Electrical Machines · Transformers

Transformer Basics: Ideal Transformers & The EMF Equation

Dr. Mithun Mondal BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus Electrical Machines

Demonstrative Video

Ideal Transformer
  • An ideal transformer is one which has no losses, i.e. its windings have no ohmic resistance, there is no magnetic leakage, and hence has no \(I^2R\) and core losses

  • In other words, an ideal transformer consists of two purely inductive coils wound on a loss-free core

  • It is impossible to realize such a transformer in practice

  • Consider an ideal transformer whose secondary is open and primary is connected to sinusoidal alternating voltage \(V_1\)

  • Potential difference cause an alternating current to flow in the primary

  • Since, the primary coil is purely inductive and the secondary is open (no output) the primary draws a magnetizing current \(I_\mu\) only

  • \(I_\mu\) is very small in magnitude, magnetize the core, and lags \(V_1\) by \(90^0\)

  • The alternating current \(I_\mu\) produces an alternating flux \(\Phi\), which at all times is proportional to the current and is in phase with it.

    ideal transformer
    Ideal Transformer
  • This changing flux is linked with both \(N_1\) and \(N_2\)

  • Therefore, it produced self induced emf in the primary (\(E_1\)) which at every instant oppose \(V_1\) known as counter emf or back emf of the primary

  • Similarly, there is secondary mutually induced emf (\(E_2\)), antiphase with \(V_1\)

  • The magnitude of \(E_2\) is proportional to the rate of change of flux and the number of secondary turns

EMF Equation of a transformer

Let,

\[ \begin{aligned} N_1 & = \text{No. of turns in primary}\\ N_2 & = \text{No. of turns in secondary}\\ \Phi_m & = B_m \times A ~\text{Maximum flux in core in webers}\\ f & = \text{Frequency of a.c. input in Hz} \end{aligned} \]
cycle
Cycle
Key Points
  • Flux increases from zero to maximum value \(\Phi_{m}\) in one quarter of the cycle i.e. \(1/4~f\) s

    \(\therefore\) Average rate of change of flux \(=\dfrac{\Phi_{m}}{1/4f}\)
    \(=4f\Phi_{m}\) volt
  • Rate of change of flux per turn means induced emf in volts

    \(\therefore\) Average emf/turn \(=4f\Phi_{m}\) volt
  • If flux varies sinusoidally, then rms value of induced emf is obtained by multiplying the average value with form factor

    Form factor = \(\dfrac{\mbox{r.m.s value}}{\mbox{average value}}\)= 1.11
    \(\therefore\) r.m.s value of e.m.f/turn = \(1.11 \times 4f\Phi_{m} = 4.44f\Phi_{m} volt\)
  • emf/turn is same for both the primary and secondary winding

Voltage Transformation Ratio
transformation
Transformation
\[\begin{aligned} V_{1}I_{1} & =V_{2}I_{2}\\ \Rightarrow\dfrac{I_{2}}{I_{1}} & =\dfrac{V_{1}}{V_{2}}=\dfrac{1}{K} \end{aligned}\]
For an ideal transformer, input VA = output VA