EDUCATOR ACTIVITIES

GRADE 11 ELECTRICAL TECNOLOGY Power Systems

WEEK TOPIC DATE
1 Single –Phase Transformers 13-16 April 2021

Exercise 1 (Introduction to Transformers)

1. What is a Transformer?

 A transformer is a passive electrical device that transfers electrical energy

from one circuit to another through the process of electromagnetic
induction. It is most commonly used to increase (‘step up’) or decrease (‘step
down’) voltage levels between circuits.
2. Inductance is the ability of an inductor to store energy in a magnetic field
3. Explain the following concepts with reference to Transformers:
3.1 Self-inductance is the current induced in the coil itself.
3.2 Varying current in the primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in
transformer core and this is a varying magnetic field through the secondary
winding. This varying magnetic field induces a varying electromotive force
(EMF) in the secondary winding. This effect is called mutual inductance
4. The function of a Transformer is to transform a given voltage to a required voltage.
5. The standard formula for a transformer is (VP / VS) = (NP / NS) = (IS / IP)
6. Which side is the Primary side of a transformer?

 Is the side or winding that is connected to the AC supply

7. Draw a neatly labelled diagram of a single phase transformer connected to a 220V
AC supply. The load is a 470 Ω resistor.

VS = 220V RL = 470Ω
8. Magneto motive force- Is the force that is exerted on a conductor due to the
interaction of magnetic fields surrounding that conductor.
9. Lenz’s law- states that the direction of the emf and current is induced in such a way
that its magnetic field opposes the inducing force.
10. Give the basic operation of a single-phase transformer.

 A transformer consists of TWO coils (windings), primary and a secondary and

a core to support the two coils.
 These two coils are not electrically connected.
 The basic operation of the transformer is based on mutual induction.
 An AC voltage is applied across a primary coil.
 A magnetic field (flux) builds up and collapses in the primary coil.
 This building up and collapsing of the magnetic flux in the primary coil cuts
the winding of the secondary coil, inducing an alternating voltage in the
secondary coil.
 The induced secondary voltage can be more or less than the supply voltage
11. Can we connect a transformer from a DC supply?

 No, a transformer is an AC component. If the primary can be connected to DC

supply the transformer will start to smoke and burn.
12. What is an ideal transformer?

 It is a transformer that would have no heat or power losses, and would

therefore be 100% efficient
13. Can power be transformed?

 No, power cannot be created nor destroyed. So when transformer voltage

increases the current will be reduced in order to maintain the same amount
of power.
14. What are the advantages of an auto-transformer?

 The use less copper.

 They take up less space.
 They are more efficient than regular transformers.
15. How is an auto transformer different from a standard transformer?

 Auto transformer consists of only winding.

 Part of the winding is common to the primary and secondary circuits
16. Why is it important to laminate the core of a transformer?

 The purpose of laminating the core is to reduce voltage loss due to eddy
currents
17. Differentiate between a step-up and step-down transformers.

 Step –up the secondary has more turns than the primary. This type of
transformer increases or steps up the voltage.
 Step-down the secondary has fewer turns than the primary. This type of
transformer reduces or steps down the voltage.
WEEK TOPIC DATE
2 Single –Phase Transformers 19-23 APRIL 2021

Exercise 2 (Losses, Advantages and Disadvantages, Construction, Symbols, Core types and
Application of transformers)
1. Transformers are not 100% efficient due to losses.
2. Types of losses associated with transformers.

 Copper or Heat losses.

 Hysteresis losses or iron losses.
 Eddy current losses or stray losses.
 Dielectric losses
3. List the advantages and disadvantages of transformers.
Advantages

 Transformers are rugged and durable.

 Voltages can be stepped down or up.
 The primary and secondary windings are electrically insulated from one
another, except in auto transformers.
 Small transformers are noiseless and large transformers only produce a
humming mechanical noise.
Disadvantages

 Transformers are expensive compared to other components.

 Transformers only work with ac and not with dc.
 Transformers are heavy due to the solid core material.
 Large power transformers need to be cooled down mechanically to prevent
overheating.
4. The core is made of laminated plates. This reduces eddy currents
5. Types of cores that are used in transformers.

 Laminated core.
 Air core.
 Solid core.
 Toroidal core.
6. List FOUR types of ideal transformers and give application of each.

