Transformers - Three Phase Transformers
Transformers - Three Phase Transformers
A conceptual three phase transformer A practical core type three phase transformer
The advantage of a single unit of 3-phase transformer is that the cost is much
less compared to a bank of single phase transformers.
In fact all large capacity transformers are a single unit of three phase transformer.
3
Here three, single phase transformers are so placed that they share a common central
limb.
If the primary windings are connected to a balanced 3-phase supply (after connecting
the windings in say star), the fluxes A(t), B(t) and C(t) will be produced in the
cores differing in time phase mutually by 120.
The return path of these fluxes are through the central limb of the core structure.
In other words the central limb carries sum of these three fluxes. Since
instantaneous sum of the fluxes, A(t)+ B(t)+ C(t) = 0, no flux lines will exist in
the central limb at any time.
As such the central common core material can be totally removed without
affecting the working of the transformer.
Immediately we see that considerable saving of the core material takes place if a
3-phase transformer is constructed as a single unit. The structure however
requires more floor area as the three outer limbs protrudes outwardly in three
different directions.
In core structure of figure for conceptual three phase transformer, we note that the
reluctance seen by the three fluxes are same, Hence magnetizing current will be equal in
all the three phases.
This degree of unbalanced for no load current has practically no influence on the
performance of the loaded transformer. Transformer having this type of core
structure is called the core type transformer.
5
Mechanical losses:
In addition to magnetostriction, the alternating magnetic field causes fluctuating forces
between the primary and secondary windings. These incite vibrations within nearby
metalwork, adding to the buzzing noise, and consuming a small amount of power.
Stray losses:
Leakage inductance is by itself largely lossless, since energy supplied to its magnetic fields
is returned to the supply with the next half-cycle. However, any leakage flux that intercepts
nearby conductive materials such as the transformer's support structure will give rise to
eddy currents and be converted to heat. There are also radiative losses due to the
oscillating magnetic field, but these are usually small.
6
Solution:
7
Transformer Construction
There are broadly two types of single-phase double-wound transformer
constructionsthe core type and the shell type, as shown in Figure below.
The low and high voltage windings are wound as shown to reduce leakage flux.
Shell type
Core type
8
For power transformers, rated possibly at several MVA and operating
at a frequency of 50 Hz in India, the core material used is usually laminated
silicon steel or stalloy, the laminations reducing eddy currents and the silicon
steel keeping hysteresis loss to a minimum.
Large power transformers are used in the main distribution system and in
industrial supply circuits. Small power transformers have many applications,
examples including welding and rectifier supplies, domestic bell circuits,
imported washing machines and so on.
For audio frequency (a.f.) transformers, rated from a few mVA and
operating at frequencies up to about 15 kHz, the small core is also made of
laminated silicon steel. A typical application of a.f. transformers is in an audio
amplifier.
Solution:
12
Problem:
A 400 kVA transformer has a primary winding
resistance of 0.5 and a secondary winding
resistance of 0.001 . The iron loss is 2.5 kW
and the primary and secondary voltages are 5
kV and 320 V respectively. If the power factor
of the load is 0.85, determine the efficiency of
the transformer (a) on full load, and (b) on
half load.
15
Solution:
16
17
18
R1 and R2 represent the resistances of the primary and secondary windings and
X1 and X2 represent the reactances of the primary and secondary windings, due to
leakage flux.
The core losses due to hysteresis and eddy currents are allowed for by resistance
R which takes a current Ic, the core loss component of the primary current.
Reactance X takes the magnetizing component IM.
19
R and X are omitted since the no-load current I0 is normally only about 35% of
the full load primary current.
Transformer on no-load
20
It is often convenient to assume that all of the resistance and reactance as being on
one side of the transformer.
21
22
23
24
Maximum Efficiency:
25
Lectures on DC machines: Oct 13,15,17 and Oct 18, 2014 by Prof. Sandeep Anand