Complete Design of Power Transformers with a Large-Size Digital Computer

Abstract

After the first power transformer design was produced in 1953 on the IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) Card Programmed Calculator(CPC), the load on this computer increased very rapidly, so that, early in 1955, it was necessary to order a much larger machine, the IBM 705. In order to take full advantage of the much greater capabilities of this new computer, and in order to automate completely the design process, entirely new programs were written for the preliminary design and final design of power transformers of all types and ratings. At the same time a thorough job was done of reviewing, systematizing, and optimizing the design procedures. Concurrently the product was optimized and standardized, and the Preferred Design line was developed, which presents great flexibility in the electrical characteristics with uniform standard constructional features. The IBM 705 computer was installed in Pittsfield in January 1957 and has been producing since then a great variety of optimized power transformer designs, with very satisfactory results, for proposition, requisition, design, and development purposes.