 Variacs
 Current transformer
 Potential transformer
 Auto transformer
 Tapped transformer
 Standard transformer
7. Can transformers be used in parallel? Yes
For parallel connection of transformers, primary windings of the transformers
are connected to source bus-bars and secondary windings are connected to
the load bus-bars.
Various conditions that must be fulfilled for the successful parallel
operation of transformers:
 Same voltage and Turns Ratio (both primary and secondary voltage rating is
same)
 Same Percentage Impedance and X/R ratio
 Identical Position of Tap changer
 Same KVA ratings
 Same Phase angle shift (vector group are same)
 Same Frequency rating
 Same Polarity
 Same Phase sequence
8. How do you select transformers?

 To select the proper transformer, determine the input and output voltages,
frequency and current. The faster the voltage changes, the higher the
frequency. The higher the current, the more heat is produced.
9. Draw the symbols for the following types of transformers:
9.1 Air core
 9.2 Ferrite core

9.3 Step up

9.4 Center tapped

10. Draw a neat diagram to show how PTs and CTs are used to panel meters to a high
voltage line.
11. Which are the most important markings that should be labelled on the transformer?

 VA rating, primary and secondary windings, turns ratio and the maximum
voltage on the high voltage side.
12. Why would the winding with the thicker wire be on top of the winding with the
thinner wire?

 The thinner wire is difficult to bend around sharp corners of the core; the
high current coil is on the outside to make sure as much flux as possible
passes through the inner coil. The high voltage coil is on the inside to
minimise shocking if the transformer is touched accidentally.
13.1 Secondary winding
13.2 Core
13.3 Primary winding
14. Explain the term hysteresis loss

 The work done by the magnetising force against the internal friction of the
molecules of the magnet produces heat. This energy which is wasted in the
form of heat due to hysteresis is called Hysteresis Loss
15. Explain the function of a voltage instrument transformer.

 It is a step down transformer connected in parallel with wit the supply.

 It will step down the high voltage down to safe level through accurate turns
ratio to allow the voltmeter to be connected on the secondary winding to
take readings.
16. Advantage of an auto transformer.

 They use less copper.

 They take up less space
 They are more efficient than regular transformers.
17. What precautions must be taken when an ammeter that is connected to a CT needs
to be replaced?

 The secondary winding of a CT must always be short circuited, either with an

ammeter or directly. When ammeter needs to be replaced, the terminals
must be connected to each other, because the secondary winding can induce
high voltages due to the high primary current. These voltages can be harmful
and dangerous to the operator who replaces the ammeter
 WEEK TOPIC DATE
3 Single –Phase Transformers 28-30 April 2021

Exercise 3 (Transformer Calculations)

1. A transformer has 100 turns on the primary winding and 20 turns on its secondary
winding. The primary winding is connected to a 230 V / 50 Hz supply and a load resistor
of 92Ω is connected to the secondary winding. Calculate:

1.1 V S = N S x V P / NP
= 20 x 230 V / 100
= 46 V

1.2 I S = VS / Rload
= 46 V 92 Ω
= 0,5 A

1.3 Pload = V x I
= 46 V x 0,5 A
= 23 W

1.4 IP = N S / NP x IS
= 20 / 100 x 0,5 A
IP = 0,1 A

1.5 PP = V P x IP
= 230 V x 0,1 A
= 23 W

2. An inductive load works at a power factor of 0.6 lagging. The load draws a current of 12 A
from the transformer with output voltage of 500 Volts. Calculate

2.1 Papp =VxI

= 500 x 12
= 6000 VA or 6 kVA

2.2 pact = V x I x cosθ

= 500 x 12 x 0,6
 = 3600 W or 3,6 kW

2.3 Preac = Papp sinθ (cosθ = 0,6 therefore θ = 53,13)

= 6000 x 0,8 (sin 53,13 = 0,8)
= 4 800 VAr or 4,8 kVAr

3. Calculate the voltage output by the secondary winding of a transformer if the primary
voltage is 230 volts, the secondary winding has 290 turns and the primary winding has
1120 turns.
VS = (NS / NP) x VP
= (290 / 1120) x 230
= 59, 55V
4. A transformer has 600 turns of the primary winding and 20 turns of the secondary
winding. Determine the secondary voltage if the secondary circuit is open and the
primary voltage is 140 V.
V S = N S / NP x V P
= (20 / 600) x 140
= 4, 6 V
5. A transformer has a primary winding with 1600 turns and a secondary winding with
1000 turns. If the current in the primary coil is 6 Ampere, then what is the current in
the secondary coil.
 IS = (NP x IP)/ NS
= (1600 x 4) / 1000
= 6, 4 A
6. If a transformer with 200 turns on the primary and 20 turns on the secondary draws a
current of 0,1A from a 240V supply, calculate the secondary current.
N P / N S = IS / I P
IS = (NP x IP) / NS
= (200 x 0, 1) / 20
=1A

