274 Principles of

Electrical
Therefore, /, -I, currentflows inthe common portion ofthe winding Machin

|2- VLoad V

2
Step-down autotransformer Step-up autotransformer

Fig. 7.52
In an ideal
autotransformer, exciting current and losses are neglected. For Such an auta
former, as K approaches 1, the value of current in the common portion (2 -11 or rang
-1)
winding approaches *zero. Therefore, for value of K near unity, the common portion of the
of
can be wound with wire wind
of smaller cross-sectional area. For this reason, an autotransformer require
less copper.

7.34 THEORY OF AUTOTRANSFORMER

Fig. 7.53
() shows an ideal step-down autotransformer on load. Here winding 1-3
the primary winding while winding 2-3 having N, tums
is while the output or load current is
having N, turns is the secondary winding. The
input curent
Note that
I. portion 1-2 of the winding has N, N, turns and -

voltage across this portion of the winding is V- V2. The

winding is lh-1 qurrent through the common portion ofte

2 2
(N,-N)
(V-V)
-V Iv
V1

L KVLoad 3
V2 Load

()
Fig. 7.53 ii)
Fig. 7.53 (i) shows the equivalent circuit of the
we have, autotransformer. From this equivalent Cucircue
Na
- N, -N,
V, (N-N,) =N,(V- V
or
V, N- V2 N =

N^ V1-N, V2
Or
V,N N2Vi
= K

I KI, As K->1,1=l
 275

..See Fig. 7.53 (i)

Transformer
Also ( - V),
=
(/-/1) V2
or

or .(i)
V2
From eqs. () and (i),
power)
=
Output apparent
Also (Input apparent power
autotransformer are connectea mag
windings of an
Oupu. Since the primary and secondary is transferred to
the secondary inducuvey
netically as well as electrically, the power from primary from source to the load).
uransformer action) as well as conductively (i.e., conducted directly
Output apparent power = V2'h

Apparent power transferred inductively

=

V, 4, -1)
=

V2 (2-K 1
= Vl2 (1 - K) = V, l,(1 - K)

Power transferred inductively Input x (1 -K)

Input (
-

K)
Power transferred conductively Input -

Input [1 (1 - K)]
= Kx Input
transformation
ideal autotransformer is 1000 W and its voltage
Suppose the input power to an

ratio K= 1/4. Then,

= 750 W

Powertransferred inductively Input x (1 -K) 1000=

Power transferred conductively

=
Kx Input =
1000 250 W
1000 W. Out 750 W is transferred to the
of this,
Note that input power to the autotransformer is
while 250 W is conducted directly from the
source to
secondary by transformer action (inductively)
ie load (i.e., it is transferred conductively to
the load).
AUTOTRANSFORMER
135 SAVING OF COPPER IN
transformation ratio K (N,/N),requires less an autotransformer
For the same output and voltage
transformer. Fig. 7.54 () shows an ordinary 2-winding trans-
copper than an ordinary 2-winding
same output and voltage transfor-
former whereas 7.54 (i) shows an autotransformer having the
Fig.
ation ratio K.
1

S-a)3,

N2 V2 Load N. N

YaLoad
7-,) T
2

(i) (ti)
Fig. 7.54

o
Thegthle
of copper required in a winding is proportional to the number of turns and the area of
vection
O n of the winding wire is proportional to the current rating. Theretore, the volume and
 Principles of
Electrical Machin
to current x turns i.e.,
276 proportional
required in a winding is
hence weight of copper current x turns
c
in a winding
Weight of Cu required
2-winding t r a n s f o r m e r

*
( N, +lhN)
Weight of Cu required
Autotransformer

in section 1-2 «« -N)

(N
Weight of Cu required (h-1) N
in section 2-3 *

Weight of Cu required -N) + (%-4) N

T o t a l weight of Cu
required , (N o

- N ) +(G-1)N,
autotransformer
Cu in
Weight of transformer 4 +12 N
Weight of Cu in ordinary
,4-N,tN, l-N,
N +N2 2
M+4-2N, 4
- N, +Nl2

