# Introduction

Electrical technology deals with the study of some branches of engineering science in relation to electrical power supply usage and the power generation equipment in use.
<div class="pull-right"><center><img src="!https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmRruoffCz2s7nHPEXUzb3HDaTHGBjavrUCJN2Kqu5uUKL" /><br/><em><sup><sup><a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2014/11/27/10/15/transformers-547355_1280.jpg">
via Pixabay transformer current energy: by User: Sandeep Bhowmick;Transmission & Distribution</a></sup></sup></em></center></div>

It is important to understand the basis of applied electricity for every engineer and those planning to become one. This material reveals the basic understanding of a static device in **Electrical Transformation System**

A Transformer is one of the most important components of the modern power system.

# What is A Transformer?

From the word transformer, it can be deduced that the word a verb *To Transform*. <div class="pull-left"><center><img src="https://img.esteem.ws/ei9109r6dk.jpg" /><br/><em><sup><sup><a href="https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transformer-hightolow.png">
via Wikimedia Transformer definition: by User: 
Mack, James E.; Shoemaker, Thomas (2006).: Chapter 15 Distribution Transformer</a></sup></sup></em></center></div>
Following this term, A **Transformer** can be defined electrically as a device that changes electrical power basically alternating current supply at one voltage level into another voltage level through the action of the magnetic field but this result to a proportional increase or decrease in the current ratings with no change in initial frequency.

In an electrical system, a transformer is a static device. A static device is a device that does not have any moving parts. This type of device has a stationary coils wounded to an iron core.

# Description of A Transformer.

The transformer is a device made up of two or more conductors that are wound around a single magnetic core and it's usually **Iron**.<div class="pull-right"><center><img src="https://steemitimages.com/DQmbCHHeMvN6Gdfpq2dBDo2XetAXDH7rvwT196pT1cqVPVf/image.png" /><br/><em><sup><sup><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transformer-hightolow.png">
via Wikimedia Commons CC-BY-SA-3.0 By User:Mtodorov_69: Electric power transformer high to low voltage</a></sup></sup></em></center></div>The wound conductor is called **Windings**. These windings are of two types and the entry of the winding is connected to either the source or the load. The two types are **Primary** and **Secondary** Windings.

**Primary Winding**: This winding is connected electrically to the power source and thereby called Input/Entry corner of a transformer.

**Secondary Winding**: This winding is connected electrically to the energy output or we call it load side.
**Take Note**: Ni electrical connection between the primary and secondary windings.

In some cases, there is a third winding called **Tertiary Winding** which function as a power provider to an auxiliary circuit or a reactor. This windings and the core are usually mounted in a steel tank that is filled with mineral oil which serves as insulating liquid and coolant. On the same winding, the insulated bushings are mounted at the top of the tank which will then connect the winding to other power system equipment.


# Working Principle of A Typical Transformer

If you have been following, the main principle of operation of a transformer is mutual inductance between two circuits that/which is linked by a common magnetic flux. From the above description of a transformer, it is a review that this device consists of two coils that are electrically separate and inductive but on the other hand magnetically linked through a path of reluctance.<div class="pull-left"><center><img src="https://img.esteem.ws/98kjmbmdbr.jpg" /><br/><em><sup><sup><a href="https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transformer_principle.png">
via Wikimedia: Electric power transformer high to low voltage: by User: 	Hardy42  December 2006: Transformer Principle</a></sup></sup></em></center></div>It is the alternating current(I1) that passes through a coil(N1) that causes an alternating magnetic flux in the magnetic core and this magnetic flux circulates in the magnetic core will thereafter pass through another coil(N2) which is the secondary winding then induce (give rise) and alternating voltage in this coil. The amount of an induces voltage is a dependant of 4 factors which are: **Primary Voltage, Core Composition/Shape, the number of turns in the primary winding and the number of turns in the secondary winding.**

This material is not going into deep learning on calculating power determinant in the transformer and the output current calculation. For further detail on this check [Electrical Handbook by McGraw, Hill 2001](http://www.academia.edu/download/43344019/_H._Wayne_Beaty__Handbook_of_Electric_Power_CalculBookFi.pdf)
<center>![image](https://img.esteem.ws/vafm5hz2hz.jpg)</center>
[Wikipedia:Author: SpinningSpark: Transformer Winding](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Transformer_winding_formats.jpg) 

The transformer can either be used as to step-up or step-down the power supply but in the general view of electrical transformation transformers have one of two types of cores which are: **Core-type** and **Shell-type** Transformer

 
**Core-type Transformer**: This is a type of transformer that their coils are form-wound and are of cylindrical in shape.  <div class="pull-right"><center><img src="https://img.esteem.ws/9g9traih6y.jpg" /><br/><em><sup><sup><a href="https://picsart.app.link/cQkS54VtJL">
via PicsArt: By User: samest00 Core Type</a></sup></sup></em></center></div>It is applicable in both small and large sized transformers the only difference is that is small size type of transformer the shape of the core is usually rectangular while the coils are still cylindrical.

