Experiment 8 Transformer Equivalent Circuit

OBJECTIVE
 To determine the equivalent circuit parameters of a single phase transformer using the open
and short circuit tests.

DISCUSSION
A real transformer has several inductive and resistive characteristics that can affect performance.
A non-ideal transformer is shown below in Figure 8-1.

Figure 8-1 Non-ideal transformer

A typical equivalent circuit is as follows.

R pri X pri X sec Rsec

Rc Xm

Figure 8-2 Typical equivalent circuit of the single phase transformer

8-1
Several parasitic circuit elements exist in a non-ideal transformer. The resistances Rpri and Rsec
represent the resistance of the copper winding in the primary and secondary coils respectively. A
small amount of flux travels through the air outside the magnetic core. The series inductors with
reactances Xpri and Xsec are considered leakage inductances and are a result of leakage flux not
linked to the core. The parallel resistance Rc represents hysteresis and eddy current losses in the
core. The parallel inductance Xm is called the magnetizing reactance and accounts for the finite
permeability of the magnetic core.

In this experiment, the equivalent circuit to be constructed is shown in Figure 8-3.

X eq Req

Rc Xm

Figure 8-3 Transformer equivalent circuit

Open circuit and short circuit tests can be performed to approximate the parasitic component
values of a transformer. The open circuit test entails applying power to the low voltage
(secondary) of the transformer while the high voltage (primary) side is open circuit. The open
circuit test is for measuring the transformer core components (Rc and Xm). The series
components can be neglected in the open circuit test.

The equivalent resistance of the core can be found by measuring the real power (Psec) and voltage
(Vsec) applied to the excited (secondary) side of the transformer:

2
Vsec
Rc  (1)
Psec

The magnetizing reactance Xm can be calculated with the following:

8-2
 1
Xm  (2)
2 2
 I sec   1 
   
 Vsec   Rc 

where Isec is the current applied to the secondary.

The short circuit test is for determining the parasitic series impedances. The short circuit test
entails shorting the secondary winding while applying power to the primary. Impedances
measured in this experiment will include the primary and secondary grouped together all
referenced to the primary side as illustrated in Figure 8-3.

The combined equivalent resistance can be calculated as follows:

Ppri
Req  2
(3)
I pri

where Ipri is the excitation current applied to the primary and Ppri is the real power applied to the
primary side.

The total combined primary referenced leakage reactance is:

2
 V pri 
X eq     Req
2
(4)
I
 pri 

Any individual resistance, reactance, or complex impedance can be moved from the secondary
side of transformer to the primary with the following equation:

2
N 
Z pri   pri  Z sec (5)
 N sec 

Also an impedance can be moved from the primary to the secondary:

8-3
 2
N 
Zsec   sec  Z pri (6)
N
 pri 

When moving an impedance reference location, the element should be moved directly across the
isolation symbol without changing its parallel or series orientation. Moving transformer
impedances is sometimes called reflecting the impedance from one side to the other.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
 Workstation

Power supply, Transformer Module, AC Voltmeter.

 Other devices

Digital Multimeter, Yokogawa 2041 Wattmeter.

PROCEDURE
CAUTION!

High voltages are present in this Experiment. Do not make or modify any connections with
the power on! The power should be turned off after completing each individual
measurement!

The grading in this section is 2 points for each correct answer.

1. In performing this experiment we will use terminals 3-4 (208 V) as the primary winding and
terminal 1-2 (120 V) as the secondary winding. The transformer diagram is listed below.

8-4
 Figure 8-4 Transformer module

2. Open circuit test

a. Using your Power supply, Transformer Module, AC Voltmeter, Digital Multimeter, and
Wattmeter, connect the circuit shown in Figure 8-5. Use the adjustable 120 VAC power
supply. Include the digital multimeter in series to measure current (isec) applied to the
transformer secondary. The workstation voltmeter can be used to measure the applied
voltage at secondary side (Vsec). Use the low power wattmeter to measure the applied
real power. A detailed connection diagram of the wattmeter can be found on the side of
the instrument. Note the scaling that must be applied.

 .2 A 1 A 
120V


240V


Figure 8-5 Open circuit test

b. HAVE YOUR LAB INSTRUCTOR CHECK THE CONNECTIONS BEFORE

8-5
 c. Turn on the power supply on and slowly increase the voltage until Vsec = 120 V. Record
the measurements on the ammeter, voltmeter, and wattmeter.

Psec = W

Isec = A

Vsec= V

d. Based on Equation (1) and (2), calculate the Rc and Xm:

Rc = Ω

Xm= Ω

3. Short circuit test

a. Now connect the circuit shown in Figure 8-6. The same instruments as in the previous
experiment can be used but with different ranges settings. Initially connect an ammeter
to the secondary side of the transformer. This will short the secondary winding so be
careful before applying power

Digital
Multimeter
(0 – 10 A)

4 A 3 1

Transformer
0 – 120 VAC V 0 – 100 V Pri.
Module
Sec.
A 0 – 2.5 A

N Wattmeter 4 2

Figure 8-6 Short circuit test

b. Adjust the AC power supply knob on the workstation to the full counterclockwise (0 V)
position.

c. HAVE YOUR LAB INSTRUCTOR CHECK THE CONNECTIONS BEFORE

8-6
d. Turn on the power supply on and slowly increase the supply voltage from zero until Isec =
0.5 A. Note the voltage applied to the primary. This is the voltage at which the
secondary is at rated current.

Vpri = V

e. Turn off the power supply and remove the AC ammeter which was used to measure the
Isec. This removes the parasitic elements within the meter that could distort the test.

Figure 8-7 Short circuit test

e. Turn on the power supply on and slowly increase the supply voltage until the primary
voltage is the same value as in step 3.d. Record the measurements from the ammeter, and
wattmeter.

Ppri = W

Ipri = A

f. Based on Equations (3) and (4), calculate the Req and Xeq.

Req = Ω

Xeq= Ω

8-7
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Write a brief description of how you would find the equivalent circuit parameters of a Y – Y
connected three phase transformer. You may wish to refer to your textbook for this task. (5)

2. In this experiment, you found the shunt impedance referenced on the secondary and the
equivalent series impedance referenced on the primary side of the transformer.

a. Calculate the equivalent series resistance and reactance reflected to the secondary side of
the transformer. (5)

Req’ = Ω

Xeq’= Ω

b. Draw the equivalent circuit with all elements referenced to the secondary side. (5)

8-8
c. Calculate the shunt resistance and reactance reflected to the primary side of the
transformer. (5)

Rc’ = Ω

Xm’= Ω

d. Draw the equivalent circuit with all elements referenced to the primary side. (5)

8-9