TRANSFORMER

NO-LOAD & ON-LOAD TRANSFORMER

THEORY

TRANSFORMER ON NO-LOAD
A Transformer is on no-load, when its secondary winding is open
circuited i.e. I2 = 0. Under such a condition the primary input
current has to supply (i) iron loss in core (ii) Cu loss.
Now since primary winding is not a pure winding and has
some winding resistance, hence no load primary current I0 is not
at 90 behind V1 but lags it by an angel 0 < 90
Now, the primary current (I0) under no-load condition can be
split up into two components [see Fig. 4.12(b)].
(i)

Iron loss (or active or working) component (IW) is in phase

with V which supplies the iron losses.
Thus,

IW = I0 cos 0

(ii)

Magnetizing component (I) in quadrature with V

Thus,

I = I0 sin 0

This component is wattless, and its function is to sustain (or

maintain) the alternating flux in the core. The current I0 is vector
sum of IW and I i.e.,
Thus, from the phasor diagram,

I0 I2W I2

IW = I0 cos 0
I = I0 sin 0
No load power input is given by
W0 = V1 I0 cos 0 W
1

TRANSFORMER

NO-LOAD & ON-LOAD TRANSFORMER

THEORY

where cos 0 is power factor at no load. As losses are very small,

input power is also very small. Thus input current 0 is very small.
As 0 is very small, the no-load primary copper loss is negligibly
small, which means that no-load primary input is practically equal
to the iron loss in the transformer.
So, Iron loss, W1 = V1 I0 cos 0 W
This forms the basis of O. C. Test.

Phasor Diagram
Since flux is common to both windings is chosen as
reference.
The self induced emf E1 lags by 90.
The phasor E2 is in phase with E1.
The magnetizing current I is in phase with .
The applied voltage V1 is drawn equal and opposite to E1.
The active component Iw is in phase with V1. The phase sum
of IW and I gives no load current I0.
The angle between V1 and I0 is marked as 0.
The phasor diagram is shown below.

Transformer and phasor diagram (on no-load)

2

TRANSFORMER

NO-LOAD & ON-LOAD TRANSFORMER

THEORY

TRANSFORMER ON LOAD
When transformer is on no-load (i.e. when its secondary
winding is open circulated and secondary current I2 is zero),
primary winding draws a very small current I0 and is the main
primary flux in the core

Transformer on load
When secondary winding is loaded, the secondary current I2
is set up. The magnitude and phase of I2 with respect to V2 is
determined by the characteristics of the load. The secondary
current set up its own flux 2, which is in opposition to main
primary flux . (Basically flux is due to mmf N2I2.) The
opposing secondary flux weakens the primary flux
momentarily. Hence, primary back emf E1 tends to be reduced
and for a moment, V1 becomes greater than E1. Therefore,
additional current flows through primary winding [see. Fig 4.13(b)]
3

TRANSFORMER

NO-LOAD & ON-LOAD TRANSFORMER

THEORY

Let the additional primary current be I' 2 [see Fig 4.13(b)]. It is

known as load component of primary current. This current is
antiphase with I2This current set up its own flux 2 which is
opposition to 2 and is equal to it magnitude. (Basically flux 2 is
due to mmf N1 I'2 .) Hence, the two cancel each other out, and we
find that the magnetic effect of secondary current I2 is immediately
neutralized by the additional current I'2 . Hence, whatever the load
condition, the net flux passing through the core is approximately
the same as at no-load. Therefore, the core loss is also practically
the same under all load conditions.
As
2 1 ,
N2I2 N1I2
N
So,
I2 2 I2 KI2
N1

Hence when transformers is on load the primary winding has

two currents in it (i) I0 (ii) I'2 which is antiphase to I2 and K times in
magnitude.
Phasor Diagram : Without Considering Winding Resistance
and Magnetic Leakage
Neglecting small primary and secondary voltage drops due
to winding resistance and leakage reactance, we get
On primary side,
E1 = Vv antiphase with each other
On secondary side, V2 = E2
Case (i) : When load is resistive (unity power factor)
Figure .6 (a) Shows the phasor diagram for resistive load
(assuming K = 1) Steps for drawing the phasor diagram are as
follows :
1) Take flux as reference phasor.
2) Draw EV which lags behind the flux by 90.
3) Draw E 2, which is in phase with E 1. As K = 1, E2 is equal to
Ev V 2 is equal to E 2 both in magnitude and phase.
4) Draw V v equal and opposite to E v.
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TRANSFORMER

5)
6)
7)

8)
9)

NO-LOAD & ON-LOAD TRANSFORMER

THEORY

Draw phasor I0 , which lags V 1 by an angle 0 < 90.

Draw phasor I2 in phase with V 2 (as load is resistive).
The secondary current I2 causes primary current I'2 , which is
antiphase with it and equal to it in magnitude (since K = 1).
Therefore, draw the phasor I '2 in antiphase with I2 and equal
in magnitude.
By law of parallelogram, find the resultant of I 0 and I '2 . This
resultant is the total primary current I1.
Mark the primary phase angle 1 (angle between V 1 and I1).
Similarly, mark the secondary phase angle 2 (angle
between V 2 and I 2 ).

Fig. 6 Phasor diagram (on load),

without considering winding resistance and magnetic
leakage
Case (ii) When load is inductive (lagging power factor)
By using the same steps as in case (i), the phasor diagram
can be drawn. Only modification required is that current I2 lags V2
by an angle 2 < 90 (as load in is inductive) Fig. 6(b) shows the
phasor diagram for inductive load (Assuming K = 1).

TRANSFORMER

NO-LOAD & ON-LOAD TRANSFORMER

THEORY

Case (iii) When load is capacitive (leading power factor)

By using the same steps as in case (i), the phasor diagram
can be drawn. Only modification required is that current I2 leads
V2 by an angle 2 < 90 (as load is capacitive). Figure 6(c) shows
the phasor diagram for capacitive load (assuming K = 1).
Phasor Diagram: Considering Winding Resistance and
Magnetic Leakage
Consider a transformer with winding resistance and leakage
reactance as shown in Fig 4.15

Fig 4.15 Transformer with parameters

Writing vector equations for primary and secondary sides

d i

V 1 I1 R1 I1 X 1 E1

E 2 I 2 R2 I 2 X 2 V 2
and

I1 I 0 I 2
where
The phasor diagram of a transformer on losad condition is
drawn with the help of the above expressions.
Steps for drawing the phasor diagram are as follows :
1) First draw V 2 and then I2 . Phase angle between I2 and V 2 will
depend on the type of load.
2) To V 2 , add resistive drop I2 R2 parallel to I2 and inductive drop
I2 X 2 leading I2 dI2 X 2 i by 90 such that

E2 I2 R2 I2 X2 V2

3)

Draw E 1, in the same phase to E 2.

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TRANSFORMER

4)
5)

NO-LOAD & ON-LOAD TRANSFORMER

THEORY

Draw E 1 equal and opposite to E 1.

For drawing I0 I Iv first draw I0 and I' 2 such that
'

I1 I0 I 2

6) Now add
such that

I0

and

'

I2

using parallelogram law of vector addition

'

I1 I0 I 2

7)

To E 1, add resistive drop I1 R1 parallel to

drop I1 X1 leading I1 e I1 R1i by 90 such that

I1

and inductive

d i

V1 I1 R1 I1 X1 E1

8)

Draw flux such that leads E 1 and E 2 by 90.

Fig. 4.16 Phasor diagram (on load),

considering winding resistance and magnetic leakage

TRANSFORMER

NO-LOAD & ON-LOAD TRANSFORMER

THEORY

Case (i) When load is resistive (unity power factor)

Fig. 4.16(a) Shows the phasor diagram for resistive load
(assuming K = 1).
Case (ii) When load is inductive (lagging power factor)
Fig. 4.16(b) Shows the phasor diagram for inductive load
(assuming K = 1)
Case (iii) When load is capacitive (leading power factor)
Fig. 4.16(c) Shows the phasor diagram for capacitive load
(assuming K = 1).