What Power Values Are Used in Transformer Efficiency Calculations?

[sgstudent]

When I calculate efficiency of a transformer, I use output power/imput power x100%. Then what are these power values? Is the power the power in a load or the total power coming out of the transformer (meaning it includes the joule heating)? Then also what about the input power, which values do I use? Thanks for the help!

 

[Bob S]

You need to consider any source of joule heating in the transformer, plus anything that creates a power factor <1. There are several classes of things you need to consider:

1) Self inductance and power factor (primary), and inductive (excitation current) losses.
2) mutual inductance (coupling efficiency to secondary circuit)
3) Core losses (eddy currents in laminations, hysteresis losses, magnetostriction*)
4) copper winding losses(I²R losses, primary and secondary, also eddy currents in copper)
5) secondary circuit losses (in load).

The overall efficiency is 100 x P_load/P_in, where P_in is measured at the wall plug. Are you talking about joule power (real) or reactive power (volt-amps)?

* If you can hear the transformer or feel vibrations, there are magneotstrictive losses.

 

[sgstudent]

You need to consider any source of joule heating in the transformer, plus anything that creates a power factor <1. There are several classes of things you need to consider:

1) Self inductance and power factor (primary), and inductive (excitation current) losses.
2) mutual inductance (coupling efficiency to secondary circuit)
3) Core losses (eddy currents in laminations, hysteresis losses, magnetostriction*)
4) copper winding losses(I²R losses, primary and secondary, also eddy currents in copper)
5) secondary circuit losses (in load).

The overall efficiency is 100 x P_load/P_in, where P_in is measured at the wall plug. Are you talking about joule power (real) or reactive power (volt-amps)?

* If you can hear the transformer or feel vibrations, there are magneotstrictive losses.

Oh so the cables getting heard is not included in the Pin or Pout? So its the power at the load, and the power from the generator?

 

[Hassan2]

If we know the input and output current and voltages ( for example by measurement) then we can calculate the efficiency easily. All the losses are included in Pin-Pout. However , If we would like to calculate the efficiency analytically ( as in design process), we need to consider and calculate the losses as a function of the load ( and the input voltage). Core losses are not easy to calculate and just some approximations may be made.

 

[PJC01]

Efficiency in a transformer is a measure of how well the transformer converts electrical energy from one voltage to another. The power values used in the efficiency calculation refer to the electrical power, which is the product of voltage and current.

In the case of output power, this refers to the power delivered to the load connected to the secondary winding of the transformer. This includes the power used by the load, as well as any losses due to resistance in the secondary winding.

On the other hand, input power refers to the total power supplied to the transformer, which includes the power used by the load as well as any losses due to resistance in the primary winding. This also includes the power lost as heat due to joule heating in the transformer.

Therefore, when calculating efficiency, it is important to use the total input power and the output power delivered to the load. This will give a more accurate measure of the transformer's efficiency, taking into account all losses.

I hope this helps clarify the power values used in the efficiency calculation for a transformer. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.