Experiment 2(a)

Transformer Regulation

OBJECTIVE

• To study the voltage regulation of the transformer with varying loads.

• To study transformer regulation with inductive and capacitive loading.

DISCUSSION

The load on a large power transformer in a sub-station will vary from a very small
value in the early hours of the morning to a very high value during the heavy peaks
of maximum industrial and commercial activity. The transformer secondary voltage
will vary somewhat with the load and, because motors and incandescent lamps and
heating devices are all quite sensitive to voltage changes, transformer regulation is
of considerable importance. The secondary voltage is also dependent upon whether
the power factor of the load is leading, lagging or unity. Therefore, it should be
known how the transformer will behave when it is loaded with a capacitive, an
inductive or a resistive load.

If a transformer were perfect (ideal) its windings would have no resistance.

Furthermore, it would require no reactive power (vars) to set up the magnetic field
within it. Such a transformer would have perfect regulation under all load conditions
and the secondary voltage would remain absolutely constant. But, practical
transformers do have winding resistance and they do require reactive power to
produce their magnetic fields. The primary and secondary windings possess,
therefore, an overall resistance R and an overall reactance X. The equivalent circuit
of a power transformer having a turn ratio of 1 to 1, can be approximated by the
circuit shown in Figure 3-1. The actual transformer terminals are P 1 P 2 on the primary
side and S1 S2 on the secondary.

In between these terminals we have shown the transformer as being composed of

a perfect (ideal) transformer in series with an impedance consisting of R and X,
which represents its imperfections. It is clear that if the primary voltage is held
constant, then the secondary voltage will vary with loading because of R and X.

An interesting feature arises with a capacitive load, because partial resonance is set
up between the capacitance and the reactance X so that the secondary voltage E2
may actually tend to rise as the capacitive load value increases.

3-1
Transformer Regulation

Figure 3-1.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

Variable Resistance (8311), Variable Inductance (8321), Variable Capacitance

(8331), Single-Phase Transformer (8341), AC Ammeter (8425), AC Voltmeter
(8426), Power Supply (8821), and Connection Leads (8941).

PROCEDURE

CAUTION!

High voltages are present in this Experiment! Do not make any

connections with the power on! The power should be turned off
after completing each individual measurement!

Figure 3-2.

G 1. Using your Single-Phase Transformer, Power Supply, Resistive Load, AC

Ammeter and AC Voltmeter, connect the circuit shown in Figure 3-2.

3-2
Transformer Regulation

G 2. a. Place all of the Resistive Load switches in their open position for zero
load current.

b. Turn on the power supply and adjust for exactly 240 V ac as indicated
by voltmeter E1.

c. Measure and record in Table 3-1 the input current I1, the output current
I2 and the output voltage E2.

d. Adjust the load resistance ZL to 4800 Ω. Make sure that the input
voltage remains at exactly 240 V ac. Measure and record I 1, I 2 and E 2.

e. Repeat (d) for each of the listed values in Table 3-1.

f. Return the voltage to zero and turn off the power supply.

ZL I2 E2 I1
(ohms) (mA ac) (V ac) (mA ac)

4
4800

2400

1600

1200

960

Table 3-1.

G 3. a. Calculate the transformer regulation using the no-load and full-load

output voltages from Table 3-1.

= %

b. Does the primary winding VA equal the secondary winding VA for every
value of load resistance in the Table? Explain.

G Yes G No

G 4. a. Repeat procedure 2 using the Inductive Load in place of the resistance

load.

b. Record your measurements in Table 3-2.

3-3
Transformer Regulation

ZL I2 E2 I1
(ohms) (mA ac) (V ac) (mA ac)

4
4800

2400

1600

1200

960

Table 3-2.

G 5. a. Repeat procedure 2 using the Capacitive Load in place of the resistance

load.

b. Record your measurements in Table 3-3.

ZL I2 E2 I1
(ohms) (mA ac) (V ac) (mA ac)

4
4800

2400

1600

1200

960

Table 3-3.

G 6. You will now construct an output voltage E2 vs output current I2 regulation

curve for each type of transformer load.

a. Plot your recorded values of E 2 (at each value of I 2 listed in Table 3-1)
on the graph of Figure 3-3.

b. Draw a smooth curve through your plotted points. Label this curve
“resistive load”.

c. Repeat (a) for the inductive (Table 3-2) and capacitive (Table 3-3)
loads. Label these curves “inductive load” and “capacitive load”.

3-4
Transformer Regulation

Figure 3-3.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Explain why the output voltage increases when capacitance loading is used.

2. A transformer has a very low impedance (small R and X):

a) What effect does this have on the regulation?

b) What effect does this have on short-circuit current?

3-5
Transformer Regulation

3. Very large transformers are sometimes designed not to have optimum regulation
properties in order for the associated circuit breakers to be within reasonable
size. Explain.

4. Will transformer heating be approximately the same for resistive, inductive or

capacitive loads of the same VA rating? Explain.

G Yes G No

3-6
 Experiment 2(b)

Transformers in Parallel

OBJECTIVE

• To learn how to connect transformers in parallel.

• To determine the efficiency of parallel-connected transformers.

DISCUSSION

Transformers may be connected in parallel to furnish load currents greater than the
rated current of each transformer. There are two precautions to be observed when
connecting transformers in parallel.

1) The windings to be paralleled must have identical output voltage ratings.

2) The windings to be paralleled must have identical polarities.

Very large short-circuit currents can be developed if these rules are not followed. In
fact, transformers, circuit breakers and associated circuitry can be severely
damaged, or may even explode, if these short-circuit currents are large enough.

