Voltage in secondary coil of transformer

In summary, mutual inductance causes a voltage across the secondary coil to be 90 degrees out of phase with the voltage in the primary coil.
  • #1
Physgeek64
247
11

Homework Statement


A Primary coil, with ##n_1## turns, is driven with a voltage ##V=V_0sin(wt)##

Find the voltage in a secondary coil, with ##n_2## turns, as a function of time

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Mutual Inductance ##M=\mu_0 n_1 n_2/l *area##
##emf=-d\phi/dt##
##\phi=\mu_0 n_1 n_2 area/l *I ##

##v=LdI/dt##
##I=1/L \int v dt##
##I=1/L (-1/w cos(wt))##

I don't know whether I'm allowed to use the usual expression here for relating current and voltage in an inductor, since we have mutual inductance?

I don't really know how to find the current in the primary coil, and hence can't find the voltage across the secondary coil.

My other thought was: am I allowed to use the transformer equation, or does this only apply for max / rms voltages?

Many thanks
 
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  • #2
Isn't it just the turns ratio that governs the induced voltage in the secondary?
 
  • #3
andrevdh said:
Isn't it just the turns ratio that governs the induced voltage in the secondary?

I get that this gives the peak voltage ratio. But does this hold in terms of their phases? I.e. if one is driven with no initial phase, does the current in the secondary coil also have no initial phase? :) Thanks
 
  • #4
According to mutual induction theory the induced voltage in the secondary coil is directly proportional to the negative of the rate of change of the current in the primary coil.
 
  • #5
andrevdh said:
According to mutual induction theory the induced voltage in the secondary coil is directly proportional to the negative of the rate of change of the current in the primary coil.
Ah of course. So this would lead to a phase change of ##\pi/2## ?
 
  • #6
If you are using typical iron cored power transformer with small leakage reactance, the same flux links both primary and secondary, so the induced voltage per turn in the primary is the same as the induced voltage per turn in the secondary. No phase change.
 
  • #7
Physgeek64 said:
I get that this gives the peak voltage ratio. But does this hold in terms of their phases? I.e. if one is driven with no initial phase, does the current in the secondary coil also have no initial phase? :) Thanks
What does "no phase" mean? Let's say "zero phase" instead.

The phase of the secondary winding depends on what you label the "low" end and the "high" end. If winding "dots" are facing each other there is no phase change, otherwise it's 180 degrees.

You'll have to ask someone or look it up to learn what "dotted ends" means, probably.
Also, there is no secondary winding current without a secondary load.
 
  • #8
rude man said:
What does "no phase" mean? Let's say "zero phase" instead.

The phase of the secondary winding depends on what you label the "low" end and the "high" end. If winding "dots" are facing each other there is no phase change, otherwise it's 180 degrees.

You'll have to ask someone or look it up to learn what "dotted ends" means, probably.
Also, there is no secondary winding current without a secondary load.

So I looked up the dot convention, and I understand it as a rule of thumb, but why does this happen. Suppose you wind them such that their dotted ends are either both up or both down (i.e. there will be no phase lag between the secondary and primary voltages), if you work through the maths, you still only take one derivative to calculate the voltage across the secondary coil given the voltage in the primary. Supposing the primary voltage is sinusoidal, then the secondary voltage should be co-sinusoidal... which is a phase change of ##\frac{\pi}{2}## ?

Many thanks :)
 
  • #9
Physgeek64 said:
So I looked up the dot convention, and I understand it as a rule of thumb, but why does this happen. Suppose you wind them such that their dotted ends are either both up or both down (i.e. there will be no phase lag between the secondary and primary voltages), if you work through the maths, you still only take one derivative to calculate the voltage across the secondary coil given the voltage in the primary. Supposing the primary voltage is sinusoidal, then the secondary voltage should be co-sinusoidal... which is a phase change of ##\frac{\pi}{2}## ?

Many thanks :)
The primary voltage is 90 degrees out of phase with the primary flux: emfp = dΦ/dt. Then, the voltage induced in the secondary winding is also 90 degrees out of phase with the same flux: emfs = dΦ/dt. So 90 + 90 = 0 or 180, depending on how the dotted ends face.
 
  • #10
rude man said:
The primary voltage is 90 degrees out of phase with the primary flux: emfp = dΦ/dt. Then, the voltage induced in the secondary winding is also 90 degrees out of phase with the same flux: emfs = dΦ/dt. So 90 + 90 = 0 or 180, depending on how the dotted ends face.

Oh okay, so there's also a phase shift in the primary circuit! Thank you, that helps a lot :)
 
  • #11
Physgeek64 said:
Oh okay, so there's also a phase shift in the primary circuit! Thank you, that helps a lot :)
Right! There's a phase shift in the primary circuit because the magnetic flux phase is 90 degrees off the primary voltage.
BTW this assumes an ideal transformer with no winding resistance and leakage flux.
 
  • #12
rude man said:
Right! There's a phase shift in the primary circuit because the magnetic flux phase is 90 degrees off the primary voltage.
BTW this assumes an ideal transformer with no winding resistance and leakage flux.

Why is it that the flux is out of phase- is this simply by virtue of the inductor requiring time to build up the B-field? (Excuse my sloppy wording)
 
  • #13
Physgeek64 said:
Why is it that the flux is out of phase- is this simply by virtue of the inductor requiring time to build up the B-field? (Excuse my sloppy wording)
The flux is in-phase with the input current, but the input current lags the input voltage by 90 degrees.

The definition of inductance is V = L di/dt! And you know that d/dt sin(wt) = w cos(wt), right?
 
  • #14
rude man said:
The flux is in-phase with the input current, but the input current lags the input voltage by 90 degrees.

The definition of inductance is V = L di/dt! And you know that d/dt sin(wt) = w cos(wt), right?

Oh okay! Thank you
 

1. What is the purpose of a transformer?

A transformer is an electrical device that is used to change the voltage and current levels of an alternating current (AC) electrical circuit. It can either increase or decrease the voltage level, depending on the design and construction of the transformer.

2. How does a transformer work?

A transformer consists of two coils of wire, known as the primary and secondary coils, which are wrapped around an iron core. When an alternating current flows through the primary coil, it creates an alternating magnetic field around the iron core. This magnetic field then induces a voltage in the secondary coil, which can be either higher or lower than the input voltage depending on the number of turns in each coil.

3. What is the relationship between the voltage in the primary and secondary coils of a transformer?

The voltage in the secondary coil of a transformer is directly proportional to the number of turns in the secondary coil and inversely proportional to the number of turns in the primary coil. This means that if the number of turns in the secondary coil is greater than the primary coil, the voltage in the secondary coil will be higher than the input voltage.

4. What factors affect the voltage in the secondary coil of a transformer?

The voltage in the secondary coil of a transformer is affected by the number of turns in the primary and secondary coils, the frequency of the input current, and the properties of the iron core such as its permeability and cross-sectional area. The design and construction of the transformer also play a role in determining the output voltage.

5. How does the voltage in the secondary coil of a transformer relate to the power output?

The power output of a transformer is directly proportional to the voltage in the secondary coil. This means that if the voltage in the secondary coil is increased, the power output will also increase. However, the power output also depends on the efficiency of the transformer, which is affected by factors such as the materials used and the design of the transformer.

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