Transformers

Function
Converts (or Transforms) electrical energy from one voltage to another voltage
Either step-up or step-down Or isolates one circuit from another

A transformer is a static device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductorsthe transformer's coils.

Application
Changing voltage in AC circuits Charging batteries from AC circuits, with the use of a rectifier

Types of transformers
Power transformer Step up Step down Auto-transformer Only one winding Isolation transformer Same voltage output as that of input Current transformer Used to measure AC current flow

Schematic symbol

Transformer

http://www.micro.magnet.fsu.edu/electromag/java/transformer/index.html

Construction three basic parts

Primary coil or winding
Many turns of wire

Secondary coil or winding

Primary and secondary are not electrically connected

Core or magnetic circuit

Most transformers have the primary and secondary coils wound on a core to obtain maximum inductive effect between the coils Iron Core is most common because it maximizes efficiency Laminated core reduces eddy current effects

Types of losses
Copper or electrical losses Iron losses
Hysteresis Eddy current Core saturation Flux leakage

Operation
Current in primary coil produces magnetic field Magnetic field induces a potential (voltage) in the secondary coil
Mutual induction (not mutual inductance) If there is a complete circuit connected to the secondary coil, current may flow

Only works with a varying voltage in the primary coil

Usually alternating current (AC) Can work with pulsating DC

Only works with pure DC when circuit is either being opened or being closed

Operation
Input and output power is considered equal (at least in a perfect world)
P1 = P 2 P=IE I1 E1 = I2 E2 E1 / E2 = I2 / I1

Notice the current ratio is the inverse of the voltage ratio

Turns ratio
Ratio of the number of turns (of wire) in the primary winding to the number of turns in the secondary winding The turns ratio is equal to the voltage ratio
E1 / E2 = N1 / N2 (At least in a perfect world)

Operation
As long as there is an open in the secondary circuit, the amount of current flowing in the primary is almost nothing. This is because the back voltage produced in the primary blocks the voltage of the source. See page 3-90

Operation
Without the transfer of electrical power to the secondary, the magnetic field will collapse back onto the primary windings causing a CEMF that nearly equals the primary input voltage. The wattage needed in the secondary determines the amount of wattage that needs to be provided in the primary. The wattage of the primary is a function of the input voltage and the amount of current the will flow.

3 phase transformers
See page 3-104 Delta wound Y (wye) wound This will be discussed in more detail in AMT204, Aircraft Electricity III, when we look at alternators.

Rectifiers
Electronic device that changes AC to DC by limiting or regulating the direction of current flow Types of rectifiers
Half-wave Full-wave Full-wave bridge