2N, l- 27
N,T+M
2 Ng
1-2N
- 1-2 1-K
W t . of Cu in autotransformer(W) = (1- K)x Wt. in ordinary transformer (W)

W(1-K)x W%
Savingin Cu W-W Wo-(1-K) W,
= =

KW%
or Saving in Cu =
Kx Wt. of Cu in ordinary transformer
is only 10% but if K=0-9, saving is 90%. of Cu Therefore, the
Thus if K0-1, the saving of Cu
nearer the value of K of autotransformer is to 1, the greater is the saving of Cu.

7 136
.36 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF AUTOTRANSFORMERS
AdvantageS
() An autotransformer requires less Cu than a two-winding transformer of similar rating.
(in An autotransformer operates at a higher efficiency than a two-winding transformer of sim-
lar rating.
(i) An autotransformer has better voltage regulation than a two-winding transformer of the
same rating.
(iv) An autotransformer has smaller size than a two-winding transformer of the same rating&
(v) An autotransformer requires smaller exciting current than a two-winding transformer or
same rating.
It may be noted that these
advantages of the autotransformer decrease as the ratio of transio. rma-

tion increases. Therefore, an autotransformer has marked

of transformation ratio values advantages only for relatively low vai
(i.e. approaching 1).
Disadvantages
( There is a direct connection between the primary and isn
longer dc. isolated from the input. secondary. Therefore, the ouipu
fansiormer 277
An autotransfo sformer is not safe for
high voltage to a low stepping down
voltage. As an illustration,
Eig.
Fig. 7.55 shows I 1000/230 V step-down
autotrans-
former. Ifar open ircuit develops in the common
ortion 2-3 of the winding, then full-primary volt- 11000 V
port

age (i.e., 11000 V in this case) will appear across

the load. In such a
case, any one coming in con- 290 VLoad
tact with the secondary is subjected to high volt-
age. This could be dangerous to both the persons
and equipment. For this reason, autotransformers Fig. 7.55
are prohibited for general use.
( The short-circuit current is much larger than for the two-winding transformer of the same
rating. It can be seen from Fig. 7.55 that a short-circuited secondary causes part of the
primary also to be short-circuited. This reduces the effective resistance and reactance.
117 APPLICATIONS OF AUTOTRANSFORMERS
distribution
( Autotransformers are used to compensate for voltage drops in transmission and
lines. When used for this purpose, they are known as booster transformers.
to a.c. motors during the start
(1) Autotransformers are used for reducing the voltage supplied
ing period.
() Autotransformers are used for continuously variable supply.
Example 7.63. Fig. 7.56 showsa step-down
au-

totransformer. Find the currents in different parts of

the winding.

Loadcurrent, 12
300 10 A
440 V
Solution. 30
3T4- 300v30n
300x 10
440
= 6-82 A Fig. 7.56
of the winding
CuTent in the c o m m o n portion
-4 10-682 3-18A
kW at 110 Vand at a powerfactor of
suppliesa load of 2-5
autotransformer to the load (i) inductively
BXample 7.64. An is 220 V,
calculate the power supplied
fthe primaryapplied voltage
i) conductively 1/2.
K= 110/220
=

is 2:5 kW. Now

losses, the input power
olution. Neglecting
Input x (1 -K)
=
2:5(1-5= 125 kWV
inductively=
Powertransferred =
x2:5 =
125 kw
conductively
= Kx Input
Power transferred 440K The loadis 20 kW
Exam
ample 7.65. An
autotransformer
is used
magnetISing
to iransormjrom 00tothe
Curren1, Juna currents in the vario
losses and
Neglecting
powerfactor
Parts of the tra
clearly, it is a step-down rans-
winding the connections
of
autotranstoner

olution. Fig, 7.57 shows

ormer.