THE AUTOTRANSFORMER

On some occasions it is desirable to change voltage levels by only a small amount.

For example, it may be necessary to increase a voltage from I IO to 120 V or from
13.2 to 13.8 kV.
These small rises may be made necessary by voltage drops that occur in power systems a
long way from the generators. In such circumstances, it is wasteful and excessively
expensive to win d a transformer with two full windings, each rated at about the same
voltage. A special-purpose transformer, called
an autotransformer; is used instead.
A diagram of a step-up autotransformer is shown in Figure 2- 3 1. In Figure
2-3la, the two coils of the transformer are shown in the conventional manner. In
Figure 2-3 1 b, the first winding is shown connected in an additive manner to the
second winding. Now, the relationship between the voltage on the first winding
and the voltage on the second winding is given by the turns ratio of the transformer.
However, the voltage at the output of the whole transformer is the sum of
the voltage all the first winding and the voltage on the second winding. The first
winding here is called the common winding, because its voltage appears on both
sides of the transformer. The smaller winding is called the series winding, because
it is connected in series with the common winding.
A diagram of a step-down autotransformer is shown in Figure 2-32. Here
the voltage at the input is the sum of the voltages on the series winding and the
common winding, while the voltage at the output is just the voltage on the common
winding.
Because the transformer coils are physically connected, a different terminology
is used for the autotransformer than for other types of transformers. The
voltage on the common coil is called the common voltage VC , and the current in
that coil is called the common current IC. The voltage on the series coil is called
the series voltage VSE, and the current in that coil is called the series current ISE

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Advantage of autotransformers:

The Apparent Power Rating

It is interesting to note that not all the power traveling from the primary to
the secondary in the autotransformer goes through the windings. As a
result, if a conventional transformer is reconnected as an autotransformer
it can handle much more power than it was originally rated for.

The Internal Impedance of an autotransformer

Autotransformers have one additional disadvantage compared to

conventional transformers. It turns out that, compared to a given
transformer connected in the conventional manner, the effective per-unit
impedance of an autotransformer is smaller by a factor equal to the
reciprocal of the power advantage of the autotransformer connection.
The proof of this statement is left as a problem at the end of the chapter.
The reduced internal impedance of an autotransformer compared to a
conventional two-winding transformer can be a serious problem in some
applications where the series impedance is needed to limit current flows
during power system faults (short circuits). The effect of the smaller
internal impedance provided by an autotransformer must be taken into
account in practical applications before autotransformers are selected.

Three phase transformers:

Almost all the major power generation and distribution systems in the
world today are three-phase ac systems. Since three-phase systems play
such an important role in modern life, it is necessary to understand how
transformers are used in them. Transformers for three-phase circuits can
be constructed in one of two ways. One approach is simply to take three
single-phase transformers and connect them in a three-phase bank. An
alternative approach is to make a three-phase transformer consisting of
three sets of windings wrapped on a common core. These two possible
types designs (three separate transformers and a single three-phase
transformer) are in use today, and you are likely to run into both of them in
practice. A single three-phase transformer is lighter, smaller, cheaper, and
slightly more efficient, but using three separate single-phase transformers
has the advantage that each unit in the bank could be replaced individually
in the event of trouble. A utility would only need to stock a single spare
single-phase transformer to back up all three phases, potentially saving
money.

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