Ernest Josep C.
Gante Research Work #1
1. Working Principle of a Transformer
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.
2. Construction of a Transformer
These are the basic components of a transformer.
Laminated core
Windings
Insulating materials
Transformer oil
Tap changer
Oil Conservator
Breather
Cooling tubes
Buchholz Relay
Explosion vent
a. Core
The core acts as support to the winding in the transformer. It also
provides a low reluctance path to the flow of magnetic flux. It is made of
laminated soft iron core in order to reduce eddy current loss and
Hysteresis loss. The composition of a transformer core depends on such as
factors voltage, current, and frequency. The diameter of the transformer
core is directly proportional to copper loss and is inversely proportional to
iron loss. If the diameter of the core is decreased, the weight of the steel in
the core is reduced, which leads to less core loss of the transformer and
the copper loss increase. When the diameter of the core is increased, the
vise versa occurs.
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b. Windings
Two sets of winding are made over the transformer core and are insulated from each
other. Winding consists of several turns of copper conductors bundled together, and
connected connected in series.
Winding can be classified in two different ways:
1. Based on the input and output supply
2. Based on the voltage range
Within the input/output supply classification, winding are further categorized:
1. Primary winding - These are the winding to which the input voltage is applied.
2. Secondary winding - These are the winding to which the output voltage is applied.
Within the voltage range classification, winding are further categorized:
1. High voltage winding - It is made of copper conductor. The number of turns made
shall be the multiple of the number of turns in the low voltage winding. The
conductor used will be thinner than that of the low voltage winding.
2. Low voltage winding - It consists of fewer number of turns than the high voltage
winding. It is made of thick copper conductors. This is because the current in the
low voltage winding is higher than that of high voltage winding.
Input supply to the transformers can be applied from either low voltage (LV) or high
voltage (HV) winding based on the requirement.
c. Insulating Materials
Insulating paper and cardboard are used in transformers to isolate primary and
secondary winding from each other and from the transformer core.
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d. Transformer Oil
Transformer oil is another insulating material. Transformer oil
performs two important functions: in addition to insulating function, it can
also cool the core and coil assembly. The transformer's core and winding
must be completely immersed in the oil. Normally, hydrocarbon mineral
oils are used as transformer oil. Oil contamination is a serious problem
because contamination robs the oil of its dielectric properties and renders
it useless as an insulating medium.
e. Tap Changer
The output voltage of transformers vary according to its input
voltage and the load. During loaded conditions, the voltage on the output
terminal decreases, whereas during off-load conditions the output voltage
increases. In order to balance the voltage variations, tap changers are
used. Tap changers can be either on-load tap changers or off-load tap
changers. In an on-load tap changer, the tapping can be changed without
isolating the transformer from the supply. In an off-load tap changer, it is
done after disconnecting the transformer. Automatic tap changers are also
available.
f. Conservator
The conservator conserves the transformer oil. It is an airtight,
metallic, cylindrical drum that is fitted above the transformer. The
conservator tank is vented to the atmosphere at the top, and the normal
oil level is approximately in the middle of the conservator to allow the oil
to expand and contract as the temperature varies. The conservator is
connected to the main tank inside the transformer, which is completely
filled with transformer oil through a pipeline.
g. Breather
The breather controls the moisture level in the transformer. Moisture can arise when
temperature variations cause expansion and contraction of the insulating oil, which then
causes the pressure to change inside the conservator. Pressure changes are balanced by
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a flow of atmospheric air in and out of the conservator, which is how moisture can enter
the system.
If the insulating oil encounters moisture, it can affect the paper insulation or may
even lead to internal faults. Therefore, it is necessary that the air entering the tank is
moisture-free.
The transformer's breather is a cylindrical container that is filled with silica gel. When
the atmospheric air passes through the silica gel of the breather, the air's moisture is
absorbed by the silica crystals. The breather acts like an air filter for the transformer and
controls the moisture level inside a transformer. It is connected to the end of breather
pipe.
h. Cooling Tubes
Cooling tubes are used to cool the transformer oil. The transformer
oil is circulated through the cooling tubes. The circulation of the oil may
either be natural or forced. In natural circulation, when the temperature of
the oil rises the hot oil naturally rises to the top and the cold oil sinks
downward. Thus the oil naturally circulates through the tubes. In forced
circulation, an external pump is used to circulate the oil.
i. Buchhloz Relay
The Buchholz Relay is a protective device container housed over the
connecting pipe from the main tank to the conservator tank. It is used to
sense the faults occurring inside the transformer. It is a simple relay that is
operated by the gases emitted during the decomposition of transformer
oil during internal faults. It helps in sensing and protecting the transformer
from internal faults.
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j. Explosion Vent
The explosion vent is used to expel boiling oil in the transformer
during heavy internal faults in order to avoid the explosion of the
transformer. During heavy faults, the oil rushes out of the vent. The level of
the explosion vent is normally maintained above the level of the
conservatory tank.
