Development of MATLAB-Based Software for the Design of the Magnetic Circuit of Three-Phase Power Transformer

Abstract

Essentially, transformers consist of two electrical conductors called the primary winding and the secondary winding which are coupled magnetically together by a magnetic circuit. Transformers work based on the principle that energy can be efficiently transferred by magnetic induction from one winding to another winding by a varying magnetic field produced by alternating current. The magnetic circuit or core of a transformer is designed to provide a path for magnetic field, which is necessary for induction of voltages between the windings. In this paper, MATLAB-based software was developed for automatic computation of the magnetic circuit parameters of a three phase power transformer once the input specifications are supplied. A sample design problem was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program. Apart from its flexibility and speed, the program removed the drudgery involved in the design. In addition, the MATLAB-based software presented in this paper will serve as a useful teaching and laboratory tool for undergraduate courses in transformer design