The efficiency of any machine or electrical device is given by the ratio of output
power to input power. (Apparent power and reactive power are not used in
calculating transformer efficiency). The equation for percent efficiency is:

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

Variable Resistance (8311), Single-Phase Transformer (8341), AC Ammeter (8425),

AC Voltmeter (8426), Single-Phase Wattmeter (8431), Power Supply (8821), and
Connection Leads (8941).

PROCEDURE

CAUTION!

High voltages are present in this Experiment! Do not make any

connections with the power on! The power should be turned off
after completing each individual measurement!

G 1. Using your Single-Phase Transformer, Power Supply, Single-Phase

Wattmeter, Resistive Load, AC Ammeter, and AC Voltmeter, connect the

5-1
Transformers in Parallel

circuit shown in Figure 5-1. Note that the two transformers are connected
in parallel. The primary windings (1 to 2) are connected together to the
240 V ac power source. The wattmeter will indicate the input power. Each
secondary winding (3 to 4) is connected in parallel to the load RL. Ammeters
are inserted to measure load current IL and transformer secondary currents
I1 and I2.

Connect two resistance sections of the Variable resistance module in series

to implement the resistive load RL shown in Figure 5-1. This is required to
dissipate the large amount of power involved in this exercise.

5 5

6 6

Figure 5-1.

G 2. Place all the resistance switches in their open positions for zero load
current. Note that the windings are connected for voltage step-up operation
(240 V primary to 415 V secondary).

G 3. Have your circuit wiring approved by the instructor before proceeding.

G 4. a. Turn on the power supply and slowly advance the voltage output
control knob while noting the transformer secondary current meters I1
and I2 and the load current meter IL. If the windings are properly
phased, no load or secondary currents should be flowing.

b. Adjust the power supply voltage to 240 V ac as indicated by the

voltmeter connected across the wattmeter.

5-2
Transformers in Parallel
G 5. a. Gradually increase the load RL until the load current IL equals
250 mA ac. Check to see that the input voltage is exactly 240 V ac.

b. Measure and record the load voltage, load current, transformer

secondary currents and the input power.

EL = V ac

IL = A ac

I1 = A ac

I2 = A ac

Pin = W

c. Return the voltage to zero and turn off the power supply.

G 6. a. Calculate the load power.

EL x IL = W

b. Calculate the circuit efficiency.

Pout / Pin x 100 = %

c. Calculate the transformer losses.

Pin ! Pout = W
d. Calculate the power delivered by transformer 1.

I1 x EL = W
e. Calculate the power delivered by transformer 2.

I2 x EL = W

G 7. Is the load reasonably distributed between the two transformers? Explain.

G Yes G No

5-3
Transformers in Parallel

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Show how you would parallel connect the transformers to the source and the
load in Figure 5-2. Windings 1 to 2 and 3 to 4 are rated for 1.1 kV ac and
windings 5 to 6 and 7 to 8 are rated for 415 V ac.

Figure 5-2.

2. The efficiency of a transformer which supplies a pure capacitive load is zero.

Explain.

3. Name the losses which cause a transformer to heat up.

4. How does the efficiency of your Single-Phase Transformer compare to the

efficiency of DC Motor/Generator? Explain.

5-4
 Experiment 2(c)

Determination of the Equivalent Circuit Parameters of a

Transformer and Calculation of Efficiency and Regulation
using Equivalent Circuit

INTRODUCTION:

The approximate equivalent circuit of a transformer is given in the following figure-

Figure 1 : Approximate Equivalent Circuit of a Transformer

The various parameters of this circuit can be determined by open circuit test and short circuit
test. Various performance characteristics (such as regulation, efficiency) can be determined
with the help of this circuit without actually loading the transformer. This experiment is
designed to perform the open circuit and short circuit test. Obtained results will be compared
with those from theoretical calculations.

APPARATUS:
1) One ac voltmeter (0-300V,0-30V)
2) Two ac ammeters (0-5A, 0-1A)
3) One 1- wattmeter
4) One 1- variac
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP:

1 3

2 4

Figure 2 : Open Circuit Test

3 1
500

4 2

Figure 3 : Short Circuit Test

PROCEDURE:
1) Open Circuit Test: Complete connections as shown in the experimental setup. Apply
rated voltage to secondary (Low Tension side) of the transformer. Note the readings of
the ammeter, voltmeter & wattmeter.

2) Short Circuit Test: Complete connections as shown in the experimental setup. Gradually
apply voltage across the primary (High Tension side) of the transformer until rated
primary current flows through the ammeter. Quickly take the readings of the ammeter,
voltmeter & wattmeter.
DATA:
Name plate data of the transformer:

KVA rating: Voltage rating:

Data for open circuit test Data for short circuit test
(referred to LT side): (referred to HT side):

Input power (WOC), watts = Input power (WSC), watts =

Input current (IOC), amps = Input current (ISC), amps =
Input voltage (VOC), volts = Input voltage (VSC), volts =

CALCULATIONS:

1) Core loss, WCORE = WOC watt

2) Core loss resistance (referred to the HT side):
r0 = (( VOC )2  a2 )/WOC 
3) Magnetizing resistance (referred to the HT side):
xm = ( VOC X a2 )/ IOC sin0 , where 0 = cos-1 ( WOC/ VOCIOC )
4) Copper loss, Wcu = WSC
5) Equivalent resistance, R1 = WSC/ ISC2
6) Equivalent reactance, X1 =  (( VSC/ISC)2 ⎯ R12 )

REPORTS:

1. Determine the equivalent circuit parameters of the transformer from the test data.
2. What are the approximations of the short and the open circuit tests?
3. Why open circuit test is performed by keeping the high-tension side open, whereas short
circuit test is performed by keeping the low-tension side shorted?
4. Draw the exact & approximate equivalent circuit of a transformer. Define all the
parameters.
5. Draw the vector diagram of a real transformer for resistive, non-inductive and capacitive
load.