3. Different Types of a Transformer
Step up and Step down Transformer
Power Transformer
Instrument Transformer
Current Transformer
Potential Transformer
Single Phase Transformer
Three Phase Transformer
Step up and Step down Transformer
This type of transformer is categorized on the basis of a number of turns in the
primary and secondary windings and the induced emf.
Step up transformer transforms a low voltage, high current AC into a high voltage,
low current AC system In this type of transformer the number of turns in the secondary
winding is greater than the number of turns in the primary winding. If (V2 > V1) the
voltage is raised on the output side and is known as Step up transformer.
Step down transformer converts a high primary voltage associated with the low
current into a low voltage, high current. With this type of transformer, the number of
turns in the primary winding is greater than the number of turns in the secondary
winding. If (V2 < V1) the voltage level is lowered on the output side and is known as
Step down transformer.
Power Transformer
The power transformers are used in the transmission networks of higher voltages.
The ratings of the power transformer are as follows 400 KV, 200 KV, 110 KV, 66 KV, 33
KV. They are mainly rated above 200 MVA. Mainly installed at the generating stations
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and transmission substations. They are designed for maximum efficiency of 100%. They
are larger in size as compared to distribution transformer.
At a very high voltage, the power cannot be distributed to the consumer directly,
so the power is stepped down to the desired level with the help of step-down power
transformer. The transformer is not loaded fully hence the core loss takes place for the
whole day, but the copper loss is based on the load cycle of the distribution network.If
the power transformer is connected in the transmission network, the load fluctuation
will be very less as they are not connected at the consumer end directly, but if
connected to the distribution network there will be fluctuations in the load.
The transformer is loaded for 24 hours at transmission station, thus, the core and
copper loss will occur for the whole day.The power transformer is cost effective when
the power is generated at low voltage levels. If the level of voltage is raised, then the
current of the power transformer is reduced, resulting in I2R losses and the voltage
regulation is also increased.
Instrument Transformer
They are generally known as an isolation transformer. Instrument transformer is
an electrical device used to transform current as well as voltage level. The most common
use of instrument transformer is to safely isolate the secondary winding when the
primary has high voltage and high current supply so that the measuring instrument,
energy meters or relays which are connected to the secondary side of the transformer
will not get damaged.The instrument transformer is further divided into two types
Current Transformer (CT)
Potential Transformer (PT)
The current and potential transformer is explained below in detail
Current Transformer
The current transformer is used for measuring and also for the protection. When the
current in the circuit is high to apply directly to the measuring instrument, the current
transformer is used to transform the high current into the desired value of the current
required in the circuit.
The primary winding of the current transformer is connected in series to the main
supply and the various measuring instruments like ammeter, voltmeter, wattmeter or
protective relay coil.They have accurate, current ratio and phase relation to enable the
meter accurately on the secondary side.The term ratio has a great significance in CT.
For example, if its ratio is 2000:5, it means a CT has an output of 5 Ampere when the
input current is 2000 amp on the primary side. The accuracy of the Current Transformer
depends upon many factors like Burden, load, temperature, phase change, rating,
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saturation, etc.In the current transformer, the total primary current is the vector sum of
the excitation current and the current equal to the reversal of secondary current
multiplied by turn ratio.
Where,
Ip – primary current
Is – secondary or reversal current
I0 – excitation current
KT – turn ratio
Potential Transformer
The potential transformer is also called as the voltage transformer. The primary
winding is connected across the High voltage line whose voltage is to be measured, and
all the measuring instruments and meters are connected to the secondary side of the
transformer. The main function of the Potential transformer is to step down the voltage
level to a safe limit or value. The primary winding of the potential transformer is earthed
or grounded as a safety point.
Single Phase Transformer
A single phase Transformer is a static device, works on the principle of Faraday’s law
of mutual Induction. At a constant level of frequency and variation of voltage level, the
transformer transfers AC power from one circuit to the other circuit. There are two types
of windings in the transformer.The winding to which AC supply is given is termed as
Primary winding and in the secondary winding, the load is connected.
Three Phase Transformer
If the three single phase transformer is taken and connected together with their all
the three primary winding connected to each other as one and all the three secondary
windings to each other, forming as one secondary winding, the transformer is said to
behave as three phase transformer, that means a bank of three single phase transformer
connected together which acts as a three-phase transformer.
Three phase supply is mainly used for electric power generation, transmission and
distribution for industrial purpose. It is less costly to assemble three single phase
transformer to form three-phase transformer than to purchase one single three-phase
transformer. The three-phase transformer connection can be done by Star (Wye) and
Delta (Mesh) type.
The connection of primary and secondary winding can be done by various combinations
shown below
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Primary Winding Secondary Winding
Star (Wye) Star
Delta (mesh) Delta
Star Delta
Delta Star
The combination of primary winding and the secondary winding is done as star-star,
delta-delta, star-delta and delta-star.