7. A single-phase transformer is connected to a single phase AC supply of 220 V. The

transformer has a secondary current of 13, 89 A and is rated at 250 VA at a power factor
of 0, 83 lagging. Answer the following question:
7.1 Determine the output voltage
S = VS I S
VS = S / IS
VS = 250 / 13, 89
VS = 18 V
7.2 Determine the input current.
S = VP I P
IP = S / VP
IP = 250 / 220
IP = 1, 14 A
7.3 Is the transformer a step-up or step down? Motivate

 Step down , because the secondary voltage is smaller than the primary
voltage
7.4 Find the phase angle
Cos θ = 0, 83
 θ = Cos-1 (0, 83)
θ = 33, 9°
7.5 Determine the reactive power of the transformer.
Preac = Papp sinθ
= 250 x sin 33, 9°
= 139, 44 VAr

WEEK TOPIC DATE

4 Single-Phase Transformers 3-7 May 2021

Exercise 4: (Ratio Calculations)

1. The turns ratio of a single –phase transformer is 75:3. Calculate the secondary
voltage when the transformer is connected to 220 V AC supply.
VS = (VP x NS) / NP
= (220 x 3) / 75
= 8, 8 V
2. A 750 VA transformer has a ratio of 50:3. Has a primary current of 3A and a secondary
voltage of 15V. The transformer has a power factor of 0.82. Calculate:
2.1 The primary voltage.
VP = S / IP
= 750 / 3
= 250 V
2.2 The secondary current.
IS = S / VS
= 750 / 15
 = 50 A
2.3 The power delivered to the load.
P = VI Cos θ
P = 15 x 50 x 0, 82
P = 615 W
3. A 11kV / 220 V single-phase step down transformer has 3000 primary turns.
Neglect losses and calculate:
3.1 The transformer ratio = (VP / VS)
= 11 000 / 220
= 50: 1

3.2 Secondary turns ( NP / NS) = (VP / VS)

NS = (3000 x 1)/ 50
NS = 60 turns

3.3 The primary current IP = (IS x NS) / NP

= (1500 x 60) / 3000
= 30 A
4.

4.1 The secondary current.

S = VS x I S
IS = 120
12
IS = 10 A

4.2 The true power.

P = S cos θ
P = 120 x 0. 89
 P = 106.8 W
4.3 The transformer ratio.
TR = VP / V S
= 240 / 12
= 20: 1
5 A voltage transformer has 1500 turns of wire on its primary coil and 500 turns of wire
for its secondary coil. What will be the turns ratio (TR) of the transformer?
Turns ratio = N1 / N 2
= 1500 / 500
= 3: 1

6. If a 150 kVA transformer is tested and found to have core losses of 800 W. It also has
copper losses of 1800 W in the primary coil and 2000 W in the secondary coil.
Calculate the efficiency of the transformer.
Efficiency = Power (out) / Power (out) + Power (losses)
= 150 000 / (150 000 + 800 + 1800 + 2000)
= 97 %
7. A step-down transformer must supply a 250 W load with 50V when it is connected to a
230 V / 50Hz supply. Calculate the following:
7.1 The turns- ratio of the transformer.
N P / NS = V P / V S
= 230 / 50
= 4, 6: 1
7.2 The minimum resistance of the load.
R = V2 / P
= 502 / 250
= 10 Ω
7.3 The load current.
 I =V/R
= 50 / 10
=5A
7.4 The current that the transformer draws from the power supply.
IP = (IS x NS) / NP
= (5 x 1) / 4, 6
= 1, 087 A

8. If the primary voltage is 220V and the secondary voltage is 22V, what is the voltage
ratio?
Voltage ratio = V1 / V2
= 220 / 22
= 10: 1
9. A transformer has a turns ratio of 1:5. If the secondary winding has 100 turns and the
secondary voltage is 15V; calculate the primary voltage and the number of primary
turns.
Primary voltage
V1 / V2 = N1 / N2
V1 / 15 = 1/ 5
V1 = 15 / 3
V1 = 3 V

Since N1 / N2 = 1 / 5
N1 / 100 = 1 / 5
Therefore N1 = 100 / 5
= 20 turns