**Shell-type Transformer**: This is a type of transformers that their coils are form-wound but are multilayer disc type which is wound in form of pancakes.<div class="pull-left"><center><img src="https://img.esteem.ws/7o5ufnga9n.jpg" /><br/><em><sup><sup><a href="https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toroidal_shell_transformer_(Rankin_Kennedy,_Electrical_Installations,_Vol_II,_1909).jpg">
via Wikimedia: by User: File:Toroidal shell transformer (Rankin Kennedy, Electrical Installations, Vol II, 1909)</a></sup></sup></em></center></div>In this type, the paper is used as an insulator to separate the different layers of the multilayer discs.

The insulation spaces in between discs stacked form the cooling and insulating ducts. In the area of shape for a shell-type transformer, it can either be a simple rectangular shape or a distributed form.

**Note**: The core surrounds a considerable portion of the winding in a shell-type transformer.

# Difference between step-up and step-down Transformer.

If Ns = Number of turns in secondary coil and Np = Number of turns in the primary coil, then the below table shows the difference between step-down and step-up transformer.
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[PicsArt](https://picsart.app.link/XwNhtQhlJL): Transformer Step-up & Step-down edited by @samest
<table><td>https://img.esteem.ws/ujrrc6o81e.jpg
</td><td>https://img.esteem.ws/a72277h1n7.jpg</td>
</table>

| **Step-up Transformer**| **Step-down Transformer**| 
| ------------- |:-------------:| 
| Ns is greater than that of primary coil     | Ns is less than that in primary coil |
| Primary coil is made of a thick insulated copper wire while secondary coil is made of thin insulated wire    | Primary coil is made of a thin wire and the secondary coil of thick wire|    
| It converts low voltage at high current into a high voltage at low current | It converts a high voltage at low current into a low voltage at high current      |
# Transformer Application
<div class="pull-left"><center><img src="https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmTDfE8JxjZTezpHt4L7478xg531Bk3uHQgMCDNDRQ5hBr" /><br/><em><sup><sup><a href="https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmTDfE8JxjZTezpHt4L7478xg531Bk3uHQgMCDNDRQ5hBr">
via Wikimedia: by User:Jasonbook-Limestone-Generating-Station.</a></sup></sup></em></center></div>
Transformers are used for the production of X-rays and the step-up transformer is applicable

2. Transformers are used in voltage regulators and stabilized power supplies

3. Transformers are used for obtaining large current for electric welding and the step-down transformer is applicable.

4. Transformers are used in induction furnace for metal melting.


There are energy losses during the transformation of the electrical power supply. There are four types which are:

1. Iron Losses

2. Copper Losses

3. Flux Losses

4. Hysteresis Losses

For a proper study on the four types of energy, losses check [Electrical Power Engineering by James H Harlow](https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1233/ML12334A506.pdf)

Another important factor in transformer discussion is **Efficiency of A Transformer**

The Efficiency of A Transformer is the check on the performance of the transformer in relation to power input as against the power output after transformation. The higher the efficiency, the better the system.

The mathematical expression for transformer efficiency is:

**Efficiency** = (Output Power)/(Input Power) x 100%

**Efficiency** = [(Po)/(Po + Pi)] x 100%

Where Po = Power Output, Pi = Powee Loss


 <center>![image](https://img.esteem.ws/sl640l2kyo.jpg)</center>
[Pixabay:](https://pixabay.com/en/learn-thumb-high-like-school-2004905/) Author: 
Gerd Altmann; learn-thumb-high-like-school

In conclusion, there is much important information on the transformation of the electrical power supply. The transformer is a static device and it's the device that changes the electrical power from transmission at some voltage level to another voltage level with the action of the magnetic field. On this account, the voltage proportional increases or decreases in the current ratings but the frequency of transmitting remain the same.

Thank you for reading

**Reference**

1. [Wikipedia: Static Electricity](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricity)

2. [Optimizing the AC Resistance of Multilayer
Transformer Windings with Arbitrary Current
Waveforms](http://www.breslin.org/files/publications/20000300_pels2000.pdf)

3. [Transfer Function Method To Diagnose Axial Displacement And Radial Deformation](http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/1193870/)

4. [Characterizing High-Frequency Effects in Transformer Windings: A Guide To Several Significiant Articles](http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/36989/)
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