INTRODUCTION

A transformer is an electrical device which is used

for changing the A.C. voltages. A transformer is
most widely used device in both low and high
current circuit. As such transformers are built in
an amazing strength of sizes. In electronic,
measurement and control circuits, transformer
size may be so small that it weight only a few tens
of grams where as in high voltage power circuits,
it may weight hundred of tones.
In a transformer, the electrical energy transfer
from one circuit to another circuit takes place
without the use of moving parts.
A transformer which increases the voltages is
called a step-up transformer. A transformer
which decreases the A.C. voltages is called a step-
down transformer.
Transformer is, therefore, an essential piece of
apparatus both for high and low current circuits.
PRINCIPLE
A Transformer based on the Principle of mutual
induction according to this principle, the amount of
magnetic flux linked with a coil changing, an e.m.f is
induced in the neighbouring coil that is if a varying
current is set-up in a circuit induced e.m.f. is
produced in the neighboring circuit. The varying
current in a circuit produce varying magnetic flux
which induces e.m.f. in the neighboring circuit.

CONSTRUCTION
The transformer consists of two coils. They are
insulated with each other by insulated material and
wound on acommon core. For operation at low
frequency, we may have asoft iron. The soft iron
core is insulating by joining thin ironstrips coated
with varnish to insulate them to reduce energy
losses by eddy currents.The input circuit is called
primary. And theoutput circuit is called secondary.
THEORY AND WORKING
OF A TRANSFORMER
When an altering e.m.f. is supplied to the primary
coil p1p2, an alternating current starts falling in it.
The altering current in the primary produces a
changing magnetic flux, which induces altering
voltage in the primary as well as in the secondary.
In a good-transformer, whole of the magnetic flux
linked with primary is also linked with the
secondary, then the induced e.m.f. induced in
each turn of the secondary is equal to that
induced in each turn of the primary. Thus if Ep and
Es be the instantaneous values of the e.m.f.’s
induced in the primary and the secondary and Np
and Ns are the no. of turns of the primary
secondary coils of the transformer and
Dфь / dt = rate of change of flux in each turnoff
the coil at this instant,
we have
Ep = -Np dфь/dt ----------------- (1) and
Es = -Ns dфь/dt ----------------- (2)
Since the above relations are true at every
instant, so by dividing 2 by 1, we get
Es / Ep = - Ns / Np ----------------(3)
As Ep is the instantaneous value of back e.m.f
induced in the primary coil p1, so the
instantaneous current in primary coil is due to the
difference (E – Ep ) in the instantaneous values of
the applied and back e.m.f. further if Rp is the
resistance o, p1p2 coil, then the instantaneous
current Ip in the primary coil is given by
Ip = E – Ep / Rp
E – Ep = Ip Rp
When the resistance of the primary is small, Rp Ip
can be neglected so therefore
E – Ep = 0 or Ep = E
Thus back e.m.f = input e.m.f
Hence equation 3 can be written as
Es / Ep = Es / E = output e.m.f / input e.m.f = Ns / Np
=K
Where K is constant, called turn or
transformation ratio.
In a step up transformer
Es > E so K > 1, hence Ns > Np
In a step down transformer
Es < E so K < 1, hence Ns < Np
If
Ip = value of primary current at the same
instant t
And
Is = value of sec. current at this instant, then
Input power at the instant t = Ep Ip and
Output power at the same instant = Es Is
If there are no losses of power in the
transformer, then
Input power = output power
Or
Ep Ip = Es Is
Or Es / Ep = Ip / Is = K
As k > 1, so Ip > Is or Is < Ip
i.e. current in sec. is weaker when secondary
voltage is higher.
Hence, whatever we gain in voltage, we lose
in current in the same ratio.
Similarly it can be shown, that in a step down
transformer, whatever we lose in voltage, we
gain in current in the same ratio.
Thus a step up transformer in reality steps
down the current & a step down transformer
steps up the current.

