© 2015 IJIRT | Volume 1 Issue 12 | ISSN: 2349-6002
A REVIEW OF POTENTIAL TRANSFORMER
Ajay Kumar,Mohit Gaur,Chetan Lohani, Kartik Malhotra
Dronacharya College of Engineering
Abstract: - “The principle of Electrical power
transformer” is described as it is a static device that
transforms electrical energy in the form of flux
induced from one coil(primary) to another
(secondary) without any physical electrical
connection present between the coils.It does so with
the help of mutual induction between the primary
and secondary windings.The frequency of the
power is not changed while transformig it from one
circuit to another but their can be a difference in
voltage levels.
The working of an electrical power transformer is
based on the principle of magnetic induction
between the coils to convert voltage and/or current
levels.
A varying current in the transformer's primary
winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the core
and a varying magnetic field impinging on the
secondary winding. This varying magnetic field at
the secondary induces a varying electromotive
force (emf) or voltage in the secondary winding.
IJIRT 101843 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN TECHNOLOGY
Making use of Faraday's Law in conjunction with
high magnetic permeability core properties,
transformers can thus be designed to efficiently
change AC voltages from one voltage level to
another within power networks.
Transformers range in size from RF transformers
less than a cubic centimetre in volume to units
interconnecting the power grid weighing hundreds
of tons. A wide range of transformer designs is
encountered in electronic and electric power
applications. Since the invention in 1885 of the first
constant potential transformer, transformers have
become essential for the AC transmission,
distribution, and utilization of electrical energy.
INTRODUCTION
There have been years for people to use transformers
for power transmission since it had been invented in
19th century by Nikole Tesla. Transformers are
employed in power grid mostly for voltage
transformation, isolation and noise decoupling . Here
isolation means isolation of differentiated voltage
ranks. In inherent those transformers let any AC waves
through them, it means that they can't stop
harmonics thoughthem; can't stop fault current though
them, which may cause more faults. When there is
over load, they can't stop the voltage decline of the
secondary side, which can cause a range of harmonics
polluting the whole power grid. What's more,
those special transformers being made in a general
way, they are doomed to carry imbalance and
nonlinear loads, those imbalance and nonlinear caused
by the loads will eventually feedback to the power grid
from their secondary side to primary side and vice
versa. Although there are already several means being
obtained to improve the performance of those
transformers.
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The secondary voltage of the PT is generally 110 V. In

an ideal potential transformer or voltage
POTENTIAL TRANSFORMER transformer, when rated burden gets connected
across the secondary; the ratio of primary and
secondary voltages of transformer is equal to the turns
A Potential transformer or voltage transformer can be
ratio and furthermore, the two terminal voltages are in
defined as an electrical device that gets used in
precise phase opposite to each other. But in actual
electrical power system for stepping down the
transformer, there must be an error in the voltage ratio
system voltage to a safe value which can be fed to
as well as in the phase angle between primary and
low ratings meters and relays. This so because the
secondary voltages.
Commercially available relays and meters used for
protection and metering, are designed for low The errors in potential transformer or voltage
voltage. This is perhaps the simplest definition for transformer can be best explained by phasor diagram,
a potential transformer and this is the main part of potential transformer
theory.
I. Theory of Voltage or Potential
Transformer II. Error in PT or Potential Transformer or
VT or Voltage Transformer
Theory of a potential transformer is just like a
theory of general purpose step down transformer.
Primary of this transformer is connected across the
phase and ground. Just like the transformer used for
stepping down purpose, potential transformer i.e. PT
has lower turns winding at its secondary. The system
voltage is applied across the terminals of primary
winding of that transformer, and then proportionate
secondary voltage appears across the secondary
terminals of the PT.

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 © 2015 IJIRT | Volume 1 Issue 12 | ISSN: 2349-6002
Is - Secondary current. Es - Secondary induced emf. Vs
- Secondary terminal voltage. Rs - Secondary winding
resistance. Xs - Secondary winding reactance. Ip -
Primary current. Ep - Primary induced emf. Vp -
Primary terminal voltage. Rp - Primary winding
resistance. Xp - Primary winding reactance. KT - Turns
ratio = Numbers of primary turns/number of secondary
turns. I0 - Excitation current. Im - Magnetizing
component of I0. Iw - Core loss component of I0. Φm -
Main flux. β - Phase angle error.
As in the case of current transformer and other purpose
electrical power transformer, total primary current Ip is
the vector sum of excitation current and the current
equal to reversal of secondary current multiplied by
the ratio 1/KT.
Hence,Ip = I0 + Is/KT
If Vp is the system voltage applied to the primary of
the PT, then voltage drops due to resistance and
reactance of primary winding due to primary current Ip
will come into picture. After subtracting this voltage
drop from Vp, Ep will appear across the primary
terminals. This Ep is equal to primary induced emf.
IJIRT 101843 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN TECHNOLOGY
This primary emf will transform to the secondary
winding by mutual induction and transformed emf is
Es. Again this Es will be dropped by secondary
winding resistance and reactance, and resultant will
actually appear across the burden terminals and it is
denoted as Vs.
So if system voltage is Vp, ideally Vp/KT should be the
secondary voltage of PT, but in reality; actual
secondary voltage of PT is Vs.
III. Voltage Error or Ratio Error in Potential
Transformer (PT) or Voltage Transformer (VT)
The difference between the ideal value Vp/KT and
actual value Vs is the voltage error or ratio error in a
potential transformer, it can be expressed as,
IV. Phase Error or Phase Angle Error in
Potential or Voltage Transformer
The angle ′β′ between the primary system voltage Vp
and the reversed secondary voltage vectors KT.Vs is
the phase error.
V. Cause of Error in Potential Transformer
The voltage applied to the primary of the potential
transformer first drops due to the internal impedance
of the primary. Then it appears across the primary
winding and then transformed proportionally to its
turns ratio, to the secondary winding. This transformed
voltage across the secondary winding will again drop
due to the internal impedance of the secondary, before
appearing across burden terminals. This is the reason
of errors in potential transformer.
Other Common Types of Transformers
Autotransformers
Autotransformers are different from traditional
transformers because autotransformers share a
common winding. On each end of the transformer core
is an end terminal for the winding, but there is also a
second winding that connects at a key intermediary
point, forming a third terminal. The first and second
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terminals conduct the primary voltage, while the third
terminal works alongside either the first or second
terminal to provide a secondary form of voltage. The
first and second terminals have many matching turns
in the winding. Voltage is the same for each turn in the
first and second terminal. An adaptable
autotransformer is another option for this process. By
uncovering part of the second winding and using a
sliding brush as the second terminal, the number of
turns can be varied, thus altering voltage (see image on
right).
Polyphase Transformers
This type of transformer is commonly associated with
three phase electric power, which is a common method
of transmitting large amounts of high voltage power,
such as the national power grid. In this system, three
separate wires carry alternating currents of the same
frequency, but they reach their peak at different times,
thus resulting in a continuous power flow.
Occasionally these “three-phase” systems have a
neutral wire, depending on the application. Other
times, all three phases can be incorporated into one,
multiphase transformer. This would require the
unification and connection of magnetic circuits so as
to encompass the three-phase transmission. Winding
patterns can vary and so can the phases of a polyphase
transformer.
Audio Transformer
Originally found in early telephone systems, audio
transformers help isolate potential interference and
send one signal through multiple electrical circuits.
Modern telephone systems still use audio
transformers, but they are also found in audio systems
where they transmit analog signals between systems.
Because these transformers can serve multiple
functions, such as preventing interference, splitting a
signal, or combining signals, they are found in
numerous applications. Amplifiers, loudspeakers, and
microphones all depend on audio transformers in order
to properly perform.
References
[1] Wikipedia
[2] http://www.thomasnet.com/articles/electrical-
power-generation/transformer-types
[3] http://www.electrical4u.com/what-is-
transformer-definition-working-principle-of-
transformer/
[4] http://www.electricityforum.com/products/trans-
s.htm
[5] www.krystelpower.com
[6] http://www.electrical4u.com/voltage-
transformer-or-potential-transformer-theory

Leakage Transformer

Leakage transformers have a loose binding between

the primary and secondary winding, which leads to a
large increase in the amount of inductance leakage. All
currents are kept low with leakage transformers, which
helps prevent overload. They are useful in applications
such as arc welding and certain high-voltage lamps, as
well as in the extremely low-voltage applications
found in some children’s toys.

Resonant Transformer

As a type of leakage transformer, resonant

transformers depend on the loose pairing of the
primary and secondary winding, and on external
capacitors to work in combination with the second
winding. They can effectively transmit high voltages,
and are useful in recovering data from certain radio
wave frequency

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