Advantages And Disadvantages of AC Transformers

A transformer is an electrical device that transfers electrical energy from an alternating current circuit to one or more other circuits, also used primarily to increase or decrease voltage. A transformer is made of two electrically isolated coils that work on the Faraday principle of mutual induction. During this process, an emf is induced in the secondary coil of the transformer by a change in the magnetic flux flowing in the primary coil winding.

To avoid wastage of energy in a transformer, a magnetic field is created between the transformer core primary and secondary coil, which directs the path of current flowing. The electrons start moving when the magnetic field is created within the secondary coil, resulting in the creation of an electric current through electromotive force.

Advantages of AC Transformers

Some of the advantages of AC transformers are as follows:

1. Isolation and Productivity: The conventional transformer has a simple design based on efficiency. In addition, it also provides galvanic isolation, as the two windings do not have any electrical connection between. It also transfers all the energy to a transformer in the process of magnetic coupling. 

The basic structure of conventional transformers has remained the same over the past decades, but advances in material technology have resulted in higher saturation densities and lower hysteresis losses in transformers, resulting in an efficiency of about 97 per cent for even very efficient transformers.

2. Power Transmission and Distribution: AC transformers are considered to be one of the most important components of the power system, which includes power generation, transmission and distribution. Transformers have made it possible to distribute electric power over large distances at a reasonable cost. 

Power transformers provide highly efficient and long-distance power transmission, which helps to step up the voltage to a higher level on the output. The distribution system is used by distribution transformers to step down high voltage.

3. Stepping Voltage and Current Up and Down: Transformers are important components in both power distribution and power electronic systems. They can reduce the high voltage in transmission at substations as well as increase the amount of current required by the end-users.
4. Efficiency in Terms of Costs: For voltage level change and isolation, a conventional transformer is a great alternative to a low-cost, high-efficiency transformer that does not have a high overall transformer cost.
5. Wide Range of Applications: The efficiency of the different types of transformers, regarding power, distribution, potential, and isolation, is almost the same. They all work on the same concept, although they have different applications. 
6. Reversed Linked: Typically AC transformers can be reverse linked, which means the same transformer can be wired as step-up or step-down, depending on how it is installed by the manufacturer. The manufacturer must allow and specify this reversibility capability.

Disadvantages of AC Transformer

AC transformers have a few flaws. Some of the disadvantages of AC transformers are discussed below:

1. Cooling is Required: In a transformer, high temperatures severely reduce the lifespan of the insulating materials used in the windings. A transformer’s capacity is increased by increasing its cooling rate. As a result, maintenance of the cooling system, such as the fans, radiators, heat exchangers, and oil pumps, is vital.
2. Works only in Alternating Current (AC): Because a transformer does not pass DC, it can be used to prevent the DC voltage on an amplifier stage output from impacting the bias of the next amplifier. Between amplifier stages, the AC signal is connected through the transformer.
3. Transformer Losses: Transformers are electrical machines that are widely used in transmission and distribution systems to step up and step down voltage levels. Even if they operate at very high efficiencies, there is a potential for loss due to the high volt-ampere value ​​and the number of transformers installed in the power system. Iron losses are particularly important among the losses because the transformer is constantly energised, which consumes significant energy in the core, as well as the load losses that occur when the transformer is overloaded
4. Large size: Transformers are large and heavy and require a lot of space. There have been extensive studies to reduce the size and weight of transformers. Since transformers directly transform the voltage, it sends undesirable voltage sags, dips, and frequency variations to the output.
5. Power Quality is Poor: Transformers have a limited voltage regulation where additional flexible AC transmission systems are needed to control power quality.
6. Voltage Drops and Frequency Shifts: The voltage at the output in a transformer is also a direct representation of the voltage at the input, in which any undesirable input such as voltage dip or frequency variation can be observed at the output. Due to this losses like voltage drops and frequency shifts are seen.

Conclusion

Transformers are used for a wide range of applications. A transformer, for example, is frequently used to reduce the voltage of conventional power circuits in order to operate low-voltage devices and to raise the voltage from electric generators in order to transmit power over long distances. Transformers play a significant role in our daily lives since they adjust the alternating current and deliver a consistent amount of electricity to the device. This ensures smooth operation and long life not only of a device but also of the transformer.