TRANSFORMERS:THE TRANSFORMER VOLTAGE REGULATION AND EFFICIENCY

clip_image001THE TRANSFORMER VOLTAGE REGULATION AND EFFICIENCY

The transformer’s output voltage varies with the load even when the input voltage remains constant. This is due to the fact that a real transformer has impedances within it. The volt- age regulation (VR) is used to compare the voltage variations in transformers. The full- load voltage regulation is a parameter that compares the transformer’s output voltage at no load with the output voltage at full load.

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The Transformer Phasor Diagram

Figure 3.13 illustrates a simplified equivalent circuit for a transformer. The excitation branch (Rc and Xm) has a negligible effect on the voltage regulation of the transformer. The secondary voltage of the transformer depends on the magnitude of the series impedances within it and on the phase angle of the current flowing through it.

The primary voltage of the transformer is given by

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FIGURE 3.16 Phasor diagram of a transformer operating at (a) unity and (b) leading power factor.

Figure 3.15 illustrates a phasor diagram of a transformer operating at a lagging power factor. It is easy to notice that Vp /a > VS. Thus, the voltage regulation of a transformer with lag- ging loads is greater than zero.

Figure 3.16a illustrates a phasor diagram of a transformer having a power factor of 1. The secondary voltage is again lower than the primary voltage. Thus, the voltage regulation is greater than zero. However, in this case, the voltage regulation is smaller than it was in the previous case (for a lagging current). The secondary voltage will actually be larger if the secondary current is leading (Fig. 3.16b). In this case, the transformer will have a negative voltage regulation.

Simplified Voltage Regulation

Figure 3.17 illustrates a phasor diagram of a typical transformer operating with a lagging load. The primary voltage is given approximately by

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Transformer Taps and Voltage Regulators

Since the transformer’s output voltage varies with the load, most distribution transformers use taps in the windings to change the turns ratio of the transformer. Most applications have four taps with spacings of 2.5 percent of full voltage between them in addition to the nominal setting. This arrangement permits a 5 percent adjustment above or below the nominal voltage rating of the transformer.

The taps are adjusted normally when the transformer is deenergized. However, in some applications, the transformer output voltage varies significantly with the load. These variations could be caused by large line impedance (possibly due to long distance) between the generator and the load. Since normal loads require a steady voltage, these applications use a tap changing under load (TCUL) transformer or voltage regulator. This transformer has the ability to change the taps on power. A voltage regulator is a TCUL transformer that detects the voltage and changes the taps automatically to maintain constant system voltage.

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