Contents :

1 Introduction 5

2 Working Principle 6

3 Construction 7

4 Types of Transformers 8
4.1 Based on designs 8
4.2 Based on cooling method 11

5 E.M.F equation 12

6 Voltage Transformation Ratio 13

7 Applications 14

8 References 14
INTRODUCTION:
There have been years for people to use transformers for power
transmission since it had been invented in 19th century by Nikole Tesla.
Transformers are employed in power grid mostly for voltage
transformation, isolation and noise decoupling [1]. Here isolation means
isolation of different voltage ranks. In inherent those transformers let
any AC waves through them, it means that they can't stop harmonics
though them; can't stop fault current though them, which may cause
more faults. When there is over load, they can't stop the voltage decline
of the secondary side, which can cause a range of harmonics polluting
the whole power grid. What's more, those special transformers being
made in a general way, they are doomed to carry imbalance and
nonlinear loads, those imbalance and nonlinear caused by the loads will
eventually feedback to the power grid from their secondary side to
primary side and vice versa. Although there are already several means
being obtained to improve the performance of those transformers, it can
make them work in a better way but can't solve the mentioned problems
radically.
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. The working principle of the transformer can be
understood from the figure below.

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 Faraday’s 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. 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.

For the simple construction of a transformer, you must need two coils
having mutual inductance and a laminated steel core. The two coils are
insulated from each other and from the steel core. The device will also
need some suitable container for the assembled core and windings, a
medium with which the core and its windings from its container can be
insulated.

In order to insulate and to bring out the terminals of the winding from
the tank, apt bushings that are made from either porcelain or capacitor
type must be used.

In all transformers that are used commercially, the core is made out of
transformer sheet steel laminations assembled to provide a continuous
magnetic path with minimum of air-gap included. The steel should have
high permeability and low hysteresis loss. For this to happen, the steel
should be made of high silicon content and must also be heat treated.
By effectively laminating the core, the eddy-current losses can be
reduced. The lamination can be done with the help of a light coat of
core plate varnish or lay an oxide layer on the surface. For a frequency of
50 Hertz, the thickness of the lamination varies from 0.35mm to 0.5mm
for a frequency of 25 Hertz.

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.
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.

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:
 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.

There may be cases when the smooth tank surface will not be able to
provide the needed cooling area. In such cases, the sides of the tank are
corrugated or assembled with radiators on the sides of the device. The
oil used for cooling purpose must be absolutely free from alkalis,
sulphur and most importantly moisture. Even a small amount of
moistures in the oil will cause a significant change in the insulating
property of the device, as it lessens the dielectric strength of the oil to a
great extent.

Mathematically speaking, the presence of about 8 parts of water in 1

million reduces the insulating quality of the oil to a value that is not
considered standard for use. Thus, the tanks are protected by sealing
them air-tight in smaller units. When large transformers are used, the
airtight method is practically difficult to implement. In such cases,
chambers are provided for the oil to expand and contract as its
temperature increases and decreases.

1. Oil Filled Self-Cooled Type

Oil filled self-cooled type uses small and medium-sized distribution

transformers. The assembled windings and core of such transformers are
mounted in a welded, oil-tight steel tanks provided with a steel cover.
The tank is filled with purified, high quality insulating oil as soon as the
core is put back at its proper place. The oil helps in transferring the heat
from the core and the windings to the case from where it is radiated out
to the surroundings.

For smaller sized transformers the tanks are usually smooth surfaced,
but for large size transformers a greater heat radiation area is needed,
and that too without disturbing the cubical capacity of the tank. This is
achieved by frequently corrugating the cases. Still larger sizes are
provided with radiation or pipes.

2. Oil Filled Water Cooled Type

This type is used for much more economic construction of large

transformers, as the above-told self-cooled method is very expensive.
The same method is used here as well- the windings and the core are
immersed in the oil. The only difference is that a cooling coil is mounted
near the surface of the oil, through which cold water keeps circulating.
This water carries the heat from the device. This design is usually
implemented on transformers that are used in high voltage transmission
lines. The biggest advantage of such a design is that such transformers
do not require housing other than their own. This reduces the costs by a
huge amount. Another advantage is that the maintenance and
inspection of this type is only needed once or twice in a year.

3. Air Blast Type

This type is used for transformers that use voltages below 25,000 volts.
The transformer is housed in a thin sheet metal box open at both ends
through which air is blown from the bottom to the top.

Let,

NA = Number of turns in primary

NB = Number of turns in secondary

Ømax = Maximum flux in the core in webers = Bmax X A

f = Frequency of alternating current input in hertz (HZ)

As shown in figure above, the core flux increases from its zero value to
maximum value Ømax in one quarter of the cycle , that is in ¼
frequency second.

Therefore, average rate of change of flux = Ømax/ ¼ f = 4f ØmaxWb/s

Now, rate of change of flux per turn means induced electro motive force
in volts.

Therefore, average electro-motive force induced/turn = 4f Ømaxvolt

If flux Ø varies sinusoidally, then r.m.s value of induced e.m.f is obtained

by multiplying the average value with form factor.

Form Factor = r.m.s. value/average value = 1.11

Therefore, r.m.s value of e.m.f/turn = 1.11 X 4f Ømax = 4.44f Ømax

Now, r.m.s value of induced e.m.f in the whole of primary winding

= (induced e.m.f./turn) X Number of primary turns

Therefore,

EA = 4.44f NAØmax = 4.44fNABmA

Similarly, r.m.s value of induced e.m.f in secondary is

EB = 4.44f NB Ømax = 4.44fNBBmA

n an ideal transformer on no load,

VA = EA and VB = EB , where VB is the terminal voltage

From the above equations we get

EB/ EA = VB/ VA = NB/NA = K

This constant K is known as voltage transformation ratio.

(1) If NB>NA , that is K>1 , then transformer is called step-up

transformer.

(2) If NB<1, that is K<1 , then transformer is known as step-down

transformer.

Again for an ideal transformer,

Input VA = output VA

VAIA = VBIB

Or, IB/IA = VA/VB = 1/K

Hence, currents are in the inverse ratio of the (voltage) transformation

ratio.

Transformers are used in most electronic circuits. A transformer has only

3 applications;

1. To step up voltage and current.

2. To Step down voltage and current.
3. In electric power transmission, transformers allow transmission of
electric power at high voltages
4. In many electronic devices, a transformer is used to convert
voltage from the distribution wiring to convenient values for
the circuit requirements.

REFERENCES:-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer