Question

Discuss four main causes of energy loss in a real transformer.

Answer 1

1. Copper loss:
   1. Copper loss refers to the heat energy lost due to resistance in a transformer's copper coils and windings.
   2. Copper loss can be minimised by employing wire in the coils that has a large cross-sectional area within the coils.
2. Hysteresis loss:
   1. Hysteresis loss refers to the energy dissipated due to the continuous magnetisation and demagnetisation of the transformer.
   2. Materials characterised by soft magnetic properties, including silicon iron and permalloy, are effective in minimising hysteresis loss within transformers.
3. Flux loss:
   1. Poor coupling between the primary and secondary coils results in flux loss.
   2. Winding a transformer's primary and secondary coils one over the other will lower flux loss.
4. Eddy current loss:
   1. Energy loss in a metallic plate exposed to a time-varying magnetic field causes eddy current loss.
   2. Employing a transformer featuring a laminated iron core can alleviate it.