Electrical Machines

Lab # 02
Open and Short circuit test of Single-Phase Transformer

OBJECTIVES
1. To perform the no-load or open circuit test
2. To perform the full-load or short circuit tests
3. To calculate the transformer’s equivalent circuit

INFORMATION
A single-phase transformer will be investigated in this lab. It is a step-down transformer 220/110V with a
center is tapped and a rated power of 300VA with rated frequency of 50 Hz.

Pre-lab work:
1. Ideal Transformer

A transformer is a device used to change voltages and currents of AC electric power. In thesimplest version
it consists of two windings wrapped around a magnetic core; windings arenot electrically connected, but
they are coupled by the magnetic field, as it shown in Figure 2.1. When one winding is connected to the
AC electric power, the electric current is generated.This winding is called the primary winding. The primary
current produces the magnetic field and the magnetic flux links the second winding, called the secondary
winding. The AC flux through the secondary winding produces an AC voltage, so that if some impedance is
connected to the terminals, an AC electric current is supplied.

i p (t) i s (t)

Vp (t) Vs (t)
_

Figure 2.1. Sketch of an ideal transformer.

2. Real Transformer
The ideal model of the transformer is sufficient for approximate analysis of the electric circuits only. For
full analysis a more complete model is needed and it should include: core losses, winding losses,
magnetizing current and all leakage magnetic fluxes. It can be shownthat the equivalent circuit in Figure
2.2 fully represents all these effects.

Figure 2.2. The model of a real transformer.

The resistance Rp represents the ohmic resistance of the primary winding and Rs – of the secondary
winding. The reactance Xp and Xs model the leakage flux of the primary and secondary windings,
respectively. The resistance Rc is responsible for the core losses due tohysteresis and eddy currents, and
XM for the generation of the main flux (magnetizing reactance).
All impedances on the secondary side of the transformer can be recalculated for the primary side. This is
also known as the referring to the primary side and results in the equivalent circuitshown in Figure 2.3.

Figure 2.3. The transformer model referred to the primary voltage level

3. Determining Equivalent Circuit

Experimental determination of all elements in the transformer equivalent circuit involves three tests:
measurement of the primary resistance
1. open-circuit test
2. short circuit teat
3.1 Measurement of the Primary Resistance
A DC ohmmeter should be connected across the primary terminals and Rp should be recorded.
 3.2 Open-Circuit Test
The transformer’s secondary should be open-circuited and primary winding supplied with a full rated
voltage (Figure 2.4). The input voltage (Voc), primary current (Ioc) and power (Poc) are measured.

Figure 2.4. Connection for transformer open–circuit test.

i p(t)

Vp (t)
V(t)

primary voltage (Vsc), primary current (Isc) and power (Psc) are measured.
This test is sufficient to calculate the core resistance and magnetizing reactance. The conductance of the
core-loss resistor is given by:
1
𝐺𝐶 =
𝑅𝐶
1
𝐵𝑀 =
𝑋𝑀
Since these two elements are in parallel, their admittances add and the total excitation admittance is
1 1
𝑌𝐸 = 𝐺𝐶 − 𝑗𝐵𝑀 = 𝑅 -j𝑋
𝐶 𝑀

The magnitude of the excitation admittance can be determined by the Equation given as
𝐼𝑂𝐶
|𝑌𝐸 | =
𝑉𝑂𝐶

The angle of the admittance can be found from knowledge of a circuit power factor. The open circuit power
factor (PF) is given by:

PF = cos = POC
VOC IOC

and the power factor angle is given by

 = cos−1 POC
VOC IOC

The power factor is always lagging for a real transformer, so the angle of the current always lags
the angle of the voltage by  degrees. Therefore, the admittance YE is
 𝐼𝑂𝐶 𝐼𝑂𝐶 1 1
𝑌𝐸 = ∠−φ= ∠ − cos−1 𝑃𝐹 = +
𝑉𝑂𝐶 𝑉𝑂𝐶 𝑅𝐶 𝑗𝑋𝑀
Also,

𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒈 = √√𝑰𝟎 𝟐 − 𝑰𝒆 𝟐

And Iron loss current is

𝑊
𝐼𝑒 =
𝑉

3.3 Short-Circuit Test

The transformer’s secondary terminals are short-circuited and the primary voltage is supplied with the
voltage, much reduced comparing with the rated value (Figure 2.5). In practical situation, this voltage is
adjusted so that the primary current is approximately rated, and the primary voltage (VSC), primary current
(ISC) and power (PSC) are measured.

i p(t) i s(t)

Vp (t)
V(t)

Figure 2.5. Connection for transformer short–circuit test.

The magnitude of the series impedances referred to the primary side of the transformer is
𝑉𝑆𝐶
𝑍𝑆𝐶 =
𝐼𝑆𝐶

The short circuit power factor (PF) is given by:

PSC
PF = cos =
VSC I SC

and the power factor angle is given by

 = cos−1 PSC
VSC I SC
Therefore,
 𝑉 ∠−00 𝑉
𝑍𝑆𝐶 = 𝐼 𝑆𝐶∠−φ0 = 𝐼 𝑆𝐶 ∠φ0
𝑆𝐶 𝑆𝐶

The series impedance ZSC is equal to

Z SC = Req + jXeq

PRE-LABORATORY PREPARATION
Read the information section of the lab manual and lab instruments description. Be ready to
answer questions related to the transformer’s theory and practical measurements.

In Lab work
1. Open Circuit Test

EQUIPMENT
1. Single-phase transformer 1 No.
2. Variable AC source 1 No.
3. Voltmeter 1 No.
4. Ammeter 1 No.
5. Wattmeter 1 No.
6. Supply board 1 No.
7. Connecting leads as required

Procedures:
• Connect the apparatus as shown in Figure 1.6.
• Apply the rated input voltage to the primary winding and leave the secondary
side open
• Switch on the main supply and measure input voltage, current, power, and
output voltage.

• Do not turn the power on before your circuit has been checked by your Teacher! When
the layout has been completed, have your Teacher to check your circuit connectionsand
get his/her signature in your log book.
 Aoc

oc

Figure 2.6. Transformer open circuit test measurements

• Starting from Voc =20V turn the variac knob and slowly increase the input
voltage.Complete all the data in Table 2.1.
• Determine the parameters of the magnetizing branch using Equations given in pre-lab
portion of this document.

Table 2.1. Transformer open circuit test measurements and calculations.

Voc Ioc P V YE Ie= Req Xeq
oc 20 cos
W/ 𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒈
(V) (A) (W) (V) 1/   
V
20
40
60
80
100
120

Precautions:
• Avoid loose connections before switching on the supply
• The voltmeter should be parallel to the circuit
• The Ammeter should be in series in the circuit
• Take the readings very carefully
Observations:
1. Voltmeter readings:
2. Ammeter readings:
3. Wattmeter readings:
 2. Short-Circuit Test
EQUIPMENT
1. Single-phase transformer 1 No.
2. Variable AC source 1 No.
3. Voltmeter 1 No.
4. Ammeter 1 No.
5. Wattmeter 1 No.
6. Supply board 1 No.
7. Connecting leads as required

Procedures:

• Short-circuit the secondary winding through an ammeter as shown in Figure 2.7.

• Do not turn the power on before your circuit has been checked by your Teacher!
When the layout has been completed, have your Teacher to check your circuit
connections and get his/her signature in your logbook.

• Slowly and gradually increase the applied voltage and carefully watch the primary
and secondary currents.
• Measurements and calculations ratio should be done for short circuit current
values specified in Table 2.2.
• Calculate the short circuit impedance as measured from the primary using
(Show your calculations in your lab report).
• Complete all the measurements and calculations in Table 2.2.

Asc
sc

sc 2

TRANSFORMER
Figure 2.7. Transformer short circuit test measurements
 Table 2.2. Transformer short circuit test measurements and calculations
Isc Vsc P
SC
I
20 Z SC cos  RC XM
(A) (V) (W) (A)   

0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9

PRECAUTIONS:
1) The connection should be light.
2) Voltmeter used should be within the voltage range.
3) Take the voltmeters readings very accurately
4) Do not turn the power on before your circuit has been checked by your Teacher!
5) When the layout has been completed, have your Teacher to check your circuit
connections andget his/her signature in your log book.

Post task:
Do the same work in matlab/Simulink.