝑁2
𝐼2 𝑁1
𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜: = =𝑎
𝐼1 𝑁2
2
𝑍1 𝑅1 𝑋1 𝑁1
𝑂ℎ𝑚𝑖𝑐 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜: = = = = 𝑎2
𝑍2 𝑅2 𝑋2 𝑁2

where: a = turns ratio

Note: Subscript 1 is for primary parameters while Subscript 2 is

for secondary parameters
Ideal Transformation Ratios

EXAMPLE: The secondary winding of a 4,600/230 V

transformer has 36 turns. How many turns are there in the
primary winding?
𝐸1 𝑁1 𝐸1 4600
= → 𝑁1 = 𝑁2 = 36 = 720 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠
𝐸2 𝑁2 𝐸2 230

EXAMPLE: The secondary load current of a 2,300/115 V

transformer is 46 A. Calculate the primary current.
𝐼2 𝐸1 𝐸2 115
= → 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 = 46 = 2.3 𝐴
𝐼1 𝐸2 𝐸1 2300
Non-Ideal Transformer

A non-ideal or a practical transformer has power losses and

voltage drops within its internal circuits.

Ip R1 X1 R2 X2
I0 I1 I2

LOA D
V1 RC XM E1 E2 V2

R1, X1 = R and X of primary windings V1 = supply voltage

R2, X2 = R and X of secondary windings V2 = load or terminal voltage
XM = magnetizing reactance of the core I0 = exciting current
RC = resistance representing the core loss Ip = total primary current
drawn from the supply
Approximate Equivalent Circuit

R1 X1 R2 X2

I1 I2

LOA D
V1 E1 E2 V2

Approximate Equivalent Circuit

Approximate Equivalent Circuit

Equivalent Circuit Referred to the Primary Side

R01 X01

I1 I2

LOA D
V1 E1 E2 V2

𝑅01 = 𝑅1 + 𝑎2 𝑅2 ; 𝑋01 = 𝑋1 + 𝑎2 𝑋2 ; 𝑍01 = 𝑅01 2 + 𝑋01 2

where: R01 = equiv. resistance ref. to the primary side

X01 = equiv. reactance ref. to the primary side
Z01 = equiv. impedance ref. to the primary side
Approximate Equivalent Circuit

Equivalent Circuit Referred to the Secondary Side

R02 X02

I1 I2

LOA D
V1 E1 E2 V2

𝑅1 𝑋1
𝑅02 = 𝑅2 + 2 ; 𝑋02 = 𝑋2 + 2 ; 𝑍02 = 𝑅02 2 + 𝑋02 2
𝑎 𝑎

where: R02 = equiv. resistance ref. to the secondary side

X02 = equiv. reactance ref. to the secondary side
Z02 = equiv. impedance ref. to the secondary side
Approximate Equivalent Circuit

EXAMPLE: A single-phase, 2000/200 V, 50 Hz transformer has

primary resistance of 3.5 W and reactance of 4.5 W. The
secondary resistance and reactance are 0.015 W and 0.02 W
respectively. Calculate the equivalent values of resistance,
reactance and impedance (a) in primary terms and (b) in
secondary terms.
𝐸1 2000
𝑎 𝑎= = = 10
𝐸2 200
𝑅01 = 𝑅1 + 𝑎2 𝑅2 = 3.5 + 102 0.015 = 5 Ω
𝑋01 = 𝑋1 + 𝑎2 𝑋2 = 4.5 + 102 0.02 = 6.5 Ω

𝑍01 = 𝑅01 2 + 𝑋01 2 = 52 + 6.52 = 8.2 Ω

Approximate Equivalent Circuit

EXAMPLE: A single-phase, 2000/200 V, 50 Hz transformer has

primary resistance of 3.5 W and reactance of 4.5 W. The
secondary resistance and reactance are 0.015 W and 0.02 W
respectively. Calculate the equivalent values of resistance,
reactance and impedance (a) in primary terms and (b) in
secondary terms.
𝑅1 3.5
𝑏 𝑅02 = 𝑅2 + 2 = 0.015 + 2 = 0.05 Ω
𝑎 10
𝑋1 4.5
𝑋02 = 𝑋2 + 2 = 0.02 + 2 = 0.065 Ω
𝑎 10

𝑍02 = 𝑅02 2 + 𝑋02 2 = 0.052 + 0.0652 = 0.082 Ω