Transformer
Always the dots in the primary and secondary coils will be opposing.
Copper loss
The energy dissipated as heat in the windings of the transformer due to the resistance of the copper (or aluminum) conductors.
Here:
- current flow - resistance of winding
Leakage flux
The portion of the magnetic flux generated by the transformer windings that does not link with the core or the other winding. This flux escapes into the surrounding air and does not contribute to energy transfer between the primary and secondary windings.
Ideal Transformer
- No copper losses in the winding
- No leakage flux
- Reluctance of the core (
) is 0 - No core losses
Equations
As
As
Impedance
Here:
- impedance of the primary coil - impedance of the load in the secondary coil
Power
Core losses
Eddy current
Loops of electric current induced within conductors by a changing magnetic field in the conductor, due to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. These currents flow in closed loops within the plane of the conductor and can cause significant energy losses in the form of heat.
To reduce eddy currents:
- Laminated cores: Use thin, insulated layers of magnetic material stacked together to restrict the flow of eddy currents.
- High-resistivity materials: Use materials with higher electrical resistance to reduce the magnitude of the currents.
- Core design: Optimize the shape and structure of the core to minimize areas where eddy currents can form.
Hysteresis
The lag between the changes in the magnetic flux density (
The area of the hysteresis loop represents the energy lost as heat in the core material during each cycle of magnetization and demagnetization. This loss is known as hysteresis loss.
To reduce hysteresis losses:
- Use materials with narrow hysteresis loops, such as silicon steel or other soft magnetic materials.
- Optimize the operating frequency to minimize the energy dissipated in the core.