Efficiency:-
Efficiency of a transformer is defined as the
ratio of output power to the input power. i.e.
η = output power / input power = Es Is / Ep Ip
This in an ideal transformer where there is no power loss η =
1.
But I actual practice, there are many power losses:
therefore the efficiency of transformer is less than
one.
PROCEDURE
i) Demonstrating the principle of transformer by
winding primary and secondary coil on a steel rod

1. Take a soft iron rod of cm and cm diameter. Wrap

thick paper on it.
2. Wind a coil P of enameled copper wire 200 turns.
3. Wind another coil S of thick enameled copper wire
with 400 turns.
4. Both coils are wound over same length of the rod,
so that almost the entire flux produced by current in
one is linked to the other.
5. Connect the coil S with an AC voltmeter. Connect an
identical voltmeter across P also.
6. Switch on the current in P and note voltage across
the two coils
7. Find the ratio Vp to Vs
OBSERVATIONS
1. We will find that ratio of Vp and Vs
across the two coils is equal to the ratio of
number of turns in the coil P to that in the
coil S.i.e.,

Vp/Vs = Np/Ns ---------------(1)

2. The coil P (to which AC voltage is
applied) is
Called the primary and coil S (in which AC
is induced) is called the secondary.
3.Since coil S is placed very close to the
coil P,the power in the primary is
transferred into the secondary through
mutual induction.
4. It is clear from equation 1, that by
appropriate choice of the turn ratio i.e.,
Np/Ns, we can obtain a higher voltage in S
compared to that in P.
ENERGY LOSSES:-
Following are the major sources of energy loss in
a transformer:
1. Copper loss: is the energy loss in the form of
heat in the copper coils of a transformer. This is
due to joule heating of conducting wires.
2. Iron loss: is the energy loss in the form of heat
in the iron core of the transformer. This is due to
formation of eddy currents in iron core. It is
minimized by taking laminated cores.
3. Leakage of magnetic flux: occurs inspite of
best insulations. Therefore, rate of change of
magnetic flux linked with each turn of S1S2 is less
than the rate of change of magnetic flux linked
with each turn of P1P2
4. Hysteretic loss: is the loss of energy due to
repeated magnetization and demagnetization of
the iron core when A.C. is fed to it.
5. Magneto striation: humming noise of a
transformer.
.
USES OF TRANSFORMER
A transformer is used in almost all a.c. operations
In voltage regulator for T.V., refrigerator,
computer, air conditioner etc.
A step down transformer is used for welding
purposes.
A step down transformer is used for obtaining
large current.
A step up transformer is used for the production
of X-Rays and NEON advertisement.
Transformers are used in voltage regulators and
stabilized power supplies.
Transformer are used in the transmission of A.C over
a long distance.
Small transformers are used in radio sets, telephone,
loud speakers, and electric bells etc.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF
TRANSFORMERS :
Instrument transformers Instrument
transformers are used for measuring voltage and
current in electrical power systems, and for power
system protection and control. Where a voltage or
current is too large to be conveniently used by an
instrument, it can be scaled down to a standardized
low value. Instrument transformers isolate
measurement, protection and control circuitry from
the high currents or voltages present on the circuits
being measured or controlled. A current transformer
is a transformer designed to provide a current in its
secondary coil proportional to the current flowing in
its primary coil.[88]
Voltage transformers (VTs), also referred to as
"potential transformers" (PTs), are designed to have
an accurately known transformation ratio in both
magnitude and phase, over a range of measuring
circuit impedances. A voltage transformer is intended
to present a negligible load to the supply being
measured. The low secondary voltage allows
protective relay equipment and measuring
instruments to be operated at a lower voltages.[89]
Both current and voltage instrument transformers are
designed to have predictable characteristics on
overloads. Proper operation of over-currentprotective
relays requires that current transformers provide a
predictable transformation ratio even during a short-
circuit.
RF transformers
There are several types of transformers used in radio
frequency (RF) work. Steel laminations are not
suitable for RF.
Air-core transformers
These are used for high frequency work. The lack of a
core means very low inductance. Such transformers
may be nothing more than a few turns of wire
soldered onto a printed circuit board.
Ferrite-core transformers
Widely used in intermediate frequency (IF) stages in
superheterodyne radio receivers. are mostly tuned
transformers, containing a threaded ferrite slug that is
screwed in or out to adjust IF tuning. The transformers
are usually canned for stability and to reduce
interference.
Transmission-line transformers
For radio frequency use, transformers are sometimes
made from configurations of transmission line,
sometimes bifilar or coaxial cable, wound around
ferrite or other types of core. This style of transformer
gives an extremely wide bandwidth but only a limited
number of ratios (such as 1:9, 1:4 or 1:2) can be
achieved with this technique.
The core material increases the inductance
dramatically, thereby raising its Q factor. The cores of
such transformers help improve performance at the
lower frequency end of the band. RF transformers
sometimes used a third coil (called a tickler winding)
to
inject feedback into an earlier (detector) stage in
antique regenerative radio receivers.
Baluns
Baluns are transformers designed specifically to
connect between balanced and unbalanced circuits.
These are sometimes made from configurations of
transmission line and sometimes bifilar orcoaxial cable
and are similar to transmission line transformers in
construction and operation.