How a power Transformer Works

To understand the concept of how a transformer works we need to go to the basic physics.
When different types of current passes through a conductor, they generate magnetic flux,
because they act like a magnet. An alternating current reverses its direction many times per
second at regular intervals. When this type of current flows through a wire it induces a
fluctuating emf. Power generation and distribution to customers is Ac and there are many
reasons for that. The power generated from source has a very high voltage, and it needs to be
step down to power smaller things like a computer. Transformers cannot change Dc – direct
voltages. Alternating current Ac flows like a sinusoidal wave. This also shows how the voltage is
changing, starts at zero rises, goes through zero builds up in the reverse, and back to zero again
as it completes one cycle. The time taken for a cycle is called a period T and 1/T. For example, if
4 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠
we have 4 cycles in 1 second, then the frequency is essentially 𝐻𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑧 and since
𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑
1 1 1
frequency is 𝑇, then the period will be 𝑇 = 𝑓 = 4 = 0.25. This is important, because for example,
a grid having a frequency of 50c/s or 50hz i.e. 50 cycles per second(frequency) will have a
1
period of 50 𝑠𝑒𝑐. The effective value of an AC current is the r.m.s value which is usually less than
the amplitude current or peak current or voltage.

Now when a current flow in a coil, it causes magnetic field to flow in the coil. When the current
is turned on, it takes time for the fields to grow, that is from 0 to certain intensity as time goes.
When current is turned off, it takes time for the field to disappear as well, that is, from certain
intensity to 0, as time goes. The result of this time effect and the number of lines of magnetic
field as it grows and collapse when current is turned on and of is that an additional emf is
induced within the coil itself called an emf of self-induction. What this does is that when you
switch on the emf tries to oppose the buildup of the magnetic field in the opposite direction,
slowing it down, and when you switch off, it tries to keep the field going, called Lenz’s Law,
which states that as current increases in a coil, an emf is induced which opposes the increase,
and vice versa. Effect opposes cause.

This property of a coil to oppose change is called inductance, unit of measurement for
inductance is called the Henry. With a set, up like the figure below,
An emf in the first winding can induce an emf in the second winding. Anytime the current
changes in the first coil, there is an induced emf in the second one. This is because the line of
force from the first coil, are coming across the turns of the second one. This is called the emf of
mutual induction. So, if we use an alternating voltage in the first coil, so that it fields changes
continuously, it will induce an alternating current in the other coil,

First coil or source coil is called the primary coil, second coil is called a secondary coil. The
supplied voltage is called the input voltage I/P, and the voltage produce in the secondary is
called the O/P output voltage.

To understand how this system transforms this voltage we need to what induce current is.

Suppose we have a system setup as below:

The output voltage is 10 times the input voltage, stepping up the voltage in what is called a
# 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠 50 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 80
step-up transformer. Mathematically, = = 10, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 = =
# 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠 5 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 8
10
 𝑁 𝑂/𝑃 # 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒
In simple terms𝑁 𝑆 = = =
𝑃 𝐼/𝑃 # 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒

𝑂 𝑁𝑆
And or 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒, 𝑃 = ∗ 𝐼/𝑃.
𝑁𝑃

The symbol is seen below in circuits

The metal on which the windings are wound are called core. There are two types of core, core
type as above, or shell type where the primary and secondary winding are placed on each
other.

Transformer size is determined by the KVA of the load. To find the size of a transformer we
use the following notation. The load is important here. KVA is a representative of power, and it
can come as MVA, mega volt ampere. The ratings for large power transformer are from
100MVA.

A single phase has two lines of AC power, A three phase has three lines of AC power, with each
line 120o out-of-phase with the others.

Three things are required to determine size:

 Load voltage or secondary/output voltage

 Load current
 Line voltage or primary voltage
Volts here is the load voltage which is the secondary voltage, or the voltage required to run a
load. Load is your equipment. The Amps here is the load current, the current required to drive
your load. Line voltage is voltage from the source in this case the dam which is usually very
high.

Clearly from the calculation, we can see that load voltage is a critical variable, which
depends on the number of turns of the secondary winding.
𝑂 𝑁𝑆 𝐼
i.e. 𝑃 = ∗ 𝑃. The implication is that the more the required output capacity, the larger the
𝑁𝑃
turns and the more the size, and the weight of the resulting transformer. Essentially, the weight
of the transformer is due to the core, the tank and the oil.

We may not have control over the load, and hence the size, but we have control of the
material, and hence the weight predominantly, and size less predominantly.

How do I minimize the size of transformer without decreasing the power capacity?

Basically, each AC cycle electric energy is converted to magnetic, and back again. The
amount of magnetic energy that a transformer can 'store' is linear in its mass. At a
higher frequency, more of these cycles occur, hence the same transformer would
transform more power, or the same power can be transferred by a smaller transformer.

Let’s have a look in different angle, shall we?

The length of time between cycles where the transformer is charging the iron core
decreases with the increased frequency.

Imagine trying to move a baseball 1Hz between your hands, then try it 1000x faster... it
might be possible with a smaller ball, but it’s still difficult.

It has to do with the amount of magnetic flux that is being stored into the metal in the
transformer core. The faster the switching, the less time it has to discharge/charge and
therefore the correct device will account for this (High frequency cannot be transformed
correctly with small transformers and vice-versa).

Airplanes use 440hz transformers and 440hz AC for most systems, since they are
smaller/lighter, and weight is an issue